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ASC Joint Venture Causes Concern for the OIG
The Office of the Inspector General, in OIG Advisory Opinion Number 03-5, recently ruled whether an ambulatory surgery center (ASC) could be jointly owned by a hospital and a multi-specialty group practice that had a substantial number of physician members who would not personally use the ASC (the "Proposed Arrangement"). More specifically, the OIG was asked to provide an opinion about whether or not the Proposed Arrangement would constitute a violation of the anti-kickback statute.
In The Spotlight
On March 28, 2003, Tommy G. Thompson, Secretary of the United States Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), announced the publication of a proposed draft guidance to protect human-research subjects from the risks of harm possibly arising from researchers' financial conflicts of interests.
Know Your Billing Software!
Attorneys in larger firms don't have to worry if the bills get out the door each month, if suppliers are paid on time, or if the general ledger is balanced. The administrator and "back office" staff take care of this.
Decisions of Interest
Recent rulings of importance to you and your practice.
Finding Fault
One of the most difficult aspects of family law practice is dealing with a client who believes he or she has been wronged by the other spouse — and expects the legal system to respond in a punitive manner.
Separating and Reconciling: What Happens Next?
As matrimonial practitioners, the following scenario has confronted many of us: The parties enter into a separation agreement, duly executed and acknowledged, but do not proceed immediately to a divorce. After a futile attempt at reconciliation — during which the parties may have resumed a sexual relationship — an action is brought for a conversion divorce.
Challenging the Forensic Psychiatrist's Report
Some courts have indicated a willingness to reject the recommendation of neutral forensic experts, weighing the evidence on their own to make a custody determination.
John Gaal's Ethics Corner
Your ethics questions answered by the expert.
Decisions of Interest
Recent rulings of importance to you and your practice.
Protecting Trade Secrets: The Inevitable Disclosure Doctrine
When a former executive accepts a position with a competitor, how does the original company protect its trade secrets? One method is to invoke the doctrine of inevitable disclosure, which prohibits a former executive from competing when he or she cannot help but disclose or use the former employer's trade secrets to do so. Divulging these secrets, of course, would be in violation of the executive's continuing fiduciary duty to his or her former employer.

MOST POPULAR STORIES

  • The 'Sophisticated Insured' Defense
    A majority of courts consider the <i>contra proferentem</i> doctrine to be a pillar of insurance law. The doctrine requires ambiguous terms in an insurance policy to be construed against the insurer and in favor of coverage for the insured. A prominent rationale behind the doctrine is that insurance policies are usually standard-form contracts drafted entirely by insurers.
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  • Abandoned and Unused Cables: A Hidden Liability Under the 2002 National Electric Code
    In an effort to minimize the release of toxic gasses from cables in the event of fire, the 2002 version of the National Electric Code ("NEC"), promulgated by the National Fire Protection Association, sets forth new guidelines requiring that abandoned cables must be removed from buildings unless they are located in metal raceways or tagged "For Future Use." While the NEC is not, in itself, binding law, most jurisdictions in the United States adopt the NEC by reference in their state or local building and fire codes. Thus, noncompliance with the recent NEC guidelines will likely mean that a building is in violation of a building or fire code. If so, the building owner may also be in breach of agreements with tenants and lenders and may be jeopardizing its fire insurance coverage. Even in jurisdictions where the 2002 NEC has not been adopted, it may be argued that the guidelines represent the standard of reasonable care and could result in tort liability for the landlord if toxic gasses from abandoned cables are emitted in a fire. With these potential liabilities in mind, this article discusses: 1) how to address the abandoned wires and cables currently located within the risers, ceilings and other areas of properties, and 2) additional considerations in the placement and removal of telecommunications cables going forward.
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