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Appeals court won't rehear BP settlement issue
Law Firm News |
2014/05/20 12:11
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A federal appeals court on Monday refused to reconsider its previous ruling that businesses don't have to prove they were directly harmed by BP's 2010 Gulf Of Mexico oil spill to collect settlement payments.
The decision by the 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in New Orleans could be a step toward resuming a claims process that was suspended after a district court ruling in December. However, BP spokesman Geoff Morrell said in an emailed statement Monday night that the company is considering its legal options.
BP had asked the full 5th Circuit Court of Appeals in New Orleans to rehear the case after a three-judge panel's March ruling. The court voted 8-5 against a rehearing.
The action preserves U.S. District Judge Carl Barbier's (BAHR'-bee-ay) ruling that BP had agreed in a 2012 settlement to pay claims without requiring proof that losses were directly caused by the spill resulting from the explosion of the Deepwater Horizon oil rig, which killed 11 workers.
Judge Leslie Southwick wrote in Monday's order that a 2012 policy statement, issued by the court-appointed claims administrator and developed with "input and assent from BP," spelled out the criteria for business claims. |
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Arkansas court says judge went too far on voter ID
Court News |
2014/05/16 15:15
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The Arkansas Supreme Court tossed out a judge's ruling striking down the state's voter ID law on Wednesday, but stopped short of ruling on the constitutionality of the measure.
In a 5-2 ruling, justices vacated a Pulaski County judge's decision that the law violates Arkansas' constitution. Pulaski County Circuit Judge Tim Fox had struck down the law in a case that had focused on how absentee ballots are handled under the law, but justices stayed his ruling while they considered an appeal.
Fox also has ruled the law unconstitutional in a separate case but said he wouldn't block its enforcement during this month's primary. That ruling is being appealed to the high court.
Justices said Fox didn't have the authority to strike down the law in the case focusing on absentee ballots. They noted that there was no request before Fox in the case to strike down the law. |
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Fred Meissner - Phoenix, Arizona Tax Lawyer Services
Law Firm News |
2014/05/16 15:14
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With our extensive experience, we help private company clients and small businesses determine the structure of their new enterprise in a way that allows them to achieve their goal while reducing costs and minimizing tax burden. We counsel and form the following:
- Incorporating business entities
- Corporation-shareholder transactions (including dividends and redemptions)
- Employment and deferred compensatory arrangements (including stock options, severance plans and equity incentive arrangements)
- Tax favorable alternatives for entity liquidation and dissolution
We also provide tax planning services and advise on certain tax aspects, including but not limited to:
- Taxable and tax-free reorganizations
- Mergers and acquisitions
- Corporate divisional transactions (including spin-offs and split-ups of corporate lines of businesses or assets)
- Real estate transactions
- Bankruptcy and insolvency workouts for financially-troubled businesses
- Tax-oriented limited partnership or LLC offerings
- Litigation settlement awards
We charge reasonable fees and offer free initial consultations.Contact the Law Offices of Frederick W. Meissner for all your tax service needs.
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Court: Red Bulls must pay $2.8M in property tax
Legal News Feed |
2014/05/13 12:21
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A New Jersey appeals court ruled Monday that the state's Major League Soccer franchise is liable for nearly $3 million in property taxes to the town of Harrison.
The New York Red Bulls have played at Red Bull Arena in Harrison since 2010. During that time, the town billed the team for about $1.5 million for the 2010 tax year and about $1.3 million for 2011, according to court documents.
The team has paid the taxes, according to a team spokesman, but had filed a lawsuit to have them reimbursed.
In the lawsuit, the Red Bulls claimed they are exempt from paying taxes under state law because the property and stadium are devoted to "an essential public purpose."
The Red Bulls have the rights to all revenues from the stadium including naming rights, while the town and the Harrison Redevelopment Agency are allowed to use the stadium for events such as high school or college sports championships or public ceremonies.
Monday's appellate ruling held that while those other uses benefit the public, they are subordinate to the Red Bulls' uses of the stadium and therefore don't qualify the stadium for exemption under state law. |
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