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Nucala Approved by the European Commission for the Treatment of Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease
LONDON, England, Feb. 7 -- GSK (formerly GlaxoSmithKline), a biopharmaceutical company, issued the following news release on Feb. 6, 2026:
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Nucala (mepolizumab) approved by the European Commission for the treatment of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD)
* Approval based on results from MATINEE showing significant reduction in the rate of moderate/severe exacerbations versus placebo
* Nucala is the first and only monthly biologic in the EU evaluated in a wide COPD population with an eosinophilic phenotype
* MATINEE data showed a reduction in exacerbations leading to emergency
... Show Full Article
LONDON, England, Feb. 7 -- GSK (formerly GlaxoSmithKline), a biopharmaceutical company, issued the following news release on Feb. 6, 2026:
* * *
Nucala (mepolizumab) approved by the European Commission for the treatment of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD)
* Approval based on results from MATINEE showing significant reduction in the rate of moderate/severe exacerbations versus placebo
* Nucala is the first and only monthly biologic in the EU evaluated in a wide COPD population with an eosinophilic phenotype
* MATINEE data showed a reduction in exacerbations leading to emergencydepartment visits and/or hospitalisations versus placebo
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GSK plc (LSE/NYSE: GSK) today announced the European Commission has approved Nucala (mepolizumab), a monoclonal antibody targeting interleukin-5 (IL-5), in adults as an add-on maintenance treatment for uncontrolled COPD characterised by raised blood eosinophils on a combination of an inhaled corticosteroid (ICS), a long-acting beta2-agonist (LABA), and a long-acting muscarinic antagonist (LAMA).
The approval was based on data from the positive MATINEE phase III trial in which mepolizumab showed a clinically meaningful and statistically significant reduction in the annualised rate of moderate/severe exacerbations versus placebo plus standard of care in a wide spectrum of COPD patients with an eosinophilic phenotype./1
COPD affects over 390 million people, including about 40 million in Europe./2,3 Globally, it is projected to be the leading cause of hospital admissions over the next decade./4 If hospitalised due to COPD, one in ten patients will die during the stay, up to one in four over the next year and half will lose their lives within five years./5,6 Nucala is the first biologic with pre-specified phase III data showing a reduction in the annualised rate of exacerbations leading to emergency department visits and/or hospitalisation versus placebo./1
Kaivan Khavandi, SVP, Global Head, Respiratory, Immunology & Inflammation R&D, GSK, said: "For the first time, adults with uncontrolled COPD characterised by raised blood eosinophils in the EU will have the option for a monthly biologic shown to significantly reduce exacerbations, which can lead to irreversible lung damage, hospitalisations and emergency department visits. Nucala could offer relief to the millions of Europeans who need additional options beyond inhaled triple therapy to manage their COPD."
Susanna Palkonen, Director, European Federation of Allergy and Airways Diseases Patients' Associations (EFA), said: "The burden for patients living with COPD is immense, especially for those facing continued exacerbations and repeated hospitalisations. We welcome, and our community celebrates, new treatment options for COPD patients as they are desperately needed."
In MATINEE, mepolizumab demonstrated a statistically significant reduction in the annualised rate of moderate or severe exacerbations compared with placebo, both in addition to inhaled triple therapy [rate ratio 0.79, 95% confidence interval (0.66, 0.94), P=0.01] (AER mepolizumab = 0.80 exacerbations per year versus placebo = 1.01).1 The MATINEE trial studied mepolizumab in a wide spectrum of patients with an eosinophilic phenotype including chronic bronchitis, emphysema only or a combination of both.
In a pre-defined secondary endpoint, the annualised rate of COPD exacerbations requiring ED visits and/or hospitalisation was reduced in the mepolizumab group when compared with placebo [rate ratio 0.65; 95% CI (0.43, 0.96) nominally significant after adjustment for multiplicity] (AER mepolizumab = 0.13 exacerbations per year versus placebo = 0.20).1 The incidence of adverse events were similar between mepolizumab and placebo (mepolizumab vs placebo: 74% vs 77%). The full results from the MATINEE phase III trial were published in The New England Journal of Medicine in April 2025 with further data presented at the 2025 American Thoracic Society International Congress./1
In addition to COPD, Nucala is approved in Europe across four other diseases driven by underlying type 2 inflammation, including severe asthma, chronic rhinosinusitis with nasal polyps (CRSwNP), eosinophilic granulomatosis with polyangiitis (EGPA), and hypereosinophilic syndrome (HES). It has also been approved for COPD in the US, UK, and China.
