After a Hurricane: Can the Property Manager Be Blamed for a Lessee's Losses?
November 02, 2017
The recent decision in <i>Sears Roebuck & Co. and Kmart Corp. v. W/S Lebanon LLC</i> seems timely in light of the fact that commercial landlords, tenants and their insurance providers are grappling with the problems caused by the extreme wind and rain of hurricanes. Here's what happened in that case.
New-Wave Legal Challenges for Bitcoin and Other Cryptocurrencies
November 02, 2017
As the adoption of cryptocurrencies spreads throughout the business and financial sectors, so too do the concerns that lack of regulation render the new-age currency susceptible to fraud, manipulation, and to being used as a vehicle for money laundering. Nevertheless, recent efforts by U.S. enforcement agencies to apply and enforce financial regulations mean greater scrutiny than ever before.
Laterals: When Is the Best Time to Make a Move?
November 02, 2017
If you are a partner considering a lateral move, then you are probably focused on the boost a new firm could offer your practice, and on cultural fit. However, the authors' review of the 2,353 partners who moved between Am Law 100 firms in 2010 through 2012 suggests that some more prosaic factors matter too.
The New Patent Venue Regime
November 02, 2017
Venue in patent cases lies "in the judicial district where the defendant resides, or where the defendant has committed acts of infringement and has a regular and established place of business." Since 1990, the Federal Circuit interpreted the term "resides" coextensively with the general venue statute such that patent venue lay where the defendant was subject to personal jurisdiction. But this year, the Supreme Court greatly narrowed that definition in <i>TC Heartland v. Kraft Foods</i>. The Federal Circuit, in turn, interpreted the newly-relevant alternative phrase. After two decades of relaxed patent venue rules, these decisions work a seismic shift in patent litigation.
The Food Safety Modernization Act
November 02, 2017
<b><i>Part One of a Two-Part Article</i></b><p>By being proactive in adopting safe food processing operations, such companies hope to protect their reputation and business from the negative publicity and possible financial disaster arising from the sale of contaminated food and non-compliance with the Food Safety Modernization Act (FSMA).
Social Media: Questions of Admissibility and Ethics
November 02, 2017
<b><i>Part One of a Two-Part Article</i></b><p>This two-part article is divided into three sections: 1) Social media, defined; 2) Examples of how social media has been used in family law cases; and 3) Ethical considerations for attorneys who gather social media evidence.
<b><i>Leadership:</i></b> Never Lose Heart: Appreciating the Human
November 02, 2017
<b><i>The Impact of What We Do as Marketers and Lawyers</b></i><p>Sometimes the legal profession can seem to be too much about money and the chase thereof. So, maybe it is time to talk more about the human impact of what we do — we almost never talk about what could arguably be the most important aspect of our professional lives: How what we do as professionals impacts the lives of real people, in meaningful ways.
Reflections on the Life Partners Holding Inc. Bankruptcy
November 02, 2017
Many bankruptcy practitioners are at least somewhat familiar with the highly publicized proceedings involving Life Partners Holdings Inc. (LPHI), a company that sold fractional ownership interests in life insurance policies — referred to as life settlements. This case was as complex as any could imagine and, as the Trustee appointed to manage this bankruptcy, the author had a front-row seat.
AIM 1-2-3
November 01, 2017
There is a patented methodology that follows the same path that the introduction of depreciation followed, with the impact being similar in its influence, power and effect: The AIM (Actuarially Initiated Measurements) Program. An employer using this methodology realizes the ability to uncover and maximize missed opportunities to control fluctuations and variations in earnings per share (EPS).
Discovery Strategies for a Creditor in a Bankruptcy Case
November 01, 2017
<b><i>Beyond Filing a Proof of Claim</b></i><p>This article explains the rights of a creditor, whether an equipment financier or otherwise, to pursue examinations of a debtor in bankruptcy in order to obtain sworn testimony and information that may be helpful to the creditor.
