New Jersey

Expert Analysis

• Bias Case Gives Justices Chance To Rethink Title VII

  

  If the U.S. Supreme Court decides to hear Peterson v. Linear Controls, its decision could resolve a circuit split and redefine the scope of Title VII's discrimination protections, say attorneys at Sullivan & Cromwell.

• How Associate Life Has Evolved Over The Past Decade

  

  During the last 10 years, the need to embrace change was fundamental for law firms, and that change affected associates in many ways — most, but not all, for the better, says Brad Kaufman, co-president of Greenberg Traurig.

• Where The Fight Over FTC's Enforcement Authority Stands

  

  A flurry of year-end activity, including three petitions before the U.S. Supreme Court and a spate of proposed legislation, requires a recap on the current status of the debate over the Federal Trade Commission's Section 13(b) authority to obtain permanent injunctions and restitution, say John Villafranco and Khoury DiPrima of Kelley Drye.

• Top 10 Employment Law Developments Of The Decade: Part 1

  

  In the first of two articles, Barbara Roth and Tyler Hendry at Herbert Smith highlight the decade's most significant labor and employment law changes, including the U.S. Supreme Court’s 2011 decision in Dukes to raise the class certification threshold, and the spread of state and local paid sick leave laws.

• 3rd Circ. Sheds Light On Ch. 11 Liability Release Approval

  

  In Millennium Lab, the Third Circuit recently upheld the Delaware bankruptcy court's authority to approve a Chapter 11 plan containing nonconsensual liability releases, offering guidance on the factors courts may consider in deciding whether to approve them, says Jane VanLare of Cleary.

• NY Sex Abuse Insurance Suit Showcases Possible Arguments

  

  Continental Insurance's complaint against the Diocese of Buffalo in a New York state court raises almost every possible defense an insurer may have against providing coverage to a policyholder accused of sex abuse under the New York Child Victims Act, say Robert Chesler and Pamela Hans of Anderson Kill.

• Biosimilar Patent Litigation May Be On The Rise In 2020

  

  With new biosimilar applications and patent infringement complaints on the horizon, 2020 may see a rebound in patent litigation under the Biologics Price Competition and Innovation Act following a decrease last year, say Joshua Whitehill and Michael Cottler of Goodwin.

• Series

  Judging A Book: Dyk Reviews 'Democracy And Equality'

  

  In their new book "Democracy and Equality: The Enduring Constitutional Vision of the Warren Court," Geoffrey Stone and David Strauss provide valuable context for U.S. Supreme Court decisions under Chief Justice Earl Warren that have profoundly affected the country, but their overly protective attitude sometimes obscures reality, says Federal Circuit Judge Timothy Dyk.

• 2019 Trends In DOJ Health Care Enforcement

  

  Last year, opioid-related enforcement was the U.S. Department of Justice's top priority, in addition to a sustained focus on the prosecution of private individuals and data-driven identification of health care fraud, say attorneys at Mintz.

• Reviewing 2019's White Collar Cases And Controversies

  

  From the “Varsity Blues” investigation to the Mueller report, white collar criminal cases were at the forefront of the national dialogue last year. Attorneys at Keker Van Nest look back at the most significant white collar cases and trends from 2019 and highlight what to watch for in 2020.

• State Net

  How States Are Responding To The Insulin Price Crisis

  

  Increases in the need for insulin and dramatic surges in its cost have made access to the drug one of the biggest health policy issues at the state and federal level, and now state legislators are taking action to rein in prices, says Dave Royse of State Net Capitol Journal.

• 7 Insider Tips For Working With In-House Counsel

  

  For outside firms wondering how to best support busy in-house lawyers, several practices can help navigate critical legal issues and novel business challenges while strengthening the working relationship, says Virginia Hudson, associate general counsel at Capital One.

• 50 Years Later, Interpretive Challenges Remain For RICO

  

  In the 50 years since the Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations Act was passed, courts' attempts to clarify the statute have had some success, but many interpretive dilemmas remain unresolved, says Randy Gordon of Barnes & Thornburg.

• Opinion

  States Should Not Follow ABA On Attorney Conduct Rules

  

  Because the American Bar Association's new rule on diversity continues to use the Model Rules of Professional Conduct as a cultural bludgeon, states should create independent codes limited to constitutionally valid purposes of attorney regulation, says Bradley Abramson of Alliance Defending Freedom.

• How Courts And Litigants Can Benefit From Special Masters

  

  As we approach the first anniversary of the American Bar Association's adoption of guidelines for the appointment and use of special masters in civil litigation, retired U.S. District Judge Shira Scheindlin, now at Stroock, explains how special masters can help parties and courts with faster decision-making and subject matter expertise.