One Vaccine-Caused Autism Claim to Be Paid
April 28, 2008
The parents of the approximately 5,000 children who developed autism symptoms following vaccination who currently have claims filed with the government seeking compensation were given an unexpected shot of hope in March by the news that the government had agreed to compensate one child for vaccine-related onset of autism symptoms.
Commercial Medical Practice: The Walk-in Clinic
April 28, 2008
Last June, the AMA requested that state and federal agencies initiate investigations into the growing retail-based health clinics run by major pharmacies across the country. The Association claims that there are potential conflicts of interest at these clinics, because the primary goal is profit-making by luring patients to the pharmacy to fill the prescriptions written by the in-house health provider.
Spring-Loading Options
April 25, 2008
Delaware courts are beginning to analyze claims concerning the controversial practice of spring-loading options. Spring-loading is the granting of options just prior to the release of favorable company information (in the company's possession at the time of the grant). The options are granted at a market price on the day of the grant. They are said to be 'spring-loaded' because upon release of the favorable news, the stock price is expected to rise and the options would then become 'in-the-money.'
Danger Zone: Tightening Export Controls
April 25, 2008
Export controls are a morass of overlapping jurisdictions dotted with strict liability and criminal landmines. Worse, criminal and civil penalties have been severely ratcheted up recently, and more appear on the horizon.
Termination Premiums Under ERISA Held to Be Dischargeable Prepetition Claims
April 25, 2008
In a matter of first impression, the United States Bankruptcy Court for the Southern District of New York held that the termination premiums assessed against Oneida Ltd. ('Oneida') as a result of the termination of one of Oneida's pension plans during its Chapter 11 case were prepetition 'claims' (as defined in ' 101(5) of title 11 of the United States Code (the 'Bankruptcy Code')) that were discharged under Oneida's confirmed plan of reorganization.
Valuing Businesses
March 28, 2008
A question often received from attorneys in matrimonial or other litigated matters is whether or not there are any specific standards that a CPA must adhere to when performing a business valuation engagement. Until Jan. 1, 2008, the answer was, effectively, 'No.' As of the beginning of this year, that answer has now changed.
The Far-Reaching Effects of Inequitable Conduct
March 28, 2008
The Federal Circuit recently held that an applicant's failure to disclose material notes to the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office can result in a finding of inequitable conduct that may render a patent, and even related patents, unenforceable.
Boston Duck v. Super Duck: Court Rules That Sponsored Linking Can Ruffle Feathers
March 28, 2008
In <i>Boston Duck Tours, LP v. Super Duck Tours</i>, the District Court of Massachusetts ruled that sponsored linking qualifies as 'use in commerce' for purposes of trademark infringement under the Lanham Act. Although the court ultimately found no likely consumer confusion in this case, in holding that sponsored linking falls within the purview of the Lanham Act, the court joins a growing number of circuits and districts that have failed to take a cue from well-settled, and clearly analogous, offline trademark principles.
Supreme Court Handles Device Makers a Victory
March 28, 2008
The U.S. Supreme Court in February tackled an issue that has come up frequently in lawsuits brought by plaintiffs claiming they've been injured by medical devices: Do the Medical Device Amendments of 1976 preempt state law-based claims against device manufacturers? The Court had partially answered the question in <i>Lohr v. Medtronic</i>, but the fact situation in that case did not necessarily make its decision applicable to other cases against medical devices manufacturers.
