United States: Employee Or Employer? Terminated Doctor Loses Appeal In Discrimination Case Because Of Employer Status

The Seventh Circuit Court of Appeals recently affirmed a lower court’s conclusion that a doctor in a service corporation was actually an employer, and thus could not bring a claim under federal discrimination statutes based upon her termination. Bluestein v. Cent. Wisconsin Anesthesiology, S.C., 13-3724, 2014 WL 5176397 (7th Cir. Oct. 15, 2014). The case highlights the complex test that courts apply in determining whether a member of a professional business entity is eligible […]

By | October 22nd, 2014 ||

United States: Louisiana Employers Are Restricted In Their Ability To Consider Certain Criminal Records For Employment Purposes

Effective August 1, 2014, Louisiana became another state to regulate employer use of criminal record information for employment purposes.

Under the new law, expunged records of arrests of convictions are now considered confidential and no longer part of the public record. Those records also cannot be made available to any person or entity except:

To members of law enforcement or criminal justice agencies or prosecutors investigating, prosecuting or enforcing criminal law or for other statutory purposes;
Upon […]

By | October 22nd, 2014 ||

United States: IRS Permits Puerto Rico-Qualified Plans In U.S. Group Trusts, Extends Deadline For Certain Puerto Rico Spin-Offs

The U.S. Internal Revenue Service (IRS) recently issued Revenue Ruling 2014-24, which expressly permits retirement plans that are tax qualified only in Puerto Rico (Puerto Rico-only plans) to continue to pool assets with U.S.-qualified plans in Revenue Ruling 81-100 group trusts (group trusts) now and in the future. The ruling is welcome relief for Puerto Rico plan sponsors, institutional investors and trustees, who previously were relying on transition relief that permitted Puerto Rico-only plans […]

By | October 21st, 2014 ||