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Environmental
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									September 16, 2025
									
2nd Circ. Revives Suit Over Buddhist Group's Water Pollution
The Second Circuit on Tuesday revived an environmental group's Clean Water Act enforcement suit accusing a New York Buddhist center of contaminating nearby waterways with wastewater containing fecal coliform bacteria.
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									September 16, 2025
									
DOE Asks Judge To Pull Plug On States' Cost Cap Suit
The U.S. Department of Energy has asked an Oregon federal judge to toss a New York-led lawsuit challenging a new policy that would cap certain overhead costs under energy assistance awards, arguing the change falls within its discretionary authorities.
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									September 16, 2025
									
Trump Admin Says Judge Can't Protect Agency Union Pacts
If six federal agencies accept President Donald Trump's invitation to cancel their union contracts, a D.C. federal judge cannot intervene, the Trump administration has argued, claiming that the unions must bring their fight to protect the contracts to a federal labor-management relations agency, not a judge.
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									September 16, 2025
									
PacifiCorp Owes $63M In Latest Wildfire Trial
An Oregon jury on Tuesday ordered utility PacifiCorp to pay $63 million in noneconomic damages to 10 people who fled from a group of 2020 wildfires, after hearing in closing arguments that some plaintiffs "didn't know they were going to make it out."
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									September 16, 2025
									
Biz Groups Ask 9th Circ. To Block Calif. Climate Rules
A coalition of business groups asked the Ninth Circuit to halt two new California climate regulations requiring large companies to publicly disclose their greenhouse gas emissions and climate-related financial risks, while they appeal a lower court's refusal to preliminarily block the rules that they say violate their First Amendment rights.
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									September 16, 2025
									
Judge Seeks Ga. Justices' Input On Bio-Lab Chemical Fire Suit
A Georgia federal judge asked the state's Supreme Court for guidance on whether metro Atlanta residents can force a chemical plant to cover medical monitoring in the aftermath of a 2024 fire, writing that there's "considerable uncertainty" around whether such a remedy is permitted by Peach State law.
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									September 16, 2025
									
DC Circ. Urged To Rehear EPA's HFC Market Allocation Case
A Georgia refrigerants company is asking for another shot to challenge the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's implementation of a 2020 law mandating an 85% reduction in hydrofluorocarbon consumption by 2036, requesting an en banc rehearing from the D.C. Circuit after a panel unanimously rejected its challenge last month.
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									September 16, 2025
									
Feds Can't Avoid Property Owners' Navy Flight Takings Claims
A U.S. Court of Federal Claims judge rejected the government's attempt to shutter property owners' claims accusing the U.S. Navy of violating the Fifth Amendment by boosting flight operations at a Washington air strip, paving the way for a March trial.
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									September 16, 2025
									
EPA Sued For Dropping Slaughterhouse Water Pollution Regs
Several organizations have filed a petition with the Ninth Circuit contesting the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's decision to renege on a Biden-era proposal that would've levied stricter rules of how much meat and poultry slaughtering, processing, and rendering facilities could discharge pollutants into nearby waterways.
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									September 16, 2025
									
BlackRock Blames Coal Production Cuts On Falling Demand
BlackRock Inc. told a Texas federal court that coal production has declined because demand from coal-fired power plants has been falling for years, not because asset managers conspired to pressure the producers.
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									September 16, 2025
									
US Asks Court To Sink Vermont Climate Superfund Law
The Trump administration, Republican-led states and business groups including the U.S. Chamber of Commerce and American Petroleum Institute on Monday asked a Vermont federal court to kill the state's climate Superfund law.
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									September 16, 2025
									
Plant Bailout Cost Approvals Were Premature, FERC Told
Environmental and consumer advocates say the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission jumped the gun in approving plans to charge power consumers for the continued operation of retiring power plants that the Trump administration has controversially ordered to remain open.
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									September 16, 2025
									
Feds Oppose Sierra Club's Bid To Freeze $50M In Border Funds
The Trump administration told a California federal court Monday that forcing it to honor a settlement agreement between the Sierra Club and the Biden administration to use $50 million in border security funds on environmental projects would place the government between two conflicting court orders.
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									September 16, 2025
									
Order Halting Ørsted Wind Project Is Valid, Trump Admin Says
The Trump administration has told a D.C. federal judge that its challenged decision to halt work on an approved and nearly completed offshore wind farm in New England stands on firm legal ground and should not be overturned.
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									September 16, 2025
									
