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Employee vs. Contractor Classification Payroll Tax Guide

This guide from ABA Legal News discusses the risks of misclassifying workers as 1099 contractors rather than W2 employees for payroll tax purposes. State payroll tax audits have increased in recent years, and misclassification can result in penalties, back taxes with interest, and extended audit periods. The article advises business owners on documentation practices to defend against misclassification findings, noting that audits are commonly triggered by unemployment claims, worker complaints, and cross-state agency referrals.

Book Review: David Greenwald's Guide to Brief Legal Writing

The ABA Legal News published a review of 'Sentence, Paragraph, Argument, Brief' by David N. Greenwald, a book providing step-by-step guidance on producing quality legal briefs. The book covers sentence construction, paragraph organization, argument sequencing, and formatting techniques including table of contents rules.

Individual AI Adoption Doubles, Firms Implement Gradually

The 2026 Legal Industry Report surveys 1,300 legal professionals on AI adoption patterns. Sixty-nine percent report using general-purpose AI platforms for work tasks, more than double the 31% who did so in 2025. At the firm level, 46% use general AI platforms while 34% have implemented legal-specific AI tools, with data security (46%), ethical obligations (42%), privilege issues (39%), and output reliability concerns (39%) cited as primary adoption barriers.

Meek Mill REFORM Alliance Probation Parole Reform Podcast

The ABA Criminal Justice Section published a podcast discussion with REFORM Alliance leadership during Second Chance Month. Jessica Jackson, CEO, and Erin Haney, Chief Policy Officer, discuss the organization's mission to reform probation and parole systems. The organization was founded by Philadelphia-born rapper Meek Mill and Jay-Z following Mill's 2017 sentence for technical parole violations, which catalyzed broader criminal justice reform advocacy.

Utah Joins $773M Albertsons Opioid Settlement

Utah's Attorney General has joined a multistate settlement with Albertsons Companies Inc. resolving claims that the pharmacy chain contributed to the opioid crisis through its dispensing practices. The settlement totals $773 million nationally. Utah joins other states that have already agreed to the terms. The settlement includes both monetary compensation and injunctive relief addressing opioid dispensing practices.

Mohamad Ezzeddine v. City of Burien – LUPA Service Requirements

The Court of Appeals of Washington affirmed summary judgment dismissal of a land use petition under the Land Use Petition Act (LUPA). The court held that petitioner Mohamad Ezzeddine's service of his LUPA petition was untimely because he emailed the petition to an administrative assistant and legal counsel rather than to designated agents as required by RCW 36.70C.040(3). The court rejected Ezzeddine's argument that the three-day mailing extension applied, finding the statute's strict service requirements were not satisfied.

Ashley Jensen DSHS Neglect Finding Affirmed

The Court of Appeals of Washington, Division One, affirmed the Board of Appeals' final order upholding a substantiated finding by Adult Protective Services (APS) that Ashley Jensen neglected a vulnerable adult. Jensen, the sole caregiver at a supported living home, left two residents unsupervised to take a personal phone call outside. The court rejected Jensen's challenges under three subsections of the Washington Administrative Procedure Act.

Lundquist v. Avey - Parenting Plan Appeal Affirmed

The Court of Appeals of Washington, Division One, affirmed the trial court's final parenting plan establishing a residential schedule for two minor children. The appellate court declined to reach the merits of the appellant's claims because she failed to provide an adequate appellate record and did not support her arguments with citations to legal authority as required by the Rules of Appellate Procedure.

Exeter Hospital Public Meeting on BILH Acquisition Apr 29

The New Hampshire Attorney General announces that the Healthcare Consumer Protection Advisory Commission will hold a public meeting on April 29, 2026 at Exeter Main Town Hall. The meeting will gather public input on Beth Israel Lahey Health Inc.'s acquisition of Exeter Hospital, focusing on impacts to cost, access, quality, and transparency. The Commission invites written comments to HCPAC@doj.nh.gov.

