On Monday, Jan. 18, 2021, Phillips Murrah Director Jim Roth was featured as a source in the USA Today energy article titled “Biden’s administration could affect Oklahoma’s energy industry in surprising ways.” From the article: Presidential administrations and Congresses throughout the past 40 years undoubtedly worked to nudge the nation’s energy and climate-related policies one […]
The Texas Citizens Participation Act (TCPA), commonly referred to as the Texas Anti-SLAPP statute, provides litigants a valuable tool: an early opportunity to move to dismiss a lawsuit that infringes on their First Amendment rights, and if successful, an award of attorney fees.
By Michele C. Spillman The United States Department of Labor announced a new final rule on January 6, 2021 regarding classification of workers as independent contractors under the federal Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA). “Streamlining and clarifying the test to identify independent contractors will reduce worker misclassification, reduce litigation, increase efficiency, and increase job satisfaction […]
By Janet A. Hendrick Recognizing ongoing changes the COVID-19 pandemic has brought to the way we work and receive medical treatment, the Wage and Hour Division of the United States Department of Labor issued employer guidance on December 29, 2020 on two issues: electronic posting of required employment law notices and when a televisit with […]
By Phoebe B. Mitchell On December 16, 2020, the EEOC published its highly anticipated guidance regarding the COVID-19 vaccine in the workplace. The guidance addresses employment law issues related to the vaccine under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), Title VII of the Civil Rights Act, and Title II of the Genetic Information Nondiscrimination Act […]
By Janet A. Hendrick and Mark E. Hornbeek On December 14, 2020, the United States Supreme Court declined to review the Seventh Circuit Court of Appeals’ decision requiring the State of Indiana to list two females on the birth certificate of a child of a lesbian couple who was conceived by in-vitro fertilization. Ashlee and […]
By Phoebe B. Mitchell On December 11, 2020, the United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA) issued its first emergency use authorization (EUA) for the COVID-19 vaccine, which allows Pfizer-BioNTech, the manufacturer of the vaccine, to distribute the vaccine throughout the United States. This encouraging step for the United States in its fight against COVID-19 […]
Phillips Murrah Presents: Paying It Forward Amplifying the message of one non-profit each month for a year [Paying It Forward] Starting in December, Phillips Murrah is partnering with Oklahoma NPR radio station KGOU to sponsor broadcast announcements that shine a light on a selected non-profit organization each month. Our aim is to amplify each beneficiary […]
On Friday, Nov. 20, Phillips Murrah Director Byrona J. Maule presented a donation of $2500 to Jennifer Eckert, Director of Development for the Regional Food Bank of Oklahoma. The donation is a part of ALFA International‘s 40 Days of Giving program. Byrona chose Regional Food Bank, Oklahoma’s largest domestic hunger-relief 501(c)(3) nonprofit, as the […]
By Phoebe Mitchell and Martin Lopez III COVID-19 Update: Oklahoma Governor Kevin Stitt Issues New Restrictions Against the backdrop of surging numbers of COVID-19 cases in Oklahoma, Governor Stitt recently announced the Seventh Amended Executive Order 2020-20. In addition to the protective measures afforded by the previous iterations of the Executive Order, this newest version […]
Phillips Murrah is proud to announce that our Firm is ranked in Law360’s 2020 Glass Ceiling Report. Each year, Law360 surveys participating law firms in various size categories and ranks their percentage of female attorneys and female equity partners. They publish their findings in the Glass Ceiling Report. For the 2020 GCR, Phillips Murrah is […]
The Texas Access to Justice Commission announced Phillips Murrah is among the recipients of their Champion of Justice Law Firm Award. The Commission presents the awards to attorneys and law firms who champion and support the important work of Texas legal aid and pro bono providers. Phillips Murrah is recognized via our Texas office, located […]
By Phoebe B. Mitchell In the past several years, employers have struggled to determine whether some workers should be classified as employees or as independent contractors. The difference is significant, as employees are entitled to many benefits that independent contractors are not, including overtime for those not exempt under the federal Fair Labor Standards Act […]
Tuesday night, Oklahomans gathered at the state capitol to mourn the death of Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg, an American legal, cultural and feminist icon and, as described by Chief Justice John Roberts, a justice of historic stature and a cherished colleague. Among those who gathered were Phillips Murrah attorneys Nikki Jones Edwards, Cathy […]
[VALUE] Clients, including in-house legal departments, are understandably focusing on lowering their legal expenses. They are looking to mid-market law firms like Phillips Murrah to achieve it.
