Satriani Files Copyright Infringement Lawsuit Against Coldplay

December 9th, 2008

Joe Satriani filed a copyright infringement suit in Los Angeles last Thursday (December 4). He is seeking a jury trial, damages and “any and all profits” attributable to the alleged copyright infringement.  He is alleging that Coldplay’s Viva La Vida track is a rip off of his song If I Could Fly.

Listen to the two songs and then listen to Satriani’s song played over Coldplay’s song and see if you hear the similarities.

Morgan Keegan Selling Toxic Debt To Seniors

August 10th, 2008

The Memphis based broker Morgan Keegan is under fire for allegedly selling toxic debt to seniors.  Multiple lawsuits have been filed charging the firm with failing to disclose to investors the risks of seven mutual funds that were stuffed with risky subprime debt.  Many of the people that invested in these funds were seniors who were advised that the funds were conservative investments.  Instead of being conversative, the funds were extremely risky.  In fact, the funds have lost 50 to 86% over the last year.  These dramatic losses have decimated the retirement accounts of many seniors.  It appears that these investors should have never been sold these funds and it further appears that these funds failed to disclose the risks.  While all investments carry risks, they must be properly disclosed. Hopefully through litigation, the investors will be reimbursed their losses.  If you have invested in a mutual fund that was labled conservative and have suffered considerable losses due to the funds improper exposure to subprime debt, feel free to contact our lawyers today.

2008 Important Amendments To Family And Medical Leave Act

August 6th, 2008

Two new categories of FMLA leave were created by a 2008 amendment:

  1. Injured Service Member Leave. Employees who are the spouse, parent, child or “next of kin” of a service member who suffers a serious injury or illness while on active duty may take up to 26 weeks of FMLA leave during the 12 month period immediately after the injury.
  2. Leave for “Qualifying Exigency.” Employees with a spouse, parent or child who is on active duty or has been called to active duty may take up to 12 weeks of FMLA leave when a “qualifying exigency” is experienced. 

What is qualifying exigency?  It is a good question because Congress chose not to define it. The department of labor has indicated that “qualifying exigency” may include things such as making arrangements for childcare, making financial and legal arrangements, attending counseling relating to the active duty of the service member, or attending to farewell or arrival arrangements for the service member.