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Public Policy
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August 01, 2024
Conservation Groups Take Aim At ESA Regs
Conservation groups are asking a California federal judge to throw out Endangered Species Act regulations put forward earlier this year, claiming federal agencies shortchanged their environmental review duties and moved ahead with changes that will harm the imperiled plants and animals the statute is supposed to protect.
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August 01, 2024
Feds Say Farmworkers Should Have Sued State Over Wages
The U.S. Department of Labor has urged a Washington federal court to toss a farmworker union's challenge to policies governing the prevailing wage, saying the union's issues actually stem from how state officials interpreted federal rules governing the wage rate.
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August 01, 2024
Google Beats RNC's Claims It Censored Fundraising Emails
A California federal judge on Wednesday tossed the Republican National Committee's lawsuit accusing Google of being politically motivated and violating the state's Unfair Competition Law by sending RNC fundraising emails to Gmail users' spam folders, finding the conduct may be unfair in a "colloquial" sense, but is not illegal.
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August 01, 2024
Apple Says DOJ Is Looking For 'Judicial Redesign' Of IPhone
Apple Inc. urged a New Jersey federal judge Thursday to throw out the U.S. Department of Justice's antitrust lawsuit, calling claims of restricted app access meant to lock users into the iPhone as a government effort to control protocols the company contends are needed to ensure security and reliability.
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August 01, 2024
Bill To Vet Cos. Seeking Broadband Aid Advances In Senate
A U.S. Senate panel has moved legislation that would put tighter controls on approval of companies that apply for federal aid to assist with broadband network deployment.
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August 01, 2024
House Workforce Chair Wants Mental Health Parity Regs Axed
The Republican chairwoman of the House Education and the Workforce Committee told the U.S. Department of Labor on Thursday it should not finalize regulations that aim to encourage employer compliance with a law requiring equitable mental health and substance use disorder treatments coverage, stating the rule burdens businesses.
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August 01, 2024
Mich. Regulators Sue Co. For Bringing In Out-of-State THC
A Michigan-based maker of edibles, vapes and other cannabinoid goods is in hot water with state regulators, which filed a complaint accusing the business of incorrectly reporting shipments of 130,000 grams of cannabis concentrate brought in from outside the state.
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August 02, 2024
Meet The 4 Washington Supreme Court Hopefuls
A career civil litigator, Seattle-area municipal judge, Naval officer-turned-tax attorney and solo family law practitioner are all vying this month for an open seat on Washington state's high court.
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August 01, 2024
Justices Uphold Chancery Toss Of Church COVID Suit
Two religious leaders in Delaware who sued over restrictions the state imposed during the COVID-19 pandemic waited too long to file the case and have no standing to proceed with their claims, Delaware's Supreme Court ruled Thursday, upholding dismissals by both the Superior and Chancery courts.
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August 01, 2024
Pirate Broadcaster Hit With Max Fine For Ignoring FCC
If the FCC could have fined the pirate radio station that it says has been operating out of the Bronx for years a penny more, it would have, but the agency ended up levying the maximum fine of just over $2.3 million against the operator of the station.
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August 01, 2024
6th Circ. Puts Net Neutrality Rule On Ice During Appeals
The Sixth Circuit on Thursday granted industry groups' bid to put a hold on the Federal Communications Commission's net neutrality rules while appellate court challenges play out, saying there is a strong chance that internet service providers will eventually prevail.
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August 01, 2024
EU Approves $18B Grain Deal With Asset Sales
European enforcers on Thursday approved grain and seed supplier Bunge Ltd.'s plan to buy global grain trader Viterra Ltd. in an $18 billion deal, conditioned on the sale of Viterra's oilseed businesses in Hungary and Poland.
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August 01, 2024
Nokia Backs Expanded Broadband Use In 900 MHz Band
Nokia is joining the chorus of voices calling on the Federal Communications Commission to open up the 900 megahertz band of spectrum to other types of networks, a move they say will help utilities and other critical private enterprises.
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August 01, 2024
Groups Say DC Circ.'s Toss Of FERC OK Boosts Their Case
Conservation groups and the city of Port Isabel, Texas, told the D.C. Circuit that its recent decision to vacate the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission's approval of a Northeast pipeline expansion supports their challenge of the commission's decision to approve two Texas liquefied natural gas facilities.
