Thursday, May 30, 2013

Jennings Strouss Attorney Patrick Welch featured on FOX 10 News Discussing Safety Tips When Traveling Abroad




JSS attorney Patrick F. Welch spoke with FOX 10’s Ron Hoon about what you should know when traveling abroad. Welch responded to questions that arose in light of the recent media attention surrounding the Yanira Maldonado case.

There is a close economic bond between Mexico and the United States, which results in frequent cross-border travel and commercial transactions.

Welch shared his belief that Mexico, particularly the State of Sonora, is a safe place for U.S. tourists and business travelers, but emphasized that travelers should always be aware of their surroundings whenever they are traveling abroad, whether in Mexico or another county.

Here are some best practices Welch shared with Fox 10 viewers when traveling to Mexico for business or pleasure:
  • Be cognizant of local Mexican laws and customs
  • Always be professional and courteous to local police or military personnel you encounter
  • Make copies of your passport and be sure to obtain any required business visas before traveling
  • Have the contact information of your business partners or personal contacts handy
  • Carry consular or embassy contact information with you
Patrick Welch is a licensed attorney in both Arizona and Massachusetts, offering legal services to U.S. and Mexican based individuals and businesses. Patrick is fluent in English and Spanish, and advises his clients with respect to business formation, business transactions and litigation issues arising in the U.S. He is also a member of the Arizona-Mexico Commission.
 
 

Friday, May 24, 2013

Jennings Strouss Foundation Helps Elementary Students “Soar into Reading”


The Jennings Strouss Foundation would like to thank all of the JSS personnel who participated in the "The Sky's the Limit When You Read" book drive that supported the children of Gateway Elementary School. 100 books were donated by JSS personnel! This two-component project focused on providing books to Gateway Elementary School to assist in developing the reading skills of 1st grade students, and enhancing the reading opportunities of all students by ensuring they have the best books available to them. Thank you for your generosity!!!






Thursday, May 23, 2013

The State Is Entitled to Full Reimbursement of Certain Medical Costs It Covers for State Employees

 
By Anne E. McClellan

On March 19, 2013, the Arizona Supreme Court denied review of State of Arizona, ex rel. David Raber v. Wang, 230 Ariz. 476, 286 P.3d 1085 (App. 2012), ending any possible doubt as to whether the State of Arizona must reduce its recovery rights under A.R.S. § 12-962 to account for attorneys’ fees or costs.  The State does not.

A.R.S. § 12-962 provides, in part, as follows:
 
A.        If this state . . . provides medical care and treatment to a person who is injured . . . under circumstances creating tort liability upon a third person, the state . . . may recover from the third person or the injured . . . the reasonable value of the medical care and treatment. …
 
B.        To enforce this right, the state . . . may do the following:
. . .
3.         Recover the cost of care from the injured . . . to the extent that such person has received money in settlement of the claim or satisfaction of a judgment against the third party.
 
A.R.S. § 12-962(A)-(B) (emphasis added).  The statute is intended to convey to the State a fiscal benefit not otherwise available under the law, i.e., recouping certain medical costs paid by the State health plan in order to ensure the State can continue to afford to provide health coverage for its employees.  See 1999 Ariz. Sess. Laws, Ch. 17, §1; Arizona State Senate, Fact Sheet for S.B. 1346.

In State v. Wang, Hongliang Wang was injured in a bicycle accident.  As an employee of the State, Mr. Wang’s accident-related medical care was covered by the State health plan, and the State paid $15,758.26 for that medical care.  Mr. Wang thereafter successfully asserted a claim against the person who caused the accident and received a $50,000 settlement.  Mr. Wang incurred $16,666 in attorneys’ fees and $250.85 in costs to obtain the settlement.

Pursuant to A.R.S. § 12-962, the State demanded payment from the settlement for the $15,758.26 in accident-related medical care it provided to Mr. Wang.  Mr. Wang refused to reimburse the State, forcing the State to file a lawsuit.  Mr. Wang argued that the State must reduce its recovery under the Common Fund Doctrine.

