Author Archive Jon Roland

Overview Of Legal Issues Associated With Material Testing

Material testing has been done for decades, if not longer, using science as a way of determining what certain products and substances are made of. In the industrial sector, when you are producing manufactured products, it is important to understand the consistency of the material when using it for certain purposes. An example of this would be testing steel to see how strong it is which is very important when you are building structures such as girders for bridges or buildings. Material testing can also be done on organic products. However, there are certain legal issues that need to be addressed in regard to any type of material testing that is done today.

Different Types Of Material That Are Tested 

There are a wide variety of materials that are tested on a regular basis. Some of these are genetic, whereas others might include minerals. It is common for people in archaeology to test carbon samples to do carbon dating. In most cases, lawsuits are not going to be involved in testing these substances, but genetic testing does tend to lead to some form of litigation. Regardless of the material you are testing, it’s good to be aware of the most common legal issues associated with testing materials of various kinds.

What Type Of Lawsuits Are Filed Regarding Material Testing? 

The most common lawsuits that are filed are those that are related to the medical realm. Genetic or gene testing is certainly at the top of this list. These lawsuits are not simply revolving around the rights of peoples issues that have been tested but are also focused on lab test fraud in many cases. In some instances, this information is used to create pharmaceutical drugs to fight certain diseases, only to later learn that the testing that was done was inaccurate. Patent infringement lawsuits may also arise, and there are still many others that will come up because of material testing.

What Other Legal Issues Could Come Up? 

One of the most common legal problems that arise from material testing involves the testing of genetics. For example, someone may want to know if they are related to someone else, or a doctor may want to do testing to find a cure for a certain disease. All of this falls under completely different parameters because it involves a human being. One of the most well-known legal issues facing genetic testing is the use of embryos for medical purposes. This is a long-standing legal issue, one that involves the combination of science and morality, and will likely never be resolved to anyone satisfaction. In regard to other types of testing, problems may arise which will lead to litigation. As mentioned before, when testing different materials such as steel, if something were to collapse after something was tested, those that were doing the testing could be held liable for damages that occur.

Are There Attorneys That Specifically Address These Issues? 

There are many lawyers that specialize in material testing lawsuits. They are well aware of which materials can or cannot be tested, regulatory compliance issues, and the production and evaluation process related to testing. They will likely have represented other clients in many different fields that involve material testing and will be able to help both individuals and businesses. Testing like this is done for material and treatment issues, product design and improvement, and determining the overall production processes involved with using certain materials. In all of these cases, it is possible that lawsuits can be filed which will lead to the need for lawyers and litigation.

What Types Of Legal Issues Are The Most Common With Material Testing? 

In general, there are ethical, legal, and social implications revolving around many of these different types of testing. There are a vast number of lawsuits that revolve around genetic testing, and many others that involve the success and failure of different types of material testing throughout the world. These lawsuits are not just designed to control what is perceived to be improper testing, but many of them are civil in nature. People are looking to cash in on problems, sometimes through class action lawsuits, and material testing is involved with some of them.

How To Avoid Legal Issues when Testing Materials 

The easiest way to avoid any issues regarding material testing is to do research on the materials that you would like to test and see what tests have occurred. You will also want to consider lawsuits that have been filed, find out which ones were successful, and which ones failed, and then decide on how to move forward. Obviously, if you are simply testing material in a lab to determine what it is made of, it is unlikely that any type of litigation will ever occur. It is only when other people are involved that lawsuits become very common, often leading to large settlements after many years in the court system.

Dealing with legal issues when testing materials is something that is common today. We live in a litigious world, where people are well aware that lawsuits can be filed for virtually any reason, especially if there is money to be made. If you are responsible for testing different types of material, keep this information in mind. By being careful, and being aware of the success and failure of others who have done similar testing, you may be able to avoid the legal issues that could compromise you or your company.

Understanding Cannabidiol Products Legality


CBD is significantly increasing in its popularity and many States around the country are allowing its use. This has given rise to the question about legality. The popularity and the science-based studies that are being done that demonstrate the efficacy of this product to help in many situations with medical conditions have prompted a large number of states to question whether or not to legalize it.

