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,…
The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) in India has filed a formal charge sheet against six individuals and furnished a report denoting a ‘child in conflict with the law’, in relation to a shocking case of sexual violence out of Manipur. The case centers on a video of two tribal women being paraded naked, an…
In a recent action by the U.S. Internal Revenue Service, deadlines have been extended for U.S. taxpayers affected by the terrorist attacks in Israel that began on October 7, 2023. As per the new decision, these taxpayers now have until October 7, 2024, to complete certain tax responsibilities that were initially meant to be performed…
On October 17, 2023, an influential amendment to the Massachusetts Paid Family and Medical Leave (PFML) law was signed by Governor Healey. This noteworthy adjustment has been made in response to the concerns raised by both employers and employees over the “topping off” issue that has come into light since PFML took effect in 2021….
In a significant clarification, the highest court in the land has ruled that an order conferring “standing” to grandparents is not subject to immediate appeal. The term “standing” is defined by lawyers as “the right to be involved in the litigation”, a subject that has been avidly discussed in recent years. Many grandparents find themselves…
In a recent installment on motherhood in the legal profession, lawyer, wife and mother Kate Landis shared her experiences of being the financial backbone for her family while working in a high-pressure legal job. She confessed that the feat was not possible without her husband, who opted out of his career to support hers and…
In a significant legislative change, the Massachusetts Paid Family and Medical Leave Law (PFML) has been amended to permit employees to enhance their PFML benefits with accumulated paid leave. This encompasses vacation, sick time, among other forms of Paid Time Off (PTO). The changes, presented by Morgan, Brown & Joy, LLP, will come into effect…
The Eleventh Circuit Court of Appeals has recently upheld an employer’s refusal of a request for leave under the Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA). This decision has implications for any business which falls under the FMLA’s jurisdiction, primarily those with over 50 employees. The case in question was Kadribasic v. Wal-Mart, Inc. In an…
Recent legal developments in the Cayman Islands have sparked deep discussions among legal professionals. On September 20, 2023, the Privy Council announced a highly awaited decision in the case of FamilyMart China Holding Co Ltd v Ting Chuan (Cayman Islands) Holding Corporation [2023] UKPC 33, teasing out important implications for arbitration and insolvent procedures. The…
The Democratic Republic of the Congo’s (DRC) High Court in Kinshasa-Gombe rejected a request on Tuesday for provisional release of journalist Stanis Bujakera. Bujakera’s team of lawyers, lead by Charles Mushizi, had been repeatedly petitioning for his release since his detention in September, even appealing for more time to prepare for the upcoming trial. The…
The Hong Kong Court of Appeal this week unanimously dismissed two appeals from the Hong Kong Housing Authority (HA), which attempted to retain the exclusion of same-sex couples from the Public Rental Housing (PRH) policy and Home Ownership Scheme (HOS) as enjoyed by heterosexual couples. This comes after two applicants initially lodged a judicial review…
Starting from January 1, on the heels of a new legal amendment, employers in California are mandated to offer leave for workers who experience reproductive loss. California Governor Gavin Newsom signed into law SB 848 on October 10, 2023, according to an announcement by law company Perkins Coie. Here is the detailed legal analysis. The…
Companies worldwide are recognizing the substantiated advantages of incorporating family-friendly workplace policies, perceiving it as more than just benevolent behavior. Businesses find that by offering flexible work conditions conducive to personal commitments, they can gain a multitude of benefits including reduced employee turnover and economizing on unnecessary training expenses, ultimately improving their bottom line. This…
Estate planning, often seen as something for those in the later stages of their lives or those deemed wealthy, is a process that everyone, regardless of age or financial status, should seriously consider. The misconception that this process is not essential often leads to delays or even a complete disregard for this critical step of…
In a twist of events, a lawsuit which settled for $10 million was on the cusp of a $23 million jury verdict, according to a statement from Jeb Butler of Butler Khan. The plaintiff’s family stood to be awarded this substantial sum primarily from the defendant, whom the jury found to be 75% at fault….
An issue of growing concern in Missouri is the question of involuntary nursing home discharges and transfers. Many elderly residents spend years in long-term care facilities, but inevitably, circumstances may fluctify, potentially rendering the facility no longer suitably equipped to care for the resident. In certain scenarios, nursing homes may even proceed to discharge or…
With the passage of the bipartisan Camp Lejeune Justice Act in 2022, it has become possible for veterans and others who resided at the Marine Corps Base Camp Lejeune in Jacksonville, North Carolina to potentially file a claim and receive compensation for specific illnesses. The Act, a significant federal law, provides a legal route for…
The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) provided recent updates to its public information concerning the Self-Referral Disclosure Protocol (SRDP) settlements, incorporating consolidated settlement data from calendar years 2021 and 2022. As detailed by Katten Muchin Rosenman LLP, these updates marked a notable increase in the volume of SRDPs settled by CMS, as the…
Massachusetts has recently implemented amendments to its Paid Family and Medical Leave (PFML) law. These changes, which take effect on November 1, 2023, offer employees a new supplementary income provision while receiving PFML benefits. Under the amended Massachusetts PFML law, employees will have the option to supplement their PFML benefits using accrued paid time off…