Insights

Boston – October 15, 2025: Jeffrey S. Gleason, an accomplished first-chair trial attorney and former leader in the Civil Fraud Section of the U.S. Department of Justice, has joined Crowell & Moring as a partner, further bolstering the firm’s fast-growing and industry-leading Health Care Group.

A recent decision by the United States Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit, Farmers Texas County Mutual Insurance Co. v. 1st Choice Accident & Injury, LLC, No. 24-20275 (5th Cir. Feb. 24, 2026), offers important lessons for health care payors and other potential plaintiffs considering civil claims under the federal Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations Act (RICO). Although the Fifth Circuit’s decision focused on a procedural issue, the underlying case turned on a fundamental pleading failure: the plaintiff insurers did not adequately describe the fraudulent network they were suing as a RICO “enterprise.” The result was dismissal of a $14 million fraud case.

On February 10, 2026, California enacted Senate Bill 25 (“SB 25”), known as the California Uniform Antitrust Pre-Merger Notification Act. The new law takes effect on January 1, 2027, making California the third state—following Washington (effective July 27, 2025) and Colorado (effective August 6, 2025)—to implement a “mini-HSR” regime modeled after the Uniform Antitrust Pre-Merger Notification Act (“UAPNA”). The legislation reflects the growing state-level focus on merger oversight, and it signals California’s continuing intent to increase early pre-merger scrutiny and concurrent review of transactions with federal authorities.

In an effort to boost its clinical research industry, Germany has enacted the Medical Research Act or “MRA” (Medizinforschungsgesetz). The MRA introduces significant changes to various German healthcare laws and procedures.

Global Trade Talks co-hosts Nicole Simonian and Dj Wolff welcome Karen Gerwitz, President of the World Trade Center Denver, as she provides insight to our listeners on how companies are managing and operating in this uncertain trade environment where they are often waiting for the next shoe to drop. Global Trade Talks is a podcast that shares brief perspectives on key global issues on international trade, current events, business, law, and public policy as they impact our lives.