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About COPD
COPD is a progressive and heterogeneous inflammatory lung disease that includes chronic bronchitis and/or emphysema./2 It affects more than 390 million people globally and is the third leading cause of death./2,7 Patients with COPD experience persistent respiratory symptoms such as breathlessness, cough, and sputum along with progressive airflow obstruction due to the chronic inflammation, that impact daily life./2
Despite inhaled triple therapy, many patients experience persistent symptoms and exacerbations./8 A proportion of these patients have elevated type 2 inflammation, characterised by raised BEC. This inflammation contributes to the higher risk of exacerbations, or acute episodes of worsening COPD symptoms, which can result in hospitalisation and irreversible lung damage./2 Early intervention is important in preventing exacerbations and cumulative lung damage./2
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About MATINEE
MATINEE is a phase III, randomised (1:1), double-blind, parallel-group trial assessing the efficacy and safety of mepolizumab 100 mg as add-on therapy, administered subcutaneously every 4 weeks versus placebo in addition to optimal inhaled triple therapy (dual long-acting bronchodilators plus inhaled corticosteroid)./1,8 MATINEE assessed the efficacy and safety of mepolizumab in patients with COPD with evidence of type 2 inflammation, characterised by a raised blood eosinophil count (300 cells/uL). Patients could participate with a range of clinical presentations of COPD including chronic bronchitis, emphysema only or a combination of both. The full analysis of MATINEE included 403 patients enrolled on the mepolizumab arm and 401 on placebo, all of whom had experienced exacerbations in the previous year despite receiving optimised inhaled maintenance therapy./1
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About Nucala (mepolizumab)
Nucala is a monoclonal antibody that targets and binds to IL-5. Nucala has been developed for the treatment of a range of diseases with underlying type 2 inflammation. Nucala is approved for use in Europe across five indications, including severe asthma, CRSwNP, EGPA, HES and COPD./9
For product and important safety information please consult the country's relevant summary of product characteristics. The EU Prescribing Information is available at: NUCALA-EPAR-PRODUCT-INFORMATION_EN.PDF
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About GSK in respiratory
GSK continues to build on decades of pioneering work to deliver more ambitious treatment goals, develop the next generation standard of care, and redefine the future of respiratory medicine for hundreds of millions of people with respiratory diseases. With an industry-leading respiratory portfolio and pipeline of vaccines, targeted biologics, and inhaled medicines, GSK is focused on improving outcomes and the lives of people living with all types of asthma and COPD along with less understood refractory chronic cough or rarer conditions like systemic sclerosis with interstitial lung disease. GSK is harnessing the latest science and technology with the aim of modifying the underlying disease dysfunction and preventing progression.
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About GSK
GSK is a global biopharma company with a purpose to unite science, technology, and talent to get ahead of disease together. Find out more at www.gsk.com.
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Cautionary statement regarding forward-looking statements
GSK cautions investors that any forward-looking statements or projections made by GSK, including those made in this announcement, are subject to risks and uncertainties that may cause actual results to differ materially from those projected. Such factors include, but are not limited to, those described in the "Risk Factors" section in GSK's Annual Report on Form 20-F for 2024, and GSK's Q4 Results for 2025.
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References
1./ Sciurba F, et al. Mepolizumab to prevent exacerbations in COPD with an eosinophilic phenotype. N Engl J Med. Apr 2025;392:1710-1720. Available at https://www.nejm.org/doi/10.1056/NEJMoa2413181
2./ Global Initiative for Chronic Obstructive Lung Disease (GOLD). 2026 Gold Report. Available at: https://goldcopd.org/2026-gold-report-and-pocket-guide/. Last accessed November 2025.
3./ European Respiratory Society. (2023). Introductions. https://www.ersnet.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/01/Introductions.pdf
4./ Khakban, Amir et al. "The Projected Epidemic of Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease Hospitalizations over the Next 15 Years. A Population-based Perspective." American journal of respiratory and critical care medicine vol. 195,3 (2017): 287-291. doi:10.1164/rccm.201606-1162PP. Accessed April 2025.
5./ Waeijen-Smit K, et al. Global mortality and readmission rates following COPD exacerbation-related hospitalisation: a meta-analysis of 65945 individual patients. ERJ Open Res. 2024 Feb 26;10(1):00838-2023. doi: doi.org/10.1183/23120541.00838-2023
6./ van Hirtum PV, et al. Long term survival after admission for COPD exacerbation: A comparison with the general population. Respir Med. 2018;137:77-82. doi:10.1016/j.rmed.2018.02.015
7./ Chen S, et al. The global economic burden of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease for 204 countries and territories in 2020-50: a health-augmented macroeconomic modelling study. Lancet Glob Health. 2023;11(8):e1183-e1193. DOI: 10.1016/S2214-109X(23)00217-6.
8./ Pavord ID, et al. Mepolizumab for Eosinophilic Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease. N Engl J Med. Oct 2017;377:1613-1629. DOI: 10.1056/NEJMoa1708208.
9./ European Medicines Authority. Nucala prescribing information. Available at: https://www.ema.europa.eu/en/documents/product-information/nucala-epar-product-information_en.pdf. Last accessed January 2026.
