News

Rating Agency Developments - December 18, 2013

By EsqSocial Corporation 18/12/13

On December 12, Moody’s released its methodology for rating intellectual property ABS. On December 12, Fitch released its criteria for rating pooled multifamily housing bonds. On December 11, Fitch released its criteria for surveillance of existing...

Supreme Court Upholds Enforcement of Plan Document Limitations Period for Benefit Claims

By EsqSocial Corporation 18/12/13

In a decision handed down yesterday, Heimeshoff v. Hartford Life & Accident Insurance Co., the Supreme Court confirmed that ERISA plan documents may prescribe an enforceable limitations period for the assertion of benefits claims in court, resolving...

Mexican Energy Reforms Bring E&P Opportunities and Much More

By EsqSocial Corporation 18/12/13

Last week the Mexican Congress approved legislation including Constitutional amendments that were approved by the required number of Mexican states on December 16 that will bring changes to the nation’s energy laws that exploration and production...

In speeches: Scalia says oral arguments are valuable; Ginsburg indicates she’s not ready to retire

By EsqSocial Corporation 18/12/13

The friendship between U.S. Supreme Court Justices Antonin Scalia and Ruth Bader Ginsburg is well-established and has even inspired Scalia/Ginsburg, a new opera chronicling the ideological adversaries’ personal relationship.

Supreme Court Upholds ERISA Plan’s Statute of Limitations

By EsqSocial Corporation 18/12/13

Yesterday, in Heimeshoff v. Hartford Life & Accident Insurance Co. the United States Supreme Court upheld the enforceability of an ERISA-plan provision providing: Legal action cannot be taken against The Hartford . . . [more than] 3 years after...

ERISA: Good News — Supreme Court Enforces Suit Limitations Provision

By EsqSocial Corporation 18/12/13

Are those three year suit limitations provisions in ERISA-governed long term disability plans enforceable? YES! Here’s today’s case, Heimeshoff v Hartford Life & Accident Insurance Co., __ U.S. __ (December 16, 2013) (“3 year from time proof of...

Insurance Coverage for Cyber Attacks

By EsqSocial Corporation 18/12/13

Thefts of trade secrets through cyber espionage and cyber harassment through distributed denial of service attacks have been business hazards for years. Cyber security insurance policies to guard against these threats have been available since the...

Federal Circuit Limits ITC Power over Induced Infringement

By EsqSocial Corporation 18/12/13

On December 13, 2013, the Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit released an opinion in Suprema v. International Trade Commission that significantly restricts the scope of the International Trade Commission (“ITC”)’s power over imported articles...

5 Written Communication Skills for In-House Counsel

By EsqSocial Corporation 18/12/13

Part of our In-House Perspective series, this article offers five communication skills and methods necessary for the successful in-house counsel. These are suggestions for internal communications in general, rather than for technical legal writing,...

OK to Fire Workers for 'Good Samaritan' Deeds?

By EsqSocial Corporation 18/12/13

Doing good deeds in an emergency situation isn't exactly bad behavior.

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