About Judy Malmon, J.D.
Judy Malmon has blended law and writing throughout her career. She got her J.D. from University of California, Davis and practiced elder and disability law in California and Minnesota. She honed her writing by drafting appellate decisions in a nationwide class action, writing blogs for law firms, and writing for Westlaw. She loves digging into everyday legal questions, deciphering the complexities of law, and telling personal stories.
Articles written by Judy Malmon, J.D.
Do You Have a Duty to Prevent Suicide?
Han Duy Nguyen was a 25-year-old graduate student at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) who had a history of mental health treatment and depression when he committed suicide in 2009 after being chastised by a professor. Nguyen’s parents brought a wrongful death lawsuit against MIT, asserting that the university had a legal duty to care for their son and his well-being, amounting to a responsibility to prevent his suicide. It’s every parent’s nightmare that something tragic …
Breastfeeding Accommodations in the Workplace
Breastfeeding is an important part of raising a child for many mothers. Working mothers may need to take pumping breaks every two to three hours during the workday. Most employers have to make reasonable workplace accommodations for breastfeeding employees. State and federal laws protect breastfeeding mothers from discrimination in the workplace. Here is what you need to know about your employee and health care rights. For more information about the rights of nursing employees, talk to an …
How DNA Evidence Works in Criminal Cases
Watching criminal procedurals on TV, you've no doubt learned that your genetic fingerprint is in your DNA. You leave this telltale stuff behind you in traces of your skin cells, saliva, and sweat. With the use of DNA technology, solving cold cases and linking suspects to convictions (or exonerations) has become straightforward. However, there are numerous aspects to DNA collection and forensic DNA analysis that can raise questions when it comes to DNA profiles in the criminal justice system. …
Oregon Supports Residential Beekeeping
With honey bee populations facing threats to their habitat and survival, communities are increasingly invested in supporting diverse beekeeping efforts, including urban backyard beehives. What was once viewed as dangerous for a neighborhood setting has largely been embraced as providing important pollinator support. But there are still risks to keeping bees, as well as to living next to them, in a city environment. If you want to keep bees in your own yard, it’s a bit more complicated than …
Your DNA Can Be Stolen
Mapping the human genome has provided previously unimagined opportunities to understand biology, the past and the future, and to potentially prevent and cure diseases. As access to genetic testing and genetic information widens, and testing itself becomes affordable and noninvasive, regular folks have access to genetic data that can help find ancestral relatives and reveal genetical proclivities. Your DNA is Out There But easy access has its price in the technological age. It is now possible to …
Covering Your Care Needs in Maryland
If you think estate planning is only for gazillionaires, you may be overlooking important planning for your care as you get older and how this may affect your family members. No one wants to be a burden, and if possible, we’d all like to have something to pass on after a lifetime of working. Merely hoping for the best isn’t a plan and can have devastating effects. For every year you survive beyond the age of 65, you become statistically more likely to have a need for long-term care (LTC). …
Suing for Pregnancy Discrimination
Federal and state laws prohibit employers from discriminating against workers based on the fact that they are pregnant or have pregnancy-related medical conditions. "Even before the #MeToo movement, we were hearing from a lot more people with pregnancy discrimination cases," says Atlanta attorney Marcus Keegan. "For years, I don't think I had anybody call me about pregnancy discrimination, and then in the last few years, I got a ton of calls about pregnancy leave, sex discrimination, and any …
Is a Restaurant Liable for Allergens in Food?
You’ve probably noticed that food allergies have been on the rise in recent years. Peanut, milk, tree nut, shellfish allergies and celiac disease have all seen an increase in incidence as well as an accompanying elevation in public consciousness. While some intolerances can trigger relatively mild reactions, others are severe allergic reactions and can be life-threatening, even from trace amounts. According to the Centers for Disease Control, food allergies are responsible for approximately …
Can My Employer Dictate What I Wear at Work?
What you wear at work may seem like your business, not your boss's. However, employers have legitimate reasons to care about their employees' appearance in the workplace. Employers can have company dress code requirements and restrictions. Understanding the legal grounds for dress code policies and your rights as an employee is important. This includes knowing when dress codes may infringe on personal rights and how to address any concerns with your employer. For legal advice about your civil …
Your RV Has Its Own Warranty — and Legal Issues
Recreational vehicles, which include motorhomes and trailers, have become a huge market in the states. With the surge in RV ownership has come all the accompanying things that can go wrong with an expensive auto purchase — everything from engine or parts failures to interior issues, like a wonky fridge or leaky roof. And while these may sound like vastly different problems, you can go to one lawyer for all of your RV issues. Consumer Laws and RVers While most of the applicable laws are the …
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