NH DOJ Investigating Suspicious Death in Haverhill

The New Hampshire Attorney General's Office and New Hampshire Police Major Crime Unit are responding to a report of a suspicious death in Haverhill, New Hampshire. Officers discovered the body of a deceased adult male inside an apartment on Nelson Street in the early morning hours of April 20, 2026. The investigation remains active with no additional details available at this time.

NH DOJ Updates Suspicious Death Investigation in Haverhill, New Hampshire

The New Hampshire Department of Justice, in coordination with New Hampshire State Police and the Haverhill Police Department, released an update on a suspicious death investigation. Officers discovered the body of Demetrius White (DOB: 12/29/2003) of Springfield, Massachusetts, in an apartment on Nelson Street in Haverhill during the early morning hours of April 20, 2026. Jayden McClanahan (DOB: 02/03/2005) of Hartford, Connecticut was arrested late on April 20 on burglary charges related to the investigation and held on preventative detention, with arraignment scheduled for 1:00pm in Haverhill.

NH AG Reports Officer-Involved Shooting in Ashland, NH

Attorney General John M. Formella and the New Hampshire State Police Major Crime Unit responded on April 20, 2026, to an officer-involved shooting during a motor vehicle stop on Main Street in Ashland, NH. An adult male produced a firearm and exchanged gunfire with officers, wounding one officer before being shot and pronounced deceased at the scene. The wounded officer is being treated at an area hospital; no other law enforcement officers or private citizens were physically injured. An active investigation is ongoing with body camera and cruiser footage under review.

NH DOJ Discloses Officer Name in Northfield Shooting Death

The New Hampshire Department of Justice has disclosed the identity of Officer Nikolas Ballentine of the Northfield Police Department as the officer who discharged his firearm during a shooting on April 6, 2026 in Northfield, New Hampshire, resulting in the death of Megan Whiting (age 27). The officer has approximately two years of law enforcement experience. The investigation into the circumstances of the shooting remains ongoing, and a determination regarding whether the use of deadly force was justified will be released upon completion.

Court Issues Opinion and Judgment in AG Brown Youth Gender-Affirming Care Case

The Washington State Attorney General's office posted a news release on April 20, 2026, announcing that a court issued an opinion and judgment in the AG Brown case involving youth gender-affirming care. The news release title references protection of youth gender-affirming care under AG Brown.

Anthony Jewell Public Hearing Application Summary

The Parole Board Chair has published a preliminary view that the case of Anthony Jewell should potentially be heard in public, citing the serious nature of the offences including conspiracy to supply class A and B drugs, conspiracy to commit arson, firearms offences, gang-related violence, and violence against women. The Board is inviting representations from the press and public within five working days of publication, with the deadline for submissions being midday on Tuesday 28 April 2026.

Williams v. North East Medical Services

A civil action was filed in the Northern District of California on April 20, 2026, with Williams as plaintiff and North East Medical Services as defendant. North East Medical Services subsequently filed a Notice of Removal from San Francisco County Superior Court (Case No. CGC-26-634548) and a Rule 7.1 Disclosures filing. No case summary or substantive allegations are publicly available at this time.

C.P. v. Uber Technologies Inc. et al - Personal Injury Product Liability

C.P. filed a personal injury product liability complaint in the Northern District of California against Uber Technologies Inc., Rasier CA, LLC, and Rasier, LLC on April 20, 2026. The case, numbered 3:26-cv-03304, is a civil diversity action filed from the San Francisco courthouse. Summons has been issued to all named defendants.

F. v. Humboldt County et al

A civil rights complaint was filed in the United States District Court for the Northern District of California against Humboldt County and unidentified co-defendants by plaintiff J. F. on April 20, 2026. The complaint, filed by attorney Brian Claypool, seeks damages for alleged civil rights violations under federal question jurisdiction.

LS 704 v. Uber Technologies, Inc. et al

Jane Doe LS 704 filed a personal injury product liability complaint against Uber Technologies, Inc., Rasier, LLC, and Rasier-CA, LLC in the Northern District of California. The complaint was filed on April 20, 2026, with summons subsequently issued to all three defendants. This marks the formal commencement of federal civil litigation based on diversity jurisdiction.

