News

Patenting of DNA Will Continue - Patentability of Genes

By EsqSocial Corporation 21/11/13

The availability of patent protection for human genes continues to fuel debate around the world. Patent offices have cumulatively granted thousands of patents directed to isolated nucleic acids, deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) and genes. The commonly...

For Whom the Bell Trolls, Episode II: The Judiciary Strikes Back

By EsqSocial Corporation 21/11/13

Patent reform legislation continues to be hotly debated, both in the public arena and before Congress. Federal Circuit Chief Judge Randall R. Rader recently said that Congress should leave reform to the courts, echoing comments by former Chief Judge...

IRS Issues Final Regulations On Permitted Mid-Year Reductions Or Suspensions Of Safe Harbor Contributions

By EsqSocial Corporation 21/11/13

In Final Regulations issued under Internal Revenue Code Section 401(k) in 2004, the IRS outlined procedures for revoking a safe harbor matching contribution formula after the beginning of a safe harbor plan year. Under those Final Regulations a safe...

Expect Significant EB-2 India Retrogression In December

By EsqSocial Corporation 21/11/13

The U.S. Department of State’s (DOS) Visa Bulletin sets out per country priority dates that regulate when an individual can begin the final phase of the “green card” process, either through adjustment of status or consular immigrant visa application....

Widow Granted Leave to File Late Claim Against Public Entity Because Delay Was Reasonable and Excusable

By EsqSocial Corporation 21/11/13

A widow filed a notice of claim and application for leave to file a late claim with a public entity one year after a traffic accident that killed her husband. The court of appeals held that the widow’s failure to discover a basis for the public...

Bi-partisan Infrastructure Bill Introduced in U.S. Senate

By EsqSocial Corporation 21/11/13

On November 14, a bipartisan group of ten U.S. Senators, led by Mark Warner (D-VA) and Roy Blunt (R-MO), introduced legislation to create a new independent Infrastructure Financing Authority (IFA) to issue loans and loan guarantees for...

ICE (Again) Changes Its Position On Pre-Population Of Section 1 Of Form I-9

By EsqSocial Corporation 21/11/13

An important issue for many employers that use electronic I-9 systems is the pre-population of employee information in Section 1 of the I-9 form by electronic I-9 programs. Form I-9, Employment Eligibility Verification, is the form that must be...

Bringing Human Resources Into The Compliance Tent

By EsqSocial Corporation 21/11/13

Companies are always fighting against stovepipes. It is inevitable but offices, divisions and/or functions within a company are always seeking an “advantage,” in competition against other parts of the company....

Want to reduce or suspend safe harbor 401(k) employer contributions mid-year? IRS final regulations provide a new way

By EsqSocial Corporation 21/11/13

Last Friday, the IRS provided guidance on ways for employers to reduce or eliminate the employer contribution to a safe harbor 401(k) plan mid-year, guidance which employers looking to enhance their bottom lines will welcome with open arms. For...

MLP Renewables Bill Scored at a Modest $1.3 Billion

By EsqSocial Corporation 21/11/13

Senator Coons (D-DE), the lead sponsor of the Master Limited Partnership Parity Act (S. 795), has received the scoring estimate for that bill from the Joint Committee on Taxation. According to the senator’s office, it is scored at a $1.3 billion cost...

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