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Public Policy

  • August 20, 2025

    Florida Panel Revives Suit Over Gun Store Zoning Restriction

    A Florida appellate panel on Wednesday issued a split decision reviving a state court lawsuit brought by a gun retailer alleging state law preempts a city zoning ordinance allegedly meant to restrict firearm sales, ruling there's a fact issue that must be decided by a jury. 

  • August 20, 2025

    'Amen': Judge Puts Texas Ten Commandments Law On Hold

    A Texas federal court on Wednesday temporarily blocked a state law requiring public schools to post a copy of the Ten Commandments in classrooms, saying the law likely violates the Constitution.

  • August 20, 2025

    Google To Pay $35M For Australian Search Antitrust Violations

    Google has agreed to pay $55 million to settle antitrust claims brought by Australia's competition regulator over deals to preinstall its search engine on Australian phones.

  • August 20, 2025

    Device Co. Pans FTC's Resistance To $945M Heart Valve Deal

    Edwards Lifesciences Corp. is defending its planned $945 million purchase of JenaValve Technology Inc., telling the Federal Trade Commission the deal is the best way to bring a new lifesaving treatment for a heart valve disorder to the market.

  • August 20, 2025

    Crypto Groups Resist Banks' Stablecoin 'Loophole' Claims

    Cryptocurrency groups have told U.S. Senate lawmakers that banking industry groups are attempting to relitigate issues put to rest with a recently enacted federal law to regulate stablecoins, arguing that the banking groups' proposals to use separate, pending legislation to close alleged "loopholes" would disadvantage the crypto sector.

  • August 20, 2025

    Ark. Woman Gets Probation After Looting Native Burial Site

    An Arkansas woman was sentenced to four years of probation after the U.S. Department of Justice said she excavated a Native American archeological site in the Ozark Mountains and took human remains and Indigenous artifacts.

  • August 20, 2025

    11th Circ. Revives Cannabis Users' 2nd Amendment Challenge

    The Eleventh Circuit said Wednesday that a federal law disarming medical cannabis users likely ran afoul of the Second Amendment because it was inconsistent with the nation's history of gun regulation.

  • August 20, 2025

    In Illinois, Public Defender Welcomes Sea Change In Structure

    Illinois is set to receive the first overhaul of its public defense system in 75 years, and Champaign County Chief Public Defender Elisabeth Pollock is "very much looking forward" to it, she told Law360.

  • August 20, 2025

    Chemours Says Injunction Appeal Warrants Stay Of CWA Suit

    Chemours urged a federal judge to pause a Clean Water Act suit while it appeals a preliminary injunction ordering it to stop its Washington Works plant from discharging excessive amounts of a "forever chemical" into the Ohio River.

  • August 20, 2025

    Commerce Floats 200% Duty On Chinese Plastic Bins, Totes

    The U.S. Department of Commerce preliminarily determined that imported polypropylene corrugated boxes from China could be subject to countervailing duties of up to nearly 200%, according to a notice published Wednesday. 

  • August 20, 2025

    NY Town To Expedite Mosque Approvals In Land-Use Deal

    The town of Oyster Bay, New York, has settled a mosque's claims that the town amended its parking laws in a targeted attempt to thwart redevelopment efforts, agreeing to oversee the quick approval of the mosque's application and to amend the underlying parking ordinance.

  • August 20, 2025

    DOJ's Suit Over Ill. E-Verify Restrictions Gets Tossed

    An Illinois federal judge on Tuesday denied a bid by the U.S. Department of Justice to block provisions of a recently amended Illinois law restricting the use of systems such as E-Verify to check prospective workers' employment eligibility and dismissed the case outright, calling the DOJ's interpretation of the relevant preemption clause "broad to the point of absurdity."

  • August 20, 2025

    FCC Denies Carrier's Bid To Avoid Rural Fund Clawback

    The Federal Communications Commission denied a Midwest broadband provider's request to waive a $24 million penalty for defaulting on its Rural Digital Opportunity Fund commitments, saying the company's due diligence was inadequate when it decided to pursue fund money for buildouts in areas that were already served by others.

  • August 20, 2025

    ​​​​​​​Farmworkers Union Can't Halt Latest Prevailing Wages Survey

    A farmworkers union cannot halt the U.S. Department of Labor from replacing 2020 prevailing wages with 2022 wage-survey results, a Washington federal judge ruled, saying the alleged harm is self-inflicted because the later wages were published following the union's actions.

