Pharmaceutical Injuries: When Medicine Makes You Worse

California has enacted a major reform for CEQA, creating a substantial exemption for infill urban housing.  I’ve written why this is, on balance, beneficial for housing and the environment.  But I also want to highlight a pitfall as the state continues looking at future reforms for CEQA.  California has long relied on CEQA as a gap-filler for its other environmental laws.  As the state pares back CEQA, it should look at where it needs to update other state environmental laws to fill in gaps, where appropriate. State Senator Scott Wiener and Assemblymember Buffy Wicks have been the main leaders in the state legislature in pushing for updating CEQA to facilitate housing and building a clean energy infrastructure.  In this interview, Senator Wiener emphasizes that he thinks the environmental downsides of CEQA reform are relatively minimal because: First of all, outside of CEQA, California has very strong environmental laws, like it’s protecting…

Not all AI is built for legal and IP decision-making’s rigor. An American lawyer made headlines in 2023 for citing fictitious court cases in a court filing—cases that never occurred. The perpetrator: a chat AI that created legal precedents with impressive confidence and zero accountability. Recent news in the UK came out about official notices regarding court cases using generative AI after official court cases uncovered hallucinated citations. These high-profile mistakes all share a common concern among legal and intellectual property organizations: AI computer programs can convincingly deceive, and if not regulated by experts, its consequences can be anywhere from embarrassment to malpractice. As more and more IP professionals integrate generative AI into processes—everything from patent disclosures to prior art searches—it’s time to confront an uncomfortable reality: Not all AI is built for legal and IP decision-making’s rigor. And without…

Global law firm Dentons advised NEPI Rockcastle N.V. and its subsidiary NE Property B.V. on obtaining two major revolving sustainability-linked credit facilities totaling €290 million. Finance, Banking, Securities and Corporate Finance, Real Estate, ESG in real estate

Dentons is pleased to have advised Ninja, the quick delivery firm based in Saudi Arabia, on its recent US$254 million investment round led by Riyad Capital. This significant fundraise, valuing the company at around US$1.5 billion, marks the company's emergence as the kingdom's newest tech unicorn and underscores Saudi Arabia's growing prominence as a regional venture capital hub. Corporate, Corporate in the Middle East, Investment Advisors, Technology, Middle East, Saudi Arabia, Jeddah, Riyadh

Global law firm Dentons is expanding its corporate and transactional advice in Germany with the recruitment of Sebastian Klingen, who has joined the firm as a partner in the Düsseldorf office. Corporate, Corporate in Germany, Europe, Germany, Düsseldorf

On July 2, 2025, Westcoast Energy Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Enbridge Inc., closed the previously announced transaction with an alliance of 38 British Columbia First Nations, pursuant to which the First Nations agreed to make an equity investment of approximately CA$736 million to acquire a 12.5% ownership interest in the Westcoast natural gas pipeline system through Stonlasec8 Indigenous Investments. Corporate, Corporate in Canada, Securities and Corporate Finance, Securities and Corporate Finance in Canada, Mergers and Acquisitions, Energy, Energy in Canada, Canada

Caribbean: Dentons has announced the elevation of Shervon Pierre to the Firm’s partnership on the eve of its 7th anniversary in the Caribbean as the region’s only true pan-Caribbean law firm covering 14 jurisdictions with the formal addition of its 15th later this year with Turks and Caicos extending the reach of the world’s largest law firm. Banking and Finance, Corporate, Employment and Labor, Hospitality and Leisure, Litigation and Dispute Resolution, Real Estate, Energy, Anguilla, Antigua and Barbuda, Barbados, British Virgin Islands, Dominica, Grenada, Guyana, Jamaica, Montserrat, St. Kitts and Nevis, St. Lucia, St. Vincent and The Grenadines, Trinidad and Tobago

Dentons Lee participated in the Korea-Germany Medical Industry Cooperation Forum, held on Monday, June 30, 2025, at the Best Western Premier Gangnam Hotel in Seoul, delivering a presentation on key considerations for German medical companies entering the Korean market. Labor and Employment, Life Science and Health Care, Seoul

