Insights

December

• 12/21/2018
  Client Alert: 2018 “Farm Bill” Creates New Opportunities for Patients, Producers of Hemp-Derived CBD
  On December 20, 2018, President Trump signed the Agricultural Improvement Act of 2018, popularly known as the “Farm Bill” of 2018, into law.
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• 12/20/2018
  • Victor J. Ferguson
  • John F. Furniss III
  • David A. Groenke
  • Emily S. Pan
  • Michael G. Schwartz
  • David A. Swift
  • Mark E. Vannatta
  • Suzanne R. Galyardt
  • Karen M. Moore
  No Clawback - A Holiday Gift From The IRS
  In the 2017 Tax Act, the “basic exclusion amount” was doubled from $5,000,000 to $10,000,000.
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• 12/18/2018
  State and Local Tax Alert: Ohio Supreme Court Decision on Employment Services Requires Closer Analysis; Broad Tax Exclusion Not Likely Intended
  For nearly 30 years, Ohio taxpayers have been searching for an “easy answer” to avoid sales tax on employment services. The recent decision by the Ohio Supreme Court in Seaton Corp. v. Testa may give some searchers hope.
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• 12/18/2018
  Labor and Employment Alert: District Court Holds ACA Unconstitutional – But That’s Not The Final Word On The Issue
  On December 14, 2018, a District Court in Texas held that the Affordable Care Act (ACA) is unconstitutional.  Texas v. United States, No. 4:18-cv-00167 (N.D. Tex. 12/14/2018).   While the case makes its way through the appeal process, group health plan sponsors should continue to comply with the ACA.
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• 12/14/2018
  Oil and Gas Alert: Supreme Court of Ohio Clarifies Ohio Marketable Title Act
  On December 13, 2018, the Supreme Court of Ohio clarified the preservation of interests under the Ohio Marketable Title Act (OMTA).
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• 12/11/2018
  State and Local Tax Alert: When 'Pi in the Sky' is Too Good to be True: Ohio Sales Tax and Aircraft Leasing
  The Ohio Supreme Court issued a second sales tax decision involving the sale-for-resale exemption in as many weeks.
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• 12/4/2018
  Client Alert: New IRS Proposed Regulations Under Section 956 Substantially Reduce ‘Deemed Dividend’ Concerns With Respect To The Use Of Foreign Credit Support For US Corporate Financings
  On October 31, 2018, the Internal Revenue Service and the Department of the Treasury released proposed regulations under Section 956 of the Internal Revenue Code (Proposed Regulations) that, for certain U.S. corporate shareholders, generally undo the “deemed dividend” rules that have applied to foreign corporate subsidiaries for decades.
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• 12/4/2018
  Intellectual Property Alert: Federal Circuit Finds Computer Security Innovation to be Patent-Eligible
  The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit has once again held that a software innovation is eligible for patenting as a claimed improvement in computer functionality.
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• 12/3/2018
  Labor and Employment Alert: Deadline to Distribute 2018 Form 1095-Cs to Employees Extended
  On November 29, 2018, the IRS announced a 32-day extension of the deadline to distribute 2018 Form 1095-Cs to employees.
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November

• 11/30/2018
  Client Alert: Pennsylvania Supreme Court Requires Employers to Protect Employee Information from Computer Hacks
  On November 21, 2018, the Pennsylvania Supreme Court issued a far-reaching decision that “an employer has a legal duty to exercise reasonable care to safeguard its employees’ sensitive personal information stored by the employer on an internet-accessible computer system.”
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• 11/27/2018
  • Thomas H. Fusonie
  • Daniel E. Shuey
  • Andrew P. Guran
  Nuisance Lawsuits May Threaten Livestock Farmers
  Vorys attorneys Tom Fusonie, Dan Shuey and Andrew Guran co-authored an article for Farm and Dairy titled “Nuisance Lawsuits May Threaten Livestock Farmers.”
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• 11/26/2018
  State and Local Tax Alert: Ohio Supreme Court Clarifies Sales Tax Law on Business Purchase of Promotional Items
  This holiday season, Ohio based professional sports teams have at least one tax reason for which they can give thanks. On the day before Thanksgiving, the Ohio Supreme Court announced its decision in Cincinnati Reds, LLC v. Testa (November 21, 2018), Slip Op. 2018 Ohio 4669.
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• 11/21/2018
  Securities Alert: ISS Issues 2019 Proxy Voting Guidelines Updates
  On November 19, 2018, Institutional Shareholder Services Inc. (ISS) released updates to its proxy voting guidelines for 2019 (2019 Updates).
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• 11/21/2018
  • Gretchen M. Rutz
  Predictive analytics could help prevent student suicides
  Gretchen Rutz, an associate in the Vorys Columbus, authored an op-ed for The Columbus Dispatch titled “Column: Predictive analytics could help prevent student suicides.”
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• 11/20/2018
  Client Alert: Ohio Law Cements a Link for Blockchain Technology
  Earlier this month, Ohio legislation became effective that removes doubt as to the enforceability of electronic signatures, records, and contracts that are secured through blockchain technology. The amendment makes Ohio one of only a few states to expressly identify blockchain technology in its laws – positioning Ohio as a blockchain-friendly state for a technology, around which both regulatory and business uncertainty loom due to its infancy and breadth of potential applications.
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• 11/20/2018
  Client Alert: Austin, Texas, Paid Sick Leave Law Ruled Unconstitutional
  A Texas Court of Appeals recently ruled that the City of Austin’s paid sick leave law is unconstitutional under Texas law.
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• 11/15/2018
  • Victor J. Ferguson
  • John F. Furniss III
  • David A. Groenke
  • Emily S. Pan
  • Michael G. Schwartz
  • David A. Swift
  • Mark E. Vannatta
  • Suzanne R. Galyardt
  • Karen M. Moore
  Charitable Strategies Remain for Tax-Minded Donors
  The Tax Cuts and Jobs Act that was signed into law at the end of 2017 made sweeping changes to many laws affecting donors.
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• 11/13/2018
  Labor and Employment Alert: Treasury Department Releases Proposed Regulations Addressing Awaited Guidance On Hardship Distributions
  New hardship distribution regulations have been proposed for 401(k) and 403(b) retirement plans. Clients will need to make decisions about what changes they want to adopt and when.
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• Fall 2018
  • Jeffery E. Smith
  • Gregory J. Zelasko
  Raising Capital or Issuing Debt for Community Institutions
  One of the very first considerations in deciding to issue new capital or debt involves whether the issuing institution desires to conduct a “public” offering, or a “private placement” which qualifies for an exemption from registration with the United States Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC).
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• Fall 2018
  • Jeffery E. Smith
  Continued Uncertainty in Banking Marijuana Businesses in Ohio
  With Ohio entering the medicinal marijuana age, bankers unfortunately continue to have no clear direction when it comes to banking marijuana-related businesses (MRBs).
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