=09

A divided Ninth Circuit on Tuesday stood by its ruling that Berkeley, Cal= ifornia's ban on installing natural gas piping for newly constructed buildi= ngs is federally preempted, with dissenting judges saying the decision sets= a troubling precedent that hamstrings state and local efforts to combat cl= imate change.

Construction

WEDNESDA= Y, JANUARY 3, 2024

=20

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TOP NEWS

=20

9th Circ. Won't Rethink Reversal Of Berke= ley Gas Hookup Ban

=09

By Keith Goldberg

A divided Ninth Circuit on Tuesday= stood by its ruling that Berkeley, California's ban on installing natural = gas piping for newly constructed buildings is federally preempted, with dis= senting judges saying the decision sets a troubling precedent that hamstrin= gs state and local efforts to combat climate change.

=20 Opinion attached |=20 Read full article » | Save to favorites »

=20

EPA's New Maui Guidance Draws Requests Fo= r More Clarity

=09

By Juan-Carlos Rodriguez

The U.S. Environmental Protection = Agency has released guidance clarifying how to comply with an important U.S= . Supreme Court decision regarding Clean Water Act permits for groundwater = pollution, but states, industry groups and environmental organizations say = there's still room for better, more detailed explanations of key issues.

=20 2 documents attached |=20 Read full article » | Save to favorites »

=20

Boston Sued By Company Over Uncashed 25-Y= ear-Old Check

=09

By Julie Manganis

A Massachusetts demolition company= that recently found a forgotten $150,000 check issued a quarter-century ag= o is heading to court in an effort to force the city of Boston to cut the f= irm a replacement.

=20 Complaint attached |=20 Read full article » | Save to favorites »


=

=20

IBEW Local Wants Out Of Black Worker's Ra= ce Bias Suit

=09

By Emily Brill

An International Brotherhood of El= ectrical Workers local asked to be dropped as a defendant from a lawsuit al= leging a member was pushed out of an apprenticeship program after reporting= racism, telling a New Jersey federal judge the member lacks the right to s= ue the local.

=20 Motion attached |=20 Read full article » | Save to favorites »

=20

Pipeline Project Asks Court For Access To= 8 Texas Counties

=09

By Catherine Marfin

An energy company constructing a n= atural gas pipeline through southeast Texas asked a state court Tuesday to = appoint several Houston landowners to assess the amount of damages that wil= l be owed through its access to land in eight counties.

=20 Complaint attached |=20 Read full article » | Save to favorites »

PEOPLE

=20

Cole Schotz Names 6 Attys As Members In 3= US States

=09

By Joyce Hanson

Cole Schotz PC said Tuesday that i= t has kicked off the new year by tapping six of the law firm's attorneys to= become members at its Florida, Maryland and New Jersey offices.

Read full article » | Save to favorites »

=20

Cozen O'Connor Builds Construction Group = With NY Partner

=09

By Jack Rodgers

Cozen O'Connor has hired a constru= ction partner with more than 25 years of industry experience to join its te= am in New York after previously working with Benesch Friedlander Coplan &am= p; Aronoff LLP.

Read full article » | Save to favorites »

EXPERT ANALYSIS

=20

After Headwinds, 2024 May See Offshore Wi= nd Momentum

=09 =09

Despite skyrocketing raw material = costs, conflicting state and federal policies, and other setbacks for the o= ffshore wind sector in 2023, the industry appears poised for growth in the = coming year, with improving economics, more flexible procurement procedures= and increasing legislative support, say Emily Huggins Jones and Ben Cowan = at Locke Lord.

Read full article » | Save to favorites »

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=20 =09 =09

LEGAL INDUSTRY

Bonus Spotlight

Latham Matching Cravath Salary Scale For = Associates

=09

By Tracey Read

Latham & Watkins LLP is the la= test BigLaw firm to announce it will meet the Cravath scale for associate s= alary increases this year, according to published reports.

Read full article » | Save to favorites »

=20

New Firm Makes Off With Nearly Half Of Fi= sherBroyles

=09

By Aebra Coe

Following years of rapid growth, d= istributed law firm FisherBroyles is seeing a mass departure of attorneys a= fter two former managing partners left the firm to create a more than 130-l= awyer competitor, which was officially launched Tuesday.

Read full article » | Save to favorites »

=20

After 18 Years, Sheppard Mullin Elects Ne= w Managing Partner

=09

By Anna Sanders

Sheppard Mullin Richter & Hamp= ton LLP elected a new managing partner after nearly two decades as part of = a slew of leadership appointments to kick off 2024.

