Latest Legislation Headlines
All the headlines from our Legislation Topic Page, ordered by recency.
Is California’s Prop 103 System ‘Democratic’?
Aug 18 2020 // Defining the term “democracy” has long been a challenging proposition. Nearly all agree that a democracy is a government that reflects the will of the people, but questions about the particulars, of what...
Judge Questions Authority Issue in Lawsuit on Closed Las Vegas Bars
Aug 17 2020 // A Nevada judge has said she wants proof she would have the authority to order the governor to rescind a coronavirus pandemic directive and let Las Vegas-area bars and taverns reopen. “What is the law that says I have...
Wisconsin Board Delays Rules Setting New Restrictions on PFAS Chemicals
Aug 17 2020 // Environmental regulators in Wisconsin has voted to table rules setting new restrictions on firefighting foam containing PFAS chemicals. The Department of Natural Resources’ policy board made the decision in a...
Federal Judge Advances Business Interruption Dispute Between Law Firm, Travelers
Aug 17 2020 // A federal judge in California disappointed a law firm suing Travelers Insurance over coronavirus lockdown related business interruption claims in refusing to remove its case to state court and denying its request for a...
Los Angeles County Owes $8M to Man Killed Like George Floyd, Court Rules
Aug 17 2020 // Los Angeles County must pay a full $8 million damage award to the family of a Black man whose death had similarities to the police killing of George Floyd in Minneapolis, the California Supreme Court ruled. While subduing...
Judge Tosses Texas Barbershops’ Suit Against Insurer Over Coronavirus Losses
Aug 16 2020 // A federal judge has agreed with an insurer that a group of barbershops in the San Antonio, Texas-area have no basis for claims seeking coverage under their commercial insurance policies for business interruption losses...
Nevada Governor Signs Business Liability And Worker Protection Bill
Aug 14 2020 // Nevada Gov. Steve Sisolak has signed legislation expanding workplace safety protections for hotel and casino employees and shielding businesses that follow health directives from coronavirus-related...
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...
