Taylor Kirklin

Since the enactment of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, the federal courts have disagreed on whether the powerful employment protections of this Act apply to one of the largest workforces in American society: prison inmates. Despite dozens of opinions from the federal courts, there has been no resolution of this issue. This Note examines the circuit split on Title VII rights for prison inmates and proposes a model for facilitating Title VII claims by prisoners. Part I explains the development of the prison labor system in the United States and the importance of Title VII employment protections for American society. Part II examines the split of authority among the circuit courts on Title VII protections for inmates. The Tenth Circuit prohibits Title VII suits by inmates, while the Ninth Circuit and others have allowed inmates to bring Title VII claims. Part III argues that the Tenth Circuit has adopted a flawed analysis for denying these employment protections. Rejecting the Tenth Circuit’s analysis, Part III argues that the federal courts should engage in a detailed fact-intensive inquiry into the relationship between the inmate and the prison facility to determine whether a qualified employment relationship exists. Finally, Part III proposes a more thorough analysis to guide courts in determining whether an inmate is covered by Title VII.

The federal courts have struggled to define the role that prior third-party settlements should play in determining damages for patent infringement. Although the use of such evidence is governed by the Federal Rules of Evidence, appellate and district courts have failed to reach consensus regarding the appropriate application of these rules. Most recently, in ResQNet v. Lansa, the Federal Circuit noted that the most reliable evidence of damages for infringement may be a license that emerges from a previous settlement. This decision prompted a flurry of new rulings by district courts regarding the admissibility and discoverability of evidence of previous third-party settlements. These rulings have made matters worse: Although these decisions reflect an admirable attempt at clarifying the scope of Rule 408, they have wrought confusion on patent practitioners as new splits across the federal districts — and even within single districts, including the Eastern District of Texas — have emerged.

The Annual Rural Health Conference is the largest annual conference bringing professionals in the industry together in an interactive and educational setting. Speakers discuss current topics in public health and rural health and present the latest information regarding start-up and ongoing management of rural healthcare delivery models.

Doing business in the United States is not always easy and there are many things that need to be taken into consideration. President Trump has signed several executive orders that affect businesses outside the U.S. operating here. The first 100 days typically indicate how a president plans to execute his agenda over the next four years. During this webinar, the speakers will provide an update on recent developments from the Trump administration and what they mean for foreign businesses that want to set up business operations in the U.S. Topics will include: Market update and business outlook Changes for foreign businesses coming to the U.S. Updates on taxes Tariffs and mitigation strategies Expected modifications to legal immigration processes Updates in intellectual property

Luis Arandia will present on global trade update at Michigan World Trade Week’s 39th International Business Conference. His discussion will cover the latest developments in global trade, including regulatory changes, supply chain challenges, tariff updates, and emerging market trends. The session will provide valuable insights to navigate the shifting trade landscape and stay competitive in an increasingly dynamic global economy.

Kelly Koss, Kenneth Gorenberg and Kelsey Dilday Miller will be speaking at RISKWORLD 2025 in Chicago. This year’s conference is part of a year-long 75th anniversary celebration of RIMS and is the largest and most comprehensive event in risk management helping attendees advance their career through networking events, top-tier educational programming, and resources to navigate the evolving risk landscape.

Tony Burba will be a panelist at the HCCA 29th Annual Compliance Institute, presenting as part of the session titled “Legal and Compliance in Real Life: Best Practices for Partnering with Counsel Before, During, and After an Investigation.” The panel will explore how to identify and distinguish the independent and interrelated roles and responsibilities of an organization’s compliance officer and legal counsel. The session will also address best practices for ensuring harmonious collaboration and cooperation between an organization’s compliance officer and legal counsel and discuss opportunities and pitfalls through case studies and other real-world examples.