Publications
On August 24, 2017 President Trump issued Executive Order 13808 imposing additional sanctions against the Government of Venezuela for human rights abuses, a deepening humanitarian crisis, an attempt to usurp the democratically elected National Assembly, and ongoing repression of political opposition. This comes on the heels of several recent additions by the Department of Treasury, […]
On August 29th, the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) announced that it is initiating a review and immediate stay of the pay data collection portion of the most recently revised EEO-1 form. What does this mean for employers and federal contractors who are obligated to submit an EEO-1? Employers will report on race, ethnicity […]
On September 7, 2017, Secretary of Education, Betsy DeVos announced a marked policy shift in how the Department of Education will approach Title IX enforcement with regard to sexual misconduct. DeVos indicated that the Department plans to withdraw the controversial Dear Colleague Letters issued during the Obama administration. Instead, the Department will issue formal regulations […]
In February 2017, the Fraud Section of the United States Department of Justice (DOJ) released new guidance, entitled Evaluation of Corporate Compliance Programs, on how it evaluates corporate compliance programs in the context of a criminal investigation. For many years, the DOJ, as well as other federal and state agencies, have emphasized the importance of […]
Each year, Wiggin and Dana LLP and LeadingAge Connecticut collaborate to produce a comprehensive summary of new Connecticut laws affecting providers of services for the elderly. This year's Summary reports on legislation affecting nursing homes, residential care homes, home health care agencies and senior housing. Topics include: state-wide implementation of the use of medical orders […]
On September 21, 2017, President Donald Trump issued Executive Order 13810 (E.O. 13810 or the Order). The Order follows the recent Countering America’s Adversaries through Sanctions Act (CAATSA), which directed the imposition of additional sanctions in connection with Iran, Russia and North Korea. The Order is particularly significant because it authorizes imposition of secondary sanctions […]
The United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) announced a new fee schedule for the upcoming year. This new fee schedule will take effect on January 16, 2018. Any fees paid on or after this date will be subject to the new rates regardless of when the fee was incurred. The new fee schedule, which […]
Wiggin and Dana’s Intellectual Property Practice Group is proud to bring you some exciting updates and information on what’s been happening. To view the slideshow, please click the image below.
At this time, we do not know the duration of the United States Government shutdown due to the current budget impasse. In fact, the Government may be up and running by the time you receive this Advisory. In the event the shutdown continues, the United States Patent and Trademark Office has advised that it has […]
On August 2, 2017, the President signed into law the Countering America’s Adversaries Through Sanctions Act (CAATSA). The President subsequently delegated certain functions and authorities under CAATSA to the Secretary of State and others to Treasury. Although CAATSA included new sanctions on Iran, Russia, and North Korea, the Russia provisions are particularly wide-ranging and complex. […]
Earlier this month, the Superior Court for the Judicial District of Hartford issued a Decision that, although arguably unique on its extreme facts and findings, contains a broader strategic point about bringing actions to remove trustees in Connecticut. Most notably, it highlights subtle distinctions in the powers of the different Connecticut courts and suggests tactical […]
This afternoon, President Trump announced the U.S. withdrawal from the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA or Iran Nuclear Deal) which involved an agreement between Iran, the United States, Russia, China, France, Britain and Germany to ensure a peaceful Iranian nuclear program. President Trump previously voiced his criticisms of the Iran Nuclear Deal on numerous […]
Connecticut is about to join a growing number of states and localities that have prohibited employers from inquiring about an applicant's pay history during the hiring process. On May 4, the General Assembly approved a bill barring employers from asking, or directing a third party to ask about a prospective employee's wage and salary history. […]
On May 17, 2018, the U.S. Bureau of Industry and Security (BIS) updated the Export Administration Regulations (EAR) Unverified List (UVL), adding thirty-three entities and adding a new address for one individual currently on the list. The newly listed entities, which are listed below, include aircraft manufacturers, electronics manufacturers, universities, and logistics companies located in […]
In the 11th Circuit's highly anticipated decision in LabMD, Inc., v. FTC, the court declined to reach the most contentious issue in the case: the scope of the Federal Trade Commission's (FTC) authority to regulate data privacy and security practices as an unfair act or practice under Section 5(n) of the FTC Act absent evidence […]