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Original text here: https://www.gsk.com/en-gb/media/press-releases/nucala-mepolizumab-approved-by-the-european-commission/
[Category: BizPharmaceuticals]
Littler Issues Commentary: Fourth Circuit Allows Implementation of DEI Executive Orders to Proceed
SAN FRANCISCO, California, Feb. 7 -- Littler, a law firm, issued the following commentary by shareholder David J. Goldstein:
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Fourth Circuit Allows Implementation of DEI Executive Orders to Proceed
On February 6, 2026, The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit issued a final published opinion vacating the district court's preliminary injunction against several elements of Executive Order 14151, Ending Radical and Wasteful Government DEI Programs and Preferencing and Executive Order 14173, Ending Illegal Discrimination and Restoring Merit-Based Opportunity, which imposed certain requirements
... Show Full Article
SAN FRANCISCO, California, Feb. 7 -- Littler, a law firm, issued the following commentary by shareholder David J. Goldstein:
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Fourth Circuit Allows Implementation of DEI Executive Orders to Proceed
On February 6, 2026, The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit issued a final published opinion vacating the district court's preliminary injunction against several elements of Executive Order 14151, Ending Radical and Wasteful Government DEI Programs and Preferencing and Executive Order 14173, Ending Illegal Discrimination and Restoring Merit-Based Opportunity, which imposed certain requirementson federal contractors and grantees of federal funds regarding DEI. Recipients of federal grants brought this action based on a claim that the requirements were unconstitutional on their face. While the Fourth Circuit's decision does not preclude future challenges to the administration's views as to what constitutes unlawful DEI or when contracts or grants may be terminated, the court has held that such challenges will have to be based on specific allegations that the executive orders are being implemented unlawfully. This means that federal contractors and grant recipients must continue to live, at least for now, with substantial uncertainty as to what it means to "certify" that they are not operating any programs promoting DEI that violate applicable federal anti-discrimination laws.
Enforcement Threat Provision
With respect to EO 14151's so-called "Enforcement Threat Provision" (the president's directive that the attorney general submit a report with recommendations for enforcing federal civil rights laws and deterring DEI programs that constitute illegal discrimination or preferences), the Fourth Circuit found that the plaintiffs lacked standing to bring a claim.
Plaintiffs had argued that they feared retribution by the Trump administration so that they would be forced to restrict "their speech and conduct in support of diversity, equity, and inclusion" or face penalties. The Fourth Circuit, however, found that these allegations overstated the Enforcement Threat Provision's text. In particular, the court reasoned that the Enforcement Threat Provision would harm plaintiffs only if:
(1) the Attorney General includes in her report a plan or strategy of cutting funds for organizations that engage in DEI, even though the [P]rovision does not mention funding; (2) the President adopts that aspect of the proposed strategic enforcement plan; (3) the plan, however finalized, includes [p]laintiffs (or at least one of them) within the scope of the funding-cut strategy; and (4) some government actor enforces that part of the approved plan and slashes funding.
The court found that this "multi-tiered speculation" was inconsistent with standing.
Termination and Certification Provisions
With regard to EO 14151's so-called Termination Provision (requiring termination of all "equity-related" grants or contracts) and EO 14173's Certification Provision (mandating that federal contracts and grants include terms requiring compliance with federal anti-discrimination laws and certification that no DEI programs violate these laws), the Fourth Circuit held that the plaintiffs had standing and that their claims were constitutionally ripe.
The court then noted that the plaintiffs were challenging these provisions on their face and that "[f]acial invalidation is, manifestly, strong medicine that has been employed by [courts] sparingly and only as a last resort." According to the court, in order to prevail, plaintiffs would have to show that the provisions are unconstitutional in all of their applications or that they lack any "plainly legitimate sweep."
The court held that the plaintiffs could not make such a showing with regard to the Termination Provision because the EO does not ask anything of plaintiffs or regulate private conduct but only "instructs the President's subordinates to act, and then only 'to the maximum extent allowed by law.'" In other words, the "Provision, at this stage at least, is nothing more than 'an outward-facing' policy directive from the President to his agents." As the president clearly has authority to determine policy priorities and instruct his agents to make funding decisions based on those priorities, it is not for the courts to determine whether such policy is sound. The only issue for the courts is whether the policy is unconstitutionally vague for funding recipients.
Applying the Supreme Court's decision in National Endowment for the Arts v. Finley, the Fourth Circuit found that the policy here, while perhaps vague, was not unconstitutionally vague: "when the Government is acting as patron rather than as sovereign, the consequences of imprecision are not constitutionally severe."
The court also rejected plaintiffs' First Amendment Challenge to the Certification Provision. The court first noted that, on its face, the Provision only requires compliance with existing federal laws which plaintiffs have not challenged. According to the court,
What plaintiffs are really asking us to do is read subtext into the Provision's text. And what they're really challenging is how the Administration and its agency actors interpret antidiscrimination law in relation to plaintiffs' DEI programming. Neither is fertile ground for a facial attack against the Certification Provision.
