On July 21st, Uber filed a massive federal racketeering lawsuit against two Los Angeles law firms and a Los Angeles doctor for allegedly working together to create a scheme that repeatedly defrauded the company. Uber is alleging that the defendant attorneys conspired with medical providers to send victims for unnecessary or unrelated medical treatment in a kickback scheme designed to generate fraudulent injury claims. Uber said that fraud like this inflates the cost of ridesharing for all users, while one of the defendant law firms, Downtown LA Law, said that Uber is more interested in ignoring a system where their drivers are left without adequate medical support after work injuries. This is Uber’s third RICO filing this year.
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sources:
Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations Act
wide ranging group of perpetrators
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The gaming industry, if you were not aware, is about big budgets, high stress, and working developers hard to meet consumer demands. When you get C-suite executives butting heads between collaborating companies, there’s sure to be some kind of fallout — and the fallout between video game developer Unknown Worlds and their game publisher Krafton is one of the strangest and most public in recent memory within the gaming world.
Skip to 14.25 to skip the cold open
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Sources:
told trade publication Eurogamer
unprecedented move for a game publisher
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On July 10, Texas state senator Angela Paxton announced via her X account that she was seeking a divorce from her husband of 38 years, the Texas state attorney general Ken Paxton. Angela cited “biblical grounds” as the reason for their separation, which would appear to contradict the fundamentalist Christian beliefs that the Paxtons are known for. However, it’s not the first time they’ve brought the language of scripture into their public announcements, whether it’s during their electoral campaigns or Ken Paxton’s numerous political scandals which include securities fraud, bribery and abuse of power. The divorce could spell trouble for Ken, who is vying to unseat John Cornyn in the US Senate in 2026.
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running for the Republican nomination
ran for his district’s state senate seat
challenged Obama’s Clean Power Plan
three felony counts of securities fraud
asked the Appropriations subcommittee
more loyal to Republicans than Democrats
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The case of Lochner v. New York is widely considered a landmark in Supreme Court history, one which kicked off an era of aggressive adherence to business interest protections and wealth accumulation during the Gilded Age of the robberbaron. This case kicked off the so-called Lochner or Lochnerian Era, which lasted about 30 years until the political atmosphere of the Great Depression prompted the court to reverse its stance on labor protections in West Coast Hotel v. Parrish, a detour that SCOTUS has stuck with in all proceeding rulings to this day — but the truth of the modern labor law landscape is not as black and white.
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Sources:
with many working over 100 hours a week
Opponents of laws like the Bakehouse Act
a rallying cry for the Progressive movement
professor of law at the University of Chicago
Adkins v. Children’s Hospital of D.C.
ruled in favor of the hospital
Columbia Undergraduate Law Review
West Coast Hotel Company v. Parrish
a plan to expand and pack the court
economic due process, that business owners were protected by the Fourteenth Amendment
Equal Protection Rights under the Fourteenth Amendment
Hariharan in the Columbia Undergraduate Law Review
disregard the imbalance of bargaining power
laid out in the Economic Policy Institute
as detailed here by the Illinois Law Review
Gross v. FBL Financial Services, Inc.
Vance v. Ball State University
Janus v. American Federation of State, County, and Municipal Employees, Council 31
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Seattle’s Office of Inspector General has released a long-awaited trove of documents undergirding the investigation that led Mayor Bruce Harrell to fire then-Seattle police chief Adrian Diaz for dishonesty in December of 2024.
Today, let's dive into the history of SPD leadership in the aftermath of the George Floyd protests in 2020 to present times. Spoiler: heaps of lawsuits, corruption, and fakes jobs for your mistress – and a huge mess for city hall to clean up. We talk a little bit about the plight of SPD beat cops, and the measures city governments take to hold their employees accountable.
