Employers Face High Stakes
April 27, 2009
With the number of layoffs increasing dramatically, it is no surprise that individual charges of discrimination are ballooning. What may be a surprise to employers, however, is that the EEOC needs only one complainant, or in some instances, a mere suspicion that a discriminatory pattern or practice is occurring, to initiate a company-wide investigation.
RICO
April 27, 2009
Smithfield Foods' precedent-setting civil racketeering suit against the United Food and Commercial Workers' Union (UFCW) and several related defendants spawned critically important legal precedent that blazes a new trail for employers who are in search of litigation options for responding to non-traditional union organizing methods.
Supreme Court Again Broadens Scope of Fair Employment Anti-Retaliation Provisions
April 27, 2009
The end of the Bush administration and the first six weeks of the Obama administration resulted in significant changes to key federal fair employment statutes.But there are also four U.S. Supreme Court decisions issued since June 2006, which have significantly expanded the scope of the anti-retaliation provisions ...
On the Move
April 24, 2009
Who's doing what; who's going where.
Unfinished Business: Swap Participants Gain Ground
April 24, 2009
On Feb. 11, 2009, the United States Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit recognized the broad protections afforded to swap agreements under the Bankruptcy Code. Here is a review of the case.
The Era of 'Busted Deals'?
April 24, 2009
The current financial environment has generated an atmosphere where not only are fewer "deals" taking place, but also many deals that are far down the path of consummation may fall apart. It is safe to assume we will continue to see a number of "busted deals."
Trustee Liability and the Curious Case of Maxwell v. KPMG, LLP
April 24, 2009
Last year, Judge Richard A. Posner of the Seventh Circuit Court of Appeals wrote an opinion that sent shockwaves throughout the bankruptcy community, particularly in trustee circles. The shocking part of <i>Maxwell v. KPMG, LLP</i> was not its holding, but its dicta.
Anti-Idling Laws: Landlords and Tenants Beware
April 24, 2009
Over the past two years, many states have passed "anti-idling" laws that prohibit excessive motor vehicle idling. The focus of these laws is on owners and operators of larger commercial vehicles, many are written so broadly that enforcement procedures and fines can be imposed on landlords/property owners and tenants of property ...
The Most Crucial Commercial Lease Cases
April 24, 2009
The first part of this article, which appeared in the December 2008 issue, discussed cases that address the preference for stability over sense, mitigation and interpretation of leases. The second part, which appeared in the February 2009 issue, discussed cases that address enforcement and violations. The cases in the conclusion herein address stipulations and eviction.