Instead, we're bound by the text. If the President, his subordinates, or another grantor misinterprets federal antidiscrimination law, plaintiffs "can challenge that interpretation in a specific enforcement action." But we can't conclude today that a "substantial number of the [Certification Provision's] applications" will be unconstitutional.
Next Steps
In light of the Fourth Circuit's decision, federal contractors and grant recipients should carefully review all contract terms regarding compliance with federal non-discrimination laws or DEI practices and, before agreeing to such provisions, should consider potential risks. Federal contractors and grant recipients that then choose to agree to such provisions should carefully audit their policies and practices on an ongoing basis to ensure that they are complying, in good faith, with their representations.
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Authors
David J. Goldstein
Shareholder
Minneapolis
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Original text here: https://www.littler.com/news-analysis/asap/fourth-circuit-allows-implementation-dei-executive-orders-proceed
[Category: BizLaw/Legal]
Littler Issues Commentary: DOL Notice Indicates Federal Contractor Minimum Wage Does Not Apply to Contracts Entered Into or Renewed After Jan. 29, 2022
SAN FRANCISCO, California, Feb. 7 -- Littler, a law firm, issued the following commentary on Feb. 6, 2026, by shareholder David J. Goldstein:
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DOL Notice Indicates Federal Contractor Minimum Wage Does Not Apply to Contracts Entered Into or Renewed After January 29, 2022
In 2014 President Obama issued Executive Order 13658, creating a minimum wage for work performed on or in connection with certain federal contracts that is higher than the minimum wage applicable to employers subject to just the Fair Labor Standards Act. In 2021 President Biden issued Executive Order 14026, establishing
... Show Full Article
SAN FRANCISCO, California, Feb. 7 -- Littler, a law firm, issued the following commentary on Feb. 6, 2026, by shareholder David J. Goldstein:
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DOL Notice Indicates Federal Contractor Minimum Wage Does Not Apply to Contracts Entered Into or Renewed After January 29, 2022
In 2014 President Obama issued Executive Order 13658, creating a minimum wage for work performed on or in connection with certain federal contracts that is higher than the minimum wage applicable to employers subject to just the Fair Labor Standards Act. In 2021 President Biden issued Executive Order 14026, establishingan even higher minimum wage applicable to certain government contracts entered into on or after January 30, 2022 and providing that Executive Order 13658 "is superseded, as of January 30, 2022, to the extent it is inconsistent with this order."
On March 14, 2025, President Trump issued Executive Order 14236, revoking President Biden's Executive Order 14026 without addressing the continuing viability of President Obama's Executive Order 13658. Following this executive action, there has been uncertainty as to whether the minimum wage previously established pursuant to EO 13658 would once again apply or whether the higher federal minimum wage applicable to federal contracts has been abolished entirely. Since neither Biden's Executive Order 14026 nor Trump's Executive Order 14236 revoked Executive Order 13658, there is an argument that Executive Order 13658 applies to covered government contracts entered into on or after March 14, 2025.
Employers have been waiting for the U.S. Department of Labor to offer guidance on this issue, which has now been provided, albeit obliquely, in a Notice that is scheduled to be published in the Federal Register on February 9.
In this Notice, the Department of Labor's Wage and Hour Division announces an increase in the minimum wage payable to workers performing work on or in connection with contracts covered by Executive Order 13658 to $13.65 per hour and an increase in the required minimum cash wage that generally must be paid to tipped employees performing work on or in connection with covered contracts to $9.55 per hour. These increases will become effective 90 days after the date on which the Notice is published in the Federal Register.
Far more significant than the announcement of this annual adjustment to the federal contractor minimum wage, however, is the Department of Labor's statement that: "At this time, Executive Order 13658 remains in effect and generally applies to contracts . . . awarded between January 1, 2015, and January 29, 2022, and not renewed or extended on or after January 30, 2022."
The Department of Labor is thus expressing its position that Executive Order 13658 does not apply to contracts awarded, renewed, or extended after January 29, 2022. Unfortunately, the Notice does not provide any rationale for this conclusion. While the Department's conclusion is reasonable, it is not the only possible conclusion given President Trump's failure to either revoke Executive Order 13658 or otherwise explicitly address its continuing applicability.
Because work covered by Executive Order 13658 is very often also covered by either the Service Contract Act or Davis Bacon Act, which establish prevailing wages that are typically higher than the minimum wage established by Executive Order 13658, the continuing viability of Executive Order 13658 will be of limited importance for many federal contractors.
Nevertheless, there may be instances in which an employer will wish to pay workers less than the federal contractor minimum wage for work that would be within the scope of Executive Order 13658, if this executive order applies to contracts awarded, renewed, or extended after January 29, 2022. If the Department of Labor has erred in concluding that Executive Order 13658 does not apply to contracts awarded, renewed, or extended after January 29, 2022, employers could be liable for failing to pay the higher wage./1 Formal rulemaking by the Department of Labor to address this continuing uncertainty would be welcome. Any remaining ambiguity could also be resolved by an executive order revoking Executive Order 13658. Barring such further clarification, federal contractors should consult with their legal counsel regarding compliance with federal contractor prevailing wage and minimum wage requirements.
