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Public Policy
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August 26, 2024
Texas Cases To Watch In Last Half Of 2024
Courts across the state are poised to make decisions in several high-stakes cases over the next several months, including ruling on whether Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton can be deposed in a long-running employment retaliation suit and whether a challenge to Texas' floating Rio Grande barrier must be tried before a jury.
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August 26, 2024
Latino Nonprofit Drops Suit Over Houston At-Large Voting
Civil rights organization LULAC has dropped a 2022 lawsuit against the city of Houston alleging that its at-large voting system for certain City Council positions discriminates against Latino voters.
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August 26, 2024
Canada Planning 100% Surtax On Chinese EVs, 25% On Steel
Canada plans to implement a 100% surtax on imported Chinese electric vehicles and a 25% surtax on Chinese steel and aluminum as part of a package intended to protect Canadian industry from unfair competition, the country's Department of Finance said Monday.
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August 26, 2024
Energy Cases To Watch In The 2nd Half Of 2024
Even after an action-packed first half of 2024, plenty of high-stakes energy litigation remains, including a new twist in the prolonged battle over climate change lawsuits against fossil fuel companies, as well as cases that could influence federal climate change policy. Here are several cases energy attorneys will be watching in the second half of the year.
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August 26, 2024
New Jersey Cases Attorneys Are Watching In 2024
Jersey City is fighting the Garden State's cannabis legalization law and argues it conflicts with federal gun control legislation, while the bankrupt former chief financial officer of McElroy Deutsch Mulvaney & Carpenter LLP is facing civil claims he defrauded the firm and paid himself millions in unauthorized salary.
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August 23, 2024
FDIC Says Ex-Lender Can't Have 3rd Bite At In-House Apple
The Federal Deposit Insurance Corp. on Friday urged a Washington, D.C., federal judge to reject a former small-business financier's bid to immediately halt an agency enforcement proceeding against him, saying a key recent U.S. Supreme Court decision doesn't apply to his case.
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August 23, 2024
Ohio Constitution Dooms 24-Hour Abortion Waiting Period
An Ohio state judge on Friday preliminarily blocked multiple Ohio civil and criminal abortion-related statutes requiring informed consent and a 24-hour waiting period, among other restrictions, finding that the statutes likely run afoul of the recently passed voter-backed state constitutional amendment enshrining the right to abortion.
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August 23, 2024
Afghan Supporters Say US Arbitrarily Delayed Parole Requests
The U.S. government has been arbitrarily delaying action on requests of Afghans seeking humanitarian parole while expeditiously processing parole applications of those living in Ukraine, Cuba and Haiti for free and approving their travel authorizations, according to plaintiffs seeking to file an amended proposed class action in Massachusetts federal court.
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August 23, 2024
PE Fund Says SEC Is Overstepping With 'Fishing Expedition'
A large South Carolina private equity fund has sued the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission for allegedly overstepping its authority by trying to regulate the business' activities through an unconstitutional "fishing expedition" investigation that threatens the building of thousands of housing units.
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August 23, 2024
Google Pushes To Depose A Texas Official In Biometric Suit
Google is crying foul in a state court of appeals over Texas' refusal to let it take a deposition of either a representative or an employee of the Texas Office of the Attorney General, saying in a petition that it was forced to defend itself without full discovery.
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August 23, 2024
Hong Kong Relaxes Listing Rules For Tech Startups, SPACs
Hoping to spur more investment into emerging businesses amid a dry spell, Hong Kong's securities watchdog and stock exchange leaders on Friday unveiled relaxed listing rules for technology startups and eased requirements needed to clear mergers involving special purpose acquisition companies.
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August 23, 2024
Slot Machine Apps Violate Kentucky Betting Laws, Suit Says
A Kentucky man is taking aim at producers of online game apps, arguing in his federal lawsuit that these "social casinos" are causing the same problems as real-life gambling and constitute illegal wagering.
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August 23, 2024
FTC Regroups After Noncompete Setbacks In Florida, Texas
A Florida federal judge on Friday suspended a deadline given to the Federal Trade Commission to respond to a lawsuit challenging a worker noncompete ban after the agency requested more time to discuss next steps following recent setbacks against the rule in Texas and the Sunshine State.
