Brianna Smith is a freelance writer and editor in Southwest Michigan. A graduate of Grand Valley State University, Brianna has a passion for politics, social issues, education, science, and more. When she’s not writing, she enjoys the simple life with her husband, daughter, and son.



The Honest Company Agrees to $1.55M Settlement Over Detergent

Parents, have you purchased Honest Company detergent for your children’s laundry lately? If so, you might be able to cash in on a nationwide, $1.55 million class action lawsuit that Jessica Alba’s The Honest Company recently agreed to pay for misleading “customers about the ingredients in its laundry detergent, dish soap, and multipurpose cleaner.”


Vietnam Veteran Sues Over VA Treatment

A $15 million lawsuit has been filed in Oklahoma City federal court by George Purifoy, a Vietnam veteran who is alleging that “negligent care at Veterans Affairs medical centers in Oklahoma City and Muskogee caused him facial disfigurement, pain and suffering and a shortened life expectancy.” But what exactly happened to prompt Purifoy to file such a lawsuit? What sort of pain and suffering did he undergo?


Breast Augmentation Photos Posted Without Consent Results in Lawsuit

When visiting any kind of doctor, for whatever reason, many patients expect some level of privacy. Certainly, that’s what a woman expected when she visited a plastic surgeon team for a breast augmentation surgery. Unfortunately for her, her surgeons “allegedly posted before-and-after photos of her surgery on their website without her consent,” and now she is suing the south suburban plastic surgeons who operated on her for violating her privacy.


Judge Upholds $1.5M Jury Verdict Regarding Facebook Post

Last month, a jury awarded $1.5 million to Crystal Eschert, a former fire investigator, because “it found the Fire Department retaliated against her for complaining about the quality of renovations at a new office building renovated for Eschert and her colleagues.” The city argued the allegations were false and filed an appeal. However, earlier this month Chief U.S. District Judge Frank Whitney upheld the jury’s decision against the city of Charlotte.


State of Tennessee Agrees to Settlement In Tragic Guardrail Accident Case

A settlement has been reached between the family of Sabrena Carrier and the State of Tennessee for $20,000. The lawsuit itself was filed after Carrier “died when her car hit a guardrail terminal along Highway 394 near Blountville” back in 2008. According to court documents, the “guardrail pierced her car, killing Carrier who worked as an emergency medical technician for Sullivan County EMS.”


Bill Cosby Sexual Assault Trial Begins

The trial between Commonwealth v. Bill Cosby is in its third day, having started on Monday in Norristown, Pennsylvania. For those who don’t know, the proceedings involve “Cosby’s alleged sexual assault of a woman named Andrea Constand, in 2004.” According to USA today, “Cosby is being tried on three counts of aggravated indecent assault stemming from an encounter with Constand at his nearby home in 2004. She says he drugged her to the point of near-paralysis and then assaulted her as she lay helpless on a couch.”


Is ABC News Liable for Defamation Over ‘Pink Slime’ Report?

Have you heard of pink slime? Well it turns out that a “defamation trial over an ABC News report about so-called pink slime, a once-common ingredient in ground beef,” began on Monday after a South Dakota meat processing company claimed the news report “wreaked havoc on its business after it aired in 2012.” But what is pink slime?


Settlement Reached Between Beaufort Inn and Bride Who Was Attacked On Eve of Her Wedding

According to police, Gretchen Rhyan Mazur-Williamson was “badly beaten in a rented cottage at the Beaufort Inn in April 2009” after her assailant “entered her room through a broken rear window and waited for her to return.” As a result of the attack, the woman sued the inn back in 2012, accusing the owner, Associated Luxury Inns of Beaufort, of gross negligence for “failing to adopt and utilize adequate and proper security and emergency procedures for guests.” Now, years later, the Beaufort Inn has agreed to “an undisclosed settlement.”


Family of Student Hit By NYPD Cop Car Agrees To $500K Settlement

On Feb. 21, 2013, Ryo Oyamada, a student at the time, was “struck and killed by a police car while crossing 40th Ave. between 10th and 11th streets in Long Island City.” Now, after all this time, his family and the city have agreed to “settle their federal lawsuit” for $500,000.