Intellectual Property Dispute: A graphic designer creates a logo for a small coffee shop, which becomes highly recognized in the community. A large coffee chain then adopts a strikingly similar logo for their national campaign. The designer never registered the logo as a trademark, but has been using it in commerce for five years. Analyze the potential intellectual property issues, including trademark infringement and the concept of "first to use" in trademark law.
Employment Law Issue:: An employee has been working at a company for ten years when they are suddenly terminated without any formal warning. The company claims the termination is due to restructuring, but the employee believes it is due to their recent disclosure of a personal health condition. Discuss potential claims the employee might bring under employment law, including wrongful termination and discrimination based on disability under the Americans with Disabilities Act
Tort Law Case: A homeowner hires a contractor to renovate their kitchen. During the renovation, the contractor negligently leaves the gas on overnight, leading to an explosion that damages the property and injures the homeowner. Evaluate the homeowner's possible tort claims against the contractor, focusing on negligence, potential defenses the contractor might raise, and the elements of damages that could be recoverable.
Criminal Law Matter: A law student is caught with unauthorized access to their law school's grading system, but they claim they were only trying to understand the system's vulnerabilities and had no intention of changing any grades. Deliberate the potential criminal charges they could face, including computer fraud and abuse, and discuss possible defenses such as lack of intent.
Real Estate and Zoning Law Scenario: A real estate developer purchases a plot of land with the intention to build a high-density residential complex. However, after the purchase, they discover that the zoning laws only permit single-family homes in the area. Outline the legal options available to the developer, including applying for a zoning variance or seeking to have the zoning laws amended, and analyze the likelihood of success for each option.