2024 amendment: Unveiling unpublished opinions - The Oklahoma Supreme Court’s recent amendment to Rule 1.200 on February 26, 2024, continues the court’s shift towards judicial modernization and transparency, allowing unpublished… more

This BLOG has previously addressed issues related to proper licensure for contractors and the problems that arise for them if they perform work without a license. We have previously noted that home improvement contractors are… more

The United States Environmental Protection Agency (“EPA”) and Logan Agride – Service, Inc (“Logan”) entered into an April 15th Consent Agreement and Final Order (“CAFO”) addressing alleged violations of the Federal Insecticide… more

The foundation of virtually every business and commercial transaction is a contract. It is difficult to imagine a transaction for the purchase or sale of goods, the merger or acquisition of a business, or the provision of services that… more

This is the final post in our 2024 Year in Preview series examining important trends in white collar law and investigations in the coming year... Politicians in Republican-led states have painted a target on environmental, social… more

The United States Environmental Protection Agency (“EPA”) issued a prepublication version of a Final Rule that would designate two of the Per-and polyfluoroalkyl substances (“PFAS”) as Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation… more

The video game industry is brimming with innovation, competition, and transformative technological advancements. As we look at the current state of this vibrant sector, it is evident there are both challenges and opportunities… more

CONGRESS AWAY, ADMINISTRATION STILL IN PLAY - Congress is mostly in recess this week, with the exception of the Senate returning on Tuesday, April 23, to consider the House-passed foreign aid package. Thus there are no hearings… more

Settles Federal Charges the Casual Dining Chain Allowed Female Employees, including a Teen, to be Sexually Harassed, Retaliated Against, and Forced to Resign - EVERETT, Wash. – Restaurant chain Red Robin International, Inc. agreed… more

On Friday, April 5, 2024, the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service (the “Service”) finalized a rule clarifying the procedures and criteria for listing, reclassifying, and delisting species on the Lists of Endangered and Threatened Wildlife and… more

Supporters of hemp-derived cannabidiol (CBD) who hoped the Food and Drug Administration would adopt a more progressive view of CBD were disappointed when FDA Chief Robert Califf recently testified that FDA does not consider… more

The Pregnant Workers Fairness Act (PWFA) became effective on June 27, 2023. On August 11, 2023, the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) issued its proposed regulations on the PWFA. After receiving over 100,000 public… more

Trending in Telehealth highlights state legislative and regulatory developments that impact the healthcare providers, telehealth and digital health companies, pharmacists and technology companies that deliver and facilitate the… more

With 2024 underway, we highlight some of the most pressing legal issues facing employers this year, including increased regulation of noncompetition agreements, new paid family and medical leave laws, a new Overtime Rule, and a heated… more

How can you defend yourself if you are accused of misappropriation of trade secrets? This is a complex area of the law and there is no one-size-fits-all defense. Developing a strategy to successfully defend against a claim that you… more

As is the case with most emerging technologies, developments in artificial intelligence (AI) are quickly outpacing regulations, and with this comes a variety of important legal considerations. While there has been a push for more… more

On April 23, 2024, the Federal Trade Commission (“FTC”) will vote on whether to issue a final rule that will prohibit organizations from enforcing non-compete agreements with current and former workers. The vote will take place during… more

Last week I had the privilege of attending the Construction Financial Management Association Dallas/Ft Worth Chapter’s monthly membership education luncheon as a prospective member. The educational topic was Cybersecurity and the… more

Effective January 1, 2024, multinational companies (“MNCs”) intending to do business in Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (“KSA”) with a KSA government entities are required to incorporate their regional headquarters (“RHQ”) in KSA.  Qualifying… more

On April 17, 2024, the Oregon Court of Appeals recognized a government employee’s whistleblower claim under state law against a city that employed him under an intergovernmental agreement with another city… more

Court: Circuit Court of Cook County, Illinois - On April 19, a Chicago jury ordered Johnson & Johnson to pay $45 million to the family of a Cook County woman named Theresa Garcia who died from mesothelioma, allegedly caused by exposure… more

The Affordable Care Act (ACA) Marketplaces have nearly tripled their enrollment in their first decade of operation, from eight million people in 2014 to 21.4 million in 2024. At the national level, the ACA has helped cut the… more

In this video alert, Dave Albo and Kevin Pomfret review bills discussed in the General Assembly concerning artificial intelligence (AI), the results from the recently concluded legislative session and the executive order issued by… more

Good Afternoon! This is Akin’s biweekly policy newsletter on space policy and regulatory developments, providing information on major space headlines and forthcoming space-related events and hearings..… more

In a single decade, the prosecutions of those accused of white-collar crime underwent a radical transformation. This thought-provoking episode will take you back in time to explore the DOJ's approach in the early 2000s Enron era and… more

California’s Emerald Triangle is a famed region in the Golden State for the cultivation of top-notch cannabis. In particular, Humboldt County is home to some of the nation’s most seasoned, generational cannabis farming families. One… more

Every year, the global regulatory landscape becomes more complex. New legislation, evolving standards of practice, and enforcement nuances can be too obscure – or too fast-moving – for in-house compliance or legal functions to… more

Iavor Stoyanov v. Himont Law Group, Ltd., et al., 2024 IL App (1st) 221434-U (April 15, 2024) - Brief Summary - The First District Appellate Court in Illinois held that the trial court (Judge Patrick J. Sherlock) was correct in… more

Court: United States District Court, Middle District of Florida - On Thursday April 18, a Florida jury found the talcum powder in Johnson & Johnson’s baby powder product did not cause the ovarian cancer of deceased Sarasota County… more

