The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (“CDC”) has published a new survey showing that prescription painkiller overdoses have increased sharply among women since 1999. Specifically, the CDC found that deaths from prescription painkiller overdoses among women have increased more than 400% since 1999, compared to 265% among men. This rise relates to the increased
Washington State Lawmakers In Congress Urge U.S. Attorney General To Respond To States’ Legalization of Marijuana
Washington State’s U.S. Senators, along with five members of the state’s delegation to the House of Representatives, all Democrats, have requested U.S. Attorney General Eric Holder to announce the federal government’s position on Washington State’s and Colorado’s legalization of marijuana as soon as possible. In a letter to Mr. Holder dated June 17, 2013, the
Mechanic Who Did Not Drive On Public Roads Is Held To Be DOT-Regulated Driver
An Iowa court held that a mechanic who only moved vehicles on the premises of his workplace was a “driver” for purposes of the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration’s drug and alcohol testing regulations. Hargrove v. Mail Contractors of America Inc., No. 3-186/12-1210 (Iowa Ct. App. April 24, 2013).
The mechanic was fired by his
New Arizona Law Requires Drug Testing Of Taxi and Limousine Drivers
The governor of Arizona signed a law on May 7, 2013 requiring drug testing and criminal background checks for all drivers of livery vehicles, taxis and limousines. The law requires those who own or lease such vehicles to conduct pre-employment drug testing and criminal background checks on applicants for such driving positions. After hire, drivers
Employee Can Proceed with ADA Suit After Arrest For Public Drunkenness
A federal district court in Pennsylvania ruled that an alcoholic employee may proceed with claims under the Americans with Disabilities Act (“ADA”) after she was fired for failing to report to work when she was arrested for public drunkenness. Diaz v. Saucon Valley Manor Inc., No. 12-0433 (E.D. Pa. March 5, 2013). The evidence
FDA Addresses Epidemic Levels of Prescription Painkiller Abuse
The Food and Drug Administration announced on April 16, 2013 that it is taking two steps to address the “epidemic levels” of prescription painkiller addiction in the U.S. First, it announced that it will not approve generic versions of the painkiller OxyContin. In addition, the FDA approved updated labeling for OxyContin extended-release tablets to describe
EEOC Appeals Dismissal of Random Alcohol Testing Case
The EEOC filed a notice of appeal on April 22, 2013 concerning the dismissal of its suit challenging U.S. Steel’s random alcohol testing program for probationary employees. A federal district court in the Western District of Pennsylvania ruled on February 20th that U.S. Steel’s random alcohol testing program did not violate the Americans with Disabilities