On Monday, January 13, 2014, the U.S. Supreme Court heard oral arguments in National Labor Relations Board v. Noel Canning, a case that could potentially result in hundreds of recent rulings by the National Labor Relations Board (“NLRB”) being invalidated. The NLRB is made up of five (5) sitting board members, who are appointed by […]
Wisconsin’s so-called “Lemon Law” statute, § 218.0171, Wis. Stats., has long been considered the most consumer-friendly Lemon Law in the country. The statute itself, and the numerous appellate court decisions which interpret it, made it extremely difficult for motor vehicle manufacturers who sold or leased new motor vehicles in Wisconsin to comply with the law […]
The Wisconsin Legislature recently enacted major changes to Wisconsin’s unemployment insurance laws, a number of which will become effective on January 5, 2014. The most significant changes include an expansion of what conduct constitutes “misconduct” and establishes a new standard of “substantial fault,” which if proven, can temporarily disqualify an employee for unemployment insurance benefits. […]
It is that time of the year again – the holidays are upon us! Along with the holidays comes holiday parties, which can bring your employees closer together and boost morale. While a fair amount of planning goes into venue, food, and festivities, employers should also plan ahead to avoid potential legal liability that can […]
On July 5, 2013, a new piece of consumer protection legislation was enacted in Wisconsin. The new law, 2013 Wisconsin Act 24, takes effect on January 1, 2014. It creates Wisconsin Statute section 100.65, which is similar to a provision of the Illinois Home Repair and Remodeling Act. It will apply to consumer contracts for […]
Attorney Jason Scoby of O’Neil Cannon was recently reappointed to serve as Chair of the Corporate, Banking and Business Section of the Milwaukee Bar Association (“MBA”) for the fourth consecutive year. In this role, Attorney Scoby focuses on providing continuing legal education presentations and resources, as well as networking opportunities for attorneys and other professionals […]
On November 7, 2013, the U.S. Senate passed the Employment Non-discrimination Act (“ENDA”) with a 64-32 vote. The bill would prohibit employers from discriminating against individuals based on the individual’s sexual orientation or gender identity, similar to the way Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 prohibits other types of discrimination. The bill […]
By December 1, 2013, OSHA is requiring employers to provide initial training to its employees on OSHA’s new Hazard Communication Standard. OSHA revised its Hazard Communication Standard (HCS) by adopting the United Nations’ Globally Harmonized System of Classification and Labeling of Chemicals. The final rule for the new HCS was published in the Federal Register on […]
Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.) has announced that the U.S. Senate will vote on the Employment Non-Discrimination Act (“ENDA”) before the Thanksgiving recess, and perhaps as early as Monday, November 4th. The Employment Discrimination Act (S. 815) would prohibit employers from discriminating against individuals based on the individual’s sexual orientation or gender identity, just […]
On October 10, 2013, O’Neil, Cannon, Hollman, DeJong and Laing held its annual Continuing Legal Education seminar in Milwaukee, Wisconsin on a number of legal ethics issues of interest to in-house counsel. Chad Baruch of Texas, a recognized national speaker on legal issues, presented a lecture entitled “Back to the Beginning: Marberry v. Madison and […]