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Opioid Addiction Litigation 2026: The New Post-Mega-Settlements Normal, Why Tribal Claims Are Central, and a Federal Pullback on Treatment Programs

February 7th, 2026|Categories: Emerging Litigation & Risk, Environmental Torts, HB Tort Notes, Journal, Mass Torts, New Featured Post for Home Page, News|Tags: , , |

Opioid litigation has entered a new phase defined less by courtroom trials and more by long-term settlement governance, tribal sovereignty, and evolving bankruptcy law. National opioid settlements now fund abatement through strict reporting and multi-year payment schedules, while Tribal Nations administer parallel sovereign recovery systems. At the same time, the Supreme Court’s Harrington v. Purdue Pharma decision has reshaped how mass-tort bankruptcies resolve claims. Yet as litigation-driven funding stabilizes, federal support for addiction treatment and overdose prevention faces deep cuts and growing uncertainty. Together, these developments show opioid litigation moving into a complex era where courts, settlements, and public policy intersect.

HB Environmental Update | Tuesday, Feb. 3, 2026 | Climate Funding, Wind Power, Wild Horses, PFAS Regs, PFAS Settlement, and the Decades of Debate Over the Pollution Exclusion

February 6th, 2026|Categories: Emerging Litigation & Risk, Environmental Torts, HB Tort Notes, Journal, Mass Torts, New Featured Post for Home Page, News|Tags: , , , |

Environmental law is entering another period of rapid change, as courts step in to define the limits of agency authority, corporate responsibility, and insurance coverage. Federal climate funding disputes now turn on contract law rather than administrative review. International prosecutors are bringing environmental crime cases. U.S. courts are shaping the future of wind energy projects, forest management, and wild horse policy. At the same time, PFAS regulation and settlement oversight are intensifying, while state high courts weigh in on long-debated insurance exclusions tied to pollution. This week’s developments reflect a legal landscape where judges increasingly steer environmental policy.

Voting Rights Under Threat: A Legal Challenge | Organizations Say Expansion of Citizen Database Violates Privacy and Voting Rights

January 23rd, 2026|Categories: Emerging Litigation & Risk, Environmental Torts, HB Tort Notes, Journal, Mass Torts, New Featured Post for Home Page, News|Tags: , , |

The rapid advancement of AI technology continues to challenge courts, companies, and consumers. Read about recent developments that in-house counsel and litigators should be watching.

HB Artificial Intelligence Update Monday, Dec. 15, 2025 | Wrongful Death, Discrimination, Intellectual Property

December 14th, 2025|Categories: Emerging Litigation & Risk, Environmental Torts, HB Tort Notes, Journal, Mass Torts, New Featured Post for Home Page, News|Tags: , , , , |

The rapid advancement of AI technology continues to challenge courts, companies, and consumers. Read about recent developments that in-house counsel and litigators should be watching.

HB Environmental Update Monday, Dec. 15, 2025 | Feds Step Back, States Step In, Courts Push Back, EPA Wavers

December 13th, 2025|Categories: Emerging Litigation & Risk, Environmental Torts, HB Tort Notes, Journal, Mass Torts, New Featured Post for Home Page, News|Tags: , , |

We’re in an age when deregulation hawks in just about every sector are getting what they’ve asked for. That includes environmental protection, something many of us have taken for granted, as we watch federal measures undergo a dramatic unwinding at a time when the scientific community agrees more should be done, not less, to safeguard the planet. Federal agencies are retreating from aggressive enforcement, states are asserting new authority, and courts—both state and federal—are emerging as decisive arbiters of climate and energy policy. The result is a patchwork of obligations and opportunities that lawyers, corporations, and communities must navigate with increasing urgency. This week’s developments underscore the trend.