Read full article » | Save to favorites »

=20

Ballard Spahr Seats New Chair Out Of Midw= est

=09

By James Boyle

Ballard Spahr LLP has started the = new year with new leadership by announcing the former head of the corporate= department has begun his new role as chair of the firm starting January 1.

Read full article » | Save to favorites »

=20

Husch Blackwell Snags 5 Lewis Brisbois Tr= ansportation Attys

=09

By Hailey Konnath

The chair of Lewis Brisbois Bisgaa= rd & Smith LLP's transportation practice and four other attorneys in th= e practice group have jumped ship to join Husch Blackwell LLP in the firm's= Phoenix office, according to an announcement made Tuesday.

Read full article » | Save to favorites »

=20

Girardi Competent To Face Criminal Charge= s, Judge Rules

=09

By Brandon Lowrey

Disbarred lawyer Tom Girardi's cla= im that he has dementia will not spare him from facing trial on charges tha= t he stole millions of dollars from his clients, a Los Angeles federal judg= e ruled Tuesday.

Read full article » | Save to favorites »

=20

Feds Ask DC Circ. Not To Rethink Trump's = Gag Order

=09

By Ryan Boysen

The D.C. Circuit should not revisi= t a recent ruling that largely upheld a gag order restricting Donald Trump'= s speech during his criminal election interference case in Washington, D.C.= , despite Trump's insistence that the gag order muzzles him at the "height = of his campaign for office," according to special counsel Jack Smith.

=20 Response attached |=20 Read full article » | Save to favorites »

=20

DC AG Rebuffs Info Requests On Rumored Le= onard Leo Probe

=09

By Gina Kim

District of Columbia Attorney Gene= ral Brian Schwalb again rebuffed Republican lawmakers' requests for informa= tion about rumored investigations into Leonard Leo, noting Tuesday their in= quiries don't identify any valid legislative purpose but seemingly seek to = "amplify your erroneous and ill-founded accusation that our office is influ= enced by political interests."

Read full article » | Save to favorites »

=20

Court Revives Ex-Cuomo Lawyer's Retaliato= ry Firing Suit

=09

By Andrea Keckley

A New York appeals court has = partially revived a lawsuit from a former assistant counsel to ex-New = York Gov. Andrew Cuomo that alleges he was fired in retaliation for testify= ing in the New York attorney general's sexual harassment probe.

=20 Opinion attached |=20 Read full article » | Save to favorites »

=20

Former Bankruptcy Judge Claims Immunity F= rom Ethics Suit

=09

By Peter McGuire

A former Texas bankruptcy judge cl= aims his position grants him immunity from a lawsuit alleging that he retal= iated against the shareholder of a company after it emerged that the judge = concealed his romantic relationship with a Jackson Walker LLP attorney whil= e she had business before his court.

=20 Motion attached |=20 Read full article » | Save to favorites »

=20

ABA Faces Discrimination, Retaliation Cl= aims From Ex-Worker

=09

By Andrea Keckley

A Black woman who worked as a prog= ram specialist for the American Bar Association says she was unlawfully fir= ed based on sex, race and disability status despite satisfactory performanc= e reviews, alleging in Illinois federal court last week that the ABA denied= her work assistance and leave when she faced health issues.

=20 Complaint attached |=20 Read full article » | Save to favorites »

=20

McElroy Deutsch Blasts Ex-Exec's 'Vexati= ous' Records Bid

=09

By Rose Krebs

McElroy Deutsch Mulvaney & Car= penter LLP wants to quash a subpoena from a former executive seeking payrol= l and other records as she fights allegations in New Jersey state court tha= t she and her husband stole more than $3.2 million from the firm.

=20 2 documents attached |=20 Read full article » | Save to favorites »

=20

Major Lindsey Broke Legal Rules With Let= ter, Ex-Worker Says

=09

By Jake Maher

A former Major Lindsey & Afric= a LLC employee suing the legal recruiter in New York state court over alleg= ed sexual assault attempted to swat away a letter warning her to drop the c= ase, claiming it unfairly relied on confidential information and that the l= awyer who sent it was not properly licensed.

=20 Memorandum attached |=20 Read full article » | Save to favorites »

=20

Judge Sends Atty To Remedial Classes Aft= er Baseless Motion

=09

By Emily Sawicki

An attorney who repeatedly pushed = a "frivolous" argument for eviction in a $71,000 lease dispute against the = U.S. Postal Service must now attend continuing legal education classes, a C= ourt of Federal Claims judge has ordered.

=20 Order attached |=20 Read full article » | Save to favorites »

=20

DC High Court Asked To Weigh Lawyer's Me= tro Death Suit

=09

By Linda Chiem

The D.C. Circuit has asked the Dis= trict of Columbia's highest court to determine whether its transit agency c= an be held liable for the 2013 death of a lawyer who was intoxicated when h= e fell off a subway platform, saying the case raises an issue of first impr= ession for defining the negligence standard.

