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Public Policy
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August 29, 2024
Madigan Seeks To Block Ex-Alderman's Expert Testimony
Attorneys for ex-Illinois House Speaker Michael Madigan and his co-defendant on Thursday grilled a potential expert witness the government wants to call at their forthcoming racketeering trial, attempting to cast doubts on his knowledge of how Madigan's ward operated and highlighting his public opposition to Chicago's Democratic establishment.
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August 29, 2024
States, Industry Ask High Court To Block EPA Methane Rule
A group of states and fossil fuel industry players have asked the U.S. Supreme Court to reverse the D.C. Circuit's decision not to block the implementation of a U.S. Environmental Protection Agency final rule strengthening methane emissions control requirements for oil and gas infrastructure.
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August 29, 2024
DOI Stands By Its Mining Ban On 28M Acres In Alaska
The U.S. Department of the Interior has finalized a decision to continue protections on 28 million acres of land in Alaska, a move that bans oil and gas drilling activity in the region and reverses a decision made in the Trump administration's final days to open up the area for development.
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August 29, 2024
Auto Tech Org. Pushes FCC To Speed Up Smart Car 5G Rules
The 5G Automotive Association is asking the Federal Communications Commission to push the gas and schedule a vote on rules that would bring advanced vehicle communications technology to the 5.9 gigahertz band.
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August 29, 2024
FCC Rolls Out Rules For Drones' Use Of 5 GHz Band
The Federal Communications Commission on Thursday announced it had adopted initial rules for the use of drones in the 5 gigahertz band by allowing operators to obtain frequency assignments.
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August 29, 2024
Comer Tells PBMs To Correct Record On Role In Drug Pricing
Rep. James Comer, R-Ky., chair of the House Oversight and Accountability Committee, is demanding that the heads of three major pharmacy benefit managers "correct the record" on their testimony made before his committee in July about their roles in drug pricing, including company claims that the PBMs don't steer customers to in-house pharmacies and that they allow non-affiliated pharmacies to negotiate contracts.
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August 29, 2024
NLRB Partners With Other Feds In Merger Probes
The National Labor Relations Board said it's teaming up with the U.S. Department of Justice, the U.S. Department of Labor and the Federal Trade Commission to investigate mergers that present competition concerns for workers.
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August 29, 2024
GAO Suggests IRS Improve Retirement Account Oversight
The Internal Revenue Service needs to beef up its oversight of conflicts of interest between fiduciaries and individual retirement account investors, according to a U.S. Government Accountability Office report.
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August 29, 2024
DOJ Calls Former Googler's Ad Tech Testimony 'Essential'
The U.S. Department of Justice urged a Virginia federal judge Wednesday not to let former Google vice presidents and other company managers avoid testifying at next month's advertising technology monopolization trial, arguing their testimony is important and was properly subpoenaed.
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August 29, 2024
Democrats Condemn Lawsuit Against New Green Card Rule
Two Democratic senators from Western states rallied on Thursday for the Biden administration's new program to grant parole to noncitizen spouses and stepchildren of U.S. citizens seeking green cards, which a federal court recently halted temporarily.
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August 29, 2024
5th Circ. Got Biofuel Ruling Right, Refiners Tell Justices
The U.S. Supreme Court shouldn't review a Fifth Circuit decision vacating the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's denial of small refiners' requests for exemptions from their renewable-fuel program obligations, the refiners told the justices Wednesday.
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August 29, 2024
HHS Withdraws Appeal In Hospital Web-Tracking Clash
The Biden administration on Thursday abandoned its appeal of a federal court decision that knocked down new guidance restricting how hospitals can use web-tracking tools, handing the American Hospital Association a victory in a closely watched case.
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August 29, 2024
Colo. Group Asks US Justices To Revive Ballot Law Dispute
A Colorado organization asked the U.S. Supreme Court to review a lower-court decision upholding a state law requiring financial impacts be included in the titles of some tax-related ballot initiatives.
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August 29, 2024
FTC Wants Kroger's Constitution Suit To Follow Merger Case
The Federal Trade Commission is sparring with Kroger over where, and when, to handle the grocery giant's constitutional counterattack to the FTC's merger challenge, with the agency teeing up a bid to move the company's Ohio federal court suit to Oregon, where it's defending the proposed Albertsons purchase.