Ninth Circuit Rejects Religious Accommodation Claim in COVID Testing Case

November 17th, 2025|Categories: Complex Business Litigation, Employment, HB Tort Notes, Journal, New Featured Post for Home Page, News|Tags: , , , , |

The Ninth Circuit has rejected a religious accommodation claim from a healthcare worker who objected to weekly COVID-19 testing, holding that the employee failed to show a bona fide religious conflict and that the employer’s masking-and-testing accommodation was reasonable. The ruling offers valuable guidance for employers navigating post-pandemic accommodation requests. Read the full analysis for key takeaways.

California AI Hiring Law Takes Effect, Mandating Bias Audits

November 16th, 2025|Categories: Complex Business Litigation, HB Tort Notes, Journal, Law Firm Operations, New Featured Post for Home Page, News, Technology Law|Tags: , , , , |

California’s new AI hiring regulations take effect on October 1, 2025, requiring employers to conduct bias audits and increase transparency when using automated decision systems. With broad definitions of ADS and new FEHA liabilities, employers must prepare now to stay compliant. Read the full analysis to understand what steps your organization should take next.

Montana Court Awards $2.9 Million in Fees to Youth Climate Plaintiffs After Landmark Constitutional Win

November 16th, 2025|Categories: Emerging Litigation & Risk, Environmental Torts, HB Tort Notes, Journal, New Featured Post for Home Page, News|Tags: , , |

A Montana District Court has awarded nearly $3 million in fees and costs to youth plaintiffs after their landmark constitutional victory recognizing a right to a stable climate system. The ruling highlights the societal importance of the case, the inequity of resources between the parties, and the critical role of private enforcement in protecting environmental rights. Learn more in the full article.

Federal Courts Issue Contrasting Rulings on AI Training and Copyrighted Books Fair Use

September 9th, 2025|Categories: HB Tort Notes, Intellectual Property, Journal, New Featured Post for Home Page, News|Tags: , , |

Federal courts in California just issued conflicting rulings on whether training AI models with copyrighted books qualifies as fair use. In Bartz v. Anthropic, the court protected training on lawfully purchased works but rejected the use of pirated copies. In contrast, Kadrey v. Meta allowed AI training on pirated books, calling it “highly transformative.” Tom Hagy explains that with more than 50 similar lawsuits pending, these decisions underscore the legal uncertainty facing tech companies, publishers, and creators—and could reshape the future of AI development and copyright law.

Climate Change Law: Tension Increases Over Governmental and Corporate Responsibility

August 8th, 2025|Categories: Environmental Torts, HB Tort Notes, Journal, Mass Torts, New Featured Post for Home Page, News|Tags: , , |

The world’s leaders still don’t agree on what, if anything, to do about climate change – despite mounting evidence that, as a planet, we are in the soup. A major ruling from the International Court of Justice says states have an obligation to save the planet, as the U.S. president is enthusiastically sprinting the other way, inspiring cheers from his base and jeers from scientists. As for domestic litigation designed to pin liability on the fossil fuel industry, a case in South Carolina faltered as another in Hawaii is clearing hurdles. Read the update from Tom Hagy.

DEI Programs as a Source of Liability for Law Firms and Other Businesses

August 6th, 2025|Categories: Complex Business Litigation, Employment, HB Tort Notes, Journal, New Featured Post for Home Page, News|Tags: , , , |

Two recent cases against international law firms point to an emerging trend in litigation that could have wide-spread implications for diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) programs. The author, William "Billy" Jones examines these recent cases filed against the law firms for their DEI fellowships and the potential impacts for law firms and other private businesses.

Judge finds flaws in motion for an injunction against Trump’s wind turbine order

July 29th, 2025|Categories: Environmental Torts, HB Tort Notes, Journal, New Featured Post for Home Page, News|Tags: , , , |

While Trump’s freeze on offshore wind permits faces legal challenge, a federal judge isn’t convinced the states bringing the case have shown enough harm. In this article, guest contributor Justin Ward explains why the motion for an injunction was denied, what it means for the broader battle over renewable energy, and how executive power could stall green infrastructure without ever breaking the law.

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