The U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) has confirmed the mandatory use of a new Form I-9 starting from November 1, 2023. The Form I-9, officially known as Employment Eligibility Verification, is notably used by U.S. employers to verify the identity and employment authorization of individuals hired for employment in the United States. The application…
In the world of Canadian trademark law, business owners often find themselves tangled up in the complexities of not only registering a trademark but also maintaining it. A previously published piece titled “This is How We Use It: The Importance of Use in Canadian Trademark Law.” discussed these challenges in-depth, shedding light on a subject…
In recent legal developments, the Fifth Circuit’s latest decision has further broadened the standard for Title VII claims against employers. As a result, certain employers in Texas could face an increased challenge when countering Title VII disparate treatment discrimination claims in federal court. The United States Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit made a…
Changes came into effect on July 31, 2023, to unemployment benefits law in New Jersey, imposing new procedural requirements on employers. This was an initiative of the state’s Department of Labor and Workforce Development (DOLWD). Under the amendments, employers are now required to report any separation from an employee to the Division of Unemployment Insurance…
Over the past decade, the landscape for recreational cannabis has seen a stark transformation, with many states opting for decriminalization or outright legalization. As these changes have unfolded, however, cannabis businesses find themselves continuing to grapple with protecting their brands. The root of the problem? Federal trademark protection remains elusive for those in the cannabis…
Novo Nordisk, already a heavyweight in the realm of obesity medication with its blockbuster seller Wegovy, continues to exhibit its hunger for cardiometabolic drugs. The pharmaceutical titan from Denmark is satiating this appetite by purchasing a startup that boasts a novel approach to weight loss. This marks Novo Nordisk’s second acquisition agreement in the last…
The advent of e-commerce in recent times has been a noteworthy paradigm shift in the business world. However, it has also heightened issues concerning counterfeit goods, with significant implications for both businesses and consumers. From replicas that closely mimic the original product to cheap imitations, counterfeits are proliferating on online platforms, inadvertently causing immense harm….
In a recent development, the Wage and Hour Division of the U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) has proposed to substantially increase the minimum salary level for the established “white collar” overtime exemptions. This was brought into light through a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (NPRM) released by the DOL on August 30, 2023. The proposal is…
In the wake of her approach, Hurricane Idalia is encouraging Florida residents to take advantage of their state’s tax-free holiday for “disaster preparedness.” The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) suggests that this timely tax reprieve allows citizens to stockpile essential supplies without financially penalizing them. However, it’s not only the populace that needs to brace…
The future of the automotive and manufacturing industry is set to be electric. However, keep in mind that the electrification of the industry does not solely involve automobile manufacturers and their supply chains – there’s an increasing involvement of public entities as well. As indicated by a recent analysis by Clark Hill PLC, the electrification…
In a notable development on August 28, 2023, the US Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) declared a settled enforcement action against Impact Theory LLC. The decision held that the unregistered sale of non-fungible tokens (NFTs) by Impact Theory were deemed securities. The delineation of NFTs as securities sets a precedent in the regulatory landscape of…
In response to growing concern over maternal mortality and health disparities in the United States, comparative to its industrialized peers, many employers are taking steps to improve maternal and child health during infancy and new parenthood. This has involved legal changes such as the PUMP Act and the Pregnant Workers Fairness Act, which demand employer…
Dean Jennifer Brown of Quinnipiac University School of Law will be stepping down from her position on June 30, having held the title for nearly a decade. Brown first took on the role in 2013, briefly walling away to serve as the interim executive vice president and provost from June 2019 to July 2020, as…
On August 29, 2023, important amendments were made to the definition of ‘water of the United States’ (WOTUS), which were released by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and Army Corps of Engineers (Corps). The redefinition of WOTUS significantly reduces the authority of these bodies to enforce permits for developmental activities or work in certain water…
A number of Kenyan rights organizations have come together to voice their concerns over the recent remarks made by the President of Kenya regarding the ongoing legal battle over the ownership of Mumias Sugar Company. Four organizations – The Law Society of Kenya, Amnesty International Kenya, Kenya Human Rights Commission, and Humanity Activism Knowledge Integrity…
In recent years, telehealth has seen a surge in adoption triggered by the COVID-19 pandemic. Payment parity, a policy requiring that healthcare providers receive the same reimbursement for telehealth visits as in-person visits, has been at the forefront of discussions in the healthcare sector. To adapt to this new normal, numerous states have enacted temporary…
In an era marked equally by the rise of technological sophistication and concerning trends in fraudulent activities, New York continues to set the standard with its unyielding stance against fraudsters. The State has recently demonstrated its commitment to penalize violations ruthlessly under 114-a of the Workers’ Compensation Law, especially those pertaining to fraud litigation. As…
According to a recent report by WebRecon, there were noticeable fluctuations in U.S. court filings regarding consumer litigation through July. The patterns reflect an upswing in some areas and a reduction in others, providing a complex landscape for corporate law professionals to navigate. In July, numbers indicated a slight uptick in court filings under the…
The Office of Management and Budget (OMB) recently unveiled its final guidance for the Build America, Buy America Act (BABA). This comes after the act was enacted in November 2021 as a component of the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA). The OMB’s guidance lays out tighter U.S content prerequisites for federally financed infrastructure ventures….
Justice Clarence Thomas embarked on three ventures in 2022 either partially or fully funded by Dallas billionaire Harlan Crow, as disclosed in a financial disclosure form made public recently. The form also noted that Thomas flew by private jet on at least two of these excursions, which Thomas attributed to his security detail’s suggestion, particularly…
In a noteworthy development, the High Court of England and Wales rejected an attempt to enforce a US arbitration award in a case involving cryptocurrency-related consumer contract. The case in question is Payward, Inc. and Others v. Chechetkin, according to a report on JD Supra. The claimants sought enforcement of an arbitration award against a…
In a recent development that may interest legal professionals in top corporations and law firms, the Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals has expanded the bounds for bringing an adverse employment action. The intellectual transformation was seen in the case of Hamilton v. Dallas County on August 18, 2023. Prior to this case, interpretations were tightly…
As a marriage proposal falls through or a marriage dissolves, questions often arise around the fate of the engagement ring. Traditionally seen as a potent symbol of affection, this often expensive piece of bling can become a point of heated contention. How these disputes are settled is determined in part by complex legal considerations. A…
In the realm of internal corporate and entity investigations, there’s a common thread of discovery motions that hone in on the privilege and work product creation and waiver issues. A couple of recently made findings by both Federal and State courts offer some encouraging news for defendants striving to rebuff discovery of their investigation-related documents….
In an enlightening interpretation of natural events, the Third District Court of Appeal (Third DCA) in Florida has opined that “wear and tear,” along with deterioration, are considered “acts of nature.” The ruling was issued in the case People’s Trust Insurance Company vs. Sheila Banks, et.al., No. 3D22-1436 on August 16, 2023. The Third DCA’s…