Commercial Law

With the financial crisis occupying the Obama administration, the anticipated barrage of new environmental laws, policies, and regulations has yet to materialize. When the switch is turned on, however, the costs to policyholders are likely to be substantial, and just as likely, policyholders will test whether some of those costs can be passed on to their carriers.

Insurers are not required to "defend" affirmative claims. But "defense" of affirmative claims may be covered if factually related to and necessary to defense. A look at recent case law.

When pending a trial wherein a franchisor seeks to enjoin a franchisee from breaching a restrictive covenant or a franchisee seeks to enjoin a franchisor from terminating their relationship, Canadian courts have generally applied the following three-part test. This article explains.

Because the financial distress is network-wide, how manufacturers respond to the financially distressed dealership is more important than ever. For some dealerships, the appropriate strategy may be creative cooperation forbearance agreements, operating stipulations, and workouts ' not adversarial enforcement.

Clients withholding payments directly impacts partners' bottom lines. As such, law firms are always focused on billing and collecting as much as they can in the last quarter of the year. The current crisis has trumped even the most diligent efforts of law firms to bring in cash, and it illustrates the importance of having sound inventory management practices that are followed throughout the year.

This author previously suggested consideration of amending CPLR ' 6501. The article herein addresses an additional reason for amending CPLR ' 6501, to wit: whether a properly filed N/P in a mortgage foreclosure plenary action binds to its results a later created interest in the subject realty evidenced by any type of lease or other possessory interest agreement for a term of less than three (3) years.

In last month's newsletter, we discussed Domestic Relations Law (DRL) ' 236(B)(6)(a), the statute containing the factors courts use to determine spousal maintenance awards in New York, along with the recently proposed legislation (See New York State Assembly Bill A10446) that would replace the statute with a formula to calculate both the amount and duration of maintenance. The discussion concludes here.

Matrimonial lawyers in New York say there is no shortage of legal work in this tough economic climate, as clients with strained finances seek support modifications, settlements and, for some, divorce. The problem, they say, is getting paid.