The No Surprises Act (NSA) was enacted by Congress in 2020 with an intention to minimize surprising medical bills and to facilitate a swift and straightforward procedure for out-of-network healthcare providers to receive payment from insurers. Despite this, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) and other agencies created regulations to regulate this…
On 23rd June 2023, the European Union implemented another package of economic sanctions against Russia, further expanding the existing financial constraints on the nation. The 11th sanctions package is unique in its specificity, as it widens the prior financial limitations that apply to investment funds as well as their managers, administrators, and other service vendors….
On August 2, 2023, a significant change occurred in the legal landscape of workplace rules in the United States with the adoption of a stringent new legal standard by the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB). This standard, adopted during the case of Stericycle, Inc., 372 NLRB No. 113 (2023), pertains to the assessment of the…
With an unprecedented global shift to remote and hybrid work schedules during the pandemic, legal professionals who handle HR affairs have undoubtedly noticed an uptick in complaints relating to remote work scenarios. A seemingly intractable issue facing corporations and law firms today is handling harassment in these digital landscapes. Still, many HR Departments are dialing…
In the closing installment of this three-part series, we cover the ongoing evolution around the management and defense of “junk fees” litigation under the purview of the Biden Administration’s cooperative efforts with the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) and Federal Trade Commission (FTC). To recap the exposition we provided in our previous piece on this…
In recent legal news, a crucial concern seems to be arising within the trade community due to the lack of uniformity in the procedures and practices of U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) Centers of Excellence and Expertise (Centers). This is according to the August 2023 newsletter issued by the Braumiller Law Group. Compliant companies…
In a recent move that has provoked discussion in the professional law community, the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) has instigated a review of the standards typically addressed in employee handbooks. These reviews, which relate to profanity, inappropriate social media use, and other workplace issues, are causing increasing challenges for corporate employers. As per the…
On August 2, 2023, the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) issued a landmark decision in the case of Stericycle Inc. that marks a new approach in how the Board will weigh workplace policies and rules. The primary fork in this shift revolves around whether these rules infringe upon employees’ rights of engagement in collective workplace…
In an ever-changing digital environment, contemplating the intersection of law, technology, and social media becomes vital. Behaviors that seemed unthinkable just a decade ago, such as ‘witness tampering’ via social media platforms, have emerged, becoming a notable concern in the legal fraternity. The practice of witness tampering, typically involves attempting to improperly influence, intimidate, or…
In an impactful turn of events, Governor Pritzker signed House Bill 2862 into law on August 4, 2023, significantly amending the Illinois’ Day and Temporary Labor Services Act. The legislation, articulated as being game-changing, was given the stamp of approval by the State Legislature and ushered in changes that will widely impact the Illinois’ Staffing…
When it comes to divorce and separation, the focus usually remains on the couple involved and the fallout their split may have on immediate family members. However, a recent article published on JD Supra calls attention to a less-discussed consequence of divorce: the impact on friendships. Having a robust network of friends is a blessing…
The U.S. Supreme Court, the very pinnacle of the American legal system. Each weekday, a multitude of news, commentary, and links surface, noteworthy for their relevance to the Supreme Court. This coverage includes articles from an array of legal and mainstream media outlets that can be crucial for updating awareness, increasing understanding, and shaping debates…
Designing compensation to operationalize compliance continues to be a vital and strategic topic for legal professionals. The shift towards incorporating compensation systems into a company’s compliance program is evident, highlighting the importance of alignment between monetary incentives and adherence to corporate compliance. In a recent podcast episode, compliance expert Tom Fox discusses the perspective of…
Silicon Valley-based international law firm, Gunderson Dettmer, has launched an artificial intelligence application known as a generative AI chat app, named ChatGD. The firm, which boasts more than 400 lawyers and has numerous clients in the artificial intelligence field, holds the distinction of being the first U.S.-based firm to create a proprietary internal tool using…
In an era where social progress is at the forefront of public conversation, it is alarming to read that black women lawyers still encounter discrimination in the workplace. This unsettling reality was brought to light through a recent survey, demonstrating that the issue is far from resolved and is still a detriment to equal opportunities…
In the sixty-ninth episode of Trekking Through Compliance, titled “Whom Gods Destroy”, an intriguing narrative on mental health, criminal insanity, leadership and strategy is explored. This episode takes us back to January 3, 1969, occurring on Star Date 5718.3, and provides a lens into how these themes are interwoven within the larger context of organizational…
Cellspin, the patent owner, is persistently urging the Federal Circuit to retroactively disqualify a California federal judge from an intellectual property dispute involving Fitbit LLC, a unit of Google. Moreover, the company makes an argument that the outcome of the case may have extensive implications for the United States’ judicial system. In various legal scenarios,…
The producer of a Kim Kardashian-themed energy drink has raised allegations of copyright infringement against a competitor in the beverage industry, along with a social media influencer. This battle over image rights was ignited after the rival company used an image strongly resembling the copyrighted, Kardashian-endorsed visual to hawk its own pink-hued beverage on Instagram….
In a recent development, the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) has made the final amendments to its Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising (hereafter, Endorsement Guides). As we noted in a previous article, the proposed changes have been the subject for discussion for some time. The Endorsement Guides are designed to ensure…
As an increasing concern in today’s digital age, data security breaches continue to pose major threats to corporations worldwide. The most recent casualty is Mutual of Omaha Rx, a subsidiary of Omaha Health Insurance Company (“OHIC”), itself a division of Mutual of Omaha. OHIC reported a data breach involving sensitive member information to the Attorney…
With advancements in artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning models, organizations worldwide are thinking over the incorporation of these dynamic tools into their everyday operations. Given their advanced proficiencies and the media limelight they are receiving, it is not surprising to see the increasing interest of companies towards AI. Potential applications of these powerful language…
Freedom Debt Relief, LLC (FDR) recently came under the spotlight as it announced a data breach that put confidential consumer information at risk. Filed with the Attorney General of Montana on August 3, 2023, the notice alerts to an instance of unauthorized access to certain critical documents holding sensitive data of consumers. Having occurred at…
Leading Canadian news groups have requested that the country’s Competition Bureau investigate tech giant Meta for potentially prohibiting news content from being shared on Facebook and Instagram. Coincidingly, News Media Canada, the Canadian Association of Broadcasters, and the Canadian Broadcasting Corp (CBC) associated to release a joint statement. The conglomerate’s urgent appeal for an investigation…
Major changes could be coming for professionals who deal with monetized installment sale transactions. The Internal Revenue Service (IRS) has recently introduced proposed regulations that would categorize these transactions in a new manner. The new classification, if finalized, will list them as a listed transaction. This change was announced on August 4, 2023. A recent…
In a setback for employers, the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB), has adopted a new legal standard for evaluating the legality of facially neutral policies, handbook provisions, and employment rules. Under the new framework, items that don’t explicitly restrict an employee’s National Labor Relations Act (NLRA) rights may still be deemed illegal under Section 8(a)(1)…