BridgehouseLaw: American - German Business Law

Ski Season is Upon Us - But Check Your Bindings First!

The AP recently reported a new RECALL of snow-skiing equipment, specifically bindings:

About 10,000 alpine ski bindings, made in Romania and imported by Salomon USA, of Ogden, Utah, because the product's toe component could fail to fully secure the ski boot to the ski binding, causing the binding to release unexpectedly. This could cause the skier to lose control or fall and suffer injuries. There have been two reports of injuries, including a broken leg and a knee injury. The products were sold at authorized Salomon USA and Atomic USA ski dealers nationwide from September 2008 through October 2009. Details: by phone at 877-789-5111; by Web at http://www.atomicsnow.com or http://www.cpsc.gov.

Have additional products liability questions? Please visit our website: www.bdhlaw.net

Seit knapp einem Jahr müssen alle Reisenden im Rahmen des Programms für visumsfreies Reisen (Visa Waiver Program) vor Reiseantritt eine elektronische Reisegenehmigung für Reisen in die USA unter Verwendung des Elektronische Reisegenehmigungssystem (Electronic System for Travel Authorization, ESTA) beantragen.

Das elektronische Reisegenehmigungssystem wird zur Feststellung der Einreiseberechtigung der Reisenden in die USA gemäß des Visa Waiver Programmes eingesetzt. Die erforderlichen Angaben entsprechen denen auf dem grünen Papierformular I- 94W, das Reisende ohne Visum im Flugzeug ausfüllen müssen, bevor sie in die USA einreisen. Die elekronische Reisegenehmigung ist von allen Staatsangehörigen bzw. Staatsbürgern aus Teilnahmeländern des Visa Waiver Programs, die beabsichtigen sich zu geschäftlichen oder touristischen Zwecken für bis zu 90 Tagen in den USA aufzuhalten, auszufüllen. Zu den Teilnahmeländern gehören unter anderem Deutschland, Österreich, Schweiz, Niederlande und Grossbritannien.

ESTA ist kostenlos online unter esta.cbp.dhs.gov verfügbar. Nach Beantwortung aller erforderlichen Fragen in Englisch kann der Antrag für die Reisegenemigung bequem elektronisch eingereicht werden. Für Reisende mit nicht sehr guten englischen Sprachkenntnissen ist die ESTA-Website in mehreren Sprachen verfügbar.

Die Benutzung eines privaten, kostenpflichtigen Dienstleistungsanbieters im Internet zur Beantragung der elektronischen Reisegenehmigung über ESTA ist weder erforderlich noch führt die Benutzung eines solchen Service zu schnelleren Erteilung einer Reisegenehmigung. Gleichwohl gibt es zahlreiche Trittbrettfahrer, d.h. Anbieter, die mit teilweise sehr verwirrend aehnlichen Namen den Eindruck erwecken, es seien "offizielle Stellen. Bitte sehen Sie sich diese Seiten daher genau an.

Nur der vorgenannte link zur dhs.gov Webseite sollte verwendet werden.

Hierzu gibt es auch einen kurzen Videofilm bei YouTube.

Fragen auch gerne an mich: bdhlaw.net.

Viele Gruesse
Reinhard von Hennigs

First of all: If you did play the Green Card lottery: good luck!

I hope besides from all the internet isues of the last few days with the Secretary of State's website you did file on time today.

A refresher: This is the hint from their website - as recent as yesterday:
We are currently experiencing intermittent problems with all versions of the Safari and Google Chrome browsers. Suggested browsers are Internet Explorer and Firefox. Nothing can be added at this time. If your application does not work, you may want to refile using a different browser.

And today even Firefox did not work.

However at this time: If the website did stop you from entering the data and you thus did not make the deadline, please contact me. We will review the technial details and try to help you.

After 12 noon today EST all chances to apply and to "play" in the lottery are over now. But how about the winners? How will you be notified?

Diversity Visa lottery applicants selected are notified by mail between May and July of the next year, following DV Online entry. Lottery entrants selected are provided further instructions, including information on fees connected with immigration to the U.S.

Those selected in the random drawing are NOT notified by email. Those individuals NOT selected will NOT receive any notification.

The Diversity Visa Lottery website "Selection of Applicants" section provides information about the DV timeframe and process.

Past Diversity Visa Lottery Results can be found here. If you have any questions, please contact Reinhard von Hennigs rvh @ bdhlaw . net or call us at the Charlotte, NC office +1 (704) 333 5230.

Photographer: Bill Longshaw

"NO" to workers comp for illegals?

A few days after my comments on race discrimination on the job under the column Race-Based Hiring here comes a similar issue: discrimination by the legislature.

Republican state senator in Ohios says no to workers comp for illegals. His plan is to prohibit the nation's largest state-run injured worker insurance program from providing benefits to illegal immigrants, a change he said should lower business premiums.

State Sen. Bill Seitz of Cincinnati has a plan: there is need for a change. He said he was "shocked" to learn that the Ohio Bureau of Workers' Compensation doesn't require injured workers to document their status before providing benefits. Ohio law enables "aliens and minors" to receive workers compensation benefits. However nobody put the distinction between "legal" and "illegal" aliens in the law. While Seitz is trying to wring costs out of the system it is not clear which costs. There is no way to determine how much in claims is paid out to illegal immigrants because the bureau cannot determine immigration status.

Does this sound like a publicity action? This is the opinion of David Leopold, a Cleveland attorney and president-elect of the American Immigration Lawyers Association.

While workers' compensation law is generally unique from state to state, laws in most states allow injured illegal immigrants to receive benefits. A case from October 2008 upheld workers' compensation benefits for an illegal alien injured in New York.

Seitz's bill is two parted:

burden of proof on the injured worker to demonstrate he or she is a legal worker by showing documentation such as a birth certificate or a visa.
immunity from civil lawsuits for businesses in cases in which their workers' claims are denied
however: in cases, in which the business knew the worker was illegal or if it intentionally hurt the worker it remains liable.

Who will benefit?

If you are interested in workers comp questions or other labor or employment related legal issues, please contact us bdhlaw.net

Reinhard von Hennigs

Just the right news for the big Thanksgiving pre-advent and pre-christmas shopping weekend:

Gucci Purses OK, Confederate Flagged Purses Not So OK.

This is the essence of a new federal appeals court decision. Once upon a time in suburbia of Ft. Worth, Texas there was a not so long ago history of racially charged student confrontations.

According to one school quite a lot and way too many:

In the 2002-03 academic year: there were 35 such race-related conflicts
In 2003-04, one racially motivated incident was reported
From 2004-05, there were ten (10) racially-charged incidents reported
During the 2005-06, there were seven (7) race-related incidents recorded

Now two students at this Burleson High School were being asked to leave their Confederate flag decorated purses in the school's office. And as we are in America they did what any "well trained" person will do: not to tink you may have done something wrong, but let's go and attact: "I'll see ya in court"... so they sued.

A 18-page decision later, the Fifth Circuit U.S. Court of Appeals concluded that the school official's decision to ban Confederate flagged purses to prevent yet another racial conflict at this school was allowed. The school was within their rights. No First Amendment rights to free speech were violated by the school's policy.

The ban was a constitutionally protected decision, rationally related to the legitimate interest of maintaining school discipline and thus constitutional. If this case will go to the US Supreme Court, Justice Sotomayor will like it: not only is she correctly outspoken about racial injustice but more: Gucci or Fendi is exactly her thing!

If you have questions about issues relating to the First Amendment, the United States Supreme Court, or another area of law: just contact us at bdhlaw.net.

Happy shopping on the "Black Friday" weekend!

Reinhard von Hennigs

Photographer: Suat Eman

Only a few days left for the Green Card Lottery. November 30, 2009 at noon EST is the last chance ... see http://www.bdhlaw.net/corporate/green-card-lottery-only-until-nov-30-2.html with more details.

Call me with questions!

Good luck!

