What Manufacturers Need to Know About PFAS Liability Exposure
Perfluoroalkyl and Polyfluoroalkyl substances are a family of substances more commonly known as PFAS. These chemicals include thousands of different substances that are intentionally designed to be long-lasting and to make products more durable. Colloquially, PFAS are referred to as the “forever chemicals.” The problem with PFAS chemicals alleged by Plaintiffs in litigation is that […]
How Construction Design Alterations Can Lead to an Increase in Professional Liability
Architects and engineers could end up with more than they bargained for when a job changes course. Unfortunately, clients do not always follow the initial designs as proposed. It is not uncommon for a client to change aspects of a job and request alterations from architects and engineers prior to and during the course of […]
Can Using AI in Hiring Practices Open Your Business Up to a Discrimination Lawsuit?
As the economy evolves into one that is driven by technology, human resources departments are busier than ever. It is far easier for applicants to apply to hundreds of jobs given the number of online recruiting services. Companies need to sift through potentially thousands of resumes for each job opening. Many employers have turned to […]
Hotels Shifting to Extended-Stay Properties Face Greater Scrutiny from Insurers
Although extended-stay hotels do not make up a large part of the industry’s capacity, more operators are switching to this business model. Extended-stay hotels are increasingly profitable for their owners. That’s because they have relatively steady occupancy and they can maintain a lower staffing level. Plus, they do not need to provide as many services […]
New Federal Pipeline Safety Regulations Present New Legal Challenges
The Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (PHMSA) has recently completed its decade-long rulemaking exercise that increases regulation of onshore natural gas pipelines. As a result, pipeline operators will now face new legal issues that could pose challenges to their businesses. PHMSA’s new Final Rule on Valve Installation and Minimum Rupture Detection Standards may also […]
In some cases, the injury from being exposed to a harm does not occur until years later. These losses do not occur all at once; instead, they happen over time. The dilemma is that the insurance policy covering these losses may have expired, and the premiums were already paid by the time the damage is […]
The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has proposed new rules that would add PFAS chemicals to the list of hazardous substances covered under the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act (CERCLA). If these new rules take effect, they will have dramatic impacts, both on consumers and public utilities. Although the EPA has made addressing the issue of […]
Medical practices may face external audits by both governmental entities and private health insurance providers. The audits are undertaken on behalf of those who pay claims to review billing practices and ensure the integrity of the process. Government audits can include Medicare, Medicaid, and recovery audits. The results of the audit can have significant implications […]
Employers often have an interest in ensuring that details of the workplace do not get out into the general public. Accordingly, they often require employees and other business associates to sign nondisclosure agreements (NDAs) as a condition of working at or with the company. Employees, who want a job, usually do not feel as if […]
Keeping a Business in the Family: Transition Planning for Your Business
When you have spent your life building a business, you will have multiple concerns about a transition when you are no longer able to run it. Not only will you probably want to keep the company within your family, but you will also want to ensure a smooth transition in order to keep family relationships […]
Companies are increasingly focusing on ESG issues, as major institutional and individual investors closely follow and support them. For example, investment managers like BlackRock will no longer invest in shares of companies that do not have and follow their own ESG policies. These days, battle lines have been drawn around the issue of ESG investing; […]
New Rule for Determining Joint-Employer Status Under the NLRA
The National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) recently proposed a new rule which restored a prior interpretation that was changed under the Trump Administration. Although the rule is described as new, it is merely the latest step in a battle over what actually creates an employment relationship. The NLRB’s new rule makes it easier for an […]
