Newsletter

As has been widely reported, the FTC voted on Tuesday to essentially ban all non-compete agreements that employers impose on workers. The Effective Date of the Rule will be late August 2024.

Have federal anti-trust laws put an end to the six percent realtor commission rate? A recent jury verdict in a Missouri federal courtroom might bring an end to the long-term practice of sellers paying a six percent commission to their agent as well as the practice of brokers for the seller and buyer then splitting the commission.

It seems axiomatic that, in general, regulation rarely keeps pace with innovation and technological advances. This is certainly true for artificial intelligence (AI). Developments in AI have been extraordinary over the past few years, and the technology has greatly outpaced any kind of existing regulations. It’s not surprising, then, that as AI’s use continues to accelerate, there are growing calls for regulations to be implemented.

In June, Governor Gregg Abbot signed into law House Bill 19 (HB 19), creating specialized business trial and appellate courts: the Texas Business Courts. These courts will hear specific types of complex commercial disputes. The bill is effective September 1, 2023, but will only apply to lawsuits commenced on or after September 1, 2024.

Artificial Intelligence (AI) – particularly ChatGPT – continues to be in the news as it assumes an ever larger role in all types of commercial and personal activities.  Many businesses and individuals have been captivated by the allure of AI, with its promise of unparalleled efficiency and accuracy, plus the ability to manage vast amounts of data.

As we enter the second half of 2023, there are several significant business litigation cases to watch. Pending lawsuits in many areas have the potential to significantly impact the financial landscape, set important legal precedents, and possibly shape the future of SEC disclosure obligations and investor protection. Let’s dive into the key cases that we’ll be keeping an eye on:

If you have been following the news, you may have noticed an increase in items about state attorneys general ramping up their efforts to prosecute businesses fraud and other corporate misconduct – both in criminal actions and civil actions. One such high profile case involves Donald Trump – sued by the State Attorney General of New York for alleged business fraud.

The recent settlement in the Dominion Voting Systems v. Fox News case has been making headlines in the legal and media worlds. As readers likely recall, following the 2020 U.S. Presidential election, Dominion became the subject of false claims by some media outlets and political figures alleging that the company’s machines were used to rig the election. One of the most vocal and prominent media outlets to make these claims was Fox News.

On March 22, the U.S. Supreme Court heard oral arguments in a case involving whisky, a dog toy, and trademark infringement, and it could have far-reaching implications as the Justices consider whether a parody of a well-recognized brand is subject to trademark infringement claims.

The developments related to Artificial Intelligence (AI) have truly been amazing, and tech, media, and seemingly every other industry are scrambling to use this technology in numerous ways. It has the potential to transform so many aspects of our lives including the workplace, health care, education, agriculture, and even the law. The possibilities truly seem to be endless, but some feel that some “ground rules” need to be established.