For the Public

The Legal Responsibilities of Ohio Charity Board Members

Serving on the board of a charitable organization is a demanding and rewarding job. It is a vital function, as charities work to enhance the quality of life in our communities. But becoming a charity board member for a charitable organization means more than merely accepting an honorary title or helping a charity that contributes positively to the lives of

Read More »

The Trump Administration’s Evolving Immigration Policies at the Southern Border

The Trump administration is implementing yet another in a series of immigration policies meant to address what it believes to be a “migration crisis along our southern border.” In a memo dated December 20, 2018, Homeland Security Secretary Kirstjen Nielsen announced the rollout of the “Migrant Protection Protocols,” (MPP) referred to as the “Remain in Mexico” policy by both administration

Read More »

Rule 67 Not a Mechanism for Picking Off Named Plaintiffs in a Rule 23 Class Action

Class action defendants try to evade class-wide liability using Rule 67, which governs deposits into court. Defendants’ argue that, under Rule 67, they can pick off named plaintiffs in class action matters by simply depositing with the court funds equal to the value of the named plaintiff’s claim. Federal courts have rejected these attempts to use Rule 67 as a

Read More »

H.B. 228 & Self-Defense: Easier to Shoot or Proper to Defend?

Just days before the new year, the Ohio House of Representatives and the Ohio Senate voted to override Governor John Kasich’s veto and effectively passed Ohio’s newest self-defense legislation. Ohio is merely the latest (and almost the last) state to follow the national trend in passing legislation of this kind. H.B. 228, initially billed as a “stand your ground” law,

Read More »

Use It or Lose It! Consistency in the Use of a Trademark

It is not enough for a business owner to just register their trademark. The business owner must use it – or lose it. To maintain trademark rights, the trademark must be continuously used in commerce. The mark must appear prominently and consistently on labels or packages of goods and on all marketing materials for services. Trademarks are used to distinguish

Read More »

Labor Trafficking: The Lawyer’s Citizen And Practitioner Lenses

Labor trafficking is just as pernicious as sex trafficking. Fueled by greed and a large lack of awareness, labor traffickers operate with impunity. It concerns those in the counter-trafficking space, and it ought to be of concern to you. Our clients depend on us to ensure they are not unwitting participants. OUR CIVIC RESPONSE Take a moment to take this

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Patenting Nature

Is a natural thing eligible for patent protection? Can you go about patenting nature – a plant, a gene or a bacterium? The patent statute only lists four things that are patentable: “Whoever invents or discovers any new and useful [1] process, [2] machine, [3] manufacture, or [4] composition of matter … may obtain a patent therefor ….” 35 U.S.C.

Read More »

When Friendship Goes Wrong: Holding Fraternities & Sororities Accountable for Hazing

Most college campuses across America charter fraternities and sororities. These organizations tout they represent brotherhood and sisterhood and philanthropic ideals. Unfortunately, there can be a very ugly and dangerous side to them: the initiation rituals associated with membership. These rituals often cause those seeking membership (called “pledges”) to subject themselves to embarrassment, harassment, and ridicule, and such rituals place a

Read More »

Insure the Love! Why Marital Insurance is Better than a Good Divorce

Marital Insurance? Who sells that? How much are the premiums? How much coverage do you need? Of course, I cannot insure that you stay married, or that you have a long and prosperous life together. You can in fact, make sure that you have an exit strategy with full disclosure and thoughtful conversations about what happens if the marriage ends.

Read More »

Letters of Intent in Commercial Real Estate: Proceed With Caution

Many commercial real estate transactions begin with preliminary letters of intent. The primary function of the letter of intent is to outline the essential or basic terms upon which a buyer and seller or lessor and lessee would be willing to consummate the transaction. Yet, by its title, the letter of intent is normally not intended to be the final

Read More »

The Legal Responsibilities of Ohio Charity Board Members

Serving on the board of a charitable organization is a demanding and rewarding job. It is a vital function, as charities work to enhance the quality of life in our communities. But becoming a charity board member for a charitable organization means more than merely accepting an honorary title or helping a charity that contributes positively to the lives of

Read More »

The Trump Administration’s Evolving Immigration Policies at the Southern Border

The Trump administration is implementing yet another in a series of immigration policies meant to address what it believes to be a “migration crisis along our southern border.” In a memo dated December 20, 2018, Homeland Security Secretary Kirstjen Nielsen announced the rollout of the “Migrant Protection Protocols,” (MPP) referred to as the “Remain in Mexico” policy by both administration

Read More »

Rule 67 Not a Mechanism for Picking Off Named Plaintiffs in a Rule 23 Class Action

Class action defendants try to evade class-wide liability using Rule 67, which governs deposits into court. Defendants’ argue that, under Rule 67, they can pick off named plaintiffs in class action matters by simply depositing with the court funds equal to the value of the named plaintiff’s claim. Federal courts have rejected these attempts to use Rule 67 as a

Read More »

H.B. 228 & Self-Defense: Easier to Shoot or Proper to Defend?

Just days before the new year, the Ohio House of Representatives and the Ohio Senate voted to override Governor John Kasich’s veto and effectively passed Ohio’s newest self-defense legislation. Ohio is merely the latest (and almost the last) state to follow the national trend in passing legislation of this kind. H.B. 228, initially billed as a “stand your ground” law,

Read More »

Use It or Lose It! Consistency in the Use of a Trademark

It is not enough for a business owner to just register their trademark. The business owner must use it – or lose it. To maintain trademark rights, the trademark must be continuously used in commerce. The mark must appear prominently and consistently on labels or packages of goods and on all marketing materials for services. Trademarks are used to distinguish

Read More »

Labor Trafficking: The Lawyer’s Citizen And Practitioner Lenses

Labor trafficking is just as pernicious as sex trafficking. Fueled by greed and a large lack of awareness, labor traffickers operate with impunity. It concerns those in the counter-trafficking space, and it ought to be of concern to you. Our clients depend on us to ensure they are not unwitting participants. OUR CIVIC RESPONSE Take a moment to take this

Read More »

Patenting Nature

Is a natural thing eligible for patent protection? Can you go about patenting nature – a plant, a gene or a bacterium? The patent statute only lists four things that are patentable: “Whoever invents or discovers any new and useful [1] process, [2] machine, [3] manufacture, or [4] composition of matter … may obtain a patent therefor ….” 35 U.S.C.

Read More »

When Friendship Goes Wrong: Holding Fraternities & Sororities Accountable for Hazing

Most college campuses across America charter fraternities and sororities. These organizations tout they represent brotherhood and sisterhood and philanthropic ideals. Unfortunately, there can be a very ugly and dangerous side to them: the initiation rituals associated with membership. These rituals often cause those seeking membership (called “pledges”) to subject themselves to embarrassment, harassment, and ridicule, and such rituals place a

Read More »

Insure the Love! Why Marital Insurance is Better than a Good Divorce

Marital Insurance? Who sells that? How much are the premiums? How much coverage do you need? Of course, I cannot insure that you stay married, or that you have a long and prosperous life together. You can in fact, make sure that you have an exit strategy with full disclosure and thoughtful conversations about what happens if the marriage ends.

Read More »

Letters of Intent in Commercial Real Estate: Proceed With Caution

Many commercial real estate transactions begin with preliminary letters of intent. The primary function of the letter of intent is to outline the essential or basic terms upon which a buyer and seller or lessor and lessee would be willing to consummate the transaction. Yet, by its title, the letter of intent is normally not intended to be the final

Read More »

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