Public Policy

  • October 23, 2024

    Norfolk's 'Creepy' Cameras Invade Drivers' Privacy, Suit Says

    Norfolk and its police department have installed "downright creepy" surveillance cameras with automatic license plate readers that track drivers' every move throughout the city without a warrant and keep the information in a database, in violation of the Fourth Amendment rights, alleges a lawsuit filed Monday in Virginia federal court.

  • October 23, 2024

    American Airlines Fined $50 Million For Disability Violations

    American Airlines received a $50 million penalty from the U.S. Department of Transportation Wednesday for "serious violations" of disability laws protecting people in wheelchairs, with the department saying the violations included injuring or mishandling disabled travelers, damaging their wheelchairs or failing to return the devices promptly.

  • October 23, 2024

    EPA Can't Restart Crafting Smog Rule, DC Circ. Told

    A group of Democratic-led state governments is telling the D.C. Circuit that the Clean Air Act doesn't mandate reconsideration of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's 2023 "Good Neighbor" emissions regulation as two steel manufacturers say.

  • October 23, 2024

    Where Harris, Trump Stand On Housing, Wall Street Landlords

    In the run-up to the November presidential election, Kamala Harris has made housing one of the keystones of her campaign platform as she seeks to take on Wall Street landlords and tackle a nationwide housing affordability crisis, while Donald Trump believes illegal immigration is largely to blame for rising home prices.

  • October 23, 2024

    United Worker Fired Over Online Pics Gets Bias Suit Revived

    A California appeals court revived a United Airlines flight attendant's sex bias suit claiming she was unlawfully fired for appearing in uniform on a social media page advertising her OnlyFans account, crediting her argument that male flight attendants didn't face the same consequences for similar behavior.

  • October 23, 2024

    Roche CEO Says Novo-Catalent Deal Should Be Blocked

    The CEO of Swiss pharmaceutical company Roche injected himself into the controversy surrounding Novo Holdings' planned $16.5 billion acquisition of Catalent on Wednesday, stating that he thinks antitrust authorities should block the deal due to its anticompetitive implications.

  • October 23, 2024

    CPAs Prepare For Uncertainty As TCJA Expiration Looms

    Certified public accountants and financial planners are preparing to help their clients navigate the uncertainty around next year's expiration of major parts of the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act as lawmakers gear up to decide who will bear the brunt of any resulting tax changes.

  • October 23, 2024

    Atlanta VA Doctor Abused Power And Patients, Jury Told

    Federal prosecutors told a Georgia federal jury Wednesday that in the coming days, they'll hear from "four women who served their country," who placed their trust and care into the hands of a longtime physician with the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs and in return were sexually assaulted by him.

  • October 23, 2024

    Feds Urge High Court To Deny Cig Cos.' Bid To Ax New Rule

    The U.S. Food and Drug Administration is asking the U.S. Supreme Court not to grant certiorari to a group of tobacco companies aiming to vacate a rule requiring larger warnings on cigarette boxes, saying the Fifth Circuit rightly found the proposed warnings don't violate the First Amendment's protection against compelled speech.

  • October 22, 2024

    Ex-Yale Student Wants Full Acquittal Record Sent To DHS

    An expelled Yale University student on Tuesday urged the Second Circuit to quickly vacate orders barring him from giving the U.S. Department of Homeland Security an unredacted transcript that resulted in his acquittal of sex crimes, saying a delay could seal his deportation and thus his execution by the Taliban.

  • October 22, 2024

    Connecticut GOP Challenges Ex-Aide's Bias Suit Timeline

    A former press secretary for Republican lawmakers in the Connecticut House of Representatives failed to prevent or correct alleged workplace harassment that included cursing by waiting a year to report a key incident cited in her complaint, state House Republicans argued in an answer to the ex-spokesperson's discrimination lawsuit.

  • October 22, 2024

    Wis. Voting Portal Fails Data Security Test, Suit Says

    A pair of Wisconsin voters are pushing to stop the state from continuing to use an online voter registration system that they claim lacks adequate data security measures, including safeguards to prevent the dissemination of fraudulent absentee ballots, according to a lawsuit filed.

  • October 22, 2024

    Calif. Panel Says Panera Must Face PAGA Claims

    A California state appeals court on Monday reversed a state trial court's ruling compelling a Panera restaurant employee to arbitrate Private Attorneys General Act claims against the bakery and café chain, saying an arbitration agreement the worker had entered explicitly excluded PAGA claims.

