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This month’s Friday Five addresses cases covering ERISA preemption, the viability of a claim for benefits where the claimant alleges to have not received notice of a prior claim denial, an affirmance by the Circuit Court of a denial of benefits, and District Court reviews of decisions denying...
One mandate under the PPACA [1] required health care providers, non-grandfathered health insurance issuers and self-insured group health plans to provide consumers with access to information about the cost of services before they receive care (“Transparency in Coverage” or “TiC”). During his first...
On February 25, 2025, the Council on Environmental Quality (CEQ) issued an interim final rule [1] rescinding its regulations under the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA). The CEQ’s action, in response to President Trump’s Unleashing American Energy Executive Order, [2] comes fifty-six years...
Appeal deadline is currently March 14. Council has introduced an ordinance to extend deadline to March 31, 2025. The ordinance will not be considered until March 13. At a specially scheduled meeting held March 5, New Castle County Council introduced an ordinance to extend the deadline to file...
The Maryland Department of Labor (“MDOL”) recently proposed a delay in the implementation of the Family and Medical Leave Insurance (“FAMLI”) program. FAMLI is currently scheduled to roll out this year with payroll deductions beginning on July 1, 2025 and benefits becoming available on July 1, 2026...
The 2025 steel and aluminum tariffs are already reshaping cost structures in the construction sector, adding financial pressures to an industry that had hoped for more stability this year. On March 4, 2025, the U.S. imposed a 25% tariff on steel and aluminum imports from Canada and Mexico, with a...
Marking a significant step forward in launching Minnesota’s adult-use cannabis market, the state’s Office of Cannabis Management (OCM) began accepting applications for cannabis business licenses on February 18, 2025. The application cycle runs through March 14th and includes various license types...
On February 20, 2025, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), Office for Civil Rights (OCR) announced a $1.5 million civil money penalty (CMP) against Warby Parker, Inc. (WP). WP is a manufacturer and online retailer of prescription and non-prescription eyewear. The CMP was finalized...
Speaking from the Oval Office on February 25, 2025, President Trump proposed replacing the EB-5 Program with a new program that would offer “gold cards” for $5 million to wealthy foreign nationals seeking residency, and subsequently naturalization, in the United States. The President’s statement...
Medical practices, dental practices and other health care entities must again comply with the federal Corporate Transparency Act (“CTA”). The deadline for compliance is March 21, 2025. What You Need to Know: The Corporate Transparency Act filing deadline is now March 21, 2025. Medical practices and...
On Friday, February 21, 2025, the United States Court for the District of Maryland temporarily enjoined portions of two recent executive orders issued by the Trump Administration targeting DEI-related initiatives and programs. While this is the first court to address the legality of portions of...
On February 7, 2025, Delaware Governor Matt Meyer signed into law Delaware House Bill 40 (“HB 40”), which amends Chapter 459, Volume 84 of the Laws of Delaware and Titles 6, 29 and 30 of the Delaware Code relating to the registration of trade names. What You Need to Know: Amongst other changes, this...
This month’s Friday Five covers an appellate ruling on a complicated case raising both state and federal claims, an instance of procedural improprieties in the administrative review process informing the court’s substantive benefits decision, an equitable ERISA claim for an administrator’s payment...
Welcome to our blog series about new California employment laws affecting a wide range of businesses and employers. California already presents one of the most difficult legal landscapes for employers, and with several new laws taking effect, that challenge will only continue. Part 1 of this series...
The Trump administration is moving swiftly to dramatically increase enforcement of U.S. immigration laws. Among the executive orders signed in the early days of President Donald Trump’s second term are sweeping changes designed to increase federal agencies’ abilities to arrest and detain...
In the prior article we discussed the reasoning behind creation of a health and welfare committee to oversee administration of the health and welfare plans. In creating a charter, a plan sponsor will need to decide whether to include a work plan as an exhibit to that charter as a general guide to...