We previously analyzed a Pennsylvania appellate court decision, which held that a non-compete agreement was unenforceable for lack of consideration. The case, Socko v. Mid-Atlantic Systems of CPA, Inc., is now before the Pennsylvania Supreme Court.
“Professional” Distinction: A New Approach To Bans On Non-Competes?
A recent Florida appellate court decision may alter 200px-Florida-StateSeal.svglong-standing prohibitions against non-compete agreements for certain professionals. In AmSurg New Port Richey FL Inc. v. Vangara, the court upheld a non-compete, finding that it prohibited a physician from operating a rival business—but not from practicing medicine. This was the pivotal distinction for saving the non-compete, and other state courts could adopt this same logic.
Forum Selection Clause Causes Roadblock In Trade Secret Case
The recent decision in Wellogix, Inc. v. SAP America, Inc., No. 14-0741 (S.D. Tex. Nov. 10, 2014), demonstrates that federal courts can rely on contractual forum selection clauses to dismiss or transfer trade secret theft cases. It’s a reminder to weigh how these clauses could impact litigation strategies and to consider the specific language negotiated during contract talks.
Protecting Trade Secrets Furnished To The Government
Picture this situation: your company is submitting a bid on a public contract, whether a technology acquisition, software development project, construction project, insurance quote, or financial services contract, to name but a few. Or picture responding to state and federal regulatory authorities that require disclosing company information concerning approval and licensing of your gaming establishment or approval of your oil and gas exploration project. Then also picture a legal framework that requires governmental agencies, whether state or federal, to disclose public records to all who ask—even competitors.
Non-Compete Runs From End of Employment Agreement’s Term, Louisiana Appellate Court Holds
A Louisiana appellate court recently decided that a non-competition agreement was unenforceable. But not because it contained unreasonable geographic or temporal restrictions or failed to strictly comply with Louisiana’s non-compete statute. Instead, the court found that the non-competition obligations had already expired during employment.
Can You Go Too Far in Protecting Trade Secrets?
The U.S. Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals in New Orleans recently held that an employer’s policy for protecting its confidential and proprietary information was unlawful under the National Labor Relations Act (NLRA).
Louisiana Legislature Passes Employee “Password Protection Law”
Perhaps the most significant of the employment law bills passed by the Louisiana Legislature this year is the “Personal Online Account Privacy Protection Act” signed into by Governor Jindal on May 23, 2014.
Louisiana Legislature Kicks Immigration Compliance Up a Notch or Two
The Louisiana legislature recently passed two laws aimed at immigration compliance which have the effect of: (1) requiring employers and subcontractors that do business with the State to use E-Verify; and (2) giving employers that are not required to use E-Verify a “safe harbor†from immigration penalties if they choose to use E-Verify. Both bills were signed into law by Governor Bobby Jindal on July 6th, 2011, and will take effect on August 15th, 2011. So Louisiana employers have a little less than a month to prepare for compliance.
Are Employers Properly Protecting Themselves From Harassment Claims?
Recent harassment cases should serve as a warning to employers regarding the effectiveness of their harassment policies, especially in hostile work environment cases.
What Financial Industry Employers Can Expect Despite Election Results
The Republican takeover of the U.S. House of Representatives and the Democrat’s loss of their supermajority in the Senate may have the financial industry looking for better times ahead, but don’t break out the champagne yet. To be sure, the Administration’s legislative agenda has been dealt a serious blow. As the President himself confessed on election day, “My whole agenda is at risk.” Based on the outcome, it might be easy to conclude that the President’s agenda has been completely derailed; but that would be a mistake. To continue reading about the Republican takeover of the House, please click here.
What Louisiana Election Results Mean for Employers
Labor & Employment attorney H. Mark Adams has authored an article on the impact the recent general elections will have on Louisiana employers.
It Pays to “Shop” Early at USCIS This Holiday Season.
Because USCIS relies on fees paid by applicants and petitioners to cover the majority of its budget, the law requires a review of the fees and a determination as to whether the fees collected are sufficient to cover the Services budget every two years.
Dual-Role Administrators, Conflicts of Interest, and ERISA’s Deferential Standard of Review.
The Employment Retirement Income Security Act (ERISA) permits a person denied benefits under an employee benefit plan the opportunity to challenge that denial in federal court. Under ERISA, if an administrator has been given discretion to determine eligibility for benefits under the terms of the benefit plan in question, federal courts can overturn eligibility determinations only if they find that the administrator has “abused its discretion.” ERISA jurisprudence has long recognized that if an administrator is operating under a conflict of interest, that conflict of interest must be weighed as a factor in determining whether the administrator’s decision to deny benefits was an abuse of discretion. When the entity that administers an employee benefit plan is also the entity that funds the plan, the courts view that as giving rise to a conflict of interest.
New Federal Contractor Code of Business Ethics and Conduct (pdf).
Both the Civilian Agency Acquisition Council and Defense Acquisition Regulations
Council have agreed on a final rule amending the Federal Acquisition Regulation to
require a contractor code of business ethics and conduct and to require the display
of federal agency office of inspector general fraud hotline posters. See 72 F.R.
65873 (2007). This new rule takes effect on December 24, 2007.
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