Insurer Must Arbitrate Chemical Injury Coverage Dispute
An insurer must arbitrate its dispute with a homeowners association over coverage for underlying suits claiming that the association's pool contractor allowed hazardous chemicals to spread and injure patrons, a Virginia federal court ruled, finding that the policy's nonbinding arbitration agreement is enforceable under state law.
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									September 16, 2025
									
Environmental Groups Say Gov't Won't Share Climate Docs
Environmental groups have told a Massachusetts federal judge that the Trump administration isn't following his suggestion that it turn over materials related to the work of an advisory panel recommending reversal of the government's position that greenhouse gases are dangerous.
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									September 15, 2025
									
FAA, SpaceX Get Early Win In Starship Enviro Review Suit
A D.C. federal judge Monday handed a win to the Federal Aviation Administration and SpaceX in litigation alleging they failed to complete an adequate environmental review for SpaceX's Starship rocket launch program, ruling that the analysis was "perhaps imperfect" but ultimately well reasoned.
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									September 15, 2025
									
Insurer Asks Court To Deny Fla. Tree Co.'s Coverage After Fire
An Ohio-based insurance company filed a lawsuit against a tree service and a funeral services business in Florida federal court, saying that it should not have to defend the company that was sued over cutting down the tree that caused a fire and resulted in $2 million in damage.
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									September 15, 2025
									
Environmental Rules On Chopping Block For Gov't Contractors
The General Services Administration and Federal Acquisition Regulatory Council truncated their regulatory agendas, stripping rules aimed at minimizing forever chemicals and greenhouse gas emissions in government contracting, as part of the Trump administration's deregulatory program. Here, Law360 takes a look at the regulatory priorities for the two agencies.
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									September 15, 2025
									
11th Circ. Told Fla. 'Radioactive' Road Suit Must Be Tossed
The U.S. government and a fertilizer producer urged the Eleventh Circuit to toss an environmental nonprofit's challenge to the use of radioactive phosphogypsum on a private roadway, arguing the nonprofit lacks standing.
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									September 15, 2025
									
FERC Abandons Push To Update Pipeline Review Policy
The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission has ended its long-gestating proceeding aimed at updating its gas infrastructure approval policy, saying the policy the agency initially enacted in 1999 remains sound.
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									September 15, 2025
									
Campbell's Soup Admits To Thousands Of Lake Erie Violations
The Campbell's Soup Co. on Monday admitted to the federal government's and environmental groups' allegations that it violated a Clean Water Act permit more than 5,000 times at its Lake Erie facility, leaving only its penalty to be decided.
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									September 15, 2025
									
Energy Trader Tries To Sink CFTC Spoofing Case
An energy trading firm and its owner asked an Illinois federal judge on Friday to grant summary judgment on the Commodity Futures Trading Commission's allegations they manipulated the crude oil market, saying the agency has put forward no evidence the owner intended to cancel the futures orders in question when he placed them.
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									September 15, 2025
									
Stop & Shop Says Too Late To Swap Plaintiff In Wipes Suit
Stop & Shop on Monday urged a Massachusetts federal court to deny a bid to substitute new plaintiffs in a suit alleging its flushable wipes are not flushable as advertised, saying the plaintiff hasn't shown good cause for the change 14 months after the amendment deadline.
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									September 15, 2025
									
Utilities Slam EPA's Lead Water Rule As Too Broad, Rushed
Drinking water utilities have told the D.C. Circuit that the federal government's 2024 rule ordering the removal of lead service lines imposes unreasonably burdensome compliance requirements, and they urged the court to strike it down.
 