=20 Opinion attached |=20 Read full article » | Save to favorites »

=20

Feds Want 3 Years For Grand Juror Who Fi= lmed Proceedings

=09

By Elliot Weld

Prosecutors asked a Washington, D.= C., federal judge to sentence a man who admitted recording criminal grand j= ury proceedings to three years in prison, saying it would be rare to find a= case with a greater need for general deterrence.

=20 Memorandum attached |=20 Read full article » | Save to favorites »

=20

Kessler Beats 2 Firms To Lead Wells Farg= o Gov't Fines Suit

=09

By Bonnie Eslinger

Kessler Topaz Meltzer & Check = LLP on Tuesday beat out two other firms when a California federal judg= e appointed it as lead counsel and consolidated litigation for a proposed c= lass of shareholders alleging Wells Fargo executives harmed the company and= its investors by failing to comply with regulatory consent orders.

=20 Order attached |=20 Read full article » | Save to favorites »

=20

Bill Would Exempt Breastfeeding Women Fr= om Jury Duty

=09

By Courtney Bubl=E9

U.S. Congressional Del. Eleanor Ho= lmes Norton, D-D.C., has reintroduced a bill that would exempt breastfeedin= g women from jury duty in the federal courts and in D.C. local court upon t= heir request.

=20 Bill attached |=20 Read full article » | Save to favorites »

=20

Georgia DA Open Records Case Heads To St= ate High Court

=09

By Peter McGuire

The Supreme Court of Georgia recen= tly decided it will weigh in on whether district attorneys are subject to t= he Peach State's open records law in an appeal from an embattled prosecutor= , who claimed immunity from a lawsuit accusing her of withholding and destr= oying official documents.

=20 2 documents attached |=20 Read full article » | Save to favorites »

<= img src=3D"https://sli.law360news.com/imp?s=3D734819&li=3D201&m=3Dd120cdb40= 65a859edc70326799a21fe8&p=3D217504" border=3D"0" width=3D"100%" style=3D"wi= dth: 100%; max-width:300px !important;margin-bottom:0;"/>

=20 =09 =20

COMPA= NIES IN TODAY'S NEWS

American Bar Association

Avangrid Inc.

Blyth, Inc.

California Western School of La= w

Chesapeake Energy Corp.

Dominion Energy Inc.

Earthjustice

Federalist Society

Fire & Police Pe= nsion Association of Colorado

General Electric Co.

Instagram Inc.

International Br= otherhood of Electrical Workers

J.C. Penney Co. Inc.

LinkedIn Corp.

Major Lindsey & Africa LLC

McDermott International

Morgan Stanley

National Cattlemen's = Beef Association

National Electrical = Contractors Association

National Wildlife Federation

Natural Resources Defense Coun= cil

New York Law School

RWE AG

Siemens Gamesa Renewable Ener= gy SA

Sierra Club

The Neiman Marcus Group LLC

The Ocean Conservancy Inc.

Vineyard Wind LLC

Washington Metrop= olitan Area Transit Authority

Wells Fargo & Co.


<= img src=3D"https://sli.law360news.com/imp?s=3D734824&li=3D201&m=3Dd120cdb40= 65a859edc70326799a21fe8&p=3D217504" border=3D"0"/>

=20

LAW = FIRMS IN TODAY'S NEWS

Akin Gump

Anthony J. Peraica & Associates

Reichman Jorgensen Lehman &am= p; Feldberg LLP

GOVE= RNMENT AGENCIES IN TODAY'S NEWS

Bureau of Ocean Energy Manageme= nt

Commonwealth of Massachusetts

Consumer Financial Protectio= n Bureau

Equal Employment Opportun= ity Commission

Federal Reserve System

Georgia Supreme Court

National Oceanic = and Atmospheric Administration

Office of the Comptroll= er of the Currency

U.S. Attorney's Office

U.S= . Attorney's Office for the Central District of California

U.S. Co= urt of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit

U.S. Court of Appeals = for the Ninth Circuit

U.S. Department of Justice

U.S. Department of the Treasury

U.S. Di= strict Court for the Central District of California

U.S. District Cou= rt for the District of Columbia

U.S. Distric= t Court for the District of Massachusetts

U.S. District C= ourt for the District of New Jersey

U.S. D= istrict Court for the Northern District of California

U.S. Dis= trict Court for the Northern District of Illinois

U.S. Environmental Protection= Agency

U.S. Postal Service

U.S. Supreme Court

=20

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