The Common Fund Doctrine is an equitable theory that requires apportionment of a recovery to account for a pro rata share of attorneys’ fees and costs.  The purpose of the doctrine is to compensate counsel for producing benefits for a class of persons and prevent the unjust enrichment of those who receive the benefits. Kerr v. Killian, 197 Ariz. 213, 218, 3 P.3d 1133, 1138 (App.  2000).  If the statutory language clearly defines the right of recovery as being exclusive of attorneys’ fees and costs, application of the common fund doctrine is improper.  Hobson v. Mid-Century Ins. Co., 199 Ariz. 525, 531, 19 P.3d 1241, 1247 (App. 2001).

After the State obtained summary judgment at the trial court level, Mr. Wang appealed to Division One of the Arizona Court of Appeals.  Consistent with Division Two in Ariz. Dep’t. of Admin. v. Cox, 222 Ariz. 270, 272, 213 P.3d 707, 709 (App. 2009), Division One held that the plain language of A.R.S. § 12-962 precludes application of the Common Fund Doctrine or any other equitable theory requiring reduction for attorneys’ fees or costs.  In the decision authored by Justice Randall Howe, the Court of Appeals explained that the statute grants the State a right to recover “the cost of care” from the injured person “to the extent that such persons has received money in settlement of the claim,” and attorneys’ fees and costs are to be deducted from a settlement or judgment prior to disbursement to the injured person, meaning the injured person never “receives” that portion of the fund.

The State’s right under § 12–962(A) to recover the reasonable value of the medical care it has provided, however, is limited by § 12–962(B)(3) “to the extent that [the] person has received money in settlement of the claim or satisfaction of a judgment.” (Emphasis added.) As we have recognized, a person does not “receive” attorneys’ fees under this statute. By limiting the State’s recovery to the amount that Wang “has received in settlement” of his tort claim, § 12–962(B)(3) effectively removes litigation fees and costs from consideration.
 
Wang, 230 Ariz. at ¶ 12-14, 286 P.3d at 1087-88.  The Court of Appeals therefore upheld the trial court’s grant of full recovery of the medical costs to the State.

Arizona law is undeniably clear.  When a person covered by the State health plan is injured because of the negligence of another and receives a settlement, judgment or other payment for his or her injuries, the State is entitled to recover the amount it paid for the injured person’s medical treatment and is not required to reduce its recovery to share in the injured person’s attorneys’ fees or costs.

Wednesday, May 22, 2013

Jennings, Strouss & Salmon Expands Phoenix Office with the Addition of Michael J. Payne



Michael J. Payne

Phoenix (May 22, 2013) – Jennings, Strouss & Salmon, a leading Phoenix-based law firm, is pleased to announce that Michael J. Payne has joined the firm’s Phoenix office as a tax, estate planning and corporate associate.

“We are very pleased to have Michael join our firm,” stated Richard C. Smith, Co-Chair of the firm’s Tax, Estate Planning and Probate Department. “His background as a CPA combined with a law degree will be a tremendous addition to our tax and corporate practices.”

Payne will focus his practice in the areas of tax, estate planning and probate, corporate and business law, mergers and acquisitions, nonprofit corporations and tax-exempt organizations. He is a certified public accountant (CPA) and previously worked as a tax practitioner in the Exempt Organizations Tax Services group at Ernst & Young, one of the “big four” accounting firms.

“I am thrilled to join the seasoned team of attorneys and professional staff at Jennings, Strouss & Salmon,” stated Payne. “I am especially excited to build my transactional law practice among some of the most experienced and distinguished tax, estate planning, and business attorneys in the region. I look forward to continue serving the Arizona business community as Jennings Strouss has done for over 70 years."

Prior to joining the firm, Payne served as an extern with the Arizona Supreme Court Staff Attorneys Office and a law clerk for a small Phoenix firm. He earned a J.D. from Arizona State University Sandra Day O’Connor College of Law and a B.S. in Accountancy from Northern Arizona University.

About Jennings, Strouss & Salmon
Jennings Strouss & Salmon is one of the Southwest's leading law firms, providing legal counsel for over 70 years through its offices in Phoenix and Peoria, and Yuma, Arizona; and Washington, D.C. The firm's primary areas of practice include bankruptcy, reorganization and creditors’ rights; construction; corporate and securities; employee benefits and pensions; energy; family law and domestic relations; health care; intellectual property; labor and employment; litigation; real estate, land use and zoning; surety and fidelity; tax; and trust and estates. For additional information please visit www.jsslaw.com and follow us on LinkedIn, Facebook and Twitter.

