Blackletter

Last week, A U.S. appeals court denied requiring a minimum airplane seat size rule necessary for passenger safety. Therefore, the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) cannot be forced to adopt minimum requirements, the court found. FAA has no compelling evidence that the tight seating slowed down emergency exits and caused medical risks like blood clots. Listen to this week's episode to hear Tom discuss the Circuit Judge's decision.

The high court is scheduled to hear arguments in Gonzalez v. Google, which questions conflicting appellate court interpretations of Section 230 of the 1996 Communications Decency Act. The law shields interactive websites from legal responsibility for harms third party content may cause. Listen to this week's episode as Tom discusses why this is a really important decision that can have a huge effect on the Internet and content sites like Google and YouTube.

What lengths would you go to support a cause you were passionate about?

On the Blackletter podcast this week, host Tom Dunlap chats with Gordon Sumner, a former Army officer and current President and CEO of Veterans Moving Forward, a nonprofit organization that provides service and emotional support dogs to veterans. After serving in the Department of Defense for the Obama administration, Gordan decided to start his own disabled veteran-owned organization. He explains his decision to shift focus from creating a business to starting a nonprofit and service-oriented organization. Additionally, Gordon shares how he navigated the challenges of this endeavor to support an important cause.

Tune in to this episode of the Black Letter Podcast to hear more about Gordan's nonprofit journey. Then, don't forget to visit back next week, as Gordan will dive deeper into the challenges of running his nonprofit, including COVID's impact on his organization.

On this episode of Monday Minutes, Tom Dunlap chats about the infamous trademark case of the “Satan Shoes” which feature a pentagram and allegedly a drop of human blood in the sole. Nike is suing MSCHF for designing the shoe with their recognizable swoosh. To counter, MSCHF have argued that their shoes are a work of art, and therefore protected under the First Amendment. Tune in to hear how the case unfolds and why this is important for artistic protection and the law.

This week on Monday Minutes, Tom Dunlap continues on classified documents. In particular, he examines the legality around presidents and former presidents storing classified documents, and who would enforce these laws. To understand the complexity of this situation, Tom explains the Federal Records Act, the Presidential Records Act, and the Freedom of Information Act, under which are storage requirements. Tune in to hear how Donald Trump, Mike Pence and Joe Biden went about storing documents and what this means.

The Blackletter Podcast has covered a wide range of subjects during its eighth season, from legal advice for the Federal Aviation Administration to licensing in the medical marijuana industry, as well as technology business transformation and more. On this final episode of the season, we look back at the critical topics tackled within these past fourteen shows and the insights and knowledge revealed along the way. So tune in for this informative episode that reflects on some of the influential interviews from season eight!

Business Transformation (00:45)

Change is necessary for business growth, and season eight of the podcast features many professionals who had to pivot and redirect their focus to meet their business goals. Hear as these guests share their stories on managing changes to expand their industrial initiatives and achieve success in their industry.

Advice From Experience (13:12)

No matter your role or agency, everyone has lessons that they have gained from their professional experience. This season’s podcast guests provided their best advice on how to find success in new business pursuits, navigate the legal side of different industries, and work together with others.

The Bigger Picture (24:21)

What responsibilities do you have to others as an aspect of your profession? This segment includes interviews with individuals who have to take on powerful or authoritative positions. Tune in to hear speakers discuss the importance of performing duties to support the greater good and upholding legal responsibilities to maintain order and progress in a profession.

Episode 81: S8E1 – The Value In Segmenting

Episode 82: S8E2 – Building a Business

Episode 83: S8E3 – Always Be Promoting

Host Tom Dunlap sits down with Erik Olsen of Array Digital, Array Law, and Rival Digital, where they discuss his professional journey into the world of digital marketing. Hear Erik discuss how his company transitioned from software development to introducing marketing services and finally made the leap to digital marketing. He also shares the advantages of a recurring service-based business model and how he segmented his practice in episode 1. In episode 2, Erik explains the risks he took to transition from a one-person freelancing operation to an employing company. His interview concludes in episode 3 where he shares his advice and the lessons he learned in founding his companies.

