Source: http://lawreview.syr.edu/2017/04/
Timestamp: 2019-04-24 22:10:18+00:00

Document:
Paid Family Leave Without Worries?
Citations: Family Medical Leave Act of 1993, 29 U.S.C. § 2601, et seq. (2017); FAMILY Act, S.337, 115th Cong. (2017), https://www.congress.gov/bill/115th-congress/senate-bill/337; Wendy McElroy, The FAMILY Act is Smart Politics, but Bad for Business, The Hill (Oct. 14, 2014, 6:00 AM), http://thehill.com/blogs/pundits-blog/healthcare/219766-the-family-act-is-smart-politics-but-bad-for-the-economy; Claire Zillman, Kirsten Gillibrand is Giving Her Paid Family Leave Proposal its First Trump-Era Test, Fortune (Feb. 7, 2017), http://fortune.com/2017/02/07/trump-paid-family-leave-gillibrand/.
Abstract: United States Senator Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY) introduced a bill that would revise the paid-leave system developed under the Family Medical Leave Act. It establishes an insurance-based program for paid-leave. There are concerns regarding how this legislation, if enacted, would affect employees, employers, and the federal government.
Enacting the Family Medical Leave Act (“FMLA”) in 1993 provided up to 12 weeks of unpaid leave to those in need of an excused leave of absence. However, under FMLA, many employees were unable to afford leave without pay, and unable to take the full leave. The FAMILY Act will work in conjunction with FMLA to construct an affordable safety net for employees who need to care for themselves or family members.
amend the Internal Revenue Code to finance the program by imposing taxes on individuals, employers, the self-employed, and all railroad employees, railroad representatives, and railroad employers.
Thus, the FAMILY Act develops a system similar to an unemployment insurance program, but on a federal level, which gives employees a fallback plan when they need to take on the role of caregiver.
There are concerns as to how this legislation will affect individuals, employers, and the government. Individuals will have to pay into the system; the amendments to the Internal Revenue Code will impose taxes on individuals in order to fund the program. This safeguard has both negative and positive effects. The amount taken from paychecks will increase, but, on the other hand, there is a safeguard set in place for those eligible for the program, and in need of assistance. Employers will also incur a tax expenditure, but will be held to minimum FMLA standards, and may actually benefit from the insurance program established by the FAMILY Act. However, the effects facing the government could be substantial. The FAMILY Act will require the federal government to allocate resources to the program, which, in turn, removes resources from other federally funded programs or agencies. Programs such as this also place further obligations on the federal government to protect the American people.
The objectives of the bill, and insurance program, are wonderful in theory. Having a safety net is comforting, especially for those with aging parents, sickly family members, etc., especially when financial security is of concern when determining how to care for family members. Previous bills, with little to no amendments between introductions, have been killed in Congress several times already. Furthermore, it is unlikely that a new office within the SSA will be established while there is a hiring freeze. There must be revisions to the bill in order to facilitate a smooth transition from the current to proposed programs, along with provisions as to how resources will be properly allocated.
Abstract: On March 29, 2017, the Second Circuit held that a letter to a consumer debtor providing a “Total Amount Due” and then following that with small print that states that the amount may include other fees was improper under the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act.
Davidson Fink, a debt collection and foreclosure firm, instituted collection proceedings against Andrew Carlin, who had allegedly defaulted on a 2005 mortgage. Davidson Fink filed a Foreclosure Complaint against Carlin. Davidson Fink sent a copy of the letter to Carlin, along with a “Notice Required by the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act,” which essentially told Carlin that the debt is assumed valid, unless he disputes it within 30 days. However, the complaint did not state a total amount owed.
Carlin promptly notified Davidson Fink and disputed the validity of the debt by requesting a verification of the total dollar amount owed. Thereafter, in August 2013, Davidson Fink sent Carlin a letter containing a payoff statement including a “Total Amount Due” of $205,261.79. But, just below the payoff statement was small print that read “Total Amount Due may include estimated fees, costs, additional payments and/or escrow disbursements that will become due prior to the ‘Statement Void After’ date, but which are not yet due as of the date this Payment Statement is issued.” Carlin then initiated proceedings against Davidson Fink alleging that the firm violated the FDCPA, particularly the section that requires a debt collector to send the debtor a written notice containing “the amount of the debt.” After reconsideration by the district court led to a dismissal of Carlin’s complaint for failure to state a claim, he appealed that decision to the Second Circuit Court of Appeals.
The Second Circuit vacated and remanded. The court applied the “least sophisticated consumer” standard to find that “[b]ecause Carlin ha[d] adequately alleged that the August letter [was] an initial communication sent by a debt collector . . . and that it does not clearly state the amount of the debt,” the lower court decision was vacated and remanded.
