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Court Watch
Insurance Agencies Closer to Qualifying As Franchises in Michigan
In Bucciarelli v. Nationwide Mutual Ins. Co., 2 Bus. Franch. Guide (CCH) '14, 200 (E.D. Mich. 2009), the Eastern District of Michigan declined to rule as a matter of law that the Michigan Franchise Investment Law (the “MFIL”) did not apply to insurance agency contracts, deviating from precedents set by courts in other jurisdictions and setting the framework for future decisions that could have a lasting impact on the insurance industry in the state. The plaintiff, Rick Bucciarelli, was the sole owner of an insurance agency, Rick Bucciarelli and Associates. Bucciarelli signed an Independent Contractor's Agent Agreement with Nationwide Insurance in which he was entitled to sell insurance and financial products offered by Nationwide and its affiliates.
The DOJ's Corporate Enforcement Policy: One Year Later
The DOJ's Criminal Division issued three declinations since the issuance of the revised CEP a year ago. Review of these cases gives insight into DOJ's implementation of the new policy in practice.
Use of Deferred Prosecution Agreements In White Collar Investigations
This article discusses the practical and policy reasons for the use of DPAs and NPAs in white-collar criminal investigations, and considers the NDAA's new reporting provision and its relationship with other efforts to enhance transparency in DOJ decision-making.
The DOJ's New Parameters for Evaluating Corporate Compliance Programs
The parameters set forth in the DOJ's memorandum have implications not only for the government's evaluation of compliance programs in the context of criminal charging decisions, but also for how defense counsel structure their conference-room advocacy seeking declinations or lesser sanctions in both criminal and civil investigations.
CLE Shouldn't Be the Only Mandatory Training for Attorneys
Each stage of an attorney's career offers opportunities for a curriculum that addresses both the individual's and the firm's need to drive success.
Discovery of Claim Construction and Infringement Analysis May be Compelled Prior to a Markman Hearing
A defendant in a patent infringement suit may, during discovery and prior to a <i>Markman</i> hearing, compel the plaintiff to produce claim charts, claim constructions, and element-by-element infringement analyses.