September 10, 2021
No items found.

The DOJ Plays Whack-a-Mole to Try to Save Roe From Texas Abortion Law

   

A little more than a week after Senate Bill 8 (SB 8) went into effect in the state of Texas, most of us still have anxious questions about the unconstitutional law, not least of which is, what can be done about this?

Senior Associate Alex Berke, in another article for The Daily Beast, unpacks the Whack-A-Mole maneuver the DOJ is currently engaged in—and may be engaged in for a long time. She writes, “The DOJ is uniquely situated to argue that the law must be stopped from being in effect, because state law cannot violate federal law, and cannot directly regulate the activities of the federal government and its contractors.” Read the article here.

The Texas legislation seeks to upend Roe v. Wade by deputizing private citizens—instead of the state—to enforce a ban on abortions after merely 6 weeks of pregnancy (before most women even realize they’re pregnant). If you haven’t read Alex’s first Daily Beast piece which covers SB 8, you can read it here.

With the HEALS Act the Fight over Pandemic Lawsuits Takes Center Stage

July 30, 2020
No items found.
Earlier this week, Senate GOP leadership introduced their $1 trillion opening response to the $3 trillion Congressional HEROES Act, originally proposed in May. As we have noted, the signal demand coming from Mitch McConnell’s office is liability protection (the “L” in HEALS) for businesses and health care organizations. Translated, McConnell wants to prevent workers from suing employers if they contract coronavirus at work. And the GOP appears firm that without consensus on this issue, there will be no new stimulus.

The Berke-Weiss Law Weekly Roundup, PUA Running Out, Why It Took So Long to Recognize the Child Care Crisis, and New Workers Councils

July 24, 2020
No items found.
This week marks a significant juncture for the US as Pandemic Unemployment Assistance is scheduled to end next week, schools are considering how to safely serve students, and workplaces continue to grapple with safety concerns.

The Week in FFCRA Cases Includes a Class Action Suit against the USDA

July 24, 2020
Leave
Four cases came across the wire this week and we have chosen to highlight them all. One case is the first class action lawsuit filed under the FFCRA and concerns potentially millions of people seeking SNAP aid. The three other suits that were filed this week follow a familiar line for anyone who has been reading our updates. People are getting sick or have family members getting sick and are then denied their right to paid leave and are terminated.

Get In Touch

Knowing where to turn in legal matters can make a big difference. Contact our employment lawyers to determine if we can help you.