Understanding Pennsylvania Intestacy Law: What Happens If You Don’t Have a Will
Pennsylvania intestacy law dictates how probate assets are divided when someone dies without a will, applying a fixed statutory hierarchy that often diverges from personal wishes. The surviving spouse receives the first $30,000 and half of the remaining estate, while children split the other half equally; stepchildren and unmarried partners are excluded unless legally adopted or named as beneficiaries. Non‑probate assets such as joint‑tenancy property, life‑insurance, and retirement accounts bypass intestacy entirely. The default scheme can lead to unexpected outcomes, especially for blended families, making proactive estate planning essential.
State Carbon Markets: Development and Uncertainty
As the federal climate agenda recedes, several states are expanding or tightening cap‑and‑trade and cap‑and‑invest programs. Virginia is set to rejoin the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative by July 2026, pushing RGGI allowance prices from $25 to $60 per ton. California’s Air...
How AI, Digital Doubles, and New Laws Are Rewriting Fashion and Beauty
Artificial intelligence has moved beyond recommendation engines to power design tools, virtual try‑on experiences, synthetic models and even the digital resurrection of fashion and beauty icons. At the same time, a wave of state statutes—New York’s Fashion Workers Act, Digital...
EB-2 NIW Case Study: Electronics Engineer From Mexico Supporting U.S. Innovation in Aerospace and Autonomous Systems
Colombo & Hurd secured an EB‑2 National Interest Waiver for a Mexican electronics engineer who designs printed circuit boards (PCBs) used in aerospace and autonomous systems. The petition overcame a USCIS Request for Evidence by translating highly technical work into...
Quantum Computing Is Coming: Is Your Privacy and Cybersecurity Program Ready?
Quantum computing is poised to upend privacy and cybersecurity by enabling massive data analytics, reidentifying anonymized information, and breaking today’s encryption standards. The shift forces companies to move beyond checklists toward a governance‑driven quantum readiness strategy that blends legal obligations...
Beltway Buzz, May 1, 2026
President Trump signed a funding bill on April 30 that reopens the Department of Homeland Security, restoring money for TSA and FEMA through September 2026 but leaving ICE and CBP unfunded. The White House withdrew Carter Crow’s nomination for EEOC...
California Legislature Proposes 90-Day Layoff Notice Requirement Due to Employer’s AI Use
California lawmakers introduced Senate Bill 951, the Worker Technological Displacement Act, which would require employers to give a written 90‑day notice before AI‑driven layoffs or hiring freezes that affect 25 workers or 25% of the workforce. The bill applies to...
Employment Law Beyond Earth: Emerging Trends in the Space Workforce
The private space sector now employs roughly 373,000 U.S. workers, accounting for about 80% of global space activity. Employment in the industry has grown about 27% over the past decade, outpacing overall private‑sector growth. Courts are applying traditional wage‑and‑hour, labor‑relations,...
Wisconsin Reins in Assignment of Benefits- What Property Insurers Need to Know Before December 1, 2026
Wisconsin Governor Evers signed Senate Bill 531, creating Wis. Act 230 and § 632.11, which regulates assignments of benefits in first‑party property insurance. The statute limits contractors to suing only the insurer, grants insurers the insured’s rights against contractors, and caps bad‑faith claims to...
Classified Intel, Crypto and a Special Forces Sergeant- The CFTC’s First Insider Trading Case in Prediction Markets
The CFTC filed its first insider‑trading case in prediction markets, charging active‑duty Army Special Forces Master Sergeant Gannon Ken Van Dyke with fraud, manipulation and misuse of classified government information. Van Dyke allegedly used non‑public intel about a planned U.S....
![Stark Integrity Podcast: Artificial Intelligence in Healthcare Law & Compliance, and Compliance Program Effectiveness [Podcast]](/cdn-cgi/image/width=1200,quality=75,format=auto,fit=cover/https://natlawreview.com/sites/default/files/styles/article_image/public/2026-04/AI%20Artificial%20Intelligence-475590125_0.jpg.webp?itok=nA2QHgWv)
Stark Integrity Podcast: Artificial Intelligence in Healthcare Law & Compliance, and Compliance Program Effectiveness [Podcast]
The Stark Integrity podcast released a three‑part series on artificial intelligence (AI) in healthcare law and compliance, hosted by Nelson Mullins partner Bob Wade and featuring partners Bob Coffield and Darren Skyles. Episodes explore how AI is already adding value, the...