LS 703 v. Uber Technologies, Inc. et al - Personal Injury Product Liability

Jane Doe LS 703 filed a personal injury product liability lawsuit against Uber Technologies, Inc., Rasier, LLC, and Rasier-CA, LLC in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California on April 20, 2026. The complaint was filed with a $405 filing fee. Summonses have been issued to all named defendants. This is a diversity jurisdiction civil case filed in San Francisco.

GS36 v. Uber Technologies, Inc. et al - Libel & Slander

GS36 filed a civil diversity complaint in the Northern District of California against Uber Technologies, Inc., Rasier, LLC, and Rasier-CA, LLC alleging libel, slander, and assault claims. The complaint was filed on April 20, 2026, accompanied by a proposed summons and certificate of interested entities. This is an initial filing with no court orders or substantive rulings to date.

SH.S. v. Uber Technologies Inc. et al — Personal Injury

SH.S. filed a civil complaint in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California against Uber Technologies Inc., Rasier CA LLC, and Rasier LLC on April 20, 2026. The complaint alleges personal injury and product liability claims. Case number 3:26-cv-03302 is assigned to the San Francisco division.

N.D. v. Uber Technologies Inc. et al - Personal Injury Complaint

A personal injury complaint was filed on April 20, 2026 in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California against Uber Technologies Inc., Rasier, LLC, and Rasier CA, LLC. The case (3:26-cv-03305) was filed by plaintiff N.D. under diversity jurisdiction, alleging personal injury and product liability claims. This civil case is proceeding through the federal court system in San Francisco.

Anti-bot Verification Page Blocks ECHR Case 66 Access

BAILII Europe deployed Anubis, a Proof-of-Work anti-bot protection system, to mitigate aggressive AI scraping that causes website downtime. The system uses Hashcash-style proof-of-work requiring modern JavaScript execution, which may block users with JavaScript-blocking extensions such as JShelter. No legal case content is accessible on this page.

Bot Verification Page Blocks ECHR Case Access

BAILII has deployed Anubis, a Proof-of-Work anti-bot system, as a verification mechanism to protect its servers against automated scraping by AI companies. Users must complete a computational challenge to access ECHR case documents. The system requires JavaScript and may conflict with privacy plugins like JShelter.

Bot Protection Page Encountered During Scraping Attempt

BAILII deployed Anubis, a proof-of-work bot protection system using a Hashcash-style scheme, to protect its server infrastructure against automated scraping. The system imposes computational overhead on mass scraping attempts while remaining negligible for individual legitimate users. The protection page notes that JavaScript-dependent features may conflict with browser privacy plugins such as JShelter.

Anubis Proof-of-Work Bot Verification Blocking Access

BAILII has deployed Anubis, a proof-of-work bot verification system, to protect its server infrastructure against aggressive AI web scraping. The system uses Hashcash-style computational challenges to impose costs on mass scraping operations while remaining minimally burdensome for legitimate users. Website visitors using anti-bot plugins like JShelter must disable these tools to access BAILII content.

Anti-Bot Protection Page Access Block

BAILII's Anubis anti-bot protection system blocked access to an EU European Court of Justice case (Case C75224/2026) behind a proof-of-work challenge page. The protection uses Hashcash-style proof-of-work to deter mass AI scraping while allowing legitimate users through after JavaScript verification. No regulatory content or case text is accessible on this page.

Anti-bot Verification Page Blocks Access to EUECJ Case C44023

BAILII has deployed an anti-bot system named Anubis using Proof-of-Work (Hashcash-style) to block AI company scraping of its European Court of Justice case database. The system adds computational load for mass scrapers while remaining negligible for individual legitimate users. Access requires modern JavaScript; plugins like JShelter must be disabled.

Anti-bot Protection Blocks Access to EUECJ Case C67223

BAILII deployed Anubis, a proof-of-work anti-bot protection system, on its European Court of Justice case database. The system uses Hashcash-style proof-of-work to deter mass scraping by AI companies. Users must enable JavaScript and disable anti-fingerprinting browser extensions to access case content.