Reinhard von Hennigs

Apple Files Power Adapter Patent Infringement Lawsuit

A few days ago I posted about the Nokia v Apple law suit. Now it is Apple who filed a patent lawsuit against online retailers for allegedly selling knock off power adapters for use with the company's portable MacBook and MacBook Pro computers.

This suit is against Media Solutions Holdings, LLC, eReplacements, LLC, and Laptops for Less, LLC. There are a few nice pictures comparing Apple's product against the copy. However a picture will not win the legal battle. Granted: the defendants apparent clone sure looks like that: a clone. But does it have a cloned technology as well?

Read more and background about patent infringements at bdhlaw.net

Best wishes for a happy "day-after" Thanksgiving.
Reinhard von Hennigs

Sometimes old cases are still relevant. Especially in times of real estate foreclosures and banks taking properties it is good to know that European investors in US real estate get some protection.

We reported in April 2006 that the United States Supreme Court ruled on April 26, 2006 in the Jones v. Flowers case. It was decided that when a mailed notice of a tax sale is returned unclaimed, a state must take added steps to attempt to make sure the property owner knows the property is at risk before it may be sold.

This issue is specially interesting for European owners of real estate in the US. Often they do not know whether their local property manager paid all taxes and they do not get any notice sent to their US vacation home until hey return in several month.

The Court demands that "reasonable" additional steps need be taken, and then only when it is "practicable" to do so. What does this mean? See more in the ruling (and below) written by Chief Justice John G. Roberts, Jr., (majority: 5-3 ruling) in the case: Jones v. Flowers (04-1477), 547 U.S. 220 (2006).

Background:
Jones v. Flowers, 547 U.S. 220 (2006), was a decision by the Supreme Court of the United States involving the due process requirement that a state give notice to an owner before selling his property to satisfy his unpaid taxes. The Court ruled, 5-3, that after a mailed notice was returned unclaimed, a state was required by the Due Process Clause of the Fourteenth Amendment to take additional reasonable steps to notify the owner before the sale could proceed. The Court's opinion was delivered by Chief Justice John G. Roberts, his fourth majority opinion after his confirmation to the Court in 2005 and his first to provoke any dissenting opinions.

The Court had last addressed the issue of notice in Dusenbery v. United States, 534 U.S. 161 (2002), which held that the government need only take steps reasonably calculated to provide notice even if actual notice is not achieved. The four justices who dissented in Dusenbery now formed the majority with Roberts in Jones v. Flowers, distinguishing the prior case on the basis that the government in Dusenbery did not know that its method of notice had failed before the taking occurred. Justice Clarence Thomas, in dissent, believed the Court was instead undermining Dusenbery, which he argued implicitly dictated a result contrary to the majority's decision.

Conclusion:
Pay your taxes is the best advice. If you need assistance or are concerned about certain real estate issues, please contact Reinhard von Hennigs at rvh @ bdhlaw . net or visit bdhlaw.net.

Image: Chuck Felix / FreeDigitalPhotos.net

According to last Friday's Irish Times newspaper, the European Court of Justice has ruled airline passengers are entitled to a REFUND if their flights have been delayed for 3 or more hours. Good news for travelers in the European Union, but passengers here in the U.S.A. should not expect to receive similar judgments for their delayed flights anytime soon.

It was reported "The Luxembourg-based court said it would be unfair to treat passengers suffering delays of more than three hours differently to those who had flights canceled.

Under existing EU rules, passengers on canceled flights can seek as much as €600 in compensation and/or expenses incurred, as well as a ticket refund, depending on traveling distance when their flight is canceled or delayed by over five hours

Airlines frequently do their utmost to avoid paying compensation, particularly to passengers who experience for long delays.

The European Court said airlines were only exempt from paying compensation if they could prove the delay was “due to exceptional circumstances” outside of the company’s control. It stressed that a technical problem could not be considered as an exceptional circumstance unless it followed an incident unconnected with the normal running of an airline, such as an aircraft being sabotaged.

“Passengers on a flight which is canceled at short notice have a right to compensation, even when they are rerouted by the airline on another flight, if they lose three hours or more in relation to the duration originally planned,” the ruling said. “There is no justification for treating passengers whose flight is delayed any differently when they reach their final destination three hours or more after the scheduled arrival time.”

The ruling has been welcomed by Ireland’s representative on the European Parliament transport committee, Fine Gael MEP Jim Higgins. He said the ruling “was a victory for the ordinary traveling public."

For more information on your rights and remedies as an airline passenger, please contact us through our website: www.bdhlaw.net

U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) officially opened a new Verification Operations Center in Buffalo, N.Y., today. The Center employs about 135 people and is dedicated solely to USCIS’ verification mission.

The Center’s personnel will perform immigration status verification checks and conduct monitoring and compliance activities in support of USCIS’ E-Verify and Systematic Alien Verification for Entitlements (SAVE) programs. The facility is located in the Bank of America Building in downtown Buffalo.

“This is an important milestone in the continued growth of USCIS’ Verification Division,” said Michael Aytes, USCIS Acting Deputy Director. “In the last three years alone,” Aytes continued, “participation in the E-Verify and SAVE programs has increased dramatically, particularly in E-Verify with a five-fold increase. This Center plays a crucial role not only in the continued success of E-Verify and SAVE, but also in ensuring that the programs are used properly.”

Status Verification Operations staff at the Center will verify employee work authorization status for companies using E-Verify, and also process requests to confirm immigration status submitted by government agencies using SAVE. The Center also represents Verification Division’s first monitoring and compliance field office that will ensure the integrity of both programs by detecting and deterring improper use of the programs while protecting against related discriminatory practices and safeguarding privacy interests.

Currently, more than 170,000 participating employers at about 650,000 worksites nationwide currently use E-Verify to electronically verify their employees’ eligibility to work in the United States. Since October 1, 2009, more than 1.6 million employment verification queries have been run through the system. About 97 percent of all queries are now automatically confirmed without any need for employee action.

What it means in practical terms? Please either call +1 (704) 333 5230 or email me rvh @ bdhlaw . net or check our website bdhlaw.net

Race-Based Hiring

Managers' race has had a "significant" effect on the race of employees, according to a study of personnel data from a U.S. retailer over 30 months. The "Manager Race and the Race of New Hires," report was authored by Laura Giuliano, David Levine and Jonathan Leonard, and printed in the October 2009 issue of the "Journal of Labor Economics" (page 589).

Given all the arguments about race discrimination and the implementation of the the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) this comes as a surprize. The EEOC is a federal agency whose goal is ending employment discrimination. The EEOC investigates discrimination complaints based on an individual's race, color, national origin, religion, sex, age, disability and retaliation for reporting and/or opposing a discriminatory practice. The Commission is also tasked with filing suits on behalf of alleged victim(s) of discrimination against employers and as an adjudicatory for claims of discrimination brought against federal agencies.

The study looked at whether the race of a store's manager affected that of the employees hired at the store. And the surprizing answer is: yes. The study involved approximately 100,000 employees at over 700 stores belonging to one, however unidentified chain in the time between February 1996 and July 1998.

The most significant tendency, the study said, was that white, Hispanic or Asian managers tended to hire fewer African-Americans than African-American managers did. The study also found that white employees were more likely to quit their jobs if an African-American manager replaced a non-black manager.

How this may impact hiring in the future and also how to avoid discrimination claims for your company will be detailed at bdhlaw.net.

At any time, call or email us!

Reinhard von Hennigs

(704) 333 5230

rvh @ bdhlaw . net

California Attorney General, Edmund "Jerry" Brown, Jr., announced today that he has secured a settlement in which Wells Fargo will pay investors, charities and small businesses $1.4 billion over the purchase of auction rate securities from Wells subsidiaries based on "misleading advice."

More details about this will be posted here and later at bdhlaw.net.

