Federal Telephone Seminars

Effective Auditing of Physicians' Documentation ...federal government's increasing interest in fraud, waste and abuse heightens the awareness of physician practices, both large and small, of the increasing scrutiny of physician documentation to support billings. In the past, audits are performed and physicians were lectured but all too often little improvement was noted. How can practices efficiently and effectively audit physician services? If  more...

Current Issues in Wetland Delineation ...program focuses on the practical, field-based, aspects of federal regulations and wetland ecology. Learning Objectives: - You will be able to review delineating wetlands. - You will be able to explain delineating nonwetland waters of the U.S. - You will be able to identify the ordinary high water mark. - You will be able to discuss what is significant nexus. This live audio conference is  more...

What You Need to Know About Section 404 Permits ...permit issued by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. As the federal agency responsible for regulating impacts to wetlands, the Corps' regulations and the permit process can represent a significant part of a project's development. The identification of wetlands or other waters on a project site, determination of federal jurisdiction under the Clean Water Act and ultimately the need for any permits  more...

Paralegal's Guide to Administrative Law Research ...that have the effect of law. This is true for researching federal and state rules. Agencies also adjudicate disputes that arise under the implementation of their rules and issue written decisions which can affect the interpretation of those rules. The Internet is a source for some of this material, but is not a one stop access area to everything a researcher could need in tracking down a  more...

Cell Tower Zoning: Overview and Current Issues ...ill describe the major elements and issues under the 1996 Federal cell tower zoning statute, including the FCC's 2009 shot clock rule setting 90/150 day deadlines to act on zoning applications, the pending FCC Notice of Inquiry on cell tower zoning, the major federal zoning cases involving cellular towers and practice pointers on how municipalities can successfully handle cell tower zoning  more...

HIPAA Security Compliance Challenges after the HITECH Act ... and meet the privacy and security objective required for federal EHR funding qualification. Learn what it takes to get in compliance and stay there, even as your operations and environment change. Find out what administrative, physical and technical safeguards are necessary, and how you decide what's right for HIPAA security compliance for your organization. Attend this live audio conference  more...

Taxation and Accounting Conflicts of Interest ...sources govern the professional conduct of an accountant. Federal and state legislatures, Federal and state governmental agencies and boards, securities exchanges, national and state societies, and various professional organizations promulgate rules governing the professional conduct of accountants. An accountant's firm or other employer may have rules regarding conflict of interest. Different  more...

E-Verify Requirements and Best Practices ...tates now require the use of E-Verify. Additionally, many federal contractors are also required to use the system. Join us as we discuss state and federal mandates requiring use of E-Verify. A wide range of E-Verify procedures and issues will also be highlighted, including registration processes, nonconfirmation procedures and tips for compliance. This live audio conference is designed for  more...

Daubert Motions: Challenging Expert Opinions ...cided Daubert v. Merrell Dow Pharmaceuticals in 1993, the federal law governing expert testimony has undergone a radical transformation. The courts of most states have also now adopted Daubert to some extent. Every litigator needs to understand the impact of Daubert and its progeny. Used properly, Daubert can be a powerful tool for excluding expert evidence. This live audio conference will give  more...

Protecting Attorney Work Product in Communications With Experts Under the Amended Federal Rules ...Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 26, including the rules regarding expert discovery, in an effort to avoid unnecessary discovery disputes and litigation practices that waste significant costs. Learn how the new rules are being applied in practice, and the significant impact they have on discovery into communications between lawyers and experts and drafts of expert reports, among other areas.  more...

Prevailing Wage Law: An Understanding of Davis-Bacon ...e actions. The U.S. Department of Labor and the Office of Federal Contract Compliance Programs have become increasingly vigilant in their investigation and enforcement of federal wage and hour laws. Recently enacted federal legislation and Executive Orders issued by the Obama Administration involving the use of federal stimulus monies impose additional prevailing wage and employment law  more...

Implications of Medical Marijuana in the Workplace ...state medical marijuana laws impact your obligations as a federal contractor under the Drug-Free Workplace Act? This live audio conference will help you work through the thorny issues in hiring, disciplining and other employment related matters within your organization. This program will also help you draft new policies or revise existing policies incorporating the requirements of their state  more...

Unrelated Business Income Tax ...federal and state regulatory agencies has mandated that professionals take a proactive approach into all aspects of this important and very diverse sector. The tax-exempt community is under a microscope. Problems that a few years ago might have gone unnoticed now get picked up and widely broadcast. Recent IRS compliance initiatives in governance, transparency, abusive tax avoidance  more...

NEPA: Understanding the Basics ...ental protection in the United States. To implement NEPA, federal agencies must prepare environmental impact statements or environmental assessments to study the impacts of their proposed actions. Unfortunately, some federal agencies, their consultants and affected citizens do not fully understand the regulations, legal interpretations and practices for properly complying with NEPA. Thus, there  more...

Roles of HOAs in Foreclosures and Short Sales ... tenants of properties subject to foreclosure and related federal laws passed in recent years in the wake of the current market conditions. Drawing on the experience of common legal issues arising from the higher volume of foreclosures in the real estate practice, gather effective and sensible tools to utilize for clients, community associations and families facing the realities of current  more...

GSA Leasing: Understanding The SFO Process, Negotiating The Lease and Dealing With The Government As The Tenant ...federal government is the country's biggest 'tenant' by far, if not in the world. In both strong and not-so-strong economic times, the federal government is always in the market for new or replacement space ranging from state of the art office space to simple warehousing requirements. When the commercial real estate market is in the doldrums, the federal government is always still there.  more...

Workers' Compensation: Return to Work Issues ... In addition to an understanding of the interplay between federal laws prohibiting discrimination against health conditions and state workers' compensation laws, you will learn strategies to make the most of functional capacity evaluations and rehabilitation programs. This live audio conference will help you comply with state and federal laws, manage injury claims more efficiently, and get  more...

Weight Loss At the Workplace: Legal Issues For Employers Seeking To Reduce Health Care Costs ...ight loss reduction. The number of potentially applicable federal and state laws requires careful consideration of the potential issues raised with drafting and managing a corporate wellness program. The multiple relevant laws and regulations only heighten the need for a deliberate review and consideration of any work place programs assembled to reduce health care costs by encouraging employees  more...

Learning on the Job: Creating Legally-Sound Internship Programs ...t be mindful, however, that they must comply with several federal and state employment laws. This live audio conference will provide 'soup to nuts' guidance on the legal and practical implications of establishing an internship program in your organization. We will discuss the entire cycle of the internship process, such as recruiting interns, whether to compensate interns, and what duties and  more...

Satisfying OFCCP's Internet Applicant Rules ...Federal Contract Compliance Programs continues to clarify the definition of an Internet applicant and the evolving guidance gives employers additional direction and assistance. Moreover, the OFCCP has initiated a systematic process for monitoring adherence to the Internet Applicant Rule. This live audio conference will review the continuously developing OFCCP guidance and provide you with a  more...

Understanding and Complying With Disclosures Under Rule 26(A) ...igants and courts alike. You will learn about the amended federal rules relating to electronic discovery and recent case law interpreting these rules. This live audio conference will also discuss benchmarking data that assesses how companies can cope with amended federal rules' requirements and offer practical suggestions for integrating records management and legal hold practices to improve  more...

