Law Talk Wednesdays: Steps a Physician Should Take After Receiving a Board Complaint

Frederick M. Cummings discusses steps a physician should take after receiving a board complaint.

Melissa A. Alfano Joins Jennings, Strouss & Salmon’s Energy Practice

Phoenix, Ariz. (October 28, 2013) – Jennings, Strouss & Salmon, P.L.C., a leading Phoenix-based law firm, is pleased to announce that Melissa A. Alfano has joined the firm’s energy practice as an Associate in its Washington, DC office.

 “We are thrilled to have Melissa join our firm,” stated Debra D. Roby, chair of the firm’s energy practice. “Melissa’s ambition, strong work ethic, and passion for energy issues makes her an excellent addition to the Energy Practice Group.”

Ms. Alfano focuses her practice on energy law. With a strong history rooted in environmental economics, she has worked with electric utility and natural gas clients to resolve issues related to FERC compliance, policies, standards of conduct, and merger enforcements. Her knowledge and expertise in operations analytics and statistics adds a well-rounded portfolio of experience to her energy practice.

“The attorneys at Jennings Strouss are known for their hard work and top-notch practice,” states Ms. Alfano. “I am excited for the opportunity to develop my career at Jennings Strouss, and I look forward to working alongside these professionals to address critical issues in the energy industry.”

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, 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; 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

Corporate Power Marriages: Special Considerations for Partial Interests in Power Production

Jennings, Strouss & Salmon attorney, Richard Lieberman, authors “Corporate Power Marriages: Special Considerations for Partial Interests in Power Production,” published in IDEA District Energy Magazine’s “From a Legal Perspective” section.
When a party fully controls its power product capacity, it can decide how to manage, maintain, improve and use those facilities. On the other hand, if a party only has contractual rights to acquire power, it is much like getting married to the other owners and operators. IDEA members should evaluate several issues before entering into contractual arrangements.

• Are the parties compatible?
• Will your company’s ownership or contractual rights be protected?
• How will the two parties manage business affairs?

This column answers these questions and addresses other important considerations for those who currently are, or considering becoming, partial interest parties. Read the complete article

Anne E. McClellan Gives Tips on Ensuring Emails are HIPAA Compliant

Jennings, Strouss & Salmon attorney Anne E. McClellan is featured in an article in Medical Office Today entitled, "Is Your Practice's Email HIPAA Compliant?" In the article, she discusses the importance of health care providers complying with HIPAA in their electronic communications. The article also provides practical tips that providers can implement to ensure emails are HIPAA compliant.

The full article can be accessed here.

Law Talk Wednesdays: Should You Seek Ethics Counsel?

Scott Rhodes discusses why sole practitioners and small firms should seek out ethics counsel. 

Jennings Strouss Attorney John J. Egbert Featured in Phoenix Business Journal Article on Social Media

Jennings, Strouss & Salmon labor and employment attorney John J. Egbert is featured in a Phoenix Business Journal article entitled, "What Steve Nash’s divorce can teach businesses, workers about social media." The article discusses the precedents Steve Nash's divorce case may have set in terms of how social media is used and how it can impact legal contracts, business and employment agreements.

“We are starting to see provisions in the employment context — employment contracts, severance/settlement agreements — which expressly attempt to address the parties’ use of social media,” Egbert said

The full article can be accessed here.

Mr. Egbert is Chair of the firm's Labor and Employment Practice Group and serves as the firm's General Counsel. He assists employers with all types of employment  litigation, including discrimination, wrongful discharge, wage and hour and  non-compete agreements. Mr. Egbert also frequently advises clients on employment policies and procedures, and represents employers before administrative agencies.

Law Talk Wednesdays: Considerations for Lawyers Starting Careers as Sole Practitioners

Scott Rhodes discusses considerations for lawyers starting careers as sole practitioners. 

Page Arizona: A Town Built By Public Power

Highlighted in this week’s Public Power magazine is a nice article about Page, Arizona. Jennings Strouss is proud to have a long-standing relationship with “The Town Public Power Built.”
Read the article

Author Credit: D’Alessandro, Laura. “The Town Public Power Built.” Public Power Magazine 71.8. (Nov. 2013): n. pag. Web <http://publicpower.org/Media/magazine/ArticleDetail>

FERC Delays Q3 2013 Electronic Quarterly Reports

On October 10, 2013, the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission issued an order directing all public and non-public utilities not to file their Electronic Quarterly Reports for the third quarter of 2013 until further notice because the web-based EQR filing system is not yet available. FERC will issue a public notice when the new web-based system becomes available and provide EQR filers with a new deadline for filing the Q3 2013 EQRs.

Previously, FERC expanded the pool of EQR filers to include non-public utilities (such as municipalities and electric cooperatives) with more than 4 million MWh of wholesale annual sales. In that order, FERC required non-public utilities to begin filing their EQRs for the third quarter of 2013.
In late 2012, FERC also ordered a change to its process for filing EQRs from using FERC-distributed software to a web-based approach. FERC ordered the change in filing system beginning with the Q3 2013 EQRs.

Law Talk Wednesdays: Client Selection

J. Scott Rhodes discusses identifying a worthy client from an unworthy client. 

John J. Egbert Introduces Employer Tool #6: Insist employee paid time off is used simultaneously with unpaid FMLA leave.

Fair Labor Standards Act's Minimum Wage and Overtime Protections Extend to Direct Care Workers

The U.S. Department of Labor recently announced a final rule that extends the Fair Labor Standards Act’s (FLSA) minimum wage and overtime protections to most direct care workers. Direct care workers, which include certified nursing assistants, home health and personal care workers, are some of the lowest paid workers in the service industry. This change will impact nearly two million direct care workers, and will provide additional security to those who rely on the services provided by direct care workers.

The rule will be effective on January 1, 2015. To access additional information, fact sheets, webinars, and other materials, visit the Department of Labor’s web portal at: www.dol.gov/whd/homecare/.