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August 01, 2024
Texas Juvenile Detention Centers Rife With Abuse, DOJ Says
A U.S. Department of Justice investigation into the Texas Juvenile Justice Department found a widespread pattern of physical and mental abuse and sexual exploitation at state-run facilities, with a report released Thursday calling for widespread reforms in juvenile detention institutions.
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August 01, 2024
Utah High Court Upholds Pause On State Abortion Ban
The Utah Supreme Court on Thursday upheld a pause on the state's near-total abortion ban while a constitutional challenge to the law proceeds, agreeing with a lower court's conclusion that the Planned Parenthood Association of Utah had standing to bring its challenge.
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August 01, 2024
Direct File Will Be Available In New Mexico, IRS Announces
New Mexico will participate in the Internal Revenue Service's free electronic tax return filing program known as Direct File in the 2025 tax filing season, the agency and the U.S. Department of the Treasury announced Thursday.
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August 01, 2024
Bistate Transit Agency Fights NJ Comptroller's Info Bid
The Delaware River Port Authority accused the acting New Jersey state comptroller of overstepping his authority by attempting to compel it to produce documents and testimony via two subpoenas, according to a lawsuit filed Wednesday in Garden State federal court.
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August 01, 2024
Colo. Panel Finds Campaign Disclosure Rule Unconstitutional
A Colorado Court of Appeals panel on Thursday found that a requirement for ballot issue committees to list their registered agent on election communications is unconstitutionally compelled speech, reasoning that the public doesn't learn much from knowing a committee's legal representative.
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August 01, 2024
Missouri Gov. Announces Ban On Psychoactive Hemp Wares
Missouri Gov. Mike Parson on Thursday announced a ban on the sale of intoxicating consumable cannabis products manufactured outside the state's regulated adult-use marijuana market, marking the latest effort by a state to rein in psychoactive wares derived from federally legal hemp.
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August 01, 2024
Novo Nordisk Loses Challenge To Medicare Drug Price Talks
Another challenge to a Medicare drug price negotiation program has failed after a New Jersey federal judge ruled once again that the program is voluntary and rejected claims that it violates the constitutional rights of pharmaceutical giant Novo Nordisk.
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August 01, 2024
Monthly Merger Review Snapshot
The Federal Trade Commission brought its latest case contesting a vertical merger, Tempur Sealy's bid for Mattress Firm, while continuing to battle Microsoft's purchase of Activision and Kroger's purchase of Albertsons, even as the agency allowed several oil deals to move forward without challenge.
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August 01, 2024
Texas Judge Pauses Border Buoy Trial After 5th Circ. Ruling
A federal judge on Thursday postponed a bench trial in the Biden administration's suit against Texas over a border barrier in the Rio Grande after the Fifth Circuit vacated the district court's order for Texas to move the barrier during litigation.
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August 01, 2024
Pot Co. Says City Ignored Order To Review App In $14M Suit
A California cannabis business is suing the city of Chula Vista for nearly $14 million, saying it failed to properly review and score its application for a cannabis license despite orders to do so from a state appeals court.
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August 01, 2024
EPA Objects To Colorado Air Permit For Oil And Gas Site
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency is directing Colorado officials to revisit an operating permit issued for an oil and gas well site north of Denver, in response to concerns raised by a conservation group.
Expert Analysis
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Lean Into The 'Great Restoration' To Retain Legal Talent
As the “great resignation,” in which employees voluntarily left their jobs in droves, has largely dissipated, legal employers should now work toward the idea of a “great restoration,” adopting strategies to effectively hire, onboard and retain top legal talent, says Molly McGrath at Hiring & Empowering Solutions.
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NY Combined Hearing Guidelines Can Shorten Ch. 11 Timeline
The Southern District of New York’s recently adopted guidelines on combining the processes for Chapter 11 plan confirmation and disclosure statement approval may shorten the Chapter 11 timeline for companies and reduce associated costs, say Robert Drain and Moshe Jacob at Skadden.
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Adopting 7 Principles May Improve Voluntary Carbon Markets
The Biden administration's recently issued joint policy statement on improving the integrity of voluntary carbon markets may help companies using carbon credits to offset their emissions withstand scrutiny by government agencies, the public and investors, say attorneys at Morgan Lewis.