If CBD Is Legal In All 50 States Then Why Are People Being Charged With A Crime Who Possess It And Distributors Being Raided? 

When it comes to cannabidiol products legality, the problem is that the laws around it are relatively new and many of them are very narrow and this means that in some States people are still getting arrested for the possession of this product and some distributors are being raided for the distribution of an illegal product. Earlier this year, Forbes Magazine reported about a man in Indiana who had been arrested and charged for marijuana possession because he had CBD but because of a newly passed law, the court dismissed his charges.

Many people are reporting that this product has many therapeutic properties and they are choosing to use it for those purposes. It helps those who suffer from chronic anxiety, seizures, and many other conditions. It is said by those who believe in its benefits to having not only a number of physical benefits but also mental benefits.

Unfortunately, there are people that are being misinformed by a large number of articles online that are reporting that this product is fully and completely legal in every state in the country. This is a mistake because many of those states have very narrow laws regulating the product and only under certain conditions is it legal in those states. Other areas are more liberal and it is likely anyone in possession of CBD in those states would be okay.

But because of how things are currently and the laws in the various States, it is very important that you make certain what is legal in your specific part of the country and what isn’t. It won’t be enough to just read articles online because some of them have misstated the information or the information they give is incorrect.  The industry leaders that produce cannabis in the form of CBD products say that as long as the THC content is less than .3% then based on the federal law it’s legal to distribute everywhere in the country.

To produce evidence regarding cannabidiol products legality they often point to the Farm Bill from 2014 but this only legalized the production of industrial hemp under a very narrow set of rules. If the production of the product is produced under those narrow guidelines then it is likely legal and if it falls outside of that even slightly, then its legality can fall into question. Although there are some US producers that do cultivate their harvest of hemp under the rules of the Farm Bill, there are many who fall outside of that bill.

A Republican senator earlier this year announced that he already had a bill in the works that would legalize hemp under federal law. The DEA says that they don’t actively pursue those that are using CBD for medicinal purposes but at the same time many of these products are still considered illegal and anyone in possession of them may be at risk. The DEA has been quoted as saying that they are not using their resources to track down a mom who uses CBD to help her child who suffers from seizures even though under some set of circumstances, she may be breaking the law.

With These Facts, Then What Is The Cannabidiol Products Legality status? 

There are a number of areas such as Colorado, as one example, that has very liberal laws around this product and for that reason, they have a robust industry producing these products. It is likely that there are places that distribute and sell CBD products in most, and perhaps all 50 States. This means that consumers can usually get CBD oil for whatever medicinal purposes they want to use it for. Even so, in some parts of the country, there is at least a small amount of risk that you are in violation of the law.

At this moment many areas in the country are looking at this issue and some are changing their laws and others already have done so. This means that for the average person, it is likely not a big issue if they’re using this product. Still, it will be necessary to check with your own State laws and verify under what circumstances if any you can use the product and the cannabidiol products legality in your area.

What Exactly Is The Difference Between CBD And The Use Of Marijuana? 

Although both of these products come from the same plant and for that reason share some characteristics, there is a significant difference between them. In marijuana, there is a psychoactive chemical known as THC which produces a type of intoxication for those who consume it. Marijuana will often have almost 1/3 of its content being THC. On the other hand, oil made from hemp typically has less than .3% of THC which is not enough to produce any type of intoxication.

Anyone using this oil medicinally would not be high under any conditions. This oil is considered to be completely free of any type of psychoactive effect. If the oil is extracted from hemp, then in many States it can be used without concern and in other regions of the country the laws haven’t caught up but many people still use them without a problem. In States where marijuana has been legalized then this product can be used without any concern and some of these include Nevada, Alaska, Maine, California, and Colorado. There are also a couple of other places as well. In the remaining regions, they may be able to use it legally with a prescription. Often the laws in these parts of the country are very narrow and they may have specific rules on how much THC can be found in the product for it to be legal. The good news is that the popularity and the benefits being derived from this product is leading the way and changing the laws across the land and for most if you need it, you can use it.

