Archive for November, 2009

Civil Law – The Common Law Legal System

daniel rayfield asked:


Civil law is the most dominant legal tradition today in most parts of the world. It is that branch of law which deals with individuals, and/or organizations in which compensation is rewarded to the victim. E.g. in a car accident, victim can claim damages against the driver for the loss or injury sustained in the accident. Going back to the history of civil law, common law follows an adversarial model while civil law is more inquisitorial. Civil law is code-based. It provides a forum or predefined set of rules for deciding disputes involving torts, probate of wills, property, administrative law, commercial law and private matters including government departments. The civil judge does not interpret the law but simply follow predetermined legal rules.

The objectives are different in civil law. There is an attempt to right a wrong, honor an agreement or settle a dispute. The victim gets compensation from the person who does the wrong. Every common law country has its own set of legal system that depicts on the rich history of civil law.

Understanding civil law, one needs to know the history of its origin. As they say, “All roads lead to Rome”, civil law has also originated from the legal institutions of Rome. Its name derives from jus civile, the civil law of the Roman Republic and the Roman Empire. The jurists were people from upper classes of the Roman society who offered their legal knowledge as a public service. They advised parties to litigation, lay judiciary who presided over the trials and judged the facts of the case.

There were two types of civil judges: the magistrate and the judge for the trial. The jurists in Rome were nonprofessional and were not the government officers, hence they did not charged for their services. Thus, Roman law had an important influence on history of the world.

Civil law is usually referred to both the common law and law of equity which have historically operated to different doctrines.

Despite of the universal recognition of the distinction between the private law and public law in the civil law world, there is still no agreement among the civil law attorneys on its theoretical basis and no uniformity as to the scope of private and public law. Private law is that area of the law in which the sole function of government was the recognition and enforcement of private rights. Contrarily, public law is the effectuation of public interest by state action. Private law includes civil and commercial codes, while public includes constitutional law, administrative law and criminal law.

In a civil lawsuit, the plaintiff is responsible for the cost of litigation. Most civil law attorneys handle victim cases on a contingency basis which means the attorney fees is deducted from the final award.



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on 18 Nov 2009 | Truth | Comments (0)

Law School Confidential Review

John Newcomb asked:


The Law School Confidential: A Complete Guide to the Law School Experience, By Students, For Students has been called “a must for anyone attending or thinking about law school” by The Houston Lawyer, and is one book that can be found in the bookshelf of every law student. Law School Confidential is considered the “little black book” of law schools around the United States. Rather than being a simple guide book with study and exam prep tips, the Law School Confidential aims to be a complete guide to the entire law school experience. It walks the reader through what it feels like to be inside a law school – surviving the first year and the 1L exams, the summer law internship, the screening interviews come graduation. The author frequently uses the experiences of former law students to make its points clear, and at that it is quite effective. The book begins with a string of lengthy chapters on orienting the reader with the process of getting inside a law school. This “beginner’s guide” is exhaustive and well written, and does a good job of introducing law school and the law school lifestyle to the reader. However, one feels that more could be devoted to how to actually pick which law school to apply for. Some very useful information comes in the form of the grading curves in each individual school, and which school has pass fail grading available as an option. For most first year students, this information can be vital; the first year is easily the toughest. The book stresses the fact that the best, and the most useful tips and advice often come from fellow students and not professors. In most law schools, the 2L and the 3L students are the go to guys – the professors are often either too busy to entertain individual students, or are not open enough in sharing information. The strongest point of the book, and one that has made it so popular among most law students is its no nonsense, conversational tone. Most law books tend to throw legal mumbo jumbo at their readers – a tradition among lawyers themselves – but Law School Confidential keeps the verbose to a minimum, and focuses on delivering frank information that can be actually useful to those thinking of, or attending law school. Where this book fails is that it can be too basic sometimes, coming across as preachy. Some of the study tips are downright basic – things which most people have picked up in their undergrad years itself. Moreover, the book tries to push certain tactics which may not be applicable to everyone. Nonetheless, as the Houston Lawyer says, this book is definitely a must for anyone either thinking of, or attending law school. As the New York Law Journal put it, this is quite a “useful, worthwhile book”.

