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  • Ninth Circuit Rejects Religious Accommodation Claim in COVID Testing Case

    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

    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

    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.

  • Unraveling “Reverse Discrimination” with Leah Stiegler

    What happens when workplace discrimination claims come from members of majority groups? In this episode of the Emerging Litigation Podcast, attorney Leah Stiegler of Woods Rogers unpacks the Supreme Court’s unanimous decision in Ames v. Ohio Department of Youth Services. The Court’s ruling—eliminating the “background circumstances rule”—marks a major shift in how discrimination cases are evaluated, reinforcing that Title VII protects everyone equally. Leah shares insights from mock jury trials, explores how geography and community values affect verdicts, and breaks down what employers should know about evolving discrimination standards.

  • Authentic Business Development for Litigators: Stop Chasing Cases and Start Building Clients with John Reed

    What if waiting for lawsuits is the worst growth strategy a litigator can have? In this episode of the Emerging Litigation Podcast, host Tom Hagy speaks with John Reed, founder of Rain BDM and host of Sticky Lawyers, about how litigators can build authentic, lasting client relationships instead of chasing the next case. John shares practical insights on defining your professional brand, using emotional intelligence in business development, and adapting your natural style—especially for introverts or those navigating remote mentorship. Whether you’re a new associate or a seasoned partner, this episode offers a roadmap for making your practice more resilient, visible, and genuinely client-centered.

  • New and Improved Antitrust Whistleblowing Incentives with Julie Bracker and Dan Mogin

    Can whistleblowers reshape antitrust enforcement the way they’ve exposed fraud in other industries? In this episode of the Emerging Litigation Podcast, host Tom Hagy talks with Julie Keeton Bracker of Bracker & Marcus and Dan Mogin of Mogin Law about the Department of Justice’s new push to encourage insider reporting in antitrust cases. They explore the history of qui tam actions, the power of the False Claims Act, and how individuals could soon play a bigger role in uncovering price-fixing, bid-rigging, and other anti-competitive schemes.

  • Resolving Business Disputes Without Burning Bridges Featuring Judge Alan Fine

    In this episode of the Emerging Litigation Podcast, retired Judge Alan Fine of Private Resolutions explores how businesses can resolve disputes without destroying valuable relationships. Drawing on decades of experience on the bench and in commercial litigation, Judge Fine explains the pros and cons of mediation, arbitration, and “private judging,” which allows parties to choose their own judge and resolve matters quickly and confidentially. He shares how aligning your dispute resolution strategy with business objectives—rather than emotions—can preserve partnerships, save time, and achieve fair results.

  • Insurance Coverage Litigation’s Modern Mayhem with Jeremy Moseley

    Insurance coverage litigation isn’t what it used to be. In this episode of the Emerging Litigation Podcast, Jeremy Moseley of Spencer Fane unpacks how automation, AI, climate change, and “social inflation” are reshaping risks and fueling high-stakes disputes. From thermonuclear verdicts to dangerous policy gaps, Jeremy offers sharp, practical insights into what insurers, policyholders, and lawyers should expect next.

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

    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.

Emerging Litigation Podcast

What Businesses and Lawyers Should Know About the U.S./China Relationship

Our Guest Dan Harris is a leading authority on the legal and strategic aspects of conducting business in emerging markets. He is co-founder of the international practice of Seattle-based HarrisBricken, which has offices across the U.S., as well as in China, Spain, Mexico, and Brazil. His China Law Blog was named, and with good reason, to the ABA Journal’s “Blawg Hall of Fame.” Forbes, Business Week, Fortune, The BBC, The Wall Street Journal, The Washington Post, The Economist, CNBC, The New York Times, and many other major media players have looked to him for his perspective on international law issues. Dan writes and speaks extensively on international law with a focus on protecting businesses in their foreign operations and he has had the rare honor of being designated a “Super Lawyer.” He is also a member of the Editorial Board of Advisors for the Journal on Emerging Issues in Litigation and the Emerging Litigation Podcast. What Businesses and Lawyers Should Know About the U.S. / China Relationship “Americans mistakenly believe that China operates as a rational economic actor and that economics is their highest priority. It’s not and it never has been. Their highest priority is whatever is good for the Chinese Communist Party.” “Chinese companies view American and EU companies as very risky, in large part because so many American and EU companies are looking to move their manufacturing out of China.”  A major potential avalanche of risks are those that would shake the business world  should – as some expect it will –  trade relations between China, and America and EU, come to an end. China is America’s largest trading partner, a relationship responsible for $600B a year in commerce, according to the Office of the U.S. Trade Representative. By comparison, U.S. / European Union trade exceeds $1T. The trade [...]

