In the Gulf of Mexico, helicopters have replaced seagoing vessels as the primary mode of transporting workers from shore to their jobs on offshore platforms and rigs. It is black letter law that a seagoing vessel in peril that is rescued is subject to an award for salvage. Since helicopters have replaced vessels in the
Citing Climate Change, US Regulations Expand Protection for the Critical Habitats of ESA-Listed Species
On March 14, 2016, two new federal rules went into effect that could change the way in which the Endangered Species Act (ESA) is implemented throughout the United States. The U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service (FWS) and the National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) finalized these rules to update the regulatory provisions on which the agencies
“Responsible Party” Liability Under OPA 90 Not Unlimited
In the most recent ruling of the BP DEEPWATER HORIZON/Macondo Well blowout and spill, Judge Barbier of the Eastern District of Louisiana recently dismissed certain claims made by the plaintiffs under the Oil Pollution Act of 1990, or “OPA 90.”
On April 20, 2010, the BP’s Macondo Well suffered a tragic blowout resulting in an
A Short History of Clean Power Plan Litigation as of March 2016
The Clean Power Plan and its surrounding litigation has quickly become one of the hottest topics both inside and outside the legal world. News that the U.S. Supreme Court had granted a stay of the Clean Power Plan on February 9, 2016 spread like wildfire, but many recent followers are unaware of just how long
UK Sentencing Council: Further Consultation On New Guidelines for Guilty Plea Credit
In the wake of the UK’s more prescriptive approach towards sentencing adopted in the recent Definitive Sentencing Guidelines which came into force on 1 February 2016, the UK Sentencing Council has now turned its focus to the guidelines regarding the credit available for the entering of a guilty plea in criminal cases. The Sentencing Council
Attorneys’ Fees Awards – A Rare Exercise of a Right
Contrary to courts across the pond, rare is the case in American courts where attorneys’ fees are awarded to the prevailing party. This notion is often referred to as “the American rule” of each party bearing its own costs. But in Dr. George T. Moench, et al. v. M/V Salvation, et al., no. 12-1536 the
Status of Oil- and Gas-Related Bills Proposed in California’s 2015-2016 Legislative Session
February 19, 2016 was the deadline for lawmakers to introduce legislation to the 2015-2016 California Legislative Session, and the Legislature’s ever-growing appetite for regulating the energy industry in California shows no signs of being satiated anytime soon. More bills than ever proposing to add new regulations on the oil and gas industry have been introduced.
Despite Best Efforts, US EPA Faces 2016 Deadline for New Financial Assurance Rules
US EPA has agreed to promulgate financial assurance rules for hard rock mining companies by December 1, 2017. Specifically, the agencies requirements will apply to facilities which extract or process metals (e.g., copper, gold, iron, lead, magnesium, molybdenum, silver, uranium, and zinc). The financial assurance requirements will obligate companies performing environmental cleanup to provide a
Website Accessibility and ADA Litigation
Think Americans with Disabilities Act (“ADA”) access litigation is limited to sidewalks, restrooms and physical barriers to the disabled in “brick and mortar” establishments? Think again.
A growing number of lawsuits are being filed against businesses under Title III of the ADA alleging that that the business’s website does not provide adequate accessibility to the
CMS Issues Final Rule for Reporting and Returning Overpayments
On February 12, 2016, the Department of Health and Human Services, Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (“CMS”) promulgated the final rule on the requirement that providers and suppliers receiving funds under the Medicare program report and return overpayments by the later of sixty (60) days after the date on which the overpayment was identified