Try our Advanced Search for more refined results
Environmental
-
February 11, 2025
Calif.'s Insurance Safety Net Gets $1B Infusion For Fire Claims
California Insurance Commissioner Ricardo Lara has signed off on $1 billion in additional funding for California's FAIR Plan, the state's insurer of last resort, to ensure the plan can keep paying consumer claims to survivors of the Southern California wildfires, according to an order issued Tuesday.
-
February 11, 2025
SoCal Edison Investors Sue Over LA Wildfire Mitigation Claims
The parent company of Southern California Edison was hit with a putative shareholder class action on Tuesday that alleges the public utility company misled investors about implementing the power company's wildfire-mitigation measures in the lead-up to the Eaton and Hurst fires that devastated an area north of Los Angeles.
-
February 11, 2025
Kids Can't Save Reworked EPA Climate Suit, Judge Rules
A California federal judge on Tuesday threw out, for good, children's amended allegations that the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's climate policies violate their constitutional rights, ruling that they haven't shown that the alleged harms they've suffered in the midst of climate change can be traced to the policies.
-
February 11, 2025
Billionaire Ira Rennert Says Justices Must Resolve Peru Fight
A mining company controlled by billionaire Ira Rennert has repeated its bid for the U.S. Supreme Court to resolve whether the Eighth Circuit mistakenly denied dismissal of claims by more than 1,000 Peruvians over alleged pollution, saying the circuit court's opinion "distorted" international comity.
-
February 11, 2025
Justices Ponder If Colo. Climate Case Would Open Floodgates
Colorado justices on Tuesday asked a city and county seeking damages against ExxonMobil and Suncor over the local impacts of climate change why such suits don't amount to an attempt to regulate the oil and gas industry, with one justice saying he has "practical concerns" about more municipalities bringing novel climate tort claims.
-
February 11, 2025
Couple's Chickens Are Pets, Not Poultry, NC Justices Told
A North Carolina couple urged the state's highest court to back a state appeals court's ruling finding their 60-plus chickens are household pets, arguing that a jury was improperly instructed that chickens can't be pets under their neighborhood's restrictive covenant.
-
February 11, 2025
Monsanto Loses Attempt To Overturn $1.25M Roundup Award
A Missouri appellate court on Tuesday refused Monsanto's request to overturn a $1.25 million award to a man who claimed Roundup weed killer caused his cancer, leaning on reasoning from several other state and federal appeals courts that favored consumers over the company.
-
February 11, 2025
Fla. Senate Committee Advances Resilient Building Tax Credit
A Florida Senate committee unanimously voted on Tuesday to advance bills to create a resilient building tax credit program, develop guidelines for green and gray infrastructure to address rising sea levels and require public hearings for state park land management plans.
-
February 11, 2025
PFAS Litigation Finds A New Frontier: Consumer Products
Smartwatch wristbands, adhesive bandages, tampons and juice containers — what do they all have in common? In a growing trend, plaintiffs attorneys allege the products contain toxic forever chemicals and that manufacturers misled consumers about it.
-
February 11, 2025
Monsanto PCB Appeal Seems To Divide Wash. High Court
Thorny choice-of-law issues seemingly divided the Washington State Supreme Court during oral arguments Tuesday, with one justice suggesting that the teachers who brought suit are relying on "forum-shopping" to reinstate a $185 million win against Monsanto, and another saying the company's stance violates state law intended to hold corporations accountable for harming citizens.
-
February 11, 2025
EV Charging Supply Chain In Limbo Amid Funding Freeze
The Trump administration's suspension of a $5 billion program funding electric vehicle charging stations nationwide infuses uncertainty into the future of the U.S. electric-vehicle supply chain, triggering costly project delays and fresh litigation, experts told Law360.
-
February 11, 2025
Feds Must Enforce Law In Dakota Pipeline Row, Court Told
The Standing Rock Sioux Tribe is fighting a bid by the federal government and a slew of Republican-led states to dismiss its lawsuit that seeks to block an energy company from operating the Dakota Access Pipeline, saying there's a mandatory duty to ensure its operations comply with environmental laws.
-
February 11, 2025
Insurer Says $641M Deal Over Tainted Flint Water Not Covered
An insurer told a Michigan federal court Tuesday that it shouldn't have to pay any part of a $641 million settlement reached by a Flint, Michigan, medical center on behalf of patients who supposedly suffered from legionella and lead exposure because of unclean drinking water in the facility.