USCIS Standardizes Process for Accommodating Customers with Disabilities

U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) announced that it has established a streamlined, standardized process for receiving requests for accommodations from customers with disabilities. Customers in need of accommodations from field offices and Application Support Centers should now call the National Customer Service Center (NCSC) at

1-800-375-5283
TDD: 1-800-767-1833

USCIS changed that customers have now a central point of contact for requesting accommodations and that across the country.

Anybody wanting to attend an event or schedule an appointment online to meet with USCIS can call the NCSC at any time to request an accommodation. Persons who have an appointment in conjunction with an application, such as an ASC or interview appointment, should request their accommodations after they have received their appointment notices. However if there is a need for accommodations at asylum offices, one should continue to contact the asylum offices directly.

More details - also about compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 (ADA) can be found at bdhlaw.net.

Court: Army Corps of Engineers Liable for Katrina Damage

In a decision handed down on November 18, 2009 that is being called "groundbreaking," U.S. District Court Judge Stanwood Duval, Jr. found in favor of four plaintiffs and awarded damages totaling $719,00.00 against the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers.

The suit was started as there was an alleged negligence by the Corps in building and maintaining the Mississippi River Gulf Outlet canal. This outlet is also called "Mr. Go" by local New Orleans residents.

The Dollar value sounds nice, but there were a total of four plaintiffs, each collecting between US$ 100,000 and US$300,000. But what did the plaintiffs actually accomplish here? Each of the four may now rebuilt their houses - or at least parts of them. It, however, opens the doors to successful claims by their neighbors.

The consequence again with this kind of litigation: some may benefit from a negligence, but will this law suit prevent futur desasters from happening? And finally: the Corps of Engineers is a federal agency and a major Army command, funded by the Government. Does this seem like a double dipping of the plaintiffs, once from "regular" Federal funds and once from litigation?

Read more at bdhlaw.net

Reinhard von Hennigs, a principal with Byrne, Davis & Hicks, PC, was admitted to the bar of the United States Supreme Court in Washington, D.C. on Monday November 16, 2009. The ceremony was conducted by Chief Justice Roberts with 7 of the 9 Justices present.

After the oath was administered Justice Kennedy and Reinhard von Hennigs talked a the reception thereafter.

The Supreme Court of the United States is the highest judicial body in the United States, and leads the federal judiciary. It consists of the Chief Justice of the United States and eight Associate Justices, who are nominated by the President and confirmed with the "advice and consent" (majority vote) of the Senate. Once appointed, Justices effectively have life tenure, serving "during good Behaviour", which terminates only upon death, resignation, retirement, or conviction on impeachment.

see more details:
http://www.bdhlaw.net/corporate/reinhard-von-hennigs-at-us-supreme-court.html

Or contact us law @ bdhlaw . net.

Today's visit to the International Criminal Court (The Hague, Netherlands) by U.S. war crimes ambassador Stephen Rapp was indeed eventful (See Part I), and many had high hopes this appearance would mark the USA's full-fledged entry into the ICC.

So did we ratify the Rome Treaty? Agree to recognize the legitimacy of the international criminal court (and its authority over the acts of the USA)? Consent to the jurisdiction of a global war crimes tribunal? Ehhh....No, no, and heck no.

Instead, Rapp discussed how the USA is committed to persecuting those who commit international crimes against humanity, by working together with other foreign states and the United Nations Security Council. Rapp said the decision to prosecute a crime of aggression should rest with the Security Council - where, by the way, the United States has veto power along with Britain, Russia, China and France. Previously, the U.S. worked with the Security Council to call upon the ICC to intervene against the acts of genocide in the Darfur region of Sudan, which resulted in the arrest warrant for Sudanese President Omar al-Bashir last March.

But all in all, everyone's in agreement, right? The bad guys who commit international crimes against humanity will still have to answer for their actions, right? Well, yes - sort of.

The member countries of the ICC are like brothers in a fraternity - members who freely associate as equals for a mutually beneficial purpose, who have paid their annual dues and at times, subjected themselves to a lengthy and cumbersome pledging process. And in this instance the USA is a bit like the independent friend, the one who associates with all of the members and reaps the same social benefits as the fraternity brothers, but managed to avoid paying any dues or complying with the same pledging requirements as the rest of the group.

The USA's reluctance to ratify the Rome Treaty is partly due to fears the ICC would become a forum for politically-motivated criminal trials, brought about to prosecute troops involved in unpopular wars. Or in other words, the USA doesn't want to officially join for fear of being brutally hazed.

Nevertheless, the presence of U.S. war crimes ambassador Rapp represents a softening of the USA's previously icy relationship with the ICC. Rapp himself served as a prosecutor at the United Nations Rwanda tribunal and as chief prosecutor at the Special Court of Justice for Sierra Leone.

So for now, the USA is embracing its new-found "observer" status at the ICC, but American ratification of the Rome Treaty will likely hinge on the future success- or failure - of two very unpopular wars in Iraq and Afghanistan.

See also Part I at bdhlaw.net

The USA's first appearance at the International Criminal Court (The Hague, Netherlands) could signal the beginning of a thawing process.

The USA made its FIRST EVER appearance at the International Criminal Court today - well, to be clear, U.S. war crimes ambassador Stephen Rapp showed up at the management board meeting - but this could signal a monumental policy shift. Rapp is expected to make a statement to the Assembly of Parties (specifically, the 110 other countries that recognize the jurisdiction of the ICC) on Thursday.

What's the Significance?
The ICC was created in 1998 as a permanent international tribunal to punish individuals who commit genocide and other serious international crimes.

The underlying document that provides legitimacy to the ICC is known as the Rome Treaty, which was approved in 1998 with a vote of 120 countries in favor, 7 countries against, and 21 countries abstaining. The big picture - countries who signed and ratified the treaty basically consented to the ICC's jurisdiction over their citizens. So, if a particular head of government commits crimes on an international scale, he/she could be hauled down to the Hague and face criminal prosecution before a "global" court. Recall: In 2001, the ICC charged the former president of Yugoslavia & Serbia, Slobodan Milosevic, for violating customs of war, breaches of the Geneva conventions, and alleged genocide for the wars in Croatia, Bosnia and Kosovo.

Who were the 7 naysayers? China, Qatar, Yemen, Libya, Iraq, Israel, and...the United States. President Clinton signed the Rome Treaty in 2000, but wouldn't ratify it without further review; President George W. Bush adamantly opposed ratifying the treaty throughout his term.

Today's appearance by U.S. War Crimes Ambassador Rapp could foreshadow a warming trend ushered in by the Obama administration; there is much speculation that tomorrow's statement could signal the USA's willingness to ratify the Rome Treaty

Stay tuned...

Additional information can be found at: bdhlaw.net

German Killers Sue Wikipedia

Die New York Times berichtet gerade dazu, es geht um Wolfgang W. und Manfred L. und deren Sedelmeyer Tötung.

In dem reissenden Titel "German Killers Sue Wikipedia" geht es um die Freiheit der Meinungsäusserung. Deutsches Recht verlangt, die Namen der Täter nicht zu nennen. Die Server von Wikipedia sind in den USA. Also: was geht vor? Die in den USA durch die Verfassung abgesicherte Meinungsfreiheit erlaubt die Namensnennung (wenn es der Wahrheit entspricht.

Die Meinungsfreiheit in den USA folgt aus dem Ersten Verfassungszusatz (First Amendment):

Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances.

Mehr Hintergrund findet sich hier: bdhlaw.net.
Beste Gruesse aus den USA!
Reinhard von Hennigs

Obama Justice Department expands FCPA Prosecutions to Combat International Corruption; US Executives Authorizing Overseas Kickbacks Now Face Jail

Siemens Agrees to Massive $1.34 BN Penalty to Settle FCPA Corruption Charges

US and EU businesses operating in or solicing clients in any foreign country should take note of several recent developments in the laws intended to combat fraud and corruption by US and EU companies.

