In Washington, nearly every injury lawsuit now includes a traumatic brain injury claim. As brain MRIs and CT scans are almost always normal, plaintiffs’ counsel are seeking new ways to “show” the jury “proof” of the brain...more
On January 4, Attorney General Jeff Sessions rescinded the Obama-era protection that has allowed the cannabis industry to flourish despite marijuana being illegal under federal law. In 2013, then-Deputy Attorney General James...more
In May, Attorney General (AG) Jeff Sessions sent a letter to Congress that zeroed in on the Rohrabacher-Blumenauer Amendment, a cornerstone of federal cannabis legislation that has handcuffed the Department of Justice from...more
At the end of 2016, the Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA) issued a new ruling, codified at 21 C.F.R. § 1308.11(d)(58), establishing all marijuana extracts, not just THC, as illegal under federal law. This has led to a controversy...more
Cannabis products available to consumers under state legalization laws continue to expand in volume and variety. As the industry grows, so too do the risks and liabilities. Though the U.S. Food & Drug Administration (FDA)...more
Last month, news outlets reported that Scotiabank and Royal Bank of Canada, the two top banks in Canada, ceased all business with companies in the marijuana industry and canceled all of their existing accounts. Despite...more
On August 16, 2016, the Ninth Circuit made an unexpected decision — it enjoined a federal criminal prosecution against medical marijuana growers in the Ninth Circuit. In the published opinion1, the three-judge panel (Justices...more
In Schmidt v. Coogan, No. 41279-9-II, 2012 WL 5331567 (October 30, 2012), the Washington Court of Appeals held that (1) collectibility is a required component in determining legal malpractice damages and (2) the failure to...more