-
February 11, 2025
Eaton Fire Victim Wants Sanctions Against SoCal Edison
A victim of the recent devastating Eaton Fire in Altadena has told a California state judge that Southern California Edison and its attorneys should face sanctions for allegedly concealing efforts to reenergize electrical transmission lines while the blaze was still burning last month.
-
February 11, 2025
Plant Nursery To Shell Out $2.5M In H-2A Wage Suit
An operator of plant nurseries in California agreed to shell out $2.5 million in back wages after a U.S. Department of Labor investigation determined that it coerced H-2A workers to quit in order to dodge the program's wage and hour requirements, the department said.
-
February 11, 2025
Activist Elliott Targets Phillips 66 Again Over Lack Of Progress
Activist investor Elliott Investment Management LP on Tuesday sent a letter to the board of directors of energy conglomerate Phillips 66 calling for "urgent changes" to improve operating performance and regain shareholder trust, saying "another year of empty rhetoric and broken promises is unacceptable."
-
February 11, 2025
Pot Grower Says Nearby Farm's Pesticides Caused $17M Loss
A Massachusetts cannabis grower says pesticides used by an adjacent berry farm contaminated its entire 2022 harvest, costing the lost value of that crop and two subsequent years' revenue, totaling at least $17 million.
-
February 11, 2025
Award Enforcement Suit Must Focus On Italy Immunity First
A D.C. federal judge said Italy has at least a "colorable" sovereign immunity defense to litigation by Dutch, Danish and Luxembourgish firms seeking to enforce $23 million in arbitral awards granted after the country rolled back renewable energy subsidies.
-
February 11, 2025
Republican-Led SEC Pauses Climate Regulation Litigation
The U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission signaled Tuesday that it may not move forward with a Biden-era regulation requiring public companies to disclose their greenhouse gas emissions, asking the court overseeing litigation against the climate reporting rules not to schedule the case for oral argument.
-
February 11, 2025
Automakers Lose Fight To Block Mass. 'Right To Repair' Law
A Massachusetts federal judge on Tuesday tossed what was left of a long-running suit filed by major automakers seeking to block a Bay State law requiring vehicle manufacturers to provide open access to telematics systems.
-
February 10, 2025
Xcel, Telecom Cos. Say Colo. Fire Plaintiffs Can't Opt Out Of Trial
Xcel Energy and two telecom companies being sued over the Marshall Fire in Colorado told a state judge that hundreds of plaintiffs pushing to opt out of a common liability trial should not be able to do so, at least until expert reports are shared.
-
February 10, 2025
Calif. Ruling Holds Wildfire Debris Not A Coverable Loss
Two California homeowners didn't have a covered claim for wildfire debris that infiltrated their home, a state appeals panel ruled, saying there was no evidence the debris caused the kind of loss or damage required for coverage.
-
February 10, 2025
Texas Property Owner Seeks Over $1M In Storm Coverage
A Nationwide unit unlawfully failed to cover hail and wind damage to a Texas property, its owner alleged in federal court, accusing the insurer of fraud and violating state insurance statutes over unfair settlement practices and prompt claim payment and seeking over $1 million in damages.
-
February 10, 2025
Gov't Defends Approval Of CP-KCS Rail Merger To DC Circ.
The federal government told the D.C. Circuit a coalition of Illinois towns is challenging the approval of Canadian Pacific Railway Ltd.'s $31 billion merger with Kansas City Southern Railway Co. over the deal's potential effect on just 23 miles of a combined rail network that spans more than 20,000 miles.
-
February 10, 2025
Judge: Dominican Republic Should Pay $44M Landfill Award
A magistrate judge in Washington, D.C., recommended Friday that a $43.6 million arbitral award issued after the Dominican Republic terminated a landfill concession should be enforced, saying there was no evidence that the tribunal failed to investigate allegations of underlying fraud.
Expert Analysis
-
Trump Rollback Of Biden Enviro Policies: What To Expect
Donald Trump's upcoming second presidential term will usher significant shifts in U.S. environmental and natural resource law and policy — and while the Biden administration is racing to secure its legacy, the incoming Trump administration is making plans to dramatically roll back most, if not all, of Biden's environmental initiatives, say attorneys at Beveridge & Diamond.
