Federal Task Force Urges Rules For Electronic Proofs in Criminal Cases
A federal task force studying use of technology in the criminal justice system has reported that electronic evidence is playing a growing role, and the increased use has judges and attorneys worrying about its costs and the need to train users. Judges, in particular, are also concerned that "there be an equity of resources between prosecution and defense counsel," according to the report.
What Not to Do in ADA Cases
A recent case in the Federal District Court for the District of Maine offers in-house counsel and others providing employment law advice to corporate clients with a lesson in what not to do when faced with an employee suffering from a mental health disability and seeking leave for hospitalization as an accommodation.
Courts Turn Up Corporate Heat
The highly publicized accounting scandals at Enron, WorldCom and other large corporations have prompted a concerted legislative and regulatory response from Congress, the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), and the national securities exchanges. While there has been little in the way of legislative reaction at the state level, several recent court decisions reflect that state corporate law is not immune from the impact of these scandals. Using existing judicial doctrine, but applying it in a fashion that appears to indicate an increasing toughness with respect to corporate directors and officers who do not live up to their obligations, the judiciary has turned up the heat on corporate fiduciaries.
Talent Management: Three Controversial Practices Debated
Making the most of your law department talent calls for the utmost in managerial ability. This series has offered some ideas for how to do so. This article discusses three controversial practices: forced rankings, telecommuting and job sharing.
The Survey Says...
Preliminary results from our legal spending survey shows general counsel balancing an increased need for outside counsel with pressure to reduce costs.
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Recent developments of interest to corporate counsel.
Out of Bounds: Radius Restrictions in Shopping Center Leases
A common restrictive covenant in shopping center leases is the so-called "radius restriction," a lease provision that prohibits a tenant from opening a competing establishment within a proscribed distance from the present location. Typically, a radius restriction goes hand in hand with a percentage rent provision, which allows the landlord to participate in the tenant's gross sales after a certain threshold or "break point" is achieved.