Multistate Taxation: Income Franchise Tax ...y businesses focus their tax strategies on mitigating the federal income tax, many businesses are becoming aware of increased enforcement of state tax laws, especially on interstate businesses. Rather than concentrating on the intricacies of a single tax in a single jurisdiction, this live audio conference will explore trends in state taxation of interstate businesses, with particular emphasis  more...

Wetlands Challenges and Use of Mitigation Bank Credits ...ou will be able to describe wetlands regulation under the Federal Clean Water Act. - You will be able to identify wetland mitigation banks. - You will be able to discuss purchasing credits - You will be able to explain planning for construction activities. This live audio conference is designed for engineers, environmental professionals, presidents, vice presidents, developers, contractors,  more...

Federal Cases From Pleading to Judgment for Paralegals BenefitsThe litigation process, from the beginning of a dispute, through pleading and discovery, to the culmination of a final judgment, is a long and complex process. The most seasoned paralegals and attorneys must juggle deadlines, control the pace of their case, meet the expectations of clients and anticipate their opponents' next move. In this high-stakes chess game, paralegals and attorneys  more...

Historic Rehabilitation Tax Credits: Using Tax Incentives to Develop and Invest in Historic Properties ...federal Historic Rehabilitation Tax Credit (HTC) has grown into a key financing tool for economic development, historic preservation, and neighborhood revitalization. Combined in many areas with available state historic rehabilitation tax credits, HTCs have been used to rehabilitate historic city centers, theatres, warehouses and other historic buildings across the country. This live audio  more...

Electronic Control Weapon and Legal Liability ...yths associated with ECWs as well as current use of force federal case laws pertaining to the use of ECWs. Familiarize yourself with 'best practices' responses, uses of ECWs and how to properly document proficiency, forensic investigations and techniques for writing reports and providing testimony. Hear about a model use of force - ECW policy that will protect your officers, your agency and  more...

Fundamentals of Section 382 ...mportant assets of a development stage company can be its federal income tax loss carry-forward (NOL). Protecting its value to offset future federal income tax income, however, can be challenging as there are a number of tax rules designed to limit the availability of the NOLs. In particular, Section 382 limits a corporation's ability to offset taxable income with its NOLs after a change in  more...

How to Sell to the U.S. Government ...ss people want to sell their services and products to the federal government but find the process confusing and filled with dead ends and frustration. Competitors are winning contracts but it can seem impossible to get through to decision makers, or valuable time and resources are wasted responding to bids that fail. This live audio conference demystifies the federal contracting process and  more...

Advanced Applicant Tracking Strategies For Government Contractors: Effective Tools To Avoid Claims of Discrimination ...Federal contractors and subcontractors are required to track applicant data for their affirmative action plans. However, even companies who properly track applicant data treat the process as a purely recordkeeping exercise. Failure to maintain proper and robust information regarding applicant disposition is the most common error employers can make which results in Office of Federal Contract  more...

Hot Topics in Native American Financing 2011 ...ur financing documents are enforceable and compliant with federal law, including the Indian Gaming Regulatory Act; 2) the National Indian Gaming Commission 'declination letter' review process - how long does it take, what to include in your submission, and what does receiving a 'declination letter' really mean? 3) Tribal financing defaults and restructurings - what are the principal challenges  more...

Sales and Use Taxation of Internet Sales:The Evolving Case Law ...les and use taxes that are impacted by both state law and federal constitutional principles. By exploring the growing body of judicial decisions, this live audio conference will help you better understand your sales and use tax obligations and ensure compliance. It will explain the constitutional requirements that must be satisfied in order for a state to impose sales or use tax obligations. We  more...

Trucking Litigation ...egotiate the waters and learn how the myriad of confusing federal and state regulations could torpedo your otherwise straightforward common law case. Hear from the former top United States D.O.T. trucking lawyer and learn how to utilize federal and state information to help bolster your case. You will also hear from a veteran trial lawyer and learn how to prepare your case from start to finish.  more...

Curbing FMLA Abuse: How to Manage Manipulative Employees BenefitsAbout 62% of workers nationally qualify to take leave under the FMLA, and over 50 million employees have taken advantage of leave under the Act. Managing FMLA leave can be extremely challenging for employers, especially in the face of rampant employee abuse. However, there are tools available to employers seeking to minimize abuse of the protections provided by the FMLA. While there is no  more...

IRS Guidelines for Good Governance for 501(c)(3) Organizations ...ngressional scrutiny of whether tax-exemption is a worthy federal subsidy for any type of tax-exempt organization, proper governance and accountability to the local community are key factors that may distinguish the tax-exempt sector from the taxable sector. The Internal Revenue Service, the press and others have linked the need for good governance to the quest for improved tax-exemption  more...

Tax Planning and Guidance for Business Travel and Entertainment Deductions ...an take full advantage of the deduction allowed under the federal tax code. Ensure that your records will stand the test of a tax audit. Fine tune your understanding of when an employee's meal is 100% deductible and when it is only 50% deductible. Understand when foreign travel is deductible and the limitations on personal travel and entertainment mixed with business travel and entertainment.  more...

Understanding the Durbin Amendment's Impacts and Implications ...of the various provisions of the Durbin Amendment and the Federal Reserve Board's final implementing regulations. Following this level-setting discussion, attendees will join the speaker on a deep dive into the immediate market impacts and longer-term implications of this new regulatory environment for the debit card industry. Together, we will examine how the Durbin Amendment has already  more...

Turbidity Control and Testing on Construction Sites ...n activities to the waters of the United States, and what federal/state regulations are in place to prohibit such impact. Learning Objectives: - You will be able to define turbidity. - You will be able to discuss controlling erosion and runoff. - You will be able to review sampling requirements. - You will be able to identify examples of erosion controls to reduce turbidity in runoff. This  more...

Pupil Records: Best Practices Concerning Access, Release, Content and Storage of Educational Documents ...quests for access to student records from state agencies, federal agencies, parents and members of the public. This live audio conference will provide school officials, parents, school staff and school lawyers with an overview of the laws relating to access, release, content and storage of student records. The live audio conference will define the rules as well as the exceptions and provide  more...

Alternative and Controversial Land Use Regulations ... the expectations and the needs of their sovereigns - the federal and state governments. When that happens, the sovereigns step in and literally take over zoning with new requirements, as with flood plain regulation. Finally, some problems, like medical marijuana, have such a mix of land use, federal and state interest, business regulation and blight avoidance, that an approach transcending  more...

Everything You Wanted to Know About Drug and Alcohol Testing but Were Afraid to Ask ...tive drug-free workplace program to comply with state and federal regulations and also to insurance companies dealing with workers' compensation claims. We will also discuss some of the misinformation in the testing of alcohol and some of the myths surrounding drug testing. Don't miss this fun and interesting discussion of issues you need to know. This live audio conference is designed for  more...

Determining Meaningful Use for Electronic Health Records ...federal government, physicians and hospitals must achieve 'meaningful use' of electronic health records through an attestation process. This process is new and complicated. This live audio conference will outline meaningful use guidelines and requirements to receive incentive payments, including timelines, criteria, an outline of the attestation process and recent developments in HHS'  more...