-
Why K-Cup Claims Landed Keurig In Hot Water With SEC
The U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission's recent settlement with Keurig Dr. Pepper for making incomplete statements regarding the recyclability of K-cup pods highlights the importance of comprehensive corporate disclosures, particularly with respect to ESG matters, say attorneys at BCLP.
-
Legislation Most Likely To Pass In Lame Duck Session
As Congress begins its five-week post-election lame duck session, attorneys at Greenberg Traurig break down the legislative priorities and which proposals can be expected to pass.
-
Promoting Diversity In The Selection Of ADR Neutrals
Excerpt from Practical Guidance
Choosing neutrals from diverse backgrounds is an important step in promoting inclusion in the legal profession, and it can enhance the legitimacy and public perception of alternative dispute resolution proceedings, say attorneys at Lowenstein Sandler.
-
Series
Playing Ultimate Makes Us Better Lawyers
In addition to being fun, ultimate Frisbee has improved our legal careers by emphasizing the importance of professionalism, teamwork, perseverance, enthusiasm and vulnerability, say Arunabha Bhoumik and Adam Bernstein at Regeneron.
-
Dissecting New Circuit Split Over SEC's Proxy Adviser Rule
The Sixth Circuit recently upheld the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission's partial rescission of enhanced conflict-of-interest disclosure requirements for proxy voting advice businesses, creating a circuit split over broader questions concerning the standard for assessing the legality of agency actions in general, say attorneys at Cahill Gordon.
-
The Unfolding Potential of Green Hydrogen In Brazil
A new federal law in Brazil establishing a legal framework for hydrogen development is the country's latest step toward creating a favorable environment for green hydrogen production, but significant challenges — including high production costs, technological hurdles and a lack of infrastructure — remain, says David Andrew Taylor at Almeida Advogados.
-
E-Discovery Quarterly: Recent Rulings On Metadata
Several recent rulings reflect the competing considerations that arise when parties dispute the form of production for electronically stored information, underscoring that counsel must carefully consider how to produce and request reasonably usable data, say attorneys at Sidley.
-
A Shift In Control Of Congress May Doom These Enviro Regs
If the election leads to a change in control of Congress, lawmakers will likely use the lookback provision of the Congressional Review Act to challenge the Biden administration's late-term regulatory efforts — including recent initiatives on air pollutant source classification, lead pipe removal and hydrofluorocarbon emissions, say attorneys at Jones Walker.
-
Election Could Bring Change In Weather For Offshore Wind
Under another Trump administration, the offshore wind sector would encounter substantial headwinds, as Trump's policy track record emphasizes fossil fuel dominance and environmental rollbacks, while a Harris victory would likely further entrench the pro-renewable energy stance taken by the Biden administration, say attorneys at Jones Walker.
-
Striking A Balance Between AI Use And Attorney Well-Being
As the legal industry increasingly adopts generative artificial intelligence tools to boost efficiency, leaders must note the hidden costs of increased productivity, and work to protect attorneys’ well-being while unlocking AI’s full potential, says Ed Sohn at Factor.
-
Empathy In Mediation Offers A Soft Landing For Disputes
Experiencing a crash-landing on a recent flight underscored to me how much difference empathy makes in times of crisis or stress, including during mediation, says Eydith Kaufman at Alternative Resolution Centers.
-
Series
Being An Artist Makes Me A Better Lawyer
My work as an artist has highlighted how using creativity and precision together — qualities that are equally essential in both art and law — not only improves outcomes, but also leads to more innovative and thoughtful work, says Sarah La Pearl at Segal McCambridge.
-
Consider The Impact Of Election Stress On Potential Jurors
For at least the next few months, potential jurors may be working through anger and distrust stemming from the presidential election, and trial attorneys will need to assess whether those jurors are able to leave their political concerns at the door, says Ken Broda-Bahm at Persuasion Strategies.
-
How Judiciary Can Minimize AI Risks In Secondary Sources
Because courts’ standing orders on generative artificial intelligence and other safeguards do not address the risk of hallucinations in secondary source materials, the judiciary should consider enlisting legal publishers and database hosts to protect against AI-generated inaccuracies, say attorneys at Lankler Siffert & Wohl.