Skip to content

Business Litigation

Standing on Uneven Ground: The Status of ADA “Tester Plaintiffs” in the Wake of the US Supreme Court’s Laufer Decision

by Charles L. Bonani | September 11, 2024 | Business Litigation

Originally published in IRMI’s Spring 2024 issue of Employment Practices Liability Consultant (EPLiC) Article’s Key Takeaways: The US Supreme Court, in Acheson Hotels, LLC v. Laufer, declined to resolve a circuit split among federal courts over whether “tester plaintiffs”—individuals who sue businesses to enforce discrimination laws—have…

A Post-Chevron World – What’s Next?

by Seth Berenzweig | August 9, 2024 | Business Litigation

On June 28, 2024, the U.S. Supreme Court decided in Loper Bright Enterprises v. Raimondo, by a 6-3 majority, to overturn Chevron-deference, a longstanding precedent that implored courts to defer to an agency’s interpretation of an ambiguous statute. Almost a month later, the U.S. House of…

Independent Contractor or Employee? The Department of Labor Issues a New Final Independent Contractor Rule

by Samy W. Abdallah | January 18, 2024 | Business Litigation , Employment & Labor Law

The U.S. Department of Labor (“DOL”) published a long-awaited final rule (the “2024 Final Rule”) on January 9, 2024, defining what it means to be an “independent contractor” under the Fair Labor Standards Act (“FLSA”). In sum, the 2024 Final Rule is…

NLRB Ban on Nondisparagement and Confidentiality Clauses in Severance Agreements and What It Means for Employers

On Behalf of Berenzweig Leonard, LLP | November 7, 2023 | Business Litigation , Employment & Labor Law

Originally published in IRMI’s Summer 2023 issue of Employment Practices Liability Consultant (EPLiC) By Rachael Haley and Declan Leonard Key Takeaways The National Labor Relations Board (NLRB)’s McLaren Macomb decision was a return to prior, long- standing precedent that employers may not offer nonsupervisory employees severance…

FTC Proposes a Nationwide Ban on Non-Competes

by Elizabeth Payne-Maddalena | January 10, 2023 | Business Litigation , Employment & Labor Law

The federal Fair Trade Commission started 2023 with a bang by announcing a newly proposed rule that, if adopted, will categorically ban non-competes for almost all U.S. workers – including independent contractors. Under the proposed rule, the ban not only applies to new non-compete provisions, but will effectively invalidate…

What Business Owners Need to Know About the New Federal Speak Out Act

by Elizabeth Payne-Maddalena | January 4, 2023 | Business Litigation , Employment & Labor Law

A new Federal law recently passed targeting non-disclosure and non-disparagement clauses in the employment context. The 2022 Speak Out Act prohibits U.S. employers from using these kinds of provisions to prevent employees from disclosing or discussing disputes involving workplace sexual harassment and assault. However, the new law only applies to…

Is the Federal Government Targeting Non-Competes?

by Elizabeth Payne-Maddalena | December 15, 2022 | Business Litigation , Employment & Labor Law

On November 10, 2022, the FTC issued a new Policy Statement greatly expanding its scope of antitrust enforcement powers under Section 5 of the FTC Act.[1] The new Policy Statement makes it clear that the FTC will no longer limit its Section 5 enforcement powers to violations…

“No Vaccine, No Service” – Can A Business Require Customers to be Vaccinated?

by Elizabeth Payne-Maddalena | April 8, 2021 | Business Litigation , Employment & Labor Law

As we start to return to normal, many businesses are eager to start the recovery process after surviving 2020. However, many businesses are also keeping in mind the safety of their employees and their customers as capacity limits are eased.  Recently, some businesses floated the idea of requiring all customers…

Separation of powers; Congressional subpoena for the President’s personal papers

On Behalf of Berenzweig Leonard, LLP | July 17, 2020 | Business Litigation

TRUMP v. MAZARS USA, LLP, ___ U.S. ___, No. 19-715 (9 July 2020) During April 2019, three committees of the U.S. House of Representatives issued subpoenas for information about the finances of President Trump, his children, and affiliated businesses.  The House claimed that generally the financial information would help…

Business Use of Investigative Report Defeats “Work Product” Privilege 

On Behalf of Berenzweig Leonard, LLP | June 15, 2020 | Business Litigation , Government Contracts

When companies get into trouble and need to investigate and prepare a report on it to the government, they typically want to limit the report’s exposure. One way to limit disclosing company information in these situations is to hire an outside law firm to direct the investigation and have the…