Kathryn Rattigan

Kathryn Rattigan

Kathryn Rattigan is a member of the Business Litigation Group and the Data Privacy and Security Team. She concentrates her practice on privacy and security compliance under both state and federal regulations and advising clients on website and mobile app privacy and security compliance. Kathryn helps clients review, revise and implement necessary policies and procedures under the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA). She also provides clients with the information needed to effectively and efficiently handle potential and confirmed data breaches while providing insight into federal regulations and requirements for notification and an assessment under state breach notification laws. Prior to joining the firm, Kathryn was an associate at Nixon Peabody. She earned her J.D., cum laude, from Roger Williams University School of Law and her B.A., magna cum laude, from Stonehill College. She is admitted to practice law in Massachusetts and Rhode Island. Read her full rc.com bio here.

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Data Privacy and Security in the Cannabis Industry

By Kathryn Rattigan on Posted in Cannabis, Data Privacy, Digital Assets
In November, cannabis won big in the midterm elections–in Michigan, the legalization of recreational cannabis passed, the legalization of medical cannabis passed in Utah and Missouri, and several states elected governors who back legislation for legalization of cannabis. Now, there are 33 states that allow some form of medical marijuana and 10 states (plus D.C.) … Continue Reading

Shell Launches Drone Inspection Trial

By Kathryn Rattigan on Posted in Drones
Last month, Shell Global (Shell) announced its plan to deploy unmanned aircraft systems (UAS or drones) in a pilot project to inspect equipment at its Shell Technology Center in Houston, Texas, one of its three global technology hubs. The project is set to launch in early 2019, and Shell plans to use drones and cloud-based … Continue Reading

Vaccines Delivered by Drone in South Pacific

By Kathryn Rattigan on Posted in Drones
On the remote island of Erromango, in the South Pacific nation of Vanuatu, a one-month old child was given vaccines for hepatitis and tuberculosis via drone delivery. Not only is this unique because of the delivery method, but more than 20 percent of children under age five miss their vaccinations in Vanuatu because of the … Continue Reading

Las Vegas Granted DOT Grant for Autonomous Vehicle Project

By Kathryn Rattigan on Posted in Autonomous Vehicles
The City of Las Vegas and the Regional Transportation Commission of Southern Nevada in the Las Vegas Medical District were awarded $5.3 million by the U.S. Department of Transportation’s (DOT) Better Utilizing Investments to Leverage Development (BUILD) Transportation Grants program for an autonomous vehicle project. The project, GoMed, is set to begin late next year, … Continue Reading

How Drones are Conducting Bridge Inspections

By Kathryn Rattigan on Posted in Drones
Last week, Intel announced two separate collaborations with the Kentucky Transportation Cabinet (KYTC) and the Minnesota Department of Transportation (MnDOT) to improve bridge inspections using drones. Intel and the KYTC have actually used its drones technology to help inspect and analyze the Daniel Carter Beard Bridge, which is an 8-lane interstate that crosses the Ohio … Continue Reading

FAA Regulations Extend to Drone Manufacturers

By Kathryn Rattigan on Posted in Drones
The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) Reauthorization Act comes with a new set of regulations for drone manufacturers. The FAAs rule is intended to impose safety standards on manufacturers. While drone operators will face stricter scrutiny and enforcement under the Act, the FAA now also wants drone manufacturers to be responsible for implementing safety standards that … Continue Reading

New Drone System Tested Without Use of GPS

By Kathryn Rattigan on Posted in Drones
The National Aeronautics and Space Administration’s (NASA) Langley Research Centers has taken on the challenge of using drones in GPS-deprived environments, so it gathered a group of students from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) to help find a solution for that problem. Those MIT students came back to NASA with a plan for a … Continue Reading

NYPD to Add Fleet of Crime-Fighting Drones

By Kathryn Rattigan on Posted in Drones
This week, the New York Police Department (NYPD) announced that it will be adding a fleet of crime-fighting drones to its ranks. The NYPD plans to roll out 14 drones as part of its technology “evolution.” Police Commissioner James O’Neill said, “As the largest municipal police department in the United States, the NYPD must always … Continue Reading

