The Ninth Circuit’s decision in Diemert v. City of Seattle highlights some of the potential risks associated with workplace diversity initiatives, specifically, whether and under what circumstances they arguably foster conditions that contribute to unlawful race discrimination or harassment.
Reversing
In a predictable shift toward employer-friendly standards, the National Labor Relations Board (“Board”) has reinstated a standard that gives employers greater latitude in determining whether an employee’s abusive conduct during union or other protected activity loses legal protection under the
Construction projects have always relied on trust when evaluating costs, but today’s market conditions are driving owners and developers to seek greater visibility into how project pricing is developed and verified. With tighter project margins, ongoing uncertainty in labor and
Many owners and contractors assume that their construction contract controls how claims and disputes will be handled. After all, substantial time is often spent negotiating notice provisions, mediation requirements, dispute resolution procedures, and payment terms.
Beginning with many private construction
California’s late-session privacy and AI agenda is moving quickly. In the past 30 days, Governor Gavin Newsom has signed several technology bills addressing AI accountability, child online safety, and targeted privacy protections, while other significant measures remain on his desk.
On August 26, 2026, General Counsel for the National Labor Relations Board (“Board”) Crystal S. Carey issued Memorandum GC 26-04, signaling that many of the employee-friendly precedents adopted during the Biden years are squarely in the crosshairs.
While a GC
A recent Oregon Land Use Board of Appeals (LUBA) decision could significantly affect the siting of standalone battery energy storage systems (BESS) on exclusive farm use (EFU) land. In Remington BESS, LLC v. Marion County, LUBA reversed Marion County’s denial
On August 18, 2026, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit rejected industry challenges to the designation by U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) of perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) and perfluorooctane sulfonate (PFOS) as hazardous substances under the Comprehensive Environmental
Background
On August 13, 2026, Commissioner Darcie L. Houck issued a proposed decision (“PD”) in Rulemaking 22-02-002 that would revise two policies central to how the California Public Utilities Commission (“CPUC” or “Commission”) engages with California Native American Tribes (“Tribes”): the
Originally published to the Seattle Daily Journal of Commerce on August 11, 2026
Ending a construction contract can trigger significant legal and practical consequences for owners and contractors. This article examines the risks that can arise when project participants decide
