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Whither Same-Sex Marriage?
July 6 marked an historic moment in the history of New York's Court of Appeals. Some will argue (this author included) that it is a black mark against the court's reputation as an institution willing to take a different, non-traditional path for the determination of significant, historic and controversial issues of equal rights and equal protection under the law when the high courts of its sister states have often ducked and evaded the opportunity to confront societal biases head on. Oftentimes, our Court of Appeals has turned to the New York State Constitution for this purpose in order to ensure that the underpinnings of its decisions will withstand attack in the Federal Courts. Nevertheless, the current Court of Appeals has punted the issue of same-sex marriage back to New York's Legislature over a carefully crafted and ringing dissent by Chief Judge Judith S. Kaye.
Judge Robert S. Smith, writing for the majority, is neither coy nor disingenuous in his approach, for at the very outset of the decision he states unequivocally, 'We hold that the New York Constitution does not compel recognition of marriages between members of the same sex. Whether such marriages should be recognized is a question to be addressed by the Legislature.' As is Judge Smith's style, from the very beginning he straightforwardly tells us where he is going. For that he must be commended, since it will save some readers the agony and suspense of delving through 17 pages before reaching the punchline.
Bankruptcy Sales: Finding a Diamond In the Rough
There is no efficient market for the sale of bankruptcy assets. Inefficient markets yield a transactional drag, potentially dampening the ability of debtors and trustees to maximize value for creditors. This article identifies ways in which investors may more easily discover bankruptcy asset sales.
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.
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.
Removing Restrictive Covenants In New York
In Rockwell v. Despart, the New York Supreme Court, Third Department, recently revisited a recurring question: When may a landowner seek judicial removal of a covenant restricting use of her land?
Coverage Issues Stemming from Dry Cleaner Contamination Suits
In recent years, there has been a growing number of dry cleaners claiming to be "organic," "green," or "eco-friendly." While that may be true with respect to some, many dry cleaners continue to use a cleaning method involving the use of a solvent called perchloroethylene, commonly known as perc. And, there seems to be an increasing number of lawsuits stemming from environmental problems associated with historic dry cleaning operations utilizing this chemical.