FMG’s BlogLine features an array of articles written by our attorneys who cover recent legal trends and developments both locally and nationally. Explore our blogs on a multitude of legal and industry topics.
The human resources impact of the Kronos ransomware attack
1/11/22
By: Chenee Castruita The unique combination of COVID-19 and a drastic decrease in the workforce found more workers putting in overtime this holiday season. Unfortunately, millions of workers last month experienced a delay not only in their packages, but in their pay as well. Kronos (Ultimate Kronos Group) provides human resource management services such as…
1/10/22
By: Kirsten Patzer and Courtney Mazzio On October 27, 2021, the Federal Trade Commission (“FTC”) announced an update to the rules implemented by the Gramm-Leach-Bliley Act expanding the definition of “financial institutions” under the Financial Privacy Rule and requiring these institutions to enact specific measures to protect their customers’ nonpublic personal information under the accompanying…
Preparing for the end game when underwriting new credits
1/10/22
By: Travis Knobbe Most financial institutions we have represented over the years make a fine-line distinction between loan officers and asset recovery officers. In many instances, this distinction makes sense. If a loan officer considers too openly the risk for failure of a new loan, he or she may attract less new lending relationships and…
California employees are “silenced no more” in employment, settlement, and separation agreements
1/7/22
By: Michelle T. Harrington California Governor Gavin Newsom signed legislation that expands existing law prohibiting confidentiality provisions in settlement agreements and expands restrictions on the use of non-disparagement clauses in employment agreements. The new law – known as the “Silenced No More Act” (SB 331 or the “Act”) – also imposes new time and notice…
Purdue Pharma has potential to upend common channeling-and-release practice in bankruptcy courts
1/4/22
By: Travis Knobbe For the most part, the nuances of bankruptcy law go unnoticed by our colleagues who do not frequent the bankruptcy courts. Some issues we deal with, however, have broad application to the practice of law generally. Consider, for example, how a coverage attorney analyzing various claims filed against the manufacturer of an…
1/3/22
By: Jennifer Markowski and R. Victoria Fuller On December 17, 2021 the Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court held in Meehan v. Medical Information Technology, Inc. that the termination of an employee for submitting a rebuttal for inclusion in the employee’s personnel file violated public policy and amounted to wrongful discharge. Pursuant to M.G.L. ch. 149, §…
Employer alert: CDC updates mask and quarantine guidelines
1/3/22
By: Diandra Franks and R. Victoria Fuller On December 27, 2021, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (“CDC”) once again updated its mask and quarantine guidelines. In this most recent update, the CDC shortened its recommended isolation and quarantine periods for the general public. These new guidelines, however, do not apply to healthcare workers, for whom the CDC has issued separate updated…
A word to employers: EEOC advises COVID-19 may be a disability under the ADA
12/28/21
By: Julia Bover COVID-19 and its related health conditions may now be considered a disability under the Americans with Disabilities Act (“ADA”) and the Rehabilitation Act. On December 14, 2021, the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (“EEOC”) issued updated guidance on when individuals diagnosed with COVID-19 or a post-COVID health condition may be considered to have…
The Travis Scott concert tragedy and related insurance issues
12/27/21
By: Jessica C. Samford Around the year-end holidays, news of tragic deaths is as shocking as it is heartbreaking. Just last month, ten people lost their lives from being trampled or crushed to death at a music festival in Houston, Texas. One of them was only 9 years old. In addition to the death toll, hundreds of the 50,000-person crowd were reportedly injured before the festival was cancelled. There…