Insurance Coverage for PFAS Claims

PFAS Insurance Coverage with Robert D. Chesler of Anderson Kill Listen to my interview with Anderson Kill's Robert D. Chesler, a preeminent expert on insurance coverage law especially in the context of highly complex long-tail claims scenarios involving multiple parties and events that can span decades and always cost many millions of dollars.  Considered by many to be an insurance guru on these cases -- as well as on D&O, cyber and privacy, and intellectual property insurance -- Bob holds a Ph.D. and masters degree from Princeton University, and a J.D. (cum laude) from Harvard Law School. This podcast is the audio companion to the Journal on Emerging Issues in Litigation, and Bob is one of our most valued editorial advisors. The Journal is a collaborative project between HB Litigation Conferences and the Fastcase legal research family, which includes Full Court Press, Law Street Media, and Docket Alarm. The podcast itself is a joint effort between HB and our friends at Law Street Media. If you have comments or wish to participate in one our projects, or want to tell me how much  you learned from Bob,  please drop me a note at Editor@LitigationConferences.com. Tom Hagy Host and Litigation Enthusiast P.S. The fact that I make myself laugh during these interviews probably has less to do with the subject matter (most definitely, is more precise) or my sense of humor, and more to do with cabin fever.  Or I'm just nuts. The PFAS  family of chemicals is one stubborn bunch. They are a class of man-made products dubbed "forever chemicals," because of the difficulty of removing them from the environment, humans, and other animals.  They are also at the center of sprawling litigation around the country involving alleged property damage, water contamination, and bodily injury. More than 1,500 cases are consolidated in closely-watched multi-district litigation in federal court in South Carolina. Listen to [...]

The Impact of Sanctions on Russia on Global Financial Markets with Brad Rustin

The Impact on Global Financial Systems of U.S. Sanctions on Russia with Brad Rustin But what risks do American corporations and financial institutions face in light of these measures? What difficult reverberations will companies feel across the world? What should global businesses and FinTechs be doing right now to avoid, among other things, violating the restrictions imposed by the U.S. Treasury Department’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC)? What role will cryptocurrency play in all of this? Also, do institutions whose data are stored in Russia and Ukraine face an additional risk as a parallel (albeit less horrific) battle rages on in cyberspace? Listen to my interview with Brad Rustin, a partner with Nelson Mullins Riley & Scarborough LLP and chair of the firm’s Financial Services Regulatory Practice. Brad is a highly regarded FinTech law and industry expert. This will be apparent when you listen. Brad is also on the Editorial Advisory Board of the Journal on Emerging Issues in Litigation. This is a special rapid-release episode given we feel the insights Brad shares are insights business and FinTech’s -- and their attorneys -- urgently need to hear. This podcast is the audio companion to the Journal on Emerging Issues in Litigation, a collaborative project between HB Litigation Conferences and the Fastcase legal research family, which includes Full Court Press, Law Street Media, and Docket Alarm. The podcast itself is a joint effort between HB and our friends at Law Street Media. If you have comments or wish to participate in one our projects, or want to tell me how much  you learned from Brad,  please drop me a note at Editor@LitigationConferences.com. Tom Hagy Host and Litigation Enthusiast P.S. We did not get to discuss Russia’s retaliatory sanctions against President Biden, his son, Hunter, and Hillary Clinton. No word on sanctions against the Biden dogs. Oh! This just in from People magazine: “Hillary Clinton Thanks Russia for 'Lifetime Achievement [...]