~JSS~
 
Contact:  Dawn O. Anderson  |  danderson@jsslaw.com|  602.495.2806

Jennings, Strouss & Salmon Attorneys at Law Expands to Yuma, Ariz.

 
 
  
Phoenix-Based Law Firm Will Offer Full Range of Legal Services at New Yuma Location
 
PHOENIX - (May 22, 2013) – Jennings, Strouss & Salmon, PLC, a leading Phoenix-based law firm, announced the May opening of its Yuma, Arizona office. In addition to agribusiness law, the firm will offer a full range of personal and business legal services to Yuma and Imperial counties, including bankruptcy; business and finance; commercial litigation; construction; ethics and professional liability; family law and domestic relations; labor and employment; health care; personal injury and medical malpractice defense; real estate; tax; and trusts and estates.

Shanna Bowman Orlich and Wayne A. Smith will be the primary attorneys at the Jennings Strouss Yuma office. Shanna has deep roots in Yuma and a strong background in agriculture. She is the daughter of Neil and Beth Bowman and was born and raised in Yuma. Over the years, Orlich has been involved in the business and legal aspects of both of her father’s agribusinesses, BSN Farms and Coronation Peak Ranches, Inc.

“I’m very excited to serve my hometown,” stated Orlich. “This is a tremendous opportunity to give back to my community and offer legal services that are directly beneficial to and customized to meet the unique and diverse needs of business owners and families in Yuma and Imperial Counties. Our Yuma office will have the firm’s full support and resources, which includes a network of 65 attorneys.”

Orlich focuses her practice in the areas of agricultural law; commercial and financial transactions; business operations, planning, and formation; and real estate. She also has experience in commercial and probate litigation. Orlich attended Columbia University, where she earned her J.D. and M.B.A. degrees. She earned a B.S. in industrial engineering from Arizona State University. Orlich is licensed to practice in Arizona, California, and New York.

Wayne Smith was raised on his family’s cattle ranch in southern New Mexico (which he continues to operate) and has been practicing law since 1969. He assists clients with issues related to  agribusiness and agricultural compliance with federal and state programs; water law; real estate (including 1031 exchange and reverse exchange); federal and state income and estate taxation; business and estate planning; and partnership, corporation and limited liability company formation and compliance. Smith earned a B.S. in mechanical engineering from New Mexico State University, a J.D. from the University of New Mexico School of Law, and an L.L.M. in taxation from the University of Missouri-Kansas City School of Law. He is licensed to practice in both Arizona and New Mexico.

Jennings Strouss is committed to supporting the numerous business, civic and industry organizations that are dedicated to the growth of Yuma and Imperial Counties. The firm is currently a member of the Greater Yuma Economic Development Corporation and the Yuma County Chamber of Commerce.

The opening of the Yuma office marks the fourth location for Jennings Strouss, with offices also located in Phoenix and Peoria, Ariz., and in Washington, D.C. Conveniently situated in the heart of historic downtown, the Yuma office of Jennings, Strouss & Salmon is located at 256 S. 2nd Ave., Suite C, and can be reached at 782-1827.

About Jennings, Strouss & Salmon
Jennings Strouss & Salmon is one of the Southwest's leading law firms, providing legal counsel for over 70 years through its offices in Phoenix and Peoria, and Yuma, Arizona; and Washington, D.C. The firm's primary areas of practice include agribusiness; bankruptcy, reorganization and creditors’ rights; construction; corporate and securities; employee benefits and pensions; energy; family law and domestic relations; health care; intellectual property; labor and employment; litigation; personal injury and medical malpractice defense; real estate, land use and zoning; surety and fidelity; tax; and trust and estates. For additional information please visit www.jsslaw.com and follow us on LinkedIn, Facebook and Twitter.
~JSS~
 
Contact:  Dawn O. Anderson  |  danderson@jsslaw.com|  602.495.2806

Friday, May 17, 2013

JSS Attorney Patrick F. Welch Attends Arizona Mexico Commission Meeting in Hermosillo, Mexico to Discuss Cross-Border Business and Transactions



