News

FERC Jan. 2014 Energy Infrastructure Update Highlights Natural Gas Reverse Flow Capacity Issues & Gas-Electric Interdependency

By EsqSocial Corporation 03/03/14

The recently released FERC January 2014 Energy Infrastructure Update natural gas highlights include Texas Eastern’s request for authorization to construct and operate an Ohio pipeline project that will provide “550 MMcf/d of capacity and reverse flow...

FIO Focus No. 47 - February 2014: Senate Hearing on the Terrorism Risk Insurance Act (TRIA)

By EsqSocial Corporation 03/03/14

Devoted to exploring the progress of the modernization of the insurance industry, FIO Focus provides information and insights about the organizations and issues that are driving change and influencing the future of the industry. Senate Hearing on...

Skippy v. Skippy: The Great Peanut Butter Trademark Wars

By EsqSocial Corporation 03/03/14

According to the National Peanut Board, March is not only National Peanut Month, but it contains National Peanut Butter Lover’s Day and National Peanut Cluster Day. That makes March a good time to remember one of the longest running battles in...

CFPB Continues Respa Enforcement With Action Against Nonbank Lender

By EsqSocial Corporation 03/03/14

On February 24, the CFPB announced that a nonbank mortgage lender agreed to pay an $83,000 penalty to resolve violations of RESPA’s Section 8. The lender primarily offers loss-mitigation refinance mortgage loans to distressed borrowers. According to...

Oral Argument Recap: Ohio Supreme Court Considers Home Rule in Challenge to Zoning Ordinances Restricting Drilling

By EsqSocial Corporation 03/03/14

On Wednesday, the Ohio Supreme Court held oral argument to determine the scope of Ohio’s constitutional guarantee of municipal “home rule.” The case—brought by the city of Munroe Falls, Ohio against Beck Energy Corp. for violations of its local...

Cyberbullying Victim? 3 Ways a Lawyer Can Help

By EsqSocial Corporation 03/03/14

Cyberbullying victims aren't just an invention of an overzealous news media. They're a reality. According to a new FindLaw.com survey, nearly 1 in 12 parents say their children have been targeted by cyberbullies.

Taking a Leap of Faith: Deferred Prosecution Agreements and Corporate Sentencing Guidelines Come to the UK

By EsqSocial Corporation 03/03/14

On 24 February 2014, UK prosecutors gained the ability to use deferred prosecution agreements (DPAs) in corporate crime cases. This followed the publication on 31 January 2014 of a Definitive Guideline for the sentencing of corporate offenders for...

LLPs and taxation of "disguised employment" – no delay to implementation

By EsqSocial Corporation 03/03/14

Is your business operating in the UK in “Limited Liability Partnership” (“LLP”) form? If so, it may be affected by a tax reform from 6th April 2014, requiring immediate compliance steps....

"Cursory Services" May Be "Worthless Services" Under False Claims Act

By EsqSocial Corporation 03/03/14

A recent federal court decision allowed the federal government to proceed with a False Claims Act (FCA) case involving an allegation that a health care provider’s “services were so cursory that they were worthless.” U.S. v. Associates in Eye Care,...

Novel IRS Guidance on HRAs, VEBAs and Domestic Partner Benefits

By EsqSocial Corporation 03/03/14

The Internal Revenue Service (IRS) recently provided guidance on several issues never before addressed. The guidance came in the form of a Private Letter Ruling (PLR), to be released later this year to the public under the Freedom of Information Act....

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