Legal Implications of Environmental Contamination ...ntractual liability. You will understand the framework of federal and state sources of environmental liability and learn how to avoid and mitigate exposure to environmental liability so that it can be effectively managed in the context of land ownership, business operations and purchase or financing transactions. Existing owners of contaminated properties will learn how to minimize risks  more...

Energy Efficiency Tax Incentives for Residential Builders and Commercial Building Owners ...d owners of residential and commercial real estate. These federal tax incentives are available for projects ranging from relatively simple building upgrades to the implementation of new electrical systems. The types of tax incentives available to taxpayers include tax deductions, tax credits, and payments of cash grants in lieu of tax benefits. These incentives are often overlooked by buildings  more...

Winning at the Gate: Practical Lessons for Stating or Attacking Claims in a Post-Twombly/Iqbal World ...ly and Iqbal changed the standard for pleading a claim in federal court cases, but lawyers and courts continue to struggle in applying the plausibility standard. This live audio conference explores practical approaches to 'winning at the gate,' whether you are pleading or attacking a claim, particularly in the complex commercial litigation arena. We will discuss strategies for approaching the  more...

How to Handle Travel Pay Legally BenefitsMany companies do not understand how to compensate an employee properly for time spent traveling to destinations other than a regular work site. Many companies send employees to conferences and other work sites using commercial travel and personal vehicles. This live audio conference will enable you to understand how and when to compensate an employee for travel time away from a work site.  more...

Legal Issues Surrounding the Utilization and Maintenance of Computerized Medical Records ...federal government's prioritization of health information technology and evidence that electronic health record systems can reduce medical errors and lead to more efficient delivery of care, many hospitals and providers are beginning to implement EHRs in their facilities and practices. Despite federal regulations that permit certain donations of EHR technology, the implementation and ongoing  more...

Strategies to Overcome the Presumption of Guilt ... Ku Klux Klansmen for that crime. He also coordinated the federal and state task force that led to the indictment of Eric Robert Rudolph, who ultimately pled guilty to four terrorist bombings. Since leaving the U. S. Attorney's office and joining the Haskell Slaughter firm, Jones has defended a number of high-profile criminal cases. Joe Mays, a lawyer with Bradley Arant Boult Cummings LLP, has  more...

California E-Discovery Rules: Still in Their Infancy ...discovery issues. The rules, which largely track current federal provisions, took effect immediately and brought California in line with the growing number of states adopting specific regulations for modern civil litigation's critical arena of electronically stored information. In that AB 5 has been in force more than a year, many law firms, companies and government agencies are still  more...

Construction Lien and Bond Claims in Texas BenefitsAnalyzing construction payment disputes in Texas can be a complex process. Learn strategies for tackling lien and bond issues for private and public projects. Owners will learn how to protect property from unperfected liens - and what steps to take if they do arise. Contractors, subcontractors and suppliers will learn how to efficiently collect payment for work performed or materials  more...

Managing Employees' Pre-Existing Conditions: Strategies for Reducing Injury Losses ... In addition to an understanding of the interplay between federal laws prohibiting discrimination against health conditions and state workers' compensation laws, you will learn the nuances of distinguishing between pre-existing conditions and new work-related injuries. You will also obtain practical resources and strategies for managing workplace injury claims of employees with pre-existing  more...

Ethical Settlement Negotiations ...e from the American Bar Association and various state and federal courts on matters ranging from basic duties of disclosure to the often murky rules affecting class actions and the settlement of complex litigation affecting numerous parties. This audio conference will better equip you to strike an appropriate and effective balance between the need to represent clients vigorously and the need to  more...

How Can End-of-Life Planning Resources Benefit Your Workplace? BenefitsEnd-of-life issues can be a major distraction for employees. MetLife estimates that U.S. businesses lose between $17 billion and $33 billion per year in productivity of full-time workers with caregiving responsibilities. Employers need to place a priority on addressing end-of-life issues. These issues affect their employees who serve as caregivers to aging parents, children and other  more...

LEED Credits That Don't Break the Bank! ...iew the landscape of available incentives and programs at Federal, state and local levels. - You will be able to identify no-cost and low-cost LEED credits to increase your certification level. - You will be able to describe and consolidate LEED requirements with incentive requirements to achieve lowest cost. This audio conference is designed for engineers, construction and project managers,  more...

New Rule 502: Attorney-Client Privilege and Work Product Limitations on Waiver ...ion is a fundamental for most litigators. Rule 502 of the Federal Rules of Evidence has been adopted to clarify and resolve a common dispute regarding the effects of certain disclosures otherwise protected by the privilege or work product, including inadvertent disclosures and the agreement of the parties regarding disclosure. This teleconference will discuss the elements of the privilege and  more...

Grant Management for Grant Recipients ...Esq., an attorney with nationally recognized expertise in federal grants law, to review the essential elements of federal grants and subgrants from a legal perspective. Learn about the fundamentals of grant administration followed by a discussion of urban myths - that is, commonly misunderstood provisions of federal grants - and sharks in the waters, high-risk areas that grantees and  more...

Options Under Section 504 ...tsPublic and private educational facilities receiving any federal monetary assistance (and, arguably, other forms of aid) are obligated to comply with Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973. This comprehensive statute imposes a number of obligations on such recipients of federal aid regarding disabled students and employees. An educational facility's failure to comply with Section 504  more...

Post-Mortem Tax Planning ...xes are both inevitable, taxes do not end with death. The Federal Estate Tax, the Gift Tax and the Income Tax all have bearing on what happens post-death. Further, there are state rules that also are applicable post-death to estate planning documents. There are numerous questions that have to be addressed and answered. This audio conference will cover many of the questions and answers. This  more...

False Claims Act Update ...se Claims Act is one of the most important weapons of the federal government in its efforts to combat fraud, waste and abuse in federal contracting and grants. This audio conference will identify and analyze many of the critically important issues in the interpretation and enforcement of the statute, and will review mandatory disclosure of credible evidence of False Claims Act violations. The  more...

Anatomy of a Natural Resources Damage Claim ...rt of the environmental clean up and restoration process. Federal, state and tribal natural resource trustees have stepped-up their activities with respect to the natural resources damage assessments process and in their efforts to recover for alleged damages. Trustees are forging forward with assessment activities, involving themselves in certain aspects of the clean up process and litigating  more...

Risk Management in the Retention and Destruction of Medical Records ... and destruction of each is governed by various state and federal laws and regulations. Additionally, when evaluating the storage and destruction of medical records, other factors such as reimbursement and billing, accreditation and professional standards must be considered. This audio conference will help you understand what is considered a medical record, the laws and regulations applicable  more...

Accounting for Uncertain Tax Positions: FIN 48 Update ...chedule UTP would require income tax return disclosure of federal uncertain tax positions in detail that goes far beyond the corresponding financial statement requirements. As presently proposed, taxpayers are concerned that it provides the IRS with an audit road map. This audio conference will help you understand the requirements of financial statements and income tax return reporting of  more...

Recent Developments in Employer Liability for 401(k) Investments ... and protect the company. We will cover the basics of the federal law's rules in easy-to-grasp language and practice applying those rules by examining actual and hypothetical cases. You will have an opportunity to share your concerns and possible resolutions with one another and the presenters, who are professionals experienced in investments, fiduciary law and litigation, administration,  more...