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See Footnotes
1/ See, e.g., David Goldstein, Jim Paretti, Jason Branciforte, and Carroll Wright, President Trump Decreases Minimum Wage for Federal Contractors, Littler ASAP (Mar. 19, 2025).
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Authors
David J. Goldstein
Shareholder
Minneapolis
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Original text here: https://www.littler.com/news-analysis/asap/dol-notice-indicates-federal-contractor-minimum-wage-does-not-apply-contracts
[Category: BizLaw/Legal]
Littler Issues Commentary: California High Court Limits Use of Formatting and "Fine Print" Arguments to Defeat Arbitration
SAN FRANCISCO, California, Feb. 7 -- Littler, a law firm, issued the following commentary on Feb. 6, 2026, by shareholder Laura E. Devane, shareholder Robert F. Friedman and associate Carolyn Hudson:
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California High Court Limits Use of Formatting and "Fine Print" Arguments to Defeat Arbitration
The California Supreme Court (the "Court") has confirmed that an arbitration agreement's formatting--standing alone--does not render its terms substantively unconscionable, even where the text is difficult to read./1 The Court rejected efforts to "double count" formatting flaws as both procedural
... Show Full Article
SAN FRANCISCO, California, Feb. 7 -- Littler, a law firm, issued the following commentary on Feb. 6, 2026, by shareholder Laura E. Devane, shareholder Robert F. Friedman and associate Carolyn Hudson:
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California High Court Limits Use of Formatting and "Fine Print" Arguments to Defeat Arbitration
The California Supreme Court (the "Court") has confirmed that an arbitration agreement's formatting--standing alone--does not render its terms substantively unconscionable, even where the text is difficult to read./1 The Court rejected efforts to "double count" formatting flaws as both proceduraland substantive defects. The Court also reiterated that extreme procedural deficiencies may warrant closer review of an agreement's terms, and remanded the case in question for further proceedings based on issues unique to the record before it.
Background
In Fuentes v. Empire Nissan, Inc., an applicant, during the hiring process, signed an arbitration agreement. The agreement appeared in dense, small font text and was presented as part of a standard employment packet. After the employee's later termination, she filed suit, and the employer moved to compel arbitration.
The trial court denied the motion, finding significant procedural unconscionability and some degree of substantive unconscionability. The Court of Appeal reversed and directed arbitration. The Court granted review to resolve disagreement in the lower courts over how flawed formatting impacts an unconscionability analysis.
The California Supreme Court's Decision
1. Formatting Defects Are Procedural--Not Substantive
The Court squarely held that font size, density, or legibility do not, by themselves, make arbitration terms substantively unconscionable. Substantive unconscionability turns on whether contract terms are unfairly one sided or unduly harsh, while procedural unconscionability considers the print or presentation of those terms. The Court also noted that a contract's multiple procedural deficiencies do not render the contract substantively deficient.
In reaching this conclusion, the Court clarified that references in prior cases to "fine print terms" address hidden, unfair provisions, not merely small or blurry type. To that extent, the Court curtailed attempts to use formatting issues as an independent basis to invalidate arbitration agreements.
Takeaway: Arguments that arbitration agreements fail because of "tiny print" alone remain insufficient to establish substantive unconscionability.
2. Procedural Issues May Heighten--But Do Not Replace--Substantive Inquiry
While rejecting the trial court's reliance on illegibility as substantive unconscionability, the Court emphasized established doctrine: where procedural unconscionability is high, courts may apply closer scrutiny to the agreement's substance.
The Court acknowledged the Court of Appeal prematurely ended its analysis upon finding no substantive unconscionability, without meaningfully considering procedural unconscionability or applying the required sliding scale framework. The Court further emphasized that arbitration agreements must be evaluated under the same principles as any other contract, neither favored nor disfavored.
3. Related Agreements Must Be Read Carefully
The employee pointed to separate confidentiality agreements executed after the arbitration agreement, arguing they preserved the employer's ability to pursue certain claims in court.
Without resolving that issue definitively, the Court concluded the agreements--read together--raised interpretive questions that should not have been resolved automatically in favor of arbitration. Given the posture of the case, the Court determined the trial court should reconsider whether the agreements, as drafted, created an impermissible lack of mutuality.
4. Remand for Further Proceedings
Because the trial court never reached the employee's separate argument that she did not assent to the arbitration agreement, the Court held the Court of Appeal erred in directing arbitration outright. The Court remanded the case to allow the trial court to address unresolved issues under the proper legal framework.
Key Takeaways for Employers
While fact specific, the decision delivers several employer relevant clarifications for arbitration agreements in general:
* Formatting alone does not invalidate arbitration agreements on substantive unconscionability grounds.
* California courts remain focused on the fairness of the terms themselves, not typography.
* Procedural concerns may increase scrutiny but do not substitute for a showing of unfair substance.
