Energy Alert – Implications of New 10th Circuit Opinion On Oilfield Contamination Litigation
The Tenth Circuit’s decision will likely make it more difficult to obtain summary judgment in oilfield contamination cases.
The Tenth Circuit’s decision will likely make it more difficult to obtain summary judgment in oilfield contamination cases.
The 10th Circuit decision offers lessons for employers who receive a request for leave of absence as a reasonable accommodation.
Congress passed the Pregnant Workers Fairness Act (“PWFA”), which took effect on June 27, 2023, and applies to all employers with 15 or more employees. The EEOC issued proposed regulations in August 2023 and allowed public comment through October 11, 2023, with final regulations anticipated in late December 2023. As of the date of this alert, no final regulations have been published.
The SEC has adopted a number of substantive new rules that will require new disclosures as soon as December 18, 2023 for material cybersecurity incidents on Form 8-K.
On October 10, 2023, the SEC adopted final rules governing beneficial ownership reporting under Sections 13(d) and 13(g) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934. These sections, along with Regulations 13D and 13G, require an investor who beneficially owns more than 5% of a covered class of equity securities to publicly file either a Schedule 13D (investors with control intent) or a Schedule 13G (investors without a control intent).
On September 29, 2022, the Financial Crimes Enforcement Network (“FinCEN”), a bureau of the U.S. Treasury, released final rules implementing Section 6403 of the Corporate Transparency Act. The CTA was enacted to combat money laundering, terrorist financing, corruption, tax fraud, and other illicit activity. Given the CTA’s application to various tribal entities and citizens, and the importance of reporting, there are a number of specific requirements tribal nations must be aware of.
Earlier this year, the U.S. Sentencing Commission voted to approve several amendments to the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines, including promulgating a new guideline at §4C1.1, entitled Adjustments for Certain Zero-Point Offenders, thus paving the way for more lenient sentences for certain nonviolent, first-time offenders.
On August 30, 2023, the US Department of Labor published a new proposed rule to raise the annual salary level threshold for exempt workers to $55,068 per year. This new rule could become law in 2024.