Jeannie Marie Paterson (University of Melbourne - Law School), Vivi Tan (RMIT; University of Melbourne - Melbourne Law School) & Julian Webb (University of Melbourne - Melbourne Law School) have posted Generative AI in Small Value Consumer Disputes: Reviving Not Resolving Challenges of Design and Governance in Online Dispute Resolution ((2025) 48(4) University of New South Wales Law Journal (Forthcoming)) on SSRN. Here is the abstract: This article examines the benefits and risks of generative AI use in an important domain that is currently under-serviced by the civil justice system: small value consumer claims, where generative AI has been proposed as a means of closing the access to justice gap. In the field of online dispute resolution ('ODR'), use has already been raised, and in some instances actioned, of digital tools such as expert systems and rules-based chatbots to assist potential litigants. Generative AI has considerable attractions in…

The National Taxpayer Advocate has released her Fiscal Year 2026 Objectives Report to Congress, a statutorily-required annual report outlining the objectives of the Office of the Taxpayer Advocate for the upcoming fiscal year. While covering many topics, the report helpfully provides updated data regarding the status of the dwindling IRS workforce. Most critically, the Taxpayer Advocate reports that between Inauguration Day in January, and June 4, 2025, the number of IRS employees has been reduced from 102,113 to 75,702, a reduction of more than 25 percent. The bulk of this reduction was achieved through what the Taxpayer Advocate refers to as “employee departure incentives,” rather than layoffs. As we have previously covered, these incentive programs encourage IRS employees to voluntarily resign but continue receiving pay and benefits for a limited period of time. The Taxpayer Advocate’s report contains the following chart showing IRS personnel losses…

Over 30 human rights organizations and NGOs on Monday urged the United Nations and governments worldwide to hold Chinese officials to account for the continued systemic repression of human rights lawyers. The letter warned that as a result of the systemic crackdown on the legal profession, legal professionals’ and activists’ willingness to express their views has significantly declined, resulting in a chilling effect on opposition against government repression, crimes against humanity, and human rights violations. In the joint statement, Amnesty International, among others, urged governments to “heed” the call by UN experts to counter this development by establishing a “dedicated mechanism to monitor and report on the human rights situation in China.” Known as the “709 Crackdown,” dating back ten years, the Chinese government has arbitrarily repressed and prosecuted numerous legal practitioners and human rights activists,…

[If this is the best the law deans can muster, SCOTX should seriously reconsider what value the ABA provides. ] Last week, I submitted a comment to the Supreme Court of Texas. In short, I argued that SCOTX should discount the opinions of the law school deans, as they do not represent the public interest. I've now reviewed the letter signed by deans from eight law schools, including my own. With respect, I did not find this letter very persuasive. Indeed, if this is the best the law deans can muster, then SCOTX should seriously reconsider what value the ABA provides. By contrast, the letter from University of Texas Dean Bobby Chesney offers a candid and realistic assessment of the costs and benefits of the ABA. Let's walk through the primary letter, which I suspect was drafted by Dean Leonard Baynes at the University of Houston Law Center. (As a general rule, the lead signature usually belongs to the primary mover.) First, the letter states that the ABA provides a…

Navigating a personal injury claim can be daunting, and selecting the right attorney is one of the most critical decisions you’ll make. Often, injury victims are confronted with two options: a local personal injury attorney or a larger, well-known national firm. While national firms often attract attention due to their extensive marketing budgets, hiring a skilled local attorney can offer unique and compelling benefits tailored to your case.   This post explores the advantages of hiring a local personal injury attorney like Freddy Saavedra of Saavedra Law Firm. From personalized attention to deep community ties, you’ll discover why choosing local is often the most innovative legal strategy.   Deep Understanding of Local Laws and Courts Knowledge of Local Legal Requirements One of the key advantages of hiring a local attorney is their thorough understanding of state and local laws. Each state has its own rules and regulations for personal injury…

