Insights
Client Advisories
- October 04, 2019
Cybersecurity Alert: Recent Increase in Wire Transfer Fraud
In recent years, there has been a significant increase in wire fraud attempts against law firms, their clients, and opposing parties. - September 25, 2019
Labor & Employment Alert: Salary Threshold Officially Raised by the Trump Administration
On September 24, 2019 the Trump Administration's Department of Labor officially raised the annual minimum salary threshold for the white-collar exemptions, i.e., administrative, executive, and professional exemptions, to $35,568 ($684 per week) from $23,660 ($455 per week). An increase to the minimum salary threshold was long overdue as the last raise was in 1994. - August 05, 2019
Cybersecurity Alert: Number of Targeted Ransomware Attacks on the Rise
Symantec Corp., a leading firm in cybersecurity, recently released a report stating that the number of targeted ransomware attacks has increased exponentially over the last year. - June 28, 2019
Trademark, Copyright and Trade Secrets Alert: Update: Google v. Oracle and Copyright Protections for Software
The Supreme Court released its final opinions of the term on Thursday, June 27 without a decision on the closely watched Google v. Oracle dispute on whether copyright protections extend to software interface. - May 13, 2019
Cybersecurity Alert: BEC Scams and Tips to Avoid Being a Victim
Last week, leaders at St. Ambrose Parish in Brunswick, Ohio reported that sophisticated hackers stole approximately $1.75 million from the church that was slated to be used for renovations. - April 02, 2019
Cybersecurity Alert: Lawmakers Draft Bi-Partisan Bill to Enhance Internet of Things Security
House and Senate lawmakers recently rolled out bipartisan legislation that sets cybersecurity standards for internet connected devices that are purchased by the government. - March 26, 2019
Data Privacy Alert: Businesses Will Likely Bear the Brunt of US Federal Privacy Law
Last week, the Senate Judiciary Committee held another hearing to continue discussions regarding federal data privacy policy legislation. The hearing, marked the latest congressional inquiry into the heated debate over the best way to protect Americans' online privacy. - March 20, 2019
Real Estate/Tax Alert: Has the County Established a Value for Your Property That is Too High?
The deadline to challenge your property tax valuation is April 1, 2019.
Property values were just reappraised for several counties, including Cuyahoga, Erie, Huron, Lake, Lorain, Stark, Lucas, and Portage Counties. Property valuations are often inaccurate and too high. However, there are a few options available for real property owners in Ohio to decrease real estate tax valuations, which will lower property tax bills. - March 18, 2019
Labor & Employment Alert: I Want to Save My FMLA for a Rainier Day
you may have come across the employee who indicates he/she would qualify for use of FMLA; but, they want to save it for later. As an employer, should you care? - March 15, 2019
Labor & Employment Alert: The Department of Labor Sets the FLSA Exemption Threshold at $35,308
Last Thursday, the Trump administration's Department of Labor (DOL) issued its proposed new overtime rule setting a new salary threshold of $35,308. What that means is employees with a salary below $35,308 per year (or $679 per week) have to be paid overtime if they work more than 40 hours per week. - March 13, 2019
Data Privacy Alert: TikTok to Pay $5.7 Million for Violating COPPA
Last week, the operators of the lip sync music video app, Musical(dot)ly, known as TikTok, agreed to pay a record-setting $5.7 million penalty for illegally collecting children's data in the United States. - March 05, 2019
Data Privacy Alert: Congress Considering National Privacy Legislation
Since the enactment of GDPR in the European Union, more U.S. states have been passing consumer privacy laws. Companies like Google, Microsoft, and Apple that have traditionally been opposed to federal privacy law are now throwing their support behind the establishment of uniform privacy rules. - February 21, 2019
Labor & Employment Alert: Be Prepared for a New Version of Overtime Rules to be Announced this Spring
No doubt you recall that, in the waning days of the Obama Administration, a major rewrite of the rules the federal government enforces for determining which employees are exempt from the overtime rules was about to go into effect – when abruptly stopped by court order, after many employers had already made changes to implement them. - February 15, 2019
Cybersecurity Alert: Lost Passwords Could Lead to $190 Million Gone Forever
Customers of Canadian crypto exchange company, QuadrigaCX are panicking after the death of QuadrigaCX's CEO, Gerald Cotton, in December, 2018. When Cotton died, he took to his grave, the password to access all of the company's customers' digital currency, which is currently being held in cold storage. - February 12, 2019
Cybersecurity Alert: Cyberattacks on the Rise - No. 1 Challenge Facing Businesses Today
Cyberattacks show no sign of slowing down this year. A quick Google search or Google alert provides a daily reminder of the latest attacks and the latest victims around the globe. According to the FBI Internet Crime Complaint Center (IC3) , 2018 saw a 47% increase in cyberattacks over 2017, with targeted attacks outnumbering mass campaigns as cybercriminals grow more sophisticated. Most cases involved targeted attacks on companies and their clients, as well as cryptocurrency exchanges and resulted in over $1.5 billion in losses. Ohio ranks in the top ten states by number of victims with over 8,000 individuals and companies impacted by a cyberattack according to the FBI's annual IC3 report. - January 30, 2019
Insurance Alert: Supreme Court of Texas Refuses to Limit Indemnification for Defense Costs
On Friday, the Supreme Court of Texas narrowly interpreted the term "liability" in the context of an excess insurance contract and ruled in favor of the policyholder in a dispute over coverage for defense costs. As a 25% owner in the Deepwater Horizon oil rig drilling venture, Anadarko was saddled with massive liabilities following a disastrous explosion in the Gulf of Mexico.
