When pursuing a lawsuit against government entities for injuries or damages due to poor road conditions, several critical factors come into play – the responsible entity, any failure to act, recoverable damages, potential partial fault, filing requirements, and assessing liability for state and federal agents and agencies. To read more, see our full post.

The Genetic Information Privacy Act (GIPA) of Illinois, effective from January 1, 1998, and with subsequent amendments, is a comprehensive law designed to safeguard genetic information of individuals. It outlines specific rules and regulations regarding the use, disclosure, and protection of genetic data, emphasizing privacy and non-discrimination. To promote the goals of the Act, violations come with stiff penalties: $2,500 in liquidated damages for negligent violations, rising to $15,000 or higher for intentional or reckless violations.

The primary aim of the Illinois GIPA is to give individuals more control over their personal information. This is achieved by imposing obligations on businesses and organizations that collect genetic data.  It applies to any entity, regardless of its business location, that handles the personal information of Illinois residents. This means any company located outside of Illinois is still subject to the law and the penalties if they breach them regarding Illinois residents.

On January 10th, 2024, the U.S. Department of Labor released their final rule, replacing prior guidance from 2021 on who is an independent contractor and who is an employee, under the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA). 

The rule, going into effect on March 11th, 2024, governs which workers will be considered an employee with overtime pay, minimum wage pay, and other benefits, from independent contractors. The bureau of labor statistics (BLS) estimates that around 7% of the workforce work as independent contractors.

While the federal minimum wage remains $7.25, most states (and some counties and cities) have raised the minimum wage for workers to higher levels. In 2024, we have tracked 23 states with changes as of January 1st or later in the year, as well as multiple California cities and counties.