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wrongful termination lawsuit against the City of Seattle and Mayor Bruce Harrell
Tompkins' $3 million complaint
initial misconduct investigation
Diaz was terminated on December 17, 2024
Image Source: KUOW
Diaz met Tompkins as a news anchor in the Seattle area
Tompkins' hiring causing a huge commotion across the department
Over 20 SPD officers spoke to KUOW anonymously
Seattle's policy on supervisor-employee relationships states
mayor’s office did not initially believe the rumors were enough cause to investigate Diaz
Diaz continued to accuse his top commanders of leaking rumors
clearly abused his power beyond creating a hush culture
more lawsuits came out from several female SPD officers
Diaz then went on 770 KTTH and boldly stated that he was a gay man
Diaz filed a lawsuit on October 11
fired Diaz on December 17, 2024
Harrel cite Diaz's affair as reason for dismissal
Inspector general published their report
letter embedded in news article
scheduled to enter mediation talks
allegedly refused to prematurely fire
SPD officer Kevin Dave on January 23, 2023
Auderer describes Kandula’s life
routine footage review by an SPD employee
would not press criminal charges against Kevin Dave
fired Auderer and shared her reasoning
Auderer filed a $20 million complaint against the City of Seattle
The Causes of Action: Diaz outlines the following in his lawsuit
Seattle Accountability Ordinance
Seattle Municipal Code Chapter 3.29
Seattle’s Wage Theft Ordinance
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John and Sam catch up on what’s been going down in LA — from ICE raids and protests to the growing risks for journalists. They also get into how social media keeps us chasing distractions, and why some media outlets are happy to feed that cycle instead of digging deeper.
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Enjoy this extended cut of our latest bar exams! Let us know what topics you want us to cover in the lead up to the July Bar Exam!
More episodes coming soon.
Join our community, find our socials, support the podcast.
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For better or worse, the Federal government is imposing increasing cultural
influence over local politics in urban centers. We brought in Seattle creative
Chappin Eze to share his thoughts about society, politics, and the attention
economy in the age of Trump.
Chappin is a writer and creative director based in Seattle. A graduate with a Masters in
Legal and Ethical Studies, he currently runs Seattle Film Club - a grassroots
collective uplifting film photography and local artists through events, zines,
and public art. Chappin’s work explores culture, city politics, and the
messiness of community—mostly in and around Seattle. He writes essays and
cultural commentary on Substack, and is active on social media, where he
documents city life, style, and the hidden stories of Seattle.
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Links:
Our finale coverage of the Rust shooting! We examine the Brady violations and prosecutorial misconduct that allowed Alec Baldwin to walk away from Halyna's death without spending a day in prison.
While tragic in circumstance, this is a prime example of the justice system working as intended. Prosecutors should not be able to conceal favorable evidence from defense counsel if any of us value our essential freedoms.
Let us know what you think of the Part 1 / 2 format.
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Gutierrez Reed loaded the prop gun.
Gutierrez Reed was eventually sentenced.
Baldwin and Gutierrez Reed are each charged with two counts of involuntary manslaughter.
State of New Mexico v. Alexander (Alec) Rae Baldwin.
Order Granting Dismissal with Prejudice + Sanctions.
Ocampo Johnson (Special Prosecutor) resigned.
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Today we unpack the infamous accidental shooting of cinematographer Halyna Hutchins on the set of Alec Baldwin's indie film: Rust. Tune in to hear how confusing chains of command, cost cutting, nonunion film crews, and an inexperienced nepo baby weapons armorer created the perfect storm of confusion and danger that culminated in one of modern film's greatest tragedies. More importantly, learn about the consequences and legal miasma Alec Baldwin and prop assistant Hannah Gutierrez Reed faced in the aftermath.
This is our first episode in two parts! Next week, we will examine the Brady violations and prosecutorial misconduct that allowed Alec Baldwin to walk away from Halyna's death without spending a day in prison.
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Sources:
Alec Baldwin on 'Rust' shooting: 'Someone is responsible ... but I know it's not me' - ABC News
Hutchins V Baldwin | PDF | Firearms | Damages
Family of slain 'Rust' cinematographer Halyna Hutchins reaches settlement with producers - ABC News
Baldwin second indictment by grand jury.
