Transportation

Expert Analysis

• LightYear Is FTC's Data Security Warning To B2B Companies

  

  The Federal Trade Commission's data security settlement with LightYear Dealer Technologies is notable because the company does not market or sell products directly to consumers, and because the FTC made the eyebrow-raising claim that LightYear is a financial institution under the Gramm-Leach-Bliley Act, say attorneys at ZwillGen.

• Colo.'s New Oil And Gas Law Shifts Rulemaking Landscape

  

  A new Colorado law dramatically changes the regulation of oil and gas development in the state. Oil and gas development opponents and proponents should prepare for years of complicated rulemaking and public comment opportunities at the Colorado agencies, say Zachary Fitzgerald and Ivan London of Bryan Cave.

• How To Streamline Virtual Law Team Mass Tort Defense

  

  A primary benefit of the virtual law team in mass tort litigation is creative collaboration. A "company case" approach is essential to breaking down the silos between team members, say attorneys at FaegreBD and Reed Smith.

• What's Ahead For LGBTQ Rights Legislation

  

  The U.S. House of Representatives recently passed the Equality Act to amend various civil rights laws for explicit inclusion of sexual orientation and gender identity as protected characteristics. However, critics have raised several concerns and the bill faces tougher odds in the Senate, say Jason Brown and Robert Quackenboss at Hunton.

• Series

  Why I Became A Lawyer: A Fateful Phone Call

  

  When I was growing up, my mother was always the more mild-mannered parent. But during a trans-Atlantic phone call in 1991, when I told her I wanted to go to culinary school instead of law school, she started yelling — at a volume I had never heard from her, says Jason Brookner of Gray Reed.

• Law Firms Can Do Better With Their Mentoring Programs

  

  There are a few practical, proactive steps law firms can take to create a mentoring program that pays dividends — instead of creating a mediocre program that both parties see as an obligation, says Kate Sheikh of Major Lindsey & Africa.

• The Latest Developments In Criminal Cases Against Execs

  

  This spring, there was some noteworthy news in white collar government investigations impacting executives, including the first successful prosecution in the opioid bribery scheme and the first criminal charges for failure to report under the Consumer Product Safety Act, say attorneys at Miller & Chevalier.

• 'Rocket Docket' Justifies Its Name For 11th Straight Year

  

  The U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia “rocket docket” is still the fastest federal civil trial court in the country despite some recent trends causing its median time to trial to grow to 13.2 months, says Robert Tata of Hunton.

• Class Action Takeaways From 9th Circ.'s New Hyundai Ruling

  

  The Ninth Circuit's latest opinion in the Hyundai and Kia Fuel Economy Litigation addresses how class action settlements should be evaluated. But the importance of the decision goes beyond what it means for class settlements — it reaffirms core principles of litigated motions for class certification, says William Stern of Covington.

• Should Consumer Data Privacy Laws Apply To The Gov't?

  

  Although the California Consumer Privacy Act likely will be modified by several pending amendments, it appears that government entities will be exempt from its clutches. But governments are increasingly entering the business of utilizing consumer data, potentially causing interesting consumer privacy debates, say attorneys at Gibson Dunn.

• 5 Key Issues In Acquiring Transportation Infrastructure Assets

  

  There is a growing trend of governmental agencies contracting and leasing viable operating transportation infrastructure assets. Such opportunities for the private sector may exist in connection with any contemplated upgrade, extension or other modification of an asset that a governmental entity needs to finance, say José Morán and Juan Gonzalez of Baker McKenzie. 

• Measuring The Value Of A Law Firm's Social Media Efforts

  

  Most legal marketers struggle to show the return on investment of their social media efforts, but establishing and answering several key questions can help demonstrate exactly how social media programs contribute to a law firm's bottom line, say Guy Alvarez of Good2bSocial and communications consultant Tom Orewyler.

• The Narrow Scope Of NLRB's Independent Contractor Memo

  

  A recent memo from the National Labor Relations Board concluded that Uber drivers are independent contractors, but companies seeking to use independent contractors could face less favorable outcomes when similar facts are applied to the varying tests that are controlling in other contexts, says Corey Clay at Benesch Friedlander.

• Top Insights From NLRB’s New Advice Opinions

  

  The National Labor Relations Board’s Division of Advice recently issued 18 memos addressing issues such as independent contractor status and union dues. Although it might seem like reading tea leaves, it's possible to discern some patterns by looking at the decisions collectively, says Marc Antonetti of BakerHostetler.

• How France's Consumer Protection Agency Is Targeting Cos.

  

  France's market oversight authority recently reported that it carried out over half a million enforcement actions last year. Companies doing business in France must be aware of the agency's current priorities, particularly concerning internet sales and payment terms, says Sylvie Gallage-Alwis of Signature Litigation.