Expert Analysis
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Mitigating Import Risks Around Southeast Asian Solar Cells
									The U.S. Department of Commerce's recent final determinations in its antidumping and countervailing duty investigations into solar cells produced in certain Southeast Asian countries make it important for U.S. purchasers to consider risk mitigation strategies, including modifying supply chains and contractually assigning import responsibilities, say attorneys at Morgan Lewis.
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Arbitral Ruling In EU Fisheries Clash Clarifies Post-Brexit Pact
									The Permanent Court of Arbitration's recent ruling marks a pivotal moment in the evolving jurisprudence surrounding the Trade and Cooperation Agreement, concluded between the U.K. and the EU after Brexit, and sets an important precedent for interpretation and enforcement of trade and environment clauses in cross-border disputes, says Josep Galvez at 4-5 Gray's Inn.
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Series
Playing Guitar Makes Me A Better Lawyer
									Being a lawyer not only requires logic and hard work, but also belief, emotion, situational awareness and lots of natural energy — playing guitar enhances all of these qualities, increasing my capacity to do my best work, says Kosta Stojilkovic at Wilkinson Stekloff.
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Crisis Management Lessons From The Parenting Playbook
									The parenting skills we use to help our kids through challenges — like rehearsing for stressful situations, modeling confidence and taking time to reset our emotions — can also teach us the fundamentals of leading clients through a corporate crisis, say Deborah Solmor at the Wisconsin Alumni Research Foundation and Cara Peterman at Alston & Bird.
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4 Ways To Leverage A Jury's Underdog Perceptions
									Counsel should consider how common factors that speak to their client's size, power, past challenges and alignment with jurors can be presented to try and paint their client as a sympathetic underdog, says Ken Broda-Bahm at Persuasion Strategies.
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Why Hiring Former Jurors As Consultants Can Be Risky
									The defense team's decision to hire former juror Victoria George in the high-profile retrial of Karen Read shines a spotlight on this controversial strategy, which raises important legal, ethical and tactical questions despite not being explicitly prohibited, says Nikoleta Despodova at ND Litigation.
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What To Watch For As High Court Mulls NRC's Powers
									If successful, Texas’ challenges to the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission’s authority — recently heard by the U.S. Supreme Court and currently pending before a Texas federal court — may have serious adverse consequences for aspiring NRC licensees, including potential nuclear power plant operators, say attorneys at Haynes Boone.
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Series
Adapting To Private Practice: From NY Fed To BigLaw
									While the move to private practice brings a learning curve, it also brings chances to learn new skills and grow your network, requiring a clear understanding of how your skills can complement and contribute to a firm's existing practice, and where you can add new value, says Meghann Donahue at Covington.
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Cos. Face Enviro Justice Tug-Of-War Between States, Feds
									The second Trump administration's sweeping elimination of environmental justice policies, programs and funding, and targeting of state-level EJ initiatives, creates difficult questions for companies on how best to avoid friction with federal policy, navigate state compliance obligations and maintain important stakeholder relationships with communities, say attorneys at Arnold & Porter.
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Top 3 Litigation Finance Deal-Killers, And How To Avoid Them
									Like all transactions, litigation finance deals can sometimes collapse, but understanding the most common reasons for failure, including a lack of trust or a misunderstanding of deal terms, can help both parties avoid problems, say Rebecca Berrebi at Avenue 33 and Boris Ziser at Schulte Roth.
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NEPA Repeal Could Slow Down Environmental Review
									As the Trump administration has rescinded the Council on Environmental Quality's long-standing National Environmental Policy Act regulations, projects that require NEPA review may be bogged down by significant regulatory uncertainty and litigation risks, potentially undermining the administration's intent to streamline the permitting process, say attorneys at Mayer Brown.
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How Attys Can Use A Therapy Model To Help Triggered Clients
									Attorneys can lean on key principles from a psychotherapeutic paradigm known as the "Internal Family Systems" model to help manage triggered clients and get settlement negotiations back on track, says Jennifer Gibbs at Zelle.
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How Attorneys Can Make The Most Of A Deposition Transcript
									With recent amendments to federal evidence rules now in effect, it’s more important than ever to make sure that deposition transcripts are clear and precise, and a few key strategies can help attorneys get the most out of a transcript before, during and after a deposition, says Allison Rocker at Baker McKenzie.
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3 Steps For In-House Counsel To Assess Litigation Claims
									Before a potential economic downturn, in-house attorneys should investigate whether their company is sitting on hidden litigation claims that could unlock large recoveries to help the business withstand tough times, says Will Burgess at Hilgers Graben.
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Despite SEC Climate Pause, Cos. Must Still Heed State Regs
									While businesses may have been given a reprieve from the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission's rules aimed at standardizing climate-related disclosures, they must still track evolving requirements in states including California, Illinois, New Jersey and New York that will soon require reporting of direct and indirect carbon emissions, say attorneys at Husch Blackwell.