* Arbitration agreements should be reviewed alongside related employment documents to ensure consistent dispute resolution provisions.
* Employers should not assume courts will rely on generalized "policy favoring arbitration" to resolve ambiguities.
Bottom Line
The California Supreme Court meaningfully limited the use of formatting based challenges to arbitration agreements, reinforcing that substantive unconscionability requires substantively unfair terms. Although the Court remanded for further proceedings tied to the specific record, its core holding strengthens employers' ability to defend arbitration agreements against expansive unconscionability theories--particularly those grounded in formatting or "fine print" arguments.
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See Footnotes
1/ A contract is substantively unconscionable when its terms unfairly benefit or harm one side and a contract is procedurally unconscionable when there was unfairness in the process of forming the contract, often due to an imbalance in bargaining power.
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Authors
Devane_Laura
Laura E. Devane
Shareholder
Fresno
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Robert F. Friedman
Shareholder
Dallas
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Carolyn Hudson
Associate
Fresno
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Original text here: https://www.littler.com/news-analysis/asap/california-high-court-limits-use-formatting-and-fine-print-arguments-defeat
[Category: BizLaw/Legal]
CBRE Arranges Sale of Vintage 268-Unit Reserve at William's Glen in Zionsville, Indiana
LOS ANGELES, California, Feb. 7 -- CBRE Group, a commercial real estate services provider, issued the following news release:
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CBRE Arranges Sale of Vintage 268-Unit Reserve at William's Glen in Zionsville, Indiana
CBRE has arranged the sale of Reserve at William's Glen, a 268-unit multifamily property in Zionsville. Birge & Held purchased the property from Buckingham Companies for an undisclosed amount.
CBRE's Hannah Ott, George Tikijian, Cam Benz and Claire Hassfurther represented the seller in the transaction.
"This transaction represented a unique opportunity to facilitate a sale
... Show Full Article
LOS ANGELES, California, Feb. 7 -- CBRE Group, a commercial real estate services provider, issued the following news release:
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CBRE Arranges Sale of Vintage 268-Unit Reserve at William's Glen in Zionsville, Indiana
CBRE has arranged the sale of Reserve at William's Glen, a 268-unit multifamily property in Zionsville. Birge & Held purchased the property from Buckingham Companies for an undisclosed amount.
CBRE's Hannah Ott, George Tikijian, Cam Benz and Claire Hassfurther represented the seller in the transaction.
"This transaction represented a unique opportunity to facilitate a salein Zionsville, one of Indiana's most prestigious communities," said Ott. "We're proud to have represented Buckingham Companies, a valued client for many years, and to have brought forward 28 offers for this exceptional asset they developed. We're also appreciative of the opportunity to work with Birge & Held, whose deep understanding of the asset and market made them the ideal buyer for this property."
Located at 2201 Williams Glen Blvd., Reserve at William's Glen is situated minutes northwest of the Interstate 465 and Highway 421 interchange, within a rapidly growing suburban area of Boone County. Built in 2001, the property features a range of one- and two-bedroom floor plans averaging 916 square feet.
Community and unit amenities include attached garages, fireplaces, private entries, oversized balconies and patios, a resort style pool, 24 hour fitness center, clubhouse, business center, bark park, yoga and meditation room and wooded walking trails.
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About CBRE Group, Inc.
CBRE Group, Inc. (NYSE:CBRE), a Fortune 500 and S&P 500 company headquartered in Dallas, is the world's largest commercial real estate services and investment firm (based on 2024 revenue). The company has more than 140,000 employees (including Turner & Townsend employees) serving clients in more than 100 countries. CBRE serves clients through four business segments: Advisory (leasing, sales, debt origination, mortgage servicing, valuations); Building Operations & Experience (facilities management, property management, flex space & experience, digital infrastructure services); Project Management (program management, project management, cost consulting); Real Estate Investments (investment management, development). Please visit our website at www.cbre.com.
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Original text here: https://www.cbre.com/press-releases/cbre-arranges-sale-of-vintage-268-unit-reserve-at-williams-glen-in-zionsville-indiana
[Category: BizReal Estate]
Appalachian Power: Update on Wyoming Substation Mineral Oil Release
CHARLESTON, West Virginia, Feb. 7 -- Appalachian Power, an American Electric Power company, issued the following news release:
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Update on Wyoming Substation Mineral Oil Release
Appalachian Power Company (APCo) is actively responding to a mineral oil release resulting from an equipment failure at its Wyoming Station in the Clear Fork Area of Wyoming County. Mineral oil is commonly used to cool electrical transformers.
On the morning of Friday, Jan. 30, a transformer at the Wyoming Station failed, causing a mineral oil tank to rupture. While crews responded to address the transformer failure
... Show Full Article
CHARLESTON, West Virginia, Feb. 7 -- Appalachian Power, an American Electric Power company, issued the following news release:
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Update on Wyoming Substation Mineral Oil Release
Appalachian Power Company (APCo) is actively responding to a mineral oil release resulting from an equipment failure at its Wyoming Station in the Clear Fork Area of Wyoming County. Mineral oil is commonly used to cool electrical transformers.
