Last Thursday, the D.C. Circuit granted the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)’s motion to delay oral arguments scheduled on May 18 for litigation filed by an assortment of coal producing companies, which are challenging the agency’s “Supplemental Finding That It Is Appropriate and Necessary To Regulate Hazardous Air Pollutants From Coal and Oil Fired Electric Utility...Read More

To avoid penalties and unwanted litigation, individuals and businesses operating private septic systems may be required to apply for permits to connect to public sanitary sewer systems to comply with the Indiana Court of Appeals’ recent interpretation of Indiana Code § 36-9-23-30 in Town of Clear Lake v. Hoagland Family Limited Partnership. In Hoagland, Hoagland...Read More

On April 18, 2017, President Trump signed an executive action entitled “Buy American and Hire American.” While the order does not have any immediate impact on employment visa programs, it reflects the administration’s strong stance on increasing enforcement of immigration laws which may impact employers that sponsor or hire foreign employees. In light of this...Read More

If you have a loved one who is physically or mentally disabled, then you know firsthand how difficult it can be to plan for the future. You may have asked yourself who will care for your loved one when you are gone. Or perhaps you have wondered how you or other family members can leave...Read More

In January 2017, the U.S. Department of Health & Human Services (HHS) released a newsletter entitled “Understanding the Importance of Audit Controls.”  Shortly after its release, HHS announced a $5.5 Million settlement, one of the largest reported settlement payments to date for violations of the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996 (HIPAA). The...Read More

The Seventh Circuit just became the first federal appellate court in the country to extend Title VII protection to discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation. The decision was issued today in Hively v. Ivy Tech Community College. In Hively, the plaintiff was a part-time adjunct professor who identified as a lesbian. The plaintiff sued...Read More

Are you a supplier of goods?  Or do you purchase goods from a supplier on a regular basis?  A number of court cases recently decided lend credence to the notion that buyers and suppliers of goods should enter into long-term supply contracts as opposed to engaging in the confusing and somewhat reckless “battle of the...Read More

As of January 22 of this year, all employers must use the new version of Form I-9. The updated version includes several changes.  The new form along with instruction for completing the form can be found here: https://www.uscis.gov/i-9. We suggest using the downloadable, fillable PDF version rather than the paper form. The fillable PDF is a...Read More

Regardless of whether or not  you agree with the Trump administration’s stance on immigration, it is undeniable that actions taken and promises made to-date have created a great amount of concern and uncertainty for both undocumented immigrants and legal permanent residents. This concern was amplified by the fact that, in the wake of the President’s executive action...Read More

The impact that the Trump administration will have on the various governmental agencies is not yet known. However, the Trump administration will likely reduce the reach of the Environmental Protection Agency (“EPA”) and its regulations based on the promises made and actions undertaken to date. An article in BNA Environment Reporter indicates that the number...Read More