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August 29, 2024
Publishers, Authors Sue Fla. Over School Library Book Bans
Six publishing houses; five bestselling authors, including Jodi Picoult and Laurie Halse Anderson; and two parents of schoolchildren filed a challenge Thursday to a Florida state law that restricts books in school libraries in what they say is an overly broad, unconstitutional manner.
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August 29, 2024
6th Circ. Tosses Atty's Challenge To Court Recording Ban
A Michigan attorney who was held in contempt for posting a screenshot of a Zoom hearing on Facebook can't use the First Amendment to challenge a prohibition on recording courtroom proceedings, because he lacks standing, the Sixth Circuit has ruled.
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August 29, 2024
Advocacy Groups Back Ga. Bid To Undo Election Law Block
Two advocacy groups are joining Georgia's push for the Eleventh Circuit to overturn an injunction blocking part of a controversial Peach State election law, arguing the lower court's ruling reimagines the Civil Rights Act to impede an absentee ballot requirement that is focused on election integrity and has nothing to do with racial discrimination.
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August 29, 2024
5th Circ. Says Pot Use Doesn't Bar Gun Ownership
The Fifth Circuit on Wednesday ruled that a federal law barring firearm possession by marijuana users is unconstitutional specifically as it pertains to a nonviolent user who was not actively intoxicated at the time of her encounter with law enforcement.
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August 29, 2024
Public Interest Groups Back FCC On School Wi-Fi Funds
A trio of advocacy groups have urged the Federal Communications Commission to reject a petition to throw out its school Wi-Fi funding plan brought by the same litigants who also are suing the FCC in the Fifth Circuit over a similar initiative for school buses.
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August 29, 2024
Colo. Lawmakers OK Further Property Tax Rate Cuts
The Colorado Legislature approved a bill Thursday that would cut assessment rates and limit local property tax growth as part of an agreement to stop two ballot initiatives critics say would devastate funding for schools and other local services.
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August 29, 2024
GOP States Ask Justices To Undo Trans Patients' 4th Circ. Win
A group of two dozen Republican attorneys general told the U.S. Supreme Court it should review a Fourth Circuit decision barring West Virginia and North Carolina from excluding coverage of gender-affirming medical care for transgender people, arguing states need the power to control controversial nascent treatments.
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August 29, 2024
Former Ohio House Legal Chief Rejoins Barnes & Thornburg
Barnes & Thornburg announced Wednesday that it is welcoming back an Ohio-based attorney after his stint as chief legal counsel for the state House of Representatives.
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August 29, 2024
Churches Attack Nonprofit Politics Ban As Unconstitutional
Churches and Christian advocacy groups asked a Texas federal court to declare unconstitutional a provision in the Internal Revenue Code that prevents tax-exempt nonprofits from endorsing political candidates, saying the IRS discriminates against conservative religious groups and churches in applying the law.
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August 29, 2024
Bannon Again Seeks Bail As DC Circ. Considers Rehearing
Imprisoned former Donald Trump adviser Stephen Bannon asked a D.C. federal judge on Thursday to reimpose his bail while he waits to hear whether an appeals court will give another look at his contempt of Congress conviction.
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August 29, 2024
T-Mobile Seeks Full 4th Circ. Look At Simply Prepaid TM Fight
T-Mobile is asking for an en banc rehearing after a Fourth Circuit panel revived a Virginia-based cellphone company's infringement suit against it, telling the court that Simply Wireless didn't meet the correct standard of "deliberate and continuous" use of its trademarked "Simply Prepaid" branding to bar use of the phrase by other entities.
Expert Analysis
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Unpacking The Latest FTC Guidance On Multilevel Marketing
Branko Jovanovic and Monica Zhong at Edgeworth Economics discuss the Federal Trade Commission's recent advice for multilevel marketers on how MLMs should approach their income and earnings reports, including participants costs, typical proceeds and distributor gains.
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3 Leadership Practices For A More Supportive Firm Culture
Traditional leadership styles frequently amplify the inherent pressures of legal work, but a few simple, time-neutral strategies can strengthen the skills and confidence of employees and foster a more collaborative culture, while supporting individual growth and contribution to organizational goals, says Benjamin Grimes at BKG Leadership.
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The OIG Report: DOJ's Own Whistleblower Program Has Holes
A recent Office of the Inspector General memo found that the U.S. Department of Justice’s whistleblower program failed to protect federal employees whose security clearances were allegedly suspended in retaliation — a serious cause for concern that could have a potential chilling effect on would-be whistleblowers, says Diana Shaw at Wiley.
