Circuit finally issued a decision in the PCS Nitrogen v Ashley II of Charleston, 2013 U.S. App. LEXIS 6815 (4th Cir. 4/4/13) case.
Last week, we introduced the difference between a listing agent (also known as the seller's agent) and a buyer's agent in a real estate transaction. This week, we review the role of the settlement attorney and the overall settlement process in the purchase and sale of real estate.
In real estate transactions today it can be difficult to figure out who is really representing your interests and who is representing the other side.
A will is an important legal document which every person needs to have. Without one, there's no guaranty that, upon your death, your money will go to the people you want, or that your children will be cared for by a guardian of your choosing.
The recent broadcast of the Westminster Dog Show calls to mind my own lovable canine companion, Lady. She is a miniature dachshund that is spoiled rotten by everyone that meets her; she just has that effect.
Federal agencies have yet again been directed to use Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) techniques to resolve disputes. This time the Acting Director of the Office of Management and Budget and the Chair of the Council on Environmental Quality have directed relevant departments and agencies to "increase the appropriate and effective use of third-party assisted environmental collaboration as well as environmental conflict resolution to resolve problems and conflicts that arise in the context of environmental, public lands, or natural resources issues, including matters related to energy, transportation, and water and land management.
This has not a good year for coal in the United States. Fifty-five coal-burning power plants haveshut down this year alone including the Big Sandy power plant in Louisa, Kentucky.
The significance of the Big Sandy plant is that it is located right in the heart of coal country; near the Appalachian Mountains, an area that has relied on coal, not only for energy, but as an economic driver for decades.
Nick Schroeck is executive director of the Great Lakes Environmental Law Center and teaches at the Wayne State University Law School Environmental Law Clinic. A 2007 graduate of Wayne State University law school, Nick is receiving recognition for his many accomplishments in environmental law. Good for Nick and good for Wayne State Law School, my alma mater.
The NHL players and owners finally appear to be making progress towards a collective bargaining agreement. Although no formal agreement, public reports indicate that the two sides are having meaningful and productive discussions around many of the critical issues. You might be surprised, though, that this was not thanks to Gary Bettman or Donald Fehr, the lead negotiators for management and the union respectively.
As the NHL lockout reaches its 10th week, it is hard from the outside to see any progress. Both the All-Star game and the Winter Classic have been cancelled and the two sides seem just as far apart as they were three months ago.
But one recent development which should delight hockey fans and ADR professionals alike is that the owners and players have finally agreed to mediation. Both sides have agreed that ongoing negotiations will be conducted under the auspices of mediators from the Federal Mediation and Conciliation Service.
