Legal Resources
PFAS Manufacturers Sued in New Suit, Safe From SEC Investigation
Another lawsuit has been brought in North Carolina against DuPont Co. and Chemours Co. founded upon the alleged release of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) into the environment. The suit was filed within days of the news breaking that the Securities and...
COVID-19 in the Workplace: Employers Caught Between Duty of Privacy and Duty to Warn
Sara goes in for her shift at ABC Delivery Services, Inc, where she helps with package handling in the warehouse and managing administrative work in the office. Unbeknownst to Sara, her co-worker Tom, has not been feeling well for the past few days and after seeking...
Five European Countries Push For PFAS Restrictions
Germany, the Netherlands, Norway, Sweden and Denmark agreed to prepare a Registration, Evaluation, Authorisation and Restriction of Chemicals (REACH) restriction proposal with the aim to restrict the manufacture, the placing on the market and the use of all per- and...
Courtrooms, Consolidations, and Closures: COVID-19’s Impact on Higher Education
Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, universities and colleges were forced to close their campuses this year, and offer remote learning options to their students. This was not a transition many were prepared for, and the perceived shift in teaching styles and overall...
Liability Protection Legislation Offers A Preview of Who’s In and Who’s Out
As states across the nation begin lifting or modifying executive orders shuttering all but essential businesses, uncertainty remains as to how businesses might safely reopen, and to what extent they may be liable for COVID-19 related injuries sustained by clients,...
Two Recent Rulings Highlight Challenges For Policyholders in Business Interruption Coverage Litigation
As business interruption lawsuits continue to fill up court dockets, we are beginning to see the first wave come crashing down on policyholders. Whether this is a sign of things to come is still an open question for both policyholders and insurers. At present, there...
EPA Takes Major Step Forward In PFAS Action Plan
In the midst of the pandemic, the EPA continues to take steps forward included in its February 2019 PFAS Action Plan to address short-term and long-term plans for regulating and tracking PFAS. On December 20, 2019, the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) was...
PFAS-Containing Food Packaging Subject to Regulation
Per- and poly-fluoroalkyl substances (“PFAS”) are a collection of over 7,000 manmade chemical compounds. PFAS have unique physical properties, including resistance to degradation and heat and ability to repel oil and water. These properties make them highly useful...
Legal Battle Continues Over PFAS Standards in New Hampshire
Environmental groups have filed an amicus brief to the court reviewing New Hampshire’s PFAS regulations, arguing that the lower court did not properly conduct the cost-benefit analysis to enjoining the proposed standards. The parties who brought this suit against the...
Fight Over COVID-19 Business Interruption Claims Being Fought on Multiple Fronts
As business interruption claims continue to pile up in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic, questions are beginning to arise over how to best resolve the mass influx of expected claims. As courts across the country weigh various proposals including multidistrict...
PFAS Lawsuit Shows Pandemic Is Not Stopping Contamination Claims
On Monday April 13, 2020, the town of East Hampton, New York filed suit against its own fire department in federal court. The town of alleges that the East Hampton Fire Department failed to properly cleanup aqueous film forming foam (AFFF) that contained...
EPA Seeking Public Comment On Draft Risk Evaluation For Asbestos
The Environmental Protection Agency is seeking public comment on its Draft Risk Evaluation on Asbestos. Finalizing this assessment is the next step in its evaluation of the risks associated with asbestos, a review it is authorized to do by the Toxic Substances Control...