Greetings, Court fans, and welcome to Part II of this week’s Update! To recap, there were nine opinions in total this week – we’re five down with four to go (none involving new Justice Alito) . In Arbaugh v. Y&H Corp. (04-944), Justice Ginsburg, writing for a unanimous Court, found that Title VII’s definition […]
We are pleased to share this latest issue of the Wiggin and Dana Insurance Practice Group Newsletter. We circulate this newsletter by e-mail periodically to bring to the attention of our colleagues in the insurance industry reports on recent developments, cases and legislative/regulatory actions of interest, and happenings at Wiggin and Dana. We welcome your […]
Though the words are often used interchangeably in casual conversation, domicile and residence are two distinct legal concepts. Your domicile is the place you intend to make your home. You may be a resident of more than one state, but you are domiciled in only one state. Domicile is determined by a number of factors, […]
Ownership of property in multiple states can raise many estate planning issues. Whether you own property directly or through an entity (such as a trust or corporation) may have a dramatic impact on the settlement of your estate and the taxes due. Fortunately, there are numerous ways to structure ownership of property. Which way is […]
On October 13, 2017, the United States Department of Justice (DOJ) announced a $448,821.58 settlement with First Coast Cardiovascular Institute, PA (First Coast), a Florida provider of clinical and laboratory services, to resolve allegations that First Coast unlawfully retained $175,000 in overpayments. This settlement sends a clear message to the health care community that the […]
On March 28, 2017, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (“CMS”) announced that effective June 1, 2017, all disclosures made pursuant to Self-Referral Disclosure Protocol (“SRDP”) must use new Form CMS-10328 available here. What is the SRDP? The SRDP was first established by CMS in 2010 in response to the Affordable Care Act’s provision […]
Breaking news: The new Connecticut state budget, signed yesterday by Governor Malloy, increases the individual exemption from Connecticut estate and gift tax from its current level of $2,000,000 up to $2,600,000 in 2018, to $3,600,000 in 2019 and to match the federal estate and gift tax exemption in 2020. Currently, the federal estate and gift […]
Major tax reform has been a hot topic lately as both the House of Representatives and the Senate have passed tax bills that propose significant changes to the current income and transfer tax systems. In this 2017 Year-End Advisory, we outline changes to the transfer tax system set to take place in 2018 under existing […]
The legal cannabis industry is expected to sustain high rates of growth in the coming years. But the industry faces legal and organizational challenges due to strict federal cannabis policies. A directive from the Director of the United States Trustees earlier this year reminds cannabis businesses of the precautions they will want to take in […]
On January 5, 2018, the U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) announced that it had adopted the primary beneficiary standard used by many courts for purposes of assessing whether interns qualify as employees under the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) so as to be entitled to compensation. In so doing, the DOL rejected a six-factor test […]
As data breaches continue to make national headlines, the stakes keep rising. In its second decision in Byrne v. Avery Center for Obstetrics and Gynecology, P.C., the Connecticut Supreme Court recognized a new negligence cause of action for a health care provider’s unauthorized disclosure of confidential patient information. In doing so, Connecticut joins neighboring states, […]
On November 9, 2017, the U.S. Departments of Commerce, Treasury and State took steps to implement President Trump's June 2017 National Security Presidential Memorandum Strengthening the Policy of the United States Toward Cuba (Presidential Memo) (82 Fed. Reg. 48875), which asserted goals including [e]nd[ing] economic practices that disproportionately benefit the Cuban government or its military, […]
We are pleased to share with you Wiggin and Dana’s Recent Developments in Intellectual Property Law Newsletter. We provide you with a review of the latest updates in the area of intellectual property, including reports on recent developments, cases and legislative/regulatory actions of interest. We welcome your comments and questions. To view our newsletter, please […]
On April 6, 2018, the Department of Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (“OFAC”) announced new Specially Designated National (“SDN”) and Russian Sectoral Sanctions designations for a number of individuals and entities pursuant to its authority under Ukraine/Russia-related Executive Orders 13661 and 13662, the Syria Sanctions Regulations, and the Foreign Narcotics Kingpin Designation Act. In […]
Earlier today President Trump signed H.R. 1 (formerly known as the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act, or the Tax Act), a $1.5 trillion tax cut representing the first overhaul of the United States Tax Code in more than three decades. In this Advisory, we summarize many of the significant provisions of the Tax Act that […]