Supreme Court hears arguments from Fannie Mae, Freddie Mac shareholders
The US Supreme Court heard its final oral arguments of the year on Wednesday in the consolidated case of Collins v. Mnuchin. The issues being assessed in this case are whether the structure of the Federal Housing Finance Agency (FHFA) violates the separation of power doctrine, and whether “the courts must set aside a final [...]
The US Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit Thursday overturned a lower court decision upholding a securities fraud class action against 3M over its production of “forever chemicals.” The order stems from allegations that 3M, the American corporation best known for products like Post-it Notes, Scotch Tape, and—most recently—N95 respirator masks, deceived potential purchasers [...]
The US Department of Justice (DOJ) on Wednesday announced a global resolution of both criminal and civil investigations into opioid manufacturer Purdue Pharma, and civil investigations into the Sackler family. In the press release, the DOJ announced that “Purdue Pharma has agreed to plead guilty in federal court in New Jersey to a three-count felony [...]
On December 9, 2020 argument is scheduled for Collins v. Mnuchin at the Supreme Court. The case originated in the Fifth Circuit and the Court of Appeals issued an en banc opinion on September 6, 2019. The primary questions before the Court are whether the Federal Housing Finance Agency’s structure violates the separation of powers and [...]
Google’s parent company, Alphabet, settled a series of suits brought by shareholders Friday. In the settlement, the company agreed to pay $310 million for diversity training. The settlement additionally prohibits romances between managers and employees and removes the requirement for employees to address sexual harassment claims in arbitration. Eileen Naughton, Google’s Vice President of People [...]
Examining Airline Market Power in Light of COVID-19 Bailouts
Giants run the airline industry. Today, four airlines, American, United, Delta, and Southwest, control over 65 percent of the market. They achieved this level of dominance in just the past twenty years, with merger after merger cutting the number of major airlines left today into less than half the number that existed in 2000. The [...]
The Conflict Between Ease of Doing Business and Disability Rights in India
At the beginning of July 2020, the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment invited suggestions to its planned amendment of the Rights of Persons with Disabilities Act, 2016 (“the Act”). The amendment sought to decriminalize offenses under Sections 89, 92(a), and 93 of the Act. Further, a new section (Section 95A) was introduced which modified [...]
Netherlands Holocaust survivor seeks compensation from German railway for transport to Nazi camps
A Holocaust survivor in the Netherlands has filed legal claims with Germany and its national railway company demanding compensation from the company for its role in the Holocaust. Salo Muller, now 84 years old, was a child when his parents were murdered at the Auschwitz concentration camp. Muller is seeking compensation that includes 16 million [...]
Returning to Work During a Global Pandemic: Cyber Risks After Lockdown
Just three months ago, IT departments at companies across the world were focused on configuring networks, as well as installing equipment and software to make telecommuting work as efficient and safe (from a cybersecurity perspective) as possible. Now, as we enter the beginning phases of “return to work,” the focus must shift 180 degrees in [...]
When we talk about defunding the police, we focus on what we can see. We imagine hiring fewer cops to flock in subway stations and wander sidewalks. We picture fewer high-priced tanks and military-grade tools of war in our communities. But today’s policing infrastructure also spends millions of dollars on an invisible, sprawling data surveillance [...]
