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.

Subscribe to all posts by Kathryn Rattigan

FAA Set to Approve First Drone Airline License

By Kathryn Rattigan on April 11, 2019 Posted in Drones

The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) is expected to award its first license to operate a drone airline in May. Last year, the FAA determined that large-scale commercial package delivery drone operations would require certain safety and economic certification standards like other licensed U.S. airlines. The FAA has not yet announced which company will receive that … Continue Reading

UPS and Matternet Team Up for Medical Supply Delivery Program

By Kathryn Rattigan on April 4, 2019 Posted in Drones

Last week, UPS formed a new partnership with drone developer Matternet to deliver medical samples via drone. The delivery program will take place in Raleigh, North Carolina at WakeMed’s hospital, with program oversight by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and the North Carolina Department of Transportation (NCDOT). Currently, medical samples and specimens are transported by … Continue Reading

Delivery by Drone: Where Are We and Where Are We Going?

By Kathryn Rattigan on March 28, 2019 Posted in Drones

Last year, the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) announced that unmanned aerial system (UAS or drone) delivery operations would be required to obtain a commercial air operator certificate issued under 14 CFR Part 119, as required by 14 CFR Part 135. This certification requires “economic authority” from the Department of Transportation (DOT) which can be given … Continue Reading

FAA Issues New National Policy—Greater Oversight of Drone Operators

By Kathryn Rattigan on March 21, 2019 Posted in Drones

Unmanned aerial systems (UAS or drone) operators will now face stricter oversight and inspections by local Flight Standards District Offices (FSDO) under the new National Policy issued by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA). The Policy requires FSDOs to immediately update their 2019 National Work Program Guidelines to include new Required Surveillance Work Activities. Before the … Continue Reading

U.S. Navy to Contract New Unmanned Surface and Underwater Vehicles

By Kathryn Rattigan and Jim Nault on March 14, 2019 Posted in Drones

The U.S. Navy is moving fast to acquire a new unmanned surface vehicle (USV) and hopes to award a contract for the USV by the end of 2019. Over the next two months, the Navy plans to issue a request for proposals for a new, medium-sized USV, up to 50 meters long. The Navy seeks … Continue Reading

Plaintiff Argues GoDaddy Texting Campaign Used an Autodialer

By Kathryn Rattigan on March 7, 2019 Posted in Enforcement & Litigation, Telephone Consumer Protection Act, Websites

Lead plaintiff, John Herrick, in the Telephone Consumer Protection Act (TCPA) class action lawsuit against GoDaddy.com LLC (GoDaddy.com) opposed an Arizona federal judge’s May 2018 decision to grant summary judgment in favor of GoDaddy.com. The court granted summary judgment on the grounds that the platform used to send the text messages did not qualify as … Continue Reading

Drone Stakeholders Discuss UAS Integration

By Kathryn Rattigan on February 28, 2019 Posted in Drones

More than 40 unmanned aircraft systems (UAS) stakeholders from 20 global companies met with the Northeast UAS Airspace Integration Research Alliance to discuss goals and objectives of the UAS industry. During a two-day conference in Syracuse, New York, the group discussed which tests will help to advance the integration of UAS into the national airspace … Continue Reading

NASA Selects Hosts for Final Drone Technical Testing

By Kathryn Rattigan on February 21, 2019 Posted in Drones

This week, NASA selected the Nevada Institute for Autonomous Systems in Las Vegas and the Lone Star UAS Center for Excellence and Innovation in Corpus Christi, Texas to host the final phase of its four-year series of unmanned aircraft systems (UAS) technical demonstrations. Both of these organizations will host demonstrations to confirm whether NASA’s UAS … Continue Reading

New FAA Requirements for Drone Owners

By Kathryn Rattigan on February 14, 2019 Posted in Drones

This week, the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) released an updated interim rule in the Federal Register which requires drone owners to display their FAA-issued registration number on the external surface of the drone. Owners and operators may no longer place or write registration numbers in an interior compartment. However, the final rule does not change … Continue Reading

Super Bowl Intel Drone Light Show

By Kathryn Rattigan on February 7, 2019 Posted in Drones

Intel won’t disclose exactly how it was able to participate in the Super Bowl LIII halftime show, but it did disclose that it used 150 Intel Shooting Star drones to spell out the words “ONE” and “LOVE” during the musical performance. As Maroon 5 began singing “She Will be Loved,” Intel initiated its software directing … Continue Reading

