Author: Aron Solomon

As first appeared in DC Journal By Aron Solomon Twitter has been a popular platform for breaking news. It was one of the things that defined Twitter at its peak, the ability to keep you up-to-date on news literally the second that it broke. But what has, in the eyes of many, broken over the past year or so is Twitter itself. Since Elon Musk’s acquisition, many Twitter users feel that the service has, for lack of a more artful term, become a dumpster fire. I found myself in that category and, consciously or unconsciously, began to use Twitter much less…

As first appeared in KevinMD.com By Aron Solomon In 2009, the famed NPR radio series This American Life aired an episode that would forever change how we looked at college life. “#1 Party School” featured Penn State University and shed light on the rampant alcohol abuse in higher education. Over a decade later, this issue remains a persistent challenge on college campuses. This article delves into the legacy of the “#1 Party School” episode and its impact, the current state of college alcohol abuse, its consequences, ongoing efforts to combat it, and the roles of universities and society in addressing this…

As first appeared in Boxscore By Aron Solomon For a huge proportion of the U.S. population, Formula 1 only entered their radar with the advent of the wildly popular Netflix series, “Formula 1: Drive to Survive.” In the real world, the high-octane world of Formula 1 auto racing, where speed, precision, and innovation collide, there is an array of fascinating legal issues that deserve our attention. As the sport continues to evolve, it is crucial to address these challenges and ensure that Formula 1 remains a beacon of fairness, safety, and ethical competition. By striking the right balance between innovation and…

As first appeared in NewsBreak By Aron Solomon Today, Friday, October 13th is World Thrombosis day and HCA Florida is making a big media push to highlight their capabilities in diagnosing and treating strokes.  The reality might not be perfectly aligned with the spin. Nationally, HCA Healthcare has been sued for various reasons related to stroke treatment, including allegations of poor results. Here are some examples of lawsuits and initiatives related to stroke treatment involving HCA Healthcare: Failure to give or delay in giving tPA In 66 identified cases, plaintiffs sued HCA Healthcare for issues stemming from either failure to give tissue plasminogen…

As first appeared in NewsBreak By Aron Solomon Florida has settled a lawsuit over COVID-19 data and agreed to provide weekly statistics to the public. The lawsuit was filed by former Democratic state representative Carlos Guillermo Smith in 2021 after the Department of Health twice rejected his request for detailed data related to COVID-19. The settlement requires Florida to release COVID-19 data “for at least the next 36 months” and includes daily vaccination and case counts, as well as weekly death reports. The legal issues involved in this case revolve around the state’s obligation to provide public records under Florida’s Sunshine laws and the original…

As first appeared in Law.com By Aron Solomon On September 26, 2023, the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) and 17 states filed a lawsuit against Amazon, accusing the e-commerce behemoth of anti-competitive practices that inflate online prices and stifle competition. While Amazon has denied these allegations, there is a strong argument that the lawsuit is a good thing for consumers, small businesses, and American society as a whole. Here’s why: The Lawsuit Can Help Consumers Amazon’s alleged anticompetitive practices harm consumers in several ways. First, they lead to higher prices. By using its monopoly power to prevent sellers from offering lower prices…

As first appeared in NewsBreak By Aron Solomon The New Jersey appeals court decision to toss a $223.8 million jury verdict against Johnson & Johnson (J&J) in a talc cancer case was based on the finding that the expert testimony presented by the plaintiffs was not scientifically sound. The appellate court determined that a lower court judge should not have allowed some of the scientific expert testimony, which ultimately influenced the jury’s decision. This ruling highlights the importance of scientifically valid evidence in such cases and the need for a rigorous evaluation of expert testimony. The case involved four plaintiffs who claimed to…

As first appeared in Newsweek By Aron Solomon The trial of Sam Bankman-Fried, the founder of the disgraced crypto exchange FTX, began on Tuesday in Manhattan. Bankman-Fried, known colloquially as SBF, is accused of orchestrating an elaborate fraud that lasted years and took billions of dollars from customers to finance political contributions, venture capital investments, and luxury real estate purchases. SBF faces seven criminal counts and could receive a life sentence if convicted. The trial is expected to offer a window into the often bizarre financial engineering that fueled cryptocurrency’s growth and lured millions of inexperienced investors. SBF’s methods included bizarre celebrity endorsements,…

As first appeared in NewsBreak By Aron Solomon On September 29, 2023, the Borough of Sharon Hill, Pennsylvania, reached a landmark $11 million federal settlement with the family (estate) of Fanta Bility, an 8-year-old girl whose life was tragically cut short by police gunfire in 2021. This heart-wrenching incident unfolded on August 27, 2021, as Fanta and her family departed a high school football game at Academy Park High School. In a grievous error, three Sharon Hill police officers – Brian Devaney, Devon Smith, and Sean Dolan – unleashed 25 shots at a passing vehicle, mistakenly linking it to nearby gunfire. Tragically, these…

As first appeared in Healthcare Business Today By Aron Solomon The temptation to use drugs to help us lose weight isn’t new. The use of medications to help with weight loss has a long history dating back to the late 1800s.  We first used thyroid extract as a remedy for obesity but it resulted in hyperthyroidism and other serious side effects. So we moved on to amphetamines, Benzedrine, to be exact, which became popular for weight loss during the late 1930s. They worked primarily by suppressing appetite and had other beneficial effects, such as increased alertness. But, of course, people got hooked…