News & Publications

Ninth Circuit Holds Warehouse Worker Qualifies As Transportation Worker Under FAA Exemption

Arbitration agreements with warehouse workers and others who play a "direct and necessary role" in the transportation of goods and people may fall within the "transportation worker exemption" to the Federal Arbitration Act (FAA), the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit held. Ortiz v. Randstad Inhouse Services, LLC, No. 23-55147 (Mar. 12, 2024). Whether an arbitration agreement is exempt from the FAA is often important because absent the FAA, arbitration agreements are subject to enforcement [...]

A Guide To California’s Changes To Civil Discovery Rules

San Diego, Calif. (April 10, 2024)- California legislators have changed the rules of discovery in civil cases through the passage of amendments to Code of Civil Procedure sections 2016.090 and 2023.050, effective January 1, 2024. Section 2016.090 creates a new set of rules for civil litigators in cases filed on or after January 1, 2024, which permits any party to the litigation to demand initial disclosures be provided within 60-days. Such a demand can be [...]

Eleventh Circuit Set To Hear Challenge To Florida Law Barring Foreign Citizens From Buying Real Property

Fort Lauderdale, Fla. (April 2, 2024) - This month, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit will hear a challenge to a recently-enacted Florida law, Senate Bill 264, which restricts foreign ownership or investment in Florida real property from specific countries and imposes a near ban on property purchases by Chinese, Russian and other foreign nationals. On July 1, 2023, Senate Bill 264 [codified under Fla. Stat. Ann. §§ 692.201 to 692.205] took effect. The bill, titled [...]