  • October 22, 2024

    Ex-Google GC Must Be Investigated By Calif. Bar, Groups Say

    A trio of groups led by the American Economic Liberties Project on Tuesday pressed the State Bar of California to investigate former Google general counsel Kent Walker for "coaching" the company to "engage in widespread and illegal destruction of records relevant to multiple ongoing federal trials."

  • October 22, 2024

    Fort Lauderdale, Fla., Cops Want 2020 Protest Suit Dismissed

    Several Fort Lauderdale police officers Tuesday urged a Florida federal court to toss a proposed class action brought by demonstrators alleging their civil rights were violated during a 2020 George Floyd protest, saying they're entitled to qualified immunity.

  • October 22, 2024

    Copper Mining Co. Asks High Court To Toss Sacred Site Suit

    A copper mining company that wants to build operations in a tribally sacred part of the Tonto National Forest has asked the U.S. Supreme Court to toss a challenge to a Ninth Circuit ruling that allows for the transfer of nearly 2,500 acres of land.

  • October 22, 2024

    Colo. Justices Doubt Geico Agreed With Man's Crash Claims

    Justices of Colorado's highest court appeared skeptical Tuesday of a man's claim that his noneconomic damages for injuries from a car accident were uncontested by his insurance carrier, with one justice citing the policyholder's rejection of settlement offers as evidence of a dispute.

  • October 22, 2024

    Suit Over Wash. Ban On 'DIY' Rape Evidence Kits Nixed

    A Washington federal judge has tossed a challenge to a state ban on the sale of "DIY" DNA collection kits to sexual assault survivors, rejecting a kit developer's arguments that the ban infringes on its First Amendment rights.

  • October 22, 2024

    Fla. Says 1st Amendment Doesn't Protect 'False' Abortion Ad

    The Florida Department of Health said Tuesday that a campaign ad promoting an abortion rights ballot initiative is not protected by the First Amendment because it is an "out-and-out falsehood" that causes harm by misleading residents about the availability of emergency medical services in the state.

  • October 22, 2024

    11th Circ. Signals Fla. Gun Ban Turns On 'Age Of Majority'

    Whether the full Eleventh Circuit will strike down or uphold Florida's firearms sales ban to anyone under 21 appeared to hinge Tuesday on whether the court adopts modern notions of when adulthood begins or prior beliefs understood as "18-year-old Johnny on his way to the militia," circa 1789.

  • October 22, 2024

    Calif. Official Cops To Taking Bribes For $10M In Contracts

    A member of the Orange County Board of Supervisors has admitted to steering $10 million worth of COVID-19 relief funds to a charity affiliated with his daughter in exchange for more than $500,000 in bribes, California federal prosecutors announced Tuesday.

  • October 22, 2024

    Don't Let Cities Eat Into Broadband Revenue, Think Tank Says

    Giving local governments free rein to start charging broadband providers new franchise fees based on their use of public rights of way would be a bad idea that would drive up consumer costs and hinder the growth of connectivity, a free market think tank has argued.

  • October 22, 2024

    Zekelman Suit Says Mexico Steel Harming US Industry

    Steel pipe and tube maker Zekelman Industries Inc. told a D.C. federal judge that Mexico has dumped subsidized steel products into the U.S. and "devastated" a critical domestic industry in violation of a trade agreement that allowed the country to avoid tariffs former President Donald Trump imposed.

  • October 22, 2024

    Crypto Bills Have Lame Duck Potential, Rep. Hill Says

    The chair of the U.S. House's digital asset subcommittee said Tuesday he is "still optimistic" a market structure bill for crypto and a framework for so-called stablecoins might move forward in some way during the upcoming lame duck session of Congress.

  • October 22, 2024

    FTC On Cusp Of H&R Block False Ad Settlement

    The Federal Trade Commission has come to an agreement with H&R Block to settle claims of deceptive advertising and has withdrawn its complaint in order for the full commission to vote on the deal.

Expert Analysis

  • Planning Law Firm Content Calendars: What, When, Where

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    During the slower month of August, law firms should begin working on their 2025 content calendars, planning out a content creation and distribution framework that aligns with the firm’s objectives and maintains audience engagement throughout the year, says Jessica Kaplan at Legally Penned.

  • Key Concerns To Confront In FDIC Brokered Deposit Proposal

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    Banks and fintech companies should note several fundamental issues with the Federal Deposit Insurance Corp.'s recent proposal to widen how it classifies brokered deposits, an attempt to limit prudential risk that could expose the industry and underbanked consumers who rely on bank-fintech apps to widespread unintended consequences, say attorneys at Gibson Dunn.

