Coping With COPPA
March 01, 2004
While the Children's Online Privacy Protection Act of 1998 (COPPA) was designed to rein in commercial Web sites that target children as buyers of goods, it has caused legal difficulties for those who provide services such as camps, schools, after-school activities and sports clubs. COPPA, the only law specifically to target online information privacy, applies only to Web sites that collect information from children. The providers of such services must regularly wrestle with the ways they collect prospects from their sites. COPPA requires commercial Internet sites to refrain from collecting personal data from children under the age of 13 without parental consent.
e-Commerce Sales Rise ' Again
March 01, 2004
U.S. retail e-commerce spending continued rising ' in total volume of e-sales and as a percentage of all retail transactions ' in the fourth quarter last year.
Developments of Note
March 01, 2004
Recent developments in e-commerce law and in the e-commerce industry.
IM: Plenty of Benefits, But Risks Too
March 01, 2004
Like many other businesses, the financial sector has embraced e-commerce as a way of expanding. Today, online banking is fairly common. Many financial institutions offer a variety of products and services for commercial and retail customers. And the finance market is mirroring wider use of all things "e" by taking e-business a step farther with the use of instant messaging (IM) to provide faster customer-inquiry responses. But although IM use often allows them to provide better customer service, it also exposes institutions to a variety of potential risks.
Recognizing and Managing Serial Litigation
March 01, 2004
Among the challenges facing product manufacturers in the 21st century are recognizing and managing the legal threat posed by multiple, individual product liability lawsuits in multiple jurisdictions.
Online: Web Site Provides Information on Gun Control Issues
March 01, 2004
If you need to research gun control issues, check out The Violence Policy Center (VPC) at <i>www.vpc.org.</i> The VPC, based in Washington, DC, is a national nonprofit educational foundation that conducts research on violence in America and works to develop violence-reduction policies and proposals. The VPC examines the role of firearms in America, conducts research on firearms violence, and explores new ways to decrease firearm-related deaths and injuries. As a gun control think tank, the VPC analyzes a wide range of current firearm issues and provides information to policymakers, journalists, public health professionals, grassroots activists, and members of the general public.
Ten Tips for Traversing the Terrain of Asbestos Bankruptcies
March 01, 2004
Bankruptcy has emerged as a dominant avenue for resolving mass product liability cases and, in particular, asbestos liability cases. Plaintiffs already have filed hundreds of thousands of asbestos claims, with many experts surmising that the peak of asbestos litigation is not yet in sight. Asbestos encompasses a family of naturally occurring fibrous materials that have superior insulation and tensile strength properties. Manufacturers began to exploit the flame-retardant and insulating properties of asbestos in heavy industrial use in the 1940s and incorporated asbestos into as many as 3000 products by the early 1970s, when industrial usage peaked. From automotive applications, such as gaskets and brakes, to home uses, such as roof shingles and attic insulation, the use of asbestos for commercial applications proliferated throughout most of the 20th century and still continues today at a decreased rate. The United States still consumes approximately 16,000 metric tons of asbestos each year.
Practice Tip: Use Motion Practice for Permission to Impeach an Expert
March 01, 2004
Consider using a pretrial motion to seek permission to impeach opposing expert witnesses with prior court opinions excluding their testimony.
MOST POPULAR STORIES
- How AI Has Affected PRWhen we consider how the use of AI affects legal PR and communications, we have to look at it as an industrywide global phenomenon. A recent online conference provided an overview of the latest AI trends in public relations, and specifically, the impact of AI on communications. Here are some of the key points and takeaways from several of the speakers, who provided current best practices, tips, concerns and case studies.Read More ›
- <b><i>Online Extra: </b></i> 7-Eleven Hit With Discovery Sanctions in NJ Franchise Case </b></i>A federal magistrate judge in Camden has sanctioned 7-Eleven Inc. for what he said were repeatedly deficient discovery responses in a case alleging the company unlawfully targeted South Jersey franchisees and owners for termination.Read More ›
- Regulators are Catching Up to Cryptocurrency and Blockchain Technology within the Financial Services Industry<b><i>Part Two of a Two-Part Article</b></i><p>The proliferation of cryptocurrency and blockchain is being driven by the efficiencies and protections afforded to early adopters. The operational efficiencies and resulting cost savings are readily apparent in the financial services industry and are equally coveted by the entities trying to implement them and by the customers who will benefit from the implementation. However, neither party can fully enjoy these benefits without first understanding and overcoming the various regulatory hurdles.Read More ›
- Tips for How Women Lawyers Can Chart a Different Course, Part 3Along the way to charting your own course, below are critical habits to be implemented as you stay focused on growing a fulfilling and prosperous career.Read More ›