Between the Lines Blog
NAIC Reciprocal Exchanges (E) Working Group Advances Proposed Amendments to Model 440 and Model 450
On July 22, 2026, the NAIC Reciprocal Exchanges (E) Working Group met virtually to discuss proposed amendments to the Insurance Holding Company System Regulatory Act (Model #440) and the Insurance Holding Company System Model Regulation (Model #450). Formed in November 2025 under the Financial…
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…
Arkansas Environmental, Energy, and Water Law Blog
CERCLA/Gas Station: Federal Court Addresses the Applicability of Petroleum Exclusion
The United States Court of Appeals, Fourth Circuit (“Fourth Circuit”) addressed in a July 30th Opinion an issue arising out of a landowner’s Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation and Liability Act (“CERCLA”) and common law action alleging contamination from a neighboring gas station…
Solid Waste/Recycling Legal/Regulatory Update: Arkansas Solid Waste Association of North America Annual Meeting Presentation
I undertook a presentation at the August 6th Arkansas Solid Waste Association of North America Annual Meeting titled: Solid Waste/Recycling Legal/Regulatory Update (“Presentation”). The Presentation addressed a variety of federal and state decisions, litigation, rulings, regulations, policies…
Stormwater Enforcement/Construction: Virginia Department of Environmental Quality and Carroll Site Operator Enter into Order by Consent
The Virginia Department of Environmental Quality (“VDEQ”) and Lineberrys Logistics, LLC (“LL”) entered into a July 9th Order by Consent (“Order”) addressing alleged violations of Virginia State Water Control Law and regulations associated with stormwater construction permitting. The Order provides…
Erosion/Landfill Operation: Federal Court Addresses Ohio County's Request for Injunctive Relief
The United States District Court (N.D. Ohio) (“Court”) addressed in an August 12th Memorandum Opinion (“Opinion”) an issue arising out of the operation of a solid waste landfill. See Seneca County Board of Health v. WIN Waste Innovations of Seneca County, LLC, 2026 WL 2333166. The question…
Storage Tank Enforcement: U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and Keyser, West Virginia Facility Enter into Consent Agreement
The United States Environmental Protection Agency (“EPA”) and Umstott, Inc. (“UI”) entered into a June 11th Consent Agreement (“CA”) addressing alleged violations of the federal and West Virginia underground storage tank (“UST”) regulations. See Docket No. RCRA-03-2026-0196. The CA provides that UI…