Today, Pillsbury attorney Raymond Sweigart published his advisory English Law: When Contractual Limitations on Damages Can Backfire. The Advisory discusses AB v. CD [2014] EWCA Civ 229, in which the Court of Appeal for England and Wales addressed an issue with surprisingly little precedent. It held that a claimant seeking…
Gravel2Gavel Construction & Real Estate Law Blog
VA Stormwater Management Regulations Post-July 1, 2014
On May 24, 2011, the Virginia Soil and Water Conservation Board adopted final stormwater management regulations (Virginia Stormwater Management Program (VSMP) Permit Regulation). The date for statewide local government implementation of stormwater management programs is July 1, 2014. As required by of the Code of Virginia, local governments will become…
Proposed Implementing Legislation for the Mexican Energy Reform Will Create an Open, Competitive Electrical Power Industry
Today, Pillsbury attorneys Eric Save, Michael Hindus and John McNeece published their advisory Proposed Implementing Legislation for the Mexican Energy Reform Will Create an Open, Competitive Electrical Power Industry. The Advisory notes that the Mexican Congress is debating a historic package of legislation to restructure the nation’s electrical power sector.…
Heirs of John D. Rockefeller Avoid CERCLA Liability
In a decision released on June 25, 2014, the US Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit held that ASARCO LLC could not maintain CERCLA cost recovery actions against the trustees of residuary trusts created by the will of John D. Rockefeller, Sr. ASARCO, as part of its emergence from…
EPA Proposes to Eliminate Dual Standard for “All Appropriate Inquires” under CERCLA
As discussed more fully in my advisory titled EPA Proposes to Eliminate Dual Standard for “All Appropriate Inquires” under CERCLA, on December 30, 2013, EPA published a final rule authorizing use of ASTM E1527-13 to comply with the Appropriate Inquiries (“AAI”) requirements for the innocent landowner, bona fide prospective purchaser,…
Ocean Avenue LLC v. County of Los Angeles Affirmed; AB 2372 Passes Assembly
Today, Pillsbury attorneys Matthew Burke and Craig Becker published their advisory titled Ocean Avenue LLC v. County of Los Angeles Affirmed; AB 2372 Passes Assembly. The Advisory discusses the California Court of Appeal for the Second Appellate District’s June 3, 2014 order affirming the Superior Court ruling in Ocean Avenue…
Forbes Busts Monster Myth About Marketing To Women
For most industries, attracting both male and female consumers is a must, but successfully engaging both genders is not always easy. It is becoming more difficult given that both genders’ roles continue to change and their views on gender roles are ever evolving. In Monster Myth: Marketing To Women Alienates…
DC Circuit Clarifies Standard of Review When Agencies Argue “Good Cause” for Bypassing APA Notice and Comment Requirement
In an Federal Communications Commission (CMC) matter, Sorenson Communications, Inc. v. FCC, the DC Circuit vacated an interim rule promulgated by the FCC without going through notice and comment. The agency argued that it had “good cause” to dispense with the Administrative Procedure Act (APA) in this instance. The court…
Texas Supreme Court: Economic Loss Rule Bars GC’s Claim Against Architect
In LAN/STV, a Joint Venture of Lockwood, Andrews & Newman, Inc. v. Martin K. Eby Construction Company, Inc., the Texas Supreme Court considered “whether the rule permits a general contractor to recover the increased costs of performing its construction contract with the owner in a tort action against the project…
Employees and Independent Contractors and Day Laborers … Oh My!
UPDATES: Ayala v. Antelope Valley Newspapers Inc., ___ Cal. ___ (Jul. 1, 2014)–California Supreme Court clarifies the test for independent contractor status; Ruiz v. Affinity Logistics Corp., 2014 BL 166620, No. 12-56589 (9th Cir. Jun. 16, 2014)–Ninth Circuit found “overwhelming evidence” that the defendant controlled details of the delivery drivers’…