Author: Rock Fusco Connelly LLC
Update on Legalized Sports Gambling
Back in January we reported that the Supreme Court heard arguments on whether New Jersey would be allowed to offer sports gambling. Only a few days ago, the Supreme Court ruled 6-3 in New Jersey’s favor. Starting immediately, the landmark decision allows each state to legalize sports gambling at its own behest.
Facebook Feels Bipartisan Heat; May Be Too Big For Taming
Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg’s testimony before committees from both the House and Senate further confirmed one of the largest data privacy intrusions in U.S. history. Both sides of the aisle are now pushing for data privacy regulations to protect the millions of Americans who use the site. The scandal arose from the discovery that Facebook
Extended Employee Medical Leave May Be Unreasonable Under ADA
What are an employer’s obligations when an employee requests medical leave but does not have any additional leave available? Traditionally, attorneys have cautioned clients that they may still have an obligation to provide extended leave as an “accommodation” under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). Under the ADA, employers are required to provide “reasonable accommodations”
Social Benefit Companies Get Bidding Edge for County Contracts
A new ordinance recently passed in Cook County gives preferential bidding rights to companies that County believes will service the public benefit. According to the ordinance, if an eligible social enterprise bids no more than 5% higher than the lowest competing bid, the social enterprise will win the bid. An example of a “social enterprise”
Robo-Call Ruling A Win for Businesses
A recent opinion in a federal appellate case (D.C. Circuit Court) was a huge win for American businesses utilizing automated telephone solicitations. The court unanimously voted against a 2015 Federal Communications Commission (FCC) rule aimed at limiting auto-dialing devices, but which also would have prohibited calls from any smartphone. That outcome, which certainly would have
Cannabis, a Potential Business Boom on the Horizon in Illinois
You may have noticed when voting last month in the Illinois primary that Illinois is considering legalizing the recreational use of marijuana. In fact, 68% of Cook County voters voted in favor of this advisory, nonbinding referendum on the ballot. It is no secret that the State of Illinois is strapped for cash with nearly
TCPA – Collectors Not Vicariously Liable For Text Messages
In a recent case concerning violations of the Telephone Consumer Protection Act (“TCPA”) a federal appellate court affirmed a ruling in favor of payday lenders and lead-generating vendors, holding that these defendants could not be held vicariously liable for the actions of a non-party “publisher” that sent a text message to numerous individuals on behalf
Update on the Illinois Biometric Information Privacy Act
Recently, an employee filed a complaint in Cook County alleging his employers, Elite Staffing Inc. and Visual Pak Co., collected and stored his fingerprints without his permission. If true, this would be a direct violation of the Illinois Biometric Information Privacy Act (BIPA). As noted in previous newsletters, we have been expecting an increase in
Workers Claim Employer Exposed their Personal Data
In yet another troublesome cybersecurity case, employees in Florida have filed a federal case against their employer for inadvertently disclosing their personal information. The company on the hot seat is Lincare Holdings, Inc., a home health care corporation. A human resources employee at the company allegedly divulged workers’ private information when someone pretending to be
Illinois Nursing Home Hit with BIPA Claims
Here’s an example that the Illinois Biometric Information Privacy Act (“BIPA”) is not an idle threat. An Illinois nursing home was recently hit with a putative class action by employees who claim that daily biometric fingerprint scans violate their privacy rights under the law. The company on the defensive is Oak Park Rehabilitation & Nursing