News

Weekly Recap – Election News and Trends February 3, 2014

By EsqSocial Corporation 05/02/14

Voting-rights activists sue Debra Bowen claiming mass exclusions by The Sacramento Bee - February 4 – Voting-rights advocates sued Secretary of State Debra Bowen for voter disenfranchisement on Tuesday, claiming she blocked from the polls tens of...

Employee Handbooks (1971 – 2014): R.I.P.

By EsqSocial Corporation 05/02/14

It is time to inter handbooks. Yours is undoubtedly an unfair labor practice waiting to happen: if not your social media policy, then your at-will disclaimer; if not those, then your off-duty access rule or your arbitration language. Of course you...

Sochi Olympics: What's the Tax on Medals for U.S. Athletes?

By EsqSocial Corporation 05/02/14

The Sochi Olympics begin Friday, and Americans will be cheering on Team USA to bring home the gold (and the silver, and the bronze). But lest Olympic athletes forget, they're still responsible for paying income taxes after winning their medals.

An Overview of The Up-C Structure in Energy Deals

By EsqSocial Corporation 05/02/14

The UP-C structure — which offers tax benefits to pre-IPO investors and sponsors — likely will expand among energy companies. In 2013, several energy companies went public using a so-called UP-C structure. In using this structure, the public...

Funding Offsets Proposed for Physician Payment Overhaul

By EsqSocial Corporation 05/02/14

Congressional lawmakers are currently reviewing 65 potential funding offsets for legislation that would overhaul the Medicare physician payment system. In its present form, Medicare’s sustainable growth rate (SGR) formula calls for an annual cut in...

New Jersey Extends Deadline for Remedial Investigation of Qualifying Contaminated Sites For Two Years

By EsqSocial Corporation 05/02/14

Governor Chris Christie recently signed into law A-4543/S-3075 (Spencer/Schepisi/Smith/Bateman), which extends the deadline for completing the remedial investigation of contaminated sites before the Department of Environmental Protection (“DEP”)...

Navigating The All-Risks Policy: Is Wear And Tear A Fortuitous Risk?

By EsqSocial Corporation 05/02/14

In its decision in 1422253 Ontario Limited O/A Esso Fourth Avenue Gas Bar v. Coachman Insurance Company, 2013 ONSC 5740, the Divisional Court held that damages resulting from wear and tear can, in certain circumstances, be covered under an all-risks...

USPTO Releases New Fee Schedule

By EsqSocial Corporation 05/02/14

The U.S. Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) released a new fee schedule effective January 1, 2014. Most of the fees remain unchanged from the March 19, 2013 fee schedule. The most significant changes are the reduction in the issue fee and the...

2014 Employment Law Update

By EsqSocial Corporation 05/02/14

Whether you choose to set a New Year’s resolution or not, the start of a new year is normally full of changes if you are a business owner or employer. 2014 is no different, with dozens of new employment laws going into effect in California as of...

OIG Scrutiny of Hospital Outpatient Evaluation/Management Claims Billed to Medicare

By EsqSocial Corporation 05/02/14

H.H.S’s Office of Inspector General’s yearly work plan was issued on 31 January 2014, which included numerous new and ongoing reviews and activities by OIG for the coming year. Among the new projects, OIG will review Medicare payments to hospitals...

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