The U.S. Supreme Court Thursday found a defendant doesn't need to obtain a favorable judgment on the merits of a Title VII claim to be a prevailing party, but declined to decide if the EEOC must pay $4.7 million in attorneys' fees. Here, attorneys tell Law360 why the new rule is Continue Reading
The State of Small Business: Connecticut
Small business owners in Connecticut say there are both pros and cons of doing business in the state. On one hand, they enjoy a close proximity to major cities such as New York and Boston, as well as access to a highly skilled workforce and a favorable labor market. Perhaps most important, Continue Reading
Why Obama’s New Overtime Rules Should Worry Mass. Businesses
Massachusetts businesses should take special care to comply with the Obama administration’s sweeping new overtime-pay regulations, lawyers say, because the penalties they face for failing to do so are more severe than they are in other states. The U.S. Department of Labor unveiled regulations Continue Reading
Overtime Protections Extended to 4.2M Workers
More than 4 million workers will be eligible to earn overtime pay under new regulations set to be announced Wednesday by the Department of Labor, which is doubling the salary cap at which workers are exempt from overtime. The new limit for salaried employees to earn overtime when working more Continue Reading
Consumer Court Wins Spur Surge In NJ Contract Class Actions
A string of victories for class action plaintiffs accusing businesses of violating a New Jersey consumer contracts law has left companies facing an explosion of similar suits, reigniting criticisms from defense attorneys that the statute is ambiguous and exposes businesses to unfair readings of Continue Reading
5 Employer Worries Raised By OSHA’s New Injury Rule
A rule finalized by the Occupational Safety and Health Administration on Wednesday that would make workplace injury data recorded by employers publicly accessible may force them to rethink drug testing and other policies that could discourage employee reports of safety incidents and embolden unions Continue Reading
4 Things PE Associates Should Never Say
Landing the role of private equity associate at a law firm is an achievement to be celebrated, but while the career milestone does provide young attorneys the opportunity to rise through the ranks and eventually make partner, competition is fierce and future promotions are not guaranteed. In Continue Reading
USPTO Patent Guidelines Give Hope To Life Sciences Cos.
New U.S. Patent and Trademark Office guidance to examiners on patent eligibility may offer a lifeline to applicants seeking protection for medical diagnostic tests and other life sciences inventions, attorneys say, providing a road map for avoiding ineligibility under the Supreme Court's Mayo and Continue Reading
CT Employers Face Higher OSHA Workplace-Safety Fines
For a variety of Connecticut employers, a knock on the door from the Occupational Safety & Health Administration (OSHA) can be a scary moment, as a visit from a federal workplace safety inspector often uncovers violations. But in most cases, employers don't lose sleep over the threat of Continue Reading
Supreme Court Affirms Dismissal of AstraZeneca Class Action
The Delaware Supreme Court last week upheld the dismissal of a 12-year-old class action accusing AstraZeneca of consumer fraud, saying the group of third-party payor health insurers could not claim injury under applicable state laws. The ruling brought clarity to Delaware's consumer fraud act, Continue Reading