Implications of the First Investigations Under the FTC Guides for Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising ...nt with the way consumers obtain product information, the Federal Trade Commission has, for the first time since 1980, issued revised Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising. The revised guides, which are intended to help advertisers comply with the Federal Trade Commission Act by setting forth the general principles used by the FTC in evaluating ads (and  more...

Mental Health Record Compliance ...agnosis and treatment, you are also subject to additional federal confidentiality restrictions, particularly part 2 of 42 CFR. You also deal with some specific types of records that are subject to specific requirements under state and federal law. And unlike most nonmental health providers, your patients are often unable to directly deal with their own medical decision making. This  more...

Grant and Other Funding Opportunities Under the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act of 2010 ...arch provides a significant number of direct and indirect federal grant funding opportunities for medical providers, hospitals, home health agencies, nursing facilities, colleges and universities, and employers. Under several of the grant programs, state and local government, and nonprofit entities are flow-through entities through which eligible applicants can apply for federal grant funding.  more...

Land Use Law Update ...vity. A review of several key land use issues relating to federal land use laws, alternative energy and the ever-evolving law on governmental takings of property will be discussed. Additionally, you will receive an update on recent land use decisions having far-reaching effects. We will offer practical and strategic insights for those who regularly are involved in the land entitlement process,  more...

Family Responsibility Discrimination Law: Family Friendly Employer or Litigation Target? ...s. These claims have been pursued under a variety of both federal and state laws, and have resulted in multimillion-dollar verdicts. This teleconference will help you understand how stereotypical thoughts about the work commitment and ability of employees with care obligations away from the workplace have led to costly claims. It will also address the proactive steps you can take to insulate  more...

Handling Paid Leave Requests in New Jersey BenefitsIn January 2009, New Jersey became one of only a handful of states mandating that certain kinds of family leave be paid leave. Paid leave brings with it new employer compliance questions. For example, what must an employer do when an employee makes a paid leave request? Who pays for such paid leave? What laws are implicated by such a request and who decides whether an employee is eligible  more...

California Wetlands: New Issues and Regulations Affecting Land Use Planning ...Impacts to wetlands invite the involvement of a myriad of federal, state and local agencies, and their accompanying regulations. Permit processing is complex and time consuming, and many policies are inconsistent. Failure to understand these layered regulations can lead to costly mistakes. This teleconference will provide a basic understanding of the policies at the federal, state and  more...

Fundamentals of SBA Lending: Documenting, Closing and Funding the SBA Loan ...ses and at the same time secure a loan guarantee from the federal government. While the program can be quite profitable, it's not without its risks. Compliance with SBA regulations is mandatory to ensure success and profitability. With numerous changes occurring to the program over the last year, it is critical to understand the new regulations and the way to make the SBA loan programs work for  more...

Current Issues in Subcontracts and Teaming Agreements ...in business and take many forms. When the customer is the Federal Government however, companies often try to squeeze these relationships into their standard purchase orders and performance work statements. Particularly with heightened scrutiny by all federal agencies over the entry into contracts and the performance of those contracts, by all tiers, ensuring that the relationship is structured  more...

Oil SPCC Update: How do the Ongoing Changes Affect You? ...ce will address the big changes presented by the numerous Federal Register announcements. Learning Objectives - You will be able to recognize SPCC plan elements. - You will be able to discuss inspection of testing. - You will be able to review recordkeeping methods. - You will be able to describe correct reporting methods. This teleconference is designed for engineers, environmental  more...

IRS Form 8928: Health Plan Reporting and Excise Tax Update ...e taxes for failure to comply with COBRA, HIPAA and other federal group health plan mandates. Recently issued IRS final regulations now require employers to self-report violations of these rules and pay related excise taxes, where appropriate under the Code and applicable regulations. This teleconference will help you understand the new reporting obligations, which make compliance with group  more...

Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act: The Overhaul of the U.S. Financial System BenefitsThe Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act signed into law by President Obama overhauls the United States financial system. This legislation will affect every corner of the financial services industry. Learn how this legislation is likely to affect you. This teleconference will review many important aspects of the Act, including the new Financial Stability Oversight  more...

Is Your Health Care Plan Grandfathered Under the Health Care Reform? ...gn changes for 2011, they must also take into account new federal mandates under the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act, as modified by the Health Care and Education Reconciliation Act of 2010 (collectively, the 'Act'). The Act provides limited exceptions from the new federal mandates for certain grandfathered plans and new interim final regulations provide detailed guidance on how a  more...

Interstate Land Sales Full Disclosure Act: Application to Condominiums and Single-Family Homes ...inium developers and home builders who are subject to the federal Interstate Land Sales Full Disclosure Act do not understand how to comply, or perhaps worse, they think they're in compliance when they're not. These developers do not understand either how to draft unit purchase agreements to comply with the completed home exemption or when circumstances of their program would indicate  more...

ASTM Standard on Vapor Intrusion BenefitsConcerns over vapor intrusion and its impact on communities and industries have increased exponentially over the past several years. Faced with these issues, scientists and regulators have faced substantial challenges due to the absence of uniform and reliable standards, and the lack of clear guidance has complicated planning, development, remediation and ultimately, litigation regarding  more...

Metadata Scrubbing and Mining: Legal, Ethical and Practical Implications ...per page - a copy of any document electronically filed in federal court. All attorneys and clients are susceptible to breach of confidentiality and malpractice traps. Learn how you can protect your clients - and your law firm or law department. Avoid the metadata fates that befell not only the Transportation Security Administration in December 2009 but also the U.N. Secretary General, the  more...

K9 Case Law Update BenefitsThe use of canines in law enforcement continues to increase in criminal investigation, detection and apprehension. Canine encounters have potential implications for prosecuting attorneys, criminal defense attorneys, civil litigation attorneys and labor law attorneys. This teleconference will provide you with an update of case law that addresses the issues that arise from the use of canines  more...

Developing Storm Water Utilities and Impact Fee Programs ...nfrastructure, ever-increasing capital needs and unfunded federal mandates to manage water quality. Storm water programs that are supported primarily by the general fund must compete annually with other programs and funding is often unreliable and insufficient. Due to the recent recession, tax revenues are down and are expected to be lower in the future. Successful county and municipal storm  more...

Bankruptcy Basics for Paralegals ...ften amended, and case law, but also the often overlooked federal rules of bankruptcy procedure, local rules and judge-specific rules. Scott Brown - a national humor columnist by day and a bankruptcy lawyer by night - puts a unique spin on issues germane to the bankruptcy world. A former clerk for a bankruptcy judge and a partner with a nationally recognized law firm, Mr. Brown has seen both  more...

Climate and Energy Policy: Interpreting State, Regional and Federal Discrepancies ...federal, regional and state requirements - and incentives - with respect to greenhouse gas emissions. Many states are already regulating these emissions and EPA is adopting regulations to require reporting by a wide spectrum of industry and businesses. Understanding the existing rules is critical for analyzing the effects of pending federal legislation. The speakers will also identify some of  more...

Development Challenges for Small Commercial Sites ...ing multiple approvals at local, county and state or even federal levels. This teleconference is intended to provide a base of knowledge and awareness of these potential issues. Learning Objectives - You will be able to explain adjacent land uses. - You will be able to identify specific uses within proposed development. - You will be able to discuss the approvals and permitting process. - You  more...