In the last several months, there have been significant developments surrounding a little-known statute called the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act (FCPA), which is a law intended to punish corrupt activity engaged in by US companies that takes place outside the borders of the US.

A violation of the FCPA can occur when a person acting on behalf of a US company offers a bribe or kickback in order to obtain something of value, such as a government contract or favorable treatment among competitors. Most importantly, in many cases a violation occurs even if that payment was legal under the laws of the country in which it was made.

Last year, Siemens AG agreed to pay a massive $1.3BN fine (that’s Billion with a B) to the Justice Department to settle allegations that its employees had paid bribes to a number of foreign governments in order to secure contracts ranging from a mass transit project in Venezuela to a cell phone contract with the government of Bangladesh.

US and EU companies now must closely scrutinize their policies and procedures regarding how they conduct business overseas, especially if they do any business in lesser developed nations where bribery may be seen as a normal component of doing business.

It has been argued that such a law places US and EU companies at a competitive disadvantage when it comes to conducting business overseas, especially if they have competitors domiciled in a nation that has no such law. Today, it is still the case that the US is the only nation to seriously enforce such legislation, but the EU is quickly following suit. It is too early to tell whether pressure from the Obama administration on foreign governments to keep pace by adopting and enforcing similar laws is working, but one thing is for certain: The Justice Department is committed to expanding the number of prosecutions and the severity of punishments under this previously unknown law.

Many legal commentators have complained of the highly technical nature of this statute. They have also decried the statute’s sweeping breadth, as the FCPA prohibits not just clearly corrupt payments, but also criminalizes what many regard as innocuous conduct. A literal reading of the statute would prohibit for example the paying a bribe to a Zimbabwean Customs Official for a smooth passage through customs, even though such a payment is legal and expected in Zimbabwe.

It has become clear to most business leaders that the increase in prosecutions and the serious penalties facing both management and employees means that US and EU companies who do any business overseas need to consult with knowledgeable sources in order to review and implement new policies to prevent violations of the FCPA.

Note: Thank you to RvH for inviting me to contribute to this site. I look forward to providing more commentary in the future.

D. Mays Dickey, Esq.

November 2009 BDH International Newsletter: Green Card Lottery, Fraud Alert, US Naturalization Test

Green Card Lottery (Diversity Visa (DV) Lottery Instructions)

November ist immer sehr erlebnisreich und die 20-Jahr Feier zum Fall der Berliner Mauer macht diesen Monat im Jahr 2009 noch bedeutender. Hier in den USA fängt es mit dem Halloween "Trick or Treat" an, geht über die Green Card Lottery weiter und endet mit dem Truthahn zu Thanksgiving. Genau das sind Themen meines Newsletter.

Bei einem Vortrag, den ich gerade in Heidelberg bei der German CPA Society gehalten habe, stellte ich die US Financial Reform Bestrebungen vor, ein Bericht wird demnächst in der KoR - Zeitschrift für internationale und kapitalmarktorientierte Rechnungslegung veröffentlicht. Wer Interesse an dem Artikel hat, den bitte ich um eine Nachricht.

Weitere Themen u.a. in diesem Monat:

Fraud Alert: Annual Minutes Requirement Statement

U.S. Einwanderungsbehörde verwendet E-verified Programm

US Einbürgerungstest

Visa Bulletin November 2009

Rechtsdurchsetzung geistigen Eigentums

Besondere Aufmerksamkeit empfehle ich dem Fraud Alert - es werden gerade wieder Briefe verschickt, die aussehen, als seien es offizielle Briefe des NC Secretary of State. Dieses ist nicht richtig - siehe dazu der Artikel unten.

Und nun der Link des Monates, der sich dem Thema 20 Jahre Mauerfall widmet. Wie manche wissen war ich ja damals vor 20 Jahren dabei - auf der Mauer in Berlin. Wer also irgendweche Fotos sieht und meint, mich dort zu erkennen, bitte um Nachricht an mich. Ich sammle noch diese Fotos.

Wer INteresse an der Lektüre des Newsletters bekommen hat - bitte eine email an mich.

Best regards
und viele Grüße
aus Charlotte und aus Atlanta,
Ihr
Reinhard von Hennigs

bdhlaw.net

Toyota Sued by Consumers Over Sudden Acceleration of Vehicles

Los Angeles residents Seong Bae Choi and Chris Chan Park, who claim they experienced multiple instances of unintended acceleration, filed the suit as a class action on Nov. 5, 2009 seeking to represent all U.S. owners of certain Toyota and Lexus models.

This may be relevant for you if you drive a Toyota or Lexus model. The class action (or Sammelklage in German) or a representative action is a form of lawsuit where a large group of people collectively bring a claim to court. This form of collective lawsuit originated in the United States and is still predominantly a U.S. phenomenon, at least the U.S. variant of it. However, in several European countries with civil law (as opposed to the English common law principle, which is used by US courts), changes have in recent years been made that allow consumer organizations to bring claims on behalf of large groups of consumers.

Once the judge certifies the class you may either "opt-out" and work on your own legal arguments or you are bound by the settlement.

If you drive a Toyota or Lexus model AND experienced a similar problem, please contact me.

See more details: http://www.bdhlaw.net/corporate/toyota-sued-over-sudden-acceleration-of-vehicles.html or http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=20601103&sid=asUT1V4AurHk.

Drive safely,
Reinhard von Hennigs
www.bdhlaw.net

twitter: Hennigs

not sure if it is worth it ... but hey ... everybody seems to twitter ...

if you are interested ...http://twitter.com/Hennigs let me know, sign up and follow...
Best,
Reinhard von Hennigs
bdhlaw.net

Visa Bulletin November 2009

The monthly bulletin of the US Citizen and Immigration Service summarizes the availability of immigrant numbers during November 2009.

Only applicants who have a priority date earlier than the cut-off date may be allotted a number. Consular officers are required to report to the Department of State documentarily qualified applicants for numerically limited visas; the Bureau of Citizenship and Immigration Services in the Department of Homeland Security reports applicants for adjustment of status.

For more details see:
http://travel.state.gov/visa/frvi/bulletin/bulletin_4576.html

Section 201 of the Immigration and Nationality Act (INA) sets an annual minimum family-sponsored preference limit of 226,000. The worldwide level for annual employment-based preference immigrants is at least 140,000. Section 202 prescribes that the per-country limit for preference immigrants is set at 7% of the total annual family-sponsored and employment-based preference limits, i.e., 25,620. The dependent area limit is set at 2%, or 7,320.

Section 203 of the INA prescribes preference classes for allotment of immigrant visas as follows:

FAMILY-SPONSORED PREFERENCES

First: Unmarried Sons and Daughters of Citizens: 23,400 plus any numbers not required for fourth preference.

Second: Spouses and Children, and Unmarried Sons and Daughters of Permanent Residents: 114,200, plus the number (if any) by which the worldwide family preference level exceeds 226,000, and any unused first preference numbers:

A. Spouses and Children: 77% of the overall second preference limitation, of which 75% are exempt from the per-country limit;

B. Unmarried Sons and Daughters (21 years of age or older): 23% of the overall second preference limitation.

Third: Married Sons and Daughters of Citizens: 23,400, plus any numbers not required by first and second preferences.

Fourth: Brothers and Sisters of Adult Citizens: 65,000, plus any numbers not required by first three preferences.

EMPLOYMENT-BASED PREFERENCES

First: Priority Workers: 28.6% of the worldwide employment-based preference level, plus any numbers not required for fourth and fifth preferences.

Second: Members of the Professions Holding Advanced Degrees or Persons of Exceptional Ability: 28.6% of the worldwide employment-based preference level, plus any numbers not required by first preference.

Third: Skilled Workers, Professionals, and Other Workers: 28.6% of the worldwide level, plus any numbers not required by first and second preferences, not more than 10,000 of which to "Other Workers".

Fourth: Certain Special Immigrants: 7.1% of the worldwide level.

