Williams Mullen's COVID-19 Comeback Plan: Preparing Today for Tomorrow's PPP Audit
The Georgia Tech case serves as yet another reminder of the importance of contractor compliance with cybersecurity requirements in federal contracts. The Government alleges that Georgia Tech failed to comply with the...more
The Situation: The False Claims Act ("FCA") imposes treble damages on defendants, as well as mandatory penalties per false claim. Because alleged false claims often involve much smaller amounts—for example, in cases with a...more
In the high-stakes realm of False Claims Act (FCA) litigation per-claim penalties can reach daunting levels that dwarf even treble damages. A recent ruling from the Eighth Circuit Court provides valuable guidance on the...more
Colorado bankruptcy trustees have recently been increasing their focus on debt settlement companies and attorneys alleged to be performing services in violation of the Colorado Uniform Debt-Management Services Act (“CUDMSA”...more
Terminating employees can be a daunting task. Failing to follow your state or local rules when terminating an employee can make the task exponentially more difficult and expensive. When a business plans on firing or laying...more
The Pennsylvania Supreme Court recently gave consumers a huge win by allowing them to recover both treble damages and punitive damages under Pennsylvania’s Unfair Trade Practices and Consumer Protection Law (UTPCPL)....more
On April 25, 2024, the Supreme Court of Pennsylvania held that trial courts considering violations of Pennsylvania’s Unfair Trade Practices and Consumer Protection Law (“UTPCPL”) may not limit damages because of separate...more
On March 28, 2024, in Sutton v. Jordan’s Furniture, Inc., the Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court (SJC) upheld a Massachusetts Superior Court decision finding the furniture retailer’s commission-based compensation scheme...more
The False Claims Act, sometimes referred to as the FCA, is an integral part of U.S. whistleblower law. By providing an avenue for individuals to blow the whistle on false or fraudulent claims that are being committed against...more
Effective March 20, employees in New York City can bring private actions against their employers for violations of the city’s Earned Safe and Sick Time Act, NYC Admin. Code § 20-911 et seq. ...more
The U.S. Department of Justice (“DOJ”) announced its False Claims Act (“FCA”) enforcement statistics for FY 2023 and identified key priorities for FCA enforcement in 2024 and beyond. The DOJ continues to pursue FCA...more
The Massachusetts Wage Act (MA Wage Act) is one of the most punitive wage payment laws in the country. Employers who violate the MA Wage Act are liable for treble damages, attorney’s fees, and costs. The question of what...more
Employers with Massachusetts-based employees know that the Massachusetts Wage Act (the “Wage Act”), with its strict liability and automatic treble damages and attorneys’ fees, is a powerful and exacting statute with which...more
On February 8, the U.S. District Court for the District of Minnesota ruled that a $487 million False Claims Act (FCA) damages award entered last year against Precision Lens and its co-founder violated the Eighth Amendment’s...more
On February 1, 2024, the First Circuit Court of Appeals held that a plaintiff alleging a violation of the Maine Equal Pay Law (MEPL) does not need to show additional discriminatory intent beyond establishing that an employer...more
The Massachusetts Wage Act is one of the most punitive wage payment laws in the country. Employers who run afoul of its provisions, even unintentionally, are liable for treble damages, attorneys’ fees, and costs. ...more
The Ninth U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals recently weighed in on treble damages in a Telephone Consumer Protection Act (TCPA) dispute involving junk faxes. True Health Chiropractic sued McKesson Corp. for violating the...more
Last week, the Ninth Circuit in True Health Chiropractic, Inc. v. McKesson Corp. (True Health II), No. 22-15710 (9th Cir. Oct. 25, 2023), affirmed the Northern District of California’s earlier ruling in True Health...more
Recently, a federal judge in the United States District Court for the Western District of Washington granted in part a motion to dismiss a TCPA claim in a putative class action. The Court found that although the plaintiff...more
On October 10, 2023, Governor Gavin Newsom signed into law Assembly Bill (AB) No. 933. The new law provides further protection to individuals who are victims of sexual offenses and are sued under state defamation law....more
What is the difference between a traditional trademark and trade dress protection? Traditional Trademarks - According to the USPTO - A trademark can be any word, phrase, symbol, design, or a combination of these things...more
The Supreme Court’s recent decision in Yegiazaryan v. Smagin opens the door for foreign plaintiffs to use the Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations Act (“RICO”) as an additional tool for collecting on international...more
The US Supreme Court has opened the door for foreign plaintiffs to sue under the Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations Act (“RICO”), which provides treble damages and attorneys’ fees, to assist enforcement of an...more
Launching a product, even a simple one, can be lucrative, but also presents risks, not the least of which is patent infringement. Before selling a product, it is wise to invest in patent clearance advice, which includes an...more
After a jury awarded a Telephone Consumer Protection Act (TCPA) plaintiff $8,500 in damages at trial, the judge declined to treble the award—and instead cut it to $6,500....more