Draft International Standards for Drones Released

By Kathryn Rattigan on Posted in Drones
The International Organization for Standardization (IOS) released the first draft of a set of global standards for drone use. The draft suggests no-fly zones around airports and other restricted areas, and geofencing measures to keep drones away from certain sensitive areas (e.g., critical infrastructure). The draft standards also instruct drone operators to respect others’ privacy … Continue Reading

OIG Audit Results Released on FAA Drone Waiver Processes

By Kathryn Rattigan on Posted in Drones
Last week, a new audit report was released regarding the Federal Aviation Administration’s (FAA) unmanned aircraft system (UAS or drone) waiver process. According to the audit, the Office of the Inspector General (OIG) has found room for improvement. In particular, the FAA’s timeliness in response to waiver requests could improve. The audit was conducted between … Continue Reading

More Than 50,000 LAANC Applications Processed

By Kathryn Rattigan on Posted in Drones
The Federal Aviation Administration’s (FAA) nationwide deployment of the Low Altitude Authorization and Notification Capability (LAANC) system has processed more than 50,000 applications from drone operators for authorization to fly in controlled airspace since November 2017. The LAANC system now covers about 300 air traffic facilities that service approximately 500 airports, and provides nearly instant … Continue Reading

Radio City Music Hall Welcomes Drones to its Stage this Holiday Season

By Kathryn Rattigan on Posted in Drones
One-hundred (100) Intel drones will hit the stage this holiday season at Radio City Music Hall to perform with the Rockettes in the production of the Christmas Spectacular. The Intel Shooting Star mini drones will create a light show using choreographed movements to create holiday-themed silhouettes in a new finale scene called “Christmas Lights.” Executive … Continue Reading

Hartford City Council Proposes to Oversee Law Enforcement Use of Drones

By Kathryn Rattigan on Posted in Drones
In Hartford, Connecticut the police department plans to deploy drones throughout Hartford neighborhoods, however, the Hartford City Council seeks to oversee the use of drones by law enforcement including the type of equipment they use, monitoring of their use and data retention practices. Police Chief David Rosado said, “This ordinance, as currently proposed, would significantly … Continue Reading

Drones in Kenya: Saving Money for Taxpayers

By Kathryn Rattigan on Posted in Drones
Power China was hired to complete the construction of about 265 miles of power line within seven months in Kenya after a Spanish utility company, who began the work, went bankrupt. This was a rather large undertaking for Power China given the timeframe. However, that’s where the use of unmanned aerial systems (UAS or drones) … Continue Reading

Ford’s Self-Driving Cars to Hit the Roads in D.C.

By Kathryn Rattigan on Posted in Autonomous Vehicles
Last week, Ford Motor Company (Ford) announced its partnership with Washington, D.C.’s city government to start testing self-driving cars in the beginning of 2019. Ford’s self-driving startup business, Argo AI, has already started mapping the city. To date, self-driving cars have only been tested in suburbs and smaller cities. Ford plans to launch its self-driving … Continue Reading

New FAA Operating Restrictions for Drones

By Kathryn Rattigan on Posted in Drones
The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), at the request of the Department of Defense (DOD) and the United States Coast Guard (USCG), issued new drone operating restrictions to address concerns about potentially malicious drone operations over certain high-priority maritime operations. Drones are restricted from flying near U.S. Navy (USN) and USCG vessels operating in the vicinity … Continue Reading

President Trump Signs the FAA Reauthorization Act: What Does it Mean for Drones?

By Kathryn Rattigan on Posted in Drones
On October 5, 2018, President Trump signed the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) Reauthorization Act which establishes new conditions for the recreational use of drones and immediately repealed the Special Rule for Model Aircraft. The FAA is currently evaluating the impact of this change and how the organization will implement these changes. In addition to continuing … Continue Reading
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