In a wave of public response, over 40,000 teachers in South Korea are calling for legal protection against instances of bullying and abuse from parents. With recent rallies and major demonstrations, such as one on September 4, these educators are making their voices heard outside of the National Assembly in Seoul. The public action was…
The study and practice of law are notoriously stressful, with a high prevalence of anxiety amongst lawyers. Anxiety, unfortunately, isn’t a topic that is openly discussed in the legal industry’s meeting rooms or courtrooms. The sweat, the heart palpitations, the imposter syndrome – they are held close, undercover. Notably, Olga V. Mack, the VP at…
The necessity for intermittent extended leave, particularly related to stress and anxiety, is placing employers in a complex scenario. This issue has come to the fore during the COVID-19 pandemic, sparking a rise in inquiries from employers grappling with employees seeking accommodations, some requesting leave under the Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA) due to…
Today’s legal professionals are all too acquainted with the complexities that accompany balancing personal and professional lives. In a candid contribution to the ongoing series on motherhood in the legal profession, in collaboration with MothersEsquire, attorney Claire E. Parsons recounts a deeply personal experience on solitude and belonging. Focusing on an unconventional, visible symbol –…
Troubling accounts on Tom Girardi’s mental health state came to light during Wednesday’s mental competency hearing. Five witnesses, including former Skadden Arps partner Richard Marmaro, described the 84-year-old former lawyer in terms that sparked concern for his well-being. They painted a picture of a man who wears the same burgundy sweater and khaki pants, sometimes…
The legal landscape surrounding psychedelic drugs is undergoing significant changes in the United States. Growth in interest and the promising potential of these substances in treating various health conditions are emerging as key forces driving this change. A webinar titled “Navigating the Mainstreaming of Psychedelic Drugs in the United States” is scheduled for October 3rd,…
Last week marked the official end of the COVID-19 public health emergency, but the pandemic’s ripple effects continue, especially in the global work arena. As we are over three years from when countries began imposing lockdowns, it’s become challenging to recall the traditional office structure. The advent of video communication became a mainstream mode of…
The issue of the “Meaningful Benefit” requirement for Non-Quantitative Treatment Limitations (NQTLs) under the proposed regulations of the Mental Health Parity and Addiction Equity Act (MHPAEA) is one every legal professional in the corporate and healthcare arena should familiarize themselves with. Prompted by the Departments of Labor, Health and Human Services, and the Treasury, these…
The proposed rule by the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) to rollback Covid-19 era flexibilities for virtual prescribing of controlled substances is facing pushback from four major mental health companies. Talkiatry, Array Behavioral Care, Iris Telehealth, and Quartet Health took a cooperative stand and issued a letter to the DEA outlining their recommendations.MedCity News reported on…
In an unexpected turn of events, Philadelphia Police Commissioner Danielle Outlaw has announced her resignation. Outlaw, appointed by Mayor Jim Kenney in 2019, has been instrumental in leading the police department through the formidable challenges posed by the COVID-19 pandemic. She is set to leave the post by the end of this month, stepping into…
In a shift from usual campus activities, The University of Arizona James E. Rogers College of Law conducted its final week of classes and exams remotely last spring. The college chose this course of action following allegations of potential threats made against the institution by one of its students. The details initially disclosed to students…
Labor Day, a universal symbol for rest and relaxation, often inspires thoughtful reflections on the current state of work-life integration, particularly in demanding professions like law. Over recent years, the legal realm has experienced a significant shift, driven by unprecedented changes in the work environment due to the pandemic, the ongoing labor strikes, and highly…
Last week, legal professional attention was drawn to the nuanced “no more restrictive” requirement and its application to non-quantitative treatment limitations (NQTLs) as outlined in the recently proposed regulations under the Mental Health Parity and Addiction Equity Act (MHPAEA). The description of these proposed regulations is accessible here. The newly proposed regulations principally concern NQTLs,…
The New Jersey Supreme Court has recently outlined new strategies aiming to ensure justice accessibility for people of color and other historically marginalized groups, including the advancement of wellness efforts for legal professionals along with the utilization of technology for improved notice of and access to court language facilities. The nine newly-unveiled initiatives are part…
The United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has taken note of the burgeoning interest in the potential use of psychedelic pharmaceuticals for the treatment of mental health disorders. In June, the FDA released its inaugural draft guidance aimed at developers of these psychedelic substances for medical use. This guidance zeroes in on what are…
The First Judicial District of the Appellate Court of Illinois has issued a ruling that the state’s Department of Financial and Professional Regulation (DFPR) is not immune from paying attorney fees and costs under the Mental Health and Development Disabilities Confidentiality Act, contrary to the Department’s assertions of sovereign immunity in such matters. The DFPR…
Recently, the United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and Indiana-American Water Company, Inc. (IAWC) entered into a Consent Agreement and Final Order (CAFO) to address an alleged violation of the Clean Air Act regulations. This comes in compliance with Section 112(r)(7) of the Clean Air Act, according to the Docket No. CAA-05-2023-007. The CAFO highlights…
The wine industry, like any other, demands meticulous attention when it comes to the structuring of business agreements, an underlying fact that becomes increasingly apparent in the realm of distribution arrangements. As directly-to-consumer (DTC) sales avenues such as tasting rooms, clubs, and websites tend to have limited reach, the success of most wine brands typically…
In a landmark ruling, the Constitutional Court of Colombia has declared the conditional constitutionality of the literal (a) of article 6 of Law 2191 of 2022, which stated that public workers holding positions of trust and direction were exempted from enjoying the right to labor disconnection or “desconexión laboral”. This decision asserts the universal applicability…
The US Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit has reissued its opinion for the second time in a lawsuit challenging United Behavioral Health’s (UBH) internal mental health coverage guidelines, according to a recent report on JD Supra. Last week, in its third opinion in the case, the court reversed a lower court’s decision that…
The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) has long been a guide for many employers in accommodating the needs of their employees with disabilities. However, some legal grey areas continue to present dilemmas and challenging situations, especially associated with disciplinary actions against employees with diagnosis of mental health conditions such as post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). According…
In an unexpected development, the Ninth Circuit has once again revised its opinion in the Wit v. United Behavioral Health case. Affirming its prior ruling that denied motion to vacate and superseding its prior Wit Opinion, the federal appellate court has been persistent in its adaptations. This index case involves patients struggling with mental health…
NLBM, a popular legal coaching company, has alleged infringement of copyright against its competitor, 2-Hour Lifestyle Lawyer. The accusation is based on what NLBM claims is copied course content that was subsequently resold. NLBM’s complaints centered around generic coaching content, with areas such as estate planning and pricing being highlighted as topics being unceremoniously replicated….
In the challenging world of corporate law, executives and attorneys often face varying stages of job-related stress; some experience career fatigue, while others hit a metaphorical ceiling at their current roles, prompting them to seek a change. Chronic career burnout is often accompanied by stress induced symptoms, such as depleted energy, decreased motivation, as well…
In the latest release of their monthly benefits publication, Keating Muething & Klekamp PLL tackle the pressing issues surrounding mental health parity. The August edition, aptly titled “Benefits Monthly Minute – PART II: MHP REPORT TO CONGRESS – DO NOT PASS GO, DO NOT COLLECT $200!”, provides an in-depth analysis of the latest report submitted…