It is widely known and accepted in the construction industry that fall protection must be provided to workers working at a height of six (6) feet or more. This six-foot rule is set forth in OSHA Subpart M (§1926.500, et. seq.). Additionally, Industrial Code Section 23-1.7(b) requires fall protection for workers who are working near unguarded openings or edges, consisting of barriers, safety railings, or gates. 

According to recent data, the theft of trade secrets has cost American companies between $225 billion and $600 billion annually. Sadly, restitution awards associated with the prosecution of these thefts have not made victims whole and point towards massive recovery disparities. As such, it is important to have competent counsel who can navigate these complexities when a matter is referred to the federal authorities.

Recently, the nation was riveted by the highly publicized criminal trial of former Registered Nurse, RaDonda Vaught, who was convicted of reckless homicide and impaired adult abuse after a 2017 medication error killed her 75-year-old patient, Charlene Murphey. Although medication errors occasionally result in patient injury or death, those committing such errors are typically disciplined by state licensing boards or tried for negligence in medical malpractice cases in civil courts.

The New York State Legislature recently passed the “Justice for Injured Workers Act,” which is pending presentation to the governor for signature and would amend the state’s Workers' Compensation Law.

On June 4, 2022, the New York State Legislature passed legislation to strengthen the Empire State’s nursing home oversight program, through bills A10045A and S8617A. The bills would require the New York State Long-Term Care Ombudsman Program to include additional information in publicized annual reports, including types and patterns of complaints filed against long-term care facilities.

Signed into law December 23, 2021, the Uyghur Forced Labor Prevention Act (UFLPA) is set to go into effect June 21, 2022, without the benefit of implementation guidance that importers sought before covered shipments to the U.S. began their journeys.