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Pharmaceutical Benefits Managers Get Reprieve in Maine
In a decision issued March 9 in the case of Pharmaceutical Care Management Ass'n v. Rowe, No. 03-153-B-W, 2004 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 3758 (D. Maine 3/9/04), U.S. District Judge John A. Woodcock Jr. delayed enforcement of a novel Maine law whose intent is to make the business practices of companies that negotiate drug prices on behalf of health plans more transparent. The preliminary injunction has at least temporarily prevented the state of Maine from implementing Maine's 2003 “Act to Protect Against Unfair Prescription Drug Practices (M.R.S.A. ' 2699), known as UPDPA, against pharmaceutical benefits managers (PBMs).
Facts of the Case
The plaintiff in the case, Pharmaceutical Care Management Association, is a trade group representing PBMs. The role of a PBM is to reduce prescription drug prices for its customers — insurance companies, unions, and other institutions that provide health care benefits — by negotiating discounts on pharmaceutical products. The five largest National PBMS are Medco Health Solutions Inc., AdvanePCS Inc., Express Scripts Inc., Wellpoint Pharmacy Management and Caremark RX Inc.
Major Differences In UK, U.S. Copyright Laws
This article highlights how copyright law in the United Kingdom differs from U.S. copyright law, and points out differences that may be crucial to entertainment and media businesses familiar with U.S law that are interested in operating in the United Kingdom or under UK law. The article also briefly addresses contrasts in UK and U.S. trademark law.
The Article 8 Opt In
The Article 8 opt-in election adds an additional layer of complexity to the already labyrinthine rules governing perfection of security interests under the UCC. A lender that is unaware of the nuances created by the opt in (may find its security interest vulnerable to being primed by another party that has taken steps to perfect in a superior manner under the circumstances.
Strategy vs. Tactics: Two Sides of a Difficult Coin
With each successive large-scale cyber attack, it is slowly becoming clear that ransomware attacks are targeting the critical infrastructure of the most powerful country on the planet. Understanding the strategy, and tactics of our opponents, as well as the strategy and the tactics we implement as a response are vital to victory.
Legal Possession: What Does It Mean?
Possession of real property is a matter of physical fact. Having the right or legal entitlement to possession is not "possession," possession is "the fact of having or holding property in one's power." That power means having physical dominion and control over the property.
The Stranger to the Deed Rule
In 1987, a unanimous Court of Appeals reaffirmed the vitality of the "stranger to the deed" rule, which holds that if a grantor executes a deed to a grantee purporting to create an easement in a third party, the easement is invalid. Daniello v. Wagner, decided by the Second Department on November 29th, makes it clear that not all grantors (or their lawyers) have received the Court of Appeals' message, suggesting that the rule needs re-examination.