By Paul M. Quin, Esq. A Los Angeles jury recently returned a verdict finding that Katy Perry’s 2013 hit song, “Dark Horse”, violated a prior copyright attached to a 2009 Christian song called “Joyful Noise.” Katy Perry and four other songwriters as well as the label and distributors were all found liable for damages to...Read More

Introduction: Changes to the Florida Statutes were approved during the 2022 legislative session. Specifically, establishments licensed* by the Department of Business and Professional Regulation must require background screenings as a condition of employment, maintain a key log and establish policies and procedures as it relates to keys under Chapter 509**. Under the Florida Landlord Tenant...Read More

By David J. Tong, Esq. The President signed the Small Business Reorganization Act, which takes effect in mid-February 2020. It changes many Chapter 11 practices for business debtors with total debts under $2,725,625 (secured and unsecured). Found in a part of Chapter 11 known as Subchapter V, the new law attempts to streamline bankruptcy proceedings...Read More

By Paul M. Quin, Esq. A Los Angeles jury recently returned a verdict finding that Katy Perry’s 2013 hit song, “Dark Horse”, violated a prior copyright attached to a 2009 Christian song called “Joyful Noise.” Katy Perry and four other songwriters as well as the label and distributors were all found liable for damages to...Read More

By Paul M. Quin, Esq. The running of a successful band should be considered no different than running a more traditional business. As a business must protect its intellectual property so must a band, including the right to use its own name exclusively. A Trademark is used when a company, business, or in this case...Read More

By Paul M. Quin, Esq. Any artist who has ever dealt in any way with a record label understands the importance of leverage. A new and essentially unknown artist, almost regardless of talent, has little room to obtain a more favorable deal than the one initially offered. As artists prove their commercial appeal, of course,...Read More

On October 1, 2018, the U.S. Supreme Court heard oral arguments in the case of Mount Lemmon Fire Dist. v. Guido, which involves the issue of whether the Age Discrimination in Employment Act (the “ADEA”), which protects employees and applicants who are 40 years of age or over from discrimination in the workplace because of...Read More

By Claire B. Carter, Esq., Associate Pursuant to a constitutional amendment passed during the general election in November 2016, and the subsequently enacted Section 381.986, Florida Statutes, Florida now allows medical marijuana use to treat certain medical conditions. This poses an issue for Florida employers, as marijuana is still illegal under federal law. However, the...Read More

By Claire Carter, Esq., Associate Published in FAHROgram September/October 2018 edition Paul M. Quin, Esq., a partner at Saxon Gilmore & Carraway, P.A. (“Saxon|Gilmore”), and Claire B. Carter, Esq., an associate at Saxon|Gilmore, were successful in achieving the initial step in an eminent domain action filed on behalf of the Housing Authority of the City...Read More

By Claire Carter, Esq., Associate Published in FAHROgram July/August 2018 edition The Fair Credit Reporting Act (“FCRA”), 15 USC § 1681 et seq, provides protection to employees by requiring employers to notify and request written permission from an employee or potential employee when performing a background credit check. The FCRA requires the employer to tell...Read More