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Morris James Leads Delaware Today "Top Lawyers" Edition with 25 Recognitions
Morris James LLP is pleased to congratulate the lawyers listed below, who were most recommended by their professional peers in a survey of Delaware attorneys conducted by Delaware Today magazine. Morris James received more "top lawyer" peer recognitions and had more "top vote-getters" than any other law firm. Top vote-getters are listed in bold below and a number following a name indicates the number of recognitions this year. More ›
ShareMorris James’ Healthcare Industry Group Offers Webinar on Practice Integration
Join Kimberly Hoffman, Bruce Tigani and James Gallagher as they discuss how practice integration can allow physician practices to operate more efficiently and the basic considerations for implementation, including compliance with STARK, anti-trust and professional practice structure. More ›
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Morris James Receives Top Legal Rankings in Chambers USA 2014
Thirteen Lawyers and Four Practices Recognized as Top-Tier in Delaware
Morris James LLP is pleased to announce that thirteen attorneys in five separate practice areas have been top ranked among the leading Delaware lawyers in the 2014 edition of Chambers USA: America's Leading Lawyers for Business. Chambers also ranked four of its practice areas as among the top practices in Delaware including Bankruptcy/Restructuring, Chancery, Intellectual Property and Labor & Employment. Read more.
ShareMorris James Receives Top Legal Rankings in Chambers USA 2014
Thirteen Lawyers and Four Practices Recognized as Top-Tier in Delaware
Morris James LLP is pleased to announce that thirteen attorneys in five separate practice areas have been top ranked among the leading Delaware lawyers in the 2014 edition of Chambers USA: America's Leading Lawyers for Business. Chambers also ranked four of its practice areas as among the top practices in Delaware including Bankruptcy/Restructuring, Chancery, Intellectual Property and Labor & Employment. Read more.
ShareDelawareans Face Substantial Health Insurance Increases
Health insurance premiums are showing sharp increases across the country, with Delaware leading the way. An April survey by Morgan Stanley of brokers who sell coverage in the individual and small group market shows the largest acceleration in small and individual group rates over the 12 prior quarterly periods in which the survey was conducted. The average increases are in excess of 11% in the small group market and 12% in the individual market. Delaware, unfortunately, had the highest increase of any state, with premiums in the individual insurance market (those sold direct to consumers) increasing by 100%. In neighboring Pennsylvania, the rate of increase was 28% - still high, but nowhere near what Delawareans face. Other states with large increases were: New Hampshire 90%; Indiana 54%; California 53%; Connecticut 45%; Michigan 36%; Florida 37%; Georgia 29%; and Kentucky 29%,
Author: John H. Newcomer, Jr. chairs the Real Estate Practice at Morris James LLP and is a member of its Healthcare Industry Team.
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Morris James Southern Heart Ball Exclusive Pre-Party - RSVP Now!
Kimberly Hoffman to Participate in the 18th Annual Diabetes Update
Kimberly Hoffman, Chair of Morris James' Healthcare Industry Team, will be a panel member at the upcoming 18th Annual Diabetes Update which will be held at the John H. Ammon Medical Education Center (Christiana Hospital campus) on March 8, 2014. "An estimated 70,000 Delawareans have diabetes. Almost a quarter of them are under the age of 20," she commented. "Health care providers and policy makers nation-wide have a lot of legal questions about addressing the disease. It should be an interesting discussion."
Kim serves on the Executive Committee of the American Diabetes Association's Delmar Community Leadership Board, and Morris James LLP will again be a sponsor of the Father of the Year Awards in June to benefit the ADA. The firm's team has also won awards for corporate fundraising at the ADA's Step Out Walk. "With diabetes as the sixth leading cause of death in Delaware, Morris James is proud to support the ADA's effort to save and improve the quality of life for Delawareans." Hoffman explained.
ShareMorris James to Sponsor the Wilmington & Southern Delaware Heart Balls
Morris James LLP is proud to be a sponsor of the 2014 Wilmington Heart Ball and the Southern Delaware Heart Ball – two Delaware events that celebrate the American Heart Association's work and mission; donors and volunteers; and — most importantly — the lives saved and improved because of everyone's effort. Beth B. Miller, an attorney in Morris James' Dover office and member of the Executive Leadership Team of the Southern Delaware Heart Ball Committee commented "both the Wilmington and the Southern Delaware Heart Balls promise to be engaging evenings bringing community and health leaders together."
Although the Wilmington Heart Ball is sold out on March 1, 2014, you can still obtain tickets to the Southern Delaware Heart Ball to be held March 22, 2014 or donate by visiting https://donate.heart.org
About the American Heart Association
The American Heart Association is the nation’s oldest, largest voluntary organization devoted to fighting cardiovascular diseases and stroke. Founded by six cardiologists in 1924, the organization now includes more than 22.5 million volunteers and supporters working tirelessly to eliminate these diseases. The American Heart Association funds innovative research, fight for stronger public health policies and provide lifesaving tools and information to save and improve lives. The nationwide organization includes 144 local offices and nearly 2,700 employees.
Volunteer Emergency Responder Job Protection
On September 6, 2013, Governor Jack Markell signed into law House Bills 21 and 22.
House Bill 2, known as the Volunteer Emergency Responder Job Protection Act, makes it illegal for an employer to discipline or terminate a Volunteer Fire Firefighter or Emergency Management Technician (EMT) who misses work due to injuries received serving the citizens. In addition, an employer cannot discipline or terminate a Volunteer Fire Firefighter or EMT called to serve during a state of emergency called by either the President or Governor.
According to Christiana Fire Company Chief Richard J. Perillo, the idea for the law came from a situation where a company firefighter was fired by a private employer after the firefighter sustained burns to his hands while fighting a house fire last year. The firefighter was unable to return to work for a few days while being treated for his burns and the employer terminated him. More ›
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Health Exchange Seminar Now Available as a Webinar this Wednesday, October 9th
Morris James' Healthcare Industry Team will be presenting a webinar on health exchange, HIPAA, and general compliance issues and strategies for 2013-14 on October 9, 2013.
Delaware employers with 50 or fewer employees will identify critical health exchