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On May 25, 2023, the Illinois legislature passed HB 2878, a colossal 195-page bill, that impacts numerous public procurement laws, including curbing the percentage of retainage that local governments may withhold from contractors on public construction projects in Illinois. On June 22, 2023, the...
The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) Office for Civil Rights (OCR) announced a settlement on June 28, 2023 of potential violations of the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) Privacy and Security Rules with iHealth Solutions, LLC (doing business as Advantum...
Contractors could start seeing six-figure fines from the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) in the next few months thanks to sweeping policy changes implemented earlier this year. In a press release and two internal memoranda issued January 26, 2023, the Department of Labor (DOL)...
The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) Office for Civil Rights (OCR) recently announced two settlements with HIPAA-covered entities – one in Washington State and one in New Jersey with settlements of $240,000 and $30,000, respectively. In the Washington State settlement, hospital...
If you are the owner or co-owner of a small to medium-size medical practice, dental practice, or other health care concern, you have probably never thought of your practice as the type of vehicle that can be used to launder money—not much revenue in the form of cash, too much regulatory oversight...
As construction is truly a team sport, a contractor’s success hinges on the contributions of all team members—the laborers and tradesman, the project managers and office personnel, c-suite executives, and, yes, the company’s lawyer. Too often, however, construction companies turn to counsel as a...
Earlier this month, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (“HHS”) Office for Civil Rights (“OCR”) announced two (2) different settlements, one with a HIPAA business associate for $350,000 and one with a HIPAA-covered entity pursuant to the OCR Right of Access Initiative for $15,000...
What Do We Do Now?! How To Handle an OSHA Inspection An inspection from the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) can affect a construction site in many ways—from workflow disruptions to compliance issues. In this seminar, Michael Metz-Topodas reviews the regulatory requirements...
A recent decision resolving a dispute arising from pre-pandemic supply chain issues that delayed construction of a wind farm in Illinois illustrates the ever-present risks posed by supply chain disruptions and provides a sobering demonstration of how liability for these risks can be shifted by...
Brave New World – Emerging Standards for Safety and Health in the Cannabis Industry Partners Jonathan Havens and Michael Metz-Topodas will be speaking during a CLE Webinar about emerging standards in the cannabis industry. Topics for Discussion include: Overview of the cannabis process and health...
On April 12, 2023, the Office for Civil Rights (OCR) within the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) issued a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (the “ Notice ”) to solicit comments on its proposal to modify the HIPAA Privacy Rule. Specifically, the Privacy Rule modifications described in...
"A Change Is Gonna Come" What OSHA's Policy Revisions May Mean for the Construction Industry Michael Metz-Topodas, a Partner in the firm's Construction Practice, will be speaking on a panel during the American Subcontractors Association of Central Pennsylvania Half-Day Construction Symposium...
Lisa Colon, a partner in the firm's Construction practice, will be leading a presentation during the Associated General Contractors of New York State Construction Leadership Academy class. The annual program is composed of 20 to 30 mid-career managers who have been identified by their companies as...