On July 1, 2014, the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) released Form 1023-EZ, a streamlined alternative to the venerable IRS standard-bearer in the world of nonprofits – Form 1023 Application for Recognition of Exemption Under Section 501(c)(3). The original Form 1023, weighing in at a robust 26 pages (including 7 schedules), can be burdensome,...
By Laurie E. Meyer On December 11, 2014, the National Labor Relations Board (“NLRB”), in a 3-2 decision, ruled that employees have a statutory right to use their employer’s email systems for purposes of engaging in “protected, concerted activity” as well as union organizing efforts. This decision Purple Communications, Inc. v. Communications...
This information update summarizes public safety interest arbitration awards that have been issued since our update of July 2013. (See: Davis & Kuelthau “Arbitrators' Awards Arrive”, December 19, 2012, and “Arbitrators’ Awards Update”, July 18, 2013). Readers are encouraged to read the entire award for a complete understanding of each case....
By Mark G. Kmiecik The final months of 2014 are a great time to finalize your tax planning opportunities and set the stage for minimizing your tax outlay in 2015. As a business owner, please be aware that in the wake of the election, sources indicate tax extenders are likely to pass, with some differences between the two houses in Congress being...
Within the last four months, the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) has filed lawsuits against two (2) Wisconsin employers and one Minnesota employer alleging that each of the employers’ workplace wellness programs were in violation of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). The EEOC has been able to file such lawsuits because the...
By D&K's School and Higher Education Law Team As part of Educator Effectiveness, student teachers in Wisconsin must create and submit to peer review video clips of the student teacher engaged in teaching activities. The video clips will capture the student teacher interacting with K-12 students in the classrooms of Wisconsin public school...
By Joseph S. Heino At a recent Food & Beverage CEO Roundtable hosted by the Milwaukee Business Journal, Giacomo Fallucca of Palermo Villa, Inc. succinctly and effectively offered this advice to attendees: “Build your brand.” Say no more. In three words, he nailed it. To your company, its brand is its lifeblood. To everyone else, it is an...
The Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit, in VIRNETX, Inc. v. Cisco Sys. Inc, recently reversed a $368 million dollar patent infringement verdict because the plaintiff calculated its damages as a portion of the entire market value of the product as opposed to apportioning its damages to the infringing software component of the product. In its...
By Elizabeth K. Miles When making a pitch to perform work on a construction project, architects, engineers, and contractors often tout their experience and their ability to bring a project within budget. When a project goes bad, it may be tempting for an owner to characterize the contractor’s, architect’s, or engineer’s statements about...
By D&K's School and Higher Education Law Team The Wisconsin Employment Relations Commission’s administrative rules governing annual union certification elections are permanent as of July 1, 2014. The only difference between the previous temporary rules and the new permanent rules is the deadline for unions representing school district...