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What High Court Ruling Means For Sexual Harassment Claims
In its recent Smith v. Spizzirri decision, the U.S. Supreme Court held that a district court compelling a case to arbitration is obligated to stay the case rather than dismissing it, but this requirement may result in sexual harassment cases not being heard by appellate courts, says Abe Melamed at Signature Resolution.
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How Cannabis Rescheduling May Alter Paraphernalia Imports
The Biden administration's recent proposal to loosen federal restrictions on marijuana use raises questions about how U.S. Customs and Border Protection enforcement policies may shift when it comes to enforcing a separate federal ban on marijuana accessory imports, says R. Kevin Williams at Clark Hill.
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What The NYSE Proposed Delisting Rule Could Mean For Cos.
The New York Stock Exchange's recently proposed rule would provide the exchange with discretionary authority to commence delisting proceedings for a company substantially shifting its primary business focus, raising concerns for NYSE-listed companies over the exact definition of the exchange's proposed "substantially different" standard, say attorneys at Winston & Strawn.
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Opinion
New Guidance On Guilty Plea Withdrawals Is Long Past Due
In light of the Sentencing Reform Act's 40th anniversary, adding a new section to the accompanying guidelines on the withdrawal of guilty pleas could remedy the lack of direction in this area and improve the regulation's effectiveness in promoting sentencing uniformity, say Mark H. Allenbaugh at SentencingStats.com and Alan Ellis at the Law Offices of Alan Ellis.
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The Uncertain Scope Of The First Financial Fair Access Laws
With Florida and Tennessee soon to roll out laws banning financial institutions from making decisions based on customer traits like political affiliation, national financial services providers should consider how broadly worded “fair access” laws from these and other conservative-leaning states may place new obligations on their business operations, say attorneys at Sullivan & Cromwell.
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Managing Legal Risks After University Gaza Protests
Following the protests sparked by the war in Gaza, colleges and universities should expect a long investigative tail and take steps to mitigate risks associated with compliance issues under various legal frameworks and institutional policies, say Wiley's Diana Shaw and Colin Cloherty.
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Live Nation May Shake It Off In A Long Game With The DOJ
Don't expect a swift resolution in the U.S. Department of Justice's case against Live Nation, but a long litigation, with the company likely to represent itself as the creator of a competitive ecosystem, and the government faced with explaining how the ticketing giant formed under its watch, say Thomas Kliebhan and Taylor Hixon at GRSM50.
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How Act 126 Will Jump-Start Lithium Production In Louisiana
Louisiana's recent passage of Act 126, which helps create a legal and regulatory framework for lithium brine production and direct lithium extraction in the state, should help bolster the U.S. supply of this key mineral, and contribute to increased energy independence for the nation, say Marjorie McKeithen and Justin Marocco at Jones Walker.
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5 Steps For Gov't Contractor Affirmative Action Verification
As the federal contractor affirmative action program certification deadline approaches, government contractors and subcontractors should take steps to determine their program obligations, and ensure any required plans are properly implemented and timely registered, say Christopher Wilkinson at Perkins Coie and Joanna Colosimo at DCI Consulting.
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Boeing Saga Underscores Need For Ethical Corporate Culture
In the wake of recent allegations about Boeing’s safety culture, and amid the U.S. Department of Justice’s new whistleblower incentives, business leaders should reinvigorate their emphasis on compliance by making clear that long-term profitability requires ethical business practices, says Maxwell Carr-Howard at Dentons.
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A Closer Look At Feds' Proposed Banker Compensation Rule
A recently proposed rule to limit financial institutions' ability to award incentive-based compensation for risk-taking may progress through the rulemaking process slowly due to the sheer number of regulators collaborating on the rule and the number of issues under consideration, say attorneys at Troutman Pepper.
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2 Regulatory Approaches To Psychedelic Clinical Trials
Comparing the U.S. and Canada's regulatory frameworks for clinical trials of psychedelic drugs can be useful for designing trial protocols that meet both countries' requirements, which can in turn help diversify patient populations, bolster data robustness and expedite market access, say Kimberly Chew at Husch Blackwell and Sabrina Ramkellawan at AxialBridge.