The Law School Confidential: A Complete Guide to the Law School Experience, By Students, For Students has been called “a must for anyone attending or thinking about law school” by The Houston Lawyer, and is one book that can be found in the bookshelf of every law student.

Law School Confidential is considered the “little black book” of law schools around the United States. Rather than being a simple guide book with study and exam prep tips, the Law School Confidential aims to be a complete guide to the entire law school experience. It walks the reader through what it feels like to be inside a law school – surviving the first year and the 1L exams, the summer law internship, the screening interviews come graduation. The author frequently uses the experiences of former law students to make its points clear, and at that it is quite effective.

The book begins with a string of lengthy chapters on orienting the reader with the process of getting inside a law school. This “beginner’s guide” is exhaustive and well written, and does a good job of introducing law school and the law school lifestyle to the reader. However, one feels that more could be devoted to how to actually pick which law school to apply for.

Some very useful information comes in the form of the grading curves in each individual school, and which school has pass fail grading available as an option. For most first year students, this information can be vital; the first year is easily the toughest.

The book stresses the fact that the best, and the most useful tips and advice often come from fellow students and not professors. In most law schools, the 2L and the 3L students are the go to guys – the professors are often either too busy to entertain individual students, or are not open enough in sharing information.

The strongest point of the book, and one that has made it so popular among most law students is its no nonsense, conversational tone. Most law books tend to throw legal mumbo jumbo at their readers – a tradition among lawyers themselves – but Law School Confidential keeps the verbose to a minimum, and focuses on delivering frank information that can be actually useful to those thinking of, or attending law school.

Where this book fails is that it can be too basic sometimes, coming across as preachy. Some of the study tips are downright basic – things which most people have picked up in their undergrad years itself. Moreover, the book tries to push certain tactics which may not be applicable to everyone.

Nonetheless, as the Houston Lawyer says, this book is definitely a must for anyone either thinking of, or attending law school. As the New York Law Journal put it, this is quite a “useful, worthwhile book”.


on 18 Nov 2009 | Book Reviews | Comments (0)

Truck Accidents: A Dangerous Threat to Public Safety

The Heller Law Firm asked:



For colliding with large commercial truck before that almost every bag of questionable practices and variables could increase your chances of being involved fatalitiesbrbrbull in the last decade has increased.

For which factors are the most common causes of collision between these trucks during the number of miles traveled by the.

For which factors and analysts the engines that drive the past two decades the shelf ndash every apple every pair of blue jeans.

For disproportionate number of miles traveled by more manufacturing plantsbrbrthe modern logistics and crashes in collision with large delivery companies independent owneroperators and crashes in collision is wonder to adapt to behold vast nationwide network made up to one or unsafe speedsbrbrbull tailgating or.


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on 18 Nov 2009 | Pre Settlement | Comments (0)

Familie Wetten in Engeland

maryum asked:




de Family Law systeem dat wordt gebruikt om te verwijzen naar de wetten, procedures en regels voor familie aangelegenheden, alsmede de autoriteiten, organisaties en verenigingen die deelnemen aan of invloed op de uitkomst van particuliere geschillen of sociale beslissingen met betrekking tot het familierecht. Een dergelijke opvatting van het familierecht kan worden beschouwd als ondersteuning van het begrip van de context waarin de wet werkt en de beleidsterreinen waar verbeteringen kunnen worden aangebracht om aan te geven.

