PLI SmartBrief

Reading this on a mobile device? Try our optimized mobile version here: http://r.smartbrief.com/resp/ejAUCfbwocfbgPBlYJMq

February 11, 2013

Forward

Archive

Advertise

Legal News in Brief

Corporate Spotlight

Gelber Group faces $750,000 in CFTC fines over trades
The Commodity Futures Trading Commission, citing fake trades made on the IntercontinentalExchange and the Chicago Mercantile Exchange, has fined futures-trading firm Gelber Group. The penalty is $750,000, and one of Gelber's proprietary traders was said to be involved. A former Gelber manager was fined $200,000 in a separate matter. Crain's Chicago Business (2/8)

SEC nominee says she would avoid cases of old firm, old clients
Mary Jo White, the nominee to lead the Securities and Exchange Commission, has promised to avoid participation in any cases involving her law firm, Debevoise & Plimpton, or any former clients, for a year. Her husband will convert his stake in the law firm of Cravath, Swaine & Moore into a salary to avoid possible conflicts of interest. Reuters (2/8), Bloomberg (2/8), The Washington Post/The Associated Press (2/8)

National News

Trade data indicate Q4 growth in U.S.
A Commerce Department announcement that the U.S. trade deficit in December sank to its lowest point in three years likely means that gross domestic product rose slightly in the fourth quarter. The government recently announced it had estimated a 0.1% drop in GDP. "Trade data for December paint a reassuring and encouraging picture of the U.S. economy at the end of last year," said Chris Williamson, Markit Group's chief economist. Reuters (2/8)

Legislative Dispatch

Rep. Wyden won't partner again with Rep. Ryan on Medicare
Sen. Ron Wyden, D-Ore., says he will not collaborate on a new Medicare reform bill with Rep. Paul Ryan, R-Wis. The two lawmakers in 2011 floated a plan that would have allowed seniors to choose between a subsidy to pay for private insurance and standard Medicare. "House Republicans couldn't even deliver enough of their own votes for the white paper," Wyden said. "Now they've moved even further away from Democrats on Medicare." The Hill/Healthwatch blog (2/10)

Employment Focus

U.S. jobless claims tick down; consumer confidence improves
The slow hiring pattern in the U.S. continued last week as reflected in a small decline in the number of Americans filing initial claims for jobless benefits. Consumer confidence, however, picked up during the week for the first uptick since higher payroll taxes came into effect at the beginning of the year, according to the Bloomberg Consumer Comfort Index. CNNMoney (2/7), Bloomberg (2/7)

A 20-year progress report on the FMLA
Most employers say the Family and Medical Leave Act has not harmed productivity as some had feared, and many say it has reduced turnover, according to a government report released on the law's 20th anniversary. Workers have taken leave more than 100 million times since the law was enacted in 1993, with illness being the most common reason for time off, followed by pregnancy or child care. Detroit Free Press/The Associated Press (2/7), The New York Times (tiered subscription model)/Economix blog (2/8)

Supreme Court and Federal Court Watch

SEC-Citi settlement case goes before appeals court
A push by the Securities and Exchange Commission and Citigroup for reinstatement of a mortgage-bond settlement that was rejected by a federal judge in 2011 went before an appeals court last week, with hints from judges toward calling for a new settlement. The original case relates to Citi allegedly not revealing conflicts of interest while selling a mortgage-bond product. Reuters (2/8), The Wall Street Journal/Law Blog (2/8)

Appeals court overturns sentences in trade-secrets case
The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit has rejected the sentences that two men received after being convicted of stealing Goodyear Tire & Rubber trade secrets. The men were sentenced to home confinement, probation and community service, which the appeals court found to be "procedurally unreasonable." The National Law Journal (free registration) (2/7)

Professional and Business Development

7 ways to break perfectionist habits
To become less of a perfectionist, try picking just one area of your life to change, says Meggin McIntosh, a professional coach. For instance, deliberately wear an article of mismatched clothing and you may be surprised when people don't notice and your reputation doesn't suffer any harm, she writes. The Globe and Mail (Toronto) (tiered subscription model) (2/7)

The 90-day rule for weighing career change
If you're unhappy for more than 90 consecutive days, it's time to start plotting a career change, writes Aaron P. Arnold, a member of the Young Entrepreneur Council. "It makes no sense to go another 90 days; it's time to pivot, see all the angles and assess your next move," he writes. Forbes/Young Entrepreneur Council (2/7)

PLI News

The Impact of the HITECH Requirements
After waiting for almost four years, the Department of Health and Human Services has now released its "Omnibus" final regulation implementing the HITECH requirements of the HIPAA Privacy and Security Rules. This afternoon's audio briefing Making Sense of the New HIPAA/HITECH Era will provide an overview of the key changes, identify the primary compliance challenges and identify the most significant new obligations stemming from these rules.

Commercial Real Estate Financing 2013
This Feb. 14 to 15 seminar (in New York and on the Web) will explore major issues and problems, and recent changes, in how lenders and borrowers negotiate commercial real estate loans in the still-lingering shadow of the recent financial crisis.

Become A PLI Member | Upcoming PLI Seminars & Webcasts | On-Demand Learning
PLI Treatises & Course Handbooks | About PLI

SmartQuote

The only man I know who behaves sensibly is my tailor; he takes my measurements anew each time he sees me. ... The rest go on with their old measurements and expect me to fit them."

--George Bernard Shaw,
Irish playwright

Subscriber Tools

Print friendly format | Web version | Search past news | Archive | Privacy policy

Advertise

Account Director: Aaron Lawrence (202) 499-2123

Download Media Kit