Plaintiffs lawyers have been filing a profusion of suits over pre-employment background checks, which some observers attribute to a renewed interest in applicants' rights during the hiring process, but an upcoming U.S. Supreme Court case could slow the trend.In the U.S. District Court for the Continue Reading
PTAB’s Joinder Ruling Gives Petitioners Extra Flexibility
The Patent Trial and Appeal Board’s decision last week allowing for parties that bring one America Invents Act review petition to file a subsequent petition raising different issues and join them into one proceeding may give petitioners strategic benefits, such as prolonging a stay in parallel Continue Reading
Demise of Int’l Data Sharing Pact Opens New Liability Frontier
The European Court of Justice's Tuesday ruling invalidating the safe harbor agreement that enabled data transfers between the U.S. and European Union opens companies on both sides of the Atlantic up to increased scrutiny from EU regulators, who will be pushed harder by consumers to protect data that Continue Reading
Extreme Weather, the New ‘Normal,’ is Creating Challenges and Opportunities
GOVERNMENT, BUSINESSES AND citizens are changing their tune in the face of what may be the new norm—extreme weather. Hurricane Sandy proved that Mother Nature can damage infrastructure, businesses and homes, and powerful storms are predicted to hit New Jersey with a vengeance in the Continue Reading
Attorney Faces Ethics Complaint Over ‘Sham’ Contract Drafted in Campaign-Finance Case
A lawyer is now facing a legal ethics complaint for drafting what federal prosecutors in a case against a former Connecticut governor called a “sham” consulting agreement. On Sept. 2, the grievance panel for the New Haven judicial district said it found probable cause that attorney Christian Continue Reading
9th Circ.’s ‘Dancing Baby’ Ruling Came with Big Caveats
The Ninth Circuit's long-awaited ruling in the so-called "dancing baby" case was a victory for the fair use doctrine and for critics of aggressive online copyright enforcement, but one that was also carefully limited to avoid the kind of sweeping decision some wanted. Stephanie Lenz sued Continue Reading
$225M Exxon Deal Offers Blueprint for Pollution Review
ExxonMobil Corp.’s $225 million pollution settlement with state environmental authorities, approved by a New Jersey judge this week, is notable not only for its size and the level of public scrutiny it endured, but also the guidance it provides companies facing similar claims for natural resource Continue Reading
McCarter #2 in New Jersey Law Journal bond counsel rankings; Scott Kobler quoted
So far this year, government bond issues in New Jersey have increased in number but decreased in value when compared with the first half of 2014. Bond counsel rankings, meanwhile, have experienced some shake-up. According to data provided by Thomson Reuters, there were 180 bonds issued with a Continue Reading
$30M Hacking Case Signals NJ Prosecutors’ Cybercrime Push
Former New Jersey federal prosecutors said the recent indictments in the largest known computer hacking and securities fraud scheme are a testament to the way New Jersey U.S. Attorney Paul Fishman has made cybercrime a top priority by partnering both with fellow law enforcement agencies and the Continue Reading
Insurers Must Shell Out $27M for Uranium Mine Cleanup
A New Mexico state judge on Tuesday ordered certain underwriters at Lloyd’s of London and other London Market insurers to pay more than $27 million in a dispute over coverage for former uranium mining company United Nuclear Corp.'s costs associated with the environmental cleanup of a mine Continue Reading