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James L. Curtis

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Seyfarth Synopsis: David Keeling’s confirmation as OSHA Chief could give regulatory and enforcement direction to OSHA when federal government funding is restored, likely moving the agency towards enhanced collaboration with industry and refocusing of enforcement priorities.  

Senate Confirms Keeling

On October 6, 2025, as part of a larger confirmation of Trump appointees, the Senate voted 51-47 to confirm as…

Continue Reading David Keeling Confirmed as OSHA Chief: A New Era for Cooperation and Enhanced Occupational Safety?

The final day of the ABA Workplace and Occupational Safety and Health Law Committee Midwinter Meeting began with a panel discussion on mental health, behavioral issues, and workplace violence. Many employers and practitioners have observed state plans making significant efforts to develop and implement workplace violence prevention plans. For example, California’s prevention plan requirements for general industry went into effect…

Continue Reading Report From Final Day of the 2025 ABA OSHA/MSHA Law Conference

Seyfarth Synopsis: This week we are attending the ABA Occupational Safety and Health Law Meeting in Rancho Mirage, California. The meeting includes representatives from management, labor, and safety professionals, some who previously worked in government.

We are attending the ABA Occupational Safety and Health Law Meeting this week in Rancho Mirage, California. On Thursday, March 6, the conference focused on…

Continue Reading Report From Day 2 of The 2025 ABA OSHA/MSHA Law Conference

Seyfarth Synopsis: This week we are attending the ABA Occupational Safety and Health Law Meeting in Rancho Mirage, California. The meeting includes representatives from management, labor, and safety professionals, some who previously worked in government.

Tuesday, March 4

We are attending the ABA Occupational Safety and Health Law Meeting this week in Rancho Mirage, California. On Tuesday, March 4, the…

Continue Reading Report From Day 1 of The 2025 ABA OSHA/MSHA Law Conference

By James L. Curtis, Meagan Newman, Patrick J. Bannon, Barry J. Miller

In a recent Client Alert, Jim Curtis and Meagan Newman discuss workplace safety issues in the wake of Hurricane Sandy. Employers need to keep in mind that storm cleanup poses significant hazards that must be addressed. Employees may be asked to perform tasks, or volunteer…
Continue Reading After the Storm: Workplace Safety and Wage & Hour Considerations

Seyfarth Shaw’s partner James Curtis was quoted in the October 2012 issue of Chicago Lawyer in an article discussing the rise in whistleblower cases over the last few years. With a vibrant Occupational Safety and Health Act (OSHA) practice, and with OSHA responsible for litigating whistleblower cases, Jim handles a wide variety of whistleblower cases. However, a consistent trend in…

Continue Reading James Curtis Quoted in Chicago Lawyer: Notable Growth in Whistleblower Cases

By James L. Curtis and Craig B. Simonsen

The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BOL) has just released preliminary findings in its 2011 Census of Fatal Occupational Injuries Summary. 

Key preliminary findings of the 2011 Census of Fatal Occupational Injuries data indicate that fatal work injuries in private truck transportation rose fourteen percent in 2011, the second consecutive year…

Continue Reading BLS Releases Preliminary Census of Fatal Occupational Injuries

By James L. Curtis, Meagan Newman, and Craig B. Simonsen

The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) has adopted a new directive, CPL 02-03-004 (September 12, 2012), to provide procedures for the processing of appeals filed under Section 11(c) of the Occupational Safety and Health Act of 1970 (Section 11(c)), and appeals filed under the Asbestos Hazard Emergency Response…
Continue Reading OSHA Adopts Procedures for Filing Whistleblower Appeals

Seyfarth Shaw partner and Co-Chair of the firm’s Whistleblower Team Jim Curtis was quoted in Business Insurance on August 23. The article discusses a recent study published by Seyfarth Shaw which demonstrated the growing number of whistleblower lawsuits filed with the Occupational Health and Safety Administration (OSHA) and the inability of OSHA to resolve these claims in a timely manner.Continue Reading James Curtis Quoted in “Business Insurance”: “Increasing Whistle-Blower Claims Slow Resolution Process: Study”

By James L. Curtis and Craig B. Simonsen

The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) has just published a Guidance on removing employers from the Severe Violator Enforcement Program (SVEP). As we noted in a previous blog, since the SVEP has been in effect over 300 employers have been designated as severe violators. However, until now, there has not…

Continue Reading Procedures for Removal from the OSHA Severe Violator Enforcement Program List