Stop the Insanity!
The facts are that our disclosures are voluminous and getting more so every year (many companies' proxy statements are at or close to 100 pages, and some 10-Ks are in excess of 200 pages) that most investors don't have the time to read, much less digest, these documents and that those who do often find them overwhelming.
States Criminalize Internet Identity Theft
Last year, CNN reported that more than 80 million fake/impostor Facebook profiles were in use. Among them was a New Jersey Facebook user who created a fake profile that depicted her ex-boyfriend as a criminal. Another user in California accessed and altered another's Facebook account without consent. These unlawful actions typify the two most common forms of Internet identity theft: e-impersonation by fraudulently creating a fake account or by deceptively using an existing account.
Court Watch
Preliminary Injunction Issued Against Franchisees That Disregarded Pricing Promotion <br>Noting New York City's Density, Court Enforces, But Limits, Restrictive Covenant<br>Presidential Executive Order Gives Ford Right to Terminate Syria Contract
NJ & CT News
NEW JERSEY: Pre-Nup Says Payments Are Not Alimony: Bankruptcy Court Disagrees<br>CONNECTICUT: Suit Challenges State's Alimony Law on Constitutional Grounds
Why Your Associates (And Partners) Need Help Branding
Since the changes in the legal economy in 2008, distinguishing oneself from other lawyers is critical to getting a job, work from colleagues, and more clients. This is true for both partners and associates. It's not enough to be smart and hardworking. A lawyer must be known for what he or she does, and must be able to sell him or herself.
The Duty of Good Faith in Franchise Agreements in European Civil Law
The duty of good faith seeks to deliver a degree of equilibrium to the inherent tension within the franchise relationship between the desire of both parties to obtain the best commercial deal for themselves and a need to have a good ongoing commercial relationship based upon a modicum of mutual trust. It is currently a topic of considerable interest in the United States as a number of states consider enacting legislation imposing a duty of good faith.
E-mails and Privilege for In-House Counsel
Courts employ a heightened standard when companies attempt to shield their employee'in-house lawyer communications under the attorney-client privilege. The dominant reason for this scrutiny is the recognition that employees often involve in-house counsel in business and legal-related conversations, forcing courts to scrutinize whether the putatively privileged communication pertained to legal or business advice.
Interest on Distributive Awards
Interest on distributive awards is an important ' and at times overlooked ' aspect of matrimonial practice. When a matrimonial action becomes protracted, an award of prejudgment interest, measured from the date of commencement of the action, may be substantial, especially if the award is at the statutory rate of 9%.
Reconsidering the Special Facts Exception
Special facts is a court-created equitable doctrine that allows a land use applicant to avoid the impact of a change of zone enacted while the application is pending, by showing significant governmental delay of the application together with proof that but for the delay, the landowner would have been able to vest in its use before the zoning was changed. In November 2013, the Court of Appeals decided <i>Rocky Point</i>, a case that the plaintiff (represented by the author) hoped would not only allow it to prevail, but would also clarify the special facts doctrine.
Office 365 Cloud Computing
The world is getting smaller as technology changes enable us to share documents with those on the other side of the globe. When sharing documents "in the cloud" it is possible to see real-time updates when using the Microsoft 365 Office Web Apps. As most legal documents are created in Word, this column will focus on the Word Web App.