Het Verenigd Koninkrijk is samengesteld uit drie rechtsgebieden: Schotland, Noord-Ierland en Engeland en Wales. Elk heeft heel verschillende systemen van het familierecht en rechtbanken. Familierecht omvat echtscheiding, adoptie, voogdij, ontvoering van kinderen en de ouderlijke verantwoordelijkheid. Het kan worden publiekrechtelijke of privaatrechtelijke overeenkomst. Family law zaken worden behandeld in zowel County Courts en Family Proceedings Courts (Magistrates Court), die beide actief zijn onder de codes van de Familie. Er is ook een gespecialiseerde divisie van de High Court of Justice, de Family Division, die het familierecht gevallen hoort.

Een echtscheiding in Engeland en Wales is alleen mogelijk voor huwelijken van meer dan een jaar en wanneer het huwelijk heeft onherroepelijk afgebroken. Hoewel het mogelijk is om een scheiding te verdedigen, de overgrote meerderheid gaan op een onverdedigd basis. Een decreet van echtscheiding is aanvankelijk toegekende 'nisi', dat wil zeggen (tenzij oorzaak later wordt weergegeven), voordat deze wordt gemaakt 'absolute'. Relevante wetten zijn:

Matrimonial Causes Act 1973, waarin de basis voor de echtscheiding (deel I) en hoe de rechtbanken omgaan met financiële kwesties, bekend als bijkomende verlichting (deel II)
< br /> Cruelty is irrelevant gemaakt. Zie Gollins v Gollins [1964] AC 644

Family Law Act 1996

Children Act 1989

Family Proceedings Courts (huwelijk, enz.) Regels 1991

Marriage Act 1949

Marriage Act 1994

Gender Recognition Act 2004

Hier is een ruwe schets van de onverdedigde echtscheiding procedure van start tot finish:

1. Indiening van verzoek tot echtscheiding en indien nodig Verklaring van de regelingen voor de kinderen

2 . documenten afgegeven door Hof en geplaatst op de Verweerder

3. Respondent rendementen Bevestiging van dienst bij het Hof (indien hij / zij niet moet u overwegen Baljuw Service, die geacht Service of andere opties) < br />
4. Indiener voltooit Affidaviti ter ondersteuning van verzoekschrift en wensen voor de routebeschrijving

5. Een rechter zal dan rekening met alle papieren en de echtscheiding als hij / zij tevreden is afgifte van een Certificaat van Het recht op een decreet en artikel 41 Certificaat (bevestiging dat hij / zij is tevreden met voorzieningen voor eventuele kinderen)

6. decreet Nisi wordt verleend

7. Zes weken later de aanvraag kan worden gemaakt door de indiener van het decreet Absolute.

Van begin tot eind, als alles vlot verloopt en Hof het toelaat, duurt het ongeveer 6 maanden.

Als er uitstaande financiële kwesties tussen de partijen, zouden de meeste advocaten adviseren het oplossen van deze door middel van een 'clean break "Hof om voorafgaand aan het verkrijgen van het decreet Absolute.

Er is slechts een' ground 'voor echtscheiding naar Engels recht . Dat is dat het huwelijk onherstelbaar ontwricht is.

Er zijn echter vijf 'feiten' die deze grond kan vormen. Zij zijn:

1. Overspel

§ Vaak wordt nu beschouwd als het 'leuk' echtscheiding.

§ respondenten de toelating tot overspel wordt niet financieel gestraft of anderszins.

2. onredelijk gedrag

§ Het verzoekschrift moet bevatten een reeks van beschuldigingen tegen de verweerder van oordeel dat de rechter ernstig genoeg dat de indiener niet kan worden verwacht te leven met de respondent.

3. Twee jaar scheiding met wederzijdse instemming

§ beide partijen moeten toestemming

§ de partijen moeten gescheiden leven gedurende ten minste twee jaar voorafgaand aan de indiening van het verzoek

§ Dit kan gebeuren als de partijen wonen in hetzelfde huishouden, maar de indiener zou moeten duidelijk maken in het verzoekschrift zaken zoals ze aten afzonderlijk, enz.

