Latest Legislation Headlines
All the headlines from our Legislation Topic Page, ordered by recency.
Calif. Court Rules Amazon Liable Like Other Retailers for Defective Products
Aug 14 2020 // Amazon.com can be held liable like other traditional retailers for injuries from defective products sold via its sprawling e-commerce marketplace, a California state appeals court ruled on Thursday. The decision overturned...
Judge Allows Businesses’ Lawsuits Against Insurer Over Coronavirus Losses
Aug 12 2020 // A federal judge in Missouri said on Wednesday a group of hair salons and restaurants can sue their insurance carrier for business interruption losses caused by the coronavirus pandemic, which they say caused a...
Oklahoma Lawmaker to Study COVID-19 Impact on Employment, Wages
Aug 12 2020 // A state lawmaker in Oklahoma is launching an interim study on how COVID-19 has affected employment and wages in that state. State Rep. Forrest Bennett, D-OKC, said in a media release that he hopes to focus the study on...
Federal Judge in Mississippi Calls On Supreme Court to Examine Qualified Immunity
Aug 12 2020 // A federal judge in Mississippi has issued a sharply worded ruling that calls on the U.S. Supreme Court to overturn the principle of qualified immunity, which protects law enforcement officers from being sued for some of...
Justice Department Urges Congress to Rewrite Regulatory Policy
Aug 12 2020 // The U.S. Justice Department on Tuesday urged Congress to revise a 74-year-law that is central to how the government sets regulatory policy. Deputy Attorney General Jeff Rosen told Reuters the department wanted to work with...
California Judge Blocks Uber, Lyft From Classifying Drivers as Contractors
Aug 10 2020 // A California judge on Monday granted the state’s request for a preliminary injunction blocking Uber Technologies Inc. and Lyft Inc. from classifying their drivers as independent contractors rather than employees. The...
Judge Orders PG&E in California to Beef up Safety
Aug 10 2020 // A federal judge has ordered Pacific Gas and Electric to better inspect high-voltage power lines, hire more tree-trimming supervisors and upgrade records regarding the age of electrical equipment as part of efforts to...
Judge Upholds Conviction of North Carolina Insurance Magnate in Bribery Case
Aug 10 2020 // A federal judge has upheld the convictions of two men found to be trying to bribe North Carolina’s top insurance regulator with large political contributions so that scrutiny of a defendant’s businesses would...
Nevada Passes COVID-19 Liability and Worker Protection Deal
Aug 7 2020 // Nevada lawmakers voted to shield certain industries from coronavirus-related legal liability and require hotels and casinos to enact worker protection measures after days of complicated negotiations with Gov. Steve...
D.C. Judge Rules For Insurer, Dismisses Restaurants’ Business Interruption Claims
Aug 7 2020 // The insurance industry has notched another victory in its defense of its commercial insurance policies against claims for business interruption due to the coronavirus. In a case brought by the owner of several restaurants...
Judge May Not Grant Injunction Forcing Uber, Lyft to Classify Drivers as Employees
Aug 7 2020 // A California judge signaled on Thursday he might be leaning against a request for a preliminary injunction forcing Uber Technologies Inc and Lyft Inc. to classify drivers as employees rather than contractors. In a hearing...
Tennessee Gov Calls Special Session to Address COVID-19 Liability
Aug 5 2020 // Gov. Bill Lee on Monday announced he’s calling lawmakers back to the Capitol to address legislation that would provide health care providers, schools and businesses broad protections against coronavirus lawsuits. Lee...
Nebraska Lawmakers Reject Bid for More Safety Restrictions at Meatpacking Plants
Aug 4 2020 // Nebraska’s meatpacking plants won’t have to worry about any new safety restrictions this year, despite outbreaks of the coronavirus among their workers, after a state lawmaker on July 29 failed to secure enough...
Judge Voids Parts of Trump Labor Rule Limiting Coronavirus Sick Leave Eligibility
Aug 4 2020 // A U.S. judge on Monday voided parts of a Trump administration rule that restricted paid sick leave and emergency family leave for potentially millions of workers affected by the coronavirus. Ruling in a case brought by New...
VW Asks Court to Reconsider ‘Staggering’ Damages for Counties Over Diesel Emissions
Aug 3 2020 // Volkswagen AG’s wholly owned U.S. subsidiary on Thursday asked the Ninth Circuit U.S. Court of Appeals to reconsider a ruling that said two counties could seek financial penalties over excess diesel emissions that...
Judge Limits Wrongful Death Lawsuit to Oregon Police
Jul 30 2020 // A federal judge says a wrongful death lawsuit stemming from the fatal shooting of a man who helped lead the armed occupation of an Oregon wildlife refuge can proceed against Oregon State Police, but allegations against...
Grant Program Now Open for Louisiana Small Businesses Harmed by Virus
Jul 29 2020 // Louisiana small businesses that have been hammered by the coronavirus outbreak and haven’t received federal aid can start applying for grants up to $15,000 to cover pandemic-related expenses, under a program created...
GOP Senator Wants to Tie Internet Firms’ Liability Immunity to Curb on Behavioral Ads
Jul 28 2020 // Republican Senator Josh Hawley on Tuesday introduced legislation that would penalize large tech companies that sell or show targeted advertisements by threatening a legal immunity enjoyed by the industry — the latest...
Court Rules New Jersey Can Shut Down Gym That Defied Closure
Jul 28 2020 // A state judge ruled that New Jersey authorities can shut down a gym that has repeatedly defied Governor Phil Murphy’s executive order to remain closed during the COVID-19 pandemic. The ruling held Atilis Gym of...
Judge Nixes 7% Plaintiffs Attorneys’ Fee on Opioid Settlements
Jul 28 2020 // A federal judge overseeing thousands of opioid lawsuits declined on Monday to grant a demand by plaintiffs attorneys for fees that could be worth billions of dollars, a request drug company defendants had said would...
