Public Policy

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The Federal Trade Commission has come to an agreement with H&R Block to settle claims of deceptive advertising and has withdrawn its complaint in order for the full commission to vote on the deal.

  • October 22, 2024

    Ark. Supreme Court Voids Nov. Effort To Expand Medical Pot

    The Arkansas Supreme Court has determined that voters will not get to decide November 5 whether to expand the state's medical marijuana program via a ballot initiative after finding that the title and summary of the proposed constitutional amendment were misleading.

  • October 22, 2024

    Ill. Temp Worker Fight Restarts Over Amended Statute

    An Illinois federal judge agreed on Monday to reopen a federal benefits lawsuit challenging an Illinois law that mandates benefits for long-term temporary workers so a group of staffing agencies and the state can relitigate injunction issues under amended statutory language.

  • October 22, 2024

    Organic Food Group Asks 9th Circ. To Upend GMO Label Rule

    An organic food industry advocacy group urged the Ninth Circuit on Tuesday to reverse a district judge decision that largely left a Trump-era organic food labeling rule intact, saying the U.S. Department of Agriculture's implementation of a nationwide labeling law for genetically modified foods has been "arbitrary and capricious."

  • October 22, 2024

    Ga. Justices Reject GOP Effort To Restore New Election Rules

    Georgia's justices Tuesday unanimously rejected the state and national Republican parties' attempt to reinstate a slate of controversial new rules before Election Day that would require every ballot in the state to be hand-counted on election night and for officials to conduct "reasonable inquiries" into irregularities before certification.

  • October 22, 2024

    Brazil Eyes Shifting Talks On Wealth Taxation To UN

    Brazil is campaigning for the United Nations to commit to creating a minimum tax on high-net-worth individuals in February during expected talks on the organization's burgeoning global tax convention, a Brazilian finance ministry official said Tuesday at the International Monetary Fund.

  • October 22, 2024

    Split DC Circ. Backs Trespassing Charge In Jan. 6 Case

    A divided D.C. Circuit panel on Tuesday backed the conviction of a defendant charged in connection with the Jan. 6, 2021, riot at the U.S. Capitol, preserving a staple trespassing charge leveled against the majority of accused rioters.

  • October 22, 2024

    Patent Office Finds Public Engagement Leader

    The U.S. Patent and Trademark Office has tapped a former U.S. Small Business Administration program specialist to head the patent office's recently created section meant to bolster its outreach and communication efforts.

  • October 22, 2024

    Dormant Commerce Blocks Wash. Licenses, 9th Circ. Told

    Would-be cannabis dispensary Peridot Tree WA Inc. has urged the Ninth Circuit to reverse orders denying an injunction and dismissing its suit challenging Washington's social equity licensing program, saying it violates the dormant commerce clause by favoring in-state operators.

  • October 22, 2024

    Judge Skeptical Amgen Can't Sue Over Colo. Drug Price Caps

    A Colorado federal judge on Tuesday seemed to doubt the state could short-circuit drugmaker Amgen's challenge to the state's drug price cap system, pressing the state to explain why limiting what consumers ultimately pay does not affect what companies like Amgen can charge.

  • October 22, 2024

    NJ Panel Revives Casino Tax Break Amendment

    A New Jersey state appeals court has reinstated an enhanced casino tax break measure that a trial court had deemed unconstitutional, reasoning that the judge neglected to analyze the measure's interplay with the law it amended.

  • October 22, 2024

    DOJ Wants Google's AI Search Docs, Apple Entry Thoughts

    An expansive look into Google's artificial intelligence pipeline and the prospects of Apple entering into the search market are top of mind for the Justice Department as it pursues remedies meant to address the online giant's illegal monopolization of search, according to a D.C. federal court filing Monday.

  • October 22, 2024

    Neb. Tribe Appeals Ruling To 4th Circ. In Army Burial Row

    A Nebraska tribe will ask the Fourth Circuit to overturn a lower court's decision that determined that the U.S. Army isn't required to repatriate the remains of two Indigenous children from an Indian Boarding School cemetery in Pennsylvania, arguing that the ruling is an affront to tribal sovereignty.

