News

Registrability and Enforceability -- Look Beyond the Register to Determine Scope of Trademark Rights

By EsqSocial Corporation 06/08/14

The Trademark Trial and Appeal Board's recent decision in In Re The Franchise Group, (TTAB July 2, 2014) reiterates that marks in use in the marketplace, not just on the Register, help determine whether trademarks in the U.S. are both registrable and...

Unintended consequences: After divorce, review your estate plan to avoid surprises

By EsqSocial Corporation 06/08/14

The recently divorced have likely had their fill of legal documents and proceedings, but it’s important that they review their estate plan as soon as possible to ensure they’re protected against unintended consequences. This article explains how to...

Feds raid criminal defense lawyer’s office, seek conflict hearings in multiple cases

By EsqSocial Corporation 06/08/14

A rising star among Chicago's criminal defense bar is the target of a federal criminal probe concerning possible subornation of perjury in a 2009 drug case.

NY Department of Financial Services Issues Revised Proposed Debt Collection Rules

By EsqSocial Corporation 06/08/14

The New York Department of Financial Services (DFS) recently issued revised proposed debt collection regulations, which have important implications concerning charged-off and time-barred debt, for third-party debt collectors and debt buyers. The DFS...

The MCDC Initiative and Recent Modifications: Window for Issuers and Obligated Persons Now Closes on December 1, 2014, While Underwriters Window Still Set to Close on September 9, 2014

By EsqSocial Corporation 06/08/14

As highlighted in the SEC’s 2012 Municipal Market Report, the SEC has expressed significant concern that many issuers have not been complying with their obligation to file continuing disclosure documents and that federal securities law violations...

Third Circuit Holds that Courts, Not Arbitrators, Should Rule on Classwide Arbitration

By EsqSocial Corporation 06/08/14

In Opalinski v. Robert Half International, Inc., the United States Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit held that where an arbitration clause is silent as to the availability of classwide arbitration, that issue should presumptively be decided by a...

NLRB Will Charge McDonald’s as “Joint Employer” For Franchisee Labor Violations

By EsqSocial Corporation 06/08/14

In a move with far-reaching ramifications for all businesses that license their brands to independent contractors including franchisees, the National Labor Relations Board (“NLRB”) announced on July 29, 2014 that it has authorized the filing of...

Can You Put Your Dog to Sleep Yourself?

By EsqSocial Corporation 06/08/14

A photo essay documenting a dog's final day before being euthanized is going viral online and generating questions about the euthanasia process.

5 Contract Terms You Really Should Know

By EsqSocial Corporation 06/08/14

Contracts can be complicated by legal jargon, but there are a handful of contract terms which even non-legal consumers should know. These basic terms control how a contract begins, when it ends, and even if it exists at all.

Supreme Court Opinion Calls into Question Hundreds of NLRB Rulings

By EsqSocial Corporation 06/08/14

On Thursday, June 26, 2014, the Supreme Court issued its long-awaited Noel Canning decision (NLRB v. Noel Canning, 572 U.S. ____ (2014)), and invalidated President Obama’s January 2012 appointments of three individuals to the National Labor Relations...

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