BAILII Bot Verification Blocks EUECJ Case Access

BAILII deployed Anubis, a proof-of-work verification system, to block AI and mass-scraping access to its legal databases. Users attempting to access EUECJ case documents may encounter a bot-verification challenge before reaching content. The system adds negligible load for individual legitimate users but is designed to make large-scale scraping economically prohibitive.

EUECJ Case C75324 - Case Content Unavailable via Anti-Bot Challenge

BAILII Europe Recent Decisions page for EUECJ Case C75324 displays an Anubis anti-bot protection challenge rather than the underlying court decision. The page explains that Anubis uses a proof-of-work scheme to prevent AI companies from mass-scraping the website. The actual case content is inaccessible behind this challenge barrier.

Rajanikanth et al v. Edlow et al

The United States District Court for the Northern District of California docketed Rajanikanth et al v. Edlow et al (Case No. 5:26-cv-00660-EKL), a civil case concerning other immigration actions filed by private plaintiffs against Joseph B. Edlow and USCIS. Judge Eumi K. Lee is assigned to the San Jose Division. The most recent filing dated April 21, 2026 is a reply brief in support of a motion to dismiss filed by the defendants.

Arthur West v. Lower Duwamish Waterway Group

The Washington Court of Appeals Division I filed an opinion in Arthur West v. Lower Duwamish Waterway Group et al (Docket 87289-3) on April 20, 2026. The appeal challenges a September 13, 2024 judgment by Judge Tanya L. Thorp. The three-judge panel consists of Linda Coburn (author), Tam Bui (concurring), and Leonard Feldman. Appellant Arthur West appears pro se.

Ashley Jensen v. DSHS, Division I Opinion

The Washington Court of Appeals, Division I, issued an opinion in Ashley Jensen v. DSHS on April 20, 2026. The appeal was taken from Thurston Superior Court (Docket No. 24-2-03590-4) with Judge Carol A. Murphy presiding over the underlying matter. This opinion should not be cited per GR 14.1(a).

Bud Allbery v. Scarsella Bros., Inc. Appeal Decision

Washington Court of Appeals Division I issued its opinion in Bud Allbery v. Scarsella Bros., Inc. (Docket 88328-3), an appeal from a lower court judgment filed April 28, 2025. The three-judge panel comprises Judge Ian Birk (author), with Judges Cecily Hazelrigg and Janet Chung concurring.

State v. Harlan W. Blackburn, WA Appeals Division I

The Washington Court of Appeals Division I filed an opinion in a criminal appeal, docket 86238-3, on April 20, 2026. The panel consists of Linda Coburn (author), with concurrences from Ian Birk and David Mann. This is a routine judicial filing containing only the opinion information sheet without the substantive ruling text.

Washington Hospitality Association v. Wilson - Administrative Law Appeal

Washington Court of Appeals Division I issued an opinion in Washington Hospitality Association v. Wilson (Docket 87714-3), an administrative law appeal. The case was filed on April 20, 2026, with presiding judges David Mann (author), Linda Coburn (concurring), and Lori Smith (concurring). The appeal challenges a judgment entered on December 18, 2024, by King County Superior Court Judge Angela Kaake.

In the Guardianship of Harold Malnes

The Washington Court of Appeals Division I filed an opinion in the guardianship matter of Harold Malnes (Docket No. 86687-7) on April 20, 2026. The appeal originated from Snohomish Superior Court under Docket No. 23-4-02071-1. Appellant Brian Malnes appeared pro se while multiple counsel represented the respondent parties.

Keith Drake v. Maggie May Divorce Appeal

Washington Court of Appeals Division I filed an opinion in Keith Charles Drake v. Maggie May Drake, a divorce appeal originating from Whatcom County Superior Court. Both parties appeared pro se. The opinion was authored by Judge David Mann with concurrences from Judges Michael Diaz and Tam Bui.

In Re Marriage of Loop v Loop - Divorce Dissolution

Washington Court of Appeals Division I filed an opinion in the marriage dissolution case of John Torsten Loop v Lisa Michelle Loop on April 20, 2026. The case was heard before a three-judge panel with Bill Bowman as authoring judge. This appears to be a standard family law matter with no stated compliance obligations or regulatory implications.

