News

Illinois Supreme Court Strikes Down State Eavesdropping Statute

By EsqSocial Corporation 02/04/14

The Illinois Supreme Court recently declared unconstitutional a state law criminalizing the recording of conversations without the consent of all parties. However, significant risks remain for companies and individuals in Illinois who secretly...

Division of Investment Management Lists 2013 Accomplishments; Sets 2014 Agenda

By EsqSocial Corporation 02/04/14

The SEC’s Division of Investment Management summarized its activities in 2013, highlighting its intensified rulemaking program, efforts to identify new and emerging risks and its disclosure initiatives. The Division also took the opportunity to...

Texas District Court Denies Class Certification in IPO Securities Suit

By EsqSocial Corporation 02/04/14

The US District Court for the Northern District of Texas recently denied class certification for a securities action arising from alleged false and misleading statements in Kosmos Energy Limited’s initial public offering....

Motorola Mobility LLC v. AU Optronics Corp.: Seventh Circuit Clarifies Reach of U.S. Antitrust Law to Foreign Commerce

By EsqSocial Corporation 02/04/14

A recent decision from the Seventh Circuit, Motorola v. AU Optronics Corp., provided much-needed clarification on the scope of the Foreign Trade Antitrust Improvements Act (“FTAIA”). Specifically, the court’s decision clarifies that U.S. companies...

Sandusky’s appeal of child-molestation conviction nixed by Penn. Supreme Court

By EsqSocial Corporation 02/04/14

In a one-sentence order, the Pennsylvania Supreme Court refused on Wednesday to hear an appeal by former Pennsylvania State University assistant football coach Jerry Sandusky of his child-molestation conviction. However, other avenues of appeal remain open to Sandusky.

Paid Sick Time Arrives in New York City; Department of Consumer Affairs Releases Proposed Paid Sick Time Rules and Schedules Public Hearing on April 29, 2014; Also Releases Notices in Various Languages

By EsqSocial Corporation 02/04/14

The New York City Earned Sick Time Act went into effect yesterday. In other news, the New York City Department of Consumer Affairs has released proposed rules to “establish requirements to implement the [paid sick leave] Act and meet its goals, and...

Assured Guaranty and National Public Finance Guarantee Ratings Upgraded by S&P

By EsqSocial Corporation 02/04/14

On March 18, 2014, Standard & Poor's Ratings Services announced ratings upgrades for two bond insurers – Assured Guaranty Municipal Corp. (f/k/a Financial Security Assurance Inc.) to “AA” from “AA-” and MBIA Inc.’s National Public Finance Guarantee...

Sweeping Changes to Medicare Payment for Clinical Laboratory Services

By EsqSocial Corporation 02/04/14

On March 31, 2014, the Senate gave final approval to the Protecting Access to Medicare Act of 2014 (the Act), which includes significant reforms to the way Medicare pays for clinical diagnostic laboratory services. The House approved the Act on...

CFTC Requests Public Comment on ICE Swap Trade Packaged Transaction Rule

By EsqSocial Corporation 02/04/14

ICE Swap Trade, LLC, a swap execution facility temporarily registered with the Commodity Futures Trading Commission, recently self-certified amendments to its rules (ICE Rules) to allow market participants to execute “packaged transactions” as block...

Take That! Second District Court of Appeal Clears Major Hurdles for Newhall Ranch Project, Provides Guidance on California’s “Fully Protected Species”

By EsqSocial Corporation 02/04/14

California’s Second District Court of Appeal, Division Five, issued a decision on March 20 in Center for Biological Diversity v. Department of Fish & Wildlife (Case No. BS131347), overturning the trial court’s decision setting aside the 5,828-page...

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