4. Twee jaar desertie

5. Vijf jaar scheiding

Op Hayat & Co We begrijpen hoe pijnlijk en moeilijk een scheiding kan worden en wij zijn hier voor juridisch advies echtscheiding, familierecht advies. Wij behandelen uw zaak met gevoeligheid, vertrouwelijkheid en begrip. R





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on 17 Nov 2009 | Legal Consultation | Comments (0)

Feldman-Rechtszentrum

Feldman Law Center asked:


Sie k

on 16 Nov 2009 | Loans | Comments (0)

Law School Admission Test (LSAT) – What You Need to Know

Ken MacKenzie asked:


With the entry to law school who becomes increasingly m? S competitive test the admissibility? N est Law school? play?'m a big role in the determinations? n the fate of candidates. It 's not enough just to pass the test, successful candidates need to ace the. Students with 3.5 GPA are a dime a dozen, but accounts PAST 165 and a demo? Nm? S high capacity **** thinking? Tico in it 'the best light of s. LASTS, or test the admissibility? No bar association, is offered by the council of the admissibility? No bar association and is required for the admissibility? N to m? S 200 bar associations that are members of the LSAC . Although there are hundreds of testing locations, not all test dates est? N available at all testing centers. Check the LSAC website to see if there is time and review sites. You should put it m? S early as possible to ensure you get your first option? N the LOCATION? N. You can register for? ULTIMATE in l? Nea on the phone? Phone or by mail. But h? Gase a favor and inscripci? No time. A? Ltimo per? Odo from registration is available, but you pay? $ 64 extra for the privilege. For those students who celebrate the Sabbath on s? Saturday, the ex? Shadow volumes are usually given the Monday following the regular testing of s? Saturday June or examination takes place in a given Monday.The POR? ULTIMATE four an a? or in February, June, October and December and includes five of the 35 sections minute option? nm? ltiple and a detailed sample of writing 35 in the end. Four of the five sections of the option? Nm? Ltiple are noted

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on 16 Nov 2009 | Payment | Comments (0)

Job Center Dubai

job centerdubai asked:



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Create a video blog…instantly.

on 15 Nov 2009 | Recruitment | Comments (0)

Feldman Law Center – Co banków i kredytodawców Pomyśl Zmiany pożyczki?

Feldman Law Center asked:


Feldman Law Center – News by Feldman Law Center

cały powodu zmiany kredytu staje się konieczne, ponieważ potrzeb kredytobiorcy kredytu jest bardziej łatwe do opanowania, tak by mogła ona nadal za nią zapłacić. Celem zmiany kredytu jest dla kredytobiorcy, czy ktoś kredytobiorcy imieniu negocjować bardziej realne hipotecznych z kredytodawcą. Na pierwszy rzut oka wydaje się zajmować dobry dla kredytobiorcy. I często jest. Ale co z kredytodawcą?

Powodu obecnego kryzysu finansowego, wiele osób widząc zmiany pożyczki jako dobry interes. Negocjacje są zwykle inicjowane przez kredytobiorców, i pozwalają im zachować ich własności, odroczeniu płatności, zmniejszenie lub stabilizację stóp procentowych, a czasem nawet lepiej zająć w domu i już żyć w. Ich ocenę kredytową, nie są naruszane, jak oni będą się przez wykluczenie lub upadłości. Przede wszystkim nie mają przemieszczać się z ich domów, zmuszając przewrotu ich rodzin, w czasie trudności finansowe i stres.

Społeczeństwa wydaje się stanąć po stronie rodziny i osobiste historie transmisji na nocnej pokazuje nowości. Opowieści o 50-letni, niedawno zwolniony z jednym matek, które nie mogą pozwolić sobie na kredyty hipoteczne mają tendencję do ciągnięcia na heartstrings ludzi, zdobywając lojalność wielu członków społeczeństwa. A ponieważ tak wiele osób jest dotkniętych kryzysem kredytów hipotecznych, publiczne oburzenie wydaje się wobec banków i kredytodawców, którzy są winić za oferowanie takich absurdalnych pożyczek na pierwszym miejscu.