N Ostacchini v Nutmeg Street Kitchen Strike Out

HMCTS published an Employment Tribunal decision in N Ostacchini v Nutmeg Street Kitchen (case 6034297/2025). The decision, dated 4 March 2026, concerns a strike out application. The case falls under the Unfair Dismissal jurisdiction in England and Wales. The full decision is available via the linked PDF on the GOV.UK assets platform.

C Jones v Obsidian 22 Ltd: Partial Strike Out

The Employment Tribunal issued a decision in C Jones v Obsidian 22 Ltd (case 6031268/2025) on 9 March 2026, published 21 April 2026. The tribunal granted a partial strike out in the unfair dismissal claim. A partial strike out disposes of certain claims or parts of a case while allowing others to proceed.

Mrs K Edge v Simply Colors Ltd - Employment Tribunal

Employment Tribunal decision in case 6034082/2025 between Mrs K Edge as claimant and The Secretary of State for Business Energy and Industrial Strategy and Simply Colors Ltd (In Creditors Voluntary Liquidation) as respondents. The decision addresses multiple employment law categories including breach of contract, redundancy, time limits, unlawful deduction from wages, and Working Time Regulations. The decision was issued on 5 March 2026 and published on 21 April 2026.

NC AG Warns of Deepfake Investment Scams on Meta Platforms

North Carolina Attorney General Jeff Jackson issued a consumer alert warning residents of investment scams using deepfake technology on Meta platforms (Facebook, Instagram, WhatsApp). The scams include pump-and-dump stock schemes, confidence scams, and cryptocurrency fraud, often using AI-generated images of public figures without authorization.

NC AG Urges FTC to Ban Hidden and Surprise Rental Fees

North Carolina Attorney General Jeff Jackson, joined by 26 other state attorneys general, submitted a comment letter to the Federal Trade Commission urging the agency to ban hidden and surprise rental fees. The coalition recommends that landlords be required to disclose total rental costs in all advertisements and listings, deceptive fee practices be prohibited, and a minimum federal standard for transparency and fair competition be established. The comment responds to an FTC request for public input on whether a rule is needed to protect renters from unfair or deceptive fees that drive up housing costs.

Anti-bot Verification Page

BAILII (British and Irish Legal Information Institute) has deployed Anubis, a proof-of-work anti-bot protection system, on its Irish case pages. The system presents a JavaScript-based verification challenge to visitors, blocking access to the underlying case content. Users attempting to retrieve case 2026IEHC204 are required to complete the verification before proceeding.

MIPEF Engages 6,500 Students, 100 Universities in IP Education

The European Patent Office announced that its Modular IP Education Framework (MIPEF) has engaged over 6,500 students and awarded more than 2,500 certifications across a network of over 100 partner universities in 31 EPC contracting states, after three years of operation. The programme targets STEM students and provides practical IP education through entry and advanced courses developed with IP experts.

AOR24 v Minister for Immigration and Citizenship - Protection Visa Appeal Dismissed

The Federal Court of Australia dismissed an appeal by AOR24 challenging the rejection of his protection visa application. The appellant, a Filipino citizen who overstayed his visitor visa since 2004, claimed he witnessed a political killing and faced revenge risk. The Court upheld the Administrative Appeals Tribunal's finding that the appellant did not satisfy the refugee criterion under s 36(2)(a) nor the complementary protection criterion under s 36(2)(aa) of the Migration Act 1958. Costs of $5,000 were awarded to the first respondent.

Kaur v Minister for Immigration and Citizenship - Student Visa Appeal Dismissed

The Federal Court of Australia dismissed an appeal by Manpreet Kaur challenging the rejection of her student (subclass 500) visa application. The court found no jurisdictional error in the Administrative Appeals Tribunal's decision that Kaur failed to satisfy the genuine temporary entrant criterion under cl 500.212(a) of Schedule 2 to the Migration Regulations 1994. Kaur was ordered to pay the first respondent's costs of $5,000.