1. JD Supra Morning Brief: Lady Gaga, Sexual Harassment, NASCAR Videos, Over Criminalization

     Yeah, it was a short week, but that doesn’t make Friday any less sweet… Enjoy!

    Lenders can’t use appellate courts to “get a second bite at the apple” of student loan debt dismissed in bankruptcy court (Bloomberg Law) 

    Note to self: maybe personal assistant to a rock star isn’t such a great job after all… (Ogletree Deakins) 

    This ought to save taxpayers a bundle… (BuckleySandler) 

    Being small has its benefits – particularly when I-9s are involved… (David Brown) 

    What are your rights if you’re sexually harassed on the job? (Farrise Law Firm) 

    NASCAR fans: your videos are safe on the Internet… (Looper Reed) 

    Be careful what you wish for, goes the saying. And the NLRB agrees (Proskauer) 

    Is federal law becoming “over-criminalized”? A House committee will look into that (Jeff Ifrah) 

    —- 

    Are you on Twitter? We are too: @JDSupraBuzz»

  2. JD Supra Morning Brief: Oklahoma Tornado, College Athletes, QR Codes, Estate Plans

    It’s Friday, and here at the JD Supra Morning Brief, that means two slices of coffee cake on our way to work!

    More Big Law firms are going to collapse in the coming months and years, says the lawyer for failed firm Dewey & LeBoeuf (Bloomberg Law) 

    Are losses resulting from the recent Oklahoma tornado covered by business property insurance policies? (Perkins Coie) 

    College athletes: 1, video game developers: 0 (Manatt, Phelps & Phillips) 

    The shagreens will be partying on Magazine Mountain tonight! (Nossaman) 

    Unlike high schools, colleges and universities are not required to provide personal care services for students with disabilities (Ogletree Deakins) 

    Sure, the Tax Act passed earlier this year raised the limits on estate taxes. But you still need an estate plan… (Poyner Spruill) 

    Want to let customers pay via QR code? Read this (BuckleySandler) 

    Supreme Court sinks Kivalina’s hopes of passing the cost of climate change on to Exxon Mobil and others… (Foley Hoag) 

    —- 

    Hang out with the cool kids on Twitter: @JDSupraBuzz»

  3. JD Supra Morning Brief: Burma Investments, COPPA Guidance, Solar Panels, College Taxes

    What’s black and white and read all over? The JD Supra Morning Brief, of course…

    This interview of Christine Beshar, the first female partner at Cravath, Swaine & Moore in 1971, will make your day (Bloomberg Law) 

    Burma has acceded to the New York Convention on the Recognition and Enforcement of Foreign Arbitral Awards. And that’s good news for investors (Orrick) 

    The new FTC guidance on the Children’s Online Privacy Protection Act is out. And none too soon… (Morrison & Foerster) 

    After 41 years, the IRS is challenging Sumner Redstone’s transfer of stock in a family company to other family members as a taxable gift (Charles “Chuck” Rubin) 

    Ready or not, here I (9) come! (Sherman & Howard) 

    15 minutes to save 15%? How about 15 minutes to make sure you and your family have adequate protection? (Hoffman DiMuzio) 

    Think you might install solar panels in the new house you’re building? If you live in Lancaster, CA, it’s the law… (Foley & Lardner) 

    New Mexico’s new Fair Pay for Women Act will go into effect on June 14, 2013. Here’s what it means for employers in the state (Proskauer) 

    IRS to higher education: you’re not doing it right (and we’re going to teach you how…) (Morgan Lewis) 

    —- 

    Follow @JDSupraBuzz on Twitter»

  4. JD Supra Morning Brief: Doing Time, China Strategy, Marketplace Fairness, Human Genes

    Get the JD Supra Morning Brief delivered to your inbox every weekday morning. Because you deserve it: 

    New California rules will require the disclosure of energy usage in any commercial building sale, lease, or financing transaction as of July 1, 2013 (Allen Matkins) 

    Will doing time become a requirement for those convicted of white collar crimes? (Saul Ewing) 

    Businesses around the world must have a China strategy to remain competitive and succeed in the global marketplace (Pillsbury) 

    Is Congress really considering limits on 401(k) contributions as a means of increasing tax revenues? It looks that way… (Baker Donelson) 

    “Neither admit nor deny” settlements of SEC charges may not be very satisfying, but without them the agency would lack an important enforcement tool… (Orrick) 

    Everything you wanted to know about successfully navigating the regulatory landscape for biosimilars (but were afraid to ask) (Knobbe Martens) 

    School officials have no unlimited right to search content on a student’s phone, says a federal appellate court (Franczek Radelet) 

    The Marketplace Fairness Act would spell the end of tax-free purchases on the Internet (Dinsmore) 

    Can human genes be patented? (JD Supra Legal Perspective) 

    President Obama’s efforts to curb gun violence by improving the flow of information regarding individuals with specific mental health issues is running into an unexpected challenge: HIPAA privacy rules (Mintz Levin) 

    —- 

    Follow @JDSupraBuzz on Twitter»

  5. JD Supra Weekend Reader: Immigration Reform, Too Big To Fail, Trouble on the Vine, Abraham Lincoln

    Be safe, Boston.

