Husch Blackwell’s Laura Labeots is scheduled to present at the St. Louis Institute of Nanoscience and Nanomedicine Presentation on December 12, 2015. Laura will be on a panel discussing NanoMedicine.
The St. Louis Institute of Nanoscience and Nanomedicine Symposium provides a platform for nanotechnology researchers and practitioners to:
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With a busy holiday season ahead, many shoppers are looking forward to finding that unique gift. Parents of children who enjoy crafts or building will be especially attracted to the creative possibilities of a home 3D printer. Kids can make their own jewelry, model cars, and even wearable fashion. With an industry still in its infancy in the consumer market, I sat down with Brandan Mueller to better understand the legal pitfalls inherent in the expected Christmas season sales bump. Brandan is Husch Blackwell’s expert on the intersection of traditional consumer protection / products liability law and 3D printing technology.
Employment litigation is one of the fastest growing sectors of litigation. Employers have done a good deed by educating workers about their rights; unfortunately, this can sometimes result in more claims. Approximately one out of five lawsuits nationwide is filed by a current or former employee. Among the employment cases, retaliation claims specifically continue to grow. In a retaliation claim, the focus shifts to how the company reacted to the original employee complaint, and away from the original complaint.
So, if you are terminating an employee, make sure you follow some basic points:
Hidden away in the Bipartisan Budget Act of 2015 (2015 Budget), signed by President Obama on November 2, 2015, is an obscure provision that will raise the maximum penalties for Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) violations for the first time since 1990. The financial ramifications of the significantly higher penalties may change how employers evaluate whether to contest OSHA citations.
This week, the Illinois Supreme Court enforced the exclusive remedy provisions of the Illinois Worker’s Compensation Act and the Worker’s Occupational Disease Act (“the Statutes”) for latent diseases, including asbestos-related diseases that fall outside the 25-year limit of the statute of repose. The Court’s 4-2 decision in Folta v. Ferro Engineering, No. 118070 (Ill. Sup. Ct.) means plaintiffs can no longer successfully argue that the long latency period for mesothelioma renders their asbestos claims “non-compensable” as to their employers. Thus, their claims no longer meet that exception of the Statutes’ exclusive remedy bar.
On October 23, 2015, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) published in the federal register its highly anticipated final rules implementing the Clean Power Plan’s goal of significantly limiting carbon dioxide emissions from existing, new, modified, and reconstructed fossil fuel-fired electric generating units (EGUs). EPA also published its proposed model state trading rules and federal plans for implementation of the required emission reductions from existing EGUs. The rules were finalized on August 3, 2015 and published on EPA’s website at that time.
These rules, which will significantly impact the electric power sector, also have the potential to impact manufacturing operations. Businesses with high energy demands may see the effects of the rules in their electricity bills. However, the rules could also present an opportunity for manufacturers of control equipment for coal-fired steam EGUs as well as natural gas combined cycle units and zero-emitting renewable energy generating units.
The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) released proposed regulations Oct. 19, 2015, on optional practical training (OPT) for F-1 students with STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics) degrees enrolled at accredited U.S. colleges and universities. The new regulations propose several changes to the existing regulations, including new burdens on colleges and universities with F-1 students and on employers who employ F-1 students working pursuant to OPT.
On September 30, 2015, President Obama executed the Airport and Airway Extension Act of 2015 (“Airport and Airway Extension Act”), passed earlier in the week by both the House of Representatives and the Senate. The Airport and Airway Extension Act extends FAA funding for six months through March 31, 2016.
Hours before it was set to expire, the EB-5 Regional Center Program received a temporary continuance with the final passage of the Continuing Resolution that provides funding to the federal government until December 11, 2015. This continuance gives Congress additional time to discuss proposed reforms for the program. The EB-5 Regional Center Program was set to expire on September 30.
Earlier this week, the Donald Danforth Plant Science Center and Larta Institute hosted this year’s Ag Innovation Showcase. Husch Blackwell LLP was proud to sponsor and have several of our attorneys attend this event. This year’s attendance surpassed 400 and registration was closed due to excess demand.
