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The First Amendment Protects The Trademark Registrability Of THE SLANTS And THE WASHINGTON REDSKINS Irrespective Of Political Correctness.
In 2014, the Washington Redskins lost a battle before the Trademark Trial and Appeal Board (“TTAB”) where the petitioner, a group of Native American activists, sought cancellation of the “Washington Redskins” trademark, which had been… more
WTO and FAO Issue Publication on Trade and Food Standards
The World Trade Organization (WTO) and the UN Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) recently issued a joint publication, Trade and Food Standards, which discusses the development of international standards and the need for additional… more
[Video]Day 15 of One Month to More Effective Internal Controls-COSO’s Objectives and Principles: Control Environment
The updated Framework retained the core definition of internal controls; those being control environment, risk assessment, control activities, information and communication, and monitoring activities. However, it built up Objectives… more
House Passes FDA Reauthorization Act; Would Reauthorize Key User Fee Programs and Lengthen Medical Device Malfunction Reporting Period for Certain Products
Last week, the U.S. House of Representatives (the House) passed by voice vote the FDA Reauthorization Act of 2017 (FDARA or the Act). Introduced on May 16, 2017 by House Energy and Commerce Committee Chairman Greg Walden (R-Ore.)… more
@Handle It With #Care: Right Of Publicity Tips For Companies Who Market Online
In a growing world of technology, companies are employing social media platforms to attract new customers and grow their online presence. #Hashtags and @Handles – made popular by Twitter – have proven to be effective sources for… more
Landing a New Gig: Lessons for the “On Demand” Economy
In the past few years, the American workforce has shifted dramatically. By some estimates, as many as 53 million Americans are now self-employed. Many of them work in the “gig” or “on demand” economy, which has emerged as the new norm… more
Regulatory Alert: Debt Collection
Among the announcements in its Spring 2017 rulemaking agenda, which was just released on July 20, the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) announced that later this year it plans to issue a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (NPRM)… more
When Assessing Insurance Needs, Medical-Marijuana Dispensaries Must Consider Pennsylvania Regulations
Pennsylvania’s burgeoning medical-marijuana industry is and will be carefully regulated. When purchasing insurance, medical-marijuana dispensaries should pay careful attention to the Commonwealth’s regulations, in particular to the… more
Blog: You Want Mandatory Arbitration In Your Charter? Hey, Just Ask!
This is the opening paragraph from Tuesday’s column by Alison Frankel, one of my favorite legal columnists/bloggers: “This could be the start of something huge: Securities and Exchange Commissioner Michael Piwowar said in a speech… more
July 2017 FCC Meeting Recap: FCC Adopts Major Changes to Approval Procedures for Many RF Devices, E-Labeling, Importation Regulations, and Other Equipment Authorization Rules
The Federal Communications Commission (“FCC” or “Commission”), at its July 13, 2017, Open Meeting updated its equipment authorization procedures and rules in a number of ways that will be of great interest to everyone in the supply… more
DOJ Settles Race And National Origin Fair Housing Act Case For $70,000
Earlier this month, the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) settled a Fair Housing Act (FHA) case filed in Massachusetts for $70,000 in which the Complainants asserted discrimination based on race and national origin. As a part of its… more
Murphy Oil Case Scheduled For Oral Argument
In January, the United States Supreme Court granted certiorari in National Labor Relations Board v. Murphy Oil USA, Case No. 16-307, Epic Systems Corp. v. Lewis, Case No. 16-285 and Ernst & Young LLP v. Morris, Case No. 16-300… more
[Video]Day 14 of One Month to More Effective Internal Controls-What is COSO?