EasyMile Autonomous Vehicle Hits the Roads in Denver

By Kathryn Rattigan on February 7, 2019 Posted in Autonomous Vehicles

Last week, the EasyMile electric autonomous shuttle debuted on the roads in Denver, Colorado, marking the first autonomous vehicle venture in the state. The EasyMile is a self-driving shuttle that is scheduled to operate for the next 4-6 months connecting passengers from commuter rail stations to the EasyMile office and Park-n-Ride lots. The goal of … Continue Reading

TCPA Class Action filed Against Medspa for Unwanted Text Messages

By Kathryn Rattigan on January 31, 2019 Posted in Enforcement & Litigation, Telephone Consumer Protection Act, Websites

Last week, Florida skin care spa, Medspa Del Mar LLC (Medspa) was hit with a Telephone Consumer Protection Act (TCPA) class action in federal court for allegedly using an automatic dialing system to send unwanted text messages advertising its treatments. Lead plaintiff claims that Medspa invaded her and other class members’ privacy by sending a … Continue Reading

Drone Activity Halts Newark Airport Flights

By Kathryn Rattigan on January 31, 2019 Posted in Drones

Last week, reports of “drone activity” temporarily halted flights at the Newark Liberty International Airport in New Jersey. The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) had to briefly hold arrivals due to “reports of drone activity north of the airport earlier that evening.” The airport had to coordinate with the FAA and federal law enforcement authorities to … Continue Reading

Successful Flight, Boeing’s Autonomous Passenger Aircraft

By Kathryn Rattigan on January 31, 2019 Posted in Drones

Last week, Boeing completed the first test flight of its autonomous passenger aircraft prototype in Manassas, Virginia. The prototype is 30-feet long and 28-feet wide, powered by an electric propulsion system with a flight range of about 50 miles. The flight was successful, completing a controlled takeoff, hover and landing. Boeing hopes to test forward, … Continue Reading

Drone Flights Over People and at Night—Draft Regulations Released

By Kathryn Rattigan on January 24, 2019 Posted in Drones

The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has been busy even in the midst of the government shutdown. Last week, Department of Transportation (DOT) Secretary Elaine Chao unveiled a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking for unmanned aircraft systems (UAS or drones) flights over people and at night. For flights over people, the regulation breaks UAS into three categories: … Continue Reading

Standard CGL Aircraft Exclusion Barred Liability Coverage

By Kathryn Rattigan on January 17, 2019 Posted in Drones

A California federal judge held that a standard comprehensive general liability (CGL) aircraft exclusion barred liability coverage for injuries suffered as a result of drone operations. The injuries occurred when a wedding photographer used a drone to capture images at a wedding reception and the drone hit a guest who sustained serious injuries, including loss … Continue Reading

OSHA Safety Inspections by Drones

By Kathryn Rattigan on January 10, 2019 Posted in Drones

The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) issued a memorandum last year announcing that its inspectors were now authorized to use camera-equipped unmanned aircraft systems (UAS or drones) to collect evidence during inspections. This means that OSHA inspectors are authorized to conduct in-person inspections of the workplace as well as remote-controlled aircraft inspections above the … Continue Reading

State Farm Receives First Drone Waiver for Flights Over People and BVLOS Operations

By Kathryn Rattigan on January 10, 2019 Posted in Drones

State Farm has become the very first company in the United States to receive a waiver from the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) for drone operations over people and beyond visual line of sight (BVLOS). The waiver is valid until November 2022. Senior Vice President for P&C Claims, Robert Yi, said, “The waiver will provide our … Continue Reading

Data Privacy and Security in the Cannabis Industry

By Kathryn Rattigan on January 3, 2019 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 January 3, 2019 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 December 20, 2018 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 December 20, 2018 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 December 13, 2018 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 December 13, 2018 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

This Blog/Website is made available by the lawyer or law firm publisher for educational purposes only as well as to give you general information and a general understanding of the law, not to provide specific legal advice. By using this blog site you understand that there is no attorney client relationship between you and the Blog/Website publisher. The Blog/Website should not be used as a substitute for competent legal advice from a licensed professional attorney in your state. Any opinions expressed on this Blog/Website are opinions only of the author, expressed at the time the material is written based on information available to the author at that time, and are not opinions of the author's law firm or any of the author's or the law firm's clients. This Blog/Website is not intended to be attorney advertising. To the extent it might be deemed to be attorney advertising, it should not be considered advertising or to be seeking legal work in any jurisdiction in which the author is not admitted to practice law (i.e., jurisdictions other than Connecticut, Massachusetts, and various federal courts).