  • 3 Presidential Privilege Questions After Trump Ruling

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    The U.S. Supreme Court's recent decision in Trump v. U.S., carving out a new evidentiary privilege for presidents, leaves unanswered several key questions concerning whether this new privilege is waivable or subject to various exceptions, says Jeremy Bates at Frankfurt Kurnit.

  • What To Expect From Evolving Wash. Development Plans

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    The current round of periodic updates to Washington counties' growth and development plans will need to address new requirements from recent legislation, and will also likely bring changes that should please property owners and developers, says Jami Balint at Seyfarth.

  • 4 Steps To Address New Sanctions Time Bar Extension

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    Recent guidance from the Office of Foreign Assets Control clarifies details of the newly extended statute of limitations for civil and criminal enforcement of U.S. sanctions law, so compliance teams should implement key updates, including to lookback periods and recordkeeping policies, say attorneys at Freshfields.

  • Implementing Proposed AML Rules May Take More Guidance

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    Two recent rules proposed by financial regulators would modernize requirements for programs aimed at countering money laundering and terrorist financing by centering more robust risk assessments, but financial institutions may need more specific guidance before they could confidently comply, say Meghann Donahue and Nikhil Gore at Covington.

  • What To Know About Major Fla. Civil Procedure Rule Changes

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    The Florida Supreme Court recently amended the state's Rules of Civil Procedure, touching on pretrial procedure, discovery, motion and trial practice, and while the amendments are intended to streamline cases, the breadth of the changes may initially present some litigation growing pains, say Brian Briz, Benjamin Tyler and Yarenis Cruz at Holland & Knight.

  • Series

    Playing Golf Makes Me A Better Lawyer

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    Golf can positively affect your personal and professional life well beyond the final putt, and it’s helped enrich my legal practice by improving my ability to build lasting relationships, study and apply the rules, face adversity with grace, and maintain my mental and physical well-being, says Adam Kelly at Venable.

  • What To Expect From CFPB And DOT Card Rewards Inquiry

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    Following the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau's announcement of joint efforts with the U.S. Department of Transportation to investigate credit card rewards points, credit card issuers and airlines should keep a close eye on potential regulatory and class action litigation risks stemming from the inquiry, say attorneys at DLA Piper.

  • Preparing For The NLRB's New Union Recognition Final Rule

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    The National Labor Relations Board's impending new final rule on union recognition puts the employer at a particular disadvantage in a decertification election, and best practices include conducting workplace assessments to identify and proactively address employee issues, say Louis Cannon and Gerald Bradner at Baker Donelson.

  • Brownfield Questions Surround IRS Tax Credit Bonus

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    Though the IRS has published guidance regarding the Inflation Reduction Act's 10% adder for tax credits generated by renewable energy projects constructed on brownfield sites, considerable guesswork remains as potential implications seem contrary to IRS intentions, say Megan Caldwell and Jon Micah Goeller at Husch Blackwell.

  • Law Firms Should Move From Reactive To Proactive Marketing

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    Most law firm marketing and business development teams operate in silos, leading to an ad hoc, reactive approach, but shifting to a culture of proactive planning — beginning with comprehensive campaigns — can help firms effectively execute their broader business strategy, says Paul Manuele at PR Manuele Consulting.

  • Remedy May Be Google's Biggest Hurdle Yet In Antitrust Case

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    There are difficulties ahead in the remedies phase of the antitrust case against Google in District of Columbia federal court, including the search engine giant's scale advantage and the fast-moving nature of the tech industry, setting the stage for the most challenging of the proceedings so far, says Jonathan Rubin at MoginRubin.

  • 3 Ways To Limit Risks Of Black-Box AI In Financial Services

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    As regulators increasingly highlight the potential for artificial intelligence to make unfair consumer credit decisions, and require financial institutions to explain how these so-called black-box algorithms arrive at conclusions, companies should consider three key questions to reduce their regulatory risks from these tools, say Jeffrey Naimon and Caroline Stapleton at Orrick.

  • Energy And AI: Key Issues And Future Challenges

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    Artificial intelligence promises new technical advantages for the energy industry, but it is also responsible for vast, and growing, energy consumption — so the future of AI and energy will require balancing technological advancement with regulatory oversight, environmental responsibility and infrastructure development, say attorneys at Morgan Lewis.

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