After a company has been sued, its immediate next steps should be twofold: consult its lawyer and notify its insurance carrier. The carrier should pick up the defense and provide an attorney to represent the company for a claim covered by the applicable insurance policy. The company’s current lawyer’s (who knows
Co-authors: Russell Jumper and Tim Fandrey
Published in Cleaning & Restoration Magazine
Just as the Texas coast assessed the magnitude of Hurricane Harvey’s damage, Hurricane Irma was taking shape in the Atlantic. Fewer than two weeks later, Irma would crash into the Florida Keys. Estimates put Harvey and Irma’s combined impact in excess of $275 billion. No small part of that amount will be required for cleaning and restoration services. Before Irma made landfall, even as Harvey hovered over the Houston area, restoration professionals from around the country arrived along the Texas coast to kick-start Texas’ recovery. For the people who lost their homes, possessions, and even family or friends, the focus turned to recovery. For some of the restoration professionals who helped, and continue to help, a second storm is forming: owner and insurer payment disputes. Like boarding up windows and setting out sandbags, there are some steps cleaning and restoration professionals can take in an effort to minimize the damage from the approaching payment dispute storm.
Non-competes are governed by different rules from other contracts. Courts limit non-competes to certain circumstances, such as when an individual has received confidential information, goodwill, or specialized training; even then, the restrictions on competition must be “reasonable.” However, when it comes to determining the applicability of the Federal Arbitration Act, the United States Supreme Court recently held non-competes should be treated the same as any other contract
Bankruptcy preference claims are always an unpleasant surprise. They are frustrating and, in many circumstances, are unjust because they allow a bankruptcy trustee or the debtor to clawback money you received in exchange for providing valuable labor, services, or products.
Bankruptcy court is often the “court of bad news” for creditors. In particular, subcontractors and suppliers face unique challenges when a customer files for bankruptcy. But they also have unique rights that may elevate their claims. Failing to act quickly and correctly on those rights can have significant consequences.
If you decide to agree to an arbitration clause, then you should carefully consider what issues you want to address in the clause. Below are some key points and provisions that should be considered when negotiating or drafting an arbitration clause.
1. Consider the Number of Arbitrators
Using only one arbitrator may be risky because
Arbitration clauses are very common in contracts in the construction and energy industries. Many industry players reflexively insist on arbitration despite its pitfalls. While arbitration has its place, a bench trial is a viable alternative to arbitration.
Bench trials are simply trials to a judge rather than a jury. Parties may agree to a bench
It has been said many times “the wheels of justice grind slowly.” Indeed most cases take well over a year, and some a few years, to try. To help solve this problem the Texas Legislature created a new procedural rule to expedite the trial of certain claims. Rule 169 of Texas Civil Procedure, entitled “Expedited