Christian & Small Partner Kenneth O. Simon has announced that he will depart the firm after more than 11 years in order to further his alternative dispute resolution practice. He will join the Denver-based Judicial Arbiter Group to open an office in Birmingham. “As I have focused my practice more specifically on mediation and arbitration … Read More
In the recent case of Oliver v. Quantum2 Group, LLC (In re Oliver), the Bankruptcy Court for the Southern District of Alabama addressed issues concerning the differences between claims on open account and claims for accounts stated. Oliver v. Quantum2 Group, LLC (In re Oliver), Adv. Proc. No. 14-00075 (Bankr. S.D. Ala. December 22, 2014). … Read More
Christian & Small Partner Sharon D. Stuart has been appointed to Samford University’s Board of Overseers. She will serve a three-year term on the board, which provides advice and counsel to the Samford University President and Board of Trustees on academic issues and policies and supports the university’s advancement in the community. “We congratulate Sharon … Read More
In a decision important to insurers, the Eleventh Circuit recently determined that the definition of “counterfeit” does not include authentic documents that are fraudulently procured, despite the bond holder’s argument that the stock certificate appeared to be valuable and thus a counterfeit. Insurance companies should be aware that there is a distinction between types of … Read More
Christian & Small Associate Jonathan M. Hooks has been appointed as legal counsel to select committees of the Alabama House of Representatives for the 2015 legislative session. In that capacity, Hooks will be advising the Education Policy Committee and the Commerce and Small Business Committee in crafting and revising legislation pertinent to each committee’s jurisdiction. … Read More
When the Supreme Court agreed to hear Texas Department of Housing and Community Affairs v. The Inclusive Communities Project, Inc. – a case the insurance industry is watching closely that involves the viability of disparate impact claims under the U.S. Fair Housing Act of 1968 (“FHA”) – industry advocates weighed in as amici curiae. The … Read More
When the U.S. Supreme Court agreed to hear Texas Department of Housing and Community Affairs v. The Inclusive Communities Project, Inc. – a case the insurance industry is watching closely that involves the viability of disparate impact claims under the U.S. Fair Housing Act of 1968 (“FHA”) – industry advocates weighed in as amici curiae. … Read More
On Thursday, Jan. 22, 2015, 10 plaintiffs — all former employees of McDonald’s franchised restaurants located in South Boston and Clarksville, Virginia — filed a lawsuit in federal court asserting Title VII and Section 1981 violations arising out of alleged incidents of racial and sexual harassment. Importantly, the plaintiffs named not only the McDonald’s franchisee … Read More
On Dec. 24, 2014, the Eleventh Circuit, interpreting Florida law, held a marine engineering firm’s professional liability insurer owed no duty to defend a shipbuilder in an underlying wrongful death case. In reversing the Florida District Court’s decision, the Eleventh Circuit held the shipbuilder, though a contract partner of the engineering firm, was not a … Read More