  • October 22, 2024

    Wafer Factories Qualify For CHIPS Tax Credit In Final Regs

    Semiconductor wafer production facilities will qualify for the 25% investment tax credit that incentivizes advanced chip manufacturing development projects under final regulations the U.S. Department of the Treasury released Tuesday.

  • October 22, 2024

    Law Firm Wins Atty Fees In Texas Over Lies To Ghana Court

    An African energy company has to pay nearly $166,000 in attorney fees to an international arbitration specialty law firm after the company was sanctioned for lying to a Ghanaian court about proceedings in Texas, a Texas federal judge has ruled.

  • October 22, 2024

    Madigan Ally's Favors Were '100% Legal,' Not Bribes, Jury Told

    Counsel for an ex-lobbyist standing trial on public corruption charges alongside former Illinois House Speaker Michael Madigan told an Illinois federal jury Tuesday that the government is treating legal lobbying activity as bribery, and that his client did "100% legal favors" for Madigan to establish trust and maintain access to the powerful politician.

  • October 22, 2024

    Standard Deduction To Get $400 Bump For 2025 Tax Year

    The standard deduction will rise by $400, to $15,000, for individuals and married couples filing separately for the 2025 tax year, the IRS said Tuesday in announcing inflation adjustments to over 60 tax provisions.

  • October 22, 2024

    Judge Whose Son Was Killed Says States Must Step Up Safety

    U.S. District Judge Esther Salas of New Jersey, whose son was killed at her home by an attorney who had litigated a case before her, says the federal law enacted in her late son's honor is working well, but more needs to be done on the state level.

  • October 22, 2024

    EchoStar Blasts SpaceX 12 GHz Study As 'Deeply Flawed'

    Dish owner EchoStar hit back at SpaceX in a new filing with the Federal Communications Commission last week, calling a SpaceX study claiming that Dish's proposed fixed 5G service in the 12 gigahertz band would interfere with existing satellite broadband and broadcast service "deeply flawed" and based on "imaginary interference."

  • October 22, 2024

    FCC Expands FirstNet Spectrum Use In 4.9 GHz Band

    The Federal Communications Commission on Tuesday unveiled a controversial plan to expand spectrum rights for AT&T's FirstNet emergency response network in the 4.9 gigahertz airwaves set aside for a wide range of public safety uses.

  • October 22, 2024

    The 2024 Prestige Leaders

    Check out our Prestige Leaders ranking, analysis and interactive graphics to see which firms stand out for their financial performance, attractiveness to attorneys and law students, ability to secure accolades and positive legal news media representation.

Expert Analysis

  • Until Congress Acts, EDNY 'Insider Betting' Case Is Premature

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    The Eastern District of New York’s novel wire fraud conspiracy indictment in U.S. v. Pham may have prematurely heralded a new era in federal gambling enforcement, but in the absence of an “insider betting” statute, sportsbooks — not prosecutors — should be responsible for enforcing their terms of use, says attorney Jonathan Savella.

  • How Law Firms Can Avoid 'Collaboration Drag'

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    Law firm decision making can be stifled by “collaboration drag” — characterized by too many pointless meetings, too much peer feedback and too little dissent — but a few strategies can help stakeholders improve decision-making processes and build consensus, says Steve Groom at Miles Mediation.

  • Election Outlook: A Precedent Primer On Content Moderation

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    With the 2024 election season now in full swing, online platforms will face difficult and politically sensitive decisions about content moderation, but U.S. Supreme Court decisions from last term offer much-needed certainty about their rights, say Jonathan Blavin and Helen White at Munger Tolles.

  • Banking Compliance Takeaways From Joint Agency Statement

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    Federal bank regulatory agencies’ recent joint statement warning of risks associated with third-party fintech deposit services spotlights a fundamental problem that may arise with bank deposit products that are made through increasingly complex customer relationships, says Tom Witherspoon at Stinson.

