The Potential for Viable Whistleblowing Claims Is About To Become Larger and Louder In New York

Written by Christie Del Rey-Cone Historically, New York Labor Law Section 740 provided rather narrow protections for employees of private employers who engaged in potential whistleblower activities. However, at the end of 2021, Governor Kathy Hochul signed legislation that significantly broadened the scope of individuals and activities covered by Section 740 and those changes become effective on January 26, 2022. Employers must now take even … Continue reading The Potential for Viable Whistleblowing Claims Is About To Become Larger and Louder In New York

New Masking Mandate for Los Angeles Employers

Written by Jeremy Mittman Last week, the Los Angeles County Department of Public Health issued a new order amid the rapid spread of the omicron COVID-19 variant. Notably, under the new order employers are required to provide medical-grade masks to their employees who work indoors and in close contact with others as soon as possible, but no later than January 17, 2022. The new rule … Continue reading New Masking Mandate for Los Angeles Employers

The Dawn of a New Day: USPTO Implements the TMA

Written by Alesha M. Dominique and Caen A. Dennis On November 17, 2021, the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) issued its highly anticipated final rule, which amends the rules of practice in trademark cases to implement provisions of the Trademark Modernization Act of 2020 (TMA).  Many parts of the final rule will go into effect on December 18, 2021, with other portions effective on December 1, 2022.  … Continue reading The Dawn of a New Day: USPTO Implements the TMA

USCIS AGREES TO RELIEF FOR L-2 and H-4 SPOUSAL WORK AUTHORIZATION (EAD) APPLICANTS

Written by David S. Rugendorf On November 10, 2021, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), which the US Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) is a part of, signed a settlement agreement in the case of Shergill et al. v. Mayorkas, where it agreed to provide relief to L-2 and H-4 spousal work authorization (EAD) applicants.  For H-4s, the spouses of H-1B workers eligible for work … Continue reading USCIS AGREES TO RELIEF FOR L-2 and H-4 SPOUSAL WORK AUTHORIZATION (EAD) APPLICANTS

OSHA Issues, and Fifth Circuit Stays, Emergency Temporary Standard for COVID-19 Vaccination of Private Sector Employees

Written by Gary McLaughlin and Eric Engelman On November 4, 2021, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (“OSHA”) issued its long-awaited COVID-19 vaccination rule for private employers. The OSHA COVID-19 vaccination and testing emergency temporary standard (“ETS”) applies to all employers with 100 or more employees, and requires that employees be fully vaccinated for COVID-19, or comply with testing and face covering requirements.  The ETS … Continue reading OSHA Issues, and Fifth Circuit Stays, Emergency Temporary Standard for COVID-19 Vaccination of Private Sector Employees

EEOC Issues New COVID-19 Guidance on Religious Objections to Vaccine Mandates

Written by Jeremy Mittman An increase in workplace mandatory COVID-19 vaccination policies has yielded an increase in employees’ requests for special exemptions. This week, the EEOC issued updated guidance on how employers should handle religious objections to COVID-19 vaccine mandates. The guidance explains how Title VII of the Civil Rights Act, which prohibits employment discrimination based on religion, applies. Under Title VII, employers are required … Continue reading EEOC Issues New COVID-19 Guidance on Religious Objections to Vaccine Mandates

White House Announces New COVID-19 Vaccination and Testing Requirements for Air Travelers to US

Written by David S. Rugendorf Yesterday, October 25, 2021, the White House issued its long-awaited vaccination and testing requirements for noncitizen/nonpermanent resident air travelers to the United States. The new requirements, which will take effect at 12:01 a.m. on November 8, 2021, replace the previous travel restrictions – no longer will travelers physically present in certain specified geographic regions (China, UK, Ireland, Europe (Schengen countries), … Continue reading White House Announces New COVID-19 Vaccination and Testing Requirements for Air Travelers to US

CA Governor Newsom Signs Flurry of New Laws

Written by Jeremy Mittman This month, California Governor Gavin Newsom enacted a flurry of new laws that directly impact California employers. Here’s a breakdown of the laws (all of which go into effect on January 1, 2022), and what you need to know: SB 331: Broadly Prohibits Non-Disclosure Clauses in Settlement Agreements Senate Bill 331 expands the limit on non-disclosure clauses in settlement agreements to … Continue reading CA Governor Newsom Signs Flurry of New Laws

China Tariff – 301 Update

Written by Susan Kohn Ross In discussing the current state of the 301 tariffs, the first place to start is with the pending litigation. There, the Government has filed its cross-motion to dismiss responding to what plaintiffs had previously argued. The next step is for the panel of judges assigned to these 3800+ cases to decide if they will order oral argument or decide the … Continue reading China Tariff – 301 Update

To Link or Not to Link: Embedding Content and Copyright Infringement

Written by Leo Lichtman A few weeks ago, we reported on Nicklen v. Sinclair Broad. Co., a case out of the Southern District of New York that expressly rejected the “server test” established by the Ninth Circuit in Perfect 10, Inc. v. Amazon.com, Inc., 508 F.3d 1146, 1160 (9th Cir. 2007).  The server test sets forth a limitation for when a copyrighted work is “displayed” … Continue reading To Link or Not to Link: Embedding Content and Copyright Infringement