October 2017 Legal Report Resources
Asset seizure. The U.S. Department of Justice issued new guidelines on federal adoptions of assets seized by state or local law enforcement.
Public safety. Canada Minister of Public Safety and Emergency Preparedness Ralph Goodale introduced a bill that would create new oversight measures for the nation’s spy agencies. The bill (C-59) would create the National Security and Intelligence Review Agency to review departments and agencies within the Canadian government that have national security functions.
Pharmaceuticals. Pharmaceutical manufacturer and generic oxycodone provider Mallinckrodt LLC will pay $35 million to settle allegations that it violated provisions of the U.S. Controlled Substances Act.
Gag orders. A U.S. federal appeals court upheld rules that allow the FBI to issue surveillance orders for customer data to telecommunications firms that prevent them from disclosing the order.
Violence prevention. The El Salvador government proposed a new bill that calls for the media to self-regulate to create “nonviolent” content and promote peace. The Law on the National System for the Prevention of Violence includes a variety of measures designed to reduce El Salvador’s murder rate—one of the highest in the world.
Agriculture. U.S. President Donald Trump signed into law legislation that creates a program to protect food, agriculture, and veterinary systems from acts of terrorism.
Immigration. The U.S. House of Representatives passed a bill that creates punishments for individuals who have been forcibly removed from the United States or denied permission who enter—or attempt to enter—the country.
Substance abuse. A new law requires healthcare practitioners in Tennessee to report—in certain cases—to the state when employees test positive for drug usage or refuse to submit to work-related or directed drug tests.
Discrimination. Nevada Health Centers will pay $35,000 and other relief to resolve a sex discrimination lawsuit brought by the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission.
Surveillance. A U.S. federal appeals court reversed a lower court ruling, allowing Wikimedia to continue to pursue its case against the National Security Agency for allegedly spying on its users’ Internet communications.
