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Public Policy
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August 26, 2024
Feds Say Trump Docs Dismissal Contradicts 'Long Tradition'
Special counsel Jack Smith on Monday lodged the government's opening brief in its Eleventh Circuit appeal of the dismissal of the classified documents case against former President Donald Trump, arguing that the lower court's finding is contrary to "precedent and history" and the "long tradition of special-counsel appointments by the attorney general."
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August 26, 2024
Albertsons Paints Picture Of Dire Future Without Kroger Deal
Albertsons told an Oregon federal judge Monday that if the Federal Trade Commission is able to block a proposed merger with Kroger, it could lead to layoffs and shuttered stores, because a go-it-alone Albertsons doesn't have the wholesale buying power to compete with Walmart and Costco on prices.
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August 26, 2024
RFK Jr. Loses Bid To Get Vax Censorship Injunction At 9th Circ.
The Ninth Circuit on Monday affirmed a decision rejecting Robert F. Kennedy Jr.'s bid to get an injunction in his case alleging Google violated his First Amendment rights by removing his YouTube videos doubting the safety of the COVID-19 vaccines.
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August 26, 2024
'Jarkesy 2.0': SEC Sees New Attack On In-House Courts
A new lawsuit calling into question the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission's ability to boot alleged lawbreakers from the securities industry follows a long line of attacks on the regulator's use of its in-house courts, including a recent U.S. Supreme Court ruling that limited the SEC's ability to litigate fraud cases via administrative proceedings.
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August 26, 2024
Care.com To Pay $8.5M To Settle FTC's Deception Claims
Caregiver job website Care.com has agreed to shell out $8.5 million in refunds to put to rest allegations it misled caregivers about wages and job availability and also made it difficult for families to cancel paid memberships, the U.S. Federal Trade Commission announced Monday.
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August 26, 2024
AT&T To Pay $950K To Settle With FCC Over 911 Outage
AT&T has agreed to pay $950,000 to end an enforcement action stemming from an August 2023 outage that affected 911 calls in parts of four states, the Federal Communications Commission said Monday.
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August 26, 2024
Former Google Execs Fight Ad Tech Trial Subpoenas
Former Google vice presidents and other company managers have filed a series of motions asking a Virginia federal judge to block U.S. Department of Justice subpoenas trying to force their testimony at next month's advertising technology monopolization trial, arguing their live participation is unneeded and improperly demanded.
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August 26, 2024
DC Circ. Tosses FERC's San Francisco Power Order
The D.C. Circuit vacated a Federal Energy Regulatory Commission order that Pacific Gas and Electric Co. argued expanded the utility's obligation to carry San Francisco-generated power to the city's retail customers, finding that the agency wrongly grandfathered classes of consumers into the wheeling arrangements.
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August 26, 2024
Fla. Calls DOL Threat Over Transit Funding Unconstitutional
Florida asked a federal judge Monday for a win in its suit against the U.S. Department of Labor, arguing that the department's threat to withhold more than $800 million in funds for transportation infrastructure because of a new law cracking down on public-sector labor power is unconstitutional.
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August 26, 2024
CFPB Defeats Challenge To Small-Biz Lending Rules
The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau landed an early win Monday in an industry-backed challenge to its reporting requirements for small business lenders, with a Texas federal judge finding the rule "is much more modest than plaintiffs would lead the court to believe."
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August 26, 2024
Suit Over Ga. Prosecutor Oversight Advances
A Georgia state judge cleared a legal challenge to the state's new prosecutor disciplinary panel to go forward on Friday, finding there was enough merit in the case brought by a trio of district attorneys to allow it to continue.
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August 26, 2024
Tribal And Salmon Groups To Intervene In Alaska Mining Suit
An Alaska federal court judge will let 23 tribal groups and wilderness organizations intervene in a lawsuit over a mining proposal for a stretch of pristine salmon habitat in the Bristol Bay area, but has laid out conditions to keep the case quickly moving forward.
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August 26, 2024
Colo. Man Charged With Threatening To Shoot State Judge
A man who said he moved a majority of Colorado justices to the front of his "list" after they barred former president Donald Trump from the ballot is being charged with threatening on social media to shoot a state judge.
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August 26, 2024
DEA Sets Dec. 2 Hearing On Cannabis Rescheduling Proposal
The Drug Enforcement Administration will hold a hearing on the attorney general's proposal to loosen restrictions on marijuana, the agency announced in a notice made public Monday.
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August 26, 2024
Gov't Looks To Limit Arguments In Rail Merger Appeal
The federal government urged the D.C. Circuit not to let a coalition of Illinois towns challenging the approval of Canadian Pacific's $31 billion merger with Kansas City Southern incorporate arguments made by Chicago's commuter rail system before the system dropped out of the case.
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August 26, 2024
Cruz Accuses FCC Subsidies Of 'Burning Through Cash'
Sen. Ted Cruz is pointing toward a new U.S. Government Accountability Office report that he says backs up his contention that the Federal Communications Commission's Universal Service Fund is "burning through cash with only minimal government oversight of its budget."
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August 26, 2024
Ex-Ingersoll Rand Exec Could Be Stuck With Noncompete
A Colorado state court judge expressed her doubts Monday that the former chief executive of a company acquired by industrial products giant Ingersoll Rand could avoid repercussions for joining the only firm named in a noncompete agreement he signed, saying the executive hadn't done nearly enough to show the contract was unenforceable.
