The United States Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit has overturned a lower court’s ruling this week that had temporarily blocked enforcement of Guam’s in-person, informed consent law for abortion access. The law had previously allowed Hawaii physicians to remotely administer prescriptions for medicinal abortions via telemedicine. The Ninth Circuit vacated the lower court’s…
In a significant turn of events that could impact corporations and law firms, the U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) has issued an opinion letter on February 9, 2023, asserting that employees are entitled to use the Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA) to reduce their work hours indefinitely. The DOL issued this letter in response…
On August 1, 2023, the Connecticut Social Equity Council approved an update to the Disproportionately Impacted Area map. This new 2023 map introduces several new census tracts as the council continues to strive for more comprehensive representation within its framework. Key among the changes is the policy alteration that will affect wellbeing cultivators who operate…
LinkedIn has emerged as a major tool for business development and professional networking for many legal professionals worldwide. Yet, a considerable number of attorneys confess that they aren’t making optimal use of this valuable resource. This can be attributed to various factors, including their method of setting up their LinkedIn profile, often mimicking the content…
The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) has recently finalized updates to its Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising (Guides). The revisions come as part of the FTC’s ongoing effort to provide accurate and clear direction on how truth-in-advertising standards, under the Federal Trade Commission Act, apply to endorsement and review-related issues. This…
Operating as a trustee brings with it an array of responsibilities and potential hazards. One unexpected area of risk, often overlooked, lies in the realm of trustee liability insurance. Recently, one client shared a conversation with an institutional co-trustee who was resisting the approval of a trustee liability policy. The institutional co-trustee’s argument? Most of…
According to recent reports, William Hochul has announced his decision to step down from his position as the general counsel of Delaware North, a private food service and hospitality firm based in Western New York. His departure will become effective on August 15, as stated by the company. Hochul, married to New York Governor Kathy…
On August 3, 2023, the Office of Federal Contract Compliance Programs (OFCCP) announced the release of the much-anticipated Pre-enforcement Notice and Conciliation Procedures Final Rule, perhaps better known within the industry as the “PDN Rule”. The news of the rule’s release carries particular significance for legal professionals with clients or interests in the areas of…
In a recent ruling, the Fourth Circuit has stated that negligence alone is not a valid grounds for the awarding of an additional year of overtime pay under the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA). For employers who fail to pay the required minimum wage or overtime as mandated by the FLSA, the penalties can be…
Sadness has rippled through the legal profession after the announcement that the historic Philadelphia law firm, Schnader Harrison Segal & Lewis, will be closing its doors permanently. The nearly 100-year-old firm recently revealed that it is currently in the process of planning for dissolution, marking an end to its well-esteemed operations in the industry. Through…
The US’s Office of Federal Contract Compliance Programs (OFCCP) has announced the final procedures for identifying and remedying discrimination in federal contracting, also known as the PDN rule, according to a recent report by Jackson Lewis P.C. The announcement was previewed by OFCCP Interim Director Michelle Hodge during her keynote remarks at the NILG 2023…
The legal community in Georgia is raising the alarm bell, warning of potential wide-ranging effects if the U.S. Supreme Court’s “Chevron doctrine” gets overturned. It is widely believed that such a move could have repercussions on virtually every sector across the economic spectrum. This concern is particularly pertinent to industries within Georgia; given recent developments…
A consumer class action suit was filed against Prime Hydration LLC, a sports drinks company founded by YouTube celebrities Logan Paul and OIajide William Olatunji, also known as KSI. This lawsuit was first surfaced by Law.com Radar. The complaint was brought to U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California on August 2 by…
In recent news, prominent lawyer, writer, and founding partner of BKW Family Law, Margaret Klaw, shared her insights on working as a family law attorney on an episode of The Jabot podcast. Klaw, who has been named a Preeminent Woman Lawyer by Martindale-Hubbell, owns a stellar recognition by Best Lawyers in America, and carries an…
In the aftermath of failed merger talks with Nixon Peabody last month, powerhouse law firm Stroock has reportedly experienced a substantial outflux of attorneys and legal staff. In response, the firm is now earnestly pursuing a new merger partner and the first step? Jettisoning its pension plan. Above the Law reports. Earlier this year, while…
The journey of a law student is sprinkled with numerous critical choices. Key amongst those choices is the decision to select from a variety of summer associate or first-year associate offers. It is well understood that the importance of this decision cannot be understated, and seasoned legal talent finders Lateral Link bring to the table…
On August 2, 2023, the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) defined a new standard for assessing whether work rules breach employees’ rights under Section 7 of the National Labor Relations Act (NLRA). This move may pressurize employers to fine-tune such rules to prevent infringing the act. The National Labor Relations Act, more commonly referred to…
This week’s Legaltech Week discussion welcomes Jeffrey Brandt, editor of Law Technology Digest from Pinhawk, and Doug Austin from eDiscovery Today as guest panelists. The weekly discussion, conducted live at 3 P.M ET, focuses on prominent stories from the world of legal tech and innovation. For those wanting to view the discussions live, you can…
As the legal industry continues to rapidly adapt to technological advancements, maintaining an efficient customer relationship management (CRM) system has become vitally important. While this aspect of operations may not make the headlines in most businesses, the importance of CRM to enable effective communication and coordination cannot be underestimated. One major challenge that many legal…
In what might be regarded as a significant development for the Michigan business environment, the Michigan Supreme Court passed a decision on July 31, 2023 in the case of Vectren Infrastructure Services v. Michigan Treasury. This verdict, with implications for both in-state and out-of-state businesses, ruled an out-of-state taxpayer could not diminish its tax by…
In a recent string of significant decisions and policies, both the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) and the U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) have taken steps that further pro-union initiatives. Based upon the information provided by JDSupra, these pro-union initiatives could potentially impact employers’ interaction with their workforce in the context of union representation. One…
On August 1, 2023, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) announced the fiscal year 2024 Inpatient Prospective Payment System (IPPS) final rule. This ruling represents essential adjustments to Medicare payment policies. In addition, it extends vital enhancements to quality reporting programs relevant to inpatient hospital services. This latest ruling is consistent with key…
In exploring the future of healthcare, Thomas Fox, a Compliance Evangelist, has conducted a series of podcast interviews with Dr. Ben Locwin and Scott Endicott. Throughout his five-part series, Fox has addressed diverse themes such as gene and cell therapy, proper use and misuse of statistics, the evolution of healthcare from the times of Hippocrates…
In a notable development, the U.S. Departments of the Treasury, Labor, and Health and Human Services have recently put forth anticipated proposed regulations under the Mental Health Parity and Addiction Equity Act (MHPAEA). This regulatory proposal aims to secure parity for the accessibility of mental health or substance use disorder (MH/SUD) benefits with those of…
Debate continues to mount on whether or not closely held businesses should be open to making charitable donations or commitments, an issue confronting owners of such businesses across the globe. The question, as proposed in a recent publication by Rivkin Radler LLP, is far from rhetorical, urging business owners to thoroughly consider this query before…