In assessing Carlin’s claim, the court looked to whether (1) any of his communications with Davidson Fink were “initial communications” within the meaning of 15 U.S.C. § 1692g(a); (2) any of the communications were “in connection with the collection of any debt”; and (3) whether Davidson Fink provided the amount of debt within five days of such communication.
The court did point out that it was not forbidding debt collectors to include such fees in their payment statements, however, in order to do so, a debt collector should take special care to include a separate “Total Amount Due” that would “clarify the actual amount due, the basis of the fees, or simply some information that would allow the least sophisticated consumer to deduce the amount she actually owes.” This would satisfy the requirements of the FDCPA, and also provide more clarity to the debtor.
Citation: Pena Rodriguez v. Colorado, 580 U.S. ____ (2017); Pena-Rodriguez v. People, 350 P.3d 287 (Colo. 2015).
Abstract: Pena-Rodriguez examines Colorado’s interpretation of Colorado Rule of Evidence (“CRE”) 606(b) as it applies to affidavits that claim jurors made racially biased statements during deliberations.
During trial, the jury found petitioner, Miguel Angel Pena-Rodriguez guilty on one count of sexual contact without consent and two counts of harassment. Two weeks following the conviction, two jurors informed petitioner’s counsel that “some of the other jurors expressed a bias towards [Petitioner] and the alibi witness because they were Hispanic.” In a motion for a new trial, Petitioner submitted affidavits from two jurors, M.M. and L.T., alleging that juror H.C. made several racially biased statements during deliberations. Ultimately, the trial court denied petitioner’s motion based on the contention that CRE 606(b) barred further inquiry into juror members’ bias during deliberations.
After receiving affirmation from both the Colorado State Court of Appeals and the Supreme Court of Colorado, the Supreme Court of the United States granted a petition for writ of certiorari in the matter.
Justice Kennedy, writing on behalf of the majority, focused the opinion on the importance of the jury as the central foundation of our justice system and democracy and the right to a fair and impartial jury. In ordering the decision, he highlighted the importance of confronting egregious cases, amplifying the need to make strides to overcome race-based discrimination as a nation and mature as a legal system, and understanding and implementing lessons of history.
Kat Greene, Coachella Hits Urban Outfitters, Free People with TM Suit, Law 360, (Mar. 14, 2017, 8:46 PM EDT), https://www.law360.com/articles/902025/coachella-hits-urban-outfitters-free-people-with-tm-suit.
Ryan Reed, Coachella Organizers Suing Urban Outfitters for Trademark Infringement, Rolling Stone, (Mar. 17, 2017), http://www.rollingstone.com/music/news/coachella-suing-urban-outfitters-for-trademark-infringement-w472583.
Cait Munro, Coachella Suing Urban Outfitters is the Most Hilarious Lawsuit of 2017 Thus Far, Bullet Media, (Mar. 17, 2017, 1:08 PM), http://bullettmedia.com/article/coachella-suing-urban-outfitters-hilarious-lawsuit-2017-thus-far/.
Coachella Music Festival, LLC v. Urban Outfitters, Inc., 2:17-CV-02027 (C.D. Cal. filed Mar. 14, 2017).
Coachella, https://www.coachella.com (last visited Apr. 3, 2017).
15 U.S.C. § 1125(c) (2012).
On March 14, 2017 Coachella Music Festival, LLC filed a complaint in the United States District Court for the Central District of California alleging that the popular retail store Urban Outfitters, LLC and its Free People unit of the brand had infringed on Coachella’s trademark.
Coachella, the popular music and arts festival that occurs annually in the Coachella Valley of Southern California, is known for attracting popular musicians, artists, celebrities and other “chic festival goers” every year. The Coachella festival hosts multiple bands, artists, food vendors, and stages attracting nearly 600,000 attendees annually. Coachella and Goldenvoice, LLC, the promoter for Coachella, own numerous registrations for the famous Coachella marks and use the marks in connection with their goods, services, and apparel. Coachella and Goldenvoice sell sponsorships and license the use of the marks to others for services and apparel, however they are very selective in the entities they chose to allow to use the Coachella mark. Previously, Coachella has allowed the retailer H&M to license the mark and the two groups collaborated to form an exclusive “Coachella” collection for H&M.
The popularity of the event has prompted retail stores to target customers every Spring by marketing directly towards the festival-going crowd or others who may wish to draw on the fringed jackets, crocheted tops, frayed denim, and nonchalant vintage aesthetic. The popular retail stores, Urban Outfitters and Free People, bought the keyword “Coachella” so when online shoppers search the term “Coachella clothing,” Urban Outfitters and Free People’s products and websites appear. Coachella and Goldenvoice have not authorized the affiliation and have not licensed the Coachella trade name to Urban Outfitters and Free People for use. Essentially, Urban Outfitters and Free People are misdirecting shoppers using the keyword to trigger advertising so that shoppers will be led to Urban Outfitter and Free People’s websites that sell their apparel with the unauthorized Coachella label. Coachella alleges that Urban Outfitter and Free People’s use of the term is a violation of the Coachella trademark and is likely to cause confusion of affiliation.
