Between the Lines Blog
The NAIC Data Breach: A Turning Point for Data Collection and Privacy in the Insurance Industry
On June 17, 2026, the National Association of Insurance Commissioners (NAIC) publicly disclosed that it had identified unauthorized access to its PeopleSoft systems. The breach—attributed to the threat actor group ShinyHunters and part of a broader campaign exploiting a zero-day vulnerability in…
Essential Employment Documents and Procedures for Growing Businesses
As your business grows and you begin hiring employees, the excitement of expansion can sometimes overshadow the critical need for proper employment documentation and procedures. Yet the foundation you lay during this stage of growth can make the difference between a thriving workplace and costly…
The Non-Compete Playbook: Everything Arkansas Employers Should Have in their Arsenal
A crucial employee leaves for a competitor. A promising candidate shows up carrying a non-compete from their former employer. Either way, the questions hit quickly: What can we do? What should we avoid? And what paperwork should we have in place to handle this sort of thing? What employers should…
NAIC Discloses Unauthorized Access to PeopleSoft Systems
Cybersecurity Incident at the National Association of Insurance Commissioners (NAIC) Overview On June 17, 2026, the NAIC publicly disclosed that it identified unauthorized access to its PeopleSoft systems on or about June 11, 2026. The NAIC activated its incident response procedures and is working…
National Association of Insurance Commissioners (NAIC) Spring 2026 Meeting Summary
The Mitchell Williams Insurance Regulatory team of lawyers recently attended the National Association of Insurance Commissioners (NAIC) Spring National Meeting which was held in San Diego, California. This summary highlights issues that various NAIC groups addressed. What You Need to Know: The…
Arkansas Environmental, Energy, and Water Law Blog
Captured Biogas in the United States: American Biogas Council Addresses Landfill Gas Capture Systems
The American Biogas Council (“ABC”) issued a July 7th news release discussing the role of landfills in generating renewable natural gas production (“RNG”). The data is based on research undertaken by ABC. ABC describes its organization as serving as the voice of the U.S. biogas industry…
Citizen Suit Action/Endangered Species Act: Center for Biological Diversity Sues U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Regarding Pearl River Map Turtle
The Center for Biological Diversity (“CBD”) filed a Complaint for Declaratory and Injunctive Relief (“Complaint”) against the United States Fish and Wildlife Service (“Service”) on July 15th alleging a failure to designate critical habitat for the Pearl River Map Turtle within the statutory…
Fall 2026 Energy Saving Performance Contracting Cohort: Metroplan Announces Funding Availability
Metroplan announced on July 13th that approximately $3 million has been allocated to support Energy Savings Performance Contracting (“ESPC”) projects in Central Arkansas. The funding is stated to be part of Metroplan’s United States Environmental Protection Agency Climate Pollution Reduction Grant…
Pollution Exclusion/PFAS: Federal Appellate Court Addresses Insurer Duty to Defend
Co-Author Nayeli Ortiz The United States Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit (“App. Court”) addressed in a May 4, 2026, Opinion a question involving an insurance company’s duty to defend. See Town of Harrietstown v. Westchester Fire Ins. Co., No. 25-2253-CV, 2026 WL 1210135 (2d Cir. May 4…
Arkansas Water Plan Update: Arkansas Department of Agriculture Issues Links to July 8th Virtual Stakeholder Meeting Presentations
The Arkansas Department of Agriculture (“ADA”) issued a July 14th news release noting that it held a virtual meeting on July 8th providing an update on the Arkansas Water Plan (“AWP”). The meeting is stated to have been conducted in partnership with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. During the…