In a recent move to curb misuse and fraud within the hospice industry, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) took definite steps towards change. August 22, 2023, marked the day when CMS announced the conduct of surprise site visits to each Medicare-enrolled hospice facility across the United States. This drive is an extension…
In recent years, cybersecurity and data protection have steadily occupied the spotlight in discussions at the Federal Communications Commission’s (FCC) table. More recently, attention on these matters reached a new high as the FCC issued a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (NPRM) on August 25, 2023. Introduced by the FCC, this NPRM seeks public comments on…
The annual African Legal Awards ceremony is a prominent event in the global legal calendar, recognising the outstanding work conducted by legal professionals across Africa. This year, the awards highlighted both established firms and rising stars, with Webber Wentzel garnering the most accolades. Webber Wentzel, a South African law firm, proved to be the biggest…
In the realm of hotel litigation, an increasing trend of class-action lawsuits revolving around fees has placed hotels squarely in the spotlight. The most recent example of such legal action is the class-action lawsuit filed by Travelers United, a Traveler advocacy organization, against the Hyatt Hotels Corporation and its affiliates on August 18, 2023. The…
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 Golden State appears poised to make alterations to its existing data broker law with Senate Bill 362, informally dubbed the Delete Act (“the Act”). Following its recent approval in the Assembly’s Committee on Privacy and Consumer Protection, the Act has been passed on to the Assembly’s Committee on Appropriations. This imminent change in legislation…
In a continuation of their efforts to spotlight impressive independent sponsors, McGuireWoods has conducted an interview as part of their ongoing commitment to the independent sponsor community. This time, the spotlight fell on Maury Bradsher of District Equity. The interview is a part of a series by McGuireWoods, who have shown a consistent dedication to…
The U.S. Center for SafeSport, a nonprofit organization established by Congress to combat sexual abuse within Olympic sports, has appointed Jessica Perrill as its new general counsel. With a background as a veteran prosecutor and Division III soccer player, Perrill brings a unique perspective to the role. Prior to her appointment, she held a senior…
In the escalating quest to address the increasing cost of prescription medications, it appears lawmakers’ spotlights have focused on the end consumer. The rallying call among policymakers has been a combination of measures aimed at simultaneously lowering drug prices while also providing consumers with more options for their out-of-pocket expenses. On this account, an increasing…
In a significant recent decision, New York State Human Rights Law’s (NYSHRL) source-of-income anti-discrimination statute has been ruled unconstitutional. The ruling, in the case of People v. Commons W., LLC, throws a spotlight on the difficult equilibrium between promoting equitable housing practices and protecting constitutional rights. The source-of-income discrimination statute was formulated to ensure that…
The Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) recently announced that globally-renowned home appliances manufacturer, Whirlpool Corporation, has conceded to pay a hefty $11.5 million civil penalty. This substantial settlement arises from the CPSC’s charges asserting that Whirlpool deliberately did not promptly report, as mandated by law, that 17 models of their electric radiant heat cooktops had…
In a disturbing turn of events, late last month, over 300,000 customers of Standard Insurance Company were impacted by a data breach. The breach, centered on the MOVEit data healthcare transfer service, was revealed by Pension Benefit Information, LLC (“PBI”). The extent of information accessed by unauthorized parties is believed to include sensitive details such…
In a recent development, the No Surprises Act (NSA) regulations have been struck down by the Eastern District of Texas court, marking the fourth defeat for the federal government in its attempts to combat cases brought by health care and air ambulance providers. Embodied in a case known as TMA III, the court’s decision specifically…
In an era where diversity and representation are paramount, we spotlight professionals making significant contributions to their sectors. In this installment, we focus on the narratives of black dealmakers and change makers in the private equity and financial community. The insights offered in this series serve to both illuminate the unique challenges faced by black…
In a move that came as significant, yet not unexpected, the Department of Labor (DOL) announced a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking on August 30, 2023, proposing to increase the Fair Labor Standards Act’s (FLSA’s) minimum salary threshold for white-collar overtime exemptions. This was reported by Kelley Drye & Warren LLP on their legal news page,…
As we traverse the labyrinth of legal regulation updates, it is essential to keep up with new mandates. One such significant update arrived in the form of the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau’s (CFPB) new small business lending data collection and reporting rule—Section 1071 Final Rule. Legal professionals worldwide, especially those working within large corporations and…
In an announcement made on August 25, 2023, the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) revealed its decision to grant an award exceeding $18 million to a whistleblower. The individual in question first reported misbehavior within their organization internally before providing key information and assistance that engendered a successful SEC enforcement action. The grant signifies…
With the turning of the midpoint of 2023, the arena of drug pricing sees an influx of developments. The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) finalized its guidance to prepare for unprecedented price negotiations, putting a highlight on the initial 10 drugs covered under the Innovation and Regulatory Affairs (IRA). Meanwhile, the constitutionality of…
Numerous restaurants based in Nevada are facing allegations of employment discrimination and harassment, according to a recently filed federal complaint. The suit, initially reported by Law.com Radar, highlights a growing concern over workplace equity and safety within the hospitality industry. Details about the identities of the restaurants involved, the nature of the alleged discriminatory practices,…
The U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) Chief Accountant, Paul Munter, has recently issued a statement underscoring the importance of comprehensive risk assessments by auditors and management of companies. Munter’s spotlight on comprehensive evaluation expresses concern towards tendencies within companies to carry out risk assessments with a too-narrow focus on information and risks that directly…
The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) unveiled on August 24 that the Medicare Shared Savings Program (MSSP) yielded the second-highest annual savings for Medicare since the program’s inception in 2012, according to the 2022 MSSP Report. This year marked the sixth year in a row that the MSSP delivered net savings along with…
Last week, legal professionals from all over the world gathered in Orlando, Florida for the 43rd edition of ILTACON, one of the most prominent conferences in the legal tech industry. The event saw a significant turnout with about 3,400 onsite registrants, attesting to the importance and relevance of legal technology in today’s increasingly digital world….
As cases surrounding bullying are increasing, legal professionals are using the glare of publicity to incite change. The spotlight on these instances is becoming a potent tool, aiming to reform negligent behaviour and institute new procedures to prevent reoccurrences. Emily Suski, from the University of South Carolina School of Law, has noted that once corporations…
Several partners of the New York-based legal firm, Abelman Frayne & Schwab LLP, are under spotlight as the South American intellectual property law firm, Marval O’Farrell Mairal, is pressing charges against them. As per the lawsuit, the Argentinian firm asserts the partners to be liable for a debt exceeding $170,000. This amount stems from IP…
Law.com International recently undertook a comprehensive review of a vast array of submissions from leading law firms across Asia. Their objective was to compile Law.com’s inaugural list of Asia Rising Stars within the private equity field. Although the pool of contenders was impressively vast, the list has been meticulously whittled down to the top ten….