All posts tagged: settled

Landmark Electroconvulsive Therapy Case Settled Out of Court

Landmark Electroconvulsive Therapy Case Settled Out of Court

Published by Jenni Sidey

A historic electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) legal case in the Superior Court for the State of California in the County of Sacramento was settled out of court shortly before the scheduled trial date of May 11, 2026. I was an expert witness, drawing on my research and reviews about ECT. (Reporting has only just become possible now that the settlement has been completed.) Significance of the Case and Previous Legal Precedents The case is historic as it is the first time individual psychiatrists and a hospital have successfully been sued for damage caused by ECT in California, or for failure to inform about the risks involved. A South Carolina woman previously won a jury verdict of more than $600,000 in 2005 against a doctor after suffering devastating memory loss following ECT (Salters vs. Palmetto Health Alliance, Inc., et al., Case 03CP4004797, Richland County, South Carolina). Litigation involving ECT has been ongoing in the United States for several years, but the litigation has largely focused on the manufacturers of ECT machines, with plaintiffs claiming the companies failed …

Iran war settled ‘subject to finalization,’ signing in days

Iran war settled ‘subject to finalization,’ signing in days

Published by Sam Flores

President Donald Trump on Thursday claimed that the U.S. “just made a great settlement of the war with Iran,” subject to the “finalization of documents.” Trump said in the Oval Office that he expects a signing to occur “over the next few days,” repeating similar claims he has made numerous times over the course of the war. The Strait of Hormuz, the vital oil-shipping route that has become a major chokepoint during the war, will be reopened as soon as a deal is signed, Trump said. Earlier, Trump said he canceled an upcoming round of U.S. military strikes against Iran, claiming that talks with the Islamic Republic “have been brought to the highest level of Iranian leadership and approved.” Iranian state media outlet Fars, however, reported on Telegram soon after Trump’s announcement that Tehran has not approved any text for an initial memorandum of understanding with the U.S. In a follow-up Telegram post, Fars characterized Trump’s move as a tactical retreat from his military threats after he failed to add new details to a draft …

The UK could make migrants wait up to 20 years before becoming settled – making it one of the longest waits in the world

The UK could make migrants wait up to 20 years before becoming settled – making it one of the longest waits in the world

Published by Sam Flores

The UK government is planning to make it significantly harder for migrants to obtain permanent residence. If the proposals go ahead, the UK would become more restrictive than most other high-income democracies. In the case of refugees it would create a situation that is arguably without precedent among peer countries. The UK’s home secretary, Shabana Mahmood, intends to double the qualifying period for indefinite leave to remain (ILR) (the UK’s form of permanent residence) from five to ten years for most migrants, and increase it up to 20 for some. Eligibility requirements would also tighten. Migrants would need a clean criminal record (removing the previous 12-month sentence threshold), a higher English language standard and earnings above £12,570 per year for at least three years. This will disproportionately affect those least likely to be in full-time employment, including dependants of people on work visas, family visa holders and refugees. The ten-year baseline for settlement would then be adjusted up or down based on individual circumstances. High-skilled workers, including NHS nurses and doctors, or those earning above …

The FTC’s data-sharing order against GM is finally settled

The FTC’s data-sharing order against GM is finally settled

Published by skeptic

The Federal Trade Commission said Wednesday it has finalized an order that bans General Motors and its OnStar telematics service from sharing certain consumer data with consumer reporting agencies. The finalized order, which comes a year after the agency reached a proposed settlement with GM, also requires the automaker to be more transparent with its consumers and obtain their explicit consent on any data collection. The finalized order comes nearly two years after a New York Times report showed how GM and OnStar collected, used, and sold drivers’ precise geolocation data and driving behavior to third parties, including data brokers LexisNexis and Verisk. The data was collected through GM’s Smart Driver program, a free feature contained within its connected car apps that tracked and rated driving behaviors and seatbelt use. Data brokers sold this information to insurance providers, which could affect customers’ rates, the NYT reported at the time. GM discontinued the Smart Driver program in April 2024 across all of its brands, citing customer feedback. GM said at the time it unenrolled all customers …