Federal Telephone Seminars - Training Resources

Telecommuting: The Next Wave of Wage and Hour Litigation ...as class actions) claiming violation of various state and federal wage and hour laws, suggesting a new trend in wage and hour litigation. If you currently have nonexempt telecommuting employees or are considering allowing nonexempt employees to telecommute, you need to be aware of the legal landscape affecting such employees and take steps to comply with all applicable legal requirements.  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...

California's New State Court E-Discovery Rules: Do Try This At Home ...overy issues. The new 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. At this teleconference, you will participate in an intensive, practical discussion with an expert as to the new  more...

IRS Guidelines for Good Governance and the Continued Tax Exemption of Section 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...

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...

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...

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...

How to Sell to the U.S. Government ...usinesses want to sell their services and products to the federal government, but find the process confusing and filled with dead ends and frustration. They see competitors winning contracts but cannot seem to get through to decision makers, or they waste time and resources responding to bids that they never win. This teleconference demystifies the federal contracting process and identifies a  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...

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...

Current Issues in Cell Tower Regulation ... description of the major issues and decisions in current federal zoning cases involving cellular towers, practice pointers on how municipalities can successfully handle cell tower zoning cases, and a description of the new federal backup power rule for cell towers and its implications for municipalities. You will gain a useful understanding regarding wireless communications technology for  more...

Affirmative Action in Employment - What Does It Really Mean? ...Federal Contract Compliance Programs is the government agency charged with enforcement of affirmative action regulations. It is armed with a new leader and an increased budget. During fiscal year 2008, the OFCCP recovered a record $67,510,982 in back pay for salary and benefits on behalf of 24,508 individuals who, in OFCCP's view, were subjected to unlawful employment discrimination. The FY  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 teleconference 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...

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...

New Federal Rule of Evidence 502 - Preservation or Waiver of the Attorney Client Privilege and Work Product Protection in Federa ...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 90-minute teleconference will discuss the elements of the  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...

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...

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...

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 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. Human resource managers, personnel managers,  more...

Current Issues in Real Estate Appraisals ...ost important question is always - What is the value? All federally regulated institutions are required by law to have due diligence and appraisals completed. When this process is short cut, not understood or abused, the financial wheels come off and billions of dollars are at risk. This teleconference will help you understand the appraisal process, identify of risk in appraisals and  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...

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...

Sales and Use Taxation of Internet Sales: The Evolving Case Law ...federal funds available for state governments are reduced, many states are taking aggressive positions in an attempt to impose sales and use tax obligations on interstate transactions. Internet sellers face a murky and sometimes ill-defined landscape with respect to sales and use taxes that are impacted by both state law and federal constitutional principles. This teleconference will help  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...

Trucking Litigation ...egotiate the waters and learn how the myriad of confusing federal and state regulations could torpedo your case. Hear from the former top U.S. D.O.T. trucking lawyer on how to utilize federal and state information to help bolster your case. You will also hear from a veteran trial lawyer on how to prepare your case from start to finish. Hear how new cases and regulations may affect your clients.  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...

The 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...

Determining Meaningful Use for Electronic Health Records ...ce is intended to provide you with a timely update on the federal government's requirements for 'meaningful use' for eligibility for stimulus funding. Topics will include the latest criteria for 'meaningful use' (including the Meaningful use matrix and reporting standards), the financial incentive time line, what constitutes a 'certified' EHR and federal objectives for electronic health  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...

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...

Options Under Section 504 ...itsPublic and private educational facilities that receive federal assistance must comply with the Rehabilitation Act Amendments of 1973, concerning the rights of disabled employees and students. An educational facility's failure to comply with this law and its related regulations can result in a school being assessed with significant liability, including potential loss of federal funds.  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...

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...

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...

Ethical Issues in Effective Settlement Negotiations ...ze the recent guidance from the ABA 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 teleconference will better equip you to strike an appropriate and effective balance between the need to represent clients vigorously and the need to  more...

Wellness Programs: Legal Developments, Requirements and Risks ...s from the private sector. But privacy advocates and some federal regulators take the position that wellness programs erode individual rights. Despite the regulatory uncertainties, more employers than ever are looking to wellness programs to control health insurance costs. Some employers are providing incentives to employees who participate in wellness programs, follow disease management  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...