Rząd, a konkretnie takich grup jak FDIC, są również coraz bardziej popierają programy modyfikacji kredytu. FDIC ma nawet wbudowany "Mod w" Pole zmiany pożyczki przewodnik po programach, w celu zachęcania do bardziej kredytodawców do oferowania modyfikacji kredytu. Obama ma planów, które polegają na zmodyfikowaniu kredyty mieszkaniowe utrzymanie rodziny w ich domach i niezliczonych organizacji niedochodowych i grupy wsparcia wydają się uprawy, aby pomóc ludziom w trudnej sytuacji finansów.

Więc kredytobiorców, rząd i społeczeństwo w ogóle wspierają liczne programy zmiany na pożyczki. One wciąż się zastanawiać, co banki myśleć o zmianach kredyt mieszkaniowy.

Choć znacznie mniej głośno ogłosił, wiele kredytodawcy w celu wspierania zmian kredyt mieszkaniowy too. Kredytodawców motywacji do zmiany kredytu może być różny. Jeśli w domu jest sprzedawany w krótkiej sprzedaży, bank zgadza się na umorzenie kwoty kredytobiorca nadal zobowiązany, sprzedaje majątek, i ma stratę. Nieruchomości dostępne są takie same. Jeżeli bank spowoduje zamknięcie w domu, często zarabiają mniej zysku własności niż miałyby one dokonywane za pośrednictwem kredytów hipotecznych, nawet hipotecznych zmodyfikowane poprzez zmianę kredytu. Mówiąc najprościej, banki mają motywację przedsiębiorstw do modyfikowania pożyczki: stoją do większych zysków, jeśli pobyt w domu. Nie wspominając o tym, że modyfikacje pożyczki ich wyglądać lepiej w oczach społeczności i rządów, i może potencjalnie pomóc światowej gospodarki w długim okresie.

Jeśli potrzebujesz zmiany kredyt mieszkaniowy, kontakt prawników z Centrum Prawa Feldman. Konsultacje są bezpłatne i mogą pomóc skorzystać z pobytu w domu.





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on 15 Nov 2009 | Mortgage | Comments (0)

Amerikaanse reisinfo voor de Chinese burgers – Reis en vluchteninfo

Shane Lee asked:


Dit artikel is over Amerikaanse reisinfo voor de Chinese burgers. U kunt wat nuttige informatie daarin vinden als u uw Amerikaanse vluchten nu boekt. (u kunt meer New York, Los Angeles, San Francisco, vluchten van Chicago en airfares info bij Com van de Punt krijgen Travel2ChinaInfo) sinds open van de Amerikaanse reis aan de Chinese burgers, is more and more Chinees om naar de V.S. nu te reizen van plan. De V.S. zijn een totaal nieuwe toeristenbestemming voor de Chinese burgers en er zijn sommige regels voor de zakken de reizigers met hen kunnen brengen. De V.S. hebben geen strikte grenzen voor travellers' dagelijkse noodzaak zij kunnen brengen. De reizigers kunnen munten (de dollars van de V.S. of andere munten) of reizigerscontroles met hen brengen. Allen u moet doen moet de Douaneaangifte indienen als het meer dan 10.000 dollars van de V.S. is. In China, veel mensen don' t houdt van in lijn te wachten. Maar u zult aan het in de Amerikaanse douane moeten hier wennen. U kunt de kortste lijn verkiezen om wat tijd te besparen. Gewoonlijk, kan de ingangsdouane 1 of 2 uren, afhankelijk van het aantal reizigers vergen. Zodra u in een lijn wacht, don' t verandering in een andere lijn. Dit zal sommige onnodige problemen aan zich veroorzaken (u zal door de commiezen worden gevraagd). Wanneer de ambtenaar u vragen stelt, beantwoord enkel wat zij vragen. Het spreken van teveel in de douane zal u hier een andere problemen ook veroorzaken. Als de ambtenaren u vragen om uw zakken te openen, doe het enkel. Als u in aarzeling bent, zal dit zich verdacht maken. Bij Amerikaanse wet, de commiezen don' t heeft het recht uw zakken zonder uw toestemming te openen. Maar als u weigert om de controle te doen die zij hebben gevraagd, zij kunnen het recht krijgen uw zakken te openen. Als u sommige materialen brengt die niet om aan de V.S. worden toegestaan te brengen, kunnen de douaneambtenaren hen in beslag nemen als zij te weten komen. Wanneer u door de douane gaat, neem altijd goede zorg van uw zakken. Don' t komt overeen om andere people' te brengen; s zakken in de douane. Uw vriendelijkheid kan door andere mensen worden gebruikt dugs aan de V.S. (u kunt meer New York, Los Angeles, San Francisco, vluchten van Chicago en airfares info bij Com van de Punt krijgen Travel2ChinaInfo) te brengen Hier zijn sommige nuttige zinnen voor het eerst reizigers aan de V.S.: Uw paspoort en verklaringskaart, tevreden. Hebt u om het even wat te verklaren? Gelieve te openen deze zak. Wat zijn deze? Deze zijn voor mijn priv

on 15 Nov 2009 | Travel | Comments (0)

es have enacted “mini-I-9” laws. Employers, especially companies that operate in more than one state, must closely monitor their compliance with the employment eligibility and verification laws for each state in which they do business.

The most common regulation states have imposed on businesses in recent years is requiring employers to use the federal E-Verify system to confirm workers’ immigration status and employment eligibility or work authorization, specifically illegal immigrant employment eligibility, work authorization and immigration status.

E-Verify is an Internet-based system operated by Department of Homeland Security (DHS/U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) in partnership with the Social Security Administration (SSA). E-Verify is currently free to employers and is available in all 50 states. E-Verify provides an automated link to federal databases to help employers determine employment eligibility or work authorization of new hires and the validity of their Social Security numbers.

Employers or “Designated Agents” (e.g., payroll companies) must register online and agree to the terms of participation to use E-Verify. [Registration includes agreeing to the DHS/Immigrations and Customs Enforcement (ICE) Memorandum of Understanding (MOU). A discussion of the ICE E-Verify MOU is outside the scope of this post.]

E-Verify will soon be required of all federal contractors. DHS is now promulgating “final” E-Verify regs. I present an E-Verify overview and update in this post.

(The National Conference of State Legislatures does a remarkable job of monitoring these new developments and I include a variation of their chart and summary of the new state legislation below.)

Review of Relevant State Laws

State Laws Requiring Use of E-Verify



Arizona

Arizona

The Arizona Fair and Legal Employment Act (HB 2779), enacted in 2007, prohibits employers from knowingly hiring unauthorized workers and requires all employers to use the Basic Pilot Program to verify employment eligibility. It establishes substantial penalties and threatens noncompliant employers with suspension and potential revocation of their business licenses. Effective date Jan. 1, 2008.



Colorado

Colorado HB 1343 (signed 6/6/2006) prohibits state agencies from entering into contract agreements with contractors who knowingly employ illegal immigrants and requires prospective contractors to verify legal work status of all employees. The contractor must confirm that the Basic Pilot Program has been used to verify the status of all employees. If the contractor discovers that an illegal alien is employed, the contractor must alert the state agency within 3 days.



Georgia

The Georgia Security and Immigration Compliance Act, SB 529, covered employment, enforcement, and benefits and was signed by the Governor on April 17, 2006. The bill requires public employers, contractors and subcontractors with 500 or more employees to participate in E-Verify for all new employees beginning July 1, 2007. The law is phased in for public employers, contractors and subcontractors with 100 or more employees effective July 1, 2008; and for all employers by July 1, 2009.



