In United States v. Ahakuelo, the government pursued wire fraud and embezzlement charges against three members of the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers’ leadership based on allegations the defendants conspired to convert membership dues. The evidence supporting the government’s case consisted of voluminous, complex materials, so the government requested to call a summary witness. In granting the motion, the court explained the framework for use of summaries of evidence by witnesses.
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Hawaii Federal Court Authorizes Government to Call Summary Witness to Present Evidence in Wire Fraud, Embezzlement Case Posted on: April 14, 2023 In: Labor & Employment
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New York State Adopts Pay Transparency Law Posted on: March 29, 2023 In: Labor & EmploymentStarting September 17, 2023, many employers across New York State will be subject to new job advertising requirements under a new Pay Transparency Law. New York City employers have a head start in grappling with this issue in light of the similar city law that has been in place since November 2022.
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The Return of the California Mandatory Arbitration Agreement Posted on: March 28, 2023 In: Labor & EmploymentIn a shocking win for California employers, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit held on February 15, 2023 that the Federal Arbitration Act (FAA) preempts California’s controversial Assembly Bill 51 (AB 51), which attempted to criminalize employers’ use of mandatory arbitration agreements in the Golden State.
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Still Waiting: DOL Expected to Issue Final Rule on Independent Contractor Classification in May 2023 Posted on: March 24, 2023 In: Labor & EmploymentLast year, the Department of Labor (DOL) published a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking regarding its present guidance on the classification of independent contractors. The Proposed Rule rescinds the 2021 Independent Contractor Rule, Independent Contractor Status Under the Fair Labor Standards Act, published in January 2021, and contains general interpretations for determining worker status.
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Lewis Brisbois’ 2022 State Labor & Employment Year End Reviews Posted on: February 28, 2023 In: Labor & EmploymentEach year, Lewis Brisbois’ Labor & Employment attorneys review the past year’s major legislative and caselaw developments related to labor and employment law in their respective states. This post features a list with links to these 17 alerts, covering 31 Lewis Brisbois offices across 18 states and the District of Columbia, published between December 22, 2022 and February 14, 2023.
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Third Circuit: No OSHA Investigation? No OSHA Litigation Posted on: February 13, 2023 In: Labor & EmploymentIn a matter of first impression, the Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit recently confirmed that the Occupational Safety and Health Act of 1970 (OSH Act) mandates the dismissal of an employee’s action against the Secretary of Labor once the Department of Labor has completed its standard enforcement proceedings.
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New Federal Laws Enacted Through Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2023 Strengthen Workplace Protections for Pregnant and Nursing Employees Posted on: January 26, 2023 In: Labor & EmploymentThe Pregnant Workers Fairness Act (PWFA) and the Providing Urgent Maternal Protections for Nursing Mothers Act (PUMP for Nursing Mothers Act) were enacted through the Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2023. Together, these two Acts establish enhanced protections for childrearing employees and impose additional obligations on employers.
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The New Mexico Healthy Workplaces Act: An Overview Posted on: January 19, 2023 In: Labor & EmploymentUnder the New Mexico Healthy Workplaces Act (NM HWA), which went into effect on July 1, 2022, employers in New Mexico are now required to provide paid sick leave to all employees, whether full-time, part-time, seasonal, or temporary, hourly and salaried (exempt or non-exempt), at the employee’s usual hourly rate. This post provides an overview of this Act.
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Third Circuit Narrows Ellerth-Faragher Affirmative Defense in Hostile Work Environment Cases Posted on: January 18, 2023 In: Labor & EmploymentThe Third Circuit Court of Appeals, in O’Brien v. The Middle East Forum, et al., No. 2102646 (3d Cir. Jan. 5, 2023), narrowed the Ellerth-Faragher affirmative defense in hostile work environment cases. The Third Circuit held that an employer cannot raise this affirmative defense if the harasser functions as the employer’s “proxy” or “alter ego.” Instead, an employer is strictly liable for harassment perpetrated by its proxy or alter ego.
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City of Gainesville Becomes First Florida City to Pass Ordinance Limiting Private Employers’ Use of Criminal Histories in Hiring, Employment Posted on: January 11, 2023 In: Labor & EmploymentOn December 22, 2022, the City of Gainesville, Florida passed the Fair Chance Hiring Ordinance (Ordinance No. 2022-617). The ordinance prohibits employers with 15 or more employees from asking any questions regarding an applicant’s criminal history in the application process.
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Federal Trade Commission Cracks Down on Non-Compete Agreements Posted on: January 06, 2023 In: Labor & EmploymentIn three separate actions and with a recent proposed rulemaking, the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) challenged the use and enforceability of non-compete agreements (NCAs). First, the FTC took action against three separate companies with regard to their use of NCAs. Generally, the FTC complained that the NCAs used were overly broad, applied to lower wage and unskilled workers, and were used in concentrated markets.
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New York Employers May Not Penalize Employees for Lawful Absences Posted on: January 04, 2023 In: Labor & EmploymentAs is seemingly customary at this point, New York employers cannot ease into the New Year and must instead revisit their employee handbooks due to a recent amendment to the New York Labor Law that takes effect February 19, 2023. The Lawful Absence Law amends Section 215 of the Labor Law to bar employers from disciplining employees who take legally protected time off from work.
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