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SCOTUS Set to Address Circuit Split in Interpreting CFAA
The Computer Fraud and Abuse Act (CFAA) is the sort of broadly worded criminal statute which gives white-collar prosecutors considerable power — and makes defense counsel and judges uneasy. The meaning of "or exceed[ing] authorized access" is not so clear.
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Corporate Compliance Programs and the DOJ's Emphasis on Data Analytics: What Companies Need to Consider
In recent months, the U.S. Department of Justice has raised expectations for companies to use data analytics to monitor the effectiveness of their compliance programs and to identify potential misconduct.
Features

Fall 2020 Data Privacy Updates
America and the EU continue altering data privacy frameworks for businesses.
Features

No 'Fishing' In Trump Tax Return Case
"Give a man a fish, and you feed him for a day. Teach a man to fish, and you feed him for a lifetime." Judge Victor Marrero, writing in a decision dismissing the President's civil suit under the Civil Rights Act, neither gives a fish, nor teaches how to fish — rather he explains what fishing is.
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The 'Right to Control' Wire Fraud Theory Should Be Eliminated
In recent decades, federal fraud prosecutions have relied on the theory that a defendant can fraudulently deprive a victim of the intangible "right to control" its assets, even if the victim is not deprived of any tangible money or property. While this theory has been repeatedly affirmed by the Second Circuit, it is incompatible with a series of recent Supreme Court cases in which the Court has narrowed the scope of federal white-collar criminal statutes by adopting narrow definitions of the term "property."
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Don't Set It & Forget It: The Importance of Evaluating & Evolving Healthcare Compliance Programs
The federal government won or negotiated over $2.6 billion in healthcare fraud judgments and settlements in 2019. The government's investment of resources toward combatting fraud, waste and abuse in healthcare can be expected to continue in full force, irrespective of a change in political administration. Accordingly, it is important for healthcare companies to focus on maintaining flexible and effective compliance programs.
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DOJ's China Initiative Poses Growing Risks for Those with Chinese Ties
In the two years since it's unveiling, the Initiative has expanded its scope from prosecutions of individuals suspected of stealing for China to those who simply have Chinese ties. The department is now increasing its mission to investigate individuals who are merely associated with Chinese recruitment programs.
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Ninth Circuit Upholds Most FCC Restrictions on Local Government Review of Wireless Installations
The Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals' recent decision in City of Portland v. Unites States significantly affects the ability of local governments to regulate the installation of so called "small cell" wireless facilities and addresses the ability of wireless providers to utilize utility poles.
Features

COVID Shutdown Orders v. Statutory Rent Obligations
Even though payment of post-petition rent under a nonresidential lease (prior to rejection) has historically been an absolute requirement, bankruptcy courts, as courts of equity, have the ability during these extraordinary times to take a more flexible approach.
Features

Deciphering the USPTO's Material Alteration Standard for Amending Marks
As brands mature over time, their owners often seek to update marks that are subject to a federal registration or registration application. In some cases, the impetus for the amendment may be deliberately to freshen, tweak, or otherwise modernize the subject mark. In other cases, brand owners may recognize after the fact that their current usage of a mark does not match the mark as originally registered or applied for.
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- Reining in the Inequitable Conduct DefenseResponding to views from the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office and elsewhere about the unintended consequences of the current inequitable conduct doctrine, a divided <i>en banc</i> Federal Circuit decision issued on May 25, 2011 adjusted the standard of the materiality element to make this defense harder to establish.Read More ›
- 'Customary Operations' or A Vacant Building?Many times, courts are faced with the question of whether a loss location is 'vacant' under a commercial property policy when trying to determine if the building owner or lessee is conducting customary operations. This article explores various decisions across the United States as to what is considered 'customary operations,' thereby rendering the property 'vacant.'Read More ›
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