Patrick F. Welch, an attorney at Jennings Strouss & Salmon, P.L.C. and an active member of the Arizona Mexico Commission (AMC), traveled to Hermosillo, Sonora (Mexico) on May 13, 2013 and participated in a meeting hosted by the Asociacion Mexicana de Franquicias (Association of Mexican Franchises) and the La Cámara Nacional De La Industria De Restaurantes Y Alimentos Condimentados (CANIRAC) (National Chamber of Restaurants and Food Industry). AMC members shared their ideas about cross-border transactions between the States of Arizona and Sonora, foreign direct investment in State of Arizona, formation of Arizona business entities, business VISAS, and cross-border accounting issues. Mr. Welch is fluent in English and Spanish, and advises Mexican nationals and businesses with respect to business formation/transactions and litigation issues arising in the U.S. market.

Patrick F. Welch es abogado en el despacho Jennings Strouss & Salmon, P.L.C., y miembro activo de La Comisión Arizona-México (AMC), viajó a Hermosillo, Sonora (México) el 13 de mayo de 2013 y participó en una junta de La Asociación Mexicana de Franquicias y de la Cámara Nacional de la Industria de Restaurantes y Alimentos Condimentados. Los miembros de AMC que asistieron a la junta compartieron sus ideas sobre transacciones transfronterizas entre los estados de Arizona y Sonora, inversión extranjera directa en el estado de Arizona, formación de empresas en el estado de Arizona, visas de negocios, y cuestiones de la contabilidad fronterizas. El Sr. Welch es abogado bilingüe ingles-español y consejero legal de clientes Mexicanos sobre la formación de negocios, transacciones, y litigio civil en los Estados Unidos.

Friday, May 10, 2013

Jennings Strouss Attorneys Recognized in 2013 Washington DC Super Lawyers®


Washington, D.C. (May 10, 2013) – Jennings, Strouss & Salmon, PLC announced that Debra D. Roby, Joel L. Greene, Alan I. Robbins and Deborah A. Swanstrom have been listed in the 2013 Washington DC Super Lawyers® in the area of Energy and Natural Resources .

Roby is Chair of the firm's Energy practice group and has extensive experience representing clients before the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission and related courts. She counsels clients on a variety of energy matters, including electric transmission access and rate proceedings, regional transmission organizations, organized electric power markets, hydro-electric licensing and compliance, contract negotiations, complaint proceedings, NERC reliability compliance, audits and appeals, and other matters.  

Greene has more than 35 years assisting clients in energy regulatory matters, legal strategic planning, contract negotiations and advocacy before the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, US Department of Transportation (PHMSA), state commissions and the courts. Greene is very active in the energy industry, having served on the North American Energy Standards Board, Edison Electric Institute Order 636 Task Force, and as an officer of the Energy Bar Association. In addition, he served as chair of the International District Energy Association (IDEA) and currently serves as the association’s legal counsel.

Robbins is an experienced administrative litigator before the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission and related courts. For over 30 years, Mr. Robbins has helped his clients navigate a broad range of energy issues, including restructuring of the electric industry and the development electric power markets, traditional electric rate matters, utility merger proceedings, contract negotiations, hydropower licensing, project development, and overall business strategies. His clients include municipal joint action agencies, generation and transmission cooperatives, a state utility commission, individual municipal and cooperative electric systems, larger end-users, and other market participants.

Swanstrom has more than 24 years of experience representing clients from diverse segments of the electric and natural gas industries on regulatory matters related to ratemaking, open access, transmission projects, renewable generation projects, and energy trading. Ms. Swanstrom counsels clients on FERC and Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC) regulations, reliability standards developed by NERC and regional entities, and compliance with the Dodd-Frank Act, Federal Power Act and Natural Gas Act. She has represented government and investor-owned electric utilities, investors in generation and transmission projects, industrial electricity consumers, state and local regulators, gas pipelines, local distribution companies, and producers and marketers.

The selections for the top attorneys in Washington, DC are made by the research team at Super Lawyers, which is a service of the Thomson Reuters Legal Division based in Eagan, MN. Each year, the research team undertakes a rigorous multi-phase selection process that includes a survey of attorneys, independent evaluation of candidates by the attorney-led research staff, a peer review of candidates by practice area, and a good-standing and disciplinary check. Only five percent of attorneys are named by Super Lawyers.

