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Resolving Circuit Split, U.S. Supreme Court Says Courts ‘Shall’ Stay Cases Sent to Arbitration

“Shall” means “shall” in the Federal Arbitration Act (FAA), a unanimous U.S. Supreme Court held in Smith v. Spizzirri, No. 22–1218 (May 16, 2024). The Court explained the language in the FAA providing a court “shall on...more

EEOC Enforcement Guidance on Workplace Harassment: Liability

The Equal Employment Opportunity Commission’s (EEOC) first updated enforcement guidance on workplace harassment in 25 years is broken down into the three components of a harassment claim: (1) the covered bases and causation;...more

EEOC Enforcement Guidance on Workplace Harassment: Impact on a Term, Condition, or Privilege of Employment

The Equal Employment Opportunity Commission’s (EEOC) first updated enforcement guidance on workplace harassment in 25 years is broken down into the three components of a harassment claim: (1) the covered bases and causation;...more

EEOC Enforcement Guidance on Workplace Harassment: Covered Bases and Causation

The Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) issued its first updated enforcement guidance on workplace harassment in 25 years on April 29, 2024. The guidance reflects a number of new developments concerning workplace...more

U.S. Supreme Court: Alleging Discriminatory Transfer Is Sufficient Harm to Bring Title VII Claim

An employee challenging a job transfer under Title VII of the Civil Rights Act must show the transfer brought about some harm with respect to an identifiable term or condition of employment, but that harm need not be...more

U.S. Supreme Court Appears to Side With Employee Alleging Discriminatory Transfer in Oral Argument

Even as the U.S. Supreme Court heard oral argument in Muldrow v. City of St. Louis, Mo., No. 22-193, on Dec. 6, 2023, on the narrow issue of whether Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 prohibits job transfers that do...more

$35M SEC Settlement Underscores Processes, Procedures Ensuring Appropriate Public Disclosures

In a $35 million settlement that emphasizes the “S” for social in Environmental, Social and Corporate Governance (ESG) issues in public filings, publicly traded video game developer Activision Blizzard, Inc. has agreed with...more

SEC Adopts Amendments To Whistleblower Program Rules

The Securities and Exchange Commission has voted to adopt numerous amendments to the rules governing its whistleblower program. The whistleblower program serves as a significant tool for the Commission to encourage...more

Investigating Complaints Containing Second-Hand Information In The COVID-19 Era

As the country faces a wave of COVID-19 closure orders, individuals are being encouraged to report violations. Hypothetically, these reports could originate from just about anyone – employees, employees’ family members,...more

Who Is The Audience For An Internal Investigation Report?

Too often, internal investigators mistakenly conclude that their reports are for the exclusive review of decision-makers. Sometimes, this may be true. However, more often than not, there are two audiences of which an...more

One Size Does Not Fit All: The Need For A Tailored Code Of Conduct

Codes of Conduct are designed to set forth an organization’s values and principles, while detailing expectations for employees. In many ways, it is one of the most important documents an organization can develop. At times,...more

The Waiting Is The Hardest Part: Staff Decreases, Whistleblower Claim Increases Strain OSHA

A February 20, 2019 article from Bloomberg Law provides statistics to explain the significant delays experienced by litigators and attorneys alike in Occupational Safety and Health Administration’s investigation of...more

Effective Compliance Programs Require A Commitment From The Top

We follow the leader wherever we go, and that applies to compliance, as well. While federal and state laws require organizations to adopt compliance programs, a low level of commitment to these compliance efforts from the...more

Effective Compliance Starts At Home: Ensuring Your Company Learns Of Issues Before Everyone Else Does

The need for an effective compliance program to assist companies in preventing, detecting and, if necessary, promptly correcting issues before they become problems is nothing new. However, there is an increased focus by the...more

Record High Awards And Supreme Court Decision Further Incent Potential Whistleblowers To Report Conduct To The SEC

On March 19, 2018, the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) announced its highest ever Dodd-Frank Act (“DFA”) bounty awards to three whistleblowers. These SEC awards represent a new milestone in the SEC’s ongoing...more

Retaliation Plaintiff Not A Covered Whistleblower Under Plain Reading Of Dodd-Frank Act, Court Rules

A former employee who failed to show he reported alleged securities law violations to the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), as required under the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act (DFA), cannot...more

U.S. Supreme Court Narrows Dodd-Frank Act Whistleblower Protections

The anti-retaliation provision of the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act of 2010 protects only employees who complain directly to the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), the U.S. Supreme Court has...more

New Chairman And Board Members Appointed To The SEC Board Created By The Sarbanes-Oxley Act Of 2002

The Securities and Exchange Commission recently announced the appointment of William D. Duhnke III as Chairman and J. Robert Brown, Kathleen M. Hamm, James G. Kaiser, and Duane M. DesParte as board members of the Public...more

Port Authority Not Subject to Worker-Friendly New Jersey Whistleblower Law, State Court Rules

The Port Authority of New York and New Jersey is not subject to suit under New Jersey’s expansive whistleblower statute, the Conscientious Employee Protection Act, the New Jersey Appellate Division has held. Sullivan v. Port...more

New Jersey Bill Will Make Whistleblower Settlement Agreements with Public Entities Public Records

Proposed legislation that would make whistleblower settlement agreements involving public entities available to the public has been approved unanimously by the New Jersey Assembly on March 23, 2017. The New Jersey...more

Circuit Split Over Protection Afforded By Dodd-Frank Whistleblower Provision Widens

In Somers v. Digital Realty Trust, 15-17352 (9th Cir. March 8, 2017), a split Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals widened an existing circuit court split by ruling that Section 21F of the Dodd-Frank Act (“DFA”) protects...more

California Court Rules Sarbanes-Oxley Preempts California Law Regarding Privileged Communications in Suit by Former In-House...

By determining that the Sarbanes-Oxley Act (“SOX” or the “Act”) preempts California’s ethical rules, the Northern District of California ruled that an in-house attorney can rely on privileged communications and confidential...more

Supreme Court Unanimously Backs ‘Implied Certification’ Liability under False Claims Act

Federal contractors may be subject to liability under the federal False Claims Act for violating regulatory requirements not expressly stated in their contracts, according to U.S. Supreme Court’s decision in Universal Health...more

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