Prevailing Wage Law--An Understanding of The Davis-Bacon Act ...e actions. The U.S. Department of Labor and the Office of Federal Contract Compliance Programs have also 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 will also result in additional prevailing wage  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...

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...

Health Care Reform: Implications for Employers, Insurers, and Individuals ... United States economy and on our personal lives than any federal legislation in the past 100 years. Beyond the partisan politics and media hype are the practical concerns of employers, HR professionals, attorneys, third-party administrators, and other consultants and professionals who work with group health plans and related benefits on a daily basis. This teleconference will address the  more...

Fundamentals of SBA Lending: Documenting, Closing and Funding the SBA Loan ...e time, secure a 50 to 90 percent 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 seismic changes occurring to the program over the last several months, it is critical to understand the new regulations and the way to make the SBA loan programs  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 teleconference will give you  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...

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...

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...

Federal Flood Plain Regulation ...er facilities that mitigate flood risk. In extreme cases, federal flood insurance will be mandated in new areas at increased premiums and private flood insurance will be unavailable or rates will be unaffordable. FEMA is currently in the process of rolling-out FIRM maps that will initiate these impacts to communities nationwide. Learn about these changes and the impacts on flood plain  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...

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...

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...

Protecting Attorney Work Product in Communications With Testifying and Consulting Experts ... discoverability of expert communications with a focus on federal treatment of testifying and nontestifying experts. It will also discuss the sweeping changes in those rules that could take place by December 2010 under the proposed amendments to Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 26. This teleconference will review privilege and work product protections as applied to expert materials. Our faculty  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...

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...

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...

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 the U.N. Secretary General, the British Prime Minister, the Federal Trade Commission, the Social Security  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...

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...

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...

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. Learn resources and strategies for managing workplace injury claims of employees with pre-existing health conditions. The  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...

Understanding Pregnancy Leave and Return to Work Issues ...federal and state law, employers must not treat pregnant employees any differently from other employees. But, what exactly does this mean? Questions often arise as to how much leave a woman may take, what her rights are when she is on leave and what rights does she have when she returns to work. Employers often times are unwittingly violating the law. This teleconference will help you avoid  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...

Understanding the New GFE and HUD-1/IA 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...

FDCPA Claims Based on Collection Letters ... teleconference is designed to provide an overview of the Federal Fair Debt Practices Act; an explanation of key terms and definitions under the FDCPA; practical guidance on how the FDCPA applies to collection letters; a discussion of recent cases involving claims arising from the use, or misuse of collection letters; and practical forms and checklists for ensuring compliance with the FDCPA.  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...

Internal ERISA Audits: Getting It Right Before the Government Shows Up nEmployee benefits plans are subject to a large number of requirements imposed by the Employee Retirement Income Security Act and by other laws such as the Internal Revenue Code. Failure to comply with these complex and ever-changing requirements could lead to substantial penalties or even the meltdown of the plan. This teleconference will highlight a number of these requirements and show you how  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...

Handling Federal Garnishments from Receipt to Termination ...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 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 garnished funds  more...

Unrelated Business Income Tax - Tax Information for Charities and Other Nonprofits ...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...

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...

401(k) Plan Costs Including Recent Update on Supreme Court Rule LaRue v. DeWolff, Boberg & Associates Inc. ... 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...

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...

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...

Common NEPA Mistakes and How to Avoid Them ...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...

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...

Appellate Process Basics for Legal Professionals nFiling an appeal is a specialized process with particular requirements and deadlines. Failure to follow the appropriate procedures can be fatal to an appeal or, at a minimum, compromise its chance of success. A paralegal's thorough assistance is invaluable in making certain the rules are followed and obligations are met. This teleconference will provide you with an overview of the life cycle of a  more...

E-Verify Mandates and Mechanisms for Compliance nE-Verify is an online system that allows participating employers to check the work status of new hires by comparing information from an employee's Form I-9 against Social Security Administration and Department of Homeland Security databases. Although initially implemented as a voluntary program, many states now require the use of E-Verify. Additionally, as a result of a presidential executive  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...