The Indiana Court of Appeals (the “Court”) affirmed a temporary involuntary commitment, finding clear and convincing evidence of grave disability despite the patient’s plan to live with his grandmother. The Court explained the availability of a willing caregiver does not preclude commitment when a patient’s mental illness leaves him unable to function independently and safely manage his care. In re Civil Commitment of W.S., No. 26A-MH-883 (Ind. Ct. App. Oct. 26, 2026).
Background
W.S. was hospitalized after experiencing…
Continue Reading Indiana Court of Appeals Affirms Temporary Commitment Despite Availability of Family Support

In an August 7, 2026, order denying a patient’s request for a preliminary injunction in Raphael v. Mantei (“Raphael“), a Washington trial court (the “Court”) held that an audio recording created by an ambient artificial intelligence (“AI”) documentation tool was exempt from a patient’s right of access under Washington law because the recording was used for an administrative purpose. The decision is believed to be one of the first rulings in the country to address whether recordings…
Continue Reading Washington Court Holds Ambient AI Recording Exempt from Patient Access

On October 23, 2026, the U.S. District Court for the District of Connecticut (the “Court”) denied cross-motions for summary judgment in a closely watched challenge to a hospital’s age-based physician screening policy. In EEOC v. Yale New Haven Hospital, Inc., No. 3:20-cv-00187 (KAD) (D. Conn. Oct. 23, 2026), the Court concluded that factual disputes precluded a determination at summary judgment of whether the hospital’s policy violates the Age Discrimination in Employment Act (“ADEA”) or Americans with Disabilities Act…
Continue Reading Hospital’s Age-Based Physician Screening Policy Under Attack

  • PwC and ULI’s Emerging Trends in Real Estate identified senior housing as a leading property-sector opportunity, supported by favorable demographics, improving occupancy and constrained construction. Medical office was also listed as an attractive sector, while hospitals and investors continue emphasizing outpatient facilities and lower-cost ambulatory settings.
  • Walker & Dunlop’s Seniors Housing Outlook reports 90.1% national occupancy, 4.7% rent growth and only 23,700 units under construction in Q2 2026. Limited supply, improving operations and expanding debt liquidity are increasing competition

    • …
    Continue Reading Weekly Hospital Real Estate Briefing: Senior Housing Is a Leading Opportunity for Investors | Bon Secours Affiliate Bids $5.7B for Surgery Partners | Atrium Health Makes Major Behavioral Health Investment | Las Vegas Children’s Hospital Lands $150M Gift

    Beginning January 1, 2027, Illinois employers will face expanded obligations under the Illinois Human Rights Act (IHRA). New amendments increase potential liability for employment policies that disproportionately affect protected groups and require employers to provide reasonable accommodations for menopause-related conditions.

    Employers should review workplace policies, accommodation procedures, and manager training programs before the changes take effect.
    Employment Policies May Face Greater Scrutiny Under Expanded Disparate Impact Protections
    The Civil Rights Safeguard Act clarifies that employers may face liability not…
    Continue Reading Illinois Employers Face New IHRA Compliance Obligations in 2027: Disparate Impact Liability and Menopause Accommodations

    The Trump administration has revised the list of Canadian products subject to the 50 percent tariffs imposed under Section 338 of the Tariff Act of 1930. Effective October 30, 2026, the changes remove certain products from coverage while adding others, potentially creating significant cost implications for U.S. importers.

    Businesses importing goods from Canada should promptly review the revised product list, confirm tariff classifications, and assess potential impacts on pricing, sourcing strategies, and supply-chain operations.
    Understanding the Revised…
    Continue Reading Section 338 Tariffs on Canadian Imports Revised: Products Added and RemovedEffective October 30, 2026

    ​​”Evers’ judges” is our effort to present information about Gov. Tony Evers’ appointees to the bench. The information is taken from the appointees’ own judgeship applications.

    Italics indicate direct quotes from the application.​ Typos, including punctuation errors, come from the original application even though we have not inserted “(sic)” after each one. WJI has left them as is.

    Name: Michael C. Schindhelm
    ​
    Appointed to: Waukesha County Circuit Court

    Appointment date: July 3, 2026, to term ending July 31,…
    Continue Reading Evers' Judges: Michael C. Schindhelm

    • October 29, 2026When parentage has not been established in a CHIPS case, courts face important legal limitations on setting conditions for return. Deanna Weiss examines those limitations and explains why waiting until parentage is determined is the best practice. Under Wis. Stat. chapter 48, a child can be found by the court to be in need of protection and services (CHIPS) based upon abuse, neglect, or other reasons.[1] Once the CHIPS finding is made and a child is

    …
    Continue Reading Why Parentage Matters When Setting Conditions for Return in CHIPS Cases

    • Election Day is Tuesday, Nov. 3. A few minutes of planning now can make voting quick and stress-free, whether you’ve voted in every election or this is your first midterm. One free website can help you confirm your registration, see your ballot and know where to go.