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How Justices' E-Rate Decision May Affect Scope Of FCA
The U.S. Supreme Court’s eventual decision in Wisconsin Bell v. U.S., determining whether reimbursements paid by the E-rate program are "claims" under the False Claims Act, may affect other federal programs that do not require payments to be made by the U.S. Department of the Treasury, says David Colapinto at Kohn Kohn.
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Series
After Chevron: Don't Let Loper Lead To Bank Compliance Lull
Banking organizations are staring down a period of greater uncertainty over the next few years as the banking agencies and industry navigate the post-Chevron world, but banks must continue to have effective compliance programs in place even in the face of this unpredictability, say Lee Meyerson and Amanda Allexon at Simpson Thacher.
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New State Carbon Capture Laws: Key Points For Developers
Multiple states have introduced or expanded legal frameworks for carbon capture and sequestration this year, and while there are some common themes, many of these state laws include unique approaches and requirements — which developers and investors should be aware of when considering potential projects and investment risks, say attorneys at Arnold & Porter.
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Opinion
Chevron Reversal May Protect IP Rights Under Bayh-Dole
The U.S. Supreme Court's overturning of Chevron deference may block the Biden administration's nearly finalized guidance reinterpreting the Bayh-Dole Act, protecting intellectual property rights and preventing harm to innovation and economic activity, says Brian O'Shaughnessy at Dinsmore & Shohl.
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E-Discovery Quarterly: Rulings On Hyperlinked Documents
Recent rulings show that counsel should engage in early discussions with clients regarding the potential of hyperlinked documents in electronically stored information, which will allow for more deliberate negotiation of any agreements regarding the scope of discovery, say attorneys at Sidley.
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Loper Bright Limits Federal Agencies' Ability To Alter Course
The U.S. Supreme Court's recent decision to dismantle Chevron deference also effectively overrules its 2005 decision in National Cable & Telecommunications Association v. Brand X, greatly diminishing agencies' ability to change regulatory course from one administration to the next, says Steven Gordon at Holland & Knight.
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Calif. Out-Of-State Noncompete Ban Faces Several Hurdles
California's attempt to bolster its noncompete law has encountered significant procedural and constitutional challenges, and litigating parties must carefully analyze not only the restrictive covenants contained in their agreements, but also the forum-selection and choice-of-law provisions, say Jennifer Redmond and Gal Gressel at Sheppard Mullin.
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How 3 Recent High Court Rulings Could Shape Fintech Policy
The U.S. Supreme Court's recent decisions in Jarkesy, Loper Bright and Corner Post provide fintech companies with new legal strategies to challenge regulatory actions, but agency reactions to these rulings and inconsistent judicial interpretations could bring compliance challenges and uncertainties, says Amy Whitsel at FS Vector.
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What Cos. Should Note In DOJ's New Whistleblower Pilot
After the U.S. Department of Justice unveiled a new whistleblower pilot program last week — continuing its efforts to incentivize individual reporting of misconduct — companies should review the eligibility criteria, update their compliance programs and consider the risks and benefits of making their own self-disclosures, say attorneys at Skadden.
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Defamation Suit Tests Lanham Act's Reach With Influencers
Recently filed in the Northern District of Texas, Prime Hydration v. Garcia, alleging defamation and Lanham Act violations based on the defendant's social media statements about the beverage brand, allows Texas courts and the Fifth Circuit to take the lead in interpreting the act as it applies to influencers, says attorney Susan Jorgensen.
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A Primer On EU's Updated Human Substance Regulations
The European Union's updated standards regarding quality and safety of substances of human origin meant for human application carry significant implications for companies that work with cells and tissues, and U.S. companies active in the EU market should pay particular attention to the import and export rules, say Geneviève Michaux and Georgios Symeonidis at King & Spalding.
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Opinion
Prejudgment Interest Is A Game-Changer In Ill. Civil Suits
Civil litigation can leave plaintiffs financially strained and desperate for any recovery, especially when defendants use delaying tactics — but the Illinois Legislature's move to allow prejudgment interest has helped bring litigants to the table earlier to resolve disputes, minimizing court expenses and benefiting all parties, says Benjamin Crane at Coplan + Crane.