Gibbons Law Alert

Gibbons Law Alert Blog

Transitioning New Jersey to Alternative Energy Vehicles

Posted in Environmental and Green Issues

On December 26, 2012

An article published last year entitled, “NJ Charges Forward with Electric Vehicle Network,” discussed the concerted efforts of New Jersey and several other states to develop a Northeast Electric Vehicle Network and promote alternative transportation fuels. The goal of this project is to encourage economic growth, maintain the region’s leadership in the area of clean energy, and reduce the region’s dependence on oil. Toward that end, two bills were recently introduced in the New Jersey State Legislature that would provide further incentive for New Jersey drivers to make the transition to alternative energy vehicles.

New York State Again Defers Decisions Regarding Hydraulic Fracturing

by David J. Freeman

Posted in Environmental and Green Issues

On December 21, 2012

On November 28, 2012, New York State confirmed that its health assessment of the proposed regulations governing hydraulic fracturing, also known as “fracking,” being conducted by a panel of three leading public health experts, would be delayed. Immediately thereafter, the State’s Department of Environmental Conservation (“NYSDEC”) filed for a 90-day extension of the November 29, 2012, regulatory deadline for finalizing fracking regulations.

New Jersey Legislative Update: The Assembly “Wages” Campaign to Benefit Employees

by Gibbons P.C.

Posted in Wage and Hour

On December 20, 2012

On December 17, 2012, the New Jersey Assembly approved two pieces of wage-related legislation that each have the potential to significantly alter New Jersey State Labor Law. Assembly Bill No. 3581 (Wage Withholding) – The bill strengthens the enforcement procedures and disorderly person sanctions against employers who fail to timely pay wages, compensation or benefits to their employees and makes it easier for employees to report such employer violations.

Revisiting the America Invents Act

by Christopher H. Strate

Posted in Patent

On December 19, 2012

On November 30, 2012, Representative Lamar Smith introduced H.R. 6621 to “correct and improve certain provisions of the Leahy-Smith America Invents Act and title 35, United States Code.” The act seeks to provide a number of technical corrections to a variety of issues, including: eliminating a 9 month dead zone for inter partes review allowing inter partes reviews to be filed at any time for applications with an effective filing date before March 16, 2013; extending the time for filing the inventor’s oath or declaration until the payment of the issue fee; eliminating the prohibition on post grant review for reissue patents with narrowing amendments; clarifying the standards for initiating derivation proceedings; clarifying the calculation for patent term adjustment; and repealing 35 USC 373, which restricted the types of inventors or applicants that could file PCT applications at the U.S. Patent Office.

New York Court Upholds Separate Entity Rule, Quashes Non-Party Subpoenas Seeking Information on Overseas Bank Accounts

by Daniel S. Weinberger

Posted in General Litigation

On December 19, 2012

In Ayyash v. Koleilat, the Supreme Court of the State of New York, New York County, upheld and arguably extended the New York “separate entity” rule, which provides that each branch of a bank is treated as a separate entity, in no way concerned with accounts maintained by depositors in other branches or at a home office. Under this rule, a New York branch cannot be compelled to turn over assets maintained at another branch of the same bank. The Court’s decision appears to extend this rule to hold that — at least in circumstances where international comity considerations support broad application of the separate entity rule — a New York branch cannot be compelled to provide information or discovery concerning assets maintained at a foreign branch.

Supreme Court to Examine Pay-For-Delay Settlements

by Gibbons P.C.

Posted in Patent

On December 17, 2012

The battle between the pharmaceutical industry and the Federal Trade Commission (“FTC”) over so-called “pay-for-delay” settlements will finally be examined and decided by the Supreme Court. Last Friday, the Court granted certiorari in Federal Trade Commission v. Watson Pharmaceuticals, Inc., one of two cases with filed certiorari petitions involving Hatch Waxman reverse payment settlements. The petition in the other case, In re K-Dur Antitrust Litigation, is still pending.

Rebuilding New Jersey After Sandy – Legislation Would Require Standby Generators for a Variety of Businesses and Facilities

by Howard D. Geneslaw

Posted in Development/Redevelopment

On December 17, 2012

This article is the third in a series that deals with the legal implications of Superstorm Sandy, which devastated many areas of New Jersey on October 29, 2012. The resulting widespread power outages crippled many businesses which serve the public by providing essential services. To prevent that situation from recurring, a number of bills have been introduced in the New Jersey legislature which would require a variety of private businesses and facilities to install standby generators.

Lease Guarantors Beware – Traps for the Unwary

by Shepard A. Federgreen

Posted in Development/Redevelopment

On December 14, 2012

The Third Circuit has just issued a non-precedential ruling under New Jersey law reminding us how naked a naked lease guarantor can be, and how careful we have to be when reviewing “form” lease guaranties. In G&S Livingston Realty, Inc. vs. CVS Pharmacy, Inc., CVS was the guarantor of a lease in which the retail tenant had gone into bankruptcy and rejected the lease. Of course, absent other information, CVS would stand behind the obligations of the bankrupt retail tenant. In this instance, the retail tenant had options and rights under the lease which CVS as an ordinary guarantor was not able to take advantage of.

New Jersey Superior Court Finds the Recently-Enacted New Jersey Trade Secrets Act Does Not Preempt Common Law Claims

by Gibbons P.C.

Posted in Trade Secrets

On December 14, 2012

In an opinion dated December 7, 2012, a New Jersey Superior Court judge in Bergen County considered an issue of first impression relating to the recently-enacted New Jersey Trade Secrets Act (“NJTSA”). In SCS Healthcare Marketing LLC v. Allergan USA Inc. et al., defendant Allergan sought to dismiss numerous common law claims brought by plaintiff SCS, arguing that SCS’s statutory claim for misappropriation of trade secrets under the NJTSA preempted its common law claims. SCS filed suit alleging that Allergan misappropriated marketing contractors’ trade secrets relating to a proprietary technology portal. Specifically, SCS alleges that Allergan revealed its proprietary and confidential information to a rival health care marketing company, thereby violating state laws relating to unfair competition, disclosure and trade secrets.

Plaintiffs in Moldy Washing Machine Litigation May Proceed as a Class

by Gibbons P.C.

Posted in Class Action Defense

On December 12, 2012

A recent Seventh Circuit decision, authored by Judge Richard Posner, could have an impact on future class action litigations. In Butler, et al. v. Sears, Roebuck & Co.,—a lawsuit involving product defects that allegedly cause mold buildup in washing machines sold by Sears between 2001 and 2004—the Seventh Circuit sought to clarify “predominance,” a concept that, in the context of class action litigation, has been shrouded by ambiguity. In its opinion, the Seventh Circuit explained that “[p]redominance is a question of efficiency.” Put simply, predominance asks whether it is “more efficient . . . to decide some issues on a class basis or all issues in separate trials?”