Political Law Update: The Latest Developments in Election Law, Lobbyist Regulation and Political Activity Compliance ... contributions from government contractors are expanding; federal prosecutors are increasingly using the honest services statute to prosecute public officials; and this term the Supreme Court heard three cases challenging the statute are a few examples. This teleconference will assess the lay of the land in this hot and evolving legal field, explain the regulatory schemes that apply, highlight  more...

A Primer on Social Security Disability Law ...egulations which span nearly a full volume of the Code of Federal Regulations, many volumes of law reporters, dozens of separately issued Social Security rulings and many volumes of internal regulations. This is why most lawyers do not want to develop an expertise in this area. This teleconference is designed to give you a broad overview of the administrative framework involved with Social  more...

LEED Tax Incentives and Credits for Green Buildings ... conservation and a reduction in waste going to landfill. Federal, state and local jurisdictions are looking for ways to incentivize improved performance in these key areas. The President is working with Congress to pass comprehensive legislation to protect our nation from the serious economic and strategic risks associated with our reliance on foreign oil and the destabilizing effects of a  more...

New Developments in Greywater Irrigation Systems ... capture and irrigate with it, and how to obtain matching federal funds for greywater irrigation systems. Learning Objectives - You will be able to describe major benefits of reuse. - You will be able to identify funding at the local, state and federal level. - You will be able to discuss greywater legal and technical criteria. - You will be able to recognize LEED points. Engineers, public  more...

Overdraft Opt-Ins: Protecting Your Bank Under Regulation E ...d high-profile litigation relating to overdraft fees, the Federal Reserve Board revised Regulation E to give consumers the right to limit overdraft costs associated with certain transactions by giving consent or opting-in to a financial institutions overdraft program. Financial institutions must comply with the new regulation by July 1, 2010. This important teleconference will cover the changes  more...

Payroll Tax Pitfalls: Preventing IRS Penalties and Personal Liability for Late Payments ...irement to timely withhold and remit payroll taxes to the federal government. People responsible for fulfilling a company's payroll tax obligations often do not realize the substantial penalties that can be imposed by the IRS against the company when payroll taxes are not timely deposited or paid at all. Additionally, in certain situations, officers and employees can be held personally liable  more...

Leasing Public Infrastructure ...ions have slowed during the recent financial crisis, once federal direct funding through the American Recovery and Investment Act slows, it is thought that these transactions will again become more popular as a way to provide government services without increasing taxes. This teleconference helps government decision-makers and investors with respect to identifying and evaluating opportunities  more...

Impact of Health Care Reform on Health Care Providers ...very systems and strengthened current laws upon which the federal government relies to fight health care fraud, waste and abuse. This teleconference will include a broad overview of the aspects of health care reform legislation of most interest to health care providers and those with whom they do business and will provide practical advice on how to prepare for implementation. The presenters  more...

How to Successfully Identify, Propose, Win and Manage Government Contracts ... often experience difficulty conducting business with the federal government. They also do not know of the many tools and resources at their disposal. This teleconference provides those responsible for or trying to penetrate the federal government market space with valuable insight into the intricacies of the federal government acquisition lifecycle. It also helps you understand necessary  more...

Tax Treatment of Charitable Fundraising BenefitsFundraising for charitable organizations has become a complex business. Charities no longer hold out a tin cup and ask for donations. They engage in sophisticated activities to generate revenue for their mission and the activities have tax consequences. This teleconference will review the federal tax consequences of fundraising activities and provide specific guidance on how to avoid tax  more...

Conducting Background Checks BenefitsAn ever increasing number of employers are recognizing the benefits that can be derived from conducting background checks on both current and prospective employees. While background checks can be an effective tool for weeding out questionable employees, legal limitations on how such checks can be performed (and how the resulting data discovered can be used) must be understood or otherwise  more...

The Construction Bidding Process ...federal construction bidding process is complex. This teleconference will review the complicated federal construction bidding process, including sealed bidding procedures and negotiated procurements. The teleconference will also review practical substantive issues which commonly arise in preparing a bid or proposal for federal construction work, such as proprietary specifications, design versus  more...

New Developments in Greywater Irrigation Systems ... capture and irrigate with it, and how to obtain matching federal funds for greywater irrigation systems. Learning Objectives - You will be able to describe major benefits of reuse. - You will be able to identify funding at the local, state and federal level. - You will be able to discuss greywater legal and technical criteria. - You will be able to recognize LEED points. Engineers, public  more...

Implications of the Unlawful Internet Gambling Enforcement Act ...e a crackdown by authorities in the United States at both federal and state levels. U.S. law in this area is both risky and complex. Intermediaries such as payment services, banks, publishers, and Internet portals all face risks under U.S. law for providing services that are used by illegal gambling businesses. At the same time, there is considerable confusion about the types of Internet  more...

Best Practices in Filing and Preparing Inventory BenefitsA probate estate is nothing without its assets, which makes the preparing and filing of the probate inventory a key element to successful administration. The marshalling, preserving, protecting and valuation of the estate assets is the backbone in the probate and tax arenas. This teleconference will cover all aspects of handling the estate's assets from the perspective of preparing and  more...

Emerging Trends in Infrastructure Finance - The Stimulus and Beyond ...ting our country's infrastructure needs. Many thought the federal stimulus package would fill these gaps. While the bill provides some new tools that are just becoming accepted, significant opportunities for other nontraditional sources of support remain abundant. This teleconference will fully explore these opportunities, how they are being sold politically and how the deals are being  more...

GSA Price Reduction Clauses (PRC) in Contracts ...Federal Supply Schedule contracting is a convenient way for companies to sell their products to the federal government. However, doing business under GSA FSS contracts presents a number of compliance issues, with one of the most important being the price reduction clause. This clause is included in all of the GSA Multiple Award Schedule schedules and essentially it guarantees that GSA receives  more...

Construction Recordkeeping and Documentation Requirements for Government Contracts ... it is also a mandatory condition of contracting with the federal government. Federal laws and regulations require federal contractors, including construction contractors, to maintain certain records related to the contract for a specific number of years. Consequently, federal contractors are well advised to establish good recordkeeping policies and procedures that satisfy their legal  more...

Enforcing Federal Garnishments ...ce will explain the different kinds of garnishments under federal law and their use and limitations. It will provide you with a common sense and practical guide for fulfilling the legal requirements imposed by such garnishments, including establishing protocols for the receipt, implementation and termination of garnishments, the proper calculation of the amount to garnish, what to do with  more...

Federal Tax Classification of Series LLCs ...ries LLC may be the solution to many issues that confront federal tax practitioners on a daily basis. For example, the series LLC is very useful in situations where long and expensive regulatory processes are involved with a new state law entity. The series LLC also can be used in asset backed securitizations in place of business trusts in those states that treat single member LLCs as  more...

Understanding the New GFE and HUD-1/1A Settlement Statements ... and HUD-1A Uniform Settlement Statements required by the federal Real Estate Settlement Procedures Act and creates significant new responsibilities and potential liabilities in connection with the preparation and provision of those forms. No loan originator can afford to do business after year-end without a complete understanding of the changes brought about by the new rule, which will take  more...