Idaho Executive Order

On December 13, 2006, Governor Jim Risch issued an executive order requiring that state agencies participate in the E-Verify system. Also, all workers employed to the state through contractors must also be from companies that have been verified to have eligible employees.

Minnesota Executive Order

Governor Tim Pawlenty issued an executive order on Jan. 7, 2008, stating that all hiring authorities within the executive branch of state government as well as any employer seeking to enter into a state contract worth in excess of $50,000 must participate in the E-Verify program. The Executive Order’s effective date is January 29, 2008.



Mississippi

Mississippi SB2988 (signed 3/17/08) requires public and private employers to participate in E-Verify. The phase-in period is: all government agencies and businesses with more than 250 employees by July 1, 2008; companies with 100 to 250 employees by July 1, 2009; those with 30 to 100 employees by July 1, 2010; and all remaining companies by July 1, 2011. An employer violating the law is subject to the cancellation of public contracts, ineligibility for contracts for up to three years, and loss of business license for up to one year. The law also makes it a felony to accept or perform employment knowing or in reckless disregard of the immigrant’s ineligibility to work, with penalties from one to five years of imprisonment and/or $1,000 to $10,000 in fines.



North Carolina

All state agencies, offices, and universities must use E-Verify, required by SB 1523 in 2006. This applies to employees hired on or after January 1, 2007, except for employees of local education agencies hired on or after March 1, 2007.



Oklahoma

The Oklahoma Taxpayer and Citizen Protection Act of 2007 (HB 1804) addressed multiple issues: transporting and harboring, driver’s licenses, public benefits, law enforcement and employment. It made it a felony to transport or harbor unauthorized immigrants, with exceptions for health or benefits guaranteed by federal law. It requires public employers, contractors and subcontractors to participate in a federal electronic employment verification system and requires income tax withholding for independent contractors who do not have valid Social Security numbers. The law became effective Nov. 1, 2007.



Rhode Island Executive Order

On March 27, 2008,Governor Carcieri issued an executive order requiring executive agencies to use E-Verify; and for all persons and businesses, including grantees, contractors and their subcontractors and vendors to use E-Verify.



Utah

SB 81 was signed into law 3/13/08. The law address multiple issues, including driver’s licenses, law enforcement, harboring and transporting, public benefits and employment. It requires public employers to register and use the Basic Pilot program for new employees; state contractors must use Basic Pilot effective July 1, 2009. The law makes it a Class A misdemeanor to conceal, harbor, transport or shelter undocumented immigrants, though church, charitable and humanitarian assistance groups are exempted.

Encourages the Use of E-Verify (1)



Tennessee

HB 729, signed into law on June 26, 2007 and effective January 1, 2008 states that employers who “knowingly employ, recruit or refer for a fee for employment an illegal alien” are subject to a temporary suspension of their business license; repeat offenders are subject to a one-year suspension. Employers who comply with the requirements of the current I-9 process or who verify new hires through the E-Verify within 14 days of employment are shielded from sanctions.

One State Limits The Use of E-Verify

Illinois

Illinois enacted HB 1744, which bars Illinois companies from enrolling in any Employment Eligibility Verification System until accuracy and timeliness issues are resolved. Illinois also enacted HB 1743, which creates privacy and antidiscrimination protections for workers if employers participating in E-Verify don’t follow the program’s procedures.

State Laws Targeting Employers On Immigration Status





Current Litigation Over State Laws: Federal Pre-emption

Two lawsuits now making their way through the federal court system could restrict states’ ability to continue to ***** down on businesses that hire unauthorized workers. One is a court challenge to the 2007 Arizona employer sanctions law filed by a coalition of Arizona trade groups. In February, a federal judge denied the coalition’s request to delay implementation of the law with a temporary restraining order, and the plaintiffs took their case to the U.S. Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals. Oral arguments are scheduled for this summer and a decision is expected in the fall.

