Wage Fixing and No Poach Agreements in Criminal Crosshairs

It is common knowledge among corporate executives that it is illegal to conspire with your competitors to “price-fix”. Price-fixing is an agreement between competitors to set a minimum price for a particular good without regards to natural market forces.  Such agreements are intended to maximize profitability for the companies at the expense of the general […]

Illegal Sports Gambling Subject to Prosecution

In years past, sports gambling was often associated with seedy characters involved in organized crime where weekly settlements occurred in person, and could involve violence for failure to pay a gambling debt.  There was also a concern this type of violent behavior could influence the outcome of sporting events.  As a result, a number of […]

Pharmaceuticals in Our Water Part 3: Section 2, Subpart B – Scientific Explanation of Pharmaceutical Contamination, Environmental Impact

Section 2: Scientific Explanation of Pharmaceutical Contamination B. Environmental Impact While the link between the consumption of pharmaceutically contaminated water and ill health effects in humans has been insufficiently studied, there is no shortage of studies establishing deleterious effects to animals living in environments with pharmaceutically contaminated waters.  Such effects include the following: “abnormal thyroid […]

Pharmaceuticals in Our Water: Part 2 – Section 2, Subpart A – Scientific Explanation of Pharmaceutical Discharge, Human Impact

Section 2: Scientific Explanation of Pharmaceutical Contamination A.   Human Impact Most pharmaceuticals in the water occur in concentrations far below prescribed dosages.  Nevertheless, micro-dose exposure to many drugs over a long period poses great human health risk.[8] Pharmaceuticals are designed to effect biological change, and thus these compounds pose a greater risk to human […]

Pharmaceuticals in Our Water: Part 1 – Introduction

Section 1: Introduction Pharmaceuticals are in our rivers, streams, lakes, oceans, and ground and soil waters.  A U.S. Geological survey conducted from 1999-2000, found at least one of ninety-five organic wastewater contaminants, such as “antibiotics, other prescription drugs, non-prescription drugs, steroids [and] reproductive hormones” in eighty percent of the one-hundred and thirty-nine streams sampled.[1] A 2008 […]

Lebron James’ “Taco Tuesday” Trademark Application Denied by USPTO

Lebron James doesn’t miss often, but he missed in his attempt to trademark the phrase “Taco Tuesday.” This off season Lebron has been posting stories on social media about enjoying tacos on Tuesday nights with family and friends.  These stories, with Lebron doing his now trademark “Tacooooooo Tueeeeeessssday” yell, have been a huge hit, generating millions of […]

Section 1 – Trusts, restraint of trade

The first section of the Sherman Antitrust Act targets specific business conduct that is anticompetitive by nature. The text of the first provision reads: Every contract, combination in the form of trust or otherwise, or conspiracy, in restraint of trade or commerce among the several States, or with foreign nations, is declared to be illegal. From this […]

What is the Sherman Act?

The Sherman Antitrust Act of 1890 (15 U.S.C. § 1-7) has been one of the most enduring pieces of legislation in the nation’s history. Passed in an effort to protect consumers from collusive anti-competitive behavior by market participants, the statutes are still applied over a century later to prohibit agreements that unreasonably restrain market competition. The Sherman […]

Reasons You Should Form an Estate Plan

Every individual, regardless of age or financial status, should consult an estate planning attorney to determine what happens upon their passing. The purpose of this plan is to anticipate and arrange for the disposal of assets in an organized manner. Often, questions arise concerning probate, and inadequate tax planning leaves heirs with a bill they […]