Current Issues in Digital Billboards and Sign Regulations ...nities and prevent visual blight. What is the role of the Federal Highway Administration in controlling digital signs that create distractions to drivers and degrade aesthetics? What tricks are used by the billboard industry to secure permits from local officials to build or operate unlawful digital signs? How can local governments take steps now to protect themselves from being the targets of  more...

Getting Advice from the IRS: Letter Rulings, Pre-Filing Agreements, TAMS and GLAMs ...federal tax consequences of a proposed transaction - and while tax opinions are helpful, they do not provide the certainty of qualified advice from the IRS. This teleconference is designed to discuss how, when and why to seek qualified written advice from the IRS, normally in the form of a private letter ruling request, a review of the ruling requirements set forth in Rev. Proc. 2009-1, what is  more...

Traffic Management for Construction Work Zones: Unique Challenges and Solutions ...pproval and satisfy the agencies requirements, as well as federal and state occupational regulations. Understanding the MUTCD and agency requirements, as well as their newly implemented regulations can impact schedule and costs. This teleconference will help you understand how first to establish a traffic management plan and then how to understand the process required to implementing the design  more...

Taxation Issues When Conducting Business With Native American Tribes ...he area of taxation. This teleconference examines the key federal, state and tribal tax issues facing companies that work with Native American tribes and tribal enterprises, with practical insights into what taxes may apply under particular circumstances, and a discussion of tax incentives and planning considerations relating to economic development on tribal lands and ventures involving tribal  more...

Tax Treatment of Gift Card and Certificate Sales ...conference will help you identify and handle the numerous federal and state tax issues surrounding the sale of gift cards. Specifically, this teleconference will provide you with insight as to the various issues of concern for the IRS and the IRS' current thinking in connection with these issues. You will gain an overview of strategies used by retailers for minimizing unclaimed property  more...

Fundamentals of Form W-2 Processing BenefitsThe main priority for the payroll department is getting the pay checks to associates acutely and timely to employees. But a critical function for the payroll department is to pull all the payroll information together and produce a Form W-2 for all employees. This produces a great challenge to payroll departments to ensure that all elements of the W-2 are complete and accurate along with  more...

The Interrelationship Between Social Security Disability, Medicare and Workers' Compensation Settlements ...BenefitsThis teleconference covers the two most important federal aspects of workers' compensation practice: Social Security disability offsets and the Medicare secondary payer statute. Anyone who represents claimants, employers or insurers in workers' compensation claims must understand the interrelationship between Social Security disability, Medicare and workers' compensation settlements.  more...

Major Issues in WiMAX Tower Leases and Zoning ...nation or other claims, such as claiming protection under federal cell tower zoning or telecommunications statutes, if their zoning results differ from those for cell phone companies. This teleconference will focus on the unique aspects of WiMAX tower leases and zoning, and help level the playing field by providing private and municipal property owners with the expertise of two faculty  more...

New Regulations for the Credit Card Industry: Prepare Now and Avoid Penalties ...uth in Lending Act, the Fair Credit Reporting Act and the Federal Trade Commission Act, and places a number of restrictions on the credit card industry and consumer reporting agencies. Some notable changes in the bill are when and how a card company can raise an individual's interest rate, who can receive a solicitation for a credit card, how payments are applied to credit card balances and how  more...

When Worlds Collide - Bankruptcy and Probate ...ate practitioners that the so-called probate exception to federal jurisdiction served to prevent bankruptcy courts from adjudicating any matters that were related, even only slightly, to a probate estate. In giving a very narrow interpretation to the probate exception to federal jurisdiction within the context of bankruptcy jurisdiction, the Supreme Court's ruling in Marshall clearly grants  more...

Dealing with Employee Gambling in the Workplace ...ost productivity; potential violation of local, state and federal criminal laws; violation of company policy; and the prospect of employee addiction are just a few of the potential dangers that may arise from gambling in the workplace. This teleconference will help you appreciate the risks and potential rewards of this common workplace activity. From crafting practical responses, to day-to-day  more...

Obtaining a Portion of the Stimulus Grant Funding ...federal government has provided a significant economic stimulus program that has been primarily implemented through grant funding. The Recovery Act (American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 signed by President Obama on February 16, 2009) is the economic stimulus package of $787 billion. Because of the national scope of the economic situation, stimulus money has been targeted at nearly  more...

A Privacy Law Primer: What Every Attorney, Compliance and Security Officer Should Know ...is area requires some familiarity with the complex state, federal and international regulatory patchwork and nongovernmental standards that now apply, a sense of the practical contexts in which you are most likely to see privacy issues and some sense of what you can expect on the horizon. This teleconference will provide an overview and update regarding United States privacy and information  more...

Eichleay Damages and Delay Claims ...actor cannot take on substitute work. Under this stricter federal standard, a contractor must demonstrate effective suspension of much or all of its work to satisfy the standby requirement for entitlement to Eichleay damages. Should you even focus on Eichleay damages in your delay claim? What are keys to a successful delay claim? What contract provisions will bolster a delay claim? This  more...

Employer's HIPAA Privacy and Security Responsibilities ...n a better understanding about the recent developments in federal and state privacy and data security laws, particularly the expansion of HIPAA under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 and the recently issued Massachusetts privacy regulations that become effective January 1, 2010. In addition, this teleconference will include a discussion of some preventive strategies and steps  more...

When HOA's and the IRS Compete for Lien Property: Lien Priorities, Perfections and Foreclosure Rights ...rminations under state law may be complicated by governed federal laws. This teleconference will discuss HOA lien priority according to state statutes, which may be preempted by the federal tax code. We will also discuss when the federal tax lien does not take priority over an HOA lien. Considering these respective lien rights, we will discuss an alternative analysis applying the choate  more...

Tip Credit and Tip Pooling: FLSA Considerations and Limitations ...stances to claim a tip credit toward satisfying state and federal minimum wage laws. This means that the tips are credited against and thus satisfy a portion of the obligation to pay certain minimum wages. The laws and rules regarding eligibility for tip credits are complicated, full of traps for the unwary and the rules regarding pooling of tips layer on additional complexity. Human resource  more...

Revised Federal Form 1065 BenefitsMore and more businesses are choosing to operate in the form of limited liability companies and being taxed under the partnerships rules as a pass through entity. The preparation of a partnership income tax return is becoming increasingly more challenging as the IRS increases the level of transparency and reporting. The purpose of this teleconference is to highlight important areas for  more...

Recent Updates to the EPA's Brownfields Program ...l provide you with an update on the current status of the Federal Brownfields Program. You will learn about benefits you can obtain under the Federal Brownfields Program, the status of the program and some of the risks to brownfields development resulting from a recent Supreme Court case and environmental risks associated with vapor intrusion. Learning Objectives - You will be able to  more...

Reverse Mortgages: A Lender's Perspective BenefitsThe reverse mortgage market is expanding exponentially as the population ages and new players are coming into the market. Don't get left behind. Learn what a reverse mortgage is, what's involved in offering such a product, which reverse mortgage products are currently offered in the market, state and federal requirements, and potential pitfalls. Join Reed Smith attorney Arthur Axelson for  more...

Private Foundation Requirements and Restrictions ...r family and corporate philanthropists, there are special federal tax rules that apply. Failure to fully understand these rules can subject the foundations and those involved with them to substantial excise taxes. This teleconference will review all of the rules associated with the establishment and operation of a private foundation, including the special excise taxes that apply to private  more...