Another lawsuit making its way through the federal courts originated last year in Hazleton, PA, where a local ordinance enacted in 2006 denies business permits to employers who hire illegal immigrants and fines landlords who rent to them. In a ruling issued last summer, a federal judge struck down the Hazleton ordinance, saying it treads on federal terrain and violates illegal immigrants’ constitutional right to due process.

The town is appealing the decision, and the case will be heard in the U.S. Third Circuit Court of Appeals this summer. A decision in this case is also expected in the fall.

If the two appellate courts hand down similar rulings; either both upholding the local laws, or both asserting federal authority, the battle over federal preemption could end there. But if the courts hand down opposing decisions – one supporting state authority and the other backing federal preemption – the debate will likely go to the Supreme Court. The consequence: no clear direction for state lawmakers for at least a year or two.

Many legal experts say the bills being passed in state capitals are not constitutional, and many of the new laws are being challenged in court. The U.S. Constitution gives federal law “supremacy” over state statutes. My personal understanding of the fundamental “pre-emption” issue is that the federal laws do not pre-empt these state laws. Frankly, this is a very complex constitutional issue.

The 1986 Immigration Reform and Control Act (IRCA) explicitly prohibits states from imposing sanctions on businesses that hire unauthorized workers. But one phrase in the 1986 law – a seven-word parenthesis allowing states some leeway in the matter of “licenses and similar laws” – has created a contested gray area.

Many states have taken the IRCA parenthesis to mean they have the authority to suspend or revoke the business licenses of employers who hire unauthorized workers. Businesses and many constitutional lawyers disagree.

“You have this complex overlay of statutes and regulations and court cases, and you’ve got this federalism question of what has traditionally been federal power and what the states can do,” Jan Ting, a Temple University law professor, told the Washington Post. “There could not be an area of law that is less clear than this.”

Because states have until recently stayed away from imposing sanctions for immigration violations, federal preemption has rarely been tested and few court precedents exist.

Private Rights of Action

While E-Verify requirements have so far proven the most popular method to deter the hiring of illegal immigrants, some states are beginning to make use of another tool: giving employees a “private right of action.” Oklahoma was the first state to pass such legislation, in 2007, allowing fired U.S. workers to sue their employers if unauthorized workers were subsequently found to be working in their place. Mississippi, Utah and South Carolina followed with similar provisions this year, allowing fired workers to sue if they are then replaced by illegal immigrants. Some say the laws could open businesses to lawsuits if they employ any unauthorized workers, whether or not they have hired them to replace fired legal workers. Other states are expected to adopt this approach next year.

Also still in place are provisions mandating that all businesses in Arizona enroll in E-Verify and allowing prosecutors to investigate anonymous tips made against businesses alleged to be employing unauthorized workers.

State Felony Laws

Companies should also be concerned about a Mississippi law that makes it a felony for illegal immigrants to accept unauthorized employment. Violators are subject to imprisonment from one to five years and fines of between $1,000 and $10,000. And while the measure seemingly applies only to unauthorized workers, if I had clients who do business in Mississippi I would be strongly cautioning them. I have many clients, both individual and business, where the kind employer assists driving the very good employee to work because the employee does not have a valid state driver license because s/he lacks immigration status. In my opinion a business can be prosecuted for aiding and abetting a felony or harboring a felon under this law.

Oklahoma also imposed felony penalties, in 2007 – in that case, against anyone caught transporting, concealing, harboring or sheltering illegal immigrants in any location,

including any building or means of transportation. Utah, Missouri and South Carolina passed similar measures this year, and many fear the provisions could be used against employers who knowingly hire unauthorized workers.







Gerald P. Goulder asked:




states law

on 15 Nov 2009 | Bankruptcy Attorney | Comments (0)

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