As the use of biometric identifiers for timekeeping, handheld devices, and security grows, so does state regulation and litigation. A recent Illinois Supreme Court ruling and the subsequent flood of litigation regarding compliance with Illinois’s Biometric Information Privacy Act (BIPA) highlights the urgent need to review biometric compliance protocol. 

In Autumn 2018, the Firm analyzed two federal court decisions that held the FAAA preempted the plaintiffs’ negligent selection claims against a broker. Since then, three additional federal district courts have addressed this issue as the law surrounding broker liability continues to develop.

The 2018 Farm Bill (the Bill) removed hemp and hemp-derived products—provided they contain a THC concentration of 0.3% or less—from the Controlled Substances Act’s definition of marijuana, effectively decriminalizing the transportation of those products at the federal level. But, as some carriers and their drivers have learned, states can prohibit transportation of hemp and related products within their borders.

At issue in New Prime, Inc. v. Oliveira, decided on January 15, 2019, was whether Mr. Oliveira—who personally drove a lease-purchase truck—was exempt from the Federal Arbitration Act (FAA) because he had a “contract of employment.” The answer would determine whether Prime could invoke the FAA to enforce an arbitration agreement Mr. Oliveira had agreed to.

The Canada Revenue Agency (CRA) now administers a federal fuel tax that is part of the Canadian government’s plan to reduce Greenhouse Gas (GHG) emissions in Canada. Failure to timely register or pay the fuel charge may result in penalties and interest.  

The way transportation companies conduct business today is changing quicker than ever, with technology presenting new opportunities and challenges. The Scopelitis Firm actively follows these changes and frequently assists newly-formed, technology-based transportation companies and established companies that seek to adopt new technologies to enhance their existing business model.