News

President Obama Signs the Protecting Access to Medicare Act of 2014

By EsqSocial Corporation 03/04/14

On April 1, 2014, President Obama signed into law the Protecting Access to Medicare Act of 2014. This new law prevents a scheduled payment reduction for physicians and other practitioners who treat Medicare patients from taking effect on April 1,...

Taxation of Carried Interest Under Chairman Camp’s Tax Reform Proposal

By EsqSocial Corporation 03/04/14

On February 25, 2014, House Ways and Means Committee Chairman Dave Camp (R-MI) issued a sweeping tax reform discussion draft, numbering almost 1,000 pages (the Discussion Draft). This alert summarizes proposals included in the Discussion Draft that...

License to Hack? DOJ Seeks Expanded Authority to Use Hacking Techniques

By EsqSocial Corporation 03/04/14

As part of its increased focus on combating cybercrime, the U.S. Department of Justice is pushing to loosen requirements for obtaining search warrants in order to allow them greater freedom to hack into the computers of criminal suspects. Late last...

"Don't Come In To Work Today"

By EsqSocial Corporation 03/04/14

Even here in Maine, where we take pride in not letting winter slow us down, there are days when it just doesn’t make sense to get out of the house. This past winter was a tough one to say the least – for much of the country it was one of the worst on...

IC-DISC: Interest Charge Domestic International Sales Corporation

By EsqSocial Corporation 03/04/14

As any reader of The Farm News is already aware, California produces a significant portion of the worldwide production for certain crops. As recently as 2012, eighty percent (80%) of the world's production of almonds, and ninety nine (99%) of the...

Code of Conduct, Training & Policies: Three Keys to Building a Culture That Values Ethics & Prevents Retaliation

By EsqSocial Corporation 03/04/14

We all know we’re supposed to have an ethical culture, just like we all know we’re not supposed to follow the dress code and we’re supposed to turn in our expense reports on time. But in the crazy, hectic, fast-paced way of business these days, the...

Civil Rights Attorney's Fees - Qualifying as a Prevailing Party Offers No Guarantees

By EsqSocial Corporation 03/04/14

With the enactment of the Civil Rights Attorney's Fees Awards Act of 1976, a court may allow a prevailing party in a section 1983 civil rights lawsuit to recover reasonable attorney's fees as part of the award. One of the stated goals of the statute...

Confusing Expiration Labels Cost Texas Restaurants

By EsqSocial Corporation 03/04/14

All restaurants have to deal with the issue of throwing away food at the end of the day. According to the National Resources Defense Council (NRDC), a powerful environmental action group and the Harvard Food Law and Policy Clinic, confusing and...

USPTO March 2014 Update to Guidance & Training for Evaluating Utility Patent Subject Matter Eligibility for Claims involving Nature, Natural Phenomena, & Natural Products

By EsqSocial Corporation 03/04/14

In response to recent U.S. Supreme Court decisions addressing utility patent subject matter eligibility under 35 U.S.C. § 101, the U.S. Patent & Trademark Office issued new guidance and training materials for patent examiners tasked with determining...

What Is Disability Insurance? 3 Basic Questions

By EsqSocial Corporation 03/04/14

If you're unable to work because of an injury or a debilitating illness, you may be wondering what disability insurance is and whether you're covered by it.

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