Georgia Utility Update – March 2016
3/30/16
By: Bobby Baker
In a Surprise Move Georgia PSC Approves Prudency Review for $7.9 Billion in Vogtle Costs
With little advance notice the Georgia Public Service Commission approved a complete prudency review of all costs for Vogtle Units 3 and …
Georgia Utility Update – January 2016
3/30/16
PSC Witness Confirms Vogtle 3 and 4 Cost of $9.517 Billion for Georgia Power
At the December 10, 2015, hearing in the 13th Vogtle Construction Monitoring Review the Public Service Commission’s financial witness, Philip Hayet, confirmed that Georgia Power …
Georgia Utility Update – November 2015
3/30/16
By: Bobby Baker
Georgia Power Company Rates Set to Go Up January 1, 2016
Pursuant to the terms of the 2013 rate case settlement, Georgia Power Company filed on October 2 with the Georgia Public Service Commission its rate adjustments …
Georgia Utility Update – October 2015
3/30/16
By: Bobby Baker
$7.9 Million Pipeline Project Will Take Almost 300 Years to Break Even
It will take close to 300 years to recover the $7,890,000 that it will cost to build a 57,500 foot six inch high pressure steel …
Supreme Court of Georgia Eliminates Direct Appeals from Denials of Immunity at Motion to Dismiss Stage
3/28/16
By: Andy Treese
Since 2009, government defendants in Georgia state courts have been authorized to directly appeal from denials of immunity-based motions to dismiss. The underlying premise has been that such rulings, though not “final orders,” fell within a narrow …
Disclose! Disclose! Disclose! Says the S.E.C. to a Municipal Advisor
3/28/16
By: John Goselin and Ze’eva Kushner Banks
Earlier this month, the Securities and Exchange Commission announced its first ever enforcement proceeding for breach of fiduciary duty for municipal advisors created by the Dodd-Frank Act of 2010. On March 15, 2016, …
S.E.C. Smacks CFO and CAO for Inadequate Internal Controls
3/23/16
By: John Goselin and Ze’eva Kushner Banks
On March 10, 2016, the Securities and Exchange Commission announced a settlement with Texas-based oil company Magnum Hunter Resources Corporation, its former chief financial officer and its former chief accounting officer arising from …
"How Much is that Steak Bowl Really?" A Costly Reminder About Social Media Policies
3/21/16
By: Robert Krandel
On March 14, 2016, an Administrative Law Judge for the National Labor Relations Board ruled that Chipotle violated the National Labor Relations Act when it unlawfully forced an employee to delete negative tweets about the restaurant. The …
Liability Insurance Specific for Dog Bites?
3/15/16
By: Wayne S. Melnick
While many dog owners merely assume liability for their pets are covered under their home owner’s insurance, new data would suggest dog owners should think twice. According to the Insurance Information Institute and State Farm, the …
One Small Step for Machine, a (Potentially) Giant Leap for Insurance
3/15/16
By: Seth Kirby
In 1969 the United States successfully landed a manned spacecraft on the moon. Upon stepping on the lunar surface, Neil Armstrong commented on the momentous occasion by proclaiming that it represented a “giant leap for mankind.” It …
Final Rule Extends Optional Practical Training Period for STEM Students
3/15/16
By: Nina Maja Bergmar
On March 9, 2016, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) issued a final rule that extends the Optional Practical Training (OPT) period for so-called “STEM students”—students with degrees in the fields of science, technology, engineering, and …
“Ban the Box” What Can You Ask Applicants About Criminal History?
3/11/16
By: Meaghan Petetti Londergan
There is a growing national trend to “ban the box” by removing any consideration of an applicant’s criminal history from the initial hiring process. “Ban the box” laws prohibit an employer from asking about an applicant’s …