Coachella’s complaint alleges a cause of trademark infringement under 15 U.S.C. §1114(1). A trademark violation occurs when (1) a plaintiff has registered their trademark, (2) defendant has used the trademark, and (3) defendant’s use creates a likelihood of confusion. Here, Coachella has registered their mark and retained the trademark and service mark rights to the Coachella, Coachella (stylized mark), and Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival. To satisfy the “use” requirement, the trademark must be used in commerce. The redirection to Urban Outfitters and Free People’s retail sites with the search word Coachella and the distinct use in commerce in their advertising and of marketing under Coachella and “Coachella Bella” as alleged here suffice as uses in commerce. Regarding the likelihood of confusion, a court will consider a multitude of factors including the similarity of the marks and similarity of the goods and services offered. Urban Outfitters and Free People have used the identical mark, Coachella, and have used it in apparel, which is a similar good to Coachella’s own use of the mark. In addition to trademark infringement, Coachella’s complaint also alleges a dilution cause of action under 15 U.S.C. §1125(c).
The complaint concludes with a request for relief including punitive damages, attorney costs, an award of all profits from Urban Outfitters and Free People’s sales to Coachella, and a permanent injunction enjoining and restraining Urban Outfitters and Free People from continuing to sell and market items under the name Coachella. This is neither party’s first instance in discussion on trademark violations. However, this complaint coincides with the beginning of the Coachella festival on April 14, 2017. With the beginning of the festival fast approaching and festival-goers seeking the perfect Instagram worthy outfit, the court’s decision regarding Coachella’s complaint will have an impact on future retail and marketing opportunities surrounding the event.
Citations: Daniel Victor, Lack of Oxford Comma Could Cost Maine Company Millions in Overtime Dispute, N.Y. Times (Mar. 16, 2017) https://www.nytimes.com/2017/03/16/us/oxford-comma-lawsuit.html?_r=1; O’Connor v. Oakhurst Dairy, No. 16-1901, 2017 U.S. App. LEXIS 4392 (1st Cir. Mar. 13, 2017); Maine Legislative Drafting Manual, 1st Ed. 1990, Revised Aug. 2009.
Abstract: The lack of a serial comma (or oxford comma) in a Maine wage and hours law created an ambiguity that compelled the First Circuit to rule in favor of the plaintiff delivery drivers in O’Connor v. Oakhurst Dairy. The Maine Legislative Drafting Manual specifically urges legislators to avoid the use of such commas. However, the ambiguity created by the absence of a serial comma raises questions of whether or not the convenience of their exclusion is worth the cost.
“For want of a comma, we have this case,” wrote Circuit Judge Barron in delivering the First Circuit’s opinion on a labor dispute. On March 13, 2017 the First Circuit ruled in favor of the delivery drivers of Oakhurst Dairy and Dairy Farmers of America, Inc., finding the lack of a serial comma within a state statute determinative in its decision.
The lack of a serial comma between “shipment” and “or” within the text of the statute created sufficient ambiguity that the Circuit Court overturned the District Court’s findings.
The Maine Legislative Drafting Manual specifically advises drafters to avoid using serial commas. As the manual states, do not write “trailers, semitrailers, and pole trailers” – instead, write “trailers, semitrailers and pole trailers.” However, this did little to ease the Circuit Court’s concern regarding the ambiguity inherent with the lack of the comma.
While the delivery drivers “distribute” perishable foods, they do not package perishable foods for shipment or distribution. As Justice Barron stated, “[I]f that exemption used a serial comma to mark off the last of the activities that it lists, then the exemption would clearly encompass an activity that the drivers perform.” However, under Maine law, any ambiguity within the state wage and hour laws must be liberally construed so as to accomplish their remedial purpose. The remedial purpose of the statute was to reward workers with wages. For this reason, the First Circuit adopted the drivers’ liberal interpretation of the exemption and awarded them overtime pay.
The First Circuit’s reliance on the importance of the comma is far from unique within legal history. From a $1 million dispute between Canadian companies in 2006, to a tariff law from 1872, to varying interpretations of a comma in the Second Amendment, commas have a storied past in legal interpretation and analysis.
The Maine Legislative Drafting Manual is hardly unique in its distaste for the “oxford comma.” The Associated Press and most major American new organizations instruct their writers not to use the additional comma. Exceptions are made only to resolve ambiguity. The comma is however widely embraced within book and academic publishing. The Chicago Manual of Style and the Oxford University Press style both use the serial comma, as it serves to resolve ambiguity.
