On June 26, 2015, Rhode Island Governor Gina Raimondo signed the "Rhode Island Identity Theft Protection Act of 2015" ("Act"), substantially reworking Rhode Island's 2005 data breach and identity protection laws. Although it does not formally take effect until June of...
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Firm News
SCOTUS Saves the Affordable Care Act Again – Tax Credits Available on All Exchanges
On June 25, 2015, the Supreme Court of the United States (SCOTUS) decided that tax credits will be made available to individuals who purchase health insurance coverage on both federal and state exchanges (on-line marketplaces where people compare and purchase...
CMS Releases Proposed Rule on Modernizing Medicaid
On May 27, 2015, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services ("CMS") released a proposed rule that would "modernize the Medicaid managed care regulations to reflect changes in the usage of managed care delivery systems." The first major update to Medicaid managed...
The Supreme Court of the United States holds that ERISA plan fiduciaries have a continuing duty to monitor the prudence of plan investments in pension and 401(k)/defined contribution plans
A decision issued last week by the Supreme Court of the United States (SCOTUS) has significant implications for both ERISA plan fiduciaries and plan participants. In Tibble v. Edison, SCOTUS held that, in addition to the duty to exercise reasonable prudence in the...
Achieving Zero Tolerance of Sexual Harassment in the Workplace
Employers deal with complicated and difficult HR issues regularly. Although the allegations regarding Harvey Weinstein and the advent of the #MeToo movement have raised attention about the issue of sexual harassment, reporting is limited in providing practical...
BIG DATA – Approach with Mindful Caution
The digital footprint we leave behind when we post, purchase or shop online are like the bread crumbs of our daily lives and behaviors. This trail creates a profile of who we are, what we do, what we like or dislike and so much more. In this video, PLDO Partner Brian...
Insuring Accounts Receivable: A Quick Primer
What do you do when your largest customer goes bankrupt? Panic? Probably. But, once the immediate panic subsides, some smart business owners call their insurance company and put in a claim under their "accounts receivable insurance" policy. Accounts receivable and...
Not The Sweet Kind Of “Cookies”: The New Tax On Vendors Making Internet Sales
Sure, it’s the holiday season, but these cookies aren’t the heart-shaped kind that you give your Valentine. These “cookies” are packets of data that businesses rely on to operate their websites. Cookies allow businesses to identify and track users, then customize...
Weddings are (Still) not an “Agricultural Operation”
The Rhode Island Supreme Court recently had the opportunity to review a 2014 amendment to the Right to Farm Act (the "RFA") in The Gerald P. Zarrella Trust et al. v. Town of Exeter et al., SU #2016-301-A. In that matter, the plaintiff sought a declaration that RFA, as...