President Trump to Restore Tariffs on Aluminum and Steel Imports from Brazil and Argentina
While China commands the media spotlight in the global war on trade, new trade battles are being waged south of the equator. On Monday December 2, 2019, President Trump announced that he would reinstate tariffs on aluminum and steel imports from Argentina and Brazil amid accusations that those countries have been engaging in a “massive devaluation of their currencies.” The President’s announcement, which came via Twitter, also urged the Federal Reserve to take measures to counter foreign currency devaluation, which negatively impacts US manufacturers and farmers ability to fairly export…
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Civil Litigation
On December 4, 2019, the United States Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA) published in the Federal Register an Advance Notice of Proposed Rulemaking titled “Addition of Certain Per-and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances; Community…
Continue ReadingCourt Rules that Where Carrier Has Paid the Benefits, There Can Be No Breach of Contract
Carriers May Investigate Red Flags
In the case of Merrone v. Allstate Vehicles & Property Ins. Co., No. 3:18-cv-193 (W.D. Pa. Oct. 21, 2019 Gibson, J.), the court granted summary…
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A New York bank account is transacting business.
Skutnik v Messina, 2019 NY Slip Op 08725, Decided on December 4, 2019, Appellate Division, Second Department:
“The plaintiff commenced this action…
Continue ReadingAnthony D. Mirenda and Shrutih V. Tewarie recently authored a White Collar Crime and Government Investigations Alert about a foreign executive convicted under the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act based on…
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The penal law has been amended to better protect tenants from the egregious misconduct of unscrupulous landlords by broadening the definition of the class E felony offense of Harassment of…
Continue ReadingSecond Circuit Revives False Claims Act Suit Stemming from ‘08 Crisis, Finding Federal Reserve Banks Were “Agents” of U.S.
In United States ex rel. Kraus v. Wells Fargo & Co., No. 18-1746 (2d Cir. Nov. 21, 2019), two employees of banks later acquired by Wells Fargo alleged a…
Continue ReadingCorporate & Commercial
No sooner than President Trump signed the Hong Kong human rights and democracy act into law, China announced retaliatory measures, banning U.S. warships from Hong Kong and restricting the work…
Continue ReadingThe Agriculture Improvement Act of 2018 (“2018 Farm Bill”) legalized hemp by removing the crop and its derivatives from the definition of marijuana under the Controlled Substances Act…
Continue ReadingSurviving Spouse Prohibited from Deeding Community Estate Property to Third Party while Estate Administration Pending before Probate Court
In Texas, when a person who leaves a will passes away, the decedent’s estate vests immediately in the devisees under the will, subject to payment of the decedent’s debts. But…
Continue ReadingLast month, Daniel Shortt and I put on a webinar on the US Department of Agriculture’s (“USDA”) new interim hemp rules. We got some great questions from our viewers…
Continue ReadingHad lunch yesterday with two long-time friends, both international lawyers who have spent many years living and working in China. During a discussion about an international real estate matter on which…
Continue ReadingEmployment & Labor
AB-5 (The Law Eviscerating California Employers’ Ability to Hire Contractors) is Still Alive and Well
If you were hoping that AB-5 (the CA statute codifying the ABC standard into widespread law) would be held invalid, enjoined, or would just fall off a cliff, it is…
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Wage and hour issues can cause a variety of headaches for companies. In 2017, there were 8,261 Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) lawsuits filed…
Continue ReadingNLRB Allows Decertification Process to Proceed During Certification Year Extension Period
The National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) has ruled an employee’s effort to decertify his union could proceed, despite a previous agreement between the employer and union extending the time during which decertification petitions are…
Continue ReadingNLRB Allows Decertification Process to Proceed During Certification Year Extension Period
The National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) has ruled an employee’s effort to decertify his union could proceed, despite a previous agreement between the employer and union extending the time during which decertification petitions are…
Continue Reading“OK Boomer” is having a moment on the internet, appearing often in viral jokes and memes. It is widely considered an all-purpose retort by the younger generations of Millennials and…
Continue ReadingDuring the holiday season we often hear the quintessential phrase “Yes, Virginia, there is a Santa Claus.” Well, for those of you out there considering adopting someone over…
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