Patent law provisions pondered by Congress 
By Denise M. Champagne
POSTED: May 21, 2012
Tags: Congress, Leahy-Smith America Invents Act, patent law, USPTO
Increased fees and provisions of section 18 are among the major concerns stakeholders have regarding the Leahy-Smith America Invents Act. Section 18, which goes into effect Sept. 16, involves the transitional program for covered business method patents and provides a post-grant review of patents issued before the law was enacted. David Kappos, director of the [...]
Bankruptcy judgeships get temporary extension
By Dolan Media Newswires
POSTED: May 17, 2012
Tags: bankruptcy judgeships, Congress, temporary extension
Congress has passed legislation that will temporarily save dozens of bankruptcy judgeships in 14 states and Puerto Rico from expiring. The Temporary Bankruptcy Judgeships Extension Act of 2012, H.R. 4967, which is expected to be signed into law by President Barack Obama, extends for an additional five years 29 temporary judgeships previously created by Congress. [...]
Fate of ‘uninsurables’ hinges on U.S. Supreme Court
By The Associated Press
POSTED: May 17, 2012
Tags: health care law, U.S. supreme court, uninsurables
WASHINGTON, D.C. — Cancer patient Kathy Watson voted Republican in 2008 and believes the government has no right telling Americans to get health insurance. Nonetheless, she says she’d be dead if it weren’t for President Barack Obama’s health care law. Now the Florida small businesswoman is worried the U.S. Supreme Court will strike down her [...]
Several fed members could support further easing
By The Associated Press
POSTED: May 16, 2012
Tags: easing, Fed
WASHINGTON — Federal Reserve policymakers are open to further efforts to stimulate the U.S. economy if growth falters or threats escalate. Minutes of the central bank’s April 24-25 meeting released Wednesday stated that “several members” thought additional Fed support could be needed if the recovery lost momentum or if the risks to the economy [...]
Mueller confirms probe of JPMorgan
By The Associated Press
POSTED: May 16, 2012
Tags: FBI, JPMorgan, probe
WASHINGTON — FBI Director Robert Mueller says the bureau has launched a preliminary investigation of JPMorgan Chase & Co. following a $2 billion trading loss at the bank. Mueller’s comment Wednesday at a Senate Judiciary Committee hearing was the first on-the-record confirmation of the probe. On Tuesday, a law enforcement official said that the FBI’s [...]
Skechers settles for $40M over deceptive ads
By The Associated Press
POSTED: May 16, 2012
Tags: FTC, Skechers USA, unfounded claims
WASHINGTON, D.C. — Skechers USA Inc. will pay $40 million to settle charges by the Federal Trade Commission that the footwear company made unfounded claims that its Shape-ups shoes would help people lose weight and strengthen their butt, leg and stomach muscles. Kim Kardashian, Brooke Burke and other celebrities endorsed the shoes in Skechers ads. [...]
Geraci’s nod for federal judgeship moves forward
By Denise M. Champagne
POSTED: May 15, 2012
Tags: federal judgeship, Judge Frank P. Geraci Jr., nomination, Senate
The nomination of Monroe County Court Judge Frank P. Geraci Jr. is on its way to the Senate for the next step in the process of becoming a federal judge. President Barack Obama on Monday nominated Geraci for the U.S. District Court for the Western District of New York, along with Judge Fernando M. Olguin [...]
President nominates NY judge for federal bench
By The Associated Press
POSTED: May 15, 2012
Tags: Judge Frank Paul Geraci Jr., Monroe County Court, President Barack Obama, U.S. District Court
President Barack Obama has nominated a western New York judge to serve on the U.S. District Court. The president announced Monday that he had nominated Monroe County Judge Frank Paul Geraci Jr. for the federal bench for the Western District of New York. Geraci has served as a Monroe County Court judge in Rochester since [...]
Worker can sue over same-sex touching
By Dolan Media Newswires
POSTED: May 14, 2012
Tags: hostile environment claim, lawsuit, same-sex touching, Title VII
A female corrections worker could maintain a Title VII hostile environment claim based on an allegation that her female supervisor repeatedly brushed against her breasts, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit ruled in reversing a summary judgment, Redd v. New York State Division of Parole, no. 10-1410-cv. (May 4). The plaintiff worked [...]
Labor grant helps RochesterWorks!
By Todd Etshman
POSTED: May 11, 2012
Tags: department of labor, labor grant, RochesterWorks!, Unemployment
Part of a $65.5 million U.S. Department of Labor grant to help speed up hiring for those individuals receiving unemployment compensation benefits is coming to Rochester in the form of up to five new career service advisors. “This is something we couldn’t afford to do ourselves,” said RochesterWorks! Executive Director Peter Pecor. The new career [...]
Ruling may revive lawsuits over generic drugs
By Dolan Media Newswires
POSTED: May 11, 2012
Tags: generic drug makers, lawsuits, ruling, U.S. supreme court
Since last year, when generic drug makers won a victory on the issue of federal pre-emption before the U.S. Supreme Court, lower courts have been dismissing cases against generic drug makers left and right. But a federal appeals court issued a recent ruling that gives plaintiffs a long-awaited opening in those suits. In Bartlett v. [...]
Slaughter applauded for commitment to seniors
By Daily Record Staff
POSTED: May 10, 2012
Tags: Alliance for Retired Americans, Rep. Louise Slaughter, seniors
Rep. Louise Slaughter of Fairport was recently acknowledged by the Alliance for Retired Americans for her “unwavering advocacy” of policies and legislation that support older and retired Americans. A report, issued by ARA, awarded Slaughter a 100 percent record during the first session of the 112th Congress (January 2011 – December 2011) in support of [...]
