Environmental

  • March 21, 2025

    Trump Administration Reveals Details On WOTUS Intentions

    The Trump administration on Friday revealed that it plans to prioritize clarifying what types of water bodies are covered by the waters of the U.S. Clean Water Act rule during its upcoming review of the Biden-era regulations.

  • March 21, 2025

    Buyers' Gripe Is With Timber Sector, Not Charmin, P&G Says

    A false advertising lawsuit accusing Procter & Gamble of overhyping the forest-friendly bona fides of Charmin toilet paper should be dismissed, the company told a Washington federal judge, arguing that the buyers' suit is misdirected at P&G when their actual disappointment is with the "forestry industry."

  • March 21, 2025

    Consumer Group Doesn't Belong In FERC Fight, Court Told

    An energy efficiency aggregator fighting a Federal Energy Regulatory Commission market manipulation case carrying a potential $1 billion price tag says a consumer advocate's concern over a constitutional challenge to the agency's structure can't justify its motion to intervene in the company's lawsuit.

  • March 21, 2025

    Hail Deductible Applicable In Colo. Townhomes' Storm Dispute

    A homeowners association's insurer correctly applied a hail deductible when it issued a roughly $1,600 payment despite the association's $3.5 million damage estimate, a Colorado federal court ruled Friday, rejecting the association's argument that the deductible became void once the insurer breached the policy by underpaying coverage.

  • March 21, 2025

    Mich. Judge Dismisses $217M Dam Repair Tax Challenge

    A Michigan federal judge has dismissed a pair of lawsuits alleging a $217 million special assessment to fund the reconstruction of dams destroyed in 2020 floods was unfairly levied on certain properties, finding homeowners had the opportunity to oppose the assessment and litigate their claims in state court.

  • March 21, 2025

    EPA Senior Atty Joins Holland & Knight As Senior Counsel

    Holland & Knight LLP has hired a former senior legal counsel from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, who is joining the firm to continue his work with environmental regulatory matters.

  • March 21, 2025

    Apollo, BP Ink $1B Deal For Stake In European Gas Pipeline

    BP has agreed to sell a 25% noncontrolling stake in a BP entity invested in the Trans-Anatolian Natural Gas Pipeline, or TANAP, to funds managed by Apollo Global Management for $1 billion, the companies said Friday.

  • March 20, 2025

    Nippon Calls Consumer Suit Over US Steel Merger 'Baseless'

    Nippon Steel Corp. has urged a California federal court to throw out a consumer suit over its blocked $14.9 billion merger with U.S. Steel Corp., calling it yet another "in a long line of baseless lawsuits" over a merger of public companies that they have "no standing to challenge in the first place."

  • March 20, 2025

    NTSB Says Maryland Didn't Track Risks Of Key Bridge Collapse

    The National Transportation Safety Board recommended Thursday that 68 bridges in 19 states be evaluated for risk of collapse in the event of a vessel strike, and found that Maryland officials failed to adequately calculate vulnerabilities in Baltimore's Francis Scott Key Bridge well before its collapse last year.

  • March 20, 2025

    Utah High Court Leaves Youth Climate Claims Down For Now

    The Utah Supreme Court on Thursday found that a group of youths hasn't shown it has grounds to pursue a lawsuit against the state over its energy policies that allegedly contribute to climate change.

  • March 20, 2025

    No Coal Plant Rescue Plans On The Table, FERC Chair Says

    President Donald Trump's recent call for his administration to encourage more coal-fired power use hasn't resulted in any order to the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission to craft policies to prop up coal plants, Chairman Mark Christie said Thursday.

  • March 20, 2025

    Oil And Gas Cos. Say DC 'Greenwashing' Claims Are Too Vague

    A D.C. Superior Court judge pressed both sides in the district's consumer protection suit against four major oil and gas companies Thursday to say whether the city's claims that the companies misled consumers through systematic "greenwashing" campaigns fall within the scope of what she called a "very broad" statute.

  • March 20, 2025

    Tribe's Claims Against Alaska Gold Mine Permit Reduced

    An Alaska federal judge has tossed several claims by a tribal village against the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers over its approval of a permit for an open pit gold mine, finding it is not required to conduct a subsistence evaluation or follow its internal consultation policy.