On the morning of Friday, Jan. 30, a transformer at the Wyoming Station failed, causing a mineral oil tank to rupture. While crews responded to address the transformer failureand associated oil leak, a portion of the oil did flow outside the substation. As soon as APCo identified the release outside the substation, it immediately called in both internal teams and external spill response contractors that specialize in oil clean up to (1) stop any more oil from leaving the substation site; (2) prevent the spill from spreading further off-site; and, (3) cleanup the oil that had left the substation site.
APCo and its spill response contractors will continue to aggressively address this spill until it is cleaned up. The spill has not reached any streams that serve as a drinking water source for any public water systems, and R.D. Bailey Lake has not been impacted. APCo is continuing to coordinate remediation activities with the West Virginia Department of Environmental Protection (DEP).
Crews have installed a spare transformer to replace the failed unit, helping to ensure no interruption of electric service as a result of this event. In addition, controls have been installed in the substation to capture remaining oil and prevent any additional release. The failed transformer was installed in 2022.
REMEDIATION EFFORTS
Appalachian Power is coordinating closely with WV DEP, whose inspectors have been onsite since the spill was reported. In addition, in-stream activities are being coordinated through consultation with the US Fish and Wildlife Service to ensure protection of the endangered Guyandotte Crayfish. Currently, APCo environmental contractors are:
* Installing booms and other protective measures in Clear Fork and at key downstream locations to prevent oil from spreading further.
* Deploying vacuum trucks, oil skimmers and air boat crews to remove oil from the water.
* Assessing the station and remediating oil found onsite.
Appalachian Power will continue to provide updates on this incident at AppalachianPower.com/company/news/cleanup.
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Original text here: https://www.appalachianpower.com/company/news/view?releaseID=10738
[Category: BizEnergy]
AccuWeather: Heating Bills on the Rise Across the Eastern Half of the Country Amid Widespread Bitter Cold
STATE COLLEGE, Pennsylvania, Feb. 7 -- AccuWeather, a provider of commercial weather forecasting services, issued the following news release:
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Heating bills on the rise across the eastern half of the country amid widespread bitter cold
* Heating demand is 115% to 150% of historical averages in areas of the eastern and central U.S. impacted by intense cold between Jan. 15 and Feb 8, according to a new AccuWeather analysis
* Extreme cold and gusty winds will return to the Upper Midwest and the Northeast this weekend before the frigid pattern finally starts to ease next week
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AccuWeather
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STATE COLLEGE, Pennsylvania, Feb. 7 -- AccuWeather, a provider of commercial weather forecasting services, issued the following news release:
* * *
Heating bills on the rise across the eastern half of the country amid widespread bitter cold
* Heating demand is 115% to 150% of historical averages in areas of the eastern and central U.S. impacted by intense cold between Jan. 15 and Feb 8, according to a new AccuWeather analysis
* Extreme cold and gusty winds will return to the Upper Midwest and the Northeast this weekend before the frigid pattern finally starts to ease next week
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AccuWeatherexpert meteorologists say people and businesses in more than 30 states across the eastern half of the country should prepare for heating costs to be significantly higher than the historical average through mid-February.
"Millions of people across the eastern U.S. are facing the coldest air we have seen so far this winter, before we finally see some relief from this relentless and dangerous stretch of Arctic air," AccuWeather Chief Meteorologist Jonathan Porter said. "Another surge of frigid air will expand across the Upper Midwest late this week. The deep freeze will return to the Northeast this weekend. The Arctic air combined with gusty winds could make it feel colder than any other point so far this winter."
A dangerously cold weekend awaits more than 100 million people in the northeastern quarter of the nation, with Arctic air forecast to advance southward straight from eastern Canada. The initial blast of cold air will bring a burst of snow to some areas, followed by a rapid freeze-up and harsh, gusty winds.
Temperatures are forecast to plunge 15 to 25 degrees below the historical average this weekend across much of the Northeast, Great Lakes and parts of the mid-Atlantic with AccuWeather RealFeel(R) Temperatures dropping well below zero.
Saturday is shaping up to feel like one of the coldest days of the winter in New York City. AccuWeather RealFeel(R) Temperatures are expected to fall rapidly through the afternoon, sliding from around -10 F near midday to near -19 F by 8 p.m. Saturday, significantly increasing the risk of frostbite and other cold-related dangers.
"This level of extreme cold combined with gusty winds can result in frostbite on exposed skin within a matter of minutes," Porter said. "Hypothermia can set it quickly for people exposed to the cold without the proper clothing and safety precautions."
How much will heating costs rise?
Heating and energy costs are expected to stay elevated through the weekend across the northeastern corner of the country due to rising electricity and natural gas prices, combined with prolonged and widespread freezing temperatures, forcing furnaces and heat pumps to run longer and more often.