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Emerging Litigation Journal

Litigating a Claim to Recover Liquidated Damages by Laura Fraher

The Author Laura C. Fraher (fraher@slslaw.com) is a senior attorney in the trial and construction group at Shapiro, Lifschitz & Schram in Washington, D.C. She has extensive experience in civil litigation at both the trial court and appellate level. Competitive by nature, Laura played rugby for nearly 20 years. She puts this competitive spirit to work through her passion for the law and her clients. Education: St. John’s University School of Law, J.D., 2001, magna cum laude; SUNY College at Geneseo, B.A., Political Science, 1998. Interviews with leading attorneys and other subject matter experts on new twists in the law and how the law is responding to new twists in the world. Litigating a Claim to Recover Liquidated Damages: Enforceability Depends on Evidence of Good Faith Expectations "The tests and standards that courts apply to evaluate whether a particular liquidated damage provision is enforceable vary from state to state and it is imperative that litigants research and fully appreciate the particular standards that will be applied by the court in which they are litigating." Abstract: The liquidated damages provision in a contract is a useful mechanism for mitigating risk in the event one of the parties to an agreement breaches the contract, costing the aggrieved party sometimes significant difficulty and substantial expense. Unfortunately, these provisions are often challenged, allowing the party responsible for the beach to exacerbate the burdens on the other party. In this article, the author discusses concepts of enforceability, proof, and avoiding litigation over liquidated damage provisions. A liquidated damage provision is an advance agreement of the damages that a party will be entitled to recover in the event of a future breach by the other party to a contract. These provisions can be an important tool for risk allocation and mitigation between parties when entering into [...]

The “Ending Forced Arbitration of Sexual Assault and Sexual Harassment Act of 2021” Finally Levels the Playing Field by Kathryn Hatfield

The Author Kathryn V. Hatfield (khatfield@hatfieldschwartzlaw.com) is a partner in the women-owned law firm of Hatfield Schwartz Law Group LLC where she focuses on advising and representing management in labor and employment law matters. Kathryn is a member of the Editorial Advisory Board for the Journal of Emerging Issues in Litigation. Interviews with leading attorneys and other subject matter experts on new twists in the law and how the law is responding to new twists in the world. The “Ending Forced Arbitration of Sexual Assault and Sexual Harassment Act of 2021” Finally Levels the Playing Field "While arbitration offers privacy and confidentiality, it is for exactly these reasons that the #MeToo movement developed. Moreover, other than perhaps the differences in the speed of the two processes, the advantages of arbitration can be flipped on their head and become disadvantages." Abstract: The Equal Employment Opportunity Center alone receives on average approximately 7,000 sexual harassment claims a year, a figure that does not include claims filed with state and local agencies. The cost of resolving these claims logged by the EEOC averages $63 million a year based on the past four years. On average, there are nearly 464,000 victims (age 12 or older) of rape and sexual assault in the United States each year. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reports that nearly 1 in 5 women in America experiences a rape or attempted rape, and nearly 44 percent of women and about 25 percent of all men experience some form of sexual violence in their lifetime. A White House statement called sexual assault a “public health crisis.” But victims of sexual harassment and assault in the workplace have not had open access to the courts due to mandatory arbitration clauses in their employment agreements. In this article, an experienced labor law attorney discusses [...]

Wildfire Claims and Coverage

The Authors Scott P. DeVries (sdevries@huntonak.com) is a special counsel in the Hunton Andrews Kurth LLP’s Insurance Coverage group in the firm’s San Francisco office where he exclusively represents policyholder clients. An experienced trial and appellate lawyer who has served as lead counsel in landmark appeals in the field of insurance coverage in the California Supreme Court, the Ninth Circuit, and the California Court of Appeal, as well as high-value jury trials, Scott routinely represents clients throughout the country seeking recovery from their insurers on a wide range of insurance issues arising under first-party property policies, comprehensive general liability policies, directors and officers policies, EPLI policies, crime policies, crypto and digital asset policies, and cyber policies. Yosef Itkin is an associate in Hunton Andrews Kurth LLP’s Insurance Coverage group in the firm’s Los Angeles office. His practice focuses on representing and advising corporate policyholders in complex insurance coverage matters. Interviews with leading attorneys and other subject matter experts on new twists in the law and how the law is responding to new twists in the world. Wildfire Claims and Coverage "The wildfires are causing enormous losses for innumerable businesses on the West Coast. Often, you should be able to work with your adjuster to reach a satisfactory resolution. But where needed, you may wish to reach out to policyholder-side lawyers—whether to test what you may be entitled to or to help maximize recovery." Abstract: Wildfires destroy millions of acres a year in the United States, spewing smoke across much of the nation. The cost of damage alone over the past several years soars into the hundreds of billions. When policyholders turn to their insurers many benefit from the coverage they wisely secured. But not all policyholders get the coverage they believe they paid for. When and how they present their claims is [...]

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