The Gold Rush Is Over: Navigating the 2026 Hospice Regulatory Crackdown
The hospice sector, once booming in California, faces a sharp regulatory reversal in 2026 as CMS and Congress intensify oversight. The Unified Program Integrity Contractor, Qlarant, is deploying predictive analytics to audit eligibility, length‑of‑stay, and live‑discharge patterns, with non‑compliance risking...
France Adopts New Fast-Track Environmental Litigation Regime for Strategic Projects
On 21 April 2026 France enacted Decree No. 2026‑302, creating a fast‑track litigation regime for "strategic projects" such as on‑shore wind, utility‑scale solar, hydro, and biogas. The reform consolidates jurisdiction in the administrative courts of appeal, eliminates intermediate appeals, and imposes a 10‑month deadline...
FinCEN Proposes Major Revisions to AML/CFT Program Requirements
FinCEN issued a proposed rule on April 7 to overhaul AML/CFT program requirements under the Bank Secrecy Act. The revision shifts focus from mere procedural check‑lists to "effective" programs, demanding documented risk‑assessment processes and risk‑based resource allocation. It also expands FinCEN’s...
EPA Looks to Evaluate Microplastics Under the Safe Drinking Water Act
On April 6, 2026 the EPA released the draft of its sixth Contaminant Candidate List (CCL) under the Safe Drinking Water Act, marking the first time microplastics are listed as a priority contaminant group. The draft CCL, which contains 75 chemicals, four...
ISO 27914:2026: A New Potential Long‑Term Solution for Section 45Q Permanent Secure Geological Storage
The EPA’s proposed repeal of Subpart RR threatens the reporting foundation for Section 45Q carbon‑capture tax credits. ISO 27914:2026, released on April 1, 2026, fills the gap by offering detailed quantification, monitoring, reporting and verification (MRV) standards for permanent geological CO₂ storage. Treasury and...
21st Century ROAD to Housing Act: Impact on Large Institutional Investors
On March 10, 2026 the Senate passed H.R. 6644, the 21st Century ROAD to Housing Act, adding Section 901 that bars large institutional investors—those controlling more than 350 single‑family homes—from buying additional units. The provision also forces divestment of certain newly built,...
Star Power, Legal Power: Lively V. Wayfarer and the Expanding Reach of FEHA
The federal court in New York allowed Blake Lively’s retaliation claim under California’s Fair Employment and Housing Act (FEHA) to proceed while dismissing her Title VII and whistleblower claims. The court classified Lively as an independent contractor, emphasizing economic reality over on‑set...
States Continue to Advance New PBM and Drug Pricing Legislation in 2026
State lawmakers in Virginia and Ohio are moving ahead with aggressive pharmacy‑benefit‑manager (PBM) reforms in 2026. Virginia’s Affordable Medicine Act would apply the Inflation Reduction Act’s maximum fair price ceiling to state‑regulated health plans and require PBMs to report fees,...
Risk #6- Valuation Under Pressure- Market Stress and the Enforcement Lens
Asset managers are facing intensified regulatory scrutiny on valuation practices as market volatility and tighter credit conditions expose the challenges of pricing illiquid assets. The SEC’s examinations of interval funds and the FCA’s 2025 review underscore a global push for...
The Fiscal Year 2027 Budget Request: A Historic Investment in US Maritime Dominance
On April 5, 2026 the White House unveiled a FY27 budget request that earmarks $1.5 trillion for national‑security programs, with maritime revitalization as a centerpiece. The proposal allocates a historic $65.8 billion to U.S. Navy shipbuilding – a 50% increase over FY26...
The Rise of Digital Debt Securities in the Middle East
The Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) is accelerating the adoption of digital debt securities, with several banks issuing digitally native bonds on blockchain platforms. Notable issuances include First Abu Dhabi Bank’s $100 million note, Qatar National Bank’s $500 million digital bond, Doha Bank’s...
You Filed Your ADV Annual Amendment – What’s Next?
Advisers with a December 31 fiscal year have met the March 31 deadline for filing their annual Form ADV amendment. The next compliance step is the April 30 delivery obligation, which requires sending an updated Form ADV Part 2A brochure—or a summary of material changes with...
Pre-IPO Planning Is No Longer About Going Public. It’s About Keeping Every Option Alive.
The sudden market slowdown in early 2026 has highlighted that pre‑IPO planning is no longer a gamble on going public but a strategic platform that preserves all liquidity options. Companies with IPO‑ready infrastructure can instantly shift to M&A, secondary sales,...
