News & Insights

Maryland Appellate Court Holds A Prior Agreement Was Within The Scope Of The Arbitration Provision In A Subsequent Agreement

In Gannett Fleming, Inc. v. Corman Construction, Inc., 2019 WL 6207616 (Md. App. Nov. 21, 2019), the Maryland Court of Special Appeals held that an arbitration provision contained in a subsequent agreement may still apply to work performed under a prior agreement that did not contain a similar arbitration provision. Gannett Fleming, Inc. (“Gannett”), an…
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Sec Issues Guidance On Regulation Best Interest

In June 2019, the SEC adopted Regulation Best Interest. The Regulation requires broker-dealers (and natural persons associated with broker-dealers) to act in the best interest of their retail customers in making a recommendation of any securities transaction or investment strategy involving securities. Since the rule’s promulgation, there have been several questions relating to compliance with…
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Supreme Court Of Mississippi Finds That Its State Board Of Contractors Violated Procedural Due Process

In Mississippi State Board of Contractors v. Hobbs Construction, LLC, the Supreme Court of Mississippi analyzed whether the Mississippi State Board of Contractors (“the Board”) deprived Hobbs Construction, LLC (“Hobbs”) of its procedural right to due process. 2020 WL 1081410 (Miss. 2020). The Board filed suit against Hobbs in December 2016 when Pyramid Interiors Distributors…
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Highlights From The Finra 2020 Risk Monitoring And Examination Priorities Letter

FINRA released its 2020 Risk Monitoring and Examination Priorities Letter.  The Letter addresses emerging priorities for FINRA’s risk monitoring, surveillance, and examination programs in the coming year. New for this year is a focus on Regulation Best Interest and Form CRS.  On June 5, 2019, the SEC adopted Regulation Best Interest which establishes a “best…
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New York Appellate Court Rules Negligence Claims Against Architect And Engineer Accrue When The Contract Terminates Rather Than When Damages Are Incurred

In WSA Group, PE.,PC v. DKI Engineering & Consulting USA PC, 2019 WL 7173322 (N.Y. App. Dec. 26, 2019), a New York appellate court held that the statute of limitations governing malpractice claims against architects and engineers in New York begins to accrue when the contract is complete and the professional relationship ends, rather than…
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Department Of Labor Issues Final Rule On Joint Employer Status Under The Flsa

On January 16, 2020, the U.S. Department of Labor published in the Federal Register the Final Rule regarding joint employer status under the Fair Labor Standards Act (“FLSA”). These changes to the rule are the first meaningful revisions to the regulations in more than 60 years. The Final Rule discusses two joint employer scenarios: (1)…
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Florida Court Recognizes General Contractor’s Right To Common Law Indemnity

In Brother’s Painting & Pressure Cleaning Corp., Appellant v. Curry-Dixon Construction, LLC, et. al., Appellees, the general contractor Curry-Dixon Construction, LLC (“Curry-Dixon”) and Brother’s Painting & Pressure Cleaning Corporation (“Brother’s Painting”) were both defendants in a lawsuit involving negligence during the course of construction renovations. 2020 WL 559193 (Fla. App. Ct. 2020). Plaintiffs, owners of…
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Alabama Court Of Civil Appeals Finds Employer Failed To Prove Employee Returned To Work Making The Same Or Greater Average Weekly Wage And The Return To Work Statute Did Not Apply

On October 4, 2019, the Alabama Court of Civil Appeals released AMEC Foster Wheeler Kamtech, Inc. v. Chandler, — So. 3d –, 2019 WL 4894327 (Ala. Civ. App. 2019), which found the employer, Defendant AMEC Foster Wheeler Kamtech, Inc., failed to prove the employee, Plaintiff Jimmy Chandler, returned to work making the same or greater…
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