Continue Reading AI in Health Care: What Privacy Officers Need to Know to Remain HIPAA Compliant
When negotiating any type of contract, it is important to give due attention to all terms, even topics that appear merely ministerial or administrative, as their interpretation may have serious implications in the performance of the contract. The Wisconsin Court of Appeals recently analyzed a right of first refusal agreement (“ROFR Agreement”) on the sale of a property after one party failed to comply with its notice provision. The decision underscores the importance of understanding and adhering to all
Continue Reading Importance of Complying With Contract Notice Provisions
On November 12, 2025, legislation was enacted to end the longest government shutdown in the history of the U.S. While the government is open and operational, the passage of the reopening bill has sent shockwaves through the hemp industry, and for good reason.
The bill provides funding for the government for the next 10 weeks and also contains three fiscal year appropriations packages. One of those packages is an extensive spending bill for the agriculture industry. The agriculture appropriations
Continue Reading Bill to Reopen U.S. Government Targets Intoxicating Hemp Products
Leveling the Playing Field? Lessons From Indiana’s House Bill 1625 Proposal on Noncompete Agreements
As we previously reported, on August 29, 2025, U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit ruled that the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA) does not authorize the president to impose the recent flurry of IEEPA-related tariffs. Following that ruling, the Trump administration sought review by the U.S. Supreme Court.
On November 5, 2025, the Supreme Court shall hear the administration’s appeal. As many court observers expect the Supreme Court to issue a decision shortly after the
Continue Reading Requesting Trump Tariff Refunds Through Protest Filings
Assembly Bill 281 (Senate Bill 287) would require certain Wisconsin employers to participate in the federal E-Verify program. The proposed mandate would apply to state agencies and local government units within Wisconsin. In addition, bidders on state contracts subject to the low-bid process would be required to enroll in E-Verify to qualify to bid.
Insight from Ruder Ware Government & Public Affairs Team:
Assembly Bill 281 was recently approved by the Assembly Committee on Commerce, and its
Continue Reading Wisconsin E-Verify Bill Poised to Pass Legislature
On October 22, 2025, the Third District Court of Appeals in Florida ruled that Florida’s Transportation Network Companies (“TNC”) statute bars agency and vicarious liability claims against Lyft (and presumably other rideshare companies). This decision is important because many states, including Ohio, have similar TNC statutes that can be relied upon to dispute claims for agency, vicarious liability, and negligent hiring.
In Abner v. Lyft, Inc., No. 3D2024-0479 (Fla. 3d DCA, Oct. 22, 2025), the appellate court upheld summary
As a business owner, it’s essential to protect your business from liability. Whether you own a gym, resort, recreational facility, daycare, dance studio, rent boats, kayaks, bikes, other outdoor activity equipment, or offer event space for weddings and other parties, there are many circumstances when you may want to use a liability waiver. Many insurance carriers require customer experience type businesses to utilize waivers. Some public libraries even require them for their Makerspace activities.
But liability waivers present a
Continue Reading Does My Wisconsin Business Need a Liability Waiver?
Lawmakers have introduced a bill (LRB 25-1726) in both houses of the Wisconsin legislature to legalize and regulate medical marijuana. If passed, Wisconsin would be the 41st state to legalize medical cannabis.
The bill was introduced in the Senate on Sept. 29, 2025, by President Mary Felzkowski, R-Tomahawk, and Senate President Pro Tempore Patrick Testin.
The bill comes on the heels of anticipated federal action, including statements by the Trump administration about cannabis rescheduling for purposes of the Controlled
Continue Reading Is Legalized Medical Marijuana Coming to Wisconsin?
Strategic cargo theft—fraudulent schemes where criminals pose as legitimate carriers or brokers to gain possession of freight—has surged across the U.S. freight market. Since the first quarter of 2021, strategic cargo theft has risen more than 1500 percent, with the average loss per shipment now exceeding $200,000. Although this creates mounting challenges for shippers, carriers, brokers, and their insurers, the right safeguards in contracts and protocols can help minimize the risk of a catastrophic uninsured loss.
Disputes Over
The Telephone Consumer Protection Act (TCPA), which regulates telemarketing, fax advertising, and the National Do Not Call Registry, has been around for over 30 years. During this time, the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) has issued multiple orders and regulations interpreting the TCPA, which most courts and litigants believed were binding. This is because of a federal statute called the Administrative Orders Review Act, also known as the Hobbs Act, which stated that a federal court of appeals had
The Fourth Circuit Court of Appeals (“Fourth Circuit”) recently heard oral arguments in National Association of Diversity Officers in Higher Education v. Donald Trump (“NADOHE v. Trump”), a case challenging the constitutionality of certain aspects of President Trump’s anti-diversity, equity and inclusion (“DEI”) executive orders, including Executive Order 14151, Ending Radical and Wasteful Government DEI Programs and Preferencing, and Executive Order 14173, Ending Illegal Discrimination and Restoring Merit-Based Opportunity (collectively, the “EOs”). The Fourth Circuit previously granted
Continue Reading NADOHE v. Trump Update: Oral Arguments Suggest Anti-DEI Executive Orders May Survive Legal Challenge
Over the past several months since the flurries of tariffs implemented by the Trump administration went into effect, we have noticed an uptick in questions regarding products used in agriculture. Specifically, on compliance strategies to mitigate the impact of these tariffs on business. Through the special provisions of the Harmonized Tariff Code of United States (HTSUS), 9817.00.50 and 9817.00.60, U.S. law provides a duty-free mechanism that allows eligible machinery, tools, and equipment that are genuinely used for farming
Continue Reading Duty-Free Entry for Products Used in Agriculture and Horticulture
The “home cooking” or DYI of business documents is nothing new. There have always been people who have chosen to draft important documents without the help of an attorney, often to their detriment. The recent rise of AI tools which offer content generation in moments has seen many business owners and entrepreneurs use them to generate contracts, corporate documents, and even complex legal strategies without the involvement of attorneys. Why AI-drafted Agreements Often Fall Short While AI tools typically
Continue Reading AI-Written Contracts: What to Do When a Client Brings You One