News & Legal Updates Archive

The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services updated Medicare billing standards for remote physiologic monitoring and remote therapeutic monitoring, and provided related guidance in the Medicare Physician Fee Schedule (MPFS) 2024 Final Rule.

In a notable victory, Richard Blake, a Member with McDonald Hopkins and Chair of the firm’s Government Compliance, Investigations and White Collar Defense Practice Group, successfully defended his client against charges brought by the U.S. Department of Justice Tax Division.

Proactive steps employers can take to begin to prepare for a proposed salary level adjustment that aims to boost the minimum salary requirement for overtime exempt of executive, administrative, and professional workers under the FLSA by over 50%.

A new final rule from the NLRB will make it far easier for the organization to declare that joint employment status exists in commonplace business relationships like franchising, contracting, and supply chains.

In the rapidly changing landscape of cybersecurity, a recently discovered vulnerability affecting Citrix raises concerns about the effectiveness of multi-factor authentication for unpatched Citrix users.

McDonald Hopkins’ unwavering commitment to safeguarding clients’ digital assets and sensitive information is attracting new talent to its versatile Data Privacy and Cybersecurity Practice Group with the hiring of two new associates - Aysha F. Allos and Arriana Sajjad.

The OIG recently arrived at an unfavorable determination, finding that a proposed arrangement between laboratories for the purchase of the technical component of anatomic pathology could generate prohibited remuneration under the federal Anti-Kickback Statute.

McDonald Hopkins’ members Kevin Washburn and Karina Conley were featured on the Cleveland's WKYC and WOIO’s evening shows to share their expertise and discuss the impact of Ohio’s passage of Issue 2.

The International Counter Ransomware Initiative, or CRI, recently announced that its member nations will pledge to no longer make ransomware payments to hackers, gangs and other criminals

The White House has issued a sweeping Executive Order concerning the safe, secure, and trustworthy development and use of artificial intelligence, laying out numerous prerogatives for federal agencies to circumvent the potentially harmful use and effects of AI.

Ohio’s Election Day is over and voters have spoken: Ohio is the 24th state to legalize recreational, or adult use, marijuana. But now that the polls have closed and the votes have been counted the burning question is what’s next? McDonald Hopkins’ experienced attorneys walk us through what employers, municipalities, and community members should know when it comes to the passage of Issue 2.

It is unclear how the SEC’s case against SolarWinds and Brown will play out, but what is clear is that regulators in the federal and state context have increasingly taken more aggressive action when organizations factually misstate or hide material failings in cybersecurity.

On November 1, 2023, the IRS released new cost of living adjustments affecting dollar limitations for pension plans and other retirement-related items for the 2024 Tax Year. Unlike years past, the increase in the cost-of-living during the past 12 months has not been as significant. 

Covered entities should start to conduct internal assessments to determine any potential shortcomings in their policies, procedures, or overall governance structures to ensure compliance with the New York Department of Financial Services' amendment to its cybersecurity regulation 23 NYCRR §§ 500.0—500.24, or Part 500.

McDonald Hopkins LLC continues to expand its services and reach in southern Florida with the addition of Jeffrey Haut, an associate in the Litigation Department.

The latest amendments to the SafeGuard Rule, introduced by the Federal Trade Commission, reinforce the commitment to protect consumer data in an era of evolving cybersecurity threats.

McDonald Hopkins has once again been recognized as one of the nation’s top law firms by Best Lawyers® in 45 categories, with seven practices ranking nationally.

McDonald Hopkins LLC, a business advisory and advocacy law firm, has announced that Peter Bernhardt has been named the new Managing Member of the West Palm Beach office.

Employee training and awareness is the best investment an organization can make to insulate itself from the far-reaching impacts of a cyberattack. What does that look like?

The Michigan Offer of Judgment Rule under MCR 2.405 remains a powerful tool for encouraging the efficient settlement of disputes.

California continues to provide consumers with some of the strongest data privacy protections in the country, with Gov. Gavin Newsom having signed the Delete Act into law on October 10, 2023.

Resources and best practices to give educational institutions a head start in their battle to safeguard their systems against hackers.

Texas recently amended its data breach notification law, providing a few noteworthy changes.  The amended law took effect on September 1, 2023, and entities conducting business in the state should contemplate the provisions carefully. 

New guidance from the EEOC is intended to assist employers as they deal with the significant changes in the workplace and the law since the EEOC last issued guidance on workplace harassment in 1999.

