Articles

04.11.14

Compliance Challenges-Why Go It Alone?

Since the economic downturn and the Dodd-Frank legislative response, proper attention to most every risk in banking tracks back to compliance.Whether the challenge is anti-money laundering compliance or cyber-attack risk, vendor management or insider and affiliate loans, or fair-lending compliance ...


04.04.14

When Litigation Strikes, Is the Jury Friend or Foe?

Many real estate agreements-particularly loan documents-contain waivers of the constitutional right to a jury trial. Apparently some parties, usually lenders and other large institutional players, fear that juries will harbor some prejudice against them.  But will a court really enforce a ...


04.01.14

The Ninth Circuit Rejects First Amendment Arguments in Favor of SOCE

Despite the recent advances toward marriage equality, lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) people continue to face significant hurdles to attaining full equality. LGBT people have often beensubjected to attempts to change their sexual orientation or gender identity. Often promoted or even ...


04.01.14

Minimizing Landowner Liability When Buying Contaminated Property

On December 30, 2013, the US Environmental Protection Agency adopted ASTM E1527-13 as the new Phase I environmental assessment standard, clarifying the requirements for performing all appropriate inquiries. This is the first of several requirements for buyers of potentially contaminated property to ...


03.27.14

Emerging State Regulations Clear the Way for Virtual Currency

A road map for regulation of virtual currency is beginning to emerge as more states appear willing to issue licenses for entities offering exchange and other services.While immediate action at the federal level is still unclear, several states are expected to be acting on new regulations soon. Most ...


03.24.14

Can Use of Administrative Procedures Expedite Complex State Court Civil Litigation?

A partner of ours is fond of saying, "Litigation is the blood sport of the wealthy." As California state trial courts are increasingly absorbed with criminal matters, complex civil litigation is increasingly delayed, due, in part, to the length of time complex trials consume as well as ...


03.20.14

5 Medicaid Trends to Watch in 2014

Medicaid is a growing economic powerhouse, anchoring the new coverage paradigm under the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (PPACA) and wielding increasing influence within the healthcare sector and beyond. Already the largest source of federal funding flowing to states and a major revenue ...


03.14.14

First Machinima, Now Maker: Why Studios Suddenly Got Hot for MCNs

All eyes are on the Los Angeles-based corner of the online video world known as multichannel networks (MCNs) right now as result of two major developments just this past week: reports of Disney in preliminary talks to acquire Maker Studios for $500 million or more, and the $18 million Warner Bros. ...


03.14.14

Credit Card Fees are Constitutional. But Will They Stay That Way?

Credit card penalties—like over-limit and late fees—are constitutional and do not violate consumers' due process rights, the Ninth Circuit U.S. Court of Appeals recently ruled.Although the court ruled in favor of the bank defendants, two concurring opinions from the judges' ...


03.11.14

CFPB's HMDA Data Changes Could Increase Litigation

Seeking to "gain greater insight into issues about access to credit," the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) announced the launch of a rulemaking process to change reporting requirements under the Home Mortgage Disclosure Act (HMDA). The new reporting requirements could have ...