Greek Parliament legalizes same-sex marriage amid controversy

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Greece Legalizes Same-Sex Marriage

In a historic vote, Greek lawmakers legalized same-sex marriage on Thursday, becoming the first Christian Orthodox country to do so. The legislation was passed with 176 votes for and 76 against, amid scenes of jubilation and anger from LGBTQ rights advocates in the Greek capital. The reform, backed by Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis’ center-right government with support from four left-wing parties, also grants same-sex couples the right to adopt.

The move was met with fierce opposition from the Church of Greece, which argued that children have an innate need for parents to raise them and not treat them as “accessories or companion pets.” The Church’s governing Holy Synod issued a circular condemning the law, with copies being read at morning mass across the country.

But supporters of the measure argue that the Church’s concerns are misplaced. Allies say the law redresses a deep injustice and demonstrates that Greece is moving with the times. Psychologist Nancy Papathanasiou, who supports gay marriage, says the new law also confers a sense of equality.

Station House Officer (SHO) Appearing Before Telangana High Court

A Station House Officer (SHO) is the person in charge of a local police station. They are responsible for ensuring law and order in their region. They have the power to arrest people and conduct criminal investigations. They also oversee the work of the other officers at the station.

In an act of reprimand, the Telangana High Court came down heavily on a police officer for failing to register an FIR against the son of a district judicial officer for alleged sexual harassment. The bench, which was comprised of Chief Justice Alok Aradhe and Justice J Anil Kumar, ordered the SHO to appear before them, warning that a warrant would be issued for his failure to comply with the request.

A SHO is a senior police officer in India who oversees the activities of the local police station. He has the authority to file lawsuits and punish members of the public who commit misbehaviour or tease girls. He must pass an exam to be promoted to this position.

New York Community Bank Files Shareholder Derivative Suit

Rosen Law Firm reminds NYCB shareholders that the lead plaintiff deadline is approaching. The firm has filed a class action lawsuit on behalf of purchasers of New York Community Bancorp securities between March 1, 2023 and February 5, 2024.

In addition, Director Rosano has significant knowledge of and ownership interests in organizations that maintain a lending relationship with the Company. Director Cangemi and Director Pinto also serve on the Board of Directors of, or are principals in, entities that are related to the Company.

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Oatly Asks New York Federal Judge to Preliminarily Approve $9.25 Million Deal

CLEVELAND — A former Fox News booking director who accused the late Roger Ailes of sexual harassment has dropped her lawsuit against the company, according to a joint stipulation filed Thursday.

A New York federal judge on Friday preliminarily approved a $9.25 million settlement between Oatly and employees who claimed the company discriminated against them based on their gender.

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Malaysia’s restrictive laws and censorship practices hinder freedom of expression and media independence.

Malaysian Law and Legal News

The government uses libel and slander laws, along with sedition provisions to punish and suppress criticism of officials and policies. Sexually explicit material, depictions of homosexuality, and comments deemed insulting to Islam are prohibited.

Access cases from Malaysia’s Federal Court, Court of Appeal and High Courts in a comprehensive collection. Includes a full text search and summaries of judgments.

Defamation

Defamation can be a very serious matter. It involves the publication of a derogatory statement about a person which damages their reputation and causes them financial loss. The governing laws are the Defamation Act 1957 (which applies to civil defamation) and Section 499 of the Penal Code (which applies to criminal defamation).

The first element that needs to be established is that the words complained of refer to the claimant. Even if the words do not name the plaintiff, they must be identifiable to the reasonable reader, such as by using their initials or job title.

It is also important that the alleged defamatory statements cause actual damage or injury to the claimant’s reputation. If not, the defence of justification will fail. In Reynolds v Malaysiakini [2016] MLJU 41, the High Court took judicial notice that the Reynolds defence cannot be invoked to justify publishing a defamatory statement that a person was involved in bribery in public office.

Libel/Slander

Defamation law in Malaysia is governed by the Defamation Act 1957 (which applies to civil defamation) and section 499 of the Penal Code (which applies to criminal defamation). The Defamation Act incorporates English defamation law dating back to the 1700s.

