Grumpy Cat Elated to Win $700k Lawsuit (But You Wouldn’t Know It)
Crystal Broughan, Intellectual Property Attorney Feb 22, 2018 in Intellectual Property
You may know the internet celebrity Tardar Sauce by her more popular name, Grumpy Cat. She has been the subject of numerous memes. One of the most famous reads, “I had fun once. It was awful.” But you may not be aware that her owner, Tabatha Bundesen, formed the company Grumpy Cat Limited to capitalize on the cat’s permanently grumpy expression. Since then, Grumpy Cat has made numerous TV appearances, including Today, Good Morning America, […]
Continue ReadingTrustee Misbehaving? It Can Have Dire Consequences – Part 1
John Crawford Feb 16, 2018 in Estate Planning & Preservation
The role of Trustee comes with very serious responsibilities. Not only has the person who created the trust, the Grantor, relied on that person to fulfill the Grantor’s intentions after his or her death, the beneficiaries rely on Trustees to perform the Trustee role in their best interests. In some cases, the Trustee may be the only means for a beneficiary to pay everyday living expenses, medical costs, and the like. For those people, a […]
Continue ReadingOpen Government and the Importance of Lobbyists’ Transparency
Edward L. Birk Feb 15, 2018 in First Amendment
Open government is the best government, and we are fortunate that Florida has some of the strongest open records laws and policies in the country. Though not perfect, they do a good job of promoting a more transparent and accountable government. One such policy began in 2016 when Florida House Speaker Richard Corcoran, R-Land O’Lakes, implemented new House rules. The new rules require lobbyists to register and publicly disclose who they’re lobbying for and what […]
Continue ReadingIf you are filing an extension request, you can no longer rely on a smooth process. Previously, adjudicators gave deference to the findings of the earlier approved petition, unless there was evidence of an error, fraud, or changes to key elements. However, under a new USCIS memo, adjudicators must apply an elevated level of scrutiny to extension requests. All the prior evidence and much more will have to be reproved and resubmitted. The USCIS’ officers will readjudicate the petition […]
Continue ReadingBroughan Helps Coordinate Reception for Justice Stephen Breyer
Crystal Broughan, Intellectual Property Attorney Feb 15, 2018 in Events
Marks Gray attorney Crystal T. Broughan attended the Chester Bedell Inns of Court/ABOTA cocktail reception for the Fireside chat with Justice Stephen Breyer on January 22, 2018 at University of North Florida. Here is a photo of the group of hardworking people who coordinated the reception.
Continue ReadingBeware of Potential Scams During Tax Season
John Crawford Feb 9, 2018 in Estate Planning & Preservation
It’s that time of year again. Of course, our thoughts are turning to preparing our income tax returns – and imagining all the different ways we can “invest” our tax refund! Perhaps a down payment on a new car, something new for your home, maybe that vacation you’ve been dreaming about, or even getting your estate planning done. One thing is for certain – you’re not the only one who’s thinking of ways to spend […]
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