  • March 20, 2025

    Property Owner Demands Appraisal Of $10.5M Hail Claim

    A Tennessee property owner asked a federal court Thursday to order a Travelers unit to participate in an appraisal of its hail damage claim, alleging the insurer denied coverage even though an "independent evaluation" of the owner's damages estimated that the hail damage exceeded $10.5 million.

  • March 20, 2025

    Conn. AG Sues Builder, Companies For State Park Clear-Cut

    A real estate builder and two of his companies have illegally clear-cut multiple acres of Connecticut state park land, installed fixtures including a basketball court and a guesthouse without permission and blocked public access to the area, according to an enforcement action brought by the state attorney general's office.

  • March 20, 2025

    NC Statehouse Catch-Up: Helene, Crypto, Curbing The AG

    Hurricane Helene is still center stage in the North Carolina General Assembly nearly six months after it tore through a large swath of the state, with the governor signing off on the latest round of funding as one lawmaker seeks to carve out cash to rebuild a destroyed courthouse.

  • March 20, 2025

    Animal, Community Groups Can't Foil Iowa 'Ag-Gag' Law

    An Iowa federal judge has tossed animal rights and community advocacy groups' First Amendment challenge to the state's "ag-gag" law that's designed to thwart undercover investigations of animal treatment.

  • March 20, 2025

    Saatva Misled Consumers About Mattress Material, Suit Says

    Saatva, a direct-to-consumer mattress brand, has been hit with a proposed class action in a New York federal court, with shoppers accusing it of misrepresenting that its products are nontoxic, natural and chemical-free, even though its mattresses contained materials that pose health and environmental concerns.

  • March 20, 2025

    Oracle Eyes Stake In TikTok's US Entity, And More Rumors

    Oracle is considering acquiring a stake in TikTok's U.S. operations that would allow the social media giant to continue doing business here under certain security assurances. Meanwhile, Brookfield Asset Management has emerged as the top contender to acquire Colonial Pipeline, and German drugmaker Stada is delaying its IPO until at least September because of market volatility. Here, Law360 breaks down the notable deal rumors from the past week.

  • March 20, 2025

    Toyota's Hino Motors To Pay $1.6B In Emissions Fraud Deal

    Toyota unit Hino Motors Ltd. admitted to manipulating emissions and fuel-economy test results for over 100,000 diesel vehicles it sold in the U.S., formalizing part of its $1.6 billion January deal resolving the U.S. Department of Justice's civil and criminal allegations it rigged its test result.

  • March 20, 2025

    Denver Environmental Lawyer Rejoins V&E From Kirkland

    Vinson & Elkins LLP has announced the return of a Denver environmental lawyer from Kirkland & Ellis LLP.

  • March 19, 2025

    Toxic-Loft Suits Too Late, But Owners Share Blame, Jury Says

    A California state jury in Los Angeles found Wednesday that 20 residents of an art loft building waited too long to file toxic exposure claims, but suggested that the building owners caused the delays, triggering further proceedings before a judge.

  • March 19, 2025

    Interior Department Transfers 680 Acres To North Dakota Tribe

    The Spirit Lake Nation and the U.S. Department of the Interior are hailing the recently completed transfer of 680 acres back to the North Dakota tribe — land taken by the federal government in a mid-19th-century territory treaty — as a change that will benefit the tribe and that the tribe has pursued for decades.

  • March 19, 2025

    Samsung, LA Resident Settle Galaxy Wristband PFAS Suit

    A California federal judge Wednesday closed the book on a Los Angeles resident's proposed class action alleging Samsung Electronics America Inc. uses "forever chemicals" in the wristbands it sells for its smartwatches and fitness trackers, the same day the parties reported reaching a resolution.

  • March 19, 2025

    NY DOT Says Feds' Bid To Kill Congestion Pricing Is 'Unlawful'

    The New York State Department of Transportation told a Manhattan federal judge Wednesday that the Trump administration's efforts to kill New York City's congestion pricing program unlawfully interfere with the Empire State's authority to implement state law and protect New Yorkers' health and welfare.

Expert Analysis

  • Why K-Cup Claims Landed Keurig In Hot Water With SEC

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    The U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission's recent settlement with Keurig Dr. Pepper for making incomplete statements regarding the recyclability of K-cup pods highlights the importance of comprehensive corporate disclosures, particularly with respect to ESG matters, say attorneys at BCLP.