AccuWeather experts say heating costs during the cold wave for the average household from Jan. 15 through Feb. 8 could run well above the historical average across parts of the Northeast, Southeast and central U.S. affected by the recent deep freeze.
Heating costs will vary, some substantially, depending on location and the type of heating source. On average, electricity is the most expensive heating source in the U.S. this winter, followed by home heating oil, propane and natural gas.
"More than half of all Americans are likely to see elevated heating costs tied to this deep freeze. Furnaces and heat pumps have been running nearly nonstop to keep homes, apartments, and businesses warm amid this bitter cold." Porter said. "Some people are dealing with sticker shock from heating bills that are significantly higher compared to this time last winter."
Roughly 30 to 40 percent of homes in New England rely on home heating oil, while usage is far lower across most of the rest of the country. Many households fill their tanks before winter, which may limit exposure to recent price increases, but those needing a refill in the coming weeks may also face elevated heating costs.
Heating Degree Days (HDD) are a standard way to measure how much heating is needed during cold weather, based on a 65-degree benchmark for indoor comfort.
When average daily temperatures fall below that benchmark, Heating Degree Days increase, helping explain why prolonged colder conditions can drive higher home heating demand and energy costs.
An analysis by AccuWeather experts found that Heating Degree Days and average heating costs are estimated to be above the historical average from Jan. 15 to Feb 8. in several major metro areas across the eastern half of the nation.
"Electric heating bills for some people could run hundreds of dollars above the historical average during this intense 25-day cold wave," Porter said.
"America has not experienced a winter with this many dangerous impacts and costly disruptions since 2021," Porter said. "This has been a long, cold, and expensive winter for millions of people in the eastern half of the country, and it's far from over. Higher heating and energy costs combined with prolonged cold and rising everyday expenses are placing significant strain on many people's budgets. This relentless cold has compounded the affordability challenges many people have been struggling with this winter."
For example, if your electric heating bill totaled about $300 in New York City from Jan. 15 to Feb. 8 last winter, based on demand alone, you will likely pay $51 more out of pocket for the same time period this winter.
Nearly 35 percent of the U.S. currently has snow on the ground, and that snowpack can help keep conditions colder by reflecting sunlight and insulating the ground, limiting natural warming.
AccuWeather expert meteorologists say this snowpack can contribute to increased heating demand, since temperatures can struggle to rebound during the day and colder air lingers closer to the surface.
The snowpack across parts of the northern and central U.S. also helped cold air reach farther south over the weekend, extending into the southeast U.S. and Florida.
AccuWeather experts say the recent stretch of cold, icy, and snowy weather that impacted more than 200 million people across the country in recent weeks is responsible for costly and widespread disruptions.
Last weekend's bomb cyclone and deep freeze that reached Florida citrus groves resulted in a total damage and economic loss of $13 billion to $15 billion, according to a preliminary estimate from AccuWeather experts.
A massive winter storm that brought freezing rain, ice, heavy snow and widespread travel disruptions to more than two dozen states in late January resulted in a total damage and economic loss of $105 billion to $115 billion, according to a preliminary estimate from AccuWeather experts.
More than one million homes, apartments and businesses across the country lost power and heat during the recent winter storms and extreme cold.
Some customers lost power for a few minutes to a few hours, while thousands of others in areas hit hard by the ice storm in January were left in the dark and cold for more than a week.
When will the cold pattern ease?
AccuWeather long-range experts say the polar vortex weakened and shifted in recent weeks, allowing frigid air to pour into the central and eastern U.S.
When the polar vortex, a large circulation of cold air over the Arctic, weakens or becomes disrupted, Arctic air can surge into the mid-latitudes. When the polar vortex is strong, it tends to keep the coldest air confined closer to the Arctic.
The polar vortex is weaker and displaced this week, which is allowing colder air to surge into parts of the U.S. and other areas around the globe.
The polar vortex is showing signs of strengthening and returning to the polar region through mid-February, which is expected to ease the bitterly cold pattern across much of the eastern U.S.
"As the polar vortex strengthens next week, the jet stream will become strong, but in a general west-to-east setup over the U.S. and southern Canada," AccuWeather Senior Meteorologist Brett Anderson said. "As this happens, Pacific air will tend to flow across the U.S., and the air will end up being much less cold than recent weeks in the Central and Eastern states."
The intense cold is expected to ease in many places next week, allowing snow and ice to melt in places that have been gripped by subfreezing temperatures for weeks.
"The forecast temperatures for next week will lead to some natural melting of the snow and ice cover, especially when combined with the strengthening February sun," Anderson said. "On a sunny day, it may feel pretty warm riding around in the car. However, temperatures will dip back below 32 degrees at night in many locations, and that will lead to wet areas freezing up."
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Original text here: https://www.accuweather.com/en/press/heating-bills-on-the-rise-across-the-eastern-half-of-the-country-amid-widespread-bitter-cold/1860714
[Category: BizTravel]
