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News & Analysis as of May 22, 2013

The U.S. Supreme Court Rejects Extraterritorial Lawsuit Against Shell Oil

by Tyler Weidlich | Baker, Donelson, Bearman, Caldwell &... on 5/13/2013

The United States Supreme Court, in Kiobel v. Royal Dutch Petroleum, recently restricted the scope of the Alien Tort Statute, 28 U.S.C. § 1350 (“ATS”), a 224-year-old law often used to invoke jurisdiction in suing...more

New California Landlord Disclosure Requirements Effective July 1

by David Barksdale, Gary York | Ballard Spahr LLP on 4/24/2013

Two new landlord disclosure requirements become effective in California on July 1, 2013. One requires that all new commercial leases state whether the property has been inspected for disability access—and if so, the results....more

New Commercial Property Disclosure Requirements

by Hopkins & Carley on 4/16/2013

A recent statute and set of regulations will shortly begin to impose new disclosure requirements on commercial landlords, property sellers, and borrowers in California for leases, purchases, and financings entered into on or...more

European Parliament Committee on Industry, Research and Energy publish opinion on the proposed General Data Protection Regulation

by Cynthia O'Donoghue | Reed Smith on 3/15/2013

Following the lead of the Committee on Civil Liberties, Justice and Home Affairs (LIBE), which already released its draft report (see our prior blog), 20 February, the European Parliament Committee on Industry, Research and...more

Legal Update: New Legally Required Disclosures

by Xavier Gutierrez | Miller Starr Regalia on 3/12/2013

Starting July 1, 2013, you will be legally required to make the following additional disclosures in certain California real estate contracts and leases: Accessibility Compliance Disclosure: California Civil...more

Employee Is Protected By Whistleblower Provisions Of The Labor Code When He Or She Reports Illegal Conduct By A Fellow Employee

by Laura Izon Powell, Bruce A. Scheidt, Kristianne Seargeant, David W. Tyra | Kronick, Moskovitz, Tiedemann & Girard on 2/19/2013

A terminated employee brought claims against his former employer for wrongful termination in violation of the California False Claims Act (“CFCA”), public policy, and the whistleblower protections provided by the Labor Code. ...more

Labor Letter, January 2013: Preventing Discrimination Complaints Under The Mine Act: Six Steps To Protect Your Company

by Matthew R. Korn | Fisher & Phillips LLP on 1/5/2013

The Mine Safety and Health Administration (MSHA) recently announced what many mine operators and independent contractors have experienced for the past several years – a heightened focus on, and tremendous increase in, the...more

MSHA Update

by Cole A. Wist | Ogletree, Deakins, Nash, Smoak & Stewart,... on 8/20/2012

In a highly-anticipated decision involving two sets of consolidated contest proceedings, the Federal Mine Safety and Health Review Commission has affirmed a May 2011 ALJ order that upheld a broad interpretation of MSHA’s...more