Articles

Challenges of New Hemp Brands

Written By Erica B. E. Rogers

Trademarks include the elements that constitute a "brand." Trademarks typically consist of words, phrases, symbols, designs, or any combination of those things, identifying and distinguishing the source of the goods or ser…

NC Business Court Clarifies Exception to Rule that LLC Members Do NOT Owe Fiduciary Duties to One Another

Written By Luke C. Tompkins

One of the hallmarks of limited liability companies ("LLCs") is that members of an LLC ordinarily do not owe fiduciary duties to each other or to the company itself.  Generally speaking, a fiduciary duty is an obliga…

Supreme Court Rules "Now or Never" to Appeal Stay Relief Denials

Written By Lance P. Martin

Under the Bankruptcy Code, filing a bankruptcy petition automatically halts efforts to collect pre-petition debts from the debtor outside of bankruptcy.  This is the "automatic stay," and it is a command, not a sugge…

Identifying All Sources of Underinsured Motorist Coverage for Injured Parties in NC Car Accident Cases

Underinsured Motorist ("UIM") coverage is an incredibly important source of insurance in car accident cases involving personal injuries.  Liability insurance pays claims for someone when they are at-fault for an acci…

U.S. Department of Labor Issues Final Rule on Joint Employment

Written By Emily G. Massey and Will Oden

On January 12, 2020, the United States Department of Labor ("USDOL") Wage and Hour Division announced a final rule regarding joint employment under the Fair Labor Standards Act ("FLSA"), to be published on January 16 of th…

Real-Life Lessons on How Mid-Sized Companies Handle Ownership Transitions

Written By Jennifer V. Boyer

Business consultant Karen Albritton and attorney Deana Labriola, along with Ward and Smith attorney Matt Thompson, all with personal experience in a variety of companies, discussed several of the tricky…