AllBusiness News Blog The U.S. Supreme Court this morning upheld an Arizona law that allows the state to sanction businesses that hire illegal immigrants. It's the latest twist to a hot-button issue that is likely to have a profound impact on small businesses across the country. The vote, a 5-3 majority led by Chief Justice John Roberts, affirmed an earlier ruling of the Ninth Circuit Court. The Arizona law requires employers to check the immigration status of job applicants through the E-Verify federal computer database. The law also specifies that businesses caught knowingly hiring illegal workers could have their business licenses revoked. In both cases, the Court ruled that the Arizona law did not preempt existing Federal immigration laws. A second, even more controversial Arizona immigration law remains on hold as the state appeals a federal court injunction … [Read more...]
National LGBT Bar Recognizes Attorney
Courtesy of Metropolitan News-Enterprise The National Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender Bar Association yesterday announced its selection of Burbank attorney Christian Dowell as a recipient of the organization’s Out & Proud Corporate Counsel Award. Dowell, who serves as legal director of Global Brand Protection at Yahoo! Inc., was praised by association Executive Director D’Arcy Kemnitz as “a respected leader in the legal profession and in the LGBT community” and “an example to future leaders in the movement for equality.” Kemnitz said Dowell “is truly an inspiration to all legal practitioners selflessly dedicated to social justice.” A spokesperson for the association credited the attorney with having “done a remarkable job addressing and strengthening diversity awareness at Yahoo! as well as in the community. Yahoo!, the spokesperson noted, … [Read more...]
Court Finds That an Illegal Immigrant can Assert a Lost Wage Claim in Connection with a Personal Injury Lawsuit
By ERIK ANDERSON, Reardon Anderson In Kalyta v. Versa Products, et. al., a federal judge found that an illegal immigrant can assert a lost wage claim in connection with a lawsuit for personal injuries. In this matter, plaintiff had entered the United States under a student visa. Instead of going to school, plaintiff immediately began working. Eventually he was hired by a satellite dish installation company. While installing a satellite dish approximately twelve feet above the ground, the ladder he was using collapsed. As a result of his fall, plaintiff alleges to have sustained significant injuries. Plaintiff not only sued for personal injuries, but lost wages due to his inability to work as a result of those injuries (plaintiff’s settlement demand of $4.5 million consists of $1.5 million for lost wages). Plaintiff filed suit against Home Depot and Louisville Ladder. The … [Read more...]
Scott Signs 28 Florida Bills into Law, Vetoes 5
Gov. Rick Scott has signed 27 bills besides the state budget including legislation to loosen class size limits. Scott on Thursday also vetoed five bills. One of those would have abolished the Correctional Medical Authority that oversees health care in state prisons. The class size bill will reduce the number of core courses covered by the limits from 849 to 304. Another provision will let schools add up to three more students in some classes and as many as five in others after an annual count is taken. Scott also signed a bill that would make bestiality a crime in Florida. Other vetoed measures also would have made changes in state agencies. Read more: http://www.miamiherald.com/2011/05/26/2237199/scott-signs-28-florida-bills-into.html#ixzz1NVpxZar2 … [Read more...]
Wesley R. Parsons has joined Clarke Silverglate in Miami as a partner. Parsons focuses on commercial litigation. He represents the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services in its Citrus Canker Eradication Program, the largest pest eradication program in the world, and has successfully defended the Department, in trials and appeals, in over 200 cases. … [Read more...]
