Massachusetts Statute of Repose Applies One Building At a Time
12/22/20
By: David Slocum
The Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court (the “SJC”) recently issued an important decision addressing the previously unanswered question of when the Massachusetts 6-year statute of repose for defective design, planning, or construction is triggered for purposes of alleged …
Coronavirus Effect? Tort Filings Are Down In 2020, but Products Liability Suits Are Way Up
12/17/20
By: Barry Miller
Tort lawsuit filings in federal district courts dropped by 27 percent in 2020 according to Lex Machina, the legal analytics arm of Lexis.
The service compiled statistics for suits filed between January 1 to December 6, 2020, …
12/16/20
By: Isis Miranda
Cyber spies have targeted pharmaceutical companies and universities working to develop a Covid-19 vaccine in attempts to steal trade secret information. These sophisticated hacking groups have recently added new targets – organizations expected to distribute the vaccines, …
EEOC Issues Revised Guide for Employers on the Employment of Veterans with Disabilities
12/9/20
By: Andrew Kim
On November 27, 2020, the EEOC issued three revised publications discussing the employment of veterans with disabilities. One of those publications is a revised guide for employers on how the ADA applies to the recruiting, hiring, and …
CDC Issues Relaxed Alternatives to Previous Quarantine Guidelines
12/2/20
By: Margot Parker
Today, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) announced new quarantine guidelines for people exposed to Covid-19, reducing the previous two-week quarantine time to seven to ten days in asymptomatic cases.
While a 14-day quarantine is …
11/25/20
By: Natalie Pulley
On November 17, 2020, the EEOC released proposed guidance on religious discrimination in the workplace – the first update to its religious discrimination compliance manual since 2008. While religious discrimination cases only make up a small percentage …
Getting Strict with Georgia’s Apportionment Statute: Johns v. Suzuki Motor Corp
11/24/20
By: Janeen Smith
The Supreme Court of Georgia recently held that Georgia’s apportionment statute, O.C.G.A. § 51-12-33, applies to strict products liability claims brought pursuant to Georgia’s product liability statute, O.C.G.A. § 51-1-11. Johns v. Suzuki Motor of Am., …
Car Dealerships Settle Costly TCPA Text Marketing Class Action
11/19/20
By: Matthew Foree
The United States District Court for the Northern District of Oklahoma recently granted final approval of a Telephone Consumer Protection Act (“TCPA”) class action settlement involving several automobile dealerships. The case is King v. Classic Chevrolet, …
Philadelphia and Pennsylvania Announce New "Safer at Home" Restrictions
11/18/20
By: Justin Boron
The City of Philadelphia and the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania announced new measures this week aimed at curbing the spike in COVID cases in the region, but neither appear to be ready to initiate a broad-based shutdown like …
Uber and Lyft Drive Prop 22 Home in California
11/17/20
By: Adam Khan
On November 3, 2020, California voters resoundingly passed Proposition 22, delivering Uber and Lyft a big victory, and labor unions a setback.
Prior to Prop 22, AB5 expanded the California Supreme Court’s decision in Dynamex Operations West, …
Lawfully Constructing or Lawful Construction: A Question for Another Court
11/17/20
By: Brittany Kurtz and William H. Catto
The Pennsylvania Superior Court kicked the can down the road on deciding recent contentions regarding the Statute of Repose defense that many general contractors and subcontractors rightfully assert in the voluminous stucco litigation …
FMG Attorneys File Amicus Brief on Duties of Employer for Criminal Conduct of Employees
11/13/20
By: Phil Savrin and Alexia Roney
FMG attorneys Phil Savrin and Alexia Roney authored an amicus brief on behalf of the Georgia Defense Lawyers Association in support of appellees in the companion cases of Johnson v. Avis Rent A Car …