Williams Mullen's COVID-19 Comeback Plan: Preparing Today for Tomorrow's PPP Audit
In a long-awaited opinion — Siry Investment, L.P. v. Farkhondehpour — the California Supreme Court held that California Penal Code section 496 can apply to a business dispute. The opinion resolves a split of authority among...more
The US Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit reversed and remanded a district court decision regarding experimental use under 35 U.S.C. § 102(b) and the application of enhanced damages based on an allegedly flawed...more
Massachusetts is seeing an increase in Tips Act claims, and the Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court (SJC) just reinforced that a lack of clarity in fee- and tip-related documentation may result in employer liability,...more
In Parker v. EnerNOC, Parker alleged that she was terminated less than one month after closing the most lucrative client contract in EnerNOC’s history in part because she complained about the amount of her commission for the...more
Almost one year ago, in Switzer v. Wood, California’s Fifth Appellate District held that an LLC manager or member participating in the theft of the LLC’s property could face liability under Penal Code section 496 — a statute...more
In a February 12, 2020 decision, Parker v. EnerNOC, Inc., SJC-12703, the Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court held that the full commission which would have been due to an employee had she not been retaliated against and...more
On February 12, 2020, the Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court (SJC) issued an opinion with significant implications for Massachusetts employers with commissioned employees. In Parker v. EnerNOC, Inc. (SJC-12703), the SJC...more
In the LLC Jungle, allegations of “misappropriation” are common. LLC members and managers sometimes improperly divert the LLC’s funds and property for their own personal use. That bad behavior usually leads to claims of...more
The recent decision of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit affirming the district court's judgment imposing more than $61 million in damages against Dish Network for its vendor's violations of the Telephone...more
Some cases just make you wonder what people were thinking. I’m not even sure Donald Trump would have tried to get away with what Dico, Inc., tried to get away with. In 1994, EPA issued an administrative order, requiring...more
In September 2018, in Baumgartner v. Timmins, 245 Ariz. 334, 429 P.3d 567, the Arizona Court of Appeals provided further clarification on what constitutes an “encumbrance” on a property for purposes of Arizona’s statutory...more
2017 was a year filled with significant developments in case law for trademarks. The below rulings highlight some successes and obstacles faced by companies in the protection of their trademarks and their brand as a whole. ...more
The US Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit affirmed in part, reversed in part and remanded a district court finding that a defendant was liable for breach of a software license agreement and therefore infringed the...more
Sixth Circuit awards attorneys’ fees to False Claims Act defendant against the U.S. government in case involving underpayment of Davis-Bacon Act wages. ...more
The Tenth Circuit recently announced that employees who prove they are owed wages under both Federal and Colorado state law may be entitled to the unpaid wages, plus penalties under both statutes, possibly recovering more...more
A recent decision by the North Carolina Court of Appeals serves as a reminder that owners associations must deal fairly with their members at all times and board members must not let past disputes or personal issues cloud...more
On August 31, 2015, highway contractors Trinity Industries, Inc. and Trinity Highway Products, LLC (collectively, Trinity) appealed to the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit a $663,360,750 final judgment entered...more
In a long-running False Claims Act case with significant implications for hospitals, Toumey Healthcare System last week agreed to settle its case by paying $72.4 million to the government. While this sum is significant, it is...more
Nearly all business disputes in Massachusetts are governed by Chapter 93A. The winning plaintiff under Chapter 93A is entitled to an automatic award of its attorney's fees, and may be awarded up to three times its actual...more
In what may be the penultimate chapter of the long–running saga of the Tuomey case, the Fourth Circuit affirmed the final judgment and award in favor of the government in its case against Tuomey Healthcare System, Inc....more
In This Issue: - Background - Tuomey’s Second Appeal to the Fourth Circuit - The Trial Court’s Grant of a New Trial - Tuomey’s Request for Judgement as a Matter of Law on the Stark Law and FCA Issues ...more
The Foreign Trade Antitrust Improvements Act (FTAIA) was enacted in 1982 to help achieve clarity in the application of U.S antitrust laws to international trade. More than 30 years since that effort, the FTAIA has not...more
Last week, the United States Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit vacated a federal district court’s award of $657 Million for treble damages under the False Claims Act (“FCA”), restitution, and prejudgment interest. See...more
The U.S. Court of Appeals for the 11th Circuit has ruled that a plaintiff must show that the defendant knew its conduct violated the Telephone Consumer Protection Act (TCPA) to establish a willful or knowing TCPA violation....more
In a widely awaited opinion, the Seventh U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in Chicago has issued an opinion which affects the scope of government enforcement actions and which purchasers may pursue private civil treble damage...more