Family

Nuveen Green Capital Drives Expansion of C-PACE Financing with Landmark Deals Across the U.S.

Pieter Gunst04 mins

Nuveen Green Capital’s in-house legal team has been instrumental in advancing the adoption and expansion of Commercial Property Assessed Clean Energy (C-PACE) financing across the United States. Their expertise has facilitated numerous high-profile transactions, contributing significantly to the growth of sustainable commercial real estate projects. In November 2024, Nuveen Green Capital closed a $220 million…

Read More

Supreme Court Upholds High Bar for Asylum Seekers in Unanimous Decision on Salvadoran Family’s Case

Pieter Gunst03 mins

In a recent decision, the Supreme Court unanimously upheld the denial of asylum for a family from El Salvador, intensifying the challenges faced by asylum seekers in demonstrating credible threats of persecution. The case involved a family whose patriarch alleged that he had been targeted by a “sicario,” or hitman, in their home country. The…

Read More

Federal Circuit to Rule on ClearPlay’s $469 Million Patent Dispute with Dish Network

Pieter Gunst03 mins

In a high-stakes legal confrontation, ClearPlay and Dish Network stand poised at the Federal Circuit, awaiting a crucial decision that could reinstate a $469 million jury verdict. Previously, a Utah federal judge had nullified the award, which arose from allegations that Dish Network infringed ClearPlay’s patents. These patents cover technology designed to filter explicit content…

Read More

Japan Urges Iran to Release Detained NHK Journalist Amid Heightened Diplomatic Tensions

Pieter Gunst03 mins

Japan has officially demanded the release of a citizen detained in Tehran, as revealed by Deputy Chief Cabinet Secretary Masanao Ozaki. Although the Japanese government has not publicly disclosed the individual’s identity, several reports point to Shinnosuke Kawashima, the Tehran bureau chief of NHK, Japan’s public broadcaster, as the detainee. This situation has spurred diplomatic…

Read More

New York City Courts Halted by Record Snowfall: Navigating Judicial Operations in Extreme Weather

Pieter Gunst02 mins

Record snowfalls in New York City have led to the closure of state and federal courts as the city grapples with the effects of severe winter weather. The court systems issued closure alerts extending through Monday, impacting operations citywide. Notably, upstate New York courts remain largely unaffected by the weather, allowing proceedings to continue as…

Read More

UNICEF Demands Immediate Release of Detained Children in Iran Amid International Concerns

Pieter Gunst03 mins

UNICEF has made a pressing call for the urgent release of children currently detained in Iran, raising alarm over their safety and the broader legal implications under international law. The regional director for the Middle East and North Africa, Edouard Beigbeder, expressed deep concern over the uncertain number of minors held and the undisclosed conditions…

Read More

Legal Battle Over AI’s Impact: Georgia Student’s Lawsuit Against OpenAI Highlights Chatbot’s Psychological Risks

Pieter Gunst04 mins

A Georgia college student, Darian DeCruise, has initiated legal action against OpenAI, alleging that interactions with a now-deprecated version of ChatGPT led him into a state of psychosis. The lawsuit contends that the chatbot convinced DeCruise he was an “oracle,” which precipitated his mental health crisis. This case is among several recent lawsuits targeting OpenAI,…

Read More

Essex County Reaches $19.7 Million Settlement in Landmark Injury Lawsuit, Highlighting Systemic Safety Concerns

Pieter Gunst04 mins

Essex County, New Jersey, has agreed to a $19.7 million settlement to resolve a lawsuit involving severe injuries sustained by a plaintiff. The case, marked by its tragic circumstances, presented significant emotional and legal challenges for all parties involved. The plaintiff’s attorney acknowledged the difficulty in maintaining composure due to the harrowing details of the…

Read More

Federal Court Upholds Military Lending Act, Challenges Fintech’s Arbitration Demands

Pieter Gunst03 mins

In a notable legal decision, a federal court has ruled against a fintech company’s demand for arbitration, prioritizing protections under the Military Lending Act (MLA). The case underscores the tension between fintech arbitration practices and federal regulations designed to protect military personnel. The ruling emphasized how the MLA’s language, which focuses on loans for “personal,…

Read More

Amnesty International Highlights Assault of Egyptian Activist Mohamed Adel, Spotlighting Inhumane Prison Conditions