Episode 84: S8E4 – The Challenges of Turning to Tech

Episode 85: S8E5 – Philosophies for Change Management

Episode 86: S8E6 – Leave Your Ego At the Door

In this three-part series, Tom interviews Terry Dohrmann, founder of the legal operating software company Litify. Terry has found great success in growing his business since it started six years ago and has gained much knowledge throughout the process. In episode 4, he explains the challenges he faced to pursue his entrepreneurial aspirations in the tech industry. Next, Terry discusses the philosophies he developed regarding successful change management in episode 5 and the tactical challenges of offering technology to a new market. The interview wraps up in episode 6, where Terry discusses the importance of leaving your ego at the door and maintaining trust in your team to progress in the business world.

Episode 87: S8E7 – Business License Breakthrough

Episode 88: S8E8 – “Growing” a Company

Episode 89: S8E9 – Turning Over a New Leaf

In episodes 7 through 9, Tom is joined by Kevin Goldberg, founder of Green Leaf Medical, and Barney Goodman, his attorney from Dunlap Bennett Ludwig. In doing business in the medical cannabis industry, Kevin had to jump through many hoops to comply with regulations. He discusses this in episode 7 and explains the legal process for securing a spot in this lucrative market.  In episode 8, they explain how they managed to secure the capital necessary to reach their business goals. In the final episode of the interview, Kevin and Barney provide their top advice for entrepreneurs looking to do business in the medical cannabis sector.

Episode 90: S8E10 – How Patents Shape Society

On episode 10 of the Blackletter podcast, Tom discusses patents with Robert Greenspoon, an attorney at the Dunlap Bennett & Ludwig law firm. Rob educates listeners on the importance of patents and how they have become integral to the progression and formation of our society. We suggest that listeners tune in to watch the video version of this episode, as Rob provides visuals that give context to how patents represent the history of invention and their relevance today.

Episode 91: S8E11 – Reporting on Law

On this episode Tom sits down with Jeremy Conrad, writer for the Washington DC Bar Journal. As a former practicing lawyer and now a full-time committed journalist in the field of law is responsible for reporting on controversial law topics while remaining impartial to his audience. He explains the experience of writing on situations that once would have affected him as a lawyer and the complexity of producing content about controversial law topics. He also shares his advice for aspiring legal journalists.

Episode 92: S8E12 – Counsel in Control

Episode 93: S8E13 – Control after COVID

Episode 94: S8E14 – Navigating Your Career

In episodes 12 through 14, listeners gain a peek inside the mind of FAA‘s top legal advisor Marc Nichols. In this three-part interview, Tom and Marc discuss Marc’s role as the Chief Counsel for the FAA and the responsibilities that come with it. In episode 12, Marc shares the developmental milestones that led to his involvement in politics and public service, including the factors that drove him to accept the President’s appointment. The COVID-19 pandemic brought on additional responsibilities for Marc to ensure smooth collaboration and safety in the aviation industry, as he shares in episode 13. Tom and Marc conclude the interview in episode 14, where Marc shares his career advice for progressing in any profession.

This week on Monday Minutes, Tom Dunlap breaks down the six different levels of classified documents. He explains how documents are categorized, what constitutes sensitive information, and who has clearance for what. Next week, he will continue the discussion by examining if presidents and former presidents can and should access classified information.

The Supreme Court will not hear a case from New York gun owners, leaving Second Amendment law to be settled in lower federal courts across the country. The court declined to intervene on procedural grounds, giving the Second Circuit of the United States Court of Appeals the chance to weigh the case. Listen to this week's episode as Tom provides details what to expect from the rejection.

What is the most valuable career advice for finding professional success?

On the Blackletter podcast this week, host Tom Dunlap concludes his three-segment interview with Marc Nichols, the Chief Counsel for the Federal Aviation Administration. On this final episode, Marc and Tom talk about careers, including Marc’s pathway into his profession and his personal career advice for those starting in the workforce. Tom’s professional experience has taught him a thing or two about what it takes to progress in a workplace setting. He provides listeners with actionable steps for harnessing their control over their careers to become competitive in their fields and drive real results for their future.

Tune in to this episode of the Black Letter Podcast to hear Marc provide his most valuable career advice for anyone looking to excel in their industry. And if you haven’t heard parts one and two of this three-part interview series, head over to The Blackletter Podcast online to get caught up!

The Supreme Court is set to review a pair of cases that could significantly affect the power and responsibilities of social media platforms. On this episode, Tom will dive into more detail on both cases. The first case is Gonzalez v. Google, which argues that recommendations can count as their own form of content produced by the platform, removing them from the protection of Section 230. The second case is Twitter v. Taamneh, which questions when platforms are legally responsible for supporting terrorism under federal law.