GHOSTED: Brandon Callier Wins Default Judgment Against Absentee Defendant
In the Western District of Texas, pro se plaintiff Brandon Callier secured a default judgment after Vanguard Alliance Group failed to appear in the TCPA and Texas Business and Commerce Code case. The court applied a six‑factor test, finding no...
FTC and Maryland Attorney General Secure Refunds and Penalties Against Auto Group for Alleged Deceptive Pricing Practices
The FTC and Maryland Attorney General announced a settlement with an automotive group for deceptive pricing practices. The group must refund over $75 million to affected consumers and pay a $3.1 million civil penalty. The order also mandates clear disclosure of the...
Second Circuit Curtails Securities Act Claims, Holding That Reverse Split Was Not a “Sale” And Post-Split Notes Could Not Be...
The Second Circuit affirmed that Barclays’ mandatory 4:1 reverse split of VXX exchange‑traded notes does not constitute a “sale” under the Securities Act, and that investors failed to meet the tracing requirement for a Section 11 claim. The court applied a...
SEC–CFTC 2026 Harmonization MOU
The SEC and CFTC signed a non‑binding Memorandum of Understanding on March 11, 2026 to coordinate oversight of overlapping markets. The MOU outlines joint principles, risk‑based “minimum effective dose” regulation, and priority areas such as product definitions, clearing, margin, crypto...
Trials: How to Avoid an Outsized Percentage of Fault in Toxic Tort Cases
Toxic‑tort trials typically feature only one or two defendants, even when evidence points to dozens of potential polluters. This imbalance lets juries assign an outsized share of fault to the trial defendant, especially as plaintiffs downplay non‑party exposures during discovery....
Pennsylvania’s New ENDS Directory Law Raises the Bar for Market Access
Pennsylvania enacted Act 57 of 2025, creating an ENDS directory that limits market access to products with FDA PMTA approval before September 9, 2020. The law imposes a $50,000 surety bond, $2,000 per brand‑family and $200 per brand‑style certification fees, plus annual renewals, and...
Poured Out: Sixth Circuit Overturns NLRB Order, Signaling Cracks in Cemex
On March 6, 2026 the Sixth Circuit overturned the NLRB’s bargaining order issued under the 2023 Cemex framework in Brown‑Forman Corp. v. NLRB. The court affirmed the unfair‑labor‑practice findings but refused to enforce the order, labeling Cemex as rulemaking disguised as adjudication....
DNA Software Meets the Daubert Standard According to the Third Circuit and Adds to the List of New Technologies Being...
The Third Circuit ruled that TrueAllele probabilistic genotyping software satisfies the Daubert reliability standard, permitting its use at trial. The court highlighted the software’s scientific foundation, a false‑positive rate of 0.005% versus 2‑6% for human analysis, and 42 validation studies....
Request for Comments on Texas PUCT Draft Report Regarding Transmission Cost Recovery in the ERCOT Region
The Texas Public Utility Commission (PUCT) released a draft report on 16 March 2026 proposing six changes to how wholesale transmission costs are recovered in the ERCOT market. Key proposals include replacing the four‑coincident‑peak (4CP) methodology with a broader set of peaks...
New York Attorney General Subpoena Defense Counsel on Top Consumer Complaints of 2025
On March 2, 2026 New York Attorney General Letitia James published the 2025 top‑10 consumer complaint list, highlighting 4,809 retail, 4,595 internet, and 4,521 automobile filings. The report underscores new enforcement tools such as the Algorithmic Pricing Disclosure Act, which mandates disclosure of data‑driven...
Accommodations for Pregnant College Students Under Title IX
Title IX requires colleges to accommodate pregnant, lactating, and postpartum students without discrimination. Institutions must provide standard accommodations—such as lactation spaces, flexible break schedules, and larger workstations—without demanding medical documentation for each request. When students return from pregnancy‑related leave, schools must...
Alamo Title Company V. WFG National Title Company of Texas, LLC: Texas Business Court Takes Broad View of Jurisdiction in...
The Texas Business Court ruled it has subject‑matter jurisdiction over Alamo Title’s claim against WFG National Title, interpreting the statute’s plain language to include actions “relating to” intellectual property. The court also held that future damages count toward the $5 million...
Foreign Vessels Operating Under the Jones Act Waiver Should Consider What Other US Laws May Apply
The Trump administration issued a 60‑day Jones Act waiver covering 659 product categories, permitting foreign‑flagged vessels to operate on U.S. domestic routes. The waiver’s authority is limited to navigation and vessel‑inspection laws, leaving open whether other U.S. statutes such as...
