News

This Week at the Ninth: Sand Dredgers and the Duty to Defend

By EsqSocial Corporation 19/04/21

This week, we take a look at a decision addressing the proper reading of “because” in federal discrimination statutes, and another addressing a California law precluding insurers from covering defense costs in litigation brought by the state. THOMAS v.

L.A. City and County COVID-19 Weekly Update - CA Health and Government COVID-19 Guidance: Week in Review - April 2021 #2

By EsqSocial Corporation 19/04/21

Overall Downward Trends Continue in L.A. County - L.A. County remains in Tier 3 of the State’s Blueprint. As of April 13, 2021, L.A. County’s adjusted case rate had risen slightly to 3.2 new cases per 100,000 people.

Interference Estoppel Precludes All Arguments That Could Have Been Raised

By EsqSocial Corporation 19/04/21

This blog has previously discussed the effect of several different types of estoppel.  See, e.g., Estoppel Estopped for Remanded Claims, Reminder: Estoppel May Not Preclude Prior-Art Systems, and PGR Estoppel Applies to Unasserted Art.  Recently, the PTAB again took up the issue of estoppel, this

Complete Your Jury-Prep Checklist

By EsqSocial Corporation 19/04/21

In the lead-up to trial, a good trial lawyer has many checklists. Some deal with motions to the court. Some deal with disclosure deadlines, some with witness notifications.

Plan design puts more money in your pocket

By EsqSocial Corporation 19/04/21

If you’re a retirement plan sponsor, why should you care about plan design? Retirement plan design is one of the most underappreciated facets of the retirement plan business and it really should be appreciated.

Raytheon Technologies Corp. v. General Electric Co. (Fed. Cir. 2021)

By EsqSocial Corporation 19/04/21

The legal concept of obviousness is tricky.  A claimed invention is found obvious if the prior art teaches or suggests all claim limitations and one of ordinary skill in the art would have been motivated to combine the relevant teachings of the references.  The inherent subjectivity of such an an

Protecting Your Rights: Protecting Works Created by Employees and Independent Contractors

By EsqSocial Corporation 19/04/21

Many businesses work hard and invest heavily to develop and protect their intellectual property rights, including trade secrets and proprietary processes, designs, and know-how.

F-1 Student OPT Applications Can Now Be Filed Electronically

By EsqSocial Corporation 19/04/21

On April 12, 2021 U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) announced that F-1 students seeking optional practical training (OPT) can now file Form I-765, Application for Employment Authorization, online if they are filing under one of these categories......

California to Require Businesses to Rehire Employees Laid Off During COVID-19 Downturn

By EsqSocial Corporation 19/04/21

On Friday, April 16, 2021, Governor Newsom signed into law Senate Bill 93, requiring employers in several hospitality sectors to rehire workers laid off during the pandemic before filling positions with new workers....

Defending Department of State Grant Awardees Against Proposed Suspension and Debarment and the Critical Importance of an Effective Mitigation Case

By EsqSocial Corporation 19/04/21

The Department of State has the general authority to debar or suspend grant awardees from participating in federal grant programs and other nonprocurement transactions.

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