As with the previous three years, the end of the season coincides with Phillips Murrah’s Blocks for Bucks donation to the Thunder Cares Foundation. This season, Phillips Murrah is donating $18,700.
[TAX LAW] IRS and Treasury guidance indicates that the Treasury intends to put the onus of Trump’s deffered tax repayment on the employer, with the employer potentially subject to interest, penalties, and additions to tax beginning on May 1, 2021, if the employer is unable to collect the accrued tax liability from its employees.
[EMPLOYMENT] USDOL issued additional guidance on Thurs., Aug. 28, regarding employees taking paid leave under the FFCRA related to children returning to school.
In this era of Covid-19, many employees who have never had the opportunity to telework are now, out of necessity, teleworking. This creates many challenges for employers – and none is more important than the employer’s obligation to exercise reasonable diligence in tracking teleworking employees’ hours of work. The Wage and Hour Division of the […]
By Phoebe B. Mitchell On August 3, 2020, the United States District Court for the Southern District of New York invalidated multiple Department of Labor (DOL) regulations interpreting the Families First Coronavirus Response Act (FFCRA), Congress’ response to the COVID-19 pandemic. The FFCRA provides paid leave to employees unable to work during the coronavirus crisis. […]
By Gretchen M. Latham In March 2020, the State Supreme Court entered an Order extending statutory deadlines, which included an extension of any answer deadline on pending civil cases. For foreclosure actions, that means many borrowers were given additional time to reply to a Petition in Foreclosure. However, even though the State Supreme Court subsequently […]
It was here, then it was gone. Now, it’s back again! On Saturday, Aug. 1, 2020, the Oklahoma City Thunder basketball season resumes in Orlando. FL. The Thunder are paired against the team we were supposed to play twenty weeks ago, when the season was abruptly, unceremoniously shut down due to the COVID-19 virus. With […]
The outcome of Thursday’s Supreme Court ruling could have far-reaching implications for the State of Oklahoma and its citizens as it relates to property rights and land titles, taxation, and other matters involving tribal affairs.
[TEXAS LAWYER] Providing experienced, mid-market shareholders at a lower billing rate improves efficiency, enhances value and achieves cost reductions that clients seek.
Today, the Supreme Court clarified that “[a]n individual’s homosexuality or transgender status is not relevant to employment decisions” and that “[a]n employer who fires an individual merely for being gay or transgender defies the law.”
As part of Phillips Murrah’s efforts to assist in the Oklahoma City community’s response to the COVID-19 pandemic, our Firm once again partnered with NPR radio station KGOU. In addition to supporting KGOU’s ongoing work, Phillips Murrah raised $3000 for OU Medicine to assist in acquiring personal protective equipment (PPE) for front-line medical workers, as […]
[ALCOHOL SALES] The passage of Senate Bill 1928 in the last days of the session effectively made the ABLE Commission’s previous directives about curbside sales and delivery of alcohol permanent.
[EMPLOYMENT LAW] Post-Pandemic Workplace Safety Guide – Based on OSHA guidance and the inevitable surge of litigation in the post-pandemic US, employers should act now to both protect their employees and minimize potential liability. Before employees return to the workplace, employers should do this:
By Cassity B. Gies & Sajani “Ann” Zachariah This article originally appeared in the FEB 2020 Oklahoma Bar Journal. Being the spouse of a United States citizen is the most common way to attain lawful permanent resident status, informally referred to as “getting a green card.” Each year, the United States Citizen and Immigration Services […]
[PPP Loans] Treasury’s May 5 guidance update extends PPP repayment date for the safe harbor to May 14. Initially, the repayment date was May 7. Click through for details.
Phillips Murrah Director Jim Roth featured in USA Today energy articleJanuary 19, 2021 - 12:54 pm
Limitations of the Texas Citizens Participation ActJanuary 8, 2021 - 4:14 pm
Employee or independent contractor? DOL finalizes new ruleJanuary 6, 2021 - 12:18 pm
Sign of the Times: Department of Labor publishes guidance on electronic postings and telemedicine visits in light of pandemic changesDecember 31, 2020 - 2:07 pm