News

Modernizing NAFTA: The United States-Mexico-Canada Trade Agreement

By EsqSocial Corporation 20/01/20

On January 16, 2020, the United States Senate voted by an overwhelming majority to pass the implementing legislation for the United States-Mexico-Canada Trade Agreement (USMCA) after months of tense negotiations with Democrats over revisions to the...

Cannabis: Can I Buy This? The Current Legal Landscape for Connecticut’s Marijuana Industry and Predictions for 2020

By EsqSocial Corporation 20/01/20

With the arrival of the new year, it is time to take stock of Connecticut’s legal landscape regarding the marijuana industry and what can be expected for the near future....
By: Pullman & Comley, LLC

US Office of Management and Budget Calls for Federal Agencies to Reduce Barriers to Artificial Intelligence

By EsqSocial Corporation 20/01/20

On January 7, 2020, the Director of the US Office of Management and Budget (OMB) issued a Draft Memorandum (the Memorandum) to all federal “implementing agencies” regarding the development of regulatory and non-regulatory approaches to reducing...

A Litigation Position May Be Objectively Unreasonable Even If the Court Denies Summary Judgment

By EsqSocial Corporation 20/01/20

EKO BRANDS, LLC V. ADRIAN RIVERA MAYNEZ ENTERPRISES, INC. ET. AL.  Before Dyk, Reyna, and Hughes. Reyna dissenting in part.  Appeal from the Western District of Washington...
By: Knobbe Martens

Wastewater Enforcement: Arkansas Department of Energy and Environment - Department of Environmental Quality and Phillips County Improvement District Enter into Consent Administrative Order

By EsqSocial Corporation 20/01/20

The Arkansas Department of Energy and Environment - Department of Environmental Quality (“DEQ”) and Southland Improvement District (“SID”) entered into a December 19th Consent Administrative Order (“CAO”) addressing an alleged violation of a Clean...

M&T Settlement shows the problem of using proprietary funds

By EsqSocial Corporation 20/01/20

Plan sponsors with their proprietary funds have a unique problem. Using proprietary funds will lead to litigation and not using them, makes them look bad in the eyes of competitors. A 401(k) plan sponsor not using their funds is like restaurant...

Victory? Delaware Suggests an End to Contingency Compensation for Unclaimed Property Contract Auditors

By EsqSocial Corporation 20/01/20

For years, Delaware has used contract audit firms to enforce their unclaimed property laws and paid them based, at least partially, on the amount recovered. Motivated by this financial reward and empowered as an agent of the state, the...

Foreign Contract and Gift Reporting Deadline Approaches for Higher Education Institutions, As Does a Revised Reporting Process

By EsqSocial Corporation 20/01/20

As discussed in a previous alert dated June 18, 2019, the U.S. Department of Education (the “Department”) over the last year increased its scrutiny of postsecondary institutions’ contracts with, and gifts from, foreign entities and individuals. In...

False Claims Act: 2019 Year in Review

By EsqSocial Corporation 20/01/20

The year 2019 was another active year in False Claims Act (FCA) investigations and litigation. Although the year lacked a singular blockbuster case, there were decisions of particular note. The Supreme Court clarified the FCA’s statute of limitation...

Are Employees with Alcoholism and Substance Use Disorder Protected under the ADAAA?

By EsqSocial Corporation 20/01/20

Managing an employee who is struggling with alcoholism or substance use disorder can be challenging for employers. While both conditions could be protected under the Americans with Disabilities Act Amendments Act (ADAAA), there are differences in how...

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