Spilman Thomas & Battle, PLLC

On March 1, 2023, the Department of Education (“DOE”) released guidance related to the instances in which it will require assumption of personal liability for an institution’s continued participation in Title IV programs. Last year, the DOE announced updated signature requirements for institutions’ Program Participation Agreements (“PPA”). Institutions entering into PPAs already agree to comply with regulatory requirements related to financial responsibility...

Illinois has the strictest biometric privacy law in the country with the Biometric Information Privacy Act (“BIPA”). The BIPA requires employers who collect employees’ biometric data to follow a number of protocols. These protocols include (1) maintaining a written policy about the collection and storage of employee biometric data, (2) providing employees with written notice of that policy, and (3) obtaining informed consent from employees to collect biometric data...

Charleston, W.Va. — Spilman Thomas & Battle (Spilman) announced that Caroline Clark Green joined the law firm as Counsel. Green’s primary area of practice is corporate law with emphasis on real estate law and utility law. Her real property experience includes preparing lease agreements, right-of-way agreements, easement agreements, and purchase and sale agreements. She also performs oil and gas title examinations, including review of applicable mining and well permits on properties, and drafting corresponding title opinions...

Broader Implications for Intercollegiate Athletic Conferences Morgantown, W.Va. — Spilman Thomas & Battle (Spilman) announced that client Mountain East Conference (MEC) recently received a favorable ruling in the Northern District of West Virginia in an important and groundbreaking lawsuit involving the withdrawal of a former member university from the conference. Per the Court’s ruling, the former member is required to pay the conference exit fee in full. Reid Amos, Commissioner of the MEC, said he could not be happier with this result...