Understanding Civil Rights: Important Legislation That You Need to Know

The terrain of civil rights law has morphed repeatedly over time, particularly due to the fact that new civil rights violations are being addressed for the first time and prompting lawmakers to make important modifications to civil rights law. One instance of this is the Civil Rights Act of 1964. This act’s passage not only barred establishments from segregating individuals based on race, color, sex or national origin, but also made it illegal to deny anybody from these groups employment opportunities because of these factors. Since the Civil Rights Act was initially passed, other considerations have been amended into policy. Age, disability and sexual orientation are now equally protected under civil rights law.

But the Civil Rights Act is not the only piece of legislation that has been drafted to ensure the rights of the United States’ citizens are not violated. Here are four other important pieces of civil rights legislation that you should know about.

The Age Discrimination Act of 1967 was enacted by President Lyndon B. Johnson and addresses age-related discrimination that was not addressed in the Civil Rights Act. This legislation makes age-based discrimination illegal, including in terms of pensions and benefits that employers offer to their staff.

The Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 expands the protections afforded to disabled individuals. This act created the same protections for Americans with disabilities, as well as made it a requirement for employers to provide adequate and reasonable accommodations to employees with disabilities in the workplace.

The Fair Housing Act was passed with the ambition of creating a fair housing market wherein one’s background cannot impede their ability to find a place to live. This act prevents homeowners from barring people from renting their properties on the basis of race, age, sex, religion, disability or nation of origin. The Fair Housing Act was initially enacted in 1968, with sex being added to the list of protected traits in 1974.

The Voting Rights Act of 1965 was signed into law to combat the discriminatory practices that many Southern states had adopted following the Civil War. Prior to this act’s passage, literacy tests, poll taxes and other restrictions kept minorities from having their voices heard at the polling station.

It is worth noting that these four initiatives are federally-applied actions. These do not relate to separate civil rights laws that individual states have passed for the protection of their citizens.

Common Types of Civil Rights Cases Explained

Civil rights, by their basic definition, are rights that are granted to a country’s citizenry. In the United States, the Bill of Rights is the flagship document for illustrating what these rights are within the country’s borders. Freedom of speech, the right to vote, the right to protest and other valuable protections lay within the text of this critical document. However, and quite unfortunately, these rights are not applied equally to all citizens, all of the time. That is the matter at the heart of all civil rights cases.

Though all civil rights cases share this common thread of truth, no two cases are identical in nature. When a decision is handed down from a judge, it is history, the law, and the facts presented during case proceedings that influence the decision. Each type of case comes with its own burdens, so it is advisable to hire a civil rights attorney with specific knowledge as it pertains to your case.

Employment Discrimination Cases

In 1964, the Civil Rights Act declared that no employer will turn away prospective employees on the basis of race, religion, national origin or sex. Since the Civil Rights Act was first enacted, additional protections have been made to condemn employment discrimination on the basis of age, sexual orientation and disability status.

Employment discrimination occurs when someone is refused a job opportunity due to any of the factors listed above. It is also employment discrimination if a person is treated unfairly, forced into a hostile work environment, or intentionally driven out by the behaviors of their peers on the basis of these factors.

Government Discrimination

Discrimination at the hands of police or other arms of the government is addressed in government discrimination cases. Such cases include unjust arrests, the wrongful intimidation of minority groups, police brutality and any circumstances wherein a person is detained, harmed or otherwise mistreated because of their alignment with a protected class.

The power imbalance between citizens and members of the government or government institutions make these cases critical for the continued protection and preservation of civil rights.

Housing Discrimination

Similar to employment discrimination, housing discrimination occurs when homeowners refuse to rent to individuals on the basis of their protected class or attempt to drive them out through hostile means. Equal housing opportunities have been ensured by the law since the passage of the Fair Housing Act in 1968. Unfortunately, some homeowners still use their prejudices to deny certain groups from renting out their properties. These cases are a violation of the law and should be fought just as diligently as any other civil rights case.

Discrimination based on sex, religion, sexual orientation, disability, age and national origin still occurs in the 21st century, in numerous facets of life. When this unjustified mistreatment occurs, it is important to fight it at the source. That is why the role of civil rights attorneys is as prominent and vital as ever before.