On January 9, 2026, the head of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (“EPA”) announced that the agency will reassess the safety of paraquat, an herbicide that remains legal in the United States despite bans in other countries. The decision reflects renewed scrutiny of paraquat’s health risks, particularly its alleged connection to Parkinson’s disease, and it…
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Under Florida law, a plaintiff may not file a construction defect lawsuit without first serving a pre-litigation notice, commonly called a “558 Notice,” on the contractor, subcontractor, supplier, or design professional alleged to be responsible for the defects. See Fla. Stat. § 558.004(1)(a) (2025). If the plaintiff fails to provide this notice, the court must…
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Restrictive covenants are a bureaucratic reality in the world of design professionals. However, in the legal realm, restrictive covenants and their prospective enforcement or relief therefrom are governed by equitable principles. In its recent decision in, Dendy v. Ryan, 2025 WL 3684707 (Ala. Dec. 19, 2025), the Alabama Supreme Court clarified the application of the…
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Illinois has emerged as a national leader in regulating the use of artificial intelligence (“AI”) in employment decisions, particularly in hiring and recruitment. Recent amendments and expansions to Illinois law significantly restrict how employers may use AI-driven tools, especially those that analyze video interviews, facial expressions, voice patterns, or other biometric-adjacent data, to evaluate job…
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On December 9, 2025, the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) released its Annual Regulatory Oversight Report (Report) recapping its notable findings and regulatory activities. The Report itself does not create any new legal obligations but rather serves as an informative resource to firms by providing effective practices based on current trends and evolving risks within…
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Last month, the United States Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit affirmed summary judgment on behalf of an insurer on grounds of untimely notice in A.B. by & through J.B. v. Barrow, No. 24-13138, 2026 WL 40906, — F.4th — (11th Cir. Jan. 7, 2026). In 2018, A.B. filed an invasion-of-privacy lawsuit against Barrow…
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In a matter of first impression, the United States Court of Appeals, Federal Circuit, has held an interested party with standing to bring a bid protest under the Tucker Act is an “actual or prospective bidder or offeror whose direct economic interest would be affected by contract award or failure to award contract, regardless of…
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In Skipper v. United States Fish and Wildlife Service, 796. F. Supp. 3d 996 (S.D. Ala. 2025), the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Alabama partially vacated the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service’s (“FWS”) critical habitat designation for the black pinesnake, offering guidance on how agencies must justify occupied habitats and evaluate economic…
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Tennessee has enacted a significant change to its regulatory framework for design and construction. Public Chapter 771, passed in 2024, authorizes the use of qualified third-party professionals to conduct plan review and building inspections when the local authority fails to act within required timeframes. The law becomes even more consequential when paired with the State…
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On December 1, 2025, Switzerland’s Office of the Attorney General (OAG) announced criminal charges against UBS and the former Credit Suisse, marking a significant development in the long-running “tuna bonds” scandal. The charges stem from allegations that Credit Suisse failed to prevent money laundering tied to over $2 billion in loans arranged for Mozambique’s state-owned…
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