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Hunton Andrews Kurth Partner Andrea DeField Leads Cyber Insurance Practice, Specializing in Risk Management and Recovery

Hunton Andrews Kurth Partner Andrea DeField Leads Cyber Insurance Practice, Specializing in Risk Management and Recovery

Hunton Andrews Kurth Partner Andrea DeField Leads Cyber Insurance Practice, Specializing in Risk Management and Recovery
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U.S. District Court Rules FCRA Preempts Texas Law on Medical Debt Reporting

U.S. District Court Rules FCRA Preempts Texas Law on Medical Debt Reporting

On August 10, the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Texas issued a ruling stating that the Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA) expressly preempts a Texas state law. This Texas law aimed to prevent consumer reporting agencies (CRAs) from including certain out-of-network medical debt information in consumer reports. Specifically, the state statute prohibited the reporting of collection accounts with a medical industry code if the consumer had health coverage and the debt originated from an out-of-network emergency or facility-based provider. The court determined that this Texas law was preempted under 15 U.S.C. § 1681t(b)(1)(E) because it impermissibly enacted a prohibition within a subject matter already regulated by 15 U.S.C. § 1681c. The court reviewed the legislative history, noting that Congress repealed a provision in 2003 that would have allowed states to enact stronger consumer protections, indicating an intent for permanent national uniformity in this area. Consequently, the court permane...
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WilmerHale Attorney Examines AI's Impact on Consumer Rights and Regulatory Frameworks

WilmerHale Attorney Examines AI's Impact on Consumer Rights and Regulatory Frameworks

WilmerHale Attorney Examines AI's Impact on Consumer Rights and Regulatory Frameworks
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Federal Court Rules Against School District in Transgender Athlete Protest Case, Citing Viewpoint Discrimination

Federal Court Rules Against School District in Transgender Athlete Protest Case, Citing Viewpoint Discrimination

A federal court has overturned a New Hampshire district court ruling, siding with parents who were disciplined by the Bow School District for protesting a transgender female athlete. The 1st Circuit Court of Appeals determined that the school district engaged in viewpoint discrimination by removing parents from a high school soccer game and banning them from future games for wearing wristbands with 'XX' and 'NAD' symbols. The court's decision referenced a 2001 U.S. Supreme Court ruling, 'Good News Club v. Milford Central School,' authored by Justice Clarence Thomas, which established that schools cannot discriminate against viewpoints if they allow other groups to use their facilities. The federal court found that the parents' silent protest did not cause a material disruption, and therefore, the school's actions were unconstitutional. This ruling sends the case back to the district court in New Hampshire to determine an appropriate remedy.
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EEOC Prioritizes Religious Accommodations in National Enforcement Plan

EEOC Prioritizes Religious Accommodations in National Enforcement Plan

The U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) has designated religious freedom, specifically religious accommodations, as a primary focus area within its National Enforcement Plan. Employers are generally required to provide reasonable accommodations for known religious beliefs, practices, or observances that conflict with job requirements, provided these accommodations do not impose an undue hardship on the business. This principle, while seemingly straightforward, presents complexities in its application. The EEOC's emphasis follows the Supreme Court's decision in *Groff*, which established a higher standard for employers seeking to claim undue hardship in religious accommodation cases. This development signals increased scrutiny from the EEOC on how employers handle such requests and aims to ensure compliance with federal anti-discrimination laws.
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Julie Webb Discusses the Importance and Types of Peer Groups for Professional Women

Julie Webb Discusses the Importance and Types of Peer Groups for Professional Women

Julie Webb Discusses the Importance and Types of Peer Groups for Professional Women
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Federal Judge Grants Preliminary Approval to Perdue Farms and Foster Farms Settlements in Turkey Price-Fixing Lawsuit

Federal Judge Grants Preliminary Approval to Perdue Farms and Foster Farms Settlements in Turkey Price-Fixing Lawsuit

Federal Judge Grants Preliminary Approval to Perdue Farms and Foster Farms Settlements in Turkey Price-Fixing Lawsuit
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Walmart Settles Opioid Prescription Allegations with $50 Million Payment to Justice Department

Walmart Settles Opioid Prescription Allegations with $50 Million Payment to Justice Department

Walmart Inc. has reached a $50 million settlement with the U.S. Justice Department and the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) to resolve allegations that its pharmacies illegally filled thousands of invalid opioid and other controlled substance prescriptions. The government's complaint, filed in December 2020 and amended in 2022, alleged that since June 26, 2013, Walmart's compliance team and pharmacists knowingly dispensed invalid prescriptions. According to the Justice Department, Walmart's compliance team was aware that certain prescribers were operating as 'pill mills' but continued to fill prescriptions from them. Pharmacists reportedly identified red flags such as dangerous drug combinations, excessively repeated high-dosage fills, or frequent early refill requests for often-abused controlled substances, yet these prescriptions were still dispensed. The settlement includes a memorandum of agreement with the DEA, requiring Walmart to implement measures to prevent future violations.
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Supreme Court Unanimously Rules Against Heightened Burden for Majority-Group Discrimination Claims

Supreme Court Unanimously Rules Against Heightened Burden for Majority-Group Discrimination Claims

The U.S. Supreme Court, in a unanimous 9-0 decision on June 5, 2025, ruled in the case of Ames v. Ohio Department of Youth Services that majority-group employees claiming discrimination under Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 face no higher burden of proof than any other plaintiff. Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson authored the opinion, which struck down the 'background circumstances' rule previously imposed by several federal circuits on white, male, and heterosexual plaintiffs. This rule required these plaintiffs to demonstrate 'background circumstances' suggesting their employer was unusual in discriminating against the majority group before their case could proceed. The Court clarified that Title VII protects 'any individual' from discrimination, thereby leveling the playing field for all plaintiffs regardless of their group affiliation. The decision does not create a new cause of action, as discrimination against majority groups was already illegal under the 1976 McDonald v. Santa Fe Trail Transpo...
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Lawsuit over TN's ability to pay bail law dismissed by federal judge

Lawsuit over TN's ability to pay bail law dismissed by federal judge

A federal judge dismissed a yearslong fight to overturn Tennessee's recent law banning judges from considering a defendant's ability to pay bail.
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EEOC Sues Dentsu for Alleged Pregnancy Discrimination in Hiring

EEOC Sues Dentsu for Alleged Pregnancy Discrimination in Hiring

EEOC Sues Dentsu for Alleged Pregnancy Discrimination in Hiring
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Katten Expands Restructuring Practice with Addition of Genevieve Weiner from Sidley Austin in Los Angeles

Katten Expands Restructuring Practice with Addition of Genevieve Weiner from Sidley Austin in Los Angeles

Katten Expands Restructuring Practice with Addition of Genevieve Weiner from Sidley Austin in Los Angeles