The distinctions and relationships between the three branches of government—legislative, judicial, and administrative—are not static, but ever-changing, both at the federal and state levels. The separation of powers required...more
In November 2023 we discussed the Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals’ decision to strike down a Biden-era firearm regulation concerning “ghost guns,” concluding that the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF)...more
The U.S. Department of Justice (“DOJ”) recently announced that in fiscal year 2024 (“FY2024”), settlements and judgments under the False Claims Act (“FCA”) exceeded $2.9 billion. Over $2.4 billion of such settlements and...more
The European Union adopted the Whistleblower Protection Directive in 2019, seeking to establish a uniform complainant protection regime across EU Member States for individuals that report violations of a wide range of EU...more
On September 30, 2024, Judge Kathryn Mizelle of the U.S. District Court for the Middle District of Florida issued a noteworthy decision in United States ex rel. Zafirov v. Florida Medical Associates, LLC, holding that the qui...more
On August 1, 2024, the United States Department of Justice’s (DOJ) Criminal Division announced the details of its much-anticipated Corporate Whistleblower Awards Pilot Program. This program is designed to incentivize...more
On March 18, 2024, Michael S. Regan, Environmental Protection Agency (“EPA”) Administrator, and National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan issued a letter urging state governors to take immediate action to address the increasing...more
On April 15, 2024, the Department of Justice (“DOJ”) released an internal memo introducing a Pilot Program on Voluntary Disclosures intended to encourage individuals – from executives to lower-level employees – to report...more
Last month, Congressman Richard Hudson (R-NC), along with Congresswoman Elise Stefanik (R-NY) and Congressman Andy Barr (R-KY), introduced legislation—the Protecting Privacy in Purchases Act —banning the use of a Merchant...more
During a March 7, 2024, speech at the American Bar Association’s 39th National Institute on White Collar Crime, Deputy Attorney General Lisa Monaco announced that the United States Department of Justice (“DOJ”) is launching a...more
In April 2022, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives finalized a rule designed to address so-called “Ghost Guns” or “Personally Manufactured Firearms” (PMFs). PMFs are unfinished firearm parts, frequently...more