Upcoming retirements from Massachusetts’s top court may provide Governor Maura Healey with an opportunity to bring new faces to the bench. It was recently announced that Supreme Judicial Court Justice David Lowy will retire in February 2024, marking the second high-profile departure following Justice Elspeth Cypher’s announcement that she would retire in January of the…
In alignment with National Adoption Awareness Month, it’s crucial to recognize a unique vocabulary that carries notable weight in adoption discussions. This event celebrated in November promotes understanding of adoption, its impact, and the need for foster care in the U.S. The adoption-related language not only provides specificity but also helps in changing perceptions and…
A northeast Ohio resident, Donald Fowler, has been implicated in a racially-charged incident involving a Black district attorney’s office in New Mexico. Fowler is accused of leaving an intimidating voice message marked by racial slurs for an office steered by the district attorney of Doña Ana County, Gerald Byers. According to a recent affidavit drafted…
A recent Federal Court ruling has proved noteworthy within the health products sector. In a decision handed down on November 2, 2023, the court dismissed an application lodged by The Winning Combination (TWC), a leading health supplement manufacturer. TWC sought judicial review of Health Canada’s refusal to grant a natural health product license for Resolve,…
California’s 2024 US Senate race promises to be an event ridden with uncertainties and complexities due to the unique circumstance of hosting four elections to fill a single seat. The seat, once held by the late Senator Dianne Feinstein, was filled by Governor Newsom’s appointment of Senator Laphonza Butler. However, Senator Butler has announced that…
The corporate landscape continues to evolve, and companies are looking for innovative ways to reach out and engage with their workforce. One platform that has been gaining significant attention lately is podcasting. Having grown in popularity over the last decade, podcasting provides an innovative modality of communication that not only bridges gaps within the workspace…
Authorities in Mexico’s Jalisco state have announced the unfortunate discovery of the body of anti-mining activist Higinio Trinidad de la Cruz. The findings suggest that De la Cruz was murdered in an area located between the states of Jalisco and Colima, with his remains displaying a gunshot wound. Higinio Trinidad de la Cruz was a…
In a significant move, the Supreme Court of Canada has granted four pharma entities, including Sanis Health, Shoppers Drug Mart, Sandoz Canada, and McKesson Canada, the right to challenge a notable class action proposed by the province of British Columbia, as per a report by JD Supra. This class action is grounded under British Columbia’s…
In a recent development, Interactive Brokers LLC has attained a preliminary injunction against a Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) arbitration, initiated by a set of non-signatories to an existing arbitration agreement. A report by JDSupra provides details on the matter. The legal action was filed in the Southern District of New York, with Interactive Brokers…
In the realm of fraud litigation, recent developments in New York bear close watching. The courts have displayed an increasingly assertive stance towards fraud, particularly with regards to section 114-a of the New York Workers’ Compensation Law, which addresses false statements and representations of injured workers. The latest decisions provide a strong reminder that the…
During challenging times, a well laid plan can make the difference between survival or succumbing to adverse circumstances. This metaphor of a plane crash survivor – illustrated recently by TNG Consulting – provides an apposite metaphor for the importance of effective strategic planning within a legal firm’s Behavioral Intervention and Threat Assessment Team (BITA). While…
A legal case involving Alston & Bird LLP is currently on hold as presiding parties and the court consider potential arbitration. The dispute originated from a former administrative assistant at Alston & Bird LLP, who claims she was dismissed from her role due to her refusal to take the COVID-19 vaccine. The subsequent fallout has…
In a recent ruling, the Federal Court of Appeal (FCA) denied the motion by Janssen Inc., which sought a judicial review of the Office of Submissions and Intellectual Property’s (OSIP) refusal to list the Canadian Patent No. 3,113,837 on the Patent Register. This decision centers around two supplementary new drug submissions (SNDSs) for Janssen’s STELARA…
On October 2023, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) published a final rule in the Federal Register modifying reporting requirements for per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) under the Toxics Release Inventory (TRI) of the Emergency Planning and Community Right-to-Know Act (EPCRA). The EPA proposed to classify PFAS compounds on the TRI as “chemicals of special…
As the first dawn of 2024 appears with a list of New Year resolutions, California introduces a new series of employment laws, garnering particular attention from employers and legal professionals in the related fields. These new laws become effective from the outset of the year, requiring relevant parties to understand, prepare and adjust to the…
The Monetary Authority of Singapore (MAS) has recently issued its second response to a consultation paper, furthering its regulatory measures for digital payment token service providers under the Payment Services Act 2019. The response from MAS displays an increased focus on business conduct, consumer access measures, as well as technology and cybersecurity risk requirements. It…
The legal profession continually grapples with a myriad of complexities which consistently affect various industries around the globe. One such concern focuses on a unique case in the United Kingdom, revolving around a reinsurance bribery scheme and the pivotal role played by an involved third-party intermediary. This emphasizes the critical importance of robust financial controls…
In a landmark development in the False Claims Act (FCA) legal landscape, AZ Diabetic and its owner, Hisham Zaghal, are facing a hefty $12 million default judgment for purchasing prescription drugs illegally. The verdict underscores the severe implications of neglecting to file an appearance in an FCA case. As reported by legal news site JD…
In anticipation of an upcoming board meeting, the California Privacy Protection Agency (CPPA) has released revised regulations concerning cybersecurity audits. This comes from a recent announcement published by Alston & Bird. The board meeting, scheduled for December 8, 2023, seeks to solicit public input on varied privacy regulations. This assembly will be done virtually using…
In a move closely watched by legal professionals worldwide, Baker McKenzie, one of the world’s elite law firms, has recently announced significant salary increases for its associates, alongside additional year-end bonuses. The firm has now joined the increasing number of Biglaw firms that have actively matched the new market compensation and bonuses as set by…
The AI industry has been abuzz since ChatGPT, the chatbot generative pre-trained transformer, made its public debut, and as we approach the one-year anniversary on November 30th, 2023, it becomes increasingly clear that the recognition is warranted. Not only has this advanced technology transformed our understanding of AI, but it has also prompted a vital…
In response to pressure from environmental activists, the European Parliament and Council are considering an outright ban on all carbon-neutral claims in EU member states. Activists have stated that such claims are a form of greenwashing – a practice where a company gains an unfair marketing advantage by giving a false impression of their environmental…
In the legal profession, it is generally accepted that certain holidays necessitate time off from work, with Christmas and New Year’s Day being some of the most universally acknowledged examples. Thanksgiving is also widely understood to be a non-working holiday. However, the same cannot be universally said for the day following it, commonly referred to…
In the realm of legislative and regulatory affairs, October 2023 has been a month of noteworthy developments as reported by Hogan Lovells’ Paris office in its monthly newsletter. The publication, titled “Actualités Législatives et Réglementaires – Octobre 2023”, is a treasure trove of legal updates presented for your reference. While the direct article contents are…
A recent legal development in Texas might force employers to rethink their employee vaccination policies. The legislation is clear: private sector employers now face a hefty $50,000 fine for enforcing vaccine mandates, as per a new law in Texas. The law signals Texas joining a list of other states that have prohibited employers, including both…