Hannah Gutierrez found guilty!
Hannah Gutierrez sentenced to maximum penalty.
Alex Baldwin motion to dismiss second prosecution (June 2024).
Judge denies two more of Alec's motions in (July 2024).
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This week, Sam and John go over two major lawsuits to take a break from the 24/hour news doom cycle. Disney is suing conglomerate Alphabet (YouTube) in state court for allegedly poaching a top media strategy executive. For our second story, HR platform Workday is facing a nascent class action of individuals that claim the platform's AI discriminated against them by improperly ranking them lower than other applicants. Hiring, AI agency, and tortious interference! Oh my!
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Sources:
Workday Order Granting Preliminary Class Certification
YoungBoy Never Broke Again Spotify
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This week, we are reviewing the presumption of regularity - the legal theory that inclines the Judicial branch to believe the government is generally acting in good faith. BUT, we are trying something different this week: Lindsey will be taking point and walking John through the details.
Join us, as we remind ourselves that (usually), the judicial and executive are really on the same side.
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In honor of our TikTok and socials blowing up, we wanted to release an extended cut of LTBE - including extended explanations and commentary that accompany each question that we often have to leave on the editing room floor.
Let us know what topics you want us to cover in the lead up to the July Bar Exam!
More episodes coming soon.
https://gossipwithoutprejudice.com/
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In the aftermath of it's massive Federal immigration crackdown, the Trump Administration arrested Milwaukee County Circuit Court Judge Hannah Dugan. For the sin of ushering a man out a clerk door, Judge Dugan is now facing 6 years of prison time and $350k in fines.
We also review a similar case from 2018, where a Massachusetts Judge shepherded a fugitive out of a court basement and out a back parking lot - and how that case differs from Dugan's.
Is this normal? Has this happened before? And what are the elements of the charges and the likely outcomes? Find out with us!
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https://gossipwithoutprejudice.com/
Sources:
Judge Dugan Criminal Complaint.
Title 18, United States Code, Section 1505.
Title 18, United States Code, Section 1071.
Fischer v. United States 23-5572 (U.S. June 28, 2024).
Printz v. United States 521 U.S. 898 (1997).
U.S. v. Bissonette, 586 F.2d 73, 78 (8th Cir. 1978).
Update on Judge Joseph's MA disciplinary hearing.
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What happens when you know a court has issued an order that is blatantly unconstitutional? What happens if you disobey that order? And what if you are then held in contempt for it? What are the consequences, and what recourse do you have?
That was the exact question asked in Walker v. City of Birmingham, Alabama – a Supreme Court decision founded in the volatility of the civil rights era. A district court issued a clearly unconstitutional order, and the protestors and marchers (rightfully?) ignored it.
Find out what the Supreme Court thinks about the enforcement of court orders in this week's deep dive!
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Here is today's source:
https://supreme.justia.com/cases/federal/us/388/307/
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Mark McCloskey - strict republican, anti-communist, and *almost* felon. Back in 2020, after George Floyd's murder, Mark and his wife Patricia waved guns at protesters who were passing by their home, and were eventually found guilty of misdemeanor assault and harassment. In this episode we're diving into the McCloskey's litigious history, how they've abused their legal licenses, failed a senate bid, and are right back to practicing today. At least Mark doesn't have a talk radio show anymore. Follow us along on this silly journey.