    The ACLU thinks you shouldn’t be able to patent human genes. Here’s why (Bloomberg Law) 

    At long last – the immigration reform bill has been introduced (Lane Powell) 

    It’s the “look before you leap” of the 21st century (McAfee & Taft) 

    [Food for thought] Is global warming as catastrophic as some reports may lead to believe? (Looper Reed) 

    Today’s Top 10 list: 10 reasons why crowdfunding is not a feasible option for start-ups (Pepper Hamilton) 

    In 2012, Chinese courts heard 19,815 trademark civil cases and 1,123 trademark administrative and unfair competition cases (K&L Gates) 

    Want to hire current or former government employees? Tread carefully… (Morrison & Foerster) 

    The rules for doing business in the United States just got easier to understand (Pillsbury) 

    One reason the FDA cannot regulate the compounding of animal drugs from bulk ingredients? Because “Congress will not hide an elephant in a mouse-hole” (Duane Morris) 

    Exactly which banks are too big to fail? Don’t ask the FDIC… (Leonard, Street and Deinard) 

    When foreign companies commit human rights violations in foreign lands, can they be held accountable in U.S. courts? Not anymore… (Is That Legal?) 

    Fruit of the Vine… can spell trouble for employers… (Pullman & Comley) 

    Apparently, patent trolls were a problem when Abraham Lincoln was practicing law. And he gave one a good schooling, too [great read ] (Pepper Hamilton) 

    Want to stop having to pay US taxes without giving up your US citizenship? Move to Puerto Rico. Really (Bilzin Sumberg) 

    Should it be this hard to determine what is a natural food ingredient and what is not? (Morrison & Foerster) 

    Corporate investor relations teams should expect that any negative news or disclosure will trigger a securities class action lawsuit (Levick) 

    Don’t plan to pay your taxes? You could end up like these folks… (Greenberg Glusker) 

    This 73-page analysis of President Obama’s 2014 budget proposal is an amazing resource (Patton Boggs) 

    California’s new “Right to Know” law would give residents unprecedented access to information collected about them online (Orrick) 

    Bitcoin? That’s so passé… (Ifrah Law) 

    Maybe putting our name on the waitlist for a driverless car was a bit premature… (Foley & Lardner) 

    According to the EPA, only 21% of the country’s rivers and streams are in “good” biological condition… (Burr & Forman) 

    Your mother was right: some things ARE better left unsaid (or at a minimum, left unposted on Facebook…) (Lerners LLP) 

    Even President Obama appears to growing weary of the ongoing NLRB nominations saga (Barger & Wolen) 

    Looks like the 34 people who gambled online with Legendz Sports have hit a streak of bad luck… (Snell & Wilmer) 

    —- 

    You know where to find us: @JDSupraBuzz on Twitter»

  6. JD Supra Morning Brief: Vine Spells Trouble, Lincoln Schools Troll, Disclosures Trigger Lawsuits, gTLDs Threaten Internet

    Email delivery of the JD Supra Morning Brief is the new black. Sign up here. 

    Does the America Invents Act encourage or discourage startup capital? Watch and learn… (Sterne, Kessler, Goldstein & Fox) 

    Fruit of the Vine… can spell trouble for employers… (Pullman & Comley) 

    Apparently, patent trolls were a problem when Abraham Lincoln was practicing law. And he gave one a good schooling, too [great read ] (Pepper Hamilton) 

    How to protect your company’s intellectual property? Go on the offensive. And the defensive… (Davis Brown) 

    Want to stop having to pay US taxes without giving up your US citizenship? Move to Puerto Rico. Really (Bilzin Sumberg) 

    The new generic top-level domains threaten the security of the Internet itself… (BakerHostetler) 

    Should it be this hard to determine what is a natural food ingredient and what is not? (Morrison & Foerster) 

    The European Commission approved oil giant Rosneft’s acquisition of TNK-BP, sidestepping the question of whether Roseneft operates independently of the Russian state (King & Spalding) 

    Are your employees complaining to management about what goes on in the office? You might want to respond before the complaints escalate… (Proskauer) 

    Corporate investor relations teams should expect that any negative news or disclosure will trigger a securities class action lawsuit (Levick) 

    —- 

    We’re on Twitter: @JDSupraBuzz»

  7. JD Supra Morning Brief: Accessibility Disclosure, Tax Evasion, Bitcoin Competitor, Driverless Cars

    Our thoughts and prayers are with the people of Boston. Life is fragile. Tell your loved ones - at every opportunity - that you love them.