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August 26, 2024
Ex-FCC Republican Urges 6th Circ. To Tank Net Neutrality
A former Republican on the Federal Communications Commission who helped overturn net neutrality rules when the agency leadership was in GOP hands has pressed the Sixth Circuit to snuff out the Democratic FCC's effort to revive the policy.
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August 26, 2024
Kyocera's Gross-Up Doesn't Grant $143M Tax Break, US Says
Electronics maker Kyocera cannot be allowed to take a $143 million tax deduction for distributions received under a 2017 tax law based on a separate statute's gross-up for paid foreign tax credits, the government told a South Carolina federal court.
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August 26, 2024
Federal Lawmakers Demand USDA Fix Tribal Food Backlog
A bipartisan group of U.S. senators is demanding that the U.S. Department of Agriculture take immediate action to restore food deliveries to tribal communities impacted by an unfolding crisis that they say has left some with expired or no food at all for months.
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August 26, 2024
NTIA To Work Closely With Private Sector On Spectrum
The U.S. Department of Commerce's spectrum management branch has announced plans to meet with private sector interests every two months to develop national policies on use of the airwaves.
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August 26, 2024
Connecticut And NY AGs Reach Terms For Hospital Merger
Two major hospital systems in New York and Connecticut have reached an agreement with their states' attorneys general to resolve an antitrust investigation spurred by the planned merger of Northwell Health and Nuvance Health, bringing the deal first announced in February closer to fruition.
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August 26, 2024
Mich. Supreme Court Race Takes Shape With GOP Picks
Michigan Republicans nominated a circuit court judge and a state legislator for two seats on the state Supreme Court Saturday, after a lawyer facing criminal charges of tampering with voting machines withdrew from one of the races.
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August 26, 2024
GOP Sens. Applaud Removal Of Undersea Cable Hurdles
Two Republican senators are celebrating the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration's decision to press pause on requiring special permits for undersea cables to run through marine sanctuaries as a "major victory" after railing against red tape earlier this year.
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August 26, 2024
DC Judge Says Missouri AG Can't Investigate Media Matters
A D.C. federal judge has again blocked a Republican attorney general from demanding a slew of records from liberal media watchdog Media Matters, this time halting a probe from Missouri Attorney General Andrew Bailey.
Expert Analysis
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Del. Dispatch: Director Caremark Claims Need Extreme Facts
The Delaware Court of Chancery recently dismissed Caremark claims against the directors of Centene in Bricklayers Pension Fund of Western Pennsylvania v. Brinkley, indicating a high bar for a finding of the required element of bad faith for Caremark liability, and stressing the need to resist hindsight bias, say attorneys at Fried Frank.
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Series
After Chevron: Challenges Loom For PBGC Actions
After Loper Bright, two recent actions taken by the Pension Benefit Guaranty Corp. already under scrutiny seem destined to be challenged and resolved under the new standard of judicial deference, which will greatly affect employers with potential withdrawal liability exposure, say Robert Perry and David Pixley at Jackson Lewis.
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Opinion
USPTO AI Patent Guidance Leaves Questions Unanswered
The U.S. Patent and Trademark Office’s recent guidance on artificial intelligence patent eligibility is unlikely to answer many of the open questions that AI patent applicants face, as it includes nominally new analysis that applicants can adopt to analyze their inventions, say attorneys at Fenwick & West.
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Illinois BIPA Reform Offers Welcome Relief To Businesses
Illinois' recent amendment to its Biometric Information Privacy Act limits the number of violations and damages a plaintiff can claim — a crucial step in shielding businesses from unintended legal consequences, including litigation risk and compliance costs, say attorneys at Taft.
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Unpacking Executive Privilege, Contempt In Recent Cases
The U.S. House of Representatives’ recent move to hold Attorney General Merrick Garland in contempt of Congress is the latest example in a growing trend of executive privilege disputes, and serves as a warning to private citizens and corporate leaders who are in communication with the president, says Kristina Moore at Womble Bond.
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Gilead Drug Ruling Creates Corporate Governance Dilemma
If upheld, a California state appellate court's decision — finding that Gilead is liable for delaying commercialization of a safer HIV drug to maximize profits on another drug — threatens to undermine long-standing rules of corporate law and exposes companies to liability for decisions based on sound business judgment, says Shireen Barday at Pallas.
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5 Insights Into FDIC's Final Rule On Big-Bank Resolution Plans
Although the Federal Deposit Insurance Corp.'s recently finalized rule expanding resolution planning requirements for large banks was generally adopted as proposed, it includes key changes related to filing deadlines, review and feedback, and incorporates lessons learned — particularly from last year's bank failures, say attorneys at Cleary.
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3 Notes For Arbitration Agreements After Calif. Ruling
After last month's California Supreme Court decision in Ramirez v. Charter Communications invalidated several arbitration clauses in the company's employee contracts as unconscionable, companies should ensure their own arbitration agreements steer clear of three major pitfalls identified by the court, say attorneys at Cooley.
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Opinion
Focus On Political Stances May Weaken Labor Unions
Recent lawsujits and a bill pending in the U.S. House of Representatives call attention to the practice of labor unions taking political stances with which their members disagree — an issue that may weaken unions, and that employers should stay abreast of, given its implications for labor organizing campaigns, workplace morale and collective bargaining, says Daniel Johns at Cozen O'Connor.
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Opinion
Time To Reimagine The Novation Process For Gov't Contracts
The Federal Acquisition Regulatory Council, which recently extended a long-standing request for public comments on its novation procedures, should heed commenters' suggestions by implementing specific changes in its documentation requirements, thereby creating a more streamlined and practical novation process, say attorneys at Covington.
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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.