Supreme Court: Our Right to Criticize and Petition the Government Remains Fundamental
Edward L. Birk Jul 10, 2018 in First Amendment
From the earliest days of our Nation, criticizing government officials without retribution has been a hallmark of the freedoms our Founders determined as essential to our democracy. At the same time, those who serve in public office deserve respect and must be able to conduct the public’s business in an orderly manner. When these two principles are in conflict, which one prevails? That’s one of the questions the U.S. Supreme Court was asked to consider […]
Continue ReadingWhy the NFL and ABC Are Free to Squelch the Free Speech of Football Players and Roseanne
Edward L. Birk Jul 9, 2018 in First Amendment
Roseanne’s racist tweet. Kneeling football players. These recent events have caused people on both the right and left to express concerns about freedom of speech and expression in the United States. But these concerns are based on a misunderstanding. The truth is neither case invokes protections against denying free speech rights. That’s because the U.S. Constitution’s guarantees limit the government, not private individuals or institutions. It is virtually impossible for the NFL or the ABC […]
Continue ReadingPreventing Counterfeit Trademarks – Part 4: Civil Litigation
Crystal Broughan, Intellectual Property Attorney Jul 5, 2018 in Intellectual Property
In my last post, I discussed how to pursue criminal enforcement in order to take counterfeit trademarks out of circulation and receive reimbursement. When you go this route, you put your case in the government’s hands. For this reason, many trademark owners prefer to pursue civil remedies. This gives them more control over how aggressively the case is pursued, who is included in the civil complaint as defendants, and when the counterfeit goods are seized. […]
Continue ReadingWelcome back from a holiday filled with pride, fun, and fireworks! As we follow and engage in the ongoing immigration challenges, including the new zero-tolerance policy, the upholding of the travel ban, and the resulting disruptions and uncertainties, it is more important than ever to be proactive, patient, and strategic. The Marks Gray immigration team is proud to help employers and foreign nationals strategically and in partnership achieve their immigration needs and dreams. We’re also happy to […]
Continue ReadingUSCIS’ error inputting a birthdate turned an already long and complex green card case into a nightmare. Here is our extraordinary and patient client’s story In 2013, a friend of mine put me in contact with Giselle and her immigration team at Marks Gray. I had just graduated from a distinguished U.S. university where I had been playing Division 1 tennis. After competing at the collegiate level in the USA, I wanted to continue my […]
Continue ReadingUSCIS is developing rules, policy memoranda, and operational changes to continue implementing President Trump’s Buy American and Hire American Executive Order. One priority area is the Business (B-1) and Tourist (B-2) visa programs. USCIS has proposed regulatory changes to restrict the criteria for these classifications. These changes could limit permissible business activities. USCIS is also considering changes to the B-1 in Lieu of H visas. Following a discussion with the Departments of State, Labor, and […]
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