Derivative Suits: Recent Developments
May 30, 2006
Numerous studies and articles document the alarming increase during the last few years in the size of settlements in securities class action lawsuits. As a result, directors, officers, insurers, brokers, and others focus almost exclusively on securities class actions when evaluating risks and structuring D&O insurance programs. Although largely ignored in that analysis, shareholder derivative lawsuits are also very important liability exposures particularly for directors since directors are named as defendants in derivative suits far more frequently than in securities class actions and since settlements and judgments in derivative suits are usually not indemnifiable by the company.
Navigating The Nascent 'Accessibility' Standards
May 30, 2006
The proposed amendments to the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure, which the Supreme Court approved in April, are certain to bring a sea change in the way modern litigation is conducted.<br>Now that we are less than 6 months away from the promulgation of the rules (Dec. 1), judges and practitioners alike are already referring to the new guidelines as they try to navigate the wide-reaching uncharted waters of electronic discovery. The amendment that portends the farthest-reaching changes is proposed Rule 26(b)(2)(B).<br>It's time to look to the future and determine how the 'accessibility' standard will play out in the real world. This article offers a framework for the requesting parties and the responding parties as they attempt to address the new accessibility rules for discovery of electronically stored information in civil litigation.
Ad Hoc Affirmative Action
May 30, 2006
Unfortunately, attempting to achieve the worthy goal of increasing workplace diversity through ad hoc decisions that advance women or minorities, often made in the absence of, or without strict adherence to, a formal affirmative action plan, can spawn claims of illegal reverse discrimination. Such claims appear to be on the rise.
Eight Steps to Make Mediation Successful
May 30, 2006
In the May 2006 issue of <i>Employment Law Strategist</i>, Marc Engel considered the virtues of mediation and the positive outcomes a successful mediation experience can create. In this second of a two-part series, he elaborates on specific steps that can be taken to make a mediation successful.
The Tarnished Parachute
May 30, 2006
As American companies struggle to compete in a global market, they are increasingly considering the merits of eliminating or reducing costly retiree benefits. For many companies, the costs of these benefits have become staggering. For example, before recently announcing plans to freeze health benefits for tens of thousands of its white-collar retirees, Ford Motor Co. was facing health-care expenses of more than $3.5 billion. Its rival, General Motors, which according to recent reports owes a projected $89 billion in welfare and pension benefits to its current and future retirees, just announced that it will offer workers with 10 years' experience a payment of $140,000 and a pension, if in return these workers will leave their employment and forgo health care benefits.
Employee Handbooks
May 30, 2006
Employee handbooks can be an essential tool for communicating company policies and procedures to employees of any type of enterprise.