  • Legislation Most Likely To Pass In Lame Duck Session

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    As Congress begins its five-week post-election lame duck session, attorneys at Greenberg Traurig break down the legislative priorities and which proposals can be expected to pass.

  • Promoting Diversity In The Selection Of ADR Neutrals

    Excerpt from Practical Guidance
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    Choosing neutrals from diverse backgrounds is an important step in promoting inclusion in the legal profession, and it can enhance the legitimacy and public perception of alternative dispute resolution proceedings, say attorneys at Lowenstein Sandler.

  • Series

    Playing Ultimate Makes Us Better Lawyers

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    In addition to being fun, ultimate Frisbee has improved our legal careers by emphasizing the importance of professionalism, teamwork, perseverance, enthusiasm and vulnerability, say Arunabha Bhoumik and Adam Bernstein at Regeneron. 

  • Dissecting New Circuit Split Over SEC's Proxy Adviser Rule

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    The Sixth Circuit recently upheld the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission's partial rescission of enhanced conflict-of-interest disclosure requirements for proxy voting advice businesses, creating a circuit split over broader questions concerning the standard for assessing the legality of agency actions in general, say attorneys at Cahill Gordon.

  • The Unfolding Potential of Green Hydrogen In Brazil

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    A new federal law in Brazil establishing a legal framework for hydrogen development is the country's latest step toward creating a favorable environment for green hydrogen production, but significant challenges — including high production costs, technological hurdles and a lack of infrastructure — remain, says David Andrew Taylor at Almeida Advogados.

  • E-Discovery Quarterly: Recent Rulings On Metadata

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    Several recent rulings reflect the competing considerations that arise when parties dispute the form of production for electronically stored information, underscoring that counsel must carefully consider how to produce and request reasonably usable data, say attorneys at Sidley.

  • A Shift In Control Of Congress May Doom These Enviro Regs

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    If the election leads to a change in control of Congress, lawmakers will likely use the lookback provision of the Congressional Review Act to challenge the Biden administration's late-term regulatory efforts — including recent initiatives on air pollutant source classification, lead pipe removal and hydrofluorocarbon emissions, say attorneys at Jones Walker.

  • Election Could Bring Change In Weather For Offshore Wind

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    Under another Trump administration, the offshore wind sector would encounter substantial headwinds, as Trump's policy track record emphasizes fossil fuel dominance and environmental rollbacks, while a Harris victory would likely further entrench the pro-renewable energy stance taken by the Biden administration, say attorneys at Jones Walker.

  • Striking A Balance Between AI Use And Attorney Well-Being

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    As the legal industry increasingly adopts generative artificial intelligence tools to boost efficiency, leaders must note the hidden costs of increased productivity, and work to protect attorneys’ well-being while unlocking AI’s full potential, says Ed Sohn at Factor.

  • Empathy In Mediation Offers A Soft Landing For Disputes

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    Experiencing a crash-landing on a recent flight underscored to me how much difference empathy makes in times of crisis or stress, including during mediation, says Eydith Kaufman at Alternative Resolution Centers.

  • Series

    Being An Artist Makes Me A Better Lawyer

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    My work as an artist has highlighted how using creativity and precision together — qualities that are equally essential in both art and law — not only improves outcomes, but also leads to more innovative and thoughtful work, says Sarah La Pearl at Segal McCambridge.

  • Consider The Impact Of Election Stress On Potential Jurors

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    For at least the next few months, potential jurors may be working through anger and distrust stemming from the presidential election, and trial attorneys will need to assess whether those jurors are able to leave their political concerns at the door, says Ken Broda-Bahm at Persuasion Strategies.

  • How Judiciary Can Minimize AI Risks In Secondary Sources

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    Because courts’ standing orders on generative artificial intelligence and other safeguards do not address the risk of hallucinations in secondary source materials, the judiciary should consider enlisting legal publishers and database hosts to protect against AI-generated inaccuracies, say attorneys at Lankler Siffert & Wohl.

  • Calif. Ruling Offers Hope For Mitigated Negative Declarations

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    In Upland Community First v. City of Upland, a California appeals court upheld a warehouse development's mitigated negative declaration over its greenhouse gas emissions thresholds — a rare victory against this type of challenge providing reassurance that such declarations can be upheld, say attorneys at Sheppard Mullin.

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