    New commercial leases in California must contain an accessibility disclosure as of July 1 (Allen Matkins) 

    Don’t plan to pay your taxes? You could end up like these folks… (Greenberg Glusker) 

    This 73-page analysis of President Obama’s 2014 budget proposal is an amazing resource (Patton Boggs) 

    California’s new “Right to Know” law would give residents unprecedented access to information collected about them online (Orrick) 

    Bitcoin? That’s so passé… (Ifrah Law) 

    Heads up, nonprofits: you may be investigated by the IRS… (Polsinelli Shughart) 

    Maybe putting our name on the waitlist for a driverless car was a bit premature… (Foley & Lardner) 

    Lose money in the Cyprus bailout? You may be able to get some back… (Morgan Lewis) 

    Firing an employee for refusing to commit a crime is still wrongful termination even when the illegal act turns out not to have been a crime after all… (Winthrop & Weinstine) 

    What to do about a bad online review? (Sands Anderson) 

    Can you patent human DNA? (Is That Legal?) 

    —- 

    Follow @JDSupraBuzz on Twitter»

  8. JD Supra Morning Brief: $33 Minimum Wage, GPS Tracking Warrants, Charitable Donation Deductions, HIPAA Privacy Rules

    Why did the chicken cross the road? To pick up a double-shot latte and a scone to go with her JD Supra Morning Brief, of course:

    The IP lawyers have all the luck: more trademark insight for craft brewers (McNees Wallace & Nurick) 

    Why isn’t the minimum wage $33 an hour? (Fisher & Phillips) 

    The Geolocation Privacy and Surveillance Act would require the police to obtain a warrant to track GPS devices (Carlton Fields) 

    Planning to deduct your charitable donations on your income tax filings? Read this first (Farella Braun + Martel) 

    Divorce? There’s an app for that (The Law Firm for Family Law) 

    India is at a crossroads: more foreign investment or more tax revenues from multinationals doing business in the country? (McDermott Will & Emery) 

    Employers have six months to comply with new HIPAA privacy rules (Burr & Forman) 

    What’s wrong with the current agricultural workers visa program? Plenty (Patton Boggs) 

    Cyprus won’t blow up Europe, but the keg of dynamite is still there… (Dechert) 

    “Be nice to pregnant ladies,” and other advice for avoiding pregnancy discrimination lawsuits (Miller & Martin) 

    —- 

    The law news is buzzing on Twitter: @JDSupraBuzz

  9. JD Supra Morning Brief: I-9 Forms, Attorney-Client Privilege, Huffington Post, Environmentally Friendly

    The answer to the question on everyone’s mind: New Zealand entomologist George Vernon Hudson. 

    Companies should take cybersecurity into their own hands if they want to protect themselves. Sooner rather than later… (Bloomberg Law) 

    The new I-9 form is here. Have you switched over? (JD Supra Contributors) 

    Lawyer learns the hard way that attorney-client privilege doesn’t apply to conversations with friends who are lawyers (Burns & Levinson) 

    Did Arianna Huffington and Kenneth Lerer steal the idea that became The Huffington Post? (Sheppard Mullin) 

    Plan to borrow money from family and friends to get your startup off the ground? Read this first (Scott Legal Services) 

    Are your products truly “environmentally friendly”? You might want to double-check before the FTC does it on your behalf… (Loeb & Loeb) 

    Ziff! Bam! Pow! Zing! Superheroes take the fight against evil to the intellectual property courtroom… (Foley Hoag) 

    The Fort Collins City Council has given final approval to a ban on fracking within city limits, setting up a legal battle with the state of Colorado (BakerHostetler) 

    New protections for government contractors and subcontractors who blow the whistle go into effect on July 1, 2013 (Morgan Lewis) 

    The Supreme Court may overturn the Defense of Marriage Act, but they’re certainly not going to do it before April 15. Here’s what same-sex couples need to know now about filing taxes (Baker Donelson) 

    —- 

    @JDSupraBuzz

  10. JD Supra Morning Brief: Cruise Fires, Sound Marks, Private Foundations, Wolf Hybrids

    Leave it to Nixon to mess things up… Apparently, Presidents’ Day isn’t even a real holiday – it’s still officially called Washington’s Birthday (sorry, Abe). Never mind, we say, it was nice to have the kids home from school.

    Looking to get away? You may want to watch this before you book a cruise… (LXBN) 

    “Do not use terms such as ‘guaranteed’ or ‘entitled,’ unless they are preceded with the word ‘not’” - tips for drafting employment offer letters (Burns & Levinson) 

    What’s the over-under on Cordray? (Ballard Spahr) 

    Don’t want to pay New York residency taxes? Consider moving your parents out of state (maybe someplace where it’s warm, like Miami. Or Arizona. What kind of a son are you, anyway?) (Akerman) 

    Have you heard the latest on “sound mark” applications in Canada? (Field Law) 

    As of January 1, 2013, commercial banks, savings institutions, credit unions, and others must begin reporting to the IRS interest on deposits paid to nonresident aliens (Cox Smith) 

    A private foundation may be the best tool for meeting your philanthropic goals (Schnader) 

    Turns out that Immigration & Customs Enforcement does have deportation quotas after all (Davis Brown) 

    Farmers Insurance Group is discontinuing coverage of dog bites for pit bull terriers, Rottweilers, and wolf hybrids (Demas Law Group) 

    Tsk, tsk, tsk: “Banks may be allowing hedge funds to avoid rules.” Make it stop, Mr. CFTC Chairman… (Shipkevich PLLC) 

    —-

    Find more like these on Twitter»