Commercial Law

Features

On Sept. 11, 2009, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Court issued an opinion in the case of <i>Lucent Technologies Inc. et al. v. Gateway Inc. et al.</i> In its ruling, the CAFC found that "the damages evidence of record was neither very powerful, nor presented very well by either party" and that the plaintiff's damages calculation "lacked sufficient evidentiary support." The CAFC therefore vacated the district court's award and remanded the case for a new trial on damages.

Features

On Nov. 9, 2009, the Supreme Court heard oral argument in <i>In re Bilski</i> ' a case that will likely impact whether business methods are eligible for patent protection under 35 U.S.C. ' 101. To date, the Supreme Court has held that abstract ideas, natural phenomena, and laws of nature are not patent eligible, but has yet to apply that holding to a business method.

Features

Business Interruption coverage is contained in most first-party commercial property insurance and is meant to provide coverage where there is a suspension of business caused by direct physical loss to the property. Such policies also contain a "Civil Authority" provision, which typically states that the insurer will pay business income losses caused by the action of civil authority that prohibits access to the described premises due to direct physical loss of or damage to property, other than the described premises, caused by or resulting from a Covered Cause of Loss.

Features

It is fairly well established in many courts across the United States that "late notice" of a claim under an occurrence-based commercial general liability ("CGL") policy presents a problem for insureds only when it "actually" and "substantially prejudices" an insurer. In light of that standard, insurers appear to face high hurdles if they rely on notice issues to avoid coverage. At the very least, it seems that the question of prejudice is highly factual and thus should be preserved for a jury to decide.

Features

Highlights of the latest franchising cases from around the country.

Features

The third-quarter results of Nassau Asset Management's NasTrac Quarterly Index ("NQI") show a decline in trucking and machine tool repossessions, as compared with the same quarter last year, while construction and printing equipment repos continued to rise.

Features

Small, spark-ignited nonroad engines from China are the latest imports that run afoul of U.S. standards, as many do not meet the requirements of the Clean Air Act.

Features

Who's doing what; who's going where.