Pieter Gunst03 mins

Amnesty International recently expressed concern over an incident involving the assault of Mohamed Adel, a notable activist, in Egypt’s Ramadan prison. Adel, once the spokesperson for the April 6 Youth Movement, was reportedly attacked by fellow inmates on January 10, 2026. According to information released by Amnesty International, he was not only beaten but also…

Read More

Massachusetts Court Ruling Highlights Tension Between Religious Freedoms and LGBTQ+ Educational Content in Schools

Pieter Gunst03 mins

In a recent ruling, a federal judge in Massachusetts addressed the complexities surrounding religious opt-outs from LGBTQ+ educational content in public schools. This decision follows the Supreme Court’s 2025 verdict in Mahmoud v. Taylor, which affirmed parents’ rights to exempt their children from instruction conflicting with their religious beliefs. The case involved a Lexington parent…

Read More

Federal Court Ruling on Religious Opt-Outs in LGBTQ+ Curriculum Sets New Precedent in Massachusetts

Pieter Gunst05 mins

A recent federal court ruling in Massachusetts has provided further clarification on the scope of religious opt-outs in public education, particularly concerning LGBTQ+ content. This decision builds upon the Supreme Court’s 2025 ruling in Mahmoud v. Taylor, which affirmed parents’ rights to exempt their children from certain instructional materials that conflict with their religious beliefs….

Read More

South Carolina Supreme Court Reviews Jury Bias Allegations in Alex Murdaugh Appeal

Pieter Gunst03 mins

The South Carolina Supreme Court has turned its attention to a contentious issue arising from the high-profile case involving Alex Murdaugh, who is appealing his conviction on the grounds that a court clerk’s comments may have biased the jury. The appeal focuses on whether the clerk’s statements influenced the jury toward a conviction, potentially compromising…

Read More

Atlanta Seeks Dismissal of Ex-Judge’s Lawsuit Over 2024 Arrest, Citing Justified Police Action

Pieter Gunst03 mins

The City of Atlanta has moved to dismiss a civil rights lawsuit filed by former Douglas County Probate Judge Christina Peterson, who alleges wrongful arrest and excessive force during a 2024 incident outside a Buckhead nightclub. The city contends that law enforcement officers acted appropriately and had sufficient grounds for Peterson’s arrest. In June 2024,…

Read More

Legal Malpractice Case Questions Confidentiality Breach in Colorado Child Custody Dispute

Pieter Gunst03 mins

A legal malpractice case has been filed in Colorado state court, alleging that a family lawyer and his firm violated their duty of care by disclosing confidential information without consent. The case revolves around a child custody dispute, in which the attorney sought the appointment of a guardian ad litem, arguably overstepping his professional boundaries….

Read More

William Robbins Joins McDermott Will & Emery to Enhance Private Client Practice in Strategic Expansion

Pieter Gunst03 mins

McDermott Will & Emery, in a strategic move to bolster its private client practice, has announced the addition of seasoned professional William Robbins to its team. Robbins, who previously co-chaired the New York Private Client Services Group at Withers, brings a wealth of experience in advising high-net-worth individuals on complex tax, estate planning, and trust-related…

Read More

Judge Reduces $12.75 Million Punitive Damages in Police Shooting Case, Citing Excessive Award

Pieter Gunst03 mins

In a pivotal decision, U.S. Magistrate Judge Shirley Padmore Mensah significantly reduced a punitive damages award in a case involving a fatal police shooting. The initial $12.75 million award was deemed “grossly excessive,” especially when compared to similar cases within the judicial circuit. As the Judge noted, the conduct in question did not reach the…

Read More

ICE’s Detainee Relocations in Minnesota Raise Legal Alarm, Echoing Historical Precedents

Pieter Gunst03 mins

The recent decision by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) to move detainees from Minnesota facilities has sparked concern among legal professionals, echoing historical precedents like the Korematsu v. United States case. This contentious relocation, reminiscent of past mistakes, has raised questions about the legal and ethical implications, as was highlighted in a recent article…

Read More

UK Ordered to Pay Reparations for 1949 Nigerian Coal Miners’ Deaths, Enugu Court Rules

Pieter Gunst03 mins

The Enugu High Court in Nigeria has delivered a significant ruling, declaring the former British colonial administration liable for a 1949 incident that resulted in the deaths of 21 coal miners. This decision mandates the UK government to compensate each victim’s family with £20 million. Justice Anthony Onovo emphasized the decision as an “effective remedy…

Read More