Privacy Law

Alito’s leaked draft opinion shows Supreme Court is likely to strike down Roe v. Wade

The U.S. Supreme Court intends to overturn the landmark Roe v. Wade decision, according to a draft majority opinion obtained and published by Politico on Monday night. The Supreme Court verified on Tuesday that it is a genuine draft, and Chief Justice John Roberts has ordered the marshal of the court to investigate the leak.

May 3, 2022 10:45 AM CDT

Judge won’t toss $13B suit against Baker Donelson and insurer for alleged spying on litigant

A state court judge in Georgia has refused to toss a $13 billion lawsuit alleging that Baker Donelsen and American Family Insurance conspired to spy on a litigant with illegally placed electronic devices.

Apr 20, 2022 3:52 PM CDT

Law firm’s managing partner had a ‘fixation’ with employee surveillance, wiretap suit says

The managing partner of a Chicago law firm apparently monitored his employees with video cameras and a telephone system that allowed recording of phone calls, according to a lawsuit filed last week in federal court in Chicago.

Apr 11, 2022 11:53 AM CDT

Chicago Park District seeks to seal lawyer’s suit claiming mayor defamed him in obscenity-laced Zoom call

The Chicago Park District is seeking to seal a lawsuit filed by a former park district lawyer contending that Mayor Lori Lightfoot defamed him by questioning his legal ability in an obscenity-laced Zoom call.

Apr 4, 2022 2:59 PM CDT

I Spy: As more companies surveil workers at home, do laws do enough to protect privacy?

When demand for employee monitoring technology soared as millions moved from the office to remote work during the coronavirus pandemic, class action lawyer Benjamin F. Johns took note. “When everyone went remote, it heightened the concerns about privacy. And while employees do have to give up some of their rights, just by virtue of the employer-employee relationship, they don’t give up all their privacy rights,” Johns says.

Apr 1, 2022 2:20 AM CDT

Top Colorado court strikes down phrase in cyberbullying law as ‘substantially overbroad’

The Colorado Supreme Court has ruled that the phrase “intended to harass” in its cyberbullying law violates First Amendment protections, as well as a free speech provision in the state constitution.

Mar 31, 2022 10:28 AM CDT

SCOTUS rules against Muslims who sued over FBI spying, holds state secrets privilege applies

A federal law that allows a remedy for those illegally subjected to electronic surveillance does not displace the common-law state secrets privilege, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled Friday.

Mar 4, 2022 12:10 PM CST

Thousands of confidential ethics and juvenile records are published online

A website called judyrecords.com has published thousands of confidential court records from across the nation, including private ethics records in California and juvenile court records from several states, according to reporting.

Mar 2, 2022 11:21 AM CST

Hertz can’t hide number of police reports filed against customers, judge rules

A bankruptcy judge in Delaware ruled last week that car rental company Hertz can’t seal information on the number of police reports that it filed against customers.

Feb 15, 2022 10:27 AM CST

Can undercover cops use Snapchat content for prosecution? It depends, top state court rules

The top state court in Massachusetts on Monday ruled against a Snapchat user who was prosecuted after posting a gun video seen by a "friend" who turned out to be an undercover police officer.

Feb 9, 2022 10:37 AM CST

Imposter lawyer who filed document in Cosby case wins reversal of his conviction

A federal appeals court has overturned the false statements conviction of a man who posed as a lawyer to file a document in civil litigation between actor Bill Cosby and sexual assault accuser Andrea Constand.

Nov 30, 2021 3:08 PM CST

‘Treated like a robot,’ contract lawyers chafe under fickle facial recognition surveillance

Contract lawyers forced to use facial recognition monitoring while they work at home are frustrated with the intrusive and error-prone surveillance that forces them to log back in when they are perceived to be unfocused.

Nov 15, 2021 9:50 AM CST

Leaked helicopter footage from police shows close-ups of sunbathers, infrared look inside buildings

Leaked footage from police helicopters shows surveillance of people in Dallas and Atlanta who apparently have no idea that they are on camera.

Nov 12, 2021 11:23 AM CST

Does executive privilege still protect Trump after his term ends? Fight brews over congressional subpoenas

Former President Donald Trump is asserting executive privilege to fight a request for presidential records sought by the House Select Committee investigating the Jan. 6 U.S. Capitol riot. Can he do that after his presidential term ends?

Oct 12, 2021 12:28 PM CDT

Litigants claiming GEICO auto policy covers STD from car sex can’t proceed anonymously, judge rules

A car owner and his sexual partner can’t keep their names secret in litigation over their claim that GEICO’s auto and umbrella policies cover damages for a sexually transmitted disease contracted during sex in the insured car.

Oct 5, 2021 4:18 PM CDT