Fifth: Employment Creation: 7.1% of the worldwide level, not less than 3,000 of which reserved for investors in a targeted rural or high-unemployment area, and 3,000 set aside for investors in regional centers by Sec. 610 of P.L. 102-395.

If you have any questions or need additional information please contact Reinhard von Hennigs via email rvh @ bdhlaw.net, check www.bdhlaw.net or call our offices +1 704 333 5230.

U.S. Einwanderungsbehörde verwendet E-verified Programm

In der Vergangenheit hatte die amerikanische Einwanderungsbehörde (U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services, USCIS) bekannt gegeben, dass ein Zweiphasenprogramm für eine sogenannte E-verified Maßnahme nunmehr umgesetzt wurde. Gleichwohl gibt es noch immer Probleme bei der Anwendung.

Hierbei handelt es sich im Wesentlichen um eingebürgerte Amerikaner. Dieses führte in der Vergangenheit dazu, dass Personen, die eine sogenannte work authorization haben, nach der Einbürgerung nunmehr als nicht mehr zur Arbeit authorisiert ausgewiesen werden. In der Vergangenheit führte dieses zu Komplikationen mit dem Datenabgleich zwischen der Einwanderungsbehörde und der amerikanischen Sozialversicherungsbehörde. Diese Projekte sollen nunmehr verbessert werden.

Sollten Sie in der Vergangenheit eingebürgert worden sein und sollte es bei Ihrer Sozialversicherung zu Problemen geführt haben so bitten wir Sie entweder, sich mit der amerikanischen Einbürgerungsbehörde in Verbindung zusetzen oder sich an uns zu wenden, damit wir Ihnen helfen können.

Das in der Zukunft neue System soll die Echtzeitdaten zwischen den Behörden abgleichen und auf dieser Art und Weise solche Komplikationen vermeiden. Im Übrigen ist das Programm ebenfalls dazu geeignet, über das Internet eine normale Arbeitserlaubnis mit der amerikanischen Einbürgerungsbehörde abzugleichen.

Mehr Informationen finden Sie unter http://www.uscis.gov/e-verified.

Oder bei Byrne, Davis & Hicks, www.bdhlaw.net

Fraud Alert: Annual Minutes Requirement Statement

An alert from the North Carolina Secretary of State:
The Secretary of State's Office has become aware that an entity, "Compliance Services," has mailed solicitations titled "Annual Minutes Requirement Statement" to business entities in North Carolina . These solicitations offer to process corporate meeting minutes on behalf of the corporation for a fee of $125.00.
Despite the implications contained in the solicitations, North Carolina business entities are not required by law to file corporate minutes with the North Carolina Secretary of State's Office. This document is not affiliated with our office or any other governmental agency.
For more information please see: http://www.secretary. state.nc.us/

If you have any questions about this please do not hesitate to contact our Charlotte, NC office and speak to Nicole M. Dickey or Reinhard von Hennigs at (704) 333 5230 or inquire via email law @ bdhlaw.net.

More Info: bdhlaw.net

Green Card Lottery (Diversity Visa (DV) Lottery Instructions)

Immigration allows once a year to enter a lottery to obtain a Green Card. The online entry registration period for the DV-2011 Diversity Visa lottery is open until noon, Eastern Standard Time (EST), Monday, November 30, 2009. Entrants apply on Form DS-5501, Electronic Diversity Visa Entry Form available only during the DV open registration period. If you have questions how to file your application, please contact Reinhard von Hennigs via rvh@bdhlaw.net or call: +1 (404) 266 7270. Good luck! Let me know if you need help with the application.

Auch dieses Jahr werden wieder 50,000 Greencard Weltweit und 5,000 in Lateinamerika verlost.

Die "Permanent Resident Card", umgangssprachlich "Green Card", wurde auf Initiative von Präsident Reagan zum Erhalt der Nationalitäten-Vielfalt ab dem Jahre 1987 auch in Form der Diversity Visa Lottery vergeben. Einwohner von Ländern mit hohen Einwanderungsquoten in den letzten Jahren, werden von der Lotterie ausgeschlossen. Dies betrifft dieses Jahr unter anderem Einwanderungswillige aus UK mit Ausnahme Northern Ireland, Polen, Brasilien und dem chinesischen Festland. Für Antragssteller aus Deutschland stehen aber die Chancen wie immer gut.

The DV required a qualifying occupation. The Department of Labor (DOL) database groups job experience into five "job zones". While many occupations are listed on the DOL Website, only certain specified occupations qualify for the Diversity Visa Program. To qualify for a Diversity Visa on the basis of your work experience, you must, within the past five years, have two years of experience in an occupation that is designated as Job Zone 4 or 5, classified in a Specific Vocational Preparation (SVP) range of 7.0 or higher.

Also see an important fraud warning, and more on the Diversity Visa Program on the State Departments web site:
http://rs6.net/tn.jsp?t=oxczhcdab.0.0.5dob5nbab.0&ts=S0420&p=http%3A%2F%2Ftravel.state.gov%2Fvisa%2Fimmigrants%2Ftypes%2Ftypes_1749.html Please note there are websites looking very official but they are really not an official US governmental site.

Any questions?

Call or email!

Reinhard von Hennigs

http://www.bdhlaw.net

+1 (704) 333 5230

20Jahre Mauerfall

Mein Lieblingsthema ist diesen Monat der 20 Jahre Mauerfall. Wie manche wissen war ich ja damals vor 20 Jahren dabei - auf der Mauer in Berlin. Wer also irgendweche Fotos sieht und meint, mich dort zu erkennen, bitte um Nachricht an mich. Ich sammle noch diese Fotos.

Best regards und viele Grüße aus Charlotte und aus Atlanta,
Ihr Reinhard von Hennigs
www.bdhlaw.net

Philip Morris USA, Inc. v. Williams

yesterday at the US Supreme Court: Philip Morris USA, Inc. v. Williams. 549 U.S. 346 (2007)

In the case it was held that the due process clause of the Fourteenth Amendment bars punitive damages for harm caused to individuals not involved in the litigation.

Mayola Williams, the widow of Jesse D. Williams, who died of smoking-related lung cancer, sued Philip Morris USA, a cigarette manufacturer, for fraud based on Philip Morris advertisements and sponsored studies that made cigarettes seem less dangerous than they actually were. At trial, the jury found for Williams and awarded her $821,485.50 in compensatory damages and $79.5 million in punitive damages. The trial court found that the compensatory damages exceeded the state cap and the punitive damages were "grossly excessive". It reduced the respective amounts to $521,485.50 and $32 million.

On appeal, the Oregon Court of Appeals reversed and reinstated the $79.5 million judgment. Following the "guideposts" established in BMW of North America, Inc. v. Gore, the Court of Appeals examined whether the punitive damages were appropriate based on (1) the degree of reprehensibility of the conduct, (2) the disparity between the actual harm and the punitive damages, and (3) the difference between the punitive damages and civil penalties allowed in similar cases. While determining the reprehensibility of Philip Morris's actions, the court considered the length of the misinformation campaign and the number of people it had reached, concluding that its actions were so reprehensible that they justified punitive damages 97 times greater than the actual damages. The Oregon Supreme Court denied review.

The Supreme Court of the United States then granted certiorari, vacated the Court of Appeals' judgment, and remanded the case to the Court of Appeals for that court to reconsider the amount of the punitive damages award in light of State Farm v. Campbell. The Court of Appeals again reinstated the $79.5 million judgment. On appeal, the Supreme Court of Oregon affirmed, also holding that the courts can consider evidence of similar conduct to other people in Oregon–even those not party to the law suit–when awarding punitive damages.

Is this a legally and a morally good outcome?

Heute in Kraft: Gesetz zur Modernisierung des GmbH-Rechts

Heute, am 1. November 2008 ist das Gesetz zur Modernisierung des GmbH-Rechts und zur Bekämpfung von Missbräuchen (MoMiG) in Kraft getreten, mit dem das deutsche GmbH-Recht grundlegend reformiert worden ist.