The Claims Process on Federal Government Contracts - Maximizing the Return on Your Investment ...federal contractors incur additional costs for changes, delays, differing site conditions and contract terminations. However, all too often these contractors do not understand how to effectively seek compensation for these additional costs. This teleconference will help you understand the types of costs you can recover, the circumstances under which certain costs may be recovered and how to go  more...

The New World of EEO: What Is Coming ...federal court are significantly on the rise. While this increase has been impacted by the significant reductions in force around the country, this has also been driven by the fact that the plaintiff's employment bar, the U.S. Attorney's offices and the EEOC have become more aggressive in pursuing claims of discrimination against employers. The attack on employers involves claims of inconsistent  more...

Payroll Hiring Issues: Forms and Tax Credits ...r failing to do so. The teleconference will also review federal employment-based tax credits, their application and potential administrative pitfalls. We will also highlight and provide updates on certain state employment-based credits. After attending this teleconference, you should be better prepared to evaluate your current level of payroll compliance and facilitate future compliance, as  more...

Navigating through the Maze of Unclaimed Property Compliance - Unique Rules and Regulations for Financial Institutions ...tly challenged to keep up and implement the ever changing federal and state requirements imposed on this industry. Ensuring that proper internal controls, risk management and fraud prevention are adequately addressed is critical. One of the additional areas of compliance includes ensuring that you have established proper procedures and controls to prepare for the upcoming unclaimed property  more...

Building Performance Benchmarking Strategies ...ticular the managers of corporate real estate portfolios, federal building managers, facility groups at university campuses, and building managers at city, state and federal level. The teleconference is also specifically addressed at professionals in design, retrofit and auditing firms who want to understand the developments in building benchmarking, how to express and measure the various  more...

Climate Change and Federal Greenhouse Gas Reporting Rules BenefitsOn October 30, 2009, EPA published the Greenhouse Gasa Reporting Rule, which required approximately 10,000 facilities in a broad range of industrial and manufacturing sectors to begin monitoring and reporting greenhouse gas emissions. The rule is intended to inform EPA policy decisions, including possible new source performance standards for GHGs under the Clean Air Act. This  more...

A Comprehensive Approach to Building Excellent ADA Facilities within the Public Right-of-Way BenefitsMany state and local entities have found full compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act within the public right-of-way to be a difficult goal to achieve. This teleconference will provide proven techniques that will increase the chances of fully completing the ADA facilities the first time without costly mistakes or retrofits. This practical approach coordinates the survey,  more...

Estate Planning for Non-Traditional Couples ...tes should something happen to their partner; and (2) The Federal government provides certain advantages to married couples for purposes of tax planning. Nevertheless, a non-traditional couple, in the absence of proactive planning, will be, other than (a) being 'lucky' enough to die during the time where the estate tax has been repealed, or (b) once the estate tax is reinstated, use their  more...

OFCCP Compliance for Construction Contractors ...federal government are subject to numerous nondiscrimination obligations under Executive Order 11246, the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, and the Vietnam Era Veterans Readjustment Assistance Act. Because of the renewed emphasis on construction contractors by the Department of Labor's Office of Federal Contract Compliance Programs, contractors must be well prepared to defend their employment  more...

Your Organization's Obligations Under the FTC's Red Flags Rule: A Comprehensive Overview ...Federal Trade Commission's Identity Theft Red Flags Rule is set to go into effect on June 1, 2010. Yet, uncertainty remains as to which organizations are subject to the rule and what it takes to comply with the rule's requirements. Compliance is further complicated by the rule's nonprescriptive nature. Rather than tell organizations subject to the rule what they must include in their identity  more...

Discipline and Termination Considerations for Employees on Leave ...orced to terminate employees, they should be cognizant of federal and state laws that may be implicated with respect to employees on leave. Employee leave can be as short as a few hours to vote, several months to care for a newborn or longer than a year due to a disability. In the event that an employee who is on leave will be terminated, whether for cause or for economic reasons, employers  more...

Determining When an Individual With a Disability Is "Qualified" Under the ADA ...qual Employment Opportunity Commission and decisions from federal courts across the country, this teleconference will provide participants with information they can use to (1) make sure that job requirements (including employment tests and physical standards) accurately reflect the duties of a job; (2) write a job description or job announcement that appropriately identifies a job's essential  more...

Dissolving Business Entities ... partnerships and limited liability companies, nor on the federal income tax consequences associated with such liquidations. This teleconference will help you become familiar with the basic state law mechanics with respect to dissolutions and liquidations and the federal income tax risks, differences and opportunities associated with dissolutions and liquidations. This teleconference will help  more...

Fair Lending Compliance Developments and Trends ...teleconference you will learn about recent litigation and federal regulatory guidance concerning fair lending issues in mortgage servicing, including mortgage modifications and home equity credit line reductions. The speaker will review recent regulatory guidance concerning adverse action notice requirements for mortgage modifications, and ability to repay mortgage loan underwriting  more...

Understanding Insider Lending and Regulation O ... insiders as set forth in Sections 22(g) and 22(h) of the Federal Reserve Act (12 USC 375a and 375b) and its accompanying Regulation O of the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System (R CFR 215). Recordkeeping requirements and compliance will be addressed. There will also be an overview of the impact of Regulation W and the relationships between a bank and its holding company.  more...

Prequalification in Government Construction Contracts ... recognize and deal with prequalification requirements in federal contracts. State and local government procurements such as the Model Procurement Code, entities under federal grant programs and bidders' due process rights will also be discussed. Learning Objectives: - You will be able to discuss the relationship between prequalification and responsibility. - You will be able to review the  more...

Current Issues in Development Impact Fees ...ncluding important recent judicial decisions in state and federal courts addressing development fees and exactions. Learning Objectives - You will be able to discuss the relationship between development fees, exactions of land, regulatory set-asides, and in-kind taxes. - You will be able to review the applicability of Nollan/Dolan. - You will be able to define development agreements and fees.  more...

Best Practices to Manage Your Multistate Payroll ...l spell out the significant differences between state and federal laws with respect to overtime, taxable income, break periods and garnishments. We will answer common questions such as 'Which state laws do I need to comply with if my employees work out of state?', 'Do I need multiple policies for all my employees or a separate policy for each state that I have employees in?' Human resource  more...

Value Engineering Change Proposals in Government Contracting ...federal contractors are greatly focused on achieving cost reductions in their production processes, such as through lean manufacturing and Six Sigma programs, to become more competitive and increase profits. However, few contractors take advantage of a contractual tool, the Value Engineering ('VE') contract clause, which was established specifically to provide increased profits from cost  more...

Voir Dire: Effective Techniques for Getting and Using the Information You Need nVoir dire is one of the most important phases of a jury trial. However, the rules and procedures governing the jury selection process are often informal, subject to the broad discretion of the trial court, and can vary widely between jurisdictions, judges and even different cases before the same judge. A trial lawyer's strike decisions are some of the most important strategic decisions made in  more...

Paid Sick Leave Update: Policies and Procedures in an Evolving Workplace ...f an employer does not already do so. And while currently federal law only mandates unpaid leave for covered employers, in the near future, it is possible that paid-sick leave programs will be mandated by the federal government. How can employers maintain absence-control programs in light of these evolving legal obligations? Learn about what states and localities have laws that address paid  more...