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August 23, 2024
Ill. Cheer Parents Can Join $82.5M Antitrust Varsity Brand Deal
A Tennessee federal judge on Friday allowed cheer parents from Illinois to participate in an $82.5 million antitrust class action settlement reached with academic apparel giant Varsity Brands, finding they could receive settlement benefits without delaying the process or increasing administrative costs.
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August 23, 2024
Wash. Justices Affirm Convicted Ex-State Auditor Disbarment
The Washington Supreme Court affirmed a recommendation to disbar convicted former state auditor Troy X. Kelley after he was imprisoned on felony theft charges, finding that Kelley's crimes justified the disbarment sanction.
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August 23, 2024
NY Lawmakers Hit With ADA Suit Over Contentious Mask Ban
A Long Island, New York, county that recently made it illegal for certain individuals to wear face masks in public has been hit with a lawsuit by a legal advocacy group alleging the ban discriminates against people with disabilities.
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August 23, 2024
737 Max Families Spurn DOJ, Boeing's 'Cozy' Plea Deal
Families of victims of the 737 Max 8 crashes told a Texas federal judge on Friday that the U.S. Department of Justice's "cozy" plea agreement with Boeing must be rejected because it's based on misleading facts and shoddy math that overlook the tragic deaths of 346 people.
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August 23, 2024
Biden White House Unleashes More Sanctions On Russia
The Biden administration issued a wave of sanctions against Russia on Friday — the eve of Ukrainian Independence Day — targeting 400 entities and individuals who are allegedly helping Russia avoid the sanctions imposed in response to its invasion of Ukraine.
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August 23, 2024
NC Not Shielded From Racetrack's COVID Shutdown Suit
The North Carolina Supreme Court on Friday ruled a racetrack owner's lawsuit accusing state officials of violating his constitutional rights with a COVID shutdown order can survive dismissal, reasoning the claims were sufficient to overcome the government's protections from being sued.
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August 23, 2024
Texas Sues To Halt Green Cards For Mixed-Status Families
Texas sued the Biden administration Friday seeking to block a new program for noncitizens and stepchildren of U.S. citizens to apply for green cards and work permits from within the country, saying it exceeds the administration's parole authority.
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August 23, 2024
La. Judge Smashes EPA Civil Rights Regulations In State
A Louisiana federal judge has granted the state's request for a permanent injunction blocking the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency from enforcing civil rights regulations in the state that involve disparate impact components.
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August 23, 2024
Albertsons-Kroger Deal Tests FTC's Stepped-Up Merger Policy
The Federal Trade Commission's highly anticipated hearing to block Albertsons' planned $24.6 billion merger with Kroger kicks off Monday in a Portland, Oregon, courtroom in what attorneys say will be a pivotal test of the Biden administration's newly formalized merger policy.
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August 23, 2024
Latino Group Seeks Inquiry Into AG Paxton's Voter Fraud Raids
The Texas arm of the League of United Latin American Citizens is calling for a federal investigation into reports of "police state tactics" used by the Texas attorney general's office during its investigation of voter fraud.
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August 23, 2024
Google Args Don't Erase 'History Is On, Jesus,' DOJ Says
Google employees were so conscious of hiding evidence of conduct "that leads to law suits" that they reacted quickly when forgetting to let internal chats delete automatically, the Justice Department said, pushing to punish the search giant for those policies in the looming advertising technology monopolization trial.
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August 23, 2024
Texas City Can't Avoid Improvement District Bond Payments
A Texas appeals court has affirmed a Dallas specialty finance company's win over the city of Hutto, finding this week that the finance company made valid transactions despite the city's protests that the bonds at issue weren't valid under state law.
Expert Analysis
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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.
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Series
After Chevron: New Lines Of Attack For FCA Defense Bar
Loper Bright has given defense counsel new avenues to overcome the False Claims Act elements of falsity and scienter, as any FCA claim based upon ambiguous statutory terms can no longer stand solely on agency regulations to establish the statute's meaning, which is itself necessary to satisfy the FCA's basic requirements, says Elisha Kobre at Bradley Arant.
