The legal profession can be a lonely one. In a recent article by Traci Cipriano, she references a pre-COVID study published in the Harvard Business Review suggesting law to be the loneliest profession. Cipriano, a trained psychologist and attorney, suggests that the loneliness lawyers often experience are detrimental to their emotional health and overall performance….
In a recent development, Tucker Ellis LLP has widened its presence in California through a merger with business litigation firm, Connor Fletcher & Hedenkamp LLP. This merger represents a significant strategic move for both firms, as it combines Tucker Ellis’ already extensive legal offerings with the specialized litigation focus offered by Connor Fletcher & Hedenkamp….
In a notable development, a Judicial Panel on Multidistrict Litigation has moved forward with consolidating 13 insulin price-fixing lawsuits. These cases also include future tag-along lawsuits from various states, counties, and private entities against three of the most significant global pharmaceutical corporations. This move arises from the allegations that these companies have excessively inflated the…
In a recent legal development, the United States Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit has affirmed the exclusion of purported autism science, aiming to discredit its usage in lawsuits connected to this neurological disorder. The case in question, Daniels-Feasel v. Forest Pharms., Inc., 2023 U.S. App. LEXIS 19448 (2d Cir. July 28, 2023), seems…
In a noteworthy development, an MIT task force specifically designed to develop guidelines and principles on Generative AI’s responsible use for law and legal systems has released preliminary versions of seven principles. These principles aim to ensure factual accuracy, ensure valid legal reasoning, align with professional ethics and diligently use AI responsibly in the legal…
Mexican authorities have confirmed the recovery of two bodies from the Rio Grande, reigniting a contentious debate over the floating barriers instigated by Texas to deter border crossings. The bodies, one Mexican and the other Honduran national, were found near and away from buoys implying a concerning pattern of danger in the area. These incidents…
Recent news reveal a twist in the tale of the PFAS settlement case between 3M Company and a plaintiff class of municipal public water suppliers. Following a report in June boasting of the proposed blockbuster $10 billion-$12 billion settlement, the deal now faces objections from a significant coalition of 22 U.S states, led by Massachusetts….
The previous week’s litigation in London was marked by a flurry of legal activity. Law firm Hugh James instigated legal actions against Berrymans Lace Mawer LLP due to the guidance it provided to a medical group involved in a case over non-medical-grade silicone implants[1]. In more international news, Panasonic has lodged a patent claim against…
Last week, the legal scene in London was abuzz with several noteworthy cases. These included a dispute between Hugh James law firm and Berrymans Lace Mawer LLP, a patent claim by Panasonic against Chinese companies Xiaomi and Oppo, and collapsed law firm Carillion’s lawsuit against the U.K. government and three partners from PwC. Hugh James,…
The Pregnant Workers Fairness Act (“PWFA”), which took effect on June 27, 2023, has significant implications for covered employers, including law firms and corporations. The legislation mandates that employers provide “reasonable accommodations” for the clearly defined restrictions of an employee with regards to pregnancy, childbirth, or related medical conditions, unless such accommodation causes “undue hardship”…
On July 19, 2023, the U.S. Department of the Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) granted a further extension for U.S. persons’ right to pursue action against collateral backing the Petróleos de Venezuela, S.A., more commonly known as PdVSA’s defaulted 2020 8.5% bonds. This decision was facilitated through General License (GL) 5L, a part…
In the unsettling aftermath of a truck accident, victims often find themselves questioning their next steps. Perhaps unsurprisingly, many reach out to legal counsel. What may not be as apparent, however, is that the quality of this counsel can greatly impact the handling of the case. An attorney with specific experience in truck accidents can…
On July 13, 2023, the United States Court of Appeals for the Tenth Circuit handed down a key decision, reversing the dismissal of a putative class action against a poultry producer and several of its officers under Section 10(b) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934. This case, titled Hogan v. Pilgrim’s Pride Corp., was…
The White House Council on Environmental Quality (CEQ) recently proposed a rule carrying significant revisions to National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) regulations. This move is part of a broader implementation of amendments directed by the Fiscal Responsibility Act of 2023, and reflects the Biden administration’s priorities surrounding climate change and environmental justice. This proposed rule,…
In a recent development within the scope of employment law, another federal appeals court has made a ruling reinforcing that employers are obliged to accommodate an employee’s commute in certain circumstances. Based on the tenets of the Americans with Disabilities Act, this mandate reiterates the act’s requirement for employers to provide reasonable accommodations which assist…
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…
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…
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 times, a significant legal question has been making waves in legal and financial circles, focusing on the intersection of loan syndication and securities laws. At the heart of the debate is a critical question: Are syndicated term loans subject to federal and state securities laws? A decisive case currently pending in the U.S….
The US Department of Labor (DOL) has undertaken an investigatory initiative centered around the serious issue of “insurability” under life insurance benefits, as highlighted in a recent news release. The problem herein lies in the failure to complete the process of confirming the evidence of insurability. The evidence of insurability can be described as the…
In an intriguing turn of events in international litigation, the U.S. Supreme Court recently ruled in the case of Yegiazaryan v. Smagin (available for review here), offering a new approach for foreign plaintiffs looking to collect on arbitration awards in the U.S. By employing the Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations Act (RICO), it can indeed…
As with any public sector entity, local and state government bodies are increasingly grappling with the demands of managing eDiscovery in response to Access Requests and Data Subject Access Requests (DSARs). Evidently, sizable data management challenges coincide. State and local groups generate and store copious volumes of data, spread across a myriad of departments, committees…
In a significant ruling on July 28, 2023, the Michigan Supreme Court diminished the commonplace application of the ‘open and obvious doctrine’ in premises liability claim cases. Two prominent cases sparked this modification in the interpretation and application of premises liability law in Michigan. These cases, Kandil-Elsayed v. F & E Oil, Inc., and Pinski…
As society continues to increasingly adopt generative AI, new products designed with the express purpose of aiding lawyers in their daily work are launching in the market. These developments are of particular interest to those working within the personal injury bar. This article from The Legal Intelligencer provides an in-depth view of this recent development….
On June 21, 2023, the New York State Department of Labor (NYS DOL) implemented changes to its Worker Adjustment and Retraining Act (NY WARN) regulations. These laws, like their federal equivalents, mandate businesses to preemptively notify the Commissioner of Labor and relevant employees about impending closures and layoffs. Full details can be found here. It’s…