For invitations to our events and updates on key legal issues and business concerns:
Please Click HerePosted on September 8, 2010 by Sara J. Ackermann
President Obama has signed Executive Order 13496, Notification of Employee Rights Under Federal Labor Law. Pursuant to this order, the Department of Labor issued its final regulations which contain important requirements for employers with federal government contracts and subcontracts. The regulations pertain to employee rights under the National Labor Relations Act and require both notice […]
Posted on August 3, 2010 by Ruder Ware Alumni
You have likely heard of the Wisconsin Supreme Court’s decision issued on July 16, 2010, in Schill v. Wisconsin Rapids School District, 2010 WI 86 (7/16/10). In this decision, the Supreme Court ruled that Wisconsin’s Public Records Law does not require the disclosure of employee personal e-mails that are sent and received by a public […]
Posted on August 3, 2010 by Ruder Ware Alumni
The Wisconsin Court of Appeals in Selmer Company v. Timothy Rinn and Ganther Construction, Inc. (“Selmer Company”) recently addressed whether restrictive covenants, such as non-solicitation and non-compete provisions, in agreements other than employment agreements are subject to Wisconsin’s statute governing restrictive covenants. In Wisconsin, most restrictive covenants arising from an employment arrangement are governed by […]
Posted on July 21, 2010 by Mark D. Munson
On May 12, 2010, Governor Doyle signed the Uniform Power of Attorney for Finances and Property Act (the Act), which becomes effective on September 1, 2010. Under the Act, the laws in Wisconsin that address durable powers of attorney for finances and property will be significantly different from, and more comprehensive than, the current laws. […]
Posted on July 14, 2010 by Ruder Ware Alumni
Enforcing non-compete provisions in employment agreements is of the utmost concern to employers when attempting to protect their business from former employees. However, because a non-compete provision is considered a “restrictive covenant,” they are disfavored by the courts and construed in favor of employees. Further, a non-compete provision can only impose a limitation to the […]
Posted on July 5, 2010 by Ruder Ware Alumni
Wisconsin recently adopted a law that will impact many employers in the state, both private and public. The new law, 2009 Wisconsin Act 12, prohibits smoking in most private and public places. The law takes effect on July 5, 2010. Until then, Wisconsin’s current Clean Indoor Air Act will remain in effect, as well as […]
Posted on June 29, 2010 by Mark J. Bradley
A number of bills have been introduced in the U.S. Congress to deal with the estate tax situation that we described in a previous legal update. See “Questions and Answers Concerning Status of Federal Estate Tax”, December 2009. Last week Senator Bernard Sanders introduced yet one more piece of estate tax reform legislation. In what […]
Posted on June 25, 2010 by Ruder Ware Alumni
The Federal Family Medical Leave Act entitles an employee up to 12 weeks of leave for the birth or adoption of a son or daughter, or to care for a son or daughter with a serious health condition. The definition of a “son or daughter” includes not only a biological or adopted child, but also […]
Posted on June 18, 2010 by Ruder Ware Alumni
On Thursday, June 17, 2010 the U.S. Supreme Court ruled that the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) did not have authority to issue any decisions during the period January 1, 2008 through March 27, 2010. During that 27- month period, the NLRB operated with only two members. Normally, the NLRB is a five-member board. In […]
Posted on June 7, 2010 by Ruder Ware Alumni
We have had many inquiries with regard to the alert we issued late last week referencing Wisconsin s new smoke-free law titled Wisconsin Goes Smoke Free – Are You Ready?. In light of those inquiries, we are providing a copy of the newly revised statute that was created by 2009 Wisconsin Act 12. The statute […]