About Jennings, Strouss & Salmon
Jennings Strouss & Salmon is one of the Southwest's leading law firms, providing legal counsel for over 70 years through its offices in Phoenix and Peoria, Arizona; and Washington, D.C. The firm's primary areas of practice include bankruptcy, reorganization and creditors’ rights; construction; corporate and securities; employee benefits and pensions; energy; family law and domestic relations; health care; intellectual property; labor and employment; litigation; real estate, land use and zoning; surety and fidelity; tax; and trust and estates. For additional information please visit www.jsslaw.com and follow us on LinkedIn, Facebook and Twitter.

~JSS~

Contact: Dawn O. Anderson | danderson@jsslaw.com| 602.495.2806

Twenty-One Jennings Strouss Attorneys Recognized in 2013 edition of Southwest Super Lawyers®


PHOENIX, Ariz. (May 10, 2013) – Jennings, Strouss & Salmon, PLC announced that twenty-one attorneys have been have been listed in Southwest Super Lawyers® magazine for 2013, including four 2013 Southwest Rising Stars.
 
The Jennings Strouss attorneys listed in 2013 Southwest Super Lawyers are:
  • Gerald W. Alston - Business Litigation
  • John R. Christian – Tax
  • Frederick M. Cummings - Personal Injury Defense: Medical Malpractice
  • Richard K. Delo - Personal Injury Defense: Medical Malpractice
  • John J. Egbert - Employment & Labor
  • Lee E. Esch - Real Estate
  • Michael J. Farrell - Civil Litigation Defense
  • Jay A. Fradkin - Personal Injury Defense: Medical Malpractice
  • Carolyn J. Johnsen - Bankruptcy
  • Richard Lieberman - Mergers & Acquisitions
  • Jay M. Mann – Construction/Surety
  • Bruce B. May - Real Estate
  • Michael R. Palumbo – Business Litigation
  • J. Scott Rhodes - Professional Liability: Defense
  • Jack N. Rudel – Tax
  • John G. Sestak, Jr. – General Litigation
  • Bradley J. Stevens - Bankruptcy
The attorneys listed as 2013 Southwest Rising Stars are:
  • Eric D. Gere - Business Litigation
  • Kami M. Hoskins - Bankruptcy
  • Bradley V. Martorana - Business/Corporate
  • Anne McClellan - Civil Litigation Defense
The selections for the top attorneys in Arizona are made by the research team at Super Lawyers, which is a service of the Thomson Reuters Legal Division based in Eagan, MN. Each year, the research team undertakes a rigorous multi-phase selection process that includes a statewide survey of attorneys, independent evaluation of candidates by the attorney-led research staff, a peer review of candidates by practice area, and a good-standing and disciplinary check. State-wide, only five percent of attorneys are named by Super Lawyers, and just 2.5 percent of attorneys under the age of 40 and practicing 10 years or less are included as Rising Stars.
 
About Jennings, Strouss & Salmon
 
Jennings Strouss & Salmon is one of the Southwest's leading law firms, providing legal counsel for over 70 years through its offices in Phoenix and Peoria, Arizona; and Washington, D.C. The firm's primary areas of practice include bankruptcy, reorganization and creditors’ rights; construction; corporate and securities; employee benefits and pensions; energy; family law and domestic relations; health care; intellectual property; labor and employment; litigation; real estate, land use and zoning; surety and fidelity; tax; and trust and estates. For additional information please visit www.jsslaw.com and follow us on LinkedIn, Facebook and Twitter.
 
~JSS~
 
Contact: Dawn O. Anderson | danderson@jsslaw.com | 602.495.2806
 
 

FERC to Host Meeting on Coordination Between Natural Gas and Electric Markets in Organized Electric Markets



On May 9, 2013, the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (“FERC”) issued a public notice of a Commission meeting as part of its ongoing exploration of Coordination between Natural Gas and Electricity Markets.

On May 16, 2013, from 1:30 p.m. to 3:30 p.m., a representative from each regional transmission organization and independent system operator will present information related to their experiences from the past winter and spring. The representatives will also identify natural gas transportation concerns from the winter heating season and any fuel-related generator outages during the winter and spring.