This week we turn our attention to COSO, with an introduction to the organization and its framework for internal controls. I will go through the internal controls and how they relate to compliance. Finally, I will end with a discussion… more
Alternative Fee Arrangements When the Insurer Is Footing the Bill
Clients regularly ask their counsel to propose alternative fee arrangements and they are growing in popularity. While these arrangements can be beneficial for clients, they should be carefully considered when an insurance company will… more
Use Of Medicinal Marijuana Not A Facially Unreasonable Accommodation Under Massachusetts Employment Discrimination Law
In a case that may be a precursor of things to come across the country as more and more states “legalize” the medicinal use of marijuana, in a July 17, 2017 decision in Barbuto v. Advantage Sales and Marketing, LLC, SJC 12226, 2017… more
Gig Economy Poised To Grow Even Bigger
The gig economy has exploded in the last few years as more workers embrace side jobs and flexibility of assignments. New studies reveal that this trend should continue into the future. In fact, research group Recode has reported that… more
Seventh Circuit Underscores Important Role for Pre-Certification Challenges to Expert Witnesses
In order to certify a class action, it is the plaintiff’s burden to prove that all of the requirements of Rule 23 of the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure are satisfied. In some class actions, plaintiffs cannot proceed without expert… more
“No Shop” Clause Radioactive for Merger’s “Failing Firm” Defense
Last week a Delaware federal district court unsealed its earlier opinion blocking the merger of two radioactive waste disposal companies. The court rejected the parties’ failing firm defense, citing the merger agreement’s “no shop”… more
Nationwide Healthcare Prosecutions Targeting an Array of Practices . . . Is "Just The Beginning"
On July 13, 2017, the Department of Justice ("DOJ"), in conjunction with the Department of Health and Human Services ("HHS"), continued its annual tradition of coordinating the filing of charges and sweeping arrests in nationwide… more
The PTAB Grants the University of Minnesota Sovereign Immunity but does not Terminate IPR
The PTAB has again addressed sovereign immunity in the context of an IPR. Reactive Surfaces, LTD. petitioned for IPR of U.S. Patents No. 8,394,618 and 8,252,571. The ’618 and ’571 patents are co-owned by Toyota Motor Corporation… more
Telecomm Publica los Criterios Generales Para un Posible Concurso del Proyecto de la Red Tronca
El organismo público descentralizado Telecomunicaciones de México (Telecomm) publicó, el 17 de julio de 2017, los criterios generales que podrían aplicarse al posible concurso para el desarrollo y crecimiento de la Red Troncal(los… more
Immigration Enforcement Costing Millions of Dollars for Local Governments
While President Trump has vowed to strongly enforce the southern border and deportation laws in the United States, states and counties have been picking up sizable portions of the costs for doing so… more
Dechert's Global Private Equity Newsletter - Summer 2017 Edition: Recent Developments in Acquisition Finance
Basic to any acquisition and its financing are the projections of the target’s future performance. These play a key role in setting the price for the target as well as on the availability of acquisition financing. Projections prepared… more
House Panel Approves Groundbreaking Federal Autonomous Vehicle Legislation Draft
The House Subcommittee on Digital Commerce and Consumer Protection reached bipartisan agreement on July 19, 2017, regarding major aspects of legislation to address the testing and deployment of autonomous vehicles. The subcommittee… more
Telecomm Releases General Criteria For Potential Backbone Network Project Bids
The Mexican government agency, Telecomm, on July 17, 2017, released the general criteria for a potential bid for the development and expansion of the Backbone Network Project (Red Troncal)… more
Final Regulations for New York State Paid Family Leave Law Adopted
The New York Workers Compensation Board (the “Board”) has adopted final regulations for implementation of the New York Paid Family Leave Law (“PFLL”). The final regulations are effectively immediately… more
Escobar case limits False Claims Act liability for providers
Health care providers, as government contractors, must make certain representations of fact when submitting claims for government program reimbursement, such as Medicare. Sometimes through no fault of the contractor, such… more
Defence & Indemnity - June 2017 : Insurance Issues E. Conradi v. Economical Mutual Insurance Co., 2015 ABQB 308, per Clackson, J. [4230]
Insurance Issues E. For non-owned auto coverage under a standard Alberta SPN No. 1 auto policy coverage for the “Insured” is not restricted to the “named insured” but also extends to any other form of “insured” under the… more
Vermont’s New Telemedicine Law Expands Insurance Coverage, Bans Recording
Vermont health care providers and patients can now enjoy a revamped, and significantly improved, telehealth commercial insurance coverage law. Vermont Governor Phil Scott signed S. 50 into law on June 7, 2017, expanding commercial… more
FTC Reaffirms that IoT Devices Must Comply with COPPA
The Internet of Things (“IoT”) can be thought of as a group of different devices that can communicate with each other, perhaps over a network such as the internet. We have written extensively about many of the privacy challenges that… more
Medical Marijuana in the Workplace: An Employees Balm; an Employers Bane
On July 17th, the Supreme Judicial Court ruled that Massachusetts employers may not terminate an employee merely because of his or her off-site use of medical marijuana. According to the Court, the use of medically-prescribed marijuana… more
Biosimilar Uptake and Patent Litigation in Japan
