By Jeremy J. Gray of Zuber & Taillieu LLP
In a 9-0 decision, the U.S. Supreme Court has resolved a split among Circuit courts and has held that an ERISA claimant need not be the “prevailing party” in a lawsuit to receive an award of attorneys fees under 29 U.S.C. section 1132(g)(1). In Hardt v. Reliance Standard Life Insurance… More...
As a result of troubling testimony heard in a recent field hearing regarding the explosion of Massey Energy's Upper Big Branch mine, the U.S. Department of Labor's Mine Safety and Health Administration (“MSHA”) has released four new program information bulletins pertaining to ventilation issues in underground coal mines. More...
The U.S. Department of Labor's Employee Benefits Security Administration has withdrawn the proposed regulation on the definition of a welfare benefit plan under the Employee Retirement Income Security Act (“ERISA”) from review by the Office of Management and Budget (“OMB”). More...
The U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (“EEOC.” Or “Commission”) has released its Annual Report on the Federal Work Force for Fiscal Year (FY) 2009. More...
The U.S. Department of Labor's Occupational Safety and Health Administration (“OSHA”) has issued a new rule addressing the use of cranes and derricks in construction, which will replace a decades-old standard. More...
The U.S. Department of Labor's Office of Federal Contract Compliance Programs (“OFCCP”) is seeking input from the public on ways to strengthen its regulations requiring federal contractors to take affirmative action to employ and advance in employment qualified individuals with disabilities. More...
U.S. President Barack Obama has signed into law the Education Jobs and Medicaid Assistance Act, H.R. 1586, just hours after the House of Representatives approved it by a vote of 247 to 161. More...
The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (“DHHS,” or “Department”) has announced final rules to help improve Americans’ health, increase safety and reduce health care costs through expanded use of electronic health records (“HER”). More...
The U.S. Department of Justice (“DOJ,” or “Department”) has published four new Americans with Disabilities Act (“ADA”) proposals addressing the accessibility of websites, the provision of captioning and video description in movies shown in theaters, accessible equipment and furniture, and the ability of 9-1-1 centers to take text and video calls from individuals with disabilities. More...
The U.S. Department of Labor's Bureau of International Labor Affairs has announced the publication of a final list of products that federal contractors must certify under Executive Order 13126 are not produced with forced or indentured child labor. More...
The Wage and Hour Division (“WHD”) of the Department of Labor (“DOL,” or “Department”) has issued an Administrator’s Interpretation in order to clarify the definition of "son and daughter" under the Family and Medical Leave Act of 1993 (“FMLA”). More...