  • August 20, 2025

    Mich. Legislature Mulls Reinstating Premises Liability Defense

    Michigan state lawmakers heard testimony on Wednesday on a bill that would bring back a defense to slip-and-fall claims that the Michigan Supreme Court recently scrapped, as business groups said insurance premiums and litigation costs have risen in the wake of the high court ruling.

  • August 20, 2025

    Insurers Say Gov't Misusing FCA To Get Medicare Cost Cap

    Insurers accused of paying brokers to steer customers to their Medicare Advantage plans asked a Massachusetts federal judge to dismiss a False Claims Act lawsuit, saying the government is mischaracterizing legal payments for marketing as kickbacks in an attempt to impose caps it has thus far been unable to obtain.

  • August 20, 2025

    Trump Says Fed's Cook 'Must Resign' Amid Loan Fraud Claim

    President Donald Trump's Federal Housing Finance Agency chief on Wednesday accused Federal Reserve Gov. Lisa Cook of potential mortgage fraud and said he has referred the matter to federal prosecutors, prompting Trump to call for Cook's immediate resignation — a call she has rejected.

  • August 19, 2025

    ÃÛÌÒÊÓÆµ Ends 'Biased' Investigation Of Gun-Financing Fintech

    Credova, a fintech firm specializing in buy-now, pay-later financing for firearms and outdoor recreational goods purchases, is no longer facing what the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau now says was a "politically motivated" investigation on its part, the firm's parent company announced Tuesday.

  • August 19, 2025

    Advocacy Groups Ask Judge To Stall Texas Redistricting Plan

    Multiple voting rights advocacy organizations asked a Texas federal judge to hear their case for a court order aimed at stalling the Texas Legislature's controversial redistricting plan, saying the proposed plan blatantly violates the U.S. Constitution.

  • August 19, 2025

    Chamber Scorns Bid To Unseal FTC's Dropped Pepsi Complaint

    The U.S. Chamber of Commerce has asked a New York federal judge to deny an advocacy group's request to unseal the Federal Trade Commission's abandoned price discrimination case against Pepsi, saying it would reveal "confidential investigatory material that courts routinely keep under seal."

  • August 19, 2025

    Capitol Hill Aides See NTIA Renewal As Crucial This Year

    Congress will make it a priority to reauthorize the federal spectrum management agency this year, aides to key lawmakers on telecom issues said Tuesday.

  • August 19, 2025

    9th Circ. Sides With Wash. In Immigration Detention Law Case

    A Ninth Circuit panel has overturned an injunction blocking a Washington state law calling for new health and safety standards at the state's privately run immigration detention center, saying Tuesday the lower court wrongly compared the facility to a prison when ruling in favor of its for-profit operator, GEO Group Inc.

  • August 19, 2025

    USDOT Flags States' Lapses In Deadly Fla. Truck Crash Probe

    The U.S. Department of Transportation on Tuesday called out three states' apparent failures in enforcing licensing standards for commercial truck drivers following last week's deadly highway crash in Florida that left three people dead and instantly became a flash point for the Trump administration's hard-line immigration policies.

  • August 19, 2025

    USCIS To Vet Immigration Benefit Bids For 'Anti-Americanism'

    The Trump administration said Tuesday immigration officers will consider "anti-Americanism" when deciding to grant certain immigration benefit requests, like adjustment of status, saying in a new policy alert that supporting antisemitic ideologies will be an "overwhelmingly negative factor."

  • August 19, 2025

    FDIC Seeks To Pare Down Biden-Era Digital Signage Rule

    The Federal Deposit Insurance Corp. moved Tuesday to relax its Biden-era digital signage rule, issuing a proposed revamp that it said is aimed at addressing bank concerns about "implementation issues" arising from the new logo and disclosure requirements.

Expert Analysis

  • EU Space Act Could Stifle US Commercial Operators

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    The EU Space Act, proposed last month, has the potential to raise global standards for safety and sustainability in space, but the U.S. and EU need to harmonize their regulatory approaches to avoid imposing regulatory burdens that undermine commercial innovation and agility, say Jessica Noble and Adriane Mandakunis at Aegis Space Law.