The meeting is open to the public and FERC will also provide a free webcast of the meeting available through the FERC Calendar of Events, which will be archived for three months.

Thursday, May 9, 2013

D.C. Court of Appeals Strikes NLRB “Poster” Requirement

 

The U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit ruled that the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) exceeded its statutory authority when it promulgated a rule requiring businesses to display a poster informing employees of their right to form or join a union. The rule would have required more than 6 million employers, mostly small businesses, to display an 11” x 17” notice onsite in a prominent location explaining the rights workers have to join a union and bargain collectively to improve wages and working conditions. Failure to post the notice would constitute an unfair labor practice.

Many trade and business organizations filed complaints in the district court, claiming that the NLRB’s rule violated the National Labor Relations Act (NLRA) and First Amendment to the Constitution. The NLRB defended the rule asserting enforcement was necessary because unions represent only a small percentage of the private workforce, immigrants are unlikely to be familiar with their workplace rights, and recent high-school graduates entering the work force are not familiar with labor laws.

D.C. Court of Appeals Judge Karen LeCraft Henderson wrote, “Even assuming these speculative assertions have some factual basis and, as well, that providing such information is ‘necessary to carry out’ the Act’s provisions, there is nothing in the text of the NLRA to suggest the burden of filling the ‘knowledge gap’ should fall on the employer’s shoulders. Unions and the NLRB are at least as qualified to disseminate appropriate information—easily and cheaply in this information technology age—and in fact already do so.”


Wednesday, May 8, 2013

West Valley Update May 2013


By David Brnilovich
dbrnilovich@jsslaw.com
(623) 878-2222

The first quarter of 2013 is off to a strong start in the West Valley. West Valley Cities issued 24% more single-family building permits in the first quarter of 2013 over the first quarter of 2012. Commercial real estate is on the upswing. The Glendale Economic Development Department reports 455,000 square feet of new buildings will be constructed which will bring up to 500 new jobs to the City. Construction is underway for Arrowhead Cadillac at 83rd Avenue and Bell. Once opened, the dealership will generate 160 new jobs. Not to be out done by its larger neighbors, El Mirage will be home to the headquarters for Dakota Fabricating, Inc., a maker of equipment for the aggregate and mining industry. Initial new jobs are to be 60 and ultimately as many as 250 new jobs. In Goodyear, Macy’s will double the size of its fulfillment center and in neighboring Buckeye, Sun State Builders has begun construction of a new 450,00 square foot industrial building. Trine University from Indiana has opened its Peoria branch at 83rd Avenue and Thunderbird where it will be offering degrees in such areas as Engineering, Business and Computer Sciences. The healthcare field is also expanding in the West Valley with the groundbreaking of the 35 acre campus for St. Joseph’s Westgate Medical Center. The new hospital is scheduled to open in March 2014. The pace of acquisitions of unimproved land in the West Valley is accelerating with the supply of residential lots dwindling as new home construction accelerates.

Tuesday, May 7, 2013

FERC’s Ruling on PJM’s Minimum Offer Pricing Rule Exempts Self-Supply LSEs



By Andrea I. Sarmentero Garzón

On May 2, 2013, the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (“FERC” or “Commission”) issued an Order partially accepting PJM Interconnection, LLC’s (“PJM”) proposed Tariff changes to its Minimum Offer Price Rule (“MOPR”) subject to further compliance filings (“MOPR Order”).  

The current MOPR was adopted in 2011 in order to mitigate what PJM calls “buyer-side” market power by requiring all new, non-exempted resources to bid at a floor price (i.e. ninety percent (90%) of the Net Cost of New Entry) or higher, unless the resource can demonstrate, through a unit-specific review process, that a lower bid is justified based on the economics of that unit. Last December, PJM submitted revisions to its MOPR rule proposing to replace the unit-specific review process with two broad exemptions: one for “competitive entry” and one for self-supply LSEs.  Under the PJM proposal, a resource would be subject to the MOPR unless it fit within one of the exemptions. 

While the Commission accepted the two broad exemptions, it rejected PJM’s proposal to eliminate the unit-specific review.  The Commission reasoned that, “[t]here may be resources ineligible for any MOPR exemptions that have lower competitive costs than the default offer floor, and these resources should have the opportunity to demonstrate their competitive entry costs. See MOPR Order at P 26.