In-custody police interviews are high-pressure situations, especially if you don’t fully understand your rights. At The Sims Law Firm in Ridgeland, Mississippi, we know how quickly these encounters can lead to damaging statements or even serious charges. Whether you’ve been arrested or formally charged, or simply asked to come in for questioning, knowing how and when to assert your constitutional rights is critical to protecting your future. What Does the Sixth Amendment Guarantee? The Sixth Amendment protects criminal defendants by guaranteeing a public trial without delay, an impartial jury, the right to a lawyer, and the right to cross-examine your accusers and the charges against you. This right to counsel applies during all “critical stages” of prosecution—but only after formal charges are filed (by indictment, arraignment, or complaint). As clarified in Texas v. Cobb, the right is “offense-specific,” meaning it only applies to the…

[Kennedy v. Braidwood Management, Inc. follows in the ignoble tradition of NFIB, King, and California.] For more than a decade, it seems that different rules apply to Obamacare cases. In NFIB v. Sebelius (2012), a penalty was rewritten into a tax, and a mandatory Medicaid expansion was rewritten into a voluntary program. In King v. Burwell (2014), "established by the State" was rewritten as "established by the federal government." In California v. Texas (2021), the Court found that the plaintiffs waived a standing argument that was clearly invoked. And so on. When health care is at issue, all the usual rules go out the window. The latest ACA case continues the trend. Kennedy v. Braidwood Management, Inc. is an Appointments Clause case. Yet, the Court resolves this dispute based on a theory not developed below. Justice Thomas's dissent explains what happened: This case concerns the U. S. Preventive Services Task Force, a body that issues legally binding…

Cody Chavous Shooting Austell. Justice for Family? Our firm has over 25 years of experience representing victims of security failures across Georgia, and we have secured nearly $250 million dollars for our Clients.  Read Our Legal Take below to find out what legal options are available to the family of Cody Chavous. Cody Chavous Killed in Austell, GA Apartment Complex Shooting. (Fox5Atlanta.com) Austell, GA – Gunfire rang out in the vicinity of an apartment complex Friday night, July 4, 2025, leaving one man dead. As reported by Fox5Atlanta.com, “[o]fficers responded to calls about a possible shooting” that occurred “near a Cobb County apartment complex.”  AJC.com reports that the “shooting [occurred] at an apartment complex near Austell.” AtlantaNewsFirst.com is reporting, “When officers arrived, the found 33-year-old Cody Chavous of Austell with multiple gunshot wounds. He was taken to Grady Memorial Hospital where he…

I'll forthrightly state that, at the outset, I was dubious about this Ninth Circuit holding. But, in the end, the opinion by Judge Lasnik -- sitting by designation from the Western District of Washington -- probably persuades me.There's a personal jurisdiction fight between the parties and the general counsel of the defendant submits an affidavit that contains misleading or inaccurate facts that says that the defendant has no contacts with the forum state. After some discovery, the plaintiffs figure this out and file a Rule 11 motion, which in turn results in the defendant withdrawing the affidavit. Since that withdrawal was within the 21-day safe harbor period, no sanctions under Rule 11 are permitted.But the plaintiffs then ask for sanctions under 28 U.S.C. § 1927, which permits sanctions against “[a]ny attorney or other person admitted to conduct cases in any court of the United States or any Territory thereof who so multiplies the proceedings in…

While high-conflict family law trials are not the norm, they continue to overwhelm the justice system in numbers that seem to be escalating. JP v. KS 2025 BCCA 112 is such a case.  The litigation began in September 2018  when the police were called by the parties’ 6-year-old daughter, who together with her brother, witnessed their father violently assault their mother.  JP was arrested and removed from the home, while KS was admitted to hospital, an event that resulted in civil, criminal, and family law proceedings. The Ministry of Family and Child Services was also involved with the family.  The criminal trial for assault concluded in November 2020 with a guilty plea and an absolute discharge. After 4 adjournment applications were brought by JP, the civil trial commenced peremptory on JP in April 2021, where KS sought damages, resulting in a pecuniary damages award to her of $100,000 and non-pecuniary damages of $695,000. This was not…