The U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) is stepping up enforcement actions related to EEO-1 Reports. The EEOC has sued 15 employers across the nation for failing to submit workplace demographic data reports to the Commission in compliance with mandatory federal reporting requirements, alleging that these employers failed to submit EEO-1 Component 1 annual data reports for the years 2021 and 2022.

Houston Managing Partner David Oubre, Houston Partner Joelle Nelson and New York Partner Adam N. Schwartzstein will present a webinar titled “Accident Investigation I – Transportation,” on June 20, 2024 at 9:00 a.m. PT.

Fort Lauderdale Managing Partner Cheryl Wilke recently secured a defense verdict for civil engineering firm Gulfstream Design Group and its owner, Matthew Lahti, in a high-stakes professional negligence case in which the plaintiff sought more than $20 million. The verdict by a six-person jury in St. Augustine followed a nine-day trial.

Close on the heels of a favorable decision for transportation brokers out of the Eastern District of Texas, the Southern District of Texas has issued a similar ruling that is favorable to transportation brokers facing state law tort claims, holding that such claims are preempted by the Federal Aviation Administration Authorization Act (“FAAAA”), 40 U.S.C. § 14501(c)(1).

Phoenix Partner and Chair of Lewis Brisbois' Collegiate & Professional Sports Law Practice Gregg E. Clifton and New York Associate Christina Stylianou published an article in the April 2024 issue of the LexisNexis Sports Law Bulletin titled, "Rule 40 Sponsorships and Pay-For-Play.” The article discusses changes to the policies of and economics relating to the Olympic Games (Games), including compensation for athletes and the applicability of Rule 40 of the Olympic Charter, which governs the way that athletes and their sponsors may use their name and image in advertising.

On April 24, 2024, President Biden signed into law the 21st Century Peace Through Strength Act, Pub. L. 118–50 (H.R.815) (“the Act”), a multifaceted law that is mostly known for providing aid to Ukraine and other U.S. allies and for mandating that TikTok divest its Chinese ownership or be banned in the United States. A less noticed section of the Act will have a great practical impact on countless American businesses that operate internationally by doubling the statute of limitations period for sanctions violations from 5 to 10 years.

Newark Partner Meredith Kaplan Stoma will present at an upcoming seminar hosted by the New Jersey Institute for Continuing Legal Education (NJICLE) on June 14 at 11:20 a.m. ET.

The Transparency in Charges for Key Events Ticketing (TICKET) Act, legislation recently passed by the United States House of Representatives, aims to reform the ticketing industry and enhance transparency for consumers. Introduced in 2023 by Representatives Jan Schakowsky (IL-09) and Gus Bilirakis (FL-12), the TICKET Act received considerable bipartisan support, passing the House with a vote of 388-24 in May 2024, following unanimous approval by the House Energy and Commerce Committee in December 2023.

This week, in a helpful ruling for transportation brokers, the Eastern District of Texas opined that state law tort claims against brokers are preempted by the Federal Aviation Administration Authorization Act (“FAAAA”), 40 U.S.C. § 14501(c)(1). The Court granted a motion to dismiss claims of negligent brokering, holding that the plain language of the FAAAA expressly preempted the claims because they did not implicate the Act’s safety exception.

Reno Partner Brandon Wright was recently appointed to The DRI Center for Law and Public Policy’s State Legislation and Rules Task Force.

In a ruling favorable to employers, an appellate court in Washington issued an opinion holding that two healthcare facilities can compel an independent contractor working temporarily at their facilities to arbitrate her claims in Georgia, even though the parties seeking to compel arbitration are not signatories to the arbitration agreement.

Charlotte Partner Kevin Parsons, Miami Partner Nicole Vescova, and Chair of the firm’s Labor and Employment Practice Elior Shiloh will present a webinar on legal trends facing employers in Georgia, Florida, and North Carolina on May 28 at 12:00 a.m. ET.

Wilmington Managing Partner Francis Pileggi recently spoke with Law360 Pulse for an article that profiles Lewis Brisbois’ Wilmington office. The article titled, “Office Snapshot: Lewis Brisbois' Delaware Digs,” describes the history and growth of the office as well as the practices of the attorneys in Wilmington.

Somewhat surprisingly, given New York’s reputation as a business hub and trendsetter for business law rulings, there has been a lack of clarity from the judiciary concerning how to evaluate the enforceability of a restrictive covenant, such as a covenant not to compete, in an ordinary commercial contract. The New York Appellate Division, Second Department recently waded into these waters and attempted to provide some needed clarity in Twitchell Tech. Prods., LLC v. Mechoshade Sys., LLC, 2024 NY Slip Op 01744, decided March 27, 2024