Coming to the States?
The long arm of U.S. jurisdiction generates a number of worries for counsel advising foreign businesses and executives who may be "of interest" to authorities here. One such worry is the status of foreign nationals entering the United States on business during the course of a criminal or civil investigation.
Features
How to Use and Not Lose Experts in Criminal Cases
Rare is the white-collar case today where an expert witness does not play a powerful role. But the vagueness in expert disclosure rules in criminal cases can lead unwary defense counsel to forfeit an expert entirely.
Features
Cap on Legal Fees in Bankruptcy Alarms Firms
Lawyers representing directors and officers of IndyMac Bancorp Inc. are attempting to remove a cap on their billing rates, the latest example of how judges are scrutinizing hourly fees in large bankruptcies.
Intercreditor Dynamics in Bankruptcy
When a creditor enters the realm of bankruptcy, lenders often find that the many detailed provisions of an extensively negotiated intercreditor agreement are no longer controlling. On the contrary, the intercreditor agreement may have little influence on the outcome of many critical matters that arise in bankruptcy.
Features
Bankruptcy Court Cannot Surcharge Credit Bidding Asset Buyer with Expenses of Sale
Explaining that the "bankruptcy court had no jurisdiction to take such action," the Fifth Circuit also vacated the district's court's improper ruling that the bankruptcy judge could enter a personal judgment against the asset buyer.
Features
Considerations of Examiner Appointments in Bankruptcy Actions
Examiner appointments in Chapter 11 bankruptcy cases are uncommon, and despite Judge Peter J. Walsh's statement that he had appointed an examiner only two or three times during his career as a bankruptcy judge, he recently ordered the appointment of an examiner in <i>In re DBSI, Inc.</i>
Bit Parts
Copyright Infringement/Parody<br>Mechanical Licenses/Prospective Song "Holds" <br>Right of Publicity/"Non-Commercial" Purpose<br>Sampling Licenses/Song Infringement
Features
Labels Attack Music Search Engines
Lawyers scurried to San Jose, CA, bankruptcy court in April to argue over the remains of SeeqPod Inc., the first big casualty on the newest front in the legal war between the record industry and the Internet.
Features
Cameo Clips
COPYRIGHT INFRINGEMENT/JURY INSTRUCTIONS<br>TRADEMARK USES/QUALITY CONTROL
A Look at Law That Restricts Non-Competes In Broadcasting
New York broadcast employees who otherwise have been subject to restrictive non-compete clauses in their employment contracts are the prime beneficiaries of the Broadcast Employees Freedom to Work Act, NY Labor Law '202-k, signed into law in 2008 by Governor David Paterson. The law forbids some, but not all, attempts by employers in broadcasting media to restrict the range of opportunities for certain employees following the termination or expiration of employment. Similar legislation benefiting broadcast industry employees has been passed in Arizona, Illinois, Massachusetts, Maine and Washington, DC; and non-compete provisions are banned in California.
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MOST POPULAR STORIES
- The 'Sophisticated Insured' DefenseA majority of courts consider the <i>contra proferentem</i> doctrine to be a pillar of insurance law. The doctrine requires ambiguous terms in an insurance policy to be construed against the insurer and in favor of coverage for the insured. A prominent rationale behind the doctrine is that insurance policies are usually standard-form contracts drafted entirely by insurers.Read More ›
- A Lawyer's System for Active ReadingActive reading comprises many daily tasks lawyers engage in, including highlighting, annotating, note taking, comparing and searching texts. It demands more than flipping or turning pages.Read More ›
- The Brave New World of Cybersecurity Due Diligence in Mergers and Acquisitions: Pitfalls and OpportunitiesLike poorly-behaved school children, new technologies and intellectual property (IP) are increasingly disrupting the M&A establishment. Cybersecurity has become the latest disruptive newcomer to the M&A party.Read More ›
- Abandoned and Unused Cables: A Hidden Liability Under the 2002 National Electric CodeIn an effort to minimize the release of toxic gasses from cables in the event of fire, the 2002 version of the National Electric Code ("NEC"), promulgated by the National Fire Protection Association, sets forth new guidelines requiring that abandoned cables must be removed from buildings unless they are located in metal raceways or tagged "For Future Use." While the NEC is not, in itself, binding law, most jurisdictions in the United States adopt the NEC by reference in their state or local building and fire codes. Thus, noncompliance with the recent NEC guidelines will likely mean that a building is in violation of a building or fire code. If so, the building owner may also be in breach of agreements with tenants and lenders and may be jeopardizing its fire insurance coverage. Even in jurisdictions where the 2002 NEC has not been adopted, it may be argued that the guidelines represent the standard of reasonable care and could result in tort liability for the landlord if toxic gasses from abandoned cables are emitted in a fire. With these potential liabilities in mind, this article discusses: 1) how to address the abandoned wires and cables currently located within the risers, ceilings and other areas of properties, and 2) additional considerations in the placement and removal of telecommunications cables going forward.Read More ›
- Guidance on Distributions As 'Disbursements' and U.S. Trustee FeesIn a recent case from the Bankruptcy Court for the District of Delaware, In re Paragon Offshore PLC, the bankruptcy court provided guidance on whether a post-plan effective date litigation trust's distributions constituted disbursements subject to the U.S. Trustee fee "tax."Read More ›