News

Do You Need An H-1B Work Visa?

By EsqSocial Corporation 26/02/14

It is that time of the year again, the time to start working on the H-1B petitions. The H-1B visa is probably the most common work visa for someone who has at least a Bachelor’s degree (or a combination of some university study and professional...

Utica And Century Ordered To Mandatory Mediation In Reinsurance Dispute

By EsqSocial Corporation 26/02/14

Utica Mutual Insurance Company brought an action in 2013 against Century Indemnity Company (itself and against certain of its named predecessors) for breach of contract and breach of the duty of utmost good faith, as well as a declaratory claim,...

Act Now Advisory: Overbroad Handbook Policies May Constitute Unfair Labor Practices

By EsqSocial Corporation 26/02/14

At-will disclaimers in employee handbooks may provide protection from contract claims, but a recent decision by a National Labor Relations Board ("NLRB") Administrative Law Judge ("ALJ") serves to remind employers that the disclaimers do not provide...

9th Circuit tells Google to take down YouTube clip, calls threats to plaintiff irreparable harm

By EsqSocial Corporation 26/02/14

A woman who says a video clip was used without her permission on an anti-Muslim movie trailer posted on YouTube has won a federal appeals court OK of an injunction requiring Google Inc.

Revised LMA Standard Terms And Conditions For Par And Distressed Trade Transactions (Bank Debt/Claims) – ‘The Plainer English Version’

By EsqSocial Corporation 26/02/14

Background - The Loan Market Association (“LMA”) recently produced a revised version of the LMA Standard Terms and Conditions for Par and Distressed Trade Transactions (Bank Debt/Claims) (the “Revised Terms and Conditions”) following the...

Freddie Mac Updates Selling, Servicing Policies

By EsqSocial Corporation 26/02/14

On February 14, Freddie Mac issued Bulletin 2014-02, which includes numerous selling and servicing policy changes. For example, the Bulletin states that, effective for mortgages with settlement dates on or after June 1, 2014, (i) sellers’ reserves...

Cold Weather Only Partially To Blame For Slow Home Construction

By EsqSocial Corporation 26/02/14

Last week, the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development and the U.S. Census Bureau released figures showing that in January 2014, housing starts fell 16 percent to a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 880,000 units. These numbers reflect a...

Ontario Court Backs Wind Developer at Ostrander Point

By EsqSocial Corporation 26/02/14

In July 2013, the Environmental Review Tribunal (ERT) revoked the Renewable Energy Approval (REA) issued to Gilead Power to develop a nine-turbine, 22.5-megawatt wind power project at Ostrander Point in Prince Edward County. The ERT's decision was...

Seventh Circuit Holds Attorney is Bound to $3.54m Class Settlement Fee Agreement He Did Not Sign

By EsqSocial Corporation 26/02/14

On February 14, 2014, the Seventh Circuit ruled that a plaintiff’s attorney was bound by the terms of a class action settlement involving alleged malfeasance in the laying of fiber-optic cables by telecommunications companies on certain landowners’...

Supreme Court rules against antiwar protester, but doesn’t reach First Amendment issue

By EsqSocial Corporation 26/02/14

A designated protest area at Vandenberg Air Force Base in California qualifies as part of a military installation that can be declared off limits to a long-time protester, the U.S. Supreme Court has ruled in an opinion considering the protester’s statutory arguments.

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