Monthly Roundup: 34-Minute Power Outage Edition

So much for starting the year off slowly!  In the areas we track – primarily disputes and issues between companies and their executives, but also anything that can impact those employment relationships – a lot happened in the first month of 2013.  We wrote about it – because while most of the country was in a deep freeze, here at SuitsbySuits headquarters in Washington, we enjoyed an unusually warm January and so were able to keep our fingers warm enough to type (no comment on our Tampa colleagues who bask in comparative warmth year round). 

The boundaries and mechanics of litigation and arbitration between executives gave rise to some thoughtful commentary on recent cases from our colleagues John Connolly and Adam Fotiades, which we’ve captured below in case you missed them.  We also looked at covenants not to compete, discovery gone awry, perpetual battles over social media and religion in the workplace, and – remember back to the holidays? – potential claims Bob Cratchit might have had against Ebenezer Scrooge under federal law:

• Tour De Fraud - When Finally Settling Your Dispute May Not Be Finally Settling Your Dispute (Ellen D. Marcus, January 30, 2013)

• Sometimes, It Pays To Be A Bad Sport: California Court Finds That Employee Who Deceived Her Employer About Having Signed An Arbitration Agreement Cannot Be Compelled To Arbitrate (Adam L. Fotiades, January 28, 2013)
• State vs. State Smackdown: How Other Courts Are Responding To California’s Unique Law ‎Prohibiting Covenants Not To Compete (P. Andrew Torrez, January 23, 2013)
• In Hallmark Ruling, Court Affirms Jury Verdict Against Greeting Card Exec (Jason M. Knott, January 21, 2013)
• Montana Supreme Court Sends Employee On Arbitration Expedition (Jason M. Knott, January 16, 2013)
• Does an Executive Have a Duty to Pull Punches In Personal Litigation Against the Company? (John J. Connolly, January 15, 2013)
• Not To Preach, But Religion In The Workplace Continues To Cause Disputes (William A. Schreiner, Jr., January 13, 2013)
• Can You Be Fired For Complaining About Work On Facebook?‎ (William A. Schreiner, Jr., January 13, 2013)
• Cratchit v. Scrooge - Further Holiday Adventures in Employment Law (Ellen D. Marcus, January 2, 2013)