News & Insights

Arbitration Panel Grants Expungement In Recent Case

Our firm recently obtained an award from a FINRA panel granting a Motion for Expungement.  The claim (Arbitration number 16-01770) was filed in June, 2016 and alleged negligence, breach of fiduciary duty, negligent supervision, and breach of contract.  The claims were related to charges Claimant suffered when he surrendered a fixed annuity and losses he…
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Illinois Court Of Appeals Affirms Design Professionals Not Liable For Breach Of Warranty Of Habitability Despite Contractor’s Insolvency

In Sierra Court Condominium Association v. Champion Aluminum Corporation, 2017 IL App (1st) 143364, 75 N.E.3d 260 (Ill. Ct. App. 2017), First District Appellate Court of Illinois reaffirmed architects and engineering firms are not subject to the implied warranty of habitability of construction, even in the event the developer and general contractor are insolvent.  TR…
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Recent Court Ruling Determines No Coverage For Email Fraud

The Eastern District of Michigan recently entered summary judgment in favor of an insurer in a coverage dispute concerning a computer fraud provision in American Tooling Center, Inc. v. Travelers Cas. & Sur. Co. of America, 2017 WL 3263356. An insured manufacturer outsourced some of its operations to overseas manufacturers. The insured customarily paid its…
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Finra Seeks Comment On The Efficacy Of Allowing Compensated Non Attorneys To Represent Parties In Arbitration

The FINRA Codes of Arbitration and Mediation Procedure currently allow compensated non-attorney representatives (“NAR”) to represent clients in securities arbitration and mediation subject to some exceptions.  Some parties are represented by relatives or friends who assist with case preparation or presentation.  NAR firms typically provide public investors an alternative to representation by attorneys in disputes…
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Eleventh Circuit Court Of Appeals Affirms Necessity To Include Specific Timeframe In Contract In Order To Properly Extend Indemnity And Defense Obligations Beyond Seven Year Statute Of Repose For Any Claim Against An Architect, Engineer, Or Builder

In Sears, Roebuck & Co. v. Hardin Constr. Grp., Inc., 697 F. App’x 637 (11th Cir. 2017), the United States Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit affirmed the United States District Court for the Southern District of Alabama’s conclusion that a specific written timeframe is necessary in order to extend Alabama’s statute of repose….
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Wisconsin Federal District Court Allows Pcb Citizen Suit Under Rcra

The United States District Court for the Western District of Wisconsin has ruled that a citizen suit related to the release of polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) may be brought under the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act, (RCRA), even though PCBs are regulated under the Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA).  Liebhart v. SPX Corp., No. 16-cv-700 (W.D….
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Eleventh Circuit Holds That Breastfeeding Employees Are Entitled To Protection Under The Pregnancy Discrimination Act

Recently, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit determined that breastfeeding is a related medical condition to birth, and different treatment based on an employee’s breastfeeding is prohibited under the Pregnancy Discrimination Act (“PDA”). In Hicks v. City of Tuscaloosa, 870 F.3d 1253 (11th Cir. 2017), the plaintiff was a police officer who…
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Sixth Circuit Remands Flint Water Supply Class Action To State Court

The Circuit Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit has held that residents of Flint, Michigan, may pursue class claims against state actors in state court. Mays v. City of Flint, 47 E.L.R. 20112, No. 16-2484, (6th Cir., September 11, 2017).  In January 2016, several plaintiffs filed a class-action lawsuit in state court alleging they…
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United States District Court For The Western District Of North Carolina Analyzes Architectural Copyright Infringement Between Two Homebuilders

In Sedgewick Homes, LLC v. Stillwater Homes, Inc., 2017 WL 3221488 (W.D. NC. 2017), the United States District Court for the Western District of North Carolina ruled there was a genuine issue of material fact as to whether Stillwater Homes, Inc. (“Stillwater”) infringed upon the copyrighted architectural plans of its competitor, Sedgewick Homes, LLC (“Sedgewick”)….
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