LawyersUSA

Preemption language dropped from booster seat rule

Language that would have prohibited state law claims of unsafe child safety seats that have been tested by a federal government-approved method has been removed from a final rule promulgated by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.

The move was applauded by the nation’s largest trial lawyers group.

In March, the American Association for Justice filed comments on the proposed NHTSA rule on child booster seats, urging the agency to remove language.

EEOC issues new guidance on workplace religious bias

The Equal Employment Opportunity Commission has issued a new Compliance Manual Section dealing with religious discrimination in the workplace.

The number of filings complaining about this type of discrimination rose to a record high last year.

Lawmakers urge foreclosure moratorium

Members of the House Financial Services Committee are urging the country’s largest banks and financial organizations to impose a temporary moratorium on foreclosures for qualified homeowners while the mortgage rescue package recently signed into law by President George W. Bush takes effect.

Bill to broaden ADA filed in Senate

Just before the August recess, Sens. Tom Harkin, D-Iowa, and Orrin Hatch, R-Utah, introduced a bill that would broaden the scope of the Americans with Disability Act.

The measure is co-sponsored by 63 other senators, and would allow judges more discretion in determining what conditions qualify as a disability under the Act.

Employers brace for genetics privacy law

Employers, health insurers and their attorneys must start planning for a new federal law that will force them to protect genetic privacy.

The new law imposes privacy and record-keeping restrictions on employers and insurers, who are accustomed to exchanging health care information freely.

Bill would overturn high court ruling on FDA preemption

Senate lawmakers have introduced a bill that would reverse the Supreme Court's ruling in Riegel v. Medronic, which said that state-law tort claims over FDA-approved medical devices are preempted by the Medical Device Amendments of 1976.