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Court Watch
Hotel Franchisor to Face Trial on Vicarious Liability Claims
The United States District Court for the District of Utah recently denied a defendant hotel franchisor's motion for summary judgment to dismiss the plaintiff hotel guests' claims of liability against the franchisor resulting from an outbreak of Legionnaire's disease in the hotel. In Licari v. Best Western Int'l, Inc., No. 2:11-cv-603, 2013 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 97725 (D. Utah July 12, 2013), the plaintiff husband and wife brought claims against Best Western International, Inc., the franchisor, and the owners and operators of the Utah hotel where the outbreak allegedly occurred. Plaintiffs alleged the wife contracted Legionnaire's disease while visiting the hotel, allegedly caused by the hotel's failure to properly maintain its potable water system. The plaintiffs alleged the franchisor was liable for their damages under direct and vicarious liability theories.
The DOJ's Corporate Enforcement Policy: One Year Later
The DOJ's Criminal Division issued three declinations since the issuance of the revised CEP a year ago. Review of these cases gives insight into DOJ's implementation of the new policy in practice.
Use of Deferred Prosecution Agreements In White Collar Investigations
This article discusses the practical and policy reasons for the use of DPAs and NPAs in white-collar criminal investigations, and considers the NDAA's new reporting provision and its relationship with other efforts to enhance transparency in DOJ decision-making.
How AI Has Affected PR
When 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.
The DOJ's New Parameters for Evaluating Corporate Compliance Programs
The parameters set forth in the DOJ's memorandum have implications not only for the government's evaluation of compliance programs in the context of criminal charging decisions, but also for how defense counsel structure their conference-room advocacy seeking declinations or lesser sanctions in both criminal and civil investigations.