What You Need to Know About EPLI
Even one relatively simple single-plaintiff employment discrimination lawsuit may result in substantial losses, which can be devastating for small- to mid-sized employers, particularly if punitive damages are awarded. And the legal expenses of defending such a lawsuit, even if successful, may be just as costly as losing the court battle. Moreover, the number of discrimination cases remains on the rise ' sexual harassment charges alone jumped nearly 50% from 1992 to 2001.
How to Investigate Fraudulent Claims
Insurance carriers are routinely presented with claims for insurance benefits that contain elements of fraud. As a practical matter, fraudulent claims may be classified in three categories: fraud at the inception of the policy; fraudulent enhancement of an otherwise valid claim; and the staged loss. The elements of these types of claims often overlap, and the successful defense of a fraudulent claim for insurance benefits is based on a thorough understanding of the insurance policy and a complete analysis of the claim. Due to the scope of the subject matter, this topic will be addressed in a monthly series of articles. Each will focus on a different part of the investigation process. This first article begins with an overview of the investigative process.
VeriSign Suspends Site Finder Service
VeriSign Inc., the leading provider of infrastructure services for the Internet and charged with managing the .com and .net Internet name registries, recently suspended its Site Finder service because the Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers (ICANN), which oversees the Internet's domain-naming system, ordered it to shut down the service.
International Domain Name Disputes Persist
For most businesses, a domain name is now as critical and integral a part of their corporate identity as a trademark. Because these readily accessible addresses for Web sites are easy to remember and use, domain names have become business identifiers and, in some cases, even trademarks themselves, such as Amazon.com. <BR>Although it's been nearly 10 years since domain names became commonplace, the intersection between trademark rights and domain name registration and use is still teeming with potential problems. These difficulties are compounded when considered internationally. While trademark law jurisprudence can extend back several hundred years, the rules for working with domain names are still being written. Companies with their eye on international markets should pay especially close attention to the variety of rules ' or lack thereof ' in these jurisdictions.
Managing Online Privacy
e-Commerce has grown faster and larger than anyone could ever have predicted. By its nature, e-commerce is intricately linked to consumer privacy, and privacy concerns are at an all-time high. Privacy concerns will only continue to grow along with e-commerce. Having the best technology is no longer the key to success in the online world. e-Businesses that take consumer privacy seriously will leave their less-responsive competitors behind. And at a time when identity theft is a common occurrence and major concern, consumers are demanding reliable and trustworthy relationships from e-vendors.
The Seven Deadly Sins of e-Mail
We've all heard horror stories about e-mails that have become trial exhibits - blown up on giant placards or projected on a large screen in front of a jury. The earnest words your client typed in private suddenly take on unforeseen importance when, months or years later, a dispute develops and a trial is held. Like a major league pitcher who releases a hanging curveball to the reigning home-run champ, your client would probably like to "take back" an e-mail that bashes a client, admits incompetence or pitches pent-up emotions in a cathartic rage. <BR>We need not, however, simply succumb to the temptation of e-mail. e-Mail mistakes can be avoided. Clients just need to be educated on how to prevent e-mail mistakes. Although common sense can't be taught, several specific types of e-mailing behavior should be avoided. E-mailers commit what we'll call here the Seven Deadly Sins of e-Mail. While it's unlikely we'll all steer completely clear of these sins, all e-mailers should make every effort to avoid committing the Seven Deadly Sins.
