One of the most commonly leveled accusations against police officers accused of misconduct is the offense of excessive force. When police officers use excessive force, it can result in serious injury or death, both to criminal suspects and innocent bystanders. But what exactly is excessive force, and how do you identify it when it happens?
(more…)The United States Department of Labor (USDOL) recently published a final rule about whether to classify workers as employees or independent contractors. It reverses a previous 2021 rule, which had instituted harsher standards that increased the likelihood of an employee being inappropriately classified as an independent contractor. The new rule is intended to help ensure employees are afforded the appropriate protections they are guaranteed under legislation like the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA).
(more…)Eddie Ramirez, a Philadelphia native, has had all charges against him dropped after spending 27 years in prison on false charges. Ramirez was initially convicted of murder in 1997, though he had always maintained his innocence. After issues with DNA evidence, witness testimony, and undisclosed police notes came to light, he was able to get the charges overturned, resulting in him being freed.
(more…)Lochinvar LLC has issued a recall for approximately 17,000 of its condenser boilers after it was found they had a defect that could result in carbon monoxide leaking from the boiler. This poses a potential risk to anyone who owns these boilers, given the dangers of carbon monoxide poisoning. Anyone with these boilers should contact the manufacturer for a free repair, and make sure to have carbon monoxide detectors active until the issue can be fixed.
(more…)As the weather gets colder and more people start turning on their heat, there is a greater risk of heating oil spills. These sorts of spills may sound relatively banal, but in reality they can cause serious damage to you, your home, and your family, and can become incredibly costly to clean up. But what exactly are the health and environmental risks of a heating oil spill, and how might that impact you?
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