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Here are today's sources:
McCloskey's radio show
https://newstalkstl.com/mark-mccloskey-on-fire/
Waving guns at protesters video - highly recommend watching
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CGDs835Lo9Y&t=7s
https://mccloskeylaw.com/
https://www.stltoday.com/news/local/metro/the-st-louis-couple-charged-with-waving-guns-at-protesters-have-a-long-history-of/article_281d9989-373e-53c3-abcb-ecd0225dd287.html
https://nypost.com/2024/06/07/us-news/mark-and-patricia-mccloskey-records-expunged-after-st-louis-couple-waved-guns-at-blm-protesters/
https://x.com/mccloskeyusa/status/1405617567369150465?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5Etweetembed%7Ctwterm%5E1405617567369150465%7Ctwgr%5E6ef2790e51f6485bdf6e3c154ed9c43595e8a8f1%7Ctwcon%5Es1_&ref_url=https%3A%2F%2Ffox2now.com%2Fnews%2Fmccloskey-says-ill-do-the-same-thing-again-after-pleading-guilty-in-gun-case%2F
https://www.theatlantic.com/politics/archive/2020/08/mccloskeys-trump-suburbs-rnc/615655/
https://www.courts.mo.gov/file.jsp?id=184193
https://www.courts.mo.gov/file.jsp?id=184194
https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mark_McCloskey
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/St._Louis_gun-toting_incident
https://www.nytimes.com/2025/03/07/us/politics/jan-6-lawsuits.html
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Today we're talking: Where did Trump's tariffs go, and why? John is excited to share his thoughts on Liberation Day, and we'd love to hear what you think. Plus - another round of Lindsey Takes the Bar Exam! We're focusing on contract questions today, so maybe Lindsey has a chance...
Thanks to Quimbee for sponsoring LTBE!
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This week in the news: there's a lot. The California Bar's February exam was riddled with technical issues, and now we know part of the story why - the test writers trusted AI far too much. The Trump administration's appearance of power continues to erode, with Pete Hegseth accused of another Signal leak, and Kristi Noem's purse stolen in a public restaurant. The war between Ukraine and Russia continues to be TENSE, with Trump pushing Ukraine to cede Crimea to Russia. Plus things continue to be messy for universities - the Feds have decided to start collecting on defaulted student loans, which will mean a much tighter budget for 5.3 million people. Plus 6 universities have signed a pact to act together against potential administrative demands, as Harvard and others have received.
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Here are some sources:
https://www.nytimes.com/2025/04/20/us/politics/hegseth-yemen-attack-second-signal-chat.html
https://www.politico.com/news/2025/04/20/ullyot-pentagon-hegseth-chaos-00300695
https://apnews.com/article/homeland-security-secretary-robbed-kristi-noem-ff0d68474c3a6bbd2ce496453a9215ab
https://apnews.com/article/student-loan-debt-default-collection-fa6498bf519e0d50f2cd80166faef32a
https://www.washingtonpost.com/education/2025/04/24/big-10-universities-alliance-trump-attacks/
https://apnews.com/article/california-bar-exam-artificial-intelligence-questions-94777bbaca7a1473c86b651587cf80c0
https://www.politico.com/news/2025/04/24/trump-ukraine-deal-norwegian-leaders-00307891
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We love doing LTBE and we know you love it too, so we're skipping the legal practice questions, and going straight into Lindsey Takes the Bar Exam! Please let us know what you think! And make sure to lock in your LTBE answer in the comments before John tells Lindsey the answer... And a special thanks to our Sponsor: Quimbee.
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Latest update in Kilmar Armando Abrego Garcia's lawsuit against the Trump Administration. The Court of Appeals has ruled that the government's motion to halt the Supreme Court's order to "facilitate" Garcia's return is not permitted! The hammer has been brought down, US courts have ruled unanimously that Abrego Garcia must be returned to the US. Listen for a detailed breakdown of this order from the 4th circuit - Lindsey and John really enjoyed dissecting this piece, and we hope you'll join us to continue seeking justice for Kilmar.
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Here are our sources:
https://storage.courtlistener.com/recap/gov.uscourts.ca4.178400/gov.uscourts.ca4.178400.8.0.pdf
https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2025/04/17/us/fourth-circuit-kilmar-abrego-garcia-annotation.html
https://www.wbaltv.com/article/chris-van-hollen-meets-kilmar-abrego-garcia/64516778
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