The adoption or condemnation of the oxford comma within Legislative Drafting Manuals has far reaching implications for future legislation. One wonders why legislatures would resist the use of a comma that so often functions to clarify. Does the convenience of the lack of the comma truly outweigh the clarity that the serial comma provides? While critics of the additional comma may say it is redundant, is the extra effort of a comma truly more burdensome than the potential ambiguity its absence may create? For the Dairy Companies who lost this case, the lack of the comma could prove to cost an estimated $10 million. Perhaps legislatures should value the clarity of a serial comma over the convenience of its exclusion. Whether the Maine legislature will rewrite the statute in a way that resolves this ambiguity remains to be seen.
Source: Pena-Rodriguez v. Colorado, 580 U.S. ____ (2017).
Abstract: On March 6, 2017, the U.S. Supreme Court held that racial comments made during jury deliberations can violate a defendant’s constitutional right to a fair trial.
Miguel Angel Pena-Rodriguez was accused of groping teenage girls while at his workplace. Pena-Rodriguez maintained that it was a case of mistaken identity and that he did not touch the girls. Ultimately, the jury convicted Pena-Rodriguez of one misdemeanor count of unlawful sexual contact and two misdemeanor counts of harassment. The jury was unable to reach a verdict on the felony charge of attempted sexual assault of a child.
It was reported that during deliberations, a juror stated, “I think he did it because he’s Mexican and Mexican men take whatever they want.” The juror went further to say, “nine times out of ten Mexican men were guilty of being aggressive toward women and young girls.” His defense attorney learned of the comments after the verdict. When the defense attorneys requested that the judge investigate whether these comments prevented their client from receiving a fair trial, the judge declined. The Colorado Supreme Court upheld the decision. Both federal and state law precluded challenges to statements made during jury deliberations.
In his dissent, Justice Alito found that the majority’s decision invites the harms that the no-impeachment rule was put in effect to prevent. The finality of verdicts will be undermined, harassment and annoyance by litigants seeking to challenge the verdict will increase, and the overall stability of the trial system will be called into question. Alito further penned that the decision would inhibit full and frank discussion in the jury room.
Citation: McLane Co. v. EEOC, No. 15-1248, 2017 U.S. LEXIS 2327, at *17 (Apr. 3, 2017) (quoting Maurice Rosenberg, Judicial Discretion of the Trial Court, Viewed From Above, 22 Syracuse L. Rev. 635, 637 (1971)).
The Supreme Court of the United States decided on April 3, 2017, that the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals should review the decision of the district court, regarding the enforcement or rejection of an EEOC subpoena, for abuse of discretion.
In the majority opinion, Justice Sotomayor quotes a 1971 Syracuse Law Review article by Maurice Rosenberg, a 1940 graduate of Syracuse University and 1947 law graduate of Columbia Law School.
Maurice Rosenberg. Photo courtesy of Joe Pineiro and Columbia Law School.
“If the word discretion conveys to legal minds any solid core of meaning, one central idea above all others, it is the idea of choice,” Rosenberg writes.
Sources: Fed. R. Civ. P. 26 (2015); Mancia v. Mayflower Textile Servs. Co., 253 F.R.D. 354, 357 (D. Md. 2008).
Abstract: The changes to discovery procedures in the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure have been in effect for over a year. This article evaluates the impact of the revised Rule 26 proportionality requirement and the mandatory sanctions for failure to comply.
On December 1, 2015, the amendments to the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure went into effect that brought a number of changes to the way that discovery is handled in a federal civil case. One of the changes was to focus discovery and avoid wasteful spending.
This proportionality requirement is not new to the discovery rules, as the movement of the proportionality requirement to 26(b) reinforces the Rule 26(g) requirement that attorneys consider the above factors prior to making discovery requests and objections. This has had the effect of either not changing much of anything, or changing everything in the way the courts have handled discovery disputes. The rule now requires that sanctions must be used if discovery is done for improper purposes.
This requirement of mandatory sanctions is a form of judicial supervision over carelessness and intentional gaming in discovery. In one of the seminal cases on this rule, Mancia v. Mayflower Textile, United States District Court Judge Grimm discussed how discovery abuses led to the changes in Rule 26 and the mandatory sanctions. He discussed how “kneejerk” requests and responses for discovery that are overbroad is a common practice and must be put to an end. Simply bringing it to the forefront of litigants’ minds may be enough to stop these types of requests.
Even worse than reactional and not-thought-out requests are intentional gaming of discovery, such as the classic “document dump” in discovery intended to bury opposing litigants in work. These types of actions now require sanctions by the judge, although the judge has discretion to impose the level of sanctions he or she considers necessary.
Ultimately we haven’t seen how the amendments are going to change discovery overall because there hasn’t been enough time for it to play out in the courts, but within the next year or two we should have more of an idea of how judges and litigants are going to respond to the proportionality requirement and the mandatory sanctions.

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