Insights

July

• 7/8/2013
  Labor and Employment Alert: U.S. Supreme Court Strikes DOMA's Definition of "Spouse", Expanding FMLA Coverage for Employees in Legally Recognized Same-Sex Marriages
  The United States Supreme Court recently issued its long-awaited decision in United States v. Windsor, No. 12-307, ruling that the section of the Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA) that required federal laws to ignore same-sex marriages that are legally entered into under an applicable state law is unconstitutional.
  Read more »
• 7/8/2013
  Immigration Alert: Effect of DOMA Decision on Immigration Law
  On June 26, 2013, the Supreme Court of the United States held in United States v. Windsor that Section 3 of the Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA) violated the equal protection clause of the Fifth Amendment of the Constitution.
  Read more »
• 7/2/2013
  Client Alert: Significant Ohio Tax Changes Included in the 2014/2015 Budget Bill
  On Sunday June 30, 2013, Governor Kasich signed Ohio’s biennial budget bill, which includes numerous provisions impacting Ohio taxpayers. Though the tax reforms in the final bill are not as sweeping as originally proposed, they will still impact virtually every state tax in some fashion.
  Read more »
• 7/2/2013
  Client Alert: Lake Facilities Authorities Established in House Bill 59
  On June 30, 2013, Governor Kasich signed Am. Sub House Bill 59 (H.B. 59), which is the operating budget bill for state fiscal year 2014. H.B. 59 includes language authorizing the establishment of a "Lake Facilities Authority" to rehabilitate, improve or promote an "impacted watershed."
  Read more »
• 7/2/2013
  Labor and Employment Alert: University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center v. Nassar: Court Requires High Standard In Title VII Retaliation Cases
  The United States Supreme Court recently handed down an important decision regarding the proof required for plaintiffs asserting retaliation claims under Title VII.  In University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center v. Nassar, the Court held that Title VII retaliation plaintiffs must prove that their protected activity was a "but-for" cause of the adverse employment action suffered by the employee, rather than simply a "motivating factor."
  Read more »
• 7/1/2013
  Client Alert: Expanded Data Center Sales and Use Tax Exemption in House Bill 59
  On June 30, 2013, Governor Kasich signed Am. Sub House Bill 59 (H.B. 59), which is the operating budget bill for state fiscal year 2014. H.B. 59 expands upon the scope of the sales and use tax exemption for purchases of certain tangible personal property that will be used at an eligible computer data center (the Data Center Exemption).
  Read more »
• 7/1/2013
  Ohio Statehouse Update: Governor Kasich Signs Biennial Budget Bill, Issues Veto Statement
  On Sunday evening, Governor John Kasich signed House Bill 59, the state's two-year, $62 billion budget into law, just in time for the beginning of the new state fiscal year on July 1, 2013.
  Read more »
• 7/1/2013
  Client Alert: Economic Development Incentives Provisions in House Bill 59
  On June 30, 2013, Governor Kasich signed Am. Sub House Bill 59 (H.B. 59), which is the operating budget bill for state fiscal year 2014. H.B. 59 includes several economic development incentives-related provisions, the most significant of which are described in this alert.
  Read more »
• 7/1/2013
  Regulators’ Scrutiny and Guidance for Mobile Apps
  Benita Kahn and Eric Whisler authored an article for STORES Magazine titled “Regulators’ Scrutiny and Guidance for Mobile Apps.” In the article, the authors state that the increase in consumers’ use of smartphones and tablets has caught the attention of regulators.
  Read more »

June

• 6/26/2013
  Ohio Statehouse Update: House-Senate Conference Committee Reports Compromise Version of State Budget Bill
  Last night on a 4-2 party line vote the Conference Committee on House Bill 59, led by the chairmen of the House and Senate Finance Committees, Rep. Ron Amstutz (R-Wooster) and Sen. Scott Oelslager (R-Canton), reported a compromise version of the state’s biennial budget bill that will now head to the House and Senate floor for a final vote to accept the changes.
  Read more »
• 6/25/2013
  Labor and Employment Alert: U.S. Supreme Court Favors Narrow, but Workable Definition of "Supervisor" for Title VII Hostile Work Environment Claims
  The U.S. Supreme Court has limited who is deemed a "supervisor" for purposes of Title VII hostile work environment claims, holding that the individual must have been empowered to take tangible employment action against the party claiming harassment.
  Read more »
• 6/21/2013
  Trending: Broad Whistleblower Protection
  Mary Henkel, of counsel in the Vorys Cincinnati office, authored a column entitled "Trending: Broad Whistleblower Protection", which appeared in the June 21, 2013 edition of Employment Law360.
  Read more »
• 6/19/2013
  Client Alert: Appellate Win Provides Significant Guidance on the Ohio Uniform Fiduciaries Act
  The United States Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit recently clarified the operation of the Ohio Uniform Fiduciaries Act (UFA) when it affirmed the dismissal of a complaint alleging multiple claims against a banking client. The Complaint arose out of the misappropriation of funds by the authorized fiduciary of trust and estate accounts held at the bank.
  Read more »
• 6/2013
  • Ryan D. Elliott
  CERCLA Liability – Current Owner’s Inaction Bars Liability Defense
  Ryan Elliott, an associate in the Vorys Columbus office, authored an article for the American Bar Association’s Real Property, Trust & Estate Law Section’s RPTE eReport.
  Read more »
• 6/12/2013
  Takeaways from USPTO's 1st Covered Business Method Review
  Carey Jordan and Iona Kaiser, partners in the Houston office and members of the intellectual property group, co-authored an article for Law360 titled "Takeaways from USPTO's 1st Covered Business Method Review."
  Read more »
• 6/5/2013
  Labor and Employment Alert: Changes for Wellness Programs
  New final regulations for wellness programs apply to plan years beginning on and after January 1, 2014. If you have a wellness program and a health plan operating on a calendar year, you will want to consider the new requirements in preparing for 2014 open enrollment.
  Read more »
• May-June 2013
  Another Taxpayer Victory on Due Process Grounds—Consolidated Filing and Use of Trademarks Are Not Enough to Constitutionally Create Franchise Tax Nexus
  Laura Kulwicki, an attorney in the Vorys Akron office and a member of the probate and tax group, authored an article titled "Another Taxpayer Victory on Due Process Grounds—Consolidated Filing and Use of Trademarks Are Not Enough to Constitutionally Create Franchise Tax Nexusfor the May-June 2013 edition of the Journal of State Taxation.
  Read more »
• 6/1/2013
  • Carey C. Jordan
  • Iona N. Kaiser
  2012 Nanotechnology Patent Review
  Carey Jordan and Iona Kaiser, partners in the Houston office and members of the intellectual property group, co-authored an article for Nanotechnology Law & Business titled "2012 Nanotechnology Patent Review."
  Read more »

May

• 5/29/2013
  Ohio Statehouse Update: Ohio Senate Finance Committee Unveils Substitute Budget Bill
  Yesterday afternoon the Senate Finance Committee unveiled a substitute version of House Bill 59, the state biennial budget bill. The substitute legislation incorporates many changes, significant among which is the replacement of an across-the-board 7% income tax cut proposed in the House-passed version of the bill with a tax cut package specifically targeted at helping small businesses in Ohio.
  Read more »
• 5/21/2013
  Labor and Employment Alert: Notice of Coverage Options
  Employers must distribute a new Notice of Coverage Options to all employees (full-time and part-time, regardless of eligibility for benefits). The initial distribution of the Notice must be before October 1, 2013. Thereafter, the Notice must be given to each new employee within 14 days after work begins.
  Read more »