FCRA and FACT Act Regulatory and Litigation Update 2009 ...federal rules under the Fair Credit Reporting Act and Fair and Accurate Credit Transactions Act have become effective. These rules restrict cross-marketing by financial institutions and other companies; impose new requirements on companies that use credit reports; and require lenders and others to establish new fraud prevention programs. In addition, a spate of federal court decisions  more...

Writing an Employee Handbook nAre you overwhelmed with the task of revising your existing employee handbook or of preparing a new employee handbook? Are you unclear about what types of employment policies are required by federal law? Stop worrying and attend this teleconference. You will learn which policies are required by law and what employment laws apply to employee handbooks. Take the first step to creating your employee  more...

California Employment Law Update ...set of employment laws, which are often inconsistent with federal law. This three-hour teleconference will address the most important and current issues facing California employers (or out-of-state companies with employees in California), including wage and hour compliance and litigation trends, California's unique disability and discrimination laws, recently enacted legislation, and important  more...

An Overview of Maritime Law Torts nAdmiralty law is expansive in its reach covering operations in brown water, blue water and offshore industries. The issues are complex and often involve federal and state law conflicts. An overview of maritime law torts addresses the primary and secondary issues arising out of Jones Act, USL&H and OCSLA claims. This teleconference is of practical interest to the occasional and experienced  more...

Management and Protection of Wetland Buffers ...erve as a source of detritus for aquatic food webs. Under federal and state regulatory mechanisms that have been promulgated to manage jurisdictional wetlands, these important areas are often overlooked or purposefully ignored. This teleconference will review the ecological benefits and functions of wetland buffers, and will discuss management and protection of these important features. n  more...

Key Components of an Effective Mentor Program ...communities, youth serving agencies, corporations and the federal government are working to provide solutions to the most pressing problems facing school aged youth today. The challenges include improving attitudes about school, reducing absenteeism, keeping youth away from risky behavior (e.g., drugs, alcohol and gang activity) and improving their academic performance. n nIt is widely  more...

Utilizing Congestion Pricing to Reduce Traffic Congestion and Generate Infrastructure Revenue ...nd understand how to avail yourself of resources from the Federal Highway Administration to help them move forward with this approach. This teleconference is critical for state and local public officials and professionals seeking solutions to growing congestion and infrastructure funding problems. n nLearning Objectives n- You will be able to summarize congestion pricing. n- You will be able to  more...

Cumulative Impact Claims nCumulative impact claims may be one of the more common occurrences on projects with multiple changes over the course of the project. However, cumulative impact claims may be one of the most difficult claims to present and prove at trial or in arbitration. Evidentiary issues, logistics of proving what the cumulative impact was and proving damages can prove to be very difficult. Defenses to  more...

Impact of the New ADA Amendments on Schools ...federal legislation took effect that dramatically expanded the range of individuals eligible for protections guaranteed by the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990. ADA specified the rights guaranteed to individuals broadly qualified as "disabled." These rights applied to the areas of hiring and working conditions for all employees and also to students eligible for education accommodations  more...

Preparing for and Properly Reacting To Legal and Illegal Drug and Alcohol Use in the Workplace ...roblem improperly can lead to significant liability under federal and law, including the Americans With Disabilities Act and employee privacy laws. This teleconference will help you understand what laws may govern or affect workplace decisions relating to drugs and alcohol. You will also learn how to develop appropriate policies that can be tailored to particular workplaces, train managers on  more...

Client Rights Issues: Informed Consent and Confidentiality ...federal laws contain myriad requirements intended to protect client rights. Most importantly are those that relate to rights regarding providing informed consent and privacy of health information. However, many health care providers do not understand the complex intersections of regulatory and common law requirements for obtaining consent and protecting client privacy. Failure to properly  more...

Paycheck Calculation Basics nThis is an excellent teleconference for those new at withholding payroll taxes or for those who need a refresher course. You will learn tips on how and why to determine if the worker is exempt or nonexempt. We will cover the calculation of and the maximum deductions for Social Security and Medicare taxes in 2009. n nThere are multiple methods of calculating federal withholding, which one should  more...

The Do's and Don'ts of Telephone Monitoring ...g business. This monitoring must comply not only with the federal wiretap statute, but with a variety of differing requirements imposed by state statutes. Since courts in California have changed the rules for telephone monitoring for anyone who makes a call into California and other states with mutual consent rules may follow suit, it is imperative that any company engaging in telephone  more...

Clean Water Act Jurisdiction Guidance Under the New Administration - Rapanos or Oberstar? ...federal regulatory landscape affecting development in and around waters of the United States was significantly altered by the Rapanos decision. Indeed, that landscape continues to shift as the Army Corps and the courts respond in new ways to a perceived loss of jurisdiction. This teleconference will help you understand the ever-changing jurisdictional landscape and navigate a course to project  more...

Updating and Maintaining Wills, Trusts and Estate Plans for the Evolving Client ...built into the document and address future changes to the federal and state estate and inheritance tax rules. This teleconference will benefit any attorney who drafts, prepares or reviews wills, trusts and estate plans, and it's an excellent refresher course for the experienced drafting attorney. You'll get information on how other drafting attorneys are addressing certain drafting issues. For  more...

Current Trends in Green Lending nDon't let the housing market slow down get you down. Learn an exciting new business opportunity while aiding the environment. Green lending, also known as Energy Efficient Mortgages, have been around for more than decade but have been seldom used. With the growing concerns over the nation's addiction to imported oil and climate change there is a new push to create a greater market demand for this  more...

On-Site Power Generation: Challenges, Opportunities and New Developments ... in this field include new air quality requirements under federal New Source Performance Standards and federal NESHAPS. These new requirements are in effect now and additional NSPS requirements are being implemented in a tiered approach over the next few years. You will learn how to navigate these complex requirements and in some cases how to avoid them through project planning. n nThe U.S.  more...

Green Contracting: the Federal Government's Procurement Policies ...federal contractors will have questions regarding the effective implementation of the OFPP policy and will further be concerned as to whether its costs will impact their competitiveness or ability to perform economically. Additionally, the monitoring and reporting that the government will require will have an impact on time and costs and one wonders if contractual sanctions will be imposed for  more...

Sustainable Development and Land Use: The Future is Here and it is Green ...uction to green building as well as an up-to-date tour of federal, state and local enactments in the area of sustainable land use laws, zoning ordinances and building codes. n nLearning Objectives n- You will be able to discuss compelling public policy considerations that are driving regulations. n- You will be able to state goals of green building. n- You will be able to apply leading high  more...

Answers to Top 10 Common Payroll Questions ... payroll practices, which may be entirely compliant under federal regulations, do not comply with differing state laws and regulations. Register for this teleconference and learn how to prevent 10 common payroll-related mistakes that employers face, such as proper pay statements, how to correctly calculate pay and overtime, accounting for vacation and time off policies, and special pay  more...

Issues Surrounding Student Discipline ...olicies and ensuring compliance with applicable state and federal law. It will also help you understand the purpose of the law that regulates student discipline so that you can better appreciate when a policy or practice might pose a potential problem for your organization. n nLearning Objectives n- You will be able to review the constitutional and statutory right to free public education. n-  more...