Civil Law

Supreme Court of Maryland Finds No Reasonable Suspicion to Stop Vehicle Based on Driver Touching or Manipulating a Cell Phone

In its recent opinion in State v. Stone, 2026 WL 202095 (Md. 2026), the Supreme Court of Maryland noted the following about the state’s Transportation Code:

TR § 21-1124.1(b) prohibits a person from writing, sending, or reading a text message or an electronic message on a text messaging device while operating a motor vehicle in the travel portion of the roadway. The statute, however, permits a driver to use a global positioning system (GPS) or a text messaging device

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Civil Law

Illinois Federal Court Dismisses One False Advertising Suit Based on Malic Acid, While Sustaining Another

A pair of malic acid decisions recently issued by Judge Coleman in the Northern District Court of Illinois reaffirmed that the statements “natural flavors with other natural flavors” and “no artificial flavors” receive different treatment under state false advertising laws, at least in that district.

In Boss v. Kraft Heinz Co., the plaintiffs alleged that Kraft Heinz’s MiO water-flavoring products contained synthetic malic acid, rendering false and misleading the claim “natural flavors with other natural flavors” on the products’ … Read the rest