The United States recently made alterations in the method of calculating immigrant numbers. This has resulted in some notable impacts on foreign nationals who are in the US on temporary R-1 religious worker visas. Specifically, those waiting for green cards may have a significantly longer wait before they receive them. A noticeable effect of the…
Global cruise company Carnival has lost a significant COVID-19 related class action lawsuit in Australia. The case alleged that Carnival demonstrated negligence in its duty of care to passengers during a cruise that resulted in a significant COVID-19 outbreak. Federal Court of Australia Justice Angus Stewart ruled in favor of the plaintiffs, affirming that Carnival…
The holiday season, celebrated and cherished for uniting family, friends, and loved ones around age-old traditions, vacations, and New Year’s resolutions, can simultaneously escalate into periods of tumult and tension. The circumstances can be exceedingly challenging for those entangled in the processes of separation or divorce. The labyrinth of legal and emotional navigation through this…
In a recent development, the Massachusetts legislature has amended the Massachusetts Paid Family and Medical Leave Act (PFMLA) as part of the state’s enacted budget. This change is set to provide more leeway to both employees and employers on the use of additional accrued benefits to complement the paid benefits received by employees from the…
In a recent legal case that spotlights the complexities of property law, the defense of a deed that was signed by a 12-year-old was unsuccessful. Chronicled in an article on JD Supra, the case Bell and Petsch v. Petch revolved around a property dispute over five tracts of land in Gillespie County, Texas, pitting siblings…
American Family Insurance (“American Family”) has issued a confirmation last week that its recent IT issues are a result of a cyber attack. This information comes as concerns rise among consumers regarding the possibility of a data breach. The incident has triggered a much-needed discussion on data security and the responsibilities major companies have in…
The legal community is in shock after the targeted killing of Washington County, Maryland Circuit Court Judge Andrew Fisher Wilkinson. Wilkinson was shot in his driveway on a recent Thursday, in what authorities are calling a targeted attack. Just hours prior to his murder, Judge Wilkinson had made his ruling in the divorce case of…
In a recent move, the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) announced a new policy that will facilitate the financing of Accessory Dwelling Units (ADUs) for borrowers. On October 16, HUD introduced this change to its policy with the objective of simplifying the procedure for borrowers to fund ADUs in their main residences. The…
On October 16, the Federal Housing Finance Agency (FHFA) made a significant announcement. This concerned the revision of how Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac single-family mortgages are treated for borrowers who have entered Covid-19 forbearance under the GSEs’ representations and warranties framework. This development will directly impact the protocol when dealing with the fallout of…
Armita Geravand, a teenage girl who was spotted unconscious after potentially encountering police officers on a subway without wearing a hijab in early October, is apparently declared “brain dead”, as reported by an Iranian semi-state media article posted last Sunday. Footage from the surveillance cameras in Tehran’s metro station reveals 16-year-old Geravand, on her way…
Big changes are coming to California in 2024. Governor Gavin Newsom has taken an important step toward strengthening the labor rights of the state’s workforce by signing SB 616 into law, as reported by JD Supra. Primarily, this new law will enact significant increases in the amount of paid sick leave that companies must provide…
In an notable ruling, the Supreme Court of India overturned the life sentence of a woman previously convicted for the alleged murder of her newborn child. Highlighting the woman’s right to reproductive privacy, the court determined that a woman couldn’t be forced to disclose matters related to her private reproductive decisions. The case dates back…
On Friday, the US Treasury Department’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) imposed sanctions on the two adult children of Bosnian Serb leader, Milorad Dodik, and their affiliated companies, citing their alleged involvement in the leader’s ongoing corruption. OFAC press release revealed that companies such as Global Liberty d.o.o. Laktasi, Agro Voce d.o.o. Laktasi, Agape…
The military government in Niger on Friday stated that ousted President Mohamed Bazoum attempted to escape from his residence, a claim firmly denied by his lawyers. Following the attempt, Bazoum’s current whereabouts are undisclosed. Bazoum has been under house arrest since July 26, 2023 when a military coup overturned his government. A report by the…
Today, established attorney Kenneth Chesebro pled guilty to a single felony count of conspiracy to file false documents at Fulton County Superior Court. The plea represents the conclusion to a months-long standoff with Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis. Once a prominent appellate lawyer, Chesebro was involved in an elaborate design to replace legitimate electors…
National Domestic Violence Awareness Month is marked in October, but it’s crucial to remember that abuse can unfortunately occur at any time and in any place. Notably, in Virginia, victims of abuse have the ability to request a protective order. However, it must be emphasized that not all protective orders are identical. There are three…
In a recent decision, the Ohio Supreme Court provided clarification on what constitutes a trade secret under Ohio’s Uniform Trade Secrets Act. The case in question is Hanneman Family Funeral Home & Crematorium v. Orians, and it required a thoughtful analysis of how the ADA (American Disabilities Act) applies to former employees and their rights…
In the aftermath of a severe terror attack by Hamas in Israel, members of the international Biglaw community have rallied together to provide support and aid. A standout example of this collective initiative is one of the giants in the law industry, Kirkland & Ellis, who not only made significant financial contributions but also played…
There are noteworthy revisions to the Massachusetts Paid Family and Medical Leave Law (“PFML”) that corporate and law firm legal professionals need to understand. Notably, the PFML will now permit employees the opportunity to supplement their PFML benefits with accruing paid leave, such as vacation, sick time, and other forms of Paid Time Off (PTO)….
Beginning November 1, 2023, it will become mandatory for divorcing parents, as well as parties to annulment, parentage, and modification actions involving custody or parenting time to undertake a four-hour online parenting course known as “Two Parents Now”. This mandate, brought about by the Massachusetts Probate and Family Court, is highlighted in Standing Order 3-23….
In a recent move by the Massachusetts Department of Family and Medical Leave (the “Department”), two major updates to the Massachusetts Paid Family and Medical Leave (“MA PFML”) program have been implemented. These changes are set to greatly impact how both employees and employers approach paid leave. The first update, effective as of November 1,…
Kirkland & Ellis partner Daniel Wolf managed to escape Israel with his family, following unexpected attacks launched by Hamas; safe extraction was facilitated by his law firm, Wolf conveyed in an interview. Wolf was about to visit a local synagogue in Jerusalem when he heard the air defense sirens. Startled, he returned to his apartment…
In a significant recent development, FaZe Holdings Inc., the online video-game influencer firm, is being taken over by GameSquare Holdings Inc. With a staggering 512 million followers across various social media platforms, FaZe Holdings has been grappling with several challenges recently. This takeover essentially connotes a merger of sorts between the two entities reported Bloomberg…
US-Russian journalist Alsu Kurmasheva was arrested in Russia this Wednesday due to failing to register as a “foreign agent.” Kurmasheva, who writes for Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty (RFE/RL) and holds dual citizenship for both Russia and the United States, travelled to Russia in May following a family emergency. As per the details provided by RFE/RL,…
In a significant development, an agreement has been reached pertaining to migrant family separations that occurred under the Trump administration. The settlement, which provides families with a path to asylum, also enforces an eight-year ban on the controversial “zero tolerance” policy, polish that resulted in the separation of thousands of families. As reported by CNN,…