Court Holds Payment Processor in Contempt for Violating FTC Order
The Federal Trade Commission secured a $6.5 million civil contempt sanction after a Nevada federal judge found a payment‑processing company and its executives in contempt of a 2015 court order. The court determined the firm facilitated fraud by processing transactions for merchants on Mastercard’s MATCH list, masking chargeback rates, and bypassing required underwriting. Violations included processing "friendly" transactions, ignoring shell‑company red flags, and failing to produce mandated reports. The ruling emphasizes the FTC’s commitment to policing the payments ecosystem.
A Herring with Sharks’ Teeth: The Dutch Government Blocks a US Investor for National Security Reasons
The Dutch government, via the Bureau Toetsing Investeringen (BTI), blocked Kyndryl’s proposed acquisition of Solvinity, citing risks to national security and digital sovereignty. The prohibition was issued under the Netherlands’ telecommunications security screening regime, highlighting concerns that US ownership could...
Appellate Court Vacates and Remands District Court Decision in TSCA Fluoride Case
The Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals vacated the September 2024 district‑court ruling that found typical U.S. water fluoridation poses an unreasonable risk of reduced IQ in children, and remanded the case for further consideration. The appellate panel held the district court...
6 Common FLSA Mistakes Employers Continue to Make
Employers continue to stumble over the Fair Labor Standards Act, exposing themselves to costly overtime and misclassification claims. Common errors include failing to add non‑discretionary bonuses to the regular rate, treating biweekly pay periods as the overtime clock, assuming salaried...
Data Centers, Grid Reliability, and Large Load Regulation: Recent Developments in Pennsylvania and the Region
Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro unveiled the GRID standards, a new incentive framework that links tax benefits and streamlined permitting to data‑center projects that invest at least $250 million, create jobs, and meet affordability, transparency, workforce and environmental criteria. The state PUC...
FinCEN’s Proposed AML Rule Disregards Confidentiality Protections for Whistleblowers
FinCEN has issued a proposed rule to implement the Anti‑Money Laundering Whistleblower Improvement Act, but advocacy groups say it strips away the statute’s confidentiality safeguards. The National Whistleblower Center submitted 19 comments urging FinCEN to adopt stronger anonymity protections, especially...
Allegheny County Considers Requiring Employers Provide Paid Parental Leave
Allegheny County’s Board of Health unanimously voted to seek public comment on expanding its paid‑sick‑leave rules and adding a county‑wide paid parental‑leave mandate. The proposal would require all employers in the county to provide up to 18 weeks of fully...
Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission Adopts Model Interconnection Tariff for Large Load Customers
On May 12, 2026 the Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission issued a final order establishing a model interconnection tariff for Large Load Customers—facilities drawing 50 MW or more, or 100 MW in aggregate. The tariff sets a minimum five‑year contract after a 3‑5 year...
Court of Chancery Publishes Guidelines for Civility and Emphasizes Delaware Tradition of Collegiality and Professionalism
The Delaware Court of Chancery has issued formal Guidelines on Attorney Civility, codifying the state’s long‑standing “Delaware Way” of collegial conduct. The document provides concrete examples of proper and improper behavior in depositions, hearings, and negotiations, and outlines proportional sanctions,...
Delaware Court of Chancery Examines Duties of Blockholder Directors
The Delaware Court of Chancery issued a detailed opinion in Guilbeau v. Footprint International Holdco, clarifying the fiduciary duties of blockholder or constituency directors. The court held that such directors owe duties to the entire shareholder body, not to individual...
Court of Chancery Invalidates Founder/Executive Chairman’s Unilateral Attempt to Remove the Only Other Members of the Company’s Managing Board
The Delaware Court of Chancery ruled that an LLC’s operating agreement requiring board decisions cannot be overridden by a founder’s unilateral removal of board members. In Ropko v. Burdi, the court held the Executive Chairman lacked authority to remove the...
Standing at the Crossroads: Fourth Circuit to Decide Who Can Challenge HIPAA Administrative Subpoenas
The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit is reviewing whether families of transgender minors have standing to challenge an administrative subpoena issued under HIPAA. The district court in Maryland previously quashed the subpoena, finding the families could sue,...
Colorado’s New AI Act Targets Automated Decision-Making for Consequential Decisions
Colorado Governor Jared Polis signed Senate Bill 26‑189 on May 14, 2026, repealing the 2024 Colorado AI Act. The new law narrows the definition of covered automated decision‑making technology to seven high‑impact domains and replaces risk‑management and impact‑assessment duties with...
CMS Myth Vs. Fact: What Hospice and Home Health Providers Need to Know About the New Medicare Enrollment Moratoria
The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) instituted a nationwide six‑month moratorium, effective May 13, 2026, that bars new Medicare enrollments for hospice and home health agencies. The freeze covers not only brand‑new providers but also any transaction—such as...
FTC Warning Letter Highlights New Risks for Employers That Seek to Enforce Noncompete Agreements in Court
On May 8, 2026 FTC Chair Andrew Ferguson sent a public warning letter to mortgage‑service provider Mortgage Connect after the firm sued to enforce a blanket noncompete agreement. The letter orders a comprehensive review of all employment contracts and demands immediate cessation...