In this election year, employees inevitably will engage in discussions of the impactful and divisive political issues that are at the forefront of our national discourse. Employers must be aware of the ways in which political...more
We recently had the opportunity to co-sponsor and present during the College & University Hotel Ownership Symposium (CUHOS), on March 4-5 at Harvard University. The biennial event, organized by Pinnacle Advisory Group,...more
In a departure from earlier court decisions, the Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court (SJC) has imposed additional potential liability on employers for wage-and-hour compliance. In Reuter v. City of Methuen, the SJC explained...more
On the 30th anniversary of its passage, the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) deserves recognition for its continued viability and adaptability in response to contemporary problems and technological change. As the retail...more
7/29/2020
/ Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) ,
Coronavirus/COVID-19 ,
Disability Access Claims ,
Disability Discrimination ,
E-Commerce ,
Hospitality Industry ,
Personal Protective Equipment ,
Public Accommodation ,
Reasonable Accommodation ,
Retailers ,
Screening Procedures ,
Title III ,
Virus Testing ,
Website Accessibility
In the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic, the U.S. unemployment rate is at its highest level since the Great Depression. In light of the economic upheaval caused by this pandemic, in March 2020 Congress passed the largest...more
Multi-tenant residential housing properties face numerous financial and operational challenges from the outbreak of Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). An immediate concern for owners and management is their ability to...more
In an effort to provide relief to families and workers affected by the coronavirus disease (COVID-19), the Families First Coronavirus Response Act (the “Act”), H.R. 6201, goes into effect on April 2 and provides two new forms...more
The novel coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic has reached almost all U.S. states, the District of Columbia, and Puerto Rico. It appears that COVID-19 originated in China’s Hubei province and it presents the greatest risk to...more
3/17/2020
/ Anti-Discrimination Policies ,
Best Practices ,
Business Continuity Plans ,
China ,
Coronavirus/COVID-19 ,
Crisis Management ,
Emergency Management Plans ,
Employer Liability Issues ,
Health and Safety ,
Infectious Diseases ,
Layoffs ,
OWBPA ,
Paid Time Off (PTO) ,
Public Health ,
Release of Claims ,
Risk Management ,
Severance Pay ,
Sick Leave ,
Wage and Hour ,
WARN Act ,
Workplace Safety
It is a little-known fact that, in 1994, Blockbuster video was the first store to display pre-paid gift cards for sale. Unlike VHS rentals, the gift card industry has only grown in popularity. Gift cards from major retailers...more
11/13/2019
/ Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) ,
Article III ,
Class Action ,
Disability Discrimination ,
Gift-Cards ,
Permanent Impairments ,
Public Accommodation ,
Regulatory Standards ,
Regulatory Violations ,
Restaurant Industry ,
Retail Market
In February 2017, we reported on a surge in website accessibility lawsuits brought under the Americans with Disabilities Act (“ADA”). This litigation trend has accelerated over the past year and shows no signs of slowing...more
3/21/2018
/ Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) ,
Corporate Counsel ,
Disability Discrimination ,
Internet Retailers ,
Mobile Apps ,
Public Accommodation ,
Regulatory Standards ,
Retail Market ,
Retailers ,
Title III ,
Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) ,
Website Accessibility ,
Website Owner Liability ,
Websites
The skies are a little friendlier for drones now that the Dutch police have suspended their squad of drone-hunting eagles. This is also great news for retailers, as drone popularity continues to soar with overall electronics...more
1/10/2018
/ Airspace ,
Appeals ,
Drones ,
Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) ,
Local Ordinance ,
Municipalities ,
Registration Requirement ,
Regulatory Oversight ,
Retail Market ,
Technology Sector ,
Unmanned Aircraft Systems
The proliferation of accessibility lawsuits under Title III of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) has not abated. It is well-documented that ADA-related litigation increased by 37% from 2015 to 2016, which is...more
2/22/2017
/ Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) ,
Disability Discrimination ,
E-Commerce ,
Internet Retailers ,
Public Accommodation ,
Retail Market ,
Retailers ,
Technology ,
Title III ,
Website Accessibility ,
Website Owner Liability ,
Websites
It happened again—another incident involving an errant drone and a resident from the Garden State. As reported by various news sources, a New Jersey man attempted to photograph the Empire State Building with his drone. He was...more
It starts with an inaccurate, possibly fake, online review. Then a post appears on a consumer complaint forum. Suddenly, there is a surge of false postings about your company on social media sites. Invariably, these anonymous...more
7/9/2015
/ Advertising ,
Bad Actors ,
Copyright ,
First Amendment ,
Internet ,
Marketing ,
Online Reputation ,
Online Reviews ,
Personal Brands ,
Reputation Management ,
Social Media ,
Trade Secrets ,
Trademarks ,
Websites
Drones are everywhere. Technological innovations have created countless commercial opportunities for drones, also known as unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs). Until recently, however, the Federal Aviation Administration’s (FAA)...more
Technology has rendered irrelevant the longstanding debate over whether good fences make good neighbors. Authorities in New Jersey recently arrested a man after he shot down a neighbor’s drone that was flying above his...more