The Department of Labor (DOL) Wage and Hour Division issued final regulations, effective March 11, 2024, which are intended to serve as a practical guide to employers on how the DOL determines whether a worker is an employee or… more

The other week, the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) issued a Report to Congress under the FTC Collaboration Act that requires the FTC to conduct a study on its efforts with state attorneys general to combat fraud across the United… more

Years ago, Laney Griner took a picture of her then toddler son, Sam, at the beach clenching his fist in what appeared like a celebratory gesture. The photo went viral, and later became a widely used meme on the internet known as… more

On April 22, 2023, South Texas Oncology and Hematology (“STOH”) filed a notice of data breach with the Attorney General of Texas after discovering that a recent cyberattack compromised patients’ confidential information. In this… more

The updates include a report from the Stock Exchange of Hong Kong Limited on review of issuers’ annual reports, a summary of private reprimands, and disciplinary actions… more

On April 19, 2024, Valley Mountain Regional Center (“VRMC”) filed a notice of data breach with the Attorney General of Montana after discovering that an unauthorized party was able to access information stored on the company’s computer… more

Federal law prohibits employers from relying on certain protected statuses (race, color, religion, sex, or national origin) when making employment decisions. Lower courts have required employees suing employers to point to a materially… more

For the first time in nearly 15 years, the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) has issued “Updated Guidance for Making a Proper Determination of Obviousness” under the U.S. Supreme Court’s ruling in KSR Int’l Co. v. Teleflex Inc.… more

In 2023, the digital asset industry demonstrated remarkable resilience amidst significant challenges, including the dissolution of several digital asset financial services companies, numerous bank failures, and a $4.7 billion fine… more

The Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (“EEOC”) has finalized its regulations for the Pregnant Workers Fairness Act (“PWFA”), which went into effect last summer. After issuing a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking in August 2023… more

In today’s legal landscape, leveraging data analytics through data visualization has become indispensable for law firms. Data visualization transforms complex datasets into actionable insights, enabling legal marketers to refine their… more

One of the most popular incentives for service industry employees is the “Shift Drink” – a drink on the house to unwind after a work day. On the surface, the Shift Drink is a relatively low-cost and readily available perk that an owner… more

Our Environment, Land Use & Natural Resources Group clarifies a new Environmental Protection Agency rule that could complicate current Superfund cleanups and enforcement… more

The federal Corporate Transparency Act (CTA), formed under the National Defense Authorization Act, establishes new disclosure obligations for millions of companies operating in the United States and abroad including beneficial… more

On April 18, 2024, a jury in Seattle, Washington, determined that a not-for-profit hospital system employer would be required to pay nearly $100 million for time clock rounding and meal period violations, raising concerns for employers… more

To keep you informed of recent activities, below are several of the most significant federal and state events that have influenced the Consumer Financial Services industry over the past week..… more

Almost 15 years ago, in an effort to create greater predictability for patent litigation in the Northern District of Illinois, the District enacted Local Patent Rules (“LPR”).1 This annotated version of the LPRs is released in honor… more

At the March 13, 2024 Public Health Council meeting, the Department of Public Health’s inaugural Assistant Commissioner for Health Equity, Dr. Hafsatou Diop, MD, MPH, presented DPH’s Strategic Plan to Advance Racial Equity. Declaring… more

On April 22, 2024, the federal Department of Health and Human Services’ Office for Civil Rights (OCR) announced a final rule enhancing privacy protections relating to reproductive health care. Specifically, the final rule amends the… more

On April 19, 2024, the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) published its final rule adopting an expansive view of what counts as a pregnancy-related condition that triggers employer accommodation obligations under the… more

The United Auto Workers won a potentially momentum-shifting organizing victory last week. In a secret ballot election conducted by the NLRB at a Chattanooga, Tennessee Volkswagen plant, nearly 75% of the putative bargaining unit of… more

As anticipated, 2024 is bringing increased scrutiny of restrictive covenants by employers. At both the federal and state levels, non-compete agreements (“non-competes”) are being disfavored more than ever, with Maryland being the… more

Readers of our blog are well aware of the rash of recent lawsuits alleging that a company’s use of tracking software on its website constitutes a “pen register,” as defined under the California Invasion of Privacy Act (“CIPA”)… more

On April 19, 2024, the Coalition for Fair Trade in Ceramic Tile (“FTCT”), “the Coalition”, or “Petitioner”), filed a petition for the imposition of antidumping and countervailing duties on U.S. imports of ceramic tile from India… more

​​​​​​​On April 16, Alvotech and Teva announced the FDA approval of SELARSDI™ (ustekinumab-aekn), biosimilar to Johnson and Johnson’s STELERA® (ustekinumab)… more

One year ago, the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) issued an Advance Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (ANPRM) that set forth several ideas related to America Invents Act (AIA) proceedings before the Patent Trial and… more

Today, the Supreme Court of the United States granted certiorari in two cases: Garland v. VanDerStok, No. 23-852: This administrative law and statutory interpretation case concerns the federal government’s ability to regulate… more

Massachusetts regulators have finalized a set of rules covering sports betting operators’ data-privacy obligations. The Massachusetts Gaming Commission (MGC) agreed to several clarifications to its regulations, which were originally… more

Centaurs are mythological creatures with a human’s upper body, and a horse’s lower body. They symbolize a union of human intellect and animal strength. In AI technology, Centaurs refers to a type of hybrid usage of generative AI that… more