Brett Snider, Esq.

Latest Articles

• Why The Dobbs v. Jackson Women's Health Organization Abortion Case Is Different

  Federal courts, including the Supreme Court, handle many important and controversial cases. As just one example, lawsuits challenging abortion rights are brought in federal court each year like clockwork. Considering the number of federal court decisions involving the pro-choice/pro-life debate in recent years, why is Dobbs v. Jackson's Women's Health, currently…

• Fourth of July Legal History: How Did It Become a Holiday?

  Independence Day, also known colloquially as the Fourth of July, celebrates America's formal declaration of independence from colonial rule. The Second Continental Congress officially adopted the final version of the Declaration of Independence on July 4, 1776. But beyond the official creation and adoption of one of our nation's founding documents, how did the Fourth of July come to be a federally recognized holiday?

• Is It Legal to Record People at a Gym?

  Recording other people working out at the gym is rude, super lame, and creepy. Though, people who want their privacy may be dismayed to learn it may not be illegal. No Privacy in Public Places Since most gyms are accessible to the public, it is not a violation of privacy laws to record someone in a gym's common area. Typically the law does not prohibit watching or photographing activities that are outside a person's reasonable expectation of privacy.

• 5th Cir. Hears Gay Marriage: Thoughts From Plaintiff Mark Phariss

  The Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals is hearing arguments today in three separate gay marriage appeals, from Texas, Mississippi, and Louisiana. The longest pending of these cases is the one from Texas, DeLeon v. Perry, which has been in a holding pattern in the Fifth Circuit for almost a year.

• Is It Illegal to Mail Poop?

  Poop typically doesn't arrive via delivery or in your mailbox, but when it does, it can be breaking news. For example, an Iowa woman is facing criminal charges for allegedly mailing cow feces to her neighbors in response to their complaints about her dog barking. According to United Press International, the woman is now facing third-degree harassment charges, and must appear in court on Tuesday. So is it illegal to mail poop to someone?

• Are Your Emails Fair Game When Your Company Is Sued?

  Think your work emails are completely private? Think again. They may not be so confidential when your company gets dragged into court. Uber's Chief Executive Travis Kalanick found this out the hard way when a federal judge ruled that the rideshare company had to disclose Kalanick's emails in a California lawsuit accusing the company of deceiving customers.

• What to Do If You Lose Your Passport?

  When you lose your passport, international travel may become a bit of a nonstarter. Even if that means you're stuck in a foreign country. Case in point: Pop star Chris Brown was stuck stateside and couldn't make it to a New Year's Eve gig he'd booked in the Philippines because he lost his passport. The Associated Press reports that Brown lost his passport the "day before the scheduled event." Bummer. What should you do if you lose your passport?

• Maury Povich Sued by Convicted Rapist Over Seeing Daughter on TV

  TV personality Maury Povich is being sued by a convicted rapist who saw his daughter on the "Maury Povich Show." Alan B. Griffin, who is currently incarcerated in Florida for sexual battery and second-degree attempted murder, claims that seeing his daughter exploited on "Maury" led him to suicidal thoughts and a whole year of psychiatric counseling.

• When Is It Too Late to Sue for Injury?

  You may have been injured a while ago, and you just haven't gotten around to pursuing your injury claim yet. But beware: If you wait too long, you might be too late to get compensation in civil court for your injuries. On the other hand, even though a lot of time has passed, you shouldn't always assume that your case isn't worth pursuing. So when is it too late to sue for injury?

• Obamacare's Employer Mandate Takes Effect: 5 Things to Know

  Obamacare's employer mandate went into effect January 1, and there are a few things that employers should know. The mandate was supposed to go into effect last year, but it was delayed for a year to allow businesses to implement the necessary changes. So what were those changes exactly? Here are five things employers should know about the Obamacare employer mandate:1. Some Businesses Are Not Happy About Mandate/Delay.

• Notable New Laws Taking Effect in 2015

  Another year has gone by, and with it, many news laws were passed that will now (or will soon be) effective in 2015. New recreational pot laws will go into effect this year, minimum wages will increase across the country, and even some undocumented workers will have a chance to get legal driver's licenses. Then of course, there's the portion of the Obamacare mandate that applies to employers.