LJN Newsletters

  • The Second British Invasion: Foreign Nationals in U.S. Courts

    When the British invaded in the 1960s, they came as rock and roll bands. Today, the British ' joined by the Italians, the French, and other foreign nationals ' are storming America's shores as plaintiffs in pharmaceutical personal-injury class action and other complex litigation matters. These plaintiffs sue domestic U.S. corporations here for alleged injuries caused abroad by their international subsidiaries. In doing so, the foreign plaintiffs are attempting to circumvent favorable foreign law that protects the corporate defendant. As shown below, the forum non conveniens doctrine is a viable defense to these suits in certain situations.

    July 31, 2007Stephen C. Matthews, Eric L. Probst and George Benaur

  • In the Marketplace

    Highlights of the latest equipment leasing news from around the country.

    July 31, 2007ALM Staff | Law Journal Newsletters |

  • The Case for Expert Testimony

    In equipment leasing industry court cases, one of the challenges lawyers and judges face is simply understanding the nuances and contractual language of the business. That makes credible expert testimony in such legal matters especially critical to winning a case, whether it involves a bank, captive finance company, or independent leasing firm.

    July 31, 2007John C. Deane

  • Corporate President May Avoid a Personal Guaranty

    In a recent decision, Cummings Properties, Inc. v. Aspeon Solutions, Inc., et al. (Lawyers Weekly No. 13-019-07), the Massachusetts District Court/Boston Municipal Court Appellate Division affirmed the District Court judge's findings at trial that a defendant could not be held personally liable on a guaranty contained in a commercial real estate lease that the defendant quickly signed in two places before rushing off to the airport to make a flight. This decision was affirmed by the appellate division based on the defense of fraud in the factum.

    July 31, 2007Lewis J. Cohn

  • Movers & Shakers

    Information about the advancement of lawyers in the patent profession.

    July 31, 2007ALM Staff | Law Journal Newsletters |

  • The Technical Professional's Role in IP Strategy

    Engineers, scientists, and other technical professionals 'make or break' the development of IP strategy in industry. It is not uncommon to develop IP strategy by drawing in a number of technical experts to work with decision makers and an IP agent or attorney to develop a strategy that others will implement. For example, sometimes an IP strategy for a new invention or new technology is to be developed, or the business wishes to develop an IP strategy to support the growth of new products. In such instances, it is helpful to consider how to select the technical experts to assist this strategic effort.

    July 31, 2007H. Jackson Knight

  • Inequitable Conduct Decision Catches Many Off Guard

    The recent Federal Circuit decision McKesson Info. Solutions, Inc. v. Bridge Med., Inc., No. 2006-1517 (Fed. Cir. May 18, 2007) has many patent prosecutors scrambling to file information disclosures after the court found inequitable conduct based on the all-too-common oversight of not cross-citing prior art from similar, co-pending applications and the even more common oversight of not cross-citing allowances and rejections from such applications.

    July 31, 2007Robert Buergi

  • What's the Hurry? Fallout After KSR

    Every U.S. Supreme Court decision affecting intellectual property involves intellectual property attorneys from that moment forward, and all of the pending patent applications that those attorneys are prosecuting. How those attorneys react to the pronouncement of law makes the difference.

    July 31, 2007John H. Hornickel

  • Who Cares About Japan?

    Part One of this series examined several significant changes to both Japanese and U.S. IP-related laws and regulations that have helped empower Japanese firms to effectively utilize IP. This second installment discusses corporate strategies Japanese firms are starting to employ to capitalize on their intellectual capital.

    July 31, 2007Andrew Carter, Suzue Fujimori and Mark Rollins

  • Affinity Groups: Tools for Retention

    Affinity groups are groups that are sponsored and supported by an organization and consist of people with a common set of characteristics. Common affinity groups in larger law firms include ones involving women attorneys; attorneys of color; reduced- schedule attorneys; and people who are gay, lesbian, bisexual, or transgender ('GLBT'). Affinity groups are effective tools that organizations have used successfully to improve retention and promotion, and to enhance recruiting efforts. Affinity groups that 'support the attorneys and provide outlets and channels of communication with senior management' are also considered diversity best practices (The Association of the Bar of the City of New York, Statement of Diversity Principles, Diversity Practices).

    July 31, 2007Jane DiRenzo Pigott