Court Allows Discovery Into Insurer’s Use of AI to Deny Claims
A Minnesota federal court granted plaintiffs discovery into UnitedHealth’s AI system nH Predict, which the insurer uses to evaluate and deny post‑acute care claims. The ruling required production of documents describing the AI’s development, functionality, and oversight, while limiting some financial...
Weekly Bankruptcy Alert March 23, 2026 (For the Week Ending March 22, 2026)
The weekly bankruptcy alert for the week ending March 22 2026 lists seven Chapter 11 filings and three Chapter 7 cases across the Northeast and select other states. Notable Chapter 11 cases include Fordham Landing Preferred Sponsor LLC with assets and liabilities between $50 million and...
"The Arbitrator Exceeded Her Authority": Specific Arbitration Agreement Terms Lead to Successful Appeal of Award
The Seventh Circuit vacated a punitive‑damages award in USAA Savings Bank v. Goff because the arbitrator ignored a contractually mandated post‑award review. The arbitration clause required a review mirroring state court procedures and expressly subordinated AAA rules to the agreement....
AI Platforms and Privilege- Tax Departments Should Be Wary About What They Share
Tax departments are increasingly turning to AI for analytical efficiency, but recent case law warns of privilege risks. The U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York held in United States v. Heppner that communications with a publicly...
Major Changes to New Zealand’s Employment Relations Framework
New Zealand’s Employment Relations Amendment Bill, effective February 2026, removes unjustified dismissal protections for employees earning NZ$200,000 or more and introduces a twelve‑month transition for existing staff. The legislation also allows full or partial reduction of personal grievance remedies when...
New Wisconsin Laws Target Grooming in Schools: What School Districts Need to Know
On March 6, 2026 Governor Tony Evers signed two Wisconsin bills that criminalize grooming by anyone in a position of trust at schools and mandate district policies and annual training. The statutes define grooming as a felony, with escalated penalties for trusted...
Building Virginia’s Future: How C-PACE Financing Is Energizing Green Real Estate Development
Virginia’s Commercial Property Assessed Clean Energy (C‑PACE) program, authorized by the 2015 Virginia C‑PACE Act, now operates in more than 20 localities, providing developers with long‑term, fixed‑rate financing for energy‑efficient upgrades. Recent transactions in Prince William County, Richmond, and Rockingham...
Behavioral Health Law Ledger | March 2026
The Office of the Assistant Secretary for Technology Policy and the ONC launched nine pilot programs across nine jurisdictions, involving 45 organizations, to test behavioral health data‑exchange standards using the USCDI+ dataset and FHIR profiles, backed by roughly $20 million from...
How FDA Can Better Align Its Draft Guidance on Flavored ENDS with the Tobacco Control Act’s APPH Mandate
The FDA released draft guidance on flavored electronic nicotine delivery systems (ENDS) that seeks to clarify evidentiary expectations for pre‑market tobacco product applications. The article argues the guidance should better reflect Section 910 of the Tobacco Control Act, which requires an...
Courts Grant Mandamus To Compel Arbitration In A Will Dispute
In Hollingsworth v. Swales, the Texas Court of Appeals held that an arbitration provision embedded in a 2020 codicil is enforceable because beneficiaries who accepted benefits manifested mutual assent. The court ruled that disputes over will construction and trustee actions...
Hospitals and Health Care Providers Brought Before Congress to Testify on Health Care Costs
Congressional committees are convening a series of hearings in mid‑March to address rising health‑care costs, targeting insurer practices, hospital pricing, and pharmaceutical supply chains. The Energy and Commerce Subcommittee on Health will examine site‑neutral payment models, while the Oversight &...
Seven Years in the Making: Oklahoma Enacting Comprehensive Consumer Privacy Law
Oklahoma’s Senate Bill 546 cleared the House 84‑4, moving the state toward becoming the 21st jurisdiction with a comprehensive consumer privacy law. The bill adopts a Virginia‑style “Consensus Privacy” framework, applying to entities that process data of at least 100,000...
Haiti TPS Remains Active While Supreme Court Considers Trump Administration’s Emergency Request
The Trump administration has filed an emergency petition with the U.S. Supreme Court to allow the termination of Haiti's temporary protected status (TPS) while ongoing litigation proceeds. Lower courts have blocked the February 2026 termination, keeping Haitian TPS holders protected...