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.

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.

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.

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

On May 1, 2023, Governor Brian Kemp signed Senate Bill 74 into law, amending O.C.G.A. 9-11-26 and adding a new section: 9-11-26.1. Read together, these new code sections amend the Georgia Civil Practice Act to codify and expand upon discovery protections available under common law to high-ranking corporate officers. O.C.G.A. 9-11-26.1(a) defines an “officer” as “a current or former high-ranking officer of an organization with unique and extensive scheduling demands or responsibilities.” The same subsection defines an “organization” to include “any governmental entity and any other organization, public or private, that is large and complex.”

(Thefts Occurring at the Same Location On the Same Evening Constituted One Occurrence Under Property Policy)

(Insurer Improperly Cancelled Automobile Policy By Failing To Send Notice of Cancellation To Individual Specifically Identified On Policy As An Insured)