  • Cos. Face Convergence Of Anti-Terrorism Act, FCPA Risks

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    Recent moves by the U.S. Department of Justice to classify cartels and transnational criminal organizations as terrorist groups, and to use a range of statutes including the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act to pursue these types of targets, mean that companies operating in certain jurisdictions are now subject to overlapping exposure, say attorneys at Miller & Chevalier.

  • Feds' Shift On Reputational Risk Raises Questions For Banks

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    While banking regulators' recent retreat from reputational risk narrows the scope of federal oversight in some respects, it also raises practical questions about consistency, reputational management and the evolving political landscape surrounding financial services, say attorneys at Smith Anderson.

  • Biotech Collaborations Can Ease Uncertainty Amid FDA Shift

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    As concerns persist that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration's reduced headcount will impede developments at already-strapped biotech companies, licensing and partnership transactions can provide the necessary funding and pathways to advance innovative products, say attorneys at Troutman.

  • Nuclear Stakeholders Must Prepare For Cyber Threats

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    As the White House signals its support for a revival of nuclear power to supply the power needs of data centers and the artificial intelligence industry, investors and operators must keep in mind that safeguarding nuclear infrastructure from evolving cyber threats will be essential, say attorneys at A&O Shearman.

  • Series

    Playing Mah-Jongg Makes Me A Better Mediator

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    Mah-jongg rewards patience, pattern recognition, adaptability and keen observation, all skills that are invaluable to my role as a mediator, and to all mediating parties, says Marina Corodemus.

  • Business Court Bill Furthers Texas' Pro-Corporate Strategy

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    The Texas Legislature's recent bill to enhance corporate protections and expand access to the Texas Business Court by refining its jurisdictional standards is just the latest step in the state's playbook for becoming the new center of corporate America, say attorneys at Katten.

  • Calif. Air Waivers Fight Fuels Automakers', States' Uncertainty

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    The unprecedented attempt by Congress and the Trump administration to kill the Clean Air Act waivers supporting California's vehicle emissions standards will eventually end up in the U.S. Supreme Court — but meanwhile, vehicle manufacturers, and states following California's standards, are left in limbo, says John Watson at Spencer Fane.

  • FTC Staff Cuts Unlikely To Curb Antitrust Enforcement Agenda

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    While Federal Trade Commission Chair Andrew Ferguson's recent commitment to reducing agency staff may seem at odds with the Trump administration's commitment to antitrust enforcement, a closer analysis shows that such reductions have little chance of derailing the president's efforts, say attorneys at Squire Patton.

  • Diversity, Equity, Indictment? Contractor Risks After Kousisis

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    The U.S. Supreme Court’s recent Kousisis v. U.S. decision, holding that economic loss is not required to sustain wire fraud charges related to fraudulent inducement, may extend criminal liability to government contractors that make false diversity, equity and inclusion certifications, say attorneys at Moore & Van Allen.

  • Series

    Law School's Missed Lessons: Navigating Client Trauma

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    Law schools don't train students to handle repeated exposure to clients' traumatic experiences, but for litigators practicing in areas like civil rights and personal injury, success depends on the ability to view cases clinically and to recognize when you may need to seek help, says Katie Bennett at Robins Kaplan.

  • What To Expect As UK, US Gov'ts Develop Stablecoin Policies

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    While the U.K. and U.S. governments’ policies both suggest that fiat-backed stablecoins can improve efficiency and safety in payments systems, a perception that crypto-assets remain high risk means consumers are unlikely to use them in significant volume anytime soon, say lawyers at Cadwalader.

  • Series

    Texas Banking Brief: All The Notable Legal Updates In Q2

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    In the second quarter of 2025, the Texas Business Court's newly expanded jurisdiction set the stage for rising caseloads, while the state Legislature narrowed an exception to state bank control requirements and closed a cryptocurrency dividends payments loophole, say attorneys at Mayer Brown.

  • Lawsuit, Exec Orders Should Boost Small Modular Reactors

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    A lawsuit in Texas federal court and a set of new executive orders from the White House may finally push the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission to allow for accelerated deployment of small modular reactors — a technology that could change the country's energy future, says Aleksey Shtivelman at Shutts & Bowen.

  • Opinion

    4 Former Justices Would Likely Frown On Litigation Funding

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    As courts increasingly confront cases involving hidden litigation finance contracts, the jurisprudence of four former U.S. Supreme Court justices establishes a constitutional framework that risks erosion by undisclosed financial interests, says Roland Eisenhuth at the American Property Casualty Insurance Association.

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