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CFPB's Medical Debt Proposal May Have Side Effects
The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau’s recent proposal to prevent medical debt information from appearing on consumer reports and creditors from basing lending decisions on such information may have initial benefits for some consumers, but there are potential negative consequences that should also be considered, say attorneys at Cooley.
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New NHTSA Fuel Economy Rule Adds Compliance Complexity
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration's recently announced final rule on new corporate average fuel economy standards for passenger cars and light trucks will create challenges for manufacturers, which must also comply with the EPA's multipollutant rule and California's zero-emission vehicle programs, say Joanne Rotondi and Hannah Graae at Hogan Lovells.
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Series
Teaching Scuba Diving Makes Me A Better Lawyer
As a master scuba instructor, I’ve learned how to prepare for the unexpected, overcome fears and practice patience, and each of these skills – among the many others I’ve developed – has profoundly enhanced my work as a lawyer, says Ron Raether at Troutman Pepper.
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15 Areas That Would Change Under Health Data Rule Proposal
If finalized, the Office of the National Coordinator for Health Information Technology's proposed rule will significantly progress its efforts to advance interoperability, respond to stakeholder concerns and clarify compliance with the health IT certification program, say attorneys at Ropes & Gray.
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The Road Ahead For Regulation Of Digital Twins In Healthcare
Digital replicas of cells, organs and people — known as digital twins — can facilitate clinical trials for new drugs by reducing the number of patients required, but data limitations can create logistical hurdles and regulatory efforts addressing digital twins are still in early stages, say consultants at Keystone Strategy.
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A Guide To Long-Term, Part-Time Employee Determinations
With final regulations under the Secure Act requiring 401(k) retirement benefits for long-term, part-time employees expected soon, Amy Sheridan and David Guadagnoli at Sullivan & Worcester look at how the proposed rules would shift the risk-reward calculus on excluding categories of employees, and what plan sponsors would need to consider when designing retirement plans.
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Series
After Chevron: Delegation Of Authority And Tax Regulators
The U.S. Department of the Treasury and the Internal Revenue Service will face higher standards following Loper Bright’s finding that courts should determine whether agency rules meet the best possible interpretation of the tax code, as well as the scope of the authority delegated by Congress, says Edward Froelich at McDermott.
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Lawyers Can Take Action To Honor The Voting Rights Act
As the Voting Rights Act reaches its 59th anniversary Tuesday, it must urgently be reinforced against recent efforts to dismantle voter protections, and lawyers can pitch in immediately by volunteering and taking on pro bono work to directly help safeguard the right to vote, says Anna Chu at We The Action.
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Decoding CFPB Priorities Amid Ramp-Up In Nonbank Actions
Based on recent Consumer Financial Protection Bureau enforcement actions and press releases about its supervisory activities, the agency appears poised to continue increasing its scrutiny over nonbank entities — particularly with respect to emerging financial products and services — into next year, say attorneys at Wiley.
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Series
After Chevron: What Loper Bright Portends For The NLRB
While the U.S. Supreme Court has a long history of deferring to the National Labor Relations Board's readings of federal labor law, the court's Loper Bright v. Raimondo decision forces courts to take a harder look at the judgment of an agency — and the NLRB will not be immune from such greater scrutiny, says Irving Geslewitz at Much Shelist.
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PE Firms Should Prepare For Increased False Claims Scrutiny
The impact private equity firms may have over medical decisions and care is increasingly attracting potential liability under the False Claims Act and attention from states and the federal government, so investors should follow best practices including conducting due diligence both before and after acquisitions, say attorneys at K&L Gates.
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Series
After Chevron: NRC Is Shielded From Loper Bright's Effects
While the U.S. Supreme Court's recent Loper Bright v. Relentless decision brought an end to Chevron deference, Congress' unique delegation of discretionary authority to the Nuclear Regulatory Commission will likely insulate it from the additional judicial scrutiny that other federal agencies will face, say Ryan Lighty and Scott Clausen at Morgan Lewis.
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Opinion
Unclear Intellectual Property Laws Are Stifling US Innovation
U.S. intellectual property law’s lack of predictability means far less job-creating investments for companies that need patent protection to compete, and Congress must step in with legislation like the Patent Eligibility Restoration Act to help address the problem, says Michael Gulliford at Soryn IP Capital Management.