For the Public

disability

The Disabled Are Consumers Too!

Aside from my brilliant legal mind, I have a couple of strengths that contribute mightily to my success as an attorney – my ability to admit that I don’t know something and my willingness to consult with people who possess the knowledge I lack. Fortunately, I’m surrounded by young, smart attorneys who are more than willing to fill the holes

Read More »
consumer

Spotting Class Actions And What to do When You Catch One!

As we discussed last month, each of your clients (whether businesses or individuals) are also consumers. They are subjected to marketing representations by retailers, they purchase products and contract with service providers. Unfortunately, they face an increasing risk of being the victim of unlawful activity at the hands of others in the marketplace. The Consumer Finance Protection Bureau and the

Read More »
offense

Federal Career Offender Laws: Harsh Consequences for a Life of Crime

The United States Sentencing Guidelines (U.S.S.G.) provide significantly enhanced penalties for individuals who are deemed “career offenders.” These defendants typically receive increased offense levels and criminal history categories, which ultimately result in expansive penalty ranges that can– or in some cases must – be imposed. Although the career offender requirements may appear relatively straight-forward, subtle nuances within the language and

Read More »
LGBTQ

Are LGBTQ Protections Coming To A Workplace Near You?

Is the writing on the wall for an extension of Title VII protections to LGBTQ employees? In a recent landmark decision, the Seventh Circuit Court of Appeals became the first federal court of appeals in the nation to rule sexual orientation claims are actionable under Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964. Although not binding on courts (or

Read More »
American Brand

‘America First’ – Brands & Products Labels

The Stars and Stripes – America’s Brand On June 14, 1777, the Second Continental Congress passed the Flag Resolution, establishing the format for our current U.S. flag: thirteen stripes, alternating red and white, and an array of white stars on a blue field. Each nation’s flag is an important symbol for that country’s citizens. It embodies a common heritage and

Read More »
Relocate

Parental Relocation: Reasonable Purpose & Burden of Proof

A particularly difficult post-divorce problem arises when one parent wishes to relocate with a child to another state. In March of this year, the Tennessee Supreme Court rendered an important decision on this subject, Aragon v. Aragon, 513 S.W.3rd 47 (March 16, 2017). In Aragon, the parenting plan order entered at the time of the divorce provided that the parents

Read More »
Software

Establishing Protection for Software and Software-Based Technologies

Clients and potential clients often mistakenly believe that software can’t be patented or that copyright is the only option. However, software is often eligible for multiple forms of intellectual property protection. Patents, copyrights and trade secrets each provide varying scopes of protection and enforcement, and a proper protection strategy should weigh the benefits of each. Patents are designed to protect

Read More »
wall

The New Administration’s Policies on Immigration: Tactical Fear

While this administration has yet to construct a physical barrier between the United States and Mexico, it is building a metaphysical wall of fear via its executive orders and actions by the Department of Homeland Security. The paradigmatic shift in immigration policy expresses that most immigrants are not welcome in the United States. The executive branch has sought to deport

Read More »
ERISA

Understanding ERISA – Part 1

When many folks file disability claims, they are shell-shocked by the denial of their disability benefits. They have worked hard their entire life. Many purchased disability insurance just in case they became ill or suffered a severe accident, so they cannot understand how benefits could be denied. Some have even been awarded Social Security benefits. They thought they were doing

Read More »
immigration

DACA-Based Advanced Parole

With all eyes focused on the Trump administration, changes to the current immigration landscape, a little- known pathway for individuals with DACA, has been recently used by immigration attorneys and practitioners to help clients on their quest to obtain lawful permanent resident status. As is widely known, DACA was originally created under the Obama administration as a way to provide

Read More »
disability

The Disabled Are Consumers Too!

Aside from my brilliant legal mind, I have a couple of strengths that contribute mightily to my success as an attorney – my ability to admit that I don’t know something and my willingness to consult with people who possess the knowledge I lack. Fortunately, I’m surrounded by young, smart attorneys who are more than willing to fill the holes

Read More »
consumer

Spotting Class Actions And What to do When You Catch One!

As we discussed last month, each of your clients (whether businesses or individuals) are also consumers. They are subjected to marketing representations by retailers, they purchase products and contract with service providers. Unfortunately, they face an increasing risk of being the victim of unlawful activity at the hands of others in the marketplace. The Consumer Finance Protection Bureau and the

Read More »
offense

Federal Career Offender Laws: Harsh Consequences for a Life of Crime

The United States Sentencing Guidelines (U.S.S.G.) provide significantly enhanced penalties for individuals who are deemed “career offenders.” These defendants typically receive increased offense levels and criminal history categories, which ultimately result in expansive penalty ranges that can– or in some cases must – be imposed. Although the career offender requirements may appear relatively straight-forward, subtle nuances within the language and

Read More »
LGBTQ

Are LGBTQ Protections Coming To A Workplace Near You?

Is the writing on the wall for an extension of Title VII protections to LGBTQ employees? In a recent landmark decision, the Seventh Circuit Court of Appeals became the first federal court of appeals in the nation to rule sexual orientation claims are actionable under Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964. Although not binding on courts (or

Read More »
American Brand

‘America First’ – Brands & Products Labels

The Stars and Stripes – America’s Brand On June 14, 1777, the Second Continental Congress passed the Flag Resolution, establishing the format for our current U.S. flag: thirteen stripes, alternating red and white, and an array of white stars on a blue field. Each nation’s flag is an important symbol for that country’s citizens. It embodies a common heritage and

Read More »
Relocate

Parental Relocation: Reasonable Purpose & Burden of Proof

A particularly difficult post-divorce problem arises when one parent wishes to relocate with a child to another state. In March of this year, the Tennessee Supreme Court rendered an important decision on this subject, Aragon v. Aragon, 513 S.W.3rd 47 (March 16, 2017). In Aragon, the parenting plan order entered at the time of the divorce provided that the parents

Read More »
Software

Establishing Protection for Software and Software-Based Technologies

Clients and potential clients often mistakenly believe that software can’t be patented or that copyright is the only option. However, software is often eligible for multiple forms of intellectual property protection. Patents, copyrights and trade secrets each provide varying scopes of protection and enforcement, and a proper protection strategy should weigh the benefits of each. Patents are designed to protect

Read More »
wall

The New Administration’s Policies on Immigration: Tactical Fear

While this administration has yet to construct a physical barrier between the United States and Mexico, it is building a metaphysical wall of fear via its executive orders and actions by the Department of Homeland Security. The paradigmatic shift in immigration policy expresses that most immigrants are not welcome in the United States. The executive branch has sought to deport

Read More »
ERISA

Understanding ERISA – Part 1

When many folks file disability claims, they are shell-shocked by the denial of their disability benefits. They have worked hard their entire life. Many purchased disability insurance just in case they became ill or suffered a severe accident, so they cannot understand how benefits could be denied. Some have even been awarded Social Security benefits. They thought they were doing

Read More »
immigration

DACA-Based Advanced Parole

With all eyes focused on the Trump administration, changes to the current immigration landscape, a little- known pathway for individuals with DACA, has been recently used by immigration attorneys and practitioners to help clients on their quest to obtain lawful permanent resident status. As is widely known, DACA was originally created under the Obama administration as a way to provide

Read More »

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