False statements can be damaging, but so too can true ones. In order for a claim of defamation to succeed, it must be proven that the plaintiff’s reputation has been harmed by words published to a third party. This includes written articles, email, radio broadcasting, social media posts and verbal conversations.

The government often uses national security laws and provisions against sedition to restrict the distribution of material critical of government officials and policies. This is especially common during periods of political unrest. In addition, government restrictions on the broadcasting of kissing onscreen, portrayals of homosexuality and nudity are prevalent. The government also censors publications that it thinks might incite racial or religious discord. These restrictions are widely considered to be violating freedom of expression.

Arbitration

Arbitration is a dispute resolution mechanism that is commonly used in commercial transactions. Its principal characteristics include that it is consensual, neutral and confidential. In addition, arbitration allows for more flexible terms and outcomes than court proceedings.

It is important that arbitration agreements are carefully drafted in order to avoid disputes and reduce the cost of litigation. This can be done by ensuring that the arbitration agreement contains a detailed list of the powers and duties of the arbitrator.

In Malaysia, Section 41A of the Arbitration Act prohibits parties from publishing or disclosing information relating to an arbitration proceeding or award except where permitted under one of the exceptions set out in the Act. However, the need for open justice to facilitate the development of arbitration jurisprudence should not be sacrificed to maintain confidentiality in arbitration.

Media Law

A majority of Malaysia’s 63 national and local media outlets are owned by political parties affiliated to the ruling Barisan Nasional coalition. Their ownership and links to the government lead to a climate of self-censorship.

During the COVID-19 pandemic, authorities continued to rely on draconian laws and use national security as justification to restrict the distribution of media content critical of the government or public officials. The Federal Court found Malaysiakini, a popular online news outlet, guilty of contempt of court for publishing reader comments that were deemed to scandalize the judiciary.

The court held that Malaysiakini was liable because it did not flag and remove the controversial comments and because its editorial structure shows that it should have had knowledge of them. The decision is a precarious precedent for freedom of expression in Malaysia and in the region. Access Now reiterates its calls for the government to uphold foundational protections of free speech and cease harassing Malaysiakini and other independent media outlets.

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Lawsuits filed in Kentucky challenge state’s abortion bans and gray machine laws

Kentucky Legal News

FRANKFORT — Kentucky’s first class-action lawsuit challenging the state’s abortion bans was filed Friday in Jefferson Circuit Court. The plaintiff, identified only as Jane Doe, is seeking to strike down both the trigger law and the six-week ban.

The suit argues the bans violate a woman’s right to privacy and self-determination. This is the first time that a constitutional challenge has moved forward since Kentucky voters rejected an anti-abortion amendment to the state constitution last year.

Pace-O-Matic Files Lawsuit

Pace-O-Matic, maker of a popular game that has the look of slot machines, is fighting to defend its legality in Pennsylvania. The company filed a lawsuit against the state Attorney General and other government officials over accusations that they are discriminating against the machines, which are found in taverns, social clubs and other locations where people can play them for cash prizes.

The lawsuit says the state’s ban on “gray machine” laws violates free speech, due process and equal protection rights. It also claims the law is unconstitutional and illegal because it eviscerates centuries of common law jurisprudence that classifies skill-based games as not gambling.

The company’s lawsuit was joined by representatives of bars, veterans clubs and fire halls who rely on the game’s revenue to operate their businesses. They claim the ban would leave them in a financial crisis and threaten their jobs. The company is asking a court to order police departments to stop disproportionately targeting the games and retrain officers to understand that they are legal.

Jane Doe Sues Kentucky for Abortion Bans

The ACLU of Kentucky will file a lawsuit on behalf of Jane Doe, a pregnant woman in Kentucky who is seeking the right to have an abortion. The suit seeks a court ruling that declares the state’s trigger and six-week bans unconstitutional and blocks them from being enforced any longer. Kentucky’s Planned Parenthood affiliate is also a plaintiff in the case.

The lawsuit is the second legal challenge in days to sweeping abortion bans that have taken hold in more than a dozen US states since Roe v. Wade was overturned last year. It was filed Friday in state court in Louisville.

The lawsuit is a class action, meaning it seeks relief on behalf of all pregnant women in Kentucky. It is being filed by the ACLU of Kentucky and a number of law firms including Craig Henry PLC and O’Melveny & Myers LLP. It is the first of its kind in the state. The lawsuit follows a similar one filed in Texas this week.

