Date Rape Is Increasingly Abetted by Drugs

While it can be challenging to find recent, reliable statistics about the number of drug-assisted sexual assaults, the prevalence of social awareness, the proliferation of new club drugs that double as date-rape drugs, and the lack of widely available drug detection devices have all contributed to a recent rise in date rapes facilitated by chemicals.…

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The Question Isn’t Whether You Will Be Injured on a Motorcycle; It’s How

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration says that in 2014, “Motorcyclist deaths occurred 27 times more frequently than fatalities in other vehicles.” The injury rate was 6 times any other roadway motorist. In over 40 years of data tracking and monitoring, the results have not changed significantly: motorcyclists are at risk no matter how experienced…

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Catholic Church’s Delay in Response to Child Sex Abuse Scandal Led to Further Harm

Despite swelling numbers from an active ministry abroad, child sex abuse scandals within the US, UK, and Australia have tarnished the religious institutions’ reputations. Allegations about priests abusing children have become a main staple of comedy, but the real results are more horrific: destruction of lives, desecration of bright futures, and a significant decrease in…

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Car Fires: Reading the Smoke Signals

Hollywood makes it seem like being trapped in a burning car is a regular occurrence, with even the most superficial auto accident leading to a roaring inferno. A recent police chase in South Los Angeles resulted in a car exploding while the suspect fled into the comparative safety of police custody.  The car fire closed…

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The High Risk of Sexual Abuse Among Foster Care Children

More than 60,000 children live in foster care throughout the state of California. According to the Alliance for Children’s Rights, about 38% of these children reside in Los Angeles County. While most foster parents provide supporting and loving households for children in need, there are still far too many instances of sexual abuse within the…

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When Road Rage Turns Deadly

Despite decades of warnings and prohibitions, road rage continues to be a serious problem on the roadways of Southern California. It only takes one individual’s temper tantrum to set off a chain of events that can end in serious injury, and even death. When road rage occurs, innocent victims may have grounds for a monetary…

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Sexual Abuse Claims Continue to Impact Catholic Parishes

It has been quite a few years since the media was filled with daily stories of childhood sexual abuse allegations against priests within the Catholic Church. However, a recent article in USA Today demonstrates that this is an ongoing issue that continues to impact the church and the alleged victims. USA Today reporters recently uncovered…

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Garbage Trucks Pose a Danger to Neighborhood Streets

Every day, garbage trucks drive our roadways and neighborhood streets to provide a valuable service to the community. However, when these large and heavy vehicles are not operated in a safe manner, they can cause serious accidents that leave innocent victims with severe injuries. Recent Los Angeles garbage truck crashes demonstrate the dangers of these…

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Female Entrepreneurs Receive Sexual Harassment Protections under New California Bill

In response to numerous allegations about a culture of sexual harassment within Silicon Valley, a California senator has introduced a state bill that will offer female entrepreneurs some protections from the unwanted advancements of venture capitalists. Sen. Hannah-Beth Jackson from Santa Barbara recently introduced a bill that would explicitly prohibit sexual harassment by venture capitalists as an amendment…

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Distracted Drivers a Continuing Problem on California Roadways

As reported by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), in 2015 alone, more than 3,400 people died in distracted driver-related traffic crashes, while more than 390,000 were injured. The agency estimates that approximately 660,000 drivers use their cell phone while traveling the roadways during any given daylight hour.  Though it is no secret that…

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Bill to Protect Child Victims of Sexual Abuse Passes California Senate

The effects of childhood sexual abuse go far beyond the physical pain. These young victims are also forced to deal with years of psychological and emotional distress as they work to process the trauma and move forward in their lives. Recognizing these challenges, California State Senator Henry Stern has introduced a bill that will make…

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Stealthing” May be Classified as a Sexual Assault Crime in California

California lawmakers are reportedly seeking to expand the state’s legal definition of sexual assault by changing the felony sexual battery statute to include the act of “stealthing.” Most people have never heard of this behavior, but it a serious concern, leaving men and women in fear of unwanted pregnancy and sexually transmitted infections (STIs). Stealthing…

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Premises Liability and Nightclub Shootings

Every weekend, thousands of people across Southern California put on their nicest outfits and go out to popular hotspots, such as Create and The Conga Room. Unfortunately, as recent events demonstrate, an innocent night at the club can quickly turn dangerous and deadly. Nightclub owners and operators have a duty to maintain their businesses in…

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Silicon Valley Plagued with Sexual Harassment Allegations

Allegations of sexual harassment in Silicon Valley have made headlines in the news lately. However, a report by Bloomberg Technology asserts that accusations of a sexual harassment problem goes back decades. Speaking about a culture that is now being referred to as the “open secret” of Silicon Valley, numerous women have come forward with stories…

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Sexual Assaults on College Campuses Go Largely Unreported

It is that time of year when college students head back to campus for a brand new semester of studying, socializing, and partying. Sadly, many of these college students will also experience the physical and psychological pain of being sexually assaulted. Even more disturbing is the fact that large numbers of these incidents will go…

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Police Pursuits Place Innocent Bystanders at Risk

Los Angeles County is notorious for its high-speed police chases. These dangerous pursuits even draw nationally televised audiences, as people across the country tune in to watch the action unfold. But these chases are not scenes from some action movie. They are real-life events that put people and property in serious danger. The LA Times…

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New Law Seeks to Educate California Students About Sexual Assault

Plagued with allegations and findings of sexual assault in their classrooms, the public school districts of California are gearing up to provide students with education about sexual harassment and assault. New additions to the state’s sexual health education statute require schools to provide the educational course to 7th- through 12th-grade students. Though the program was…

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In Response to OH Fair Incident, CA Requests Shutdown of Similar Rides

The entire country was shocked recently as video surfaced of a common carnival amusement ride crashing to the ground, killing one victim and injuring seven more. When this type of tragedy happens, it begs the question about the safety of carnival rides and accountability when they malfunction and cause injury. The incident occurred at the…

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Legislators Ask Taxpayers to Help Fund Rape Kit Testing

The United States Department of Justice estimates that hundreds of thousands of rape kits sit untested in law enforcement laboratories across the nation. Finances contribute heavily to this backlog, with each kit costing about $1000 to test. Though California lawmakers have made several attempts to jumpstart the testing process, efforts have thus far proved inadequate…

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