Ziele des Gesetzes sind vor allem:

Beschleunigung und Vereinfachung von Unternehmensgründungen
Erhöhung der Attraktivität der GmbH als Rechtsform
Bekämpfung von Missbräuchen

Die Gründung einer GmbH ist erleichtert worden. Angedacht war die Herabsetzung des Mindeststammkapitals von 25.000 Euro auf 10.000 Euro, um die finanzielle Hürde bei einer Gründung überwindlicher zu gestalten. Dies wurde jedoch verworfen.

Möglich hingegen ist nun die Gründung einer so genannten Unternehmergesellschaft, die mit einem Stammkapital von 1 EUR bis 24.999 EUR gegründet werden kann. Die Gründung einer UG ist gem. § 41 d KostO kostenprivilegiert, vorausgesetzt, sie wird im vereinfachten Verfahren nach § 2 Abs. 1 a GmbHG gegründet. Ob diese sich nun in der Praxis durchsetzen wird, bleibt abzuwarten.

Auch bezüglich der verdeckten Sacheinlage wird Klarheit geschaffen. Sie ist erstmals gesetzlich geregelt, nachdem zuvor allein der BGH Voraussetzungen und Rechtsfolgen der verdeckten Sacheinlage festgelegt hatte.

Wer Fragen zur Gründung einer Gesellschaft hat - sei es einer GmbH oder einer US Gesellschaft, kann sich gerne an uns wenden. Weitere Informationen wie immer auf unser Webseite.

Smart Car in USA

more than 30,000 sold?

According to different sources over 30,000 americans got atracted to the Smart car, and placed a reservation.

You can do the same: for only 99 Dollars:
http://www.smartusa.com/

Fill out the reservation
https://commerce.smartusa.com/registration/register.aspx
and the 99 Dollars will be credited withthe 11,000 purchase price for the PURE version.

Resently I rented a smart car in Germany. Nice driving comfort....

Drive safely,
Reinhard von Hennigs
www.bdhlaw.net

Merkel besucht Bush

Das Presse- und Informationsamt der Bundesregierung informiert:
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Kommenden Freitag reist Bundeskanzlerin Angela Merkel zu einem Meinungsaustausch mit US-Präsident George W. Bush nach Texas.

Bush und seine Frau Laura haben die Kanzlerin auf ihren privaten Wohnsitz nach Crawford/Texas eingeladen. Die Kanzlerin wird von ihrem Ehemann Professor Joachim Sauer begleitet.

Merkel und Sauer hatten das Ehepaar Bush im Sommer 2006 im vorpommerschen Trinwillershagen empfangen.

Bei den Gesprächen und einem privaten Abendessen ist ein vertiefter Meinungsaustausch zu aktuellen internationalen Themen geplant: So zum Nahost-Friedensprozess, zum Atomkonflikt mit dem Iran, der Lage in Darfur, im Kosovo und beim Kampf gegen den internationalen Terrorismus.

Doch auch Handelsfragen, die transatlantische Wirtschaftspartnerschaft und der Kampf gegen den Klimawandel dürften zur Sprache kommen.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Viele Gruesse ueber den Atlantik!
Reinhard von Hennigs
www.bdhlaw.net

Trick or Treat?

hier die Quelle imNachtrag zu dem vorigen Post:

http://www.cpsc.gov/cpscpub/prerel/prhtml08/08059.html

Description: The fake Halloween teeth are painted white, black and orange with brown gums. They were sold as party favors in packages of eight. “Ugly Teeth,” “Amscan,” “Party Favors,” “Value Pack Party Favors,” UPC 0-48419-65002-7 and UPC 0-48419-61663-4 are printed on the packaging

USA rufen belastete Halloween-Zähne aus China zurück

ZU VIEL BLEI ... schreibt der Spiegel Online:

http://www.spiegel.de/wirtschaft/0,1518,514726,00.html

"Gruselige Rückrufaktion: Nur wenige Stunden vor dem Beginn des Halloween-Abends haben Behörden in den USA tausende falsche Zähne aus China zurückgerufen. Als Grund wurde ein überhöhter Bleigehalt genannt".

Die Bleilawine in Kindersachen in den USA nimmt kein Ende!

Trick or Treat?
Reinhard von Hennigs
www.bdhlaw.net

Hintergrund zum Halloween

Bekome gerade den Hinweis - vielen Dank Brigitte! - auf diese Webseite:
http://www.halloween-city.de/halloween_kultur.html

Dort wird die Geschicht dargestellt:

"Halloween ist einer der ältesten Festtage die auf der Erde gefeiert werden und hat damit eine lange Geschichte zu erzählen:

Vor über 5000 Jahren endete das Jahr bei den heidnischen Kelten am 31. Oktober. Dieser Tag nannte sich Samhain. Der Sommer war nun zu Ende und die Dunkle Jahreszeit begann. Der Tag war gekommen, an dem die Toten Seelen derer, die im lezten Jahr gestorben waren, an den Ort ihres früheren Lebens zurückkehren konnten."

Vor einigen Jahren noch nicht so verbreitet, hält auch dieser Halloween Brauch nunmehr in Deutschland Einzug. "Süsses oder Saures" ist hier der Ruf der Kinder in Deutschland.

In diesem Sinne!
Viele Grüße
Reinhard von Hennigs
www.bdhlaw.net

HAPPY HALLOWEEN

is today again ...
Trick or Treat!

Cheers,
Reinhard von Hennigs
www.bdhlaw.net

GreenCard Lottery

Green Card Lottery (Diversity Visa (DV) Lottery Instructions) again running ....The Diversity Visa (DV) 2009 Lottery online entry is active now and ends at Noon EST on December 2, 2007.

The chances are as always good for applicants form Germany. So go ahead and playthe game ... if you are interested in living in the US. If you just want the card for the "kick" of having it, it may be too complicated. So ask around if the Green Card is a good thing to have in your situation.

The English version of the DV-2009 Lottery Instructions is available in PDF format for your convenience.
http://travel.state.gov/pdf/2009DVInstructions.pdf

For information about DV qualifying occupations, important fraud warning, and more, see Diversity Visa Program on the State Departments web site:
http://travel.state.gov/visa/immigrants/types/types_1322.htm

Please nothe there are website looking very official but they are really not an official US governmental site.

Call or email with questions!

Cheers,
Reinhard von Hennigs
www.bdhlaw.net

"Das Leben der Anderen"

"Das Leben der Anderen" - eigentlcih ja kein Thema fuer dieses Law Forum, aber ein Thema, dass mich aus vier Gruenden dennoch reizt.

1. Der Film ist oskarnominiert!
2. Der Film laeuft genau in einem Kino in den USA ...
http://german.imdb.com/title/tt0405094/
(Stand heute, 4.Dez. 2006)
3. Der Firm hat diverse rechtliche Themen, Schutz der Menschenwuerde etc.
doch am wichtigsten ist, dass der Film gerade mit dem Europaeischen Filmpreis in Warschau ausgezeichnet wurde. Unter dem Strich ein Auszug aus der Mitteilung der Bundesregierung dazu.

Ich habe den Film gesehen und hoffe, dass es bald auch hier an der Ostkueste gezeigt wird, damit ich meinen Freunden vor Ort diesen Film nahelegen kann.

Gruesse
RvH

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Presse- und Informationsamt der Bundesregierung :
Kulturstaatsminister Bernd Neumann zeigte sich hoch erfreut über die Verleihung des Filmpreises in Warschau. Damit werde deutlich, dass der deutsche Film europäisches Format besitze, betonte der Staatsminister.

Mit dem europäischen Filmpreis für 'Das Leben der Anderen' ist ein hervorragender Film ausgezeichnet worden, der mit einem anspruchsvollen Thema das Publikum in Deutschland begeisterte.

