News

Oftentimes, insurance policyholders in the construction industry (e.g., contractors, developers, manufacturers, suppliers) fail to consider their insurance policies when a lawsuit is brought against them alleging liability arising out of a construction project.

Developer fought with historic commission over granite posts
A prominent New York City developer balked when he was ordered to shave a foot off the height of two 5-foot granite posts he had installed at the driveway entrance to Katharine Hepburn's former estate along the Connecticut shore.

The Estate of Efrain Carrion has filed suit in Middlesex Superior Court against a number of defendants, including the City of Middletown, its former acting Chief of Police, Patrick T. McMahon, and five City Police Officers. The complaint alleges that the defendants violated the late Mr. Carrion's civil rights and caused his death two years ago on May 24, 2010, when Mr. Carrion was 35 years of age. According to the complaint, police officers Elias Martz, James Prokop and Christopher Lundberg discharged their Tasers and administered electroshocks to Mr. Carrion a combined total of 34 times while he was handcuffed for his own protection, and even though he never was arrested or charged with committing a crime.

Connecticut Law Tribune Feature
Rogin Nassau recently won a class certification motion allowing it to proceed as class counsel on behalf of a class of over 30,000 State of Connecticut employees and retirees.

Decision Certifies Class of More than 30,000 State Employees and Retirees in $100 Million Case Against Anthem Insurance
Following a decision by a state judge, more than 30,000 state employees and retirees can now move forward with their class action case claiming that Anthem Insurance Companies, Inc. improperly issued stock worth more than $93 million to the State of Connecticut rather than the employees who were entitled to it.

Although online tracking and data collection has largely been a self-regulated industry in the United States, new developments in December of 2010 suggest that lawmakers are re-evaluating consumers' right to privacy with respect to their personal information. New policy initiatives could drastically impact the way that advertisers collect, use and disclose consumer information, and all companies with a web presence should be aware of developments in this area to ensure that their company's name stays out of the headlines for violating consumer trust.

Just before midnight on Thursday, December 16, 2010, the House approved the Tax Relief Unemployment Insurance Reauthorization and Job Creation Act of 2010 (H.R. 4853) by a margin of 277 to 148. The measure passed in the Senate on December 15, 2010, by a margin of 81 to 19, and was signed into law by President Obama today.

Trade Secrets: Reflections on Litigating a $50 Million Misappropriation Case
On November 29, 2010, Fletcher C. Thomson was the featured speaker for the second lecture in the 2010-2011 IP Tea Speaker Series at the University of Connecticut School of Law.

Eleven Lawyers Named to Super Lawyers
Rogin Nassau LLC is pleased to announce that eleven of its lawyers have been selected for inclusion in the Super Lawyers New England Edition (2010) as top attorneys in their respective practice areas

Once ignored, but now the focus of headlines across the spectrum of tax publications, Form TD F 90-22.1, the Report of Foreign Bank and Financial Accounts (FBAR) is used by U.S. persons to report a financial interest in or signature authority over certain foreign financial accounts.

Connecticut's corporation statutes allow shareholders to sue directors on behalf of the corporation. The statutes require the shareholder to first make demand on the corporation to take suitable action in all such cases. However, our superior courts have been disregarding this requirement when such a demand is deemed "futile." There are pros and cons to the statutory and the judicial positions.

A dispute over colored sand has led to a civil verdict that might be the biggest in state history - more than $50 million.

Connecticut Law Tribune Interviews Attorney Feigenbaum
At a time when bankruptcy threatens a growing number of Americans, the laws that govern the process may undergo changes after the U.S. Supreme Court hears arguments during its next term.