Biosimilar uptake in Japan has been a bit mixed, but according to experts the volume shares of biosimilars suggests it could be a key market in years to come. The Pharmaceuticals and Medical Devices Agency (PMDA), which is the agency… more
Reflections Upon USDOL "Tip Retention" Enforcement
We recently wrote about two federal appellate decisions holding that tipped employees for whom no federal Fair Labor Standards Act Section 3(m) "tip credit" has been taken, and to whom all FLSA minimum wages and overtime compensation… more
Restructuring and Insolvency Bulletin - Issue 1 - 2017 - Supreme Court Lehman Waterfall I decision - foreign currency creditors lose over £1.6 billion in failed Lehman Brothers currency conversion claims
98% of the liabilities of Lehman Brothers International (Europe) (in administration) (“LBIE”) were denominated in non-sterling currencies. The fall in sterling after LBIE entered administration resulted in significant paper losses for… more
Need an “Assist” with Your eDiscovery Practices? Get an eDiscovery Assistant!: eDiscovery Best Practices
eDiscovery Assistant™ is a site developed by ESI Attorneys that was built by attorneys and information law practitioners to provide several resources to help people get started — faster and with confidence — in eDiscovery. Those… more
Tip-Pooling Restrictions Slated To Be Rescinded, Labor Department Announces
The U.S. Department of Labor plans to propose a full rescission of the controversial tip-pooling restrictions impacting employers who pay tipped employees the full minimum wage directly sometime in August, according to a regulatory… more
DOJ and OIG Announce Largest Ever National Health Care Fraud Takedown; Focus on Opioids
Continuing its annual tradition, the U.S. Department of Justice (“DOJ”) and the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (“HHS”) announced last week the largest ever health care fraud enforcement action by the Medicare Fraud Strike… more
Coast Guard, DHS Mandate Cybersecurity Reporting, Move to Require Maritime Cybersecurity Programs - Trump Administration, Congress Continue to Raise Concerns
Cybersecurity risks to the nation's critical infrastructure (CI) – defined as 17 CI sectors, including the transportation and maritime sector – continue to grow exponentially. The U.S. government and Department of Homeland Security… more
The Fourth Amendment Implications of Sharing Server Space
The prosecution of Martin Shkreli, whom the BBC has called “the most hated man in America,” reveals some important lessons about the Fourth Amendment protections against search and seizure in the digital corporate context: physical… more
Are State-Owned Patents Immune From IPRs Under The Eleventh Amendment?
In separate non-precedential decisions issued by three different panels, the PTAB has permitted state university patent owners to invoke the Eleventh Amendment in Inter Partes Review proceedings. Each panel found that IPR proceedings… more
SEC Commences Expanded Nonpublic Review of Registration Statements
The U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission recently announced1 an expansion of nonpublic review of draft registration statements for initial public offerings, initial registrations of classes of securities under Section 12(b) of the… more
Absurd Things About 401(k) Plans That Are Actually True
We drive on parkways and park on driveways. Cigarettes are sold in gas stations even though smoking is prohibited there. Fat chance and slim chance mean the same thing. Phonetic isn’t spelled the way it sounds. When it comes to… more
DOL back at it: FLSA ‘white collar’ exemption salary threshold likely to increase
Last year was a busy year for employers. Many conducted internal audits and went through intense planning to comply with new U.S. Department of Labor overtime regulations that were to take effect December 1, 2016. Those 2016… more
Immigration Compliance Due Diligence is Essential to M&A Transactions
Okay, you are about to close on the $50,000,000 acquisition agreement that was signed months ago. A New Jersey company is acquiring a New Jersey company. No international offices. Due diligence has commenced and concluded. You and your… more
Implementation of the EU Competition Damages Directive in Belgium
The Belgian legislature has finally implemented the EU Competition Damages Directive, introducing a new framework that will facilitate injured parties in litigating their competition damages claims before the Belgian courts… more
Massachusetts: Medical Marijuana as a Reasonable Accommodation in the Workplace
As our readers know, we have been monitoring decisions regarding the ability of employers to take disciplinary action against employees for using marijuana at work. The most recent high court to weigh in on this topic is the… more
4 Myths About Robert’s Rules and Quorum – And Why the Truth Matters
Almost everyone can define the basic parliamentary procedure concept of “quorum” – the number of members needed at a meeting to take valid action. Dig a little deeper in Robert’s Rules, though, and you’ll find some common… more
Michigan Adopts New Incentive Tool for Economic Development
A new tax incentive program targeting large job providers passed the Michigan legislature last week with bi-partisan support, and is expected to be signed soon by Governor Rick Snyder, who strongly supported the legislation. The “Good… more
X-Ray the Radiology Practice Before You Buy It
The popularity of radiology practice consolidation is increasing, in part, due to the same catalysts that have driven other outsourced physician groups to consolidate – (a) the need to achieve scale and leverage in order to manage… more
Trump and the GOP Planning to Cut Legal Immigration in Half
President Trump, along with White House Aide Stephen Miller and Republican members of Congress, are seeking to cut legal immigration in half by the year 2027. According to Politico, Senators Tom Cotton of Arkansas and David Perdue of… more
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