Dank des Drehbuches von Florian Henckel von Donnersmarck sowie der großartigen Darstellung von Ulrich Mühe als Stasi-Hauptmann Wiesler ist ein Blick in die Funktionsweise des Überwachungsstaates DDR gelungen, der die Abgründe und Verführungen eindrucksvoll nachzeichnet und damit das System entlarvt. Es ist ein Film, der mit der Frage nach der persönlichen Schuld emotional berührt und nachhaltig wirkt.

Brücken der Freundschaft über den Atlantik spannen

Lese gerade bei dem Presse- und Informationsamt der Bundesregierung (Veröffentlicht am: Di, 28.11.2006):
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Seit dem 11. September 2001 haben mehr als tausend Jugendliche aus den USA dank des Projekts "Brücke New York-Berlin" Deutschland besucht. Das Besuchsprogramm ging auf eine Initiative der Bundesregierung zurück. Die deutsche Wirtschaft unterstützte das Projekt.

Nach fünf Jahren wird "Brücke New York-Berlin" beendet. Gleichzeitig ensteht auf Inititiative des US-Botschafters William R. Timken ein neues Austauschprogramm, das Jugendliche aus Deutschland in die USA einlädt.

Bundeskanzlerin Angela Merkel hat all denen gedankt, die an der Verwirklichung des Projektes mitgearbeitet haben. Sie betonte dabei die gelebte transatlantische Freundschaft und Solidarität, die Angehörige von Opfern und Helfern erlebt haben.

Der stellvertretende Regierungssprecher Thomas Steg lobte das Engagement und die Hilfsbereitschaft der Helfer und Sponsoren. Das tat er in einem Grußwort an die Organisatoren des Vereins "Brücke New York-Berlin". Er fügte hinzu: "Die Brücke war eine sehr erfolgreiche und gute Sache. Vor allem weil junge Menschen aus beiden Ländern sich begegnet sind, weil sie voneinander gelernt und füreinander Verständnis entwickelt haben."

US-Botschafter, William R. Timken, hat sich dem Dank im Namen aller Amerikaner angeschlossen. Er betonte im Rahmen einer gemeinsamen Veranstaltung am 28. November 2006 in Berlin: "Das Projekt war für die Amerikaner während ihrer Stunde der Not ein Symbol für das tiefempfundene Mitgefühl und die Unterstützung der Deutschen."

Ein Beitrag zur Völkerverständigung und Solidarität

Nach den Anschlägen vom 11. September wollte die Bundesregierung mit der Einladung von New Yorker Jugendlichen ein Zeichen setzen. Dabei ging es um die Verbundenheit und Solidarität mit dem amerikanischen Volk.

Die deutsche Wirtschaft zeigte sich 2001 sofort bereit das Projekt zu unterstützen. Ein entscheidender Schritt zur Umsetzung des Programms war die Gründung des gemeinnützigen Vereins "Brücke New York - Berlin" durch Daimler Chrysler. Stellvertretend für diejenigen deutschen Wirtschaftsunternehmen, die diese Aktion ebenfalls unterstützten, hatte Daimler Chrysler die Koordination und Organisation des Projekts übernommen.

Der Name der Initiative habe bewusst den Namen "Brücke" getragen, so Steg. Denn es ging darum, Brücken zu bauen. "Brücken der Freundschaft über den Atlantik, Brücken der Begegnung, Brücken von Berlin nach New York, Brücken von Deutschland in die Vereinigten Staaten. Denn über Brücken finden Menschen zueinander."

Jugendliche aus Deutschland besuchen die USA

Auch wenn "Brücke New York - Berlin" nun beendet ist, lebt die Idee der Toleranz und Völkerverständigung zwischen der Bundesrepublik und den USA weiter. Aus diesem Grund wird es mit "Windows on America" eine Fortsetzung geben. Diese Initiative bietet deutschen Jugendlichen mt Migrationshintergrund an, das Land der unbegrenzten Möglichkeiten kennen zu lernen. Genauso wie bei der "Brücke"-Initiative wird die Wirtschaft auch hier aktiv werden.

Bisher waren Schülerinnen und Schüler mit Migrationshintergrund bei Austauschprogrammen unterrepräsentiert. "Windows on America trägt dazu bei, jungen Menschen ihren eigenen amerikanischen Traum zu erfüllen," bekräftigte Botschafter Timken

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Na dann viel Spass beim Brueckenbauen ;-)
RvH

Wie die Zeit vergeht...

sehe ich gerade, wenn ich denke, dass am Freitag der 1. Dezember ist. Ebenfalls, dass es dieses blog nun seit einem Jahr gibt. Im November 2005 habe ich hier angefangen. Danke fuer das viele feedback. Ich freue mich auf das kommende Jahr und verspreche viele interessante news aus der deutsch-amerikanischen Rechtsszene... nein, der legal world, damit ich nicht missverstanden werde ...
Beste Gruesse
RvH

US-Lehrer nach Elternprotest wegen Flaggenverbrennen suspendiert

"Die "Stars and Stripes" in Flammen - das geht Eltern in Louisville zu weit. Sie empören sich über einen Lehrer, der vor Siebtklässlern zwei Fahnen verbrannte, um eine Diskussion über Meinungsfreiheit anzustoßen. Unterrichten darf Dan Holden vorerst nicht."

So lese ich hier:

http://www.spiegel.de/schulspiegel/ausland/0,1518,432878,00.html

Es ging um ganz edle Lehrimhalte. Es ging um die Unterrichtseinheit über "Freedom of speech", also Meinungsfreiheit. Dort wurde dann eine Fahne verbrannt. Ganz offen. In der Schule. Hausaufgabe: Die Kinder sollten einen Aufsatz schreiben, was die Fahnenverbrennung in ihnen auslöste.

Die Zerstörung nationaler Symbole ist seit langem in den USA ein Streitthema. So kam es nun zu der Suspendierung.

zu Recht?
Was meinen Sie?
Gruss aus Charlotte,
RvH

Bombe aus dem Gartenhandel

Sehr bedenklich aber lesenswert, wie schnell mal sich eine Bombe basteln kann...

Gruss
RvH

U.S. raises airline threat to highest level

The U.S. government raised its threat warning to the highest level for commercial flights from Britain to the United States early Thursday, in response to a terror plot thwarted in London. So if you are traveling from Germany this may be not as bad as if you were to travel from the UK, but think of some delays.

Now the alarm is red. This is the first time the red alert level, defined as designating a "severe risk of terrorist attacks," has been invoked in the U.S. Homeland Security warning system.

Enjoy the travel!
RvH

Because of heightened security procedures, the Transportation Security
Administration (TSA) is currently prohibiting all liquids and gels in
carryon baggage. This includes all beverages, shampoo, lotions,
creams, toothpaste, hair gel, and other items of similar consistency.
Additionally, any of these items purchased beyond the security
checkpoint will not be permitted onboard an aircraft.

Baby formula, breast milk, or juice if a baby or small child is
traveling, and prescription medicine with a name that matches the
Customer's name (along with insulin and essential other
non-prescription medicines) are exceptions subject to inspection at
the checkpoint. Electronic items (including notebook computers,
I-Pods, PDAs, etc.) are being allowed through the security checkpoint,
and all carryon items are subject to additional screening.

A good thing is to visit the TSA's web site
for
additional information about carryon articles

Have a good and safe flight!
RvH

Diskriminierungsklage bei Abercrombie & Fitch

Auch Abercrombie & Fitch mit 22 000 Angestellten in 700 US-Filialen bekam Ärger: 40 Millionen Dollar Abfindung musste A & F kürzlich an lateinamerikanische, schwarze und asiatische Stellenbewerber zahlen. Die Bewerber hatten die Firma wegen Diskriminierung aufgrund ihrer ethnischen Herkunft verklagt- und gewonnen.

Hungrige Juristen warten hier nur darauf, dass ein Arbeitgeber in Stelleninseraten Fehler macht, sog. „undichte Annocen“ verfasst.
„Undichte Annocen ?“ Das sind Anzeigen, die den politisch korrekten Grundregeln nicht entsprechen.

