Law.com Subscribers SAVE 30%

Call 855-808-4530 or email [email protected] to receive your discount on a new subscription.

Features

Negotiating Key Points in Literary Agent-Author Relationships Image

Negotiating Key Points in Literary Agent-Author Relationships

Michael I. Rudell & Neil J. Rosini

Several of the same concepts that are in agreements between performing artists and managers also apply to agreements between authors and literary representatives.

Features

'Standard' Terms Won't Be Read Into Dykstra Settlement With Ghost Writer Image

'Standard' Terms Won't Be Read Into Dykstra Settlement With Ghost Writer

Thomas E.L. Dewey

In a case brought against former baseball player Lenny Dykstra by a social media ghost writer, the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York has offered the additional lesson that a writing other than a formal settlement agreement may constitute an enforceable agreement — even if one of the parties expects that additional "standard" provisions will be added to the agreement.

Features

Stick to the 'Plain Meaning' Image

Stick to the 'Plain Meaning'

Janice G. Inman

<b><I>Interpreting Lease Contract Terms</I></b><p>The complications that can and do arise in the field of commercial leasing come in all shapes and sizes, and not all can be anticipated. However, with careful planning, and if the stars align, lease terms sometimes cover even an abnormal future event, preserving the agreement that the parties undoubtedly contemplated at signing

Features

When Actions Speak Louder Than Words Image

When Actions Speak Louder Than Words

Kelly M. Gorman

<b><I>Written Agreements Are Not the Final Word</I></b><p>Recently, an Ohio appellate court held that the parties' actual conduct — and not the express written provisions in their lease to the contrary — controlled in interpreting the intentions of the parties in contracting. This case serves as a good reminder for legal practitioners that our written agreements are often not the final word.

Features

Challenges in Drafting a Restaurant Exclusive Use Clause Image

Challenges in Drafting a Restaurant Exclusive Use Clause

Stephen Levey

The reasonable and typical middle ground in the struggle between the parties regarding the scope of the "exclusive" is to protect only a tenant's "core" or "primary" business. Using such an approach, if properly drafted, will allow the tenant to avoid the two-coffee-shop situation, but will still permit the landlord to lease to multiple tenants with overlapping but not fundamentally competing uses.

Features

Effective Contract Management Image

Effective Contract Management

Ralph Z. Levy Jr.

<i><b>Three Goals</i></b><p>A recent report laid bare one of the most pressing problems of today's companies — and their GCs. Simply put, the report found that businesses of all types do a poor job of contract management.

Features

Non-Compete Clauses In California Image

Non-Compete Clauses In California

Spencer Hamer

Non-compete clauses in employment contracts typically seek to preclude employees from working for a competitor for a specific period of time and within a specific geographic area. Most states allow non-competition agreements, provided they are reasonable in scope and justified by the employer's legitimate business interests. California, however, generally prohibits covenants not to compete, subject to limited exceptions.

Features

Avoiding Tax Pitfalls in New York Real Property Transfers in Separation and Divorce Image

Avoiding Tax Pitfalls in New York Real Property Transfers in Separation and Divorce

Eli Uncyk & Jeffrey S. Kofsky

Most divorces involve the transfer of a marital residence between the parties as part of equitable distribution, especially when there are minor children who will continue to reside in the family home.There is a transfer tax payable on the transfer of real estate, including the marital residence, in connection with the implementation of the marital settlement agreement or divorce.

Features

Drafting Film Production Compensation Clauses In Light of State Tax Credit Requirements Image

Drafting Film Production Compensation Clauses In Light of State Tax Credit Requirements

Thomas D. Selz

Compensation provisions in entertainment contracts are in one or two subparagraphs. To simplify drafting and to use “plain English,” the compensation provisions often contain introductory, governing language along the lines of: “In full and complete consideration for entering into and performing all of the terms hereof.” However, is such a “plain English” approach always a “best practice”?

Features

<i>Decision of Note</i>: Second Circuit Rules on e-Book Sample in Digital Locker Image

<i>Decision of Note</i>: Second Circuit Rules on e-Book Sample in Digital Locker

Stan Soocher

The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit decided that an agreement between a book author and a publisher allowed a customer of distributor Barnes & Noble to retain a sample of the book in the “digital locker” the distributor provided to the customer.

Need Help?

  1. Prefer an IP authenticated environment? Request a transition or call 800-756-8993.
  2. Need other assistance? email Customer Service or call 1-877-256-2472.

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.
    Read More ›
  • 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.
    Read More ›
  • Cutting Off the Stream: How United States v. Silver Affects "Stream of Benefits" or "Retainer" Bribery
    Although the court stressed that, by vacating certain of former NY State Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver's counts of conviction, it was clarifying and not altering the "as opportunities arise" theory, it nevertheless emphasized that this theory requires particularity with respect to the "question or matter" that is the subject of the bribe payor and recipient's corrupt agreement.
    Read More ›