      Oct. 29, 2026 — Election Day is almost here. Wisconsin voters head to the polls on Tuesday, Nov. 3, for the 2026 midterm election. Midterms decide many of the offices closest

    …
    Continue Reading Exercise Your Voting Rights: Be Ready to Vote on Nov. 3

    On August 27, 2026, the National Institutes of Health (“NIH”) issued a Request for Information seeking public comment on its proposed NIH Policy on Sharing Summary Level Study Results with Clinical Research Participants (“Draft NIH Policy”). The proposal would make sharing plain-language summaries of study results with research participants standard practice for NIH-supported clinical research, unless sharing is justifiably inappropriate. NIH reiterated on October 22, 2026, that the comment period closed October 26, 2026.
    NIH’s proposal reflects a shift…
    Continue Reading NIH Seeks Comments on Proposed Policy for Distributing Clinical Research Results to Participants

    When Do Securities Laws Apply to Private Companies? More Often Than You May ThinkMany privately held businesses unknowingly trigger federal and state securities laws when they raise capital, issue equity, or bring on outside investors. A common misconception is that state and federal securities laws only apply to publicly traded companies. After all, if your company isn’t listed on an exchange or market, why would the SEC be concerned with your business? The answer may surprise you. Securities laws…
    Continue Reading When Do Securities Laws Apply to Private Companies? More Often Than You May
    Think

    Almost every negotiated agreement governing the sale of a business — whether a stock purchase or asset purchase agreement (purchase agreement) — contains certain provisions attempting to preclude liability for extracontractual representations. Generally, the buyer represents that it relied only on the representations written into the contract, and disclaims reliance on anything included in documents in the data room, stated during seller’s management presentations to the buyer, or otherwise said during negotiations. The purpose is straightforward. If the acquired…
    Continue Reading The ‘Double-liar’ Doctrine: Understanding the Limits of Non-reliance Clauses

    On October 15, 2026, the U.S. Department of Justice (“DOJ”) National Fraud Enforcement Division (“Fraud Division”) and the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Office of the Inspector General (“HHS-OIG”) announced a joint policy (“Policy”) designed to streamline the voluntary self-disclosure process for potential criminal health care fraud.
    Background
    Historically, federal health care providers and suppliers have had several avenues for voluntarily disclosing misconduct. Two of the most significant are DOJ’s Corporate Enforcement Policy (“CEP”) and HHS-OIG’s Health …
    Continue Reading One Disclosure, Dual Benefits: DOJ and HHS-OIG Create a New Path for Self-Reporting Health Care Fraud

    For Illinois employers, workers’ compensation claims can create staffing challenges, disrupt operations, increase costs, and raise difficult questions about how and when an injured employee can return to work. The decisions made after an injury is reported often have a lasting impact on the claim and the employee’s recovery. Fortunately, there are steps employers can take throughout the workers’ compensation process to help reduce risk and improve return-to-work outcomes.

    Document Workplace Injuries from Day One
    The return-to-work process begins…
    Continue Reading Illinois Workers' Compensation: Best Practices for Returning Injured Employees to Work

    Illinois employers that require a valid driver’s license in job postings may need to revise their hiring practices before January 1, 2027. A recent amendment to the Illinois Job Opportunities for Qualified Applicants Act—known as the “Ban the Box” law—prohibits employers from requiring a driver’s license in a job posting unless certain conditions are met. Employers that continue to include unnecessary driver’s license requirements could face enforcement action and civil penalties.

    The Act seeks to expand employment opportunities…
    Continue Reading Illinois Employers Face New Restrictions on Driver's License Requirements in Job Postings Beginning 2027

    Disclaimer: This post is not legal advice (or about the law, at all) and originally appeared on our blog in 2019.Happy (almost) Halloween everyone! Halloween is my favorite holiday, and for the last 25 years or so, I’ve marked it with an annual showcase of the timeless classic, “Garfield’s Halloween Adventure” or “Garfield in Disguise” (depending on your region).GHA is a great special in the Garfield cannon – right up there with “Garfield’s Thanksgiving” or “A…
    Continue Reading Happy (Almost) Halloween