McDonald Hopkins tax attorney and Managing Member of the Cleveland office, David Kall, shared his perspective on how Ohio HB 33 overhauls taxes, impacting individuals and businesses, in a commentary article published by Crain's Cleveland Business. 

McDonald Hopkins strategic advisory and restructuring attorney Maria Carr shared her perspective on changes in bankruptcy communications when the business in question operates within the cryptocurrency market, in an article published in the Cleveland Metropolitan Bar Journal. 

A recent court decision in Michigan highlights the importance of jurisdictional considerations when it comes to litigation and what businesses need to consider to ensure their rights are protected and cases are tried in the appropriate venue.

California is rolling out a new restriction on non-compete agreements that incentivizes employees to file lawsuits in California to invalidate non-compete agreements .

How do you stay one-step ahead when you didn’t know you were even in the race? The unsavory truth is no business is safe from cyber threats, criminals target everyone whether you are a Fortune 500 company or the mom-and-pop shop on the corner. The extent of damage caused by a security incident can be mitigated by implementing a few key steps both before and during an incident.

Daniel Borek, Maria Carr, Kirstyn Wildey Fritz, Ashley Jericho, Jacob Radecki, Heather Shumaker, and Mark Steiner named Members at McDonald Hopkins.

Mitchell Capp, an Associate in Detroit who focuses primarily on business counseling and litigation, was recently featured in Lawyer Minds, an online publication that profiles lawyers who have built successful law practices, created novel new legal theories, donated thousands of hours to pro bono work and obtained impressive trial results on behalf of their clients.

A new regulation for the safe transfer of any personal data of UK individuals relevant to the UK-US Data Bridge has been set under the UK Extension to the EU-US Data Privacy Framework, with a start date of October 12, 2023.

India recently passed its long-awaited Digital Personal Data Protection Act. It is an expansive law with carve-outs that provide rights for individuals and obligations on organizations operating under its purview.

McDonald Hopkins continues to strengthen and diversify its national Data Privacy and Cybersecurity Practice Group with the addition of Joseph McNelis III, who joins the firm as Counsel.

McDonald Hopkins labor and employment attorney Jennifer Phillips provided insight to News 5 Cleveland on how the UAW's strike strategy could negatively impact workers. 

Senator Andrew Brenner recently introduced the Ohio Craft Brewer Freedom Act – a law intended to allow small craft brewers to negotiate with distributors outside of the constrains of the Ohio Alcoholic Beverages Franchise Act.

Blair Dawson and Eric Benson partner up to discuss the SEC adoption of new cybersecurity rules for public companies and the intersection with insurance, in an article for McGriff Executive Risk Advisors. 

McDonald Hopkins continues to bolster the strength of its Business Law Department with the addition of two new attorneys to its Chicago office - Jason Faust and Samuel Tallman. 

Washington is raising the bar by heightening the privacy protections offered at the state-level to individuals when it comes to the collection of health data.

The California Privacy Protection Agency recently published updated draft regulations that consider the implications of AI and automated decision-making technology. 

A recent Michigan Court of Appeals opinion emphasizes the nuances of conjunctive language and the importance of vigilant contract drafting.

Effective January 1, 2025, businesses operating within the state of Delaware or engaging in the collection of data from Delaware residents will be mandated to observe certain data privacy principles when collecting personal information.

A recent decision by the 2nd U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in New York might mean big consequences for companies experiencing data breaches.

Ohio private employers will pay nearly $90 million dollars less in premiums in the next fiscal year due to an 8% rate reduction. Public employers will pay nearly $8 million less in premiums next year thanks to a rate cut of nearly 4%.

Insights from McDonald Hopkins' manufacturing and supply chain team on how to best position your company if you are faced with costly and lengthy litigation due to a supply disruption.

A court ruling has resurrected a lawsuit by two former McDonald’s employees that sought class-action status in their lawsuit alleging that the company’s hiring practices violate antitrust laws.

Annual salary level to qualify for exempt status could potentially move from $35,568 to $55,068 per year for white-collar exemption positions.

Addressing one of the myriad of impending administrative headaches for employers stemming from SECURE Act 2.0, the IRS released Notice 2023-62 regarding catch-up contributions

Starting January 1, 2024, health care facilities and provider organizations that are parties to covered Illinois M&A transactions or new contractual affiliations will be required to submit advance notice to the Illinois Attorney General under Illinois Public Act 103-0526 (House Bill 2222), which Illinois Governor J.B. Pritzker signed into law on August 11, 2023.

Ruling yet again shifts NLRB focus to a standard that is more “employee friendly.”