September 16, 2009
Hulk Hogan Lawsuit Serves As Reminder For Business Owners To Verify Insurance Coverages
Former Professional Wrestler Hulk Hogan has filed a lawsuit against his own attorneys for failing to advise him of the potential for insurance coverage for defense costs in an auto accident case. The case was reported on by Curtis Krueger of the St. Petersburg Times as well as several…
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September 13, 2009
Dispute Between Business Partners Ends In Dissolution and Double Damages Under Connecticut Wage Act
In Saunders v. Firtel, a decision to be officially released on September 22, 2009, the Connecticut Supreme Court upheld an award of double damages under Connecticut's wage and hour laws in what amounted to a dispute between two business partners, Barry Saunders and Burton Firtel. …
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September 5, 2009
Connecticut Business Litigation And Improper Interference With A Business Contract
Unfortunately, all too often business competitors resort to unfair and improper tactics to gain an advantage in business. A common example occurs when a competitor maliciously or intentionally interferes with a company's contracts or business relationships. When this…
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August 30, 2009
Withdrawn Negligence Defense In Rape Case Could Still Be A Problem
After making national news, Stamford Marriott Hotel & Spa has requested that its attorneys withdraw a special defense in a case involving a rape in its hotel parking garage. In 2006, a 40 year old woman was sexually assaulted in front of her two small children in the hotel's garage. …
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August 20, 2009
Getting A Contract In Writing Does Not Always Satisfy The Statute Of Frauds
One of the first things lawyers check for when contesting an oral contract is the statute of frauds. The statute of frauds comes from an English rule dating back to the 1600's. At its most basic level, the statute of frauds requires certain types of contracts to be in writing or else…
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August 16, 2009
Law Firm Lawsuit Highlights Need For Businesses To Take Caution With Website Content
A recent decision by the United States Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit serves as reminder of the types of litigation that can arise from simply maintaining a website. Although the decision involved a dispute between two law firms, the facts could easily be related to competing…
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August 11, 2009
Do Not Count On Beating Goliath: Implement A Management Plan To Avoid Software Licensing Problems
This month's business technology tip arises from the recent David v. Goliath story reported on by Douglas Malan of the Connecticut Law Tribune. Kent Johnson, the owner of a small computer repair shop in Connecticut was sued by the software Goliath Microsoft for allegedly…
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August 10, 2009
Connecticut State Court To Phase In Mandatory E Filing
The Connecticut Judicial Branch will implement mandatory electronic filing in Connecticut state superior courts in all civil cases by December 5, 2009. The Judicial Branch is also going paperless for short calendar and notices will no longer be sent by paper in the mail (unless the firm or…
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August 6, 2009
Connecticut Supreme Court Confirms Expulsion Is Available Remedy In Partnership Dispute
In an issue of first impression, the Connecticut Supreme Court confirmed that partnerships can expel a partner rather than dissolve when there is a breakdown of the business of the partnership. The case is Brennan v. Brennan Associates, et al. The official opinion will be…
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August 3, 2009
Three Lawsuits Against Facebook For Fraud Raise Concerns For Advertisers
If your business is advertising on Facebook, or considering it, you should do some research on the newest allegations of advertising fraud against the online giant. Facebook reportedly has over 250 million users so it is understandable that a business would want access…
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July 30, 2009
Appellate Court Provides Some Clarity To Contractors On Home Improvement Act Exemption
Connecticut's Home Improvement Act requires contractors performing home improvement services to register and to comply with it provisions concerning contracts with homeowners. The Act has a series of requirements for contracts as follows: Contract must be in writing; Contract must include the…
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July 26, 2009
Large Fines Serve As Reminder To Out-Of-State Companies: Register To Do Business In Connecticut
Secretary of State, Susan Bysiewicz, has fined an affiliate of Deloitte Touche Tohmatsu approximately $22,000 in the past year for failing to register to do business in Connecticut. The fines were reported on by Lynn Doan of The Hartford Courant and also picked up by Alexander…
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July 21, 2009
Insurance Might Be An Option for Data Loss Lawsuits Alleging Negligence Against Businesses
Every business in Connecticut, big or small, faces significant financial consequences for data loss or a breach of security. As I noted in a business tips post on this blog, implementing a strong data loss and privacy policy is critical for preventing a loss or mitigating its…
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July 9, 2009
Technology Tips For Connecticut Businesses To Avoid Litigation
As part of this Blog, I am going to regularly post technology tips for any Connecticut business to manage risks and avoid lawsuits. These tips will be based on a presentation I did for the Hartford Business Journal's Etechnology Summit concerning technology bombs that can sink a business. Here's…
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July 6, 2009
Social Networking Lawsuits Are Big Risk to Business
I just read an excellent article posted on Law.com from the New York Law Journal on social networking and challenges to business owners and their legal counsel. The authors Christopher Boehning and Daniel Toal focus on a new emerging problems associated with electronic discovery of social…
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