Author: mskllp

Since 1908, Mitchell Silberberg & Knupp LLP (MSK) has proven its ability to understand the complex, demystify the mysterious, and define the unknown. With more than 130 lawyers and offices in Los Angeles, New York, and Washington D.C., MSK is often distinguished as a “go-to” firm by industry and legal insiders, and has extensive experience in a variety of practice areas, including Entertainment & IP Litigation, Labor & Employment, Entertainment Transactions, Immigration, Corporate Securities, Regulatory, Tax, Trusts & Estates, Real Estate and International Trade. Relentlessly innovative, our lawyers have developed groundbreaking legislation, established influential precedents, and shaped the legal landscape. For more information, visit www.msk.com.
Labor & Employment

California Court Rules that Employers May Be On The Hook For Unreimbursed Remote Work Expenses

Written by Jeremy Mittman and Kyle DeCamp Last week, in a decision of interest to California employers, a California judge denied Amazon’s request to dismiss a lawsuit that claims the company had no policy in place to reimburse employees for expenses incurred while working from home, in violation of state law. Background A senior software development engineer sued Amazon for reimbursement of expenses he alleged … Continue reading California Court Rules that Employers May Be On The Hook For Unreimbursed Remote Work Expenses

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Intellectual Property

Industrial Strength Parody – Fair Use and Musicals

Written by Ian Logan On May 12, 2022, Judge Laura Taylor Swain of the Southern District of New York held that Vape—a parodic retelling of famous musical Grease through a feminist lens—constitutes fair use.  See Sketchworks Industrial Strength Comedy, Inc. v. James H. Jacobs, et al., No. 19-CV-7470-LTS-VF, 2022 WL 1501024 (S.D.N.Y May 12, 2022).  The case was initiated by Sketchworks, a Georgia-based sketch comedy … Continue reading Industrial Strength Parody – Fair Use and Musicals

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Labor & Employment

Walmart Dodges Claim for “Waiting Time Penalties” Under California Law In Helpful Independent Contractor Law Decision

Written by Jeremy Mittman In a case that may be helpful to California companies who engage models or actors for photoshoots, commercials, or advertisements, Walmart prevailed over a model’s California wage claims last week when the Ninth Circuit found in Hill v. Walmart, Inc. that the retailer had a “good faith belief”—and therefore a defense— that it appropriately classified her as an independent contractor. Background … Continue reading Walmart Dodges Claim for “Waiting Time Penalties” Under California Law In Helpful Independent Contractor Law Decision

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Cybersecurity, Regulatory

Are You Sure Your Website Terms and Conditions and Privacy Policy Are Enforceable? Maybe Not!

Written by Susan Kohn Ross and Lucy Holmes Plovnick One of the many challenges facing companies that do business on line is taking the steps necessary to make sure their website terms of service and privacy policies (and any other terms and conditions) are enforceable to the greatest extent possible in case of a dispute with their customers/users. There is no specific formula to follow, … Continue reading Are You Sure Your Website Terms and Conditions and Privacy Policy Are Enforceable? Maybe Not!

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COVID-19, Labor & Employment

Cal/OSHA Approves Third Adoption of COVID-19 ETS

Written by Jeremy Mittman and Gary McLaughlin On April 21, Cal/OSHA voted to approve the third adoption of the COVID-19 Emergency Temporary Standard (ETS), which will be effective May, 6, 2022 until December 31, 2022. Our blog posts on the previous versions of the ETS can be found here and here. Significant changes in the third adoption include:  Vaccination status definition removed. In the new … Continue reading Cal/OSHA Approves Third Adoption of COVID-19 ETS

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Immigration

USCIS to Mail Evidence of Work Authorization to Certain E and L Nonimmigrant Spouses

Written by David S. Rugendorf Today (March 18, 2022) the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) announced that beginning April 1, 2022, it will mail notices to certain E and L nonimmigrant spouses, specifically those who entered the United States before January 30, 2022 and who are the beneficiaries of an approved Form I-539 extension of status.  These notices, along with an unexpired I-94, will … Continue reading USCIS to Mail Evidence of Work Authorization to Certain E and L Nonimmigrant Spouses

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Labor & Employment

President Biden Signs Law Weakening Pre-Dispute Arbitration Agreements by Allowing Employees to Opt Out of Arbitration of Claims Relating to Sexual Assault and Harassment

Written by Jeremy Mittman and Stephen Rossi On March 3, President Biden signed the Ending Forced Arbitration of Sexual Assault and Sexual Harassment Act of 2021 (“EFA SASHA”) which amends the Federal Arbitration Act (“FAA”) to effectively ban employers from enforcing pre-dispute agreements that require employees to arbitrate sexual assault or harassment claims. Effective immediately, the law allows employees alleging sexual assault or harassment to … Continue reading President Biden Signs Law Weakening Pre-Dispute Arbitration Agreements by Allowing Employees to Opt Out of Arbitration of Claims Relating to Sexual Assault and Harassment

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Intellectual Property

Of Brides and Instagram: Second Circuit Vacates Injunction Giving Employer Control Over Social Media Accounts that Use Employee’s Name

Written by Alexandra Anfuso Recently, in JLM Couture, Inc. v. Gutman (2d Cir. January 25, 2022), the Second Circuit vacated the provision of a preliminary injunction prohibiting Hayley Paige Gutman, a bridal gown designer and social media influencer, from accessing social media accounts under the “Hayley Paige” name.  Hayley Paige Gutman is the namesake of the “Hayley Paige” line of wedding dresses.  In 2011, Gutman signed … Continue reading Of Brides and Instagram: Second Circuit Vacates Injunction Giving Employer Control Over Social Media Accounts that Use Employee’s Name

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Intellectual Property

Inadvertent Legal Errors Cannot Undo Copyright Registrations

Written by Rebecca Benyamin On February 24, 2022, the U.S. Supreme Court issued Unicolors, Inc. v. H&M Hennes & Mauritz, L.P., 595 U.S. ___ (2022), holding that where a copyright holder lacks either factual or legal knowledge as to an inaccuracy in a copyright application (and registration certificate), the Copyright Act’s safe harbor provision excuses such inadvertent error.   A valid copyright registration carries significant advantages … Continue reading Inadvertent Legal Errors Cannot Undo Copyright Registrations

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Immigration

Returning to Your Physical Office After COVID-19?:  Remember to Resume Physical Inspection of I-9s

Written by David S. Rugendorf The return to the physical workplace environment after approximately two years of remote work arrangements brings with it many challenges and tasks.  What employers may easily overlook is that “normal” in-person Form I-9 administration procedures resume upon employees’ return to the physical office.  Moreover, physical inspection of documents is also required for employees who were on-boarded during a COVID-19 remote … Continue reading Returning to Your Physical Office After COVID-19?:  Remember to Resume Physical Inspection of I-9s

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