On September 26, 2024, the Federal Communications Commission ("FCC") adopted a Report and Order (the "Second R&O") setting forth new rules to make interoperable video conferencing services ("IVCS") more accessible to people...more
I recently addressed the question of whether the exchange of emails might constitute a corporate board meeting. Recently, Professor Stephen Bainbridge pointed out that he discussed this question more than two decades ago. ...more
On November 30, 2023, the Federal Communications Commission's (FCC) Media Bureau released a Public Notice announcing national nonbroadcast network rankings ahead of the next triennial update to the list of networks subject to...more
On January 24, 2023, the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) released an updated resource document titled “Hearing Disabilities in the Workplace and the Americans with Disabilities Act,” explaining how the...more
The Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) issued new technical assistance, “Hearing Disabilities in the Workplace and the Americans with Disabilities Act,” addressing how the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA)...more
In January 2023, the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (“EEOC”) released an updated resource document, “Hearing Disabilities in the Workplace and the Americans with Disabilities Act” (the “Update”), which explains...more
On January 24, 2023, the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (“EEOC”) issued a technical assistance guidance explaining how the Americans with Disabilities Act (“ADA”) applies to job applicants and employees with...more
As the industry continues to evolve, access to healthcare remains a key challenge. For certain segments of the population, access to healthcare is not equitable. We will examine how the ADA and state disability and...more
A federal jury in Florida awarded $77.5 million in damages, including $72.5 million in punitive damages, to a former soldier who filed a claim alleging that his hearing loss resulted from defective 3M Co. earplugs. The case...more
On January 18, the National Association of Attorneys General (NAAG) sent a letter to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), urging the agency to expressly ensure that state attorneys general (State AGs) continue to have...more
The National Association of Attorneys General sent a comment letter to the FDA, signed by a bipartisan group of 42 AGs, urging it to ensure that states’ authority to protect consumers is not preempted in its proposed rule...more
The 3M earplug lawsuits keep moving forward. On November 15, 2021, the seventh bellwether trial in the ongoing 3M earplug injury litigation ended in a $13 million award in favor of the plaintiff. This jury award has other...more
Millions of Americans soon may be able to buy much cheaper devices to help them with their mild to moderate hearing loss and avoid costly hearing aids prescribed by specialists. It took far too long for this big step to...more
It’s the end of the day and you find yourself with a little downtime to catch up on your favorite streaming show. Whether it’s because each episode vacillates between the loudest of explosions and the quietest of dialogue or...more
When people find out that I am a child of Deaf adults (CODA), they are usually curious and want to know what it was like growing up with Deaf parents. There is no question that my three siblings and I had an unconventional...more
Jury Awards Veteran With Hearing Loss $1.7 Million in Third Bellwether Trial - A Florida jury’s $1.7 million judgment in favor of the plaintiff on June 18, 2021, handed The 3M Company its second defeat in bellwether trials...more
Last summer, Nike began requiring its retail employees to wear masks to combat the spread of COVID-19. A few weeks later, Cali Bunn entered one of its San Diego-area stores to purchase some shoes. Ms. Bunn is deaf and, like...more
Should You Consider Clear Masks and Other Accommodations for the Hard of Hearing? At the end of January Nike agreed to a settlement requiring its California workers to be provided with clear masks. The settlement was reached...more
Following are reminders for upcoming Federal Communications Commission (FCC) reports and compliance requirements due in January - Form 855: Hearing Aid Compatibility Certification - The annual Form 855...more
Manufacturers of wireless handsets that are used in the delivery of digital commercial mobile radio service must file with the Federal Communications Commission (“FCC” or “Commission”) FCC Form 655 to report the status of the...more
Our annual survey of health law cases for 2019 includes a number of notable decisions affecting the practice of medicine and the delivery of other health care services in Connecticut. These include the Connecticut Supreme...more
Is your website suitable for the blind or deaf? If not, you may well be sued in California even though your business is elsewhere....more
Seyfarth Synopsis: Purveyors of porn are being sued for offering online videos without closed captioning....more
Following are reminders for upcoming Federal Communications Commission (FCC) reports and compliance requirements due in January - Form 855: Hearing Aid Compatibility Service Provider Certification - As we explained...more
On November 13, the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Michigan announced a far-reaching settlement agreement with Beaumont Health—the largest health care system in Michigan. ...more