The question of classifying workers within the scope of the Federal Arbitration Act’s (FAA) exemption was under the lens of U.S. Supreme Court Justices, as they deliberated the scope of the term ‘transportation workers’. An example of this debate was seen in the contentious case of Bissonnette v. LePage Bakeries Park St., where truck drivers…
Workers have spent years arguing that the Federal Arbitration Act’s transportation worker exemption means their wage-based claims against companies such as Amazon.com Inc., Domino’s Pizza, and Uber Technologies Inc. should be heard in court, not behind closed doors. A federal appellate court added a new obstacle in 2022 when it ruled that both the worker’s…
In an ongoing legal battle taking place within the U.S Supreme Court, the case of Bissonnette v. LePage Bakeries Park St. revolves around the contested field of mandatory arbitration imposed by employers on their employees. This case, specifically, concerns commercial truck drivers who work for Flowers Foods, the producers of the iconic Wonder Bread. The…
On February 13, 2024, Crowell & Moring announced that Eric Enson will join their Los Angeles office. Enson will be a partner in the antitrust and competition group. His past experience includes handling US Justice Department antitrust investigations and taking on civil class action and opt-out litigation. His areas of work are not limited to,…
Cozen O’Connor, a full-service law firm with a reputation for its comprehensive legal services, has recently confirmed a new hire for their Transportation & Trade Practice. Patrick R. Rizzi, an experienced professional, has joined the legal team in their Washington, D.C. office. The comprehensive skill set and extensive experience that Rizzi brings to the table…
California lawmakers announced new bipartisan legislation on Tuesday, termed Senate Bill (SB) 1012, aimming to permit the use of psychedelic mushrooms for therapeutic purposes. The proposed bill, otherwise referred to as the “Regulated Psychedelic-Assisted Therapy Act,” would authorize professionals to administer the consumption of psychedelic mushrooms by individuals over the age of 21. As reported…
An Amnesty International report alleges that Myanmar is circumventing Western sanctions by finding alternative sources for jet fuel. The report outlines the lengths to which the country is going to maintain its airpower despite sanctions imposed by the US, UK, Canada, and the EU in spring 2023. The aim of the sanctions was, among other…
In recent legal industry news, Amna Arshad has made her return to Crowell & Moring as a partner, bolstering the firm’s aviation and transportation practices in Washington, D.C. This development was announced by the firm on Wednesday. Prior to rejoining Crowell & Moring, Arshad established a pedigree working both in private legal practice and in…
In a recent display of the remarkable ebbs and flows emblematic of the Delaware Court of Chancery, various businesses have demonstrated the court’s versatility as an arbiter of significant corporate matters. A transportation services organization and a cryptocurrency fund, for instance, successfully navigated their respective legal confrontations to close their litigations. The court was also…
Legal giant Lathrop GPM has announced a significant addition to their business transactions practice group in Kansas City, Missouri; Issaku Yamaashi has joined the firm as a partner. You can read more details about this in their press release here. With a keen focus on M&A, securities transactions, financing, business entity ownership issues, software licensing,…
On Friday, the Biden administration ceased approvals for new US liquefied natural gas (LNG) export licenses. This development raises concerns over the continuance of several multi-billion dollar projects. The intention behind this move is to analyze the potential impact of these operations on broader issues like climate change, national security, and the economy. The existing…
Hidden charges and unwanted fees are becoming a significant issue, often impacting consumer purchasing decisions to a large extent. In reaction to seemingly opaque pricing strategies across industries, politicians and regulators are intensifying the fight against these undisclosed fees, combining proposed legislation and consumer action to provide a much-needed remedy. The Junk Fee Prevention Act,…
Hoyoon Nam has entered Vedder Price as a shareholder joining the team of global transportation finance in the offices of both New York and London, Bloomberg Law reported on Friday. Nam holds considerable experience in the maritime and transportation finance sector. He represents owners and financing sources and acts in private credit affairs for investment…
In a recent pivotal move, a Kentucky House committee approved a bill that calls for stricter penalties for various criminal offenses. One of the key elements of House Bill 5 is its three-strikes regulation, which would lead to life imprisonment for those convicted of three violent felonies. Further, the bill proposes harsher penalties for the…
The Department of Labor has marked a milestone in U.S labor law by defining ‘independent contractor’ under the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) for the first time. This legal positioning is communicated via the Department’s final rule, which supplants prior informal advice. The latest rule, which is slated to come into effect on March 11th,…
Lawyers in Michigan now have the ability to provide impoverished pro bono clients with certain forms of financial aid, following a revision to the state’s professional conduct code. The change in the Michigan Rules of Professional Conduct has been described as a “humanitarian exception” to the general prohibition against lawyers providing financial assistance to clients….
Parker Group Inc., a financial technology startup that became visible to the public last year, has appointed Matthew Kopko as its chief legal officer. Prior to this, Kopko spent a year working as a senior vice president of legal and compliance as well as the head of proxy services for Strive Asset Management, an investment…
A recent addition to the ArentFox Schiff team, Todd Feinsmith has joined the ranks as a partner within the firm’s bankruptcy and financial restructuring practice in the Boston office. The firm confirmed the recruitment of Feinsmith on Monday. Feinsmith’s credentials extend to representing private equity funds and hedge funds in distressed acquisitions of companies, particularly…
The recent $708 million lawsuit filed by New York City against bus companies used by Texas has raised considerable legal and ethical debates. These companies were involved in the purported smuggling of migrants across state lines. This action is noted to be in clear violation of New York Social Services Law ยง149, which financially penalizes…
In a recent announcement, Husch Blackwell LLP has welcomed the chair of Lewis Brisbois Bisgaard & Smith LLP’s transportation practice and four other attorneys from the same group to its Phoenix office. The attorneys have made a strategic move as they have decided to leave their previous firm, Lewis Brisbois Bisgaard & Smith LLP, and…
The D.C. Circuit has solicited the opinion of the District of Columbia’s highest court in a unique case concerning personal liability and negligence standards. This move comes amidst an ongoing legal tussle attempting to hold D.C.’s transit agency responsible for the death of a lawyer in 2013. The lawyer, reportedly under the influence, fell off…
Attorneys Joe Fried and Michael Goldberg of Fried Goldberg, along with Karina Deochand and Romi Jayswal of Karma Injury Law, recently secured a sizeable $16.6 million verdict in DeKalb County. This verdict is connected to a case where a truck’s automated emergency braking system failed, leading to a sudden stop that caused their client to…
US District Judge Cormac J. Carney issued a preliminary injunction on Wednesday, temporarily blocking a California law that restricts concealed carry permit holders from carrying firearms in most public places. The case is pending in the US District Court for the Central District of California. Judge Carney held that the California law violates the Second…
The distress expressed by a federal judge, obliged by precedents to refer a wage-and-hour case to arbitration, reflects a broader critique of the practice, even as it is duly enforced. However, the legislative remedy he proposes appears doubtful of realization. When starting a new job, employees frequently sign arbitration agreements. These contracts can later impede…
In legal professional transitions, Darien Flowers has recently become a part of the esteemed global public policy practice at Squire Patton Boggs, as the firm announced this week. Flowers’ laudable public service roles precede his appointment. He worked as the deputy policy director at the US Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation and took…