Kentucky Legislative Session Begins

FRANKFORT — The legislature’s 30-day “short session” begins this week with lawmakers gaveling in on Tuesday. It’s expected to end on March 30.

This year’s legislative session has high-profile, perennial issues on the table including efforts to legalize and tax sports betting and resolve lingering questions about so-called ‘gray machines’ that look like slot machines but are not technically gambling devices. Governor Beshear also plans to press for a new source of revenue to help pay down state debt and cover public pension obligations.

The session could be contentious as Democrats seek to rein in Beshear’s power and Republicans try to limit his executive actions, but both sides say they want to find common ground and civility. KyCPA’s advocacy team will keep an eye on legislation that affects CPAs and our clients during the session, and report weekly on what’s happening in Frankfort. You can track bills with our online tracking tool, BillTrack50. It’s free to use and requires a username and password.

Kentucky Attorney General Files Lawsuit

The Kentucky Attorney General filed a lawsuit against pharmacy benefit managers and drug manufacturers for colluding to increase insulin prices. The lawsuit claims PBMs CVS Caremark, Optum Rx and Express Scripts and manufacturers Eli Lilly, Novo Nordisk and Sanofi worked together to manipulate the insulin pricing market. Nearly 450,000 Kentuckians live with diabetes and many use insulin.

HuffPost reached out to the state attorney general’s office for comment, and got this response from Amye Bensenhaver:

“It is very important that our citizens have confidence in their government, and the fact that we have a law enforcement professional who has no conflict of interest and can do their job without the distraction of politics is important,” the statement read. “As for the second part of your question, we are a state of laws and we will continue to defend those laws in court.””

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California Statutory Law and Legal News: Access to Updated California Statutory Law

California Statutory Law and Legal News

LEGINFO provides access to California statutory law. These materials are updated less frequently than those offered through commercial databases like Lexis and Westlaw.

The statements and opinions contained in this publication are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect those of CLA or the Business Law Section. If legal advice or other expert assistance is required, the services of a competent professional should be sought.

National Law Review

The National Law Review is an American law journal, daily legal news website and legal analysis content aggregator. It focuses on US business and commercial law topics such as banking, financial regulation, taxation and intellectual property. It is available in print, via Hein On-Line and Westlaw.

The website was created in 2023 by in-house attorneys and internet professionals looking for a better way to organize, vet and easily retrieve legal news. It offers no login or subscription requirements and new articles are added hourly. The site does not provide legal or professional advice, and using it does not create an attorney-client relationship.

Chloe Pan ’24 was a 1L when she joined CLR and had only a vague idea of what law journals were. Now, as a senior editor, she’s proud of the journal’s impact and its revamped website (opens in a new tab)—and the fact that CLR’s new board has embraced diversity in its membership and scholarship.

California Law Review

The California Law Review is a student-run journal that publishes scholarly writings on law. Its articles, book reviews, and essays are written by professors, judges, practitioners, and students. Membership on a law review is one of the highest honors and achievements in a law student’s career. It is also a great way to develop and refine research and writing skills.

The review covers a wide range of topics, but it is particularly strong in constitutional law, criminal law, and international law. Its scholarship is widely cited in legal academia and by practicing lawyers. Its editors are committed to promoting diversity and excellence in the legal profession.

In addition to its print editions, the journal also produces several online pieces, including shorter articles, responses, and comments. These are available to its members on its website. In addition, the Review’s Symposium department publishes articles and essays that are based on academic conferences. The journal’s Technology Department also records podcast supplements for select issues of the print edition.

Business Law News

Business Law News explores a wide range of topics related to the law of businesses and corporations. Topics include choosing the form of a business; buying, selling or closing a business; raising capital for a business; entering into employment and other business contracts; and resolving contract disputes. The articles in this publication do not constitute legal advice and should not be used as a substitute for the advice of an attorney.

This issue of Business Law News features an article on finders, which are a crucial source of capital for start-ups and smaller-cap companies. The article discusses a new law that provides long-awaited clarification of the role and scope of finders in securities law transactions in California. The author argues that the law would not harm investors and should be upheld.

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