Immer öfter heuern deshalb Firmen wie Microsoft, der Versicher Blue Shield oder Morgan Stanley Beraterfirmen an. Der einzige Job dieser Human- Resources-Management-Solution-Firmen: unangreifbare Stellenausschreibungen erstellen. „Es grenzt an Irrsinn, dass wir uns vor potentiellen Angestellten schützen müssen, noch bevor wir jemanden einstellen“, heißt es bei Verizon. Aber „das ist Realität“. Und so konzentrieren sich die Spezialberater darauf wasserdichte Stellenanzeigen den Unternehmen zu präsentieren.

Zyniker neigen dazu, zu behaupten, dass dieser neue Trend Unternehmen bei der Stellenausschreibung unter die Arme zu greifen, eine tolle Geschäftsidee für eine neue Marktlücke ist. Was wiederum auch verständlich ist, verlangen doch die Berater im Schnitt 450 Dollar in der Stunde als Honorar.

Vielleicht sollte ich meinen Stundensatz anheben ;-)
Gruss
RvH

Schadensersatzklage gegen US-Telefonanbieter

Aber nicht nur Deutschland plagt sich gerade mit einem Antidiskriminierungsgesetz herum. Auch in Amerika wird darüber diskutiert und vor allem passiert eins: es wird auf Schadensersatz geklagt.

Für die US-Telefongesellschaft Verizon war daher der letzte Monat ein Monat, den die Queen of England mit „not amused“ bezeichnen würde. 49 Millionen Dollar muss die Firma an 12 000 Angestellte zahlen. Dies ist das Ergebnis eines jahrelangen Rechtsstreits. Grund für den Schadensersatz war ein Ausrutscher im Arbeitsvertrag: schwangeren Frauen waren der Schwangerschaftsurlaub und Pensionsansprüche versagt worden.

Dies zeigt mal wieder, wie nicht sorgfältige Formulierungen zu einem Finanzdisaster führen können.

Also: Augen auf!
Gruss
RvH

Fairfax verklagt Hedge-Fonds-Gesellschaften

Die kanadische Versicherungsgesellschaft Fairfax Financial Holdings (www.fairfax.ca) hat in den USA Klage auf 5 Milliarden US-Dollar Schadensersatz gegen verschiedene Hedge-Fonds-Gesellschaften eingereicht, darunter SAC Capital Advisors, Rocker Partners und Lone Pine Capital.
Dabei wird der Vorwurf herhoben, die Gesellschaften hätten ein Komplott geschmiedet, um den Aktienkurs der Versicherung nach unten zu treiben.

In der Klageschrift, die beim Bundesgericht in Morristown, US-Staat New Jersey, eingereicht wurde, heißt es dazu, die Hedge-Fonds hätten falsche und negative Studien über die Bilanzierungs- und Geschäftspraktiken von Fairfax herausgegeben und dadurch deren Ruf geschädigt. „Die Beschuldigten wollten durch Leerverkäufe der börsennotierten Wertpapiere“ profitieren, die sie später dann zu einem niedrigeren Kurs gewinnbringend hätten zurück erwerben wollen, heißt es dazu weiter in der Klageschrift.

Dabei nutzten die Beschuldigten der Klage zufolge einen „äußerst negativen“ Bericht der ebenfalls beklagten Investmentbank Morgan Keegan, um einen „unmittelbaren und dramatischen Kursrutsch" bei Fairfax auszulösen.

Diese Klage zeigt, dass das Thema Hedge-Fond auch in Amerika ein Reizthema ist, erinnert man sich doch noch zu gut an die „Heuschrecken“-Diskussion in Deutschland. Bei den Klagen geht es jedoch um handfeste wirtschaftliche Fakten. Wie sensibel dieses Thema ist, zeigt auch der Umstand, dass diese Klage nicht die erste ihrer Art gegen Hedge-Fonds ist. In einer ähnlichen Klage wirft zum Beispiel Biovail dem Hedge- Fonds SAC Capital Advisors vor, eine Desinformationskampagne geführt zu haben, um den Aktienkurs von Kanadas größten börsennotierten Pharmahersteller nach unten zu treiben.

Gruss
RvH

"Tom und Jerry" oder der "olbermannwatch"

Die Hitze "erhitzt" auch die Gemüter: Eine Art "Tom und Jerry" spielt sich in den USA ab. Aber der Grund für die folgende kurriose Angelegenheit, ist wohl eher in den politischen Gräben zu suchen, denn die Talkshow-Moderatoren Bill O`Reilly (Fox News) und Keith Olbermann (MSNBC) leisten sich zur Zeit eine verbale Schlammschlacht im amerikanischen Kabelfernsehen. Rechts gegen links. Der ehemalige Klatschreporter („Inside Edition“) O`Reilly, der extremen Rechten zuzuordnen, der einst dreiköpfige Babys und Alliens betreute und dem selbst von seinen Anhängern nicht die besten Umgangsformen attestiert werden, versteht sich als Mann des Volkes mit Common Sense, der die Wahrheit sagt in den verlogenen, von Linken beherrschten Medien. Und so steigert sich der verbale Schlagabtausch dahingehend, das von O`Reillys Anhängern die Internetjagdseite www.olbermannwatch.com eingerichtet wurde.

Damit können wir mal wieder sehen, wie tief die politischen Gräben geworden sind oder ist es doch nur einfach der Sittenverfall in den Medien für die richtige Quote?

Gruss aus den USA
RvH

Senate Finance Committee Holds Hearing for Treasury Secretary Nominee Henry M. Paulson

President Bush has nominated Mr. Paulson to serve as the 74th Secretary of the Treasury, following Secretary John Snow.

The Senate Finance Committee held a confirmation hearing Tuesday for President Bush's nominee for Treasury Secretary, Henry M. Paulson, Jr.

Here is a little quote from his opening statement:

"{...} The Treasury Department has a critical role to play in helping to set the direction of the U.S. and global economy – a role that reaches back to America's founding. If confirmed, I will strive to carry forward the Treasury Department's rich legacy.
I have admired the work of the Treasury Department throughout my 32-year career in finance – and particularly during the last eight years, when I have led a global financial institution. As the steward of the U.S. economic and financial systems, the Treasury has helped lay the groundwork for the American economy to become a model of strength, flexibility, dynamism and resiliency. {...}"

Let's hope the candidate will follow these goals. He also address his plans:

"{...} I will briefly outline some of the steps that could be taken to achieve a stronger and more competitive U.S. economy.

Addressing the long-term unfunded obligations of Social Security and Medicare that threaten to unfairly burden future generations.
Keeping taxes low and collecting them in a simpler and fairer manner that does not distort economic decision-making.
Expanding opportunities for American workers, farmers, and businesses – big and small – to compete on a level playing field with the rest of the world.
Maintaining and enhancing the flexibility of our capital and labor markets, and preventing creeping regulatory expansion from driving jobs and capital overseas.
Finally, the U.S. economy will be stronger if we can continue to foster an entrepreneurial spirit and culture which generates innovation, risk-taking, and productivity growth that raises living standards to keep America the economic envy of the world. {...}"

If you want to read the whole statement:
http://www.treas.gov/press/releases/js4341.htm

Greetings
RvH

Blogs Study May Provide Credible Information

The Air Force Office of Scientific Research recently began funding
a new research area that includes a study of blogs.

Read more:

http://www.defenselink.mil/transformation/articles/2006-06/ta062906b.html

The reason:

"Blog research may provide information analysts and warfighters with invaluable help in fighting the war on terrorism."

I am clueless how this will be done, but if they are searching for words such as "terrorism", well, this blog is read as well.

It seems to be that the US Government is trying to learn more and more what is communicated. After the NSA issue now a blog issue.

Some thoughts on the day prior to Independence Day.

Greetings
RvH

Insights from BridgehouseLaw