Changes in Distribution Law Sought by Small Massachusetts Breweries
03/6/2011 Another battle looms between breweries and wholesalers of beer, wine and alcohol in Massachusetts this legislative session. A recent bill, filed by Rep. Alice Peisch, a Democrat from Wellesley, seeks to exempt small brewers from laws that have been protecting wholesalers since 1971. Robert Martin, the founder of Ipswich Ale Brewery, said, “The law […]
Restrictions over Meth Ingredients Subject of a Debate between the Police and Drug makers
03/6/2011 The question on whether individuals would still be able to purchase in Missouri a popular decongestant without a prescription could ultimately boil down to which of the two entities – manufacturers or police – the legislators will believe. While the Missouri General Assembly has yet to receive a bill that seeks the return of […]
Budget Constraints May Hamper the Operations of the Securities and Exchange Commission
03/5/2011 In the light of the proposed cuts to SEC’s budget by congressional Republicans, Mary Schapiro, the Chairwoman of the Securities and Exchange Commission, on Friday warned that the agency does not have enough funds to sufficiently police Wall Street. Schapiro also said that there is not enough money to draft several new regulations that […]
Patent Fight Won by Austin Startup
03/5/2011 The tiny Austin-based Tiny Xitronix Corp. stated that its operation is back in gear after winning this week a 28-month legal battle in an Austin federal court. Xitronix Corp, a 4-year-old startup that develops advanced measurement systems for semiconductor makers, won a judgment that rendered invalid the patent claims made against it by the […]
Kern County Sued Again over Sludge by the city of Los Angeles
03/5/2011 Attorneys representing the city of Los Angeles, an Orange County sanitation district, as well as their industry allies, again filed a lawsuit against Kern County’s Measure E. The lawsuit, which seeks to overturn Kern County’s ban on the land use of treated industrial and human waste, was filed in Kern County Superior Court. The […]
Bill Allowing Towns to Post Legal Notices Online Advanced by N.J. Lawmakers
03/5/2011 A bill that allows towns to post legal notices only online has been advanced by lawmakers in the state of New Jersey. The bill eliminates the requirement for governments, businesses, as well as citizens, to post legal notices in newspapers and instead permit their posting on government websites. Sponsors of the bill, both Democrats […]
Debt Collection Activity on the Rise
03/4/2011 A new report made by Consumers Union and the East Bay Community Law Center revealed that debt collectors continue to step up their activities despite a lack of proof for much of the claims. The report, which was titled “PAST DUE: Why Debt Collection Practices and the Debt Buying Industry Need Reform Now,” revealed […]
E-cigarettes Floats in a State of Legal Uncertainty
03/4/2011 The electronic cigarette, when based within the legal framework, is not a cigarette, or a nicotine substitute that can assist in quitting smoking. It is a battery-powered tube that looks like a standard cigarette, both in appearance and shape. Instead of tobacco leaves, it contains a battery-operated heating element that transforms a refillable liquid […]
Court-urged Patent Reforms Taken Up by Congress
03/3/2011 The patent system is again being considered for reform by senior US lawmakers. The focus of the reform is the elimination of the humongous damage awards after court decisions lately have challenged the calculation methods. Reforms on the patent system have been pushed in Congress for the past several years. However, actions on the […]
The Acrylamide Legal Threat is Being Met by a Unified Response from the NCA
03/3/2011 A unified response by the coffee roasting industry is being facilitated by the National Coffee Association of USA to meet the litigation threat under Proposition 65 of the state of California. According to a bulletin being circulated by NCA president and chief executive Robert F. Nelson, “Notice of a potential lawsuit has been served […]