Law.com Subscribers SAVE 30%

Call 855-808-4530 or email [email protected] to receive your discount on a new subscription.

Changes to the Federal Sentencing Guidelines

By Mark A. Rush and Matthew J. Fader

In response to the recent corporate scandals within organizations including Enron, WorldCom, Adelphia and Tyco, and with the enactment of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act (SOX), the Federal Sentencing Commission (the “Commission”) has submitted to Congress amendments to Chapter Eight of the Federal Sentencing Guidelines that, barring action from Congress, will take effect on Nov. 1, 2004. See Notice of Submission to Congress of Amendments to the Sentencing Guidelines Effective November 1, 2004 (“Notice of Submission”), 69 Fed. Reg. 28,994, 28,994 (May 19, 2004).

Chapter Eight of the Sentencing Guidelines governs punishment for organizations, including corporations, that are convicted of crimes. Chapter Eight also provides incentives to organizations to engage in self-policing of their own conduct through the development of effective compliance and ethics programs. Chapter Eight currently sets forth a number of factors courts must consider when determining the appropriate sentence for an organization, including: 1) the organization's involvement in or tolerance for criminal activity; 2) the size of the organization; 3) the prior history of an organization's misconduct; 4) whether the organization violated a previous judicial order; 5) whether the organization engaged in the obstruction of justice; and 6) whether the organization has an effective compliance program. It is the last of these factors that is the primary subject of the recent amendments to Chapter Eight.

Read These Next
The Article 8 Opt In Image

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.

Beach Boys Songs Written Decades Ago Triggered Current Quarrel With Lawyers Image

There's current litigation in the ongoing Beach Boys litigation saga. A lawsuit filed in 2019 against Nevada residents Mike Love and his wife Jacquelyne in the U.S. District Court for the District of Nevada that alleges inaccurate payment by the Loves under the retainer agreement and seeks $84.5 million in damages.

Major Differences In UK, U.S. Copyright Laws Image

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.

Strategy vs. Tactics: Two Sides of a Difficult Coin Image

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.

Transfer Tax Implications on Real Property Leases Image

The real property transfer tax does not apply to all leases, and understanding the tax rules of the applicable jurisdiction can allow parties to plan ahead to avoid unnecessary tax liability.