News

Changed Dam Operations Not Subject to an Environmental Impact Statement Under NEPA

By EsqSocial Corporation 23/06/16

On June 21, 2016, a three-judge panel of the Ninth Circuit denied a petition for review of a decision of the Bonneville Power Administration to proceed with a change in the operation of the Albeni Falls Dam during the winter months without first...

Early Returns (Part 1 of 2): 3D Printing Company Sues under New Defend Trade Secrets Act

By EsqSocial Corporation 23/06/16

(Editorial Note: This is our first of a two-part series exploring recent litigation under the newly-enacted Defend Trade Secrets Act.) In late May 2016, Magic Leap, Inc. became a pioneer in trade secrets litigation when it became one of the first...

Supreme Court Provides Guidance on Discretionary Fee-Shifting in Copyright Cases

By EsqSocial Corporation 23/06/16

On June 16, 2016, the U.S. Supreme Court clarified how courts should exercise their discretion to award attorneys' fees to the prevailing party in copyright cases. The Court unanimously held that courts should give "substantial weight" to the...

Your daily dose of financial news - The Brief – 6.23.16

By EsqSocial Corporation 23/06/16

It was House day for Chair Yellen on the Hill, and if you guessed that in this election year her final appearance before this Congress was more about her questioners scoring political points than it was anything related to the Fed’s work on the...

Amendments Proposed to Enforce and Enhance Consumer Protection in Singapore

By EsqSocial Corporation 23/06/16

The amendments to the Consumer Protection (Fair Trading) Act allow more aggressive and invasive action to be taken against errant businesses engaging in unfair practices. The Ministry of Trade and Industry, Singapore, recently proposed certain...

SAFE PIPES Act: 2016 Legislation Affecting PHMSA

By EsqSocial Corporation 23/06/16

President Obama signed the Protecting our Infrastructure of Pipelines and Enhancing Safety Act or the SAFE PIPES Act into law on June 22, 2016. The Safe Pipes Act reauthorizes the Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (“PHMSA”)...

Tribal Employment and Jobs Protection Act Seeks to Exempt Native American Tribes from ACA

By EsqSocial Corporation 23/06/16

The Tribal Employment and Jobs Protection Act (H.R. 3080) could have a big impact on tribes if it becomes law. The legislation, which was passed by the U.S. House Ways and Means Committee June 15, seeks to exempt Native American tribes from the large...

Is Forever 21 Copying Kanye's Gear?

By EsqSocial Corporation 23/06/16

A long time ago, Ecclesiastes said that there is nothing new under the sun. Yet we claim ownership over artistic works as if they were truly new. We call these works intellectual property. In some cases, people can become very wealthy from their works of creative genius.

New York's Highest Court Reverses Appellate Division, Reaffirms Litigation Requirement for Common-Interest Privilege

By EsqSocial Corporation 23/06/16

In a recent decision reversing the Appellate Division of the Supreme Court of New York, First Judicial Department, the New York Court of Appeals definitively held that the common-interest privilege may be used in New York only in circumstances where...

Michigan Supreme Court Clarifies That District Court Jurisdiction is Determined by Looking at the “Amount in Controversy” at the Time of the Complaint

By EsqSocial Corporation 23/06/16

Michigan district courts have exclusive subject-matter jurisdiction over civil actions when the “amount in controversy” does not exceed $25,000. So what happens if a plaintiff files a lawsuit in district court seeking damages “not in excess of...

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