PJM must now go back to its stakeholders to discuss possible improvements to the alleged deficiencies of its unit-specific review in tandem with possible enhancements to the calculation of the Net Cost of New Entry. See MOPR Order at P 144.

A core issue in the case was whether certain revisions to the MOPR are necessary to ensure that mitigation applies to resources with incentives to submit bids below their actual entry costs.  FERC rejected arguments suggesting that vertically-integrated utilities should satisfy their capacity needs though Fixed Resource Requirements (“FRR”) mechanisms instead of participating in the capacity market with a MOPR self-supply exemption. On this, the Commission stated, “At issue here, however, is not the adequacy, or inadequacy, of the FRR option for vertically-integrated utilities. Rather, the issue is whether PJM’s proposed tariff changes are just and reasonable. We find that PJM has met this burden because entities that self-supply a sufficiently large portion of their capacity requirement do not have an incentive to use uncompetitive entry to lower capacity prices. See MOPR Order at P 110. The Commission made clear that the effectiveness of the self-supply exemption depends “critically” on LSEs meeting the net-short and net-long proposed thresholds and directed PJM to make adjustments to its net-long threshold’s assumptions to accommodate winter-peaking LSEs. The Commission further recognized that the underlying assumptions used in the calculation of self-supply thresholds are subject to change and required PJM to submit tariff language memorializing its obligation to review  these thresholds on a periodic basis.

FERC also rejected PJM's proposal to increase the mitigation period by applying the MOPR to a planned generation capacity resource in two successive auctions after the one in which the new entrant's resource clears. The current rules apply the MOPR until the planned resource clears the capacity auction once.  The Commission found that, “applying the MOPR offer floor to a resource already determined to be economic would be unreasonable and could inefficiently discourage the entry of new capacity that is economic.” See MOPR Order at 211. The Commission reasoned that a resource that has cleared capacity auction has to begin building in order to provide capacity in the corresponding delivery year (three-years ahead) for which it has cleared and that no developer would reasonably commence construction without the certainty that the project has been accepted as a new capacity resource in the PJM’s capacity auction.

You may see the MOPR Order by clicking here.

Wednesday, May 1, 2013

Timothy W. Barton Returns to Jennings, Strouss & Salmon, PLC

 
 
Phoenix (May 1, 2013) – Jennings, Strouss & Salmon, a leading Phoenix-based law firm, is pleased to announce that Timothy W. Barton has joined the firm’s Phoenix office as Of Counsel. Barton had previously been a partner at Jennings Strouss for 30 years.

“We are thrilled to have Tim rejoin the firm. Tim is a recognized leader in his field of practice and enjoys the well-earned respect of many members of our profession,” said Managing Attorney J. Scott Rhodes.

Barton will focus his practice in the areas of title insurance and escrow, and real estate litigation and transactions. Since 1963, he has advised and represented title insurance companies and their insureds, escrow companies and escrow agents, real estate developers, real estate brokers, general and specialty contractors, and other real estate industry clients.

“It is a great feeling to be welcomed back to the firm where I began my legal career,” states Barton. “I look forward to working with such a talented group of attorneys, many with whom I worked closely during my prior time at the firm.”

Mr. Barton frequently presents on topics related to title insurance, Arizona escrow law, real estate litigation, adverse possession, and boundary law. He has also published numerous articles on those subjects and is retained to testify as an expert witness on escrow and title insurance matters.

About Jennings, Strouss & Salmon
Jennings Strouss & Salmon is one of the Southwest's leading law firms, providing legal counsel for over 70 years through its offices in Phoenix and Peoria, Arizona; and Washington, D.C. The firm's primary areas of practice include bankruptcy, reorganization and creditors’ rights; construction; corporate and securities; employee benefits and pensions; energy; family law and domestic relations; health care; intellectual property; labor and employment; litigation; real estate; sports and entertainment; surety and fidelity; tax; and trust and estates. For additional information please visit www.jsslaw.com and follow us on LinkedIn, Facebook and Twitter.
~JSS~

Contact: Dawn O. Anderson | danderson@jsslaw.com| 602.495.2806