News & Insights

Eeoc Proposes Additional Changes To Eeo 1 Reporting

On July 13, 2016, the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (“EEOC”) proposed additional changes to EEO-1 data reporting requirements, modifying its original proposal from January 2016.  The original proposal, intended to enforce the prohibitions on pay discrimination in Title VII, the EPA and Executive Order 11246 regarding Equal Employment Opportunity, required employers to begin reporting pay…
Read More

Illinois Appellate Court Refuses To Extend The Implied Warranty Of Habitability To Architects

In Bd. of Managers of Film Exchange Lofts Condo. Ass’n v. Fitzgerald Associates Architects, P.C., 2016 WL 2841978 (Ill. App. May 11, 2016), the Appellate Court of Illinois consolidated three appeals and affirmed the lower courts’ decisions not to extend the implied warranty of habitability to architects. All three consolidated cases involved condominium boards bringing actions…
Read More

United States Supreme Court Opens Door For Landowners To Challenge Decisions By Federal Regulators That Use Of Property Is Restricted By The Clean Water Act

In a unanimous decision, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled on May 31, 2016, that property owners could file suit against the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers over the agency’s determination that their land contains “waters of the United States” covered by the Clean Water Act.   Army Corps of Engineers v. Hawkes Co., 578 U.S. – (2016)….
Read More

11th Circuit Says Slur Doesn’t Create A Hostile Work Environment

     This week the Eleventh Circuit Court of Appeals provided greater clarity as to what comments can establish a racially hostile work environment under Title VII.  In Mahone v. CSX Transportation, Inc., Case No. 2:14-cv-00535-AKK (June 13, 2016), the Court affirmed the lower court’s grant of summary judgment for the employer finding that that a…
Read More

Finra Issues Guidance On Use Of Stop Orders During Volatile Market Conditions

FINRA issued Regulatory Notice 16-19 in an effort to encourage firms to review their practices regarding stop orders.  Registered representatives often recommend stop orders as a tool for managing market risk.  Investors use stop sell orders to protect profit position in the event a stock’s price declines and stop buy orders if they have a…
Read More

Court Of Civil Appeals Clarifies When A Trial Court’s Decision Is A Final Judgment For Purposes Of Appeal

In Ex parte Lowe’s Home Centers, LLC, (Ala. Civ. App. May 6, 2016)[25 ALW 20], the employee Sarah Brown (“Brown”) filed a workers’ compensation action against her employer Lowe’s Home Centers, Inc. (“Lowe’s), seeking medical treatment for her claimed back injury and an award of disability benefits.  After conducting a compensability hearing, the trial court found Brown’s…
Read More

Sec Approves Rule Requiring Firms To Send An Educational Pamphlet To The Former Clients Of Their Newly Hired Representatives

SEC APPROVES RULE REQUIRING FIRMS TO SEND AN EDUCATIONAL PAMPHLET TO THE FORMER CLIENTS OF THEIR NEWLY HIRED REPRESENTATIVES The SEC recently approved the adoption of FINRA Rule 2273 which creates an obligation to deliver educational communication in connection with firm recruitment practices and account transfers.  The new rule affects financial firms that want to…
Read More

New Salary Threshold For Flsa White Collar Exemption

 On May 18, 2016, the U.S. Department of Labor issued its final version of the overtime exemption rule applicable to white collar employees.  The rule exempts from the Fair Labor Standards Act’s overtime requirements employees earning above a set salary threshold per year.  The new version promulgated by the Department of Labor significantly raises that…
Read More

United States Supreme Court Refuses To Hear Exxon’s Petition For Writ Of Certiorari Based Upon Alleged Due Process Violations

In May 2016, the U.S. Supreme Court denied Exxon’s petition for writ of certiorari seeking review of a $236 million trial judgment against it in a groundwater contamination case in New Hampshire.  The Court’s refusal to review the issues raised by Exxon leaves in place a verdict Exxon claims violates its due process rights.    …
Read More

The Fifth Circuit Court Of Appeals Reverses $1.29 Million Judgment Entered In Favor Of Contractor

In Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport Board v. INET Airport Systems, Incorp., et al., 2016 WL 1445205 (5th Cir. April 12, 2016), the Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals reversed a trial court’s $1.29 million judgment in favor of the contractor and against the owner.  The Fifth Circuit determined genuine issues of fact remained regarding whether the owner first…
Read More