  • Workday AI Bias Suit Suggests Hiring Lessons For Employers

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    As state laws and a federal agency increasingly focus on employment bias introduced by artificial intelligence systems, a California federal court's recent decision to allow a discrimination suit to proceed against Workday's AI-driven recruitment software, shows companies should promptly assess these tools' risks, say attorneys at Williams & Connolly.

  • What BIPA Reform Law Means For Biometrics Litigation

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    A recently signed Illinois law amending the Biometric Information Privacy Act limits defendants' liability exposure on a per-scan basis and clarifies that electronic signatures constitute a valid written release, establishing additional issues that courts will need to address in future BIPA litigation, say attorneys at Faegre Drinker.

  • Assessing The Practicality Of Harris' Affordable Housing Plan

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    Vice President Kamala Harris' proposed "Build the American Dream" plan to tackle housing affordability issues takes solid recommendations into account and may fare better than California's unsuccessful attempt at a similar program, but the scope of the problem is beyond what a three-point plan can solve, says Brooke Miller at Sheppard Mullin.

  • Philly Project Case Renews Ongoing Fraud Theory Tug-Of-War

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    In its upcoming term, the U.S. Supreme Court will hear Kousisis v. U.S., a case involving wire fraud convictions related to Philadelphia bridge repair projects, and may once again further rein in prosecutorial attempts to expand theories of fraud beyond core traditional property rights, say Jonathan Halpern and Kyra Rosenzweig at Holland & Knight.

  • Opinion

    Proposed Law Would Harm NYC Hospitality Industry

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    A recently proposed New York City Law that would update hotel licensing and staff coverage requirements could give the city commissioner and unions undue control over the city's hospitality industry, and harm smaller hotels that cannot afford full-time employees, says Stuart Saft at Holland & Knight.

  • Opinion

    Litigation Funding Disclosure Key To Open, Impartial Process

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    Blanket investor and funding agreement disclosures should be required in all civil cases where the investor has a financial interest in the outcome in order to address issues ranging from potential conflicts of interest to national security concerns, says Bob Goodlatte, former U.S. House Representative for Virginia.

  • Regulators Are Revamping Use Of Bank Service Company Act

    Excerpt from Practical Guidance
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    Though the Bank Service Company Act was written six decades ago, banks and service providers should be alert to the evolving ways financial regulators are using the law as a tool for scrutinizing bank-fintech partnerships and third-party service providers that could put consumers at risk, say James Bergin and Paul Lim at Arnold & Porter.

  • Series

    After Chevron: What To Expect In Consumer Protection At FTC

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    Although the Federal Trade Commission's bread-and-butter consumer protection law enforcement actions are unlikely to be affected, the Loper Bright decision may curb the FTC's bolder interpretations of the statutes it enforces, says Mary Engle at BBB National Programs.

  • Carbon Offset Case A Win For CFTC Enviro Fraud Task Force

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    An Illinois federal court's decision in Commodity Futures Trading Commission v. Ikkurty — earning the CFTC a sizeable monetary award that will likely incentivize similar enforcement pursuit — shows the impact of the commission's Environmental Fraud Task Force, say attorneys at Steptoe.

  • RealPage Suit Shows Growing Algorithm, AI Pricing Scrutiny

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    The U.S. Department of Justice's suit against RealPage for helping fix rental rates, filed last week, demonstrates how the use of algorithmic and artificial intelligence tools to assist with pricing decisions is drawing increasing scrutiny and action across government agencies, and specifically at the Federal Trade Commission and the DOJ, say Andre Geverola and Leah Harrell at Arnold & Porter.

  • Whistleblowers Must Note 5 Key Differences Of DOJ Program

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    The U.S. Department of Justice’s recently unveiled whistleblower awards program diverges in key ways from similar programs at other agencies, and individuals must weigh these differences and look first to programs with stronger, proven protections before blowing the whistle, say Stephen Kohn and Geoff Schweller at Kohn Kohn.

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