Expert Analysis

• How A Gov't Shutdown Would Affect Immigration Processing

  

  While a government shutdown would certainly create issues and cause delays for immigration processing, independently funded functions would continue for at least a limited time, and immigration practitioners can expect agencies to create reasonable exceptions and provide guidance for navigating affected matters once operations resume, say William Stock and Sarah Holler at Klasko Immigration Law Partners.

• Opinion

  Private Equity Owners Can Remedy Law Firms' Agency Issues

  

  Nonlawyer, private-equity ownership of law firms can benefit shareholders and others vulnerable to governance issues such as disparate interests, and can in turn help resolve agency problems, says Michael Di Gennaro at The Law Practice Exchange.

• The 3 E's Of Limiting Injury Liability For Worker Misconduct

  

  The Fifth Circuit’s recent ruling in TNT Crane & Rigging v. Occupational Safety and Health Review Commission lays out key safety practices — establish, educate and enforce — that not only can help protect workers, but also shield companies from workplace injury liability in situations when an employee ignores or intentionally breaks the rules, says Andrew Alvarado at Dickinson Wright.

• What Cos. Must Know About New Ore. Consumer Privacy Law

  

  Oregon was recently the 12th state to enact a comprehensive consumer data privacy law, but its one-year effective date delay is only applicable to certain nonprofits — so entities in the state should review their data inventory, collection and sharing practices to comply by July 1, 2024, say Neeka Hodaie and Lisa Schaures at Seyfarth.

• Okla. Workers' Comp Case Could Mean Huge Shift In Claims

  

  An Oklahoma appeals court's recent opinion in Prewitt v. Quiktrip Corp. may expand the scope of continuing medical maintenance orders in workers' compensation cases to unprecedented levels — with potentially major consequences for employers and insurers, says Steven Hanna at Gilson Daub.

• Starbucks 'Memphis 7' Ruling Shows Retaliation Is A Bad Idea

  

  Starbucks’ unsuccessful attempts to quash unionization by retaliating against organizing employees — illustrated by the Sixth Circuit's recent backing of an order that forced the company to rehire seven pro-union workers in Memphis, Tennessee — demonstrates why employers should eschew hard-line tactics and instead foster genuine dialogue with their workforce, says Janette Levey at Levey Law.

• Opinion

  Calif. Ruling Got It Wrong On Trial Courts' Gatekeeping Role

  

  Ten years after the California Supreme Court reshaped trial judges’ role in admitting expert opinion testimony, a state appeals court's Bader v. Johnson & Johnson ruling appears to undermine this precedent and will likely create confusion about the scope of trial courts’ gatekeeping responsibility, say Robert Wright and Nicole Hood at Horvitz & Levy.

• Opinion

  Companies Must Not Back Down On DEI Efforts

  

  In the face of recent lawsuits filed to challenge schools' diversity efforts, and a U.S. Supreme Court potentially friendly to purely hypothetical arguments, companies must stand strong and not be intimidated into abandoning diversity and inclusion programs, says Licha Nyiendo at Human Rights First.

• How To Protect Atty-Client Privilege While Using Generative AI

  

  When using generative artificial intelligence tools, attorneys should consider several safeguards to avoid breaches or complications in attorney-client privilege, say Antonious Sadek and Christopher Campbell at DLA Piper.

• Futility Exception To Remanding Rule Could Be On Last Legs

  

  A recent Fifth Circuit decision squarely confronting the futility exception to remanding cases with insufficient subject matter jurisdiction leaves the Ninth Circuit alone on one side of a circuit split, portending a tenuous future for the exception, say Brett Venn and Davis Williams at Jones Walker.

• How New Lawyers Can Leverage Feedback For Growth

  

  Embracing constructive criticism as a tool for success can help new lawyers accelerate their professional growth and law firms build a culture of continuous improvement, says Katie Aldrich at Fringe Professional Development.

• How To Create A California-Compliant Piece-Rate Pay Policy

  

  Piece-rate compensation can encourage worker efficiency and productivity, but California has special rules for employers that use this type of pay plan, so careful execution and clear communication with employees is essential for maintaining compliance, says Ashley Paynter at Riley Safer.

• RICO Trade Secret Standard Prevails Within 9th Circ. Courts

  

  Federal courts in the Ninth Circuit seem to be requiring a relatively high degree of factual detail — arguably more than is expressly mandated by statute — to plead and maintain Racketeer and Corrupt Organizations Act claims in trade secret disputes, says Cary Sullivan at Jones Day.

• Key Takeaways For Email Marketing From Experian Settlement

  

  The Federal Trade Commission's recent enforcement action against Experian is a good reminder for companies to assess email marketing practices for compliance with the Controlling the Assault of Non-Solicited Pornography And Marketing Act, including misleading header information, deceptive subject lines and opt-out requirements, says Terese Arenth at Moritt Hock.

• 3 Employer Considerations In Light Of DOL Proposed OT Rule

  

  A recently unveiled rule from the U.S. Department of Labor would increase the salary threshold for Fair Labor Standards Act overtime exemptions, and while the planned changes are not the law just yet, employers should start thinking about the best ways to position their organizations for compliance in the future, say Brodie Erwin and Sarah Spangenburg at Kilpatrick.