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Eleventh Circuit Upholds Graves Amendment
Congress enacted the Graves Amendment in August 2005 to bar vicarious liability claims against long-term lease and rental car companies. Often challenged in the courts, the dependability of the Graves Amendment has been undermined by inconsistent court rulings that subject lessors to the liability the Graves Amendment intends to prevent.
The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Eleven Circuit in Garcia v. Vanguard Car Rental USA, Inc., found Congress had the authority to enact the Graves Amendment under the Commerce Clause of the U.S. Constitution. See 540 F.3d 1242, 1252-53 (11th Cir. 2008). It also found that the Graves Amendment blocks vicarious liability of lessors arising out of motor vehicle accidents involving their lessees. Although Garcia does not answer all the questions pertaining to lessor liability in these instances, it represents the first time a federal appellate court has handed down a decision concerning the Graves Amendment that offers some relief for passive lessors against liability created by their lessees.
Law Firms are Reducing Redundant Real Estate by Bringing Support Services Back to the Office
A trend analysis of the benefits and challenges of bringing back administrative, word processing and billing services to law offices.
New York's Latest Cybersecurity Commitment
On Aug. 9, 2023, Gov. Kathy Hochul introduced New York's inaugural comprehensive cybersecurity strategy. In sum, the plan aims to update government networks, bolster county-level digital defenses, and regulate critical infrastructure.
Bit Parts
Summary Judgment Denied Defendant in Declaratory Action by Producer of To Kill a Mockingbird Broadway Play Seeking Amateur Theatrical Rights
Risks of “Baseball Arbitration” in Resolving Real Estate Disputes
“Baseball arbitration” refers to the process used in Major League Baseball in which if an eligible player's representative and the club ownership cannot reach a compensation agreement through negotiation, each party enters a final submission and during a formal hearing each side — player and management — presents its case and then the designated panel of arbitrators chooses one of the salary bids with no other result being allowed. This method has become increasingly popular even beyond the sport of baseball.
Disconnect Between In-House and Outside Counsel
'Disconnect Between In-House and Outside Counsel is a continuation of the discussion of client expectations and the disconnect that often occurs. And although the outside attorneys should be pursuing how inside-counsel actually think, inside counsel should make an effort to impart this information without waiting to be asked.