Delaware's Password-Privacy Law Moves Ahead
Delaware is one step closer to legislating employers' ability to manage their workforces. I testified yesterday about the significant flaws in H.B. 308, called the "Workplace Privacy Act." The members of the Telecommunications, Internet, and Technology Committee nodded along, thanked me for my testimony, and then promptly voted to release the bill as is to the House of Representatives. This, my friends, is why I chose the legal profession over a career in politics.
Why Delaware's Proposed Workplace Privacy Act Is All Wrong
Delaware's version of a Facebook-privacy law, called the "Workplace Privacy Act" (H.B. 308), will go to hearing on Wednesday before the Telecommunications, Internet, and Technology Committee in Delaware's House of Representatives. The bill, as amended, purports to prohibit employers from requesting or requiring an employee's or applicant's password to his or her social-networking site.
Delaware Proposes Facebook-Privacy Law
Delaware has joined several other States in proposing a Facebook privacy law, which would prohibit Delawere employers from requesting access to a candidate's Facebook or other social-networking site.
Why I Love Being a Delaware Lawyer
Any lawyer will tell you that the practice of law differs greatly between States. Every State has a different legal culture and, in larger States, the culture can vary even more by judicial district. Florida is a great example of this--the way cases are litigated in Miami is tremendously different from the way they're handled in Naples.
Cal. Meal-Break Decision and Delaware Employers
The California Supreme Court issued its long-awaited decision in Brinker Restaurant Corp. v. Superior Court on April 12, 2012. The decision contains some very good news for employers regarding obligations relating to employee meal breaks and could have some significant implications for Delaware employers covered by Delaware's meal break law, 10 Del. C. § 707.
Settlement Discussions Not An Excuse for Delayed TRO Application To Enforce Noncompete
One of the most critical points in the enforcement of a noncompete is when a company first learns that a former employee may be engaging in unfair competition. Indeed, the steps taken by the company in the first few days can often determine whether it will be successful in limiting the amount of harm done.
Protecting Trade Secrets In Delaware
Employers frequently confront the problem of theft or misappropriation of trade secrets and confidential, proprietary information by departing employees. While employers have an arsenal of legal weapons at their disposal to protect their most valuable business assets, it is critical that they take proactive steps to protect against the disclosure of important business information and prevent unfair competition. From a practical standpoint, failure to implement basic security measures makes it easier for an unethical employee or competitor to misappropriate confidential business information. From a legal perspective, absent efforts to preserve the secrecy of such information and avoid unfair competition, a court is unlikely to respond favorably to an employer request for relief.
Feds Blunt Delaware's Medical-Marijuana Law
Delaware's medical-marijuana program has gone up in smoke. According to the News Journal, Gov. Markell "has suspended the regulation-writing and licensing process for medical-marijuana dispensaries--effectively killing the program." The decision comes in response to a letter from U.S. Attorney Charles M. Oberly III.
Court of Chancery Continues To Question Blue Pencil Rule
The Delaware Court of Chancery has once again indicated a reluctance to invoke the Blue Pencil Rule to reform overly broad restrictive covenants. Approximately 10 months ago, in his opinion in Delaware Elevator, Inc. v. Williams, Vice Chancellor Laster expressed his unwillingness to reform overbroad covenants, noting that “doing so puts the employer in a no-lose situation.†We discussed the opinion on this blog, urging drafters to exercise caution when drafting non-competition agreements and to give serious consideration to surrounding business circumstances when drafting. More recently, on December 21, 2011, during oral argument in Chesapeake Insurance Advisors, Inc. v. Williams Insurance Agency, Inc., et al., Vice Chancellor Noble echoed Vice Chancellor Laster’s position, quoting directly from Delaware Elevator.
Delaware Court of Chancery Issues Guidelines for Attorneys
The Delaware Court of Chancery has issued Guidelines to Help Lawyers Practicing before the Court. Chancery Court Guidelines.pdf This guidance may be particularly helpful to attorneys unfamiliar with the level of civility expected of the Delaware Bar. The guidelines also include advice on "best practice, which are informative even for seasoned practioners. Here are some excerpts from the new guidelines:
