News & Insights

Court Of Appeals Of Mississippi Holds That A Party Seeking To Compel Arbitration Has Not Invoked The Litigation Process When It Enters Default And Responds To Dispositive Motions With A Specific Reservation Of Its Right To Arbitration

The Mississippi Court of Appeals recently held that a general contractor that sought to compel arbitration in a breach of contract dispute between it and another contractor did not waive its right to pursue arbitration by invoking the litigation process, when it entered a notice of default (that it later agreed to withdraw) and defended…
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Climate Act Imposes New Fees On Methane Emissions From Oil And Gas Wells

On August 12, 2022, Congress passed the Inflation Reduction Act, which includes $369 billion in spending on climate action. The Act introduces a “waste emissions charge,” which makes companies who produce, transport, or store oil and gas pay for methane that leaks from their facilities into the atmosphere. The charge will start at $900.00 per…
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Application Of North Carolina’s Economic Loss Doctrine Is Hotly Debated Subject

North Carolina’s version of the economic loss doctrine prohibits recovery for purely economic losses in tort, “for [a defendant’s] simple failure to perform his contract.”  In other words, where a party can sue for economic losses in a breach of contract claim, he is barred from also suing in tort for those same losses.  Nonetheless,…
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Finra Proposes Overhaul Of Expungement Process

FINRA has proposed a new set of rule changes to overhaul the expungement process. The proposed changes have been sent to the SEC for approval. When discussing the proposed amendments, FINRA advised the proposal targeted “straight-in expungements” and are an attempt to modify the system so these expungements “operate as intended” and “work as a…
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Supreme Court Of Tennessee Reverses Lower Court’s Limitation Of Attorney’s Fees And Costs Award To A Homeowner

In Donovan v. Hastings, the Supreme Court of Tennessee analyzed whether the trial and appellate courts properly limited an award of attorney fees and costs under Tennessee Code § 20-12-119(c) to a plaintiff homeowner to those incurred after the date an amended countercomplaint was filed by the defendant contractor. 2022 WL 12301177, at *1 (Tenn….
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Eleventh Circuit Upholds Administrative Exemption For Overtime Compensation

The Eleventh Circuit Court of Appeals recently reaffirmed in Brown v. Nexus Bus. Solutions LLC, that the Fair Labor Standards Act (“FLSA”) allows an administrative exemption from overtime provisions. (11th Cir. Apr. 1, 2022). Traditionally, FLSA requires employees be paid overtime for all hours worked beyond 40 in a week. The rate of pay is…
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Epa Announces New Drinking Water Health Advisories For Pfas ‘Forever Chemicals’

On June 15, 2022, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) released new drinking water health advisories for per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS). The EPA also announced $1 billion in funding to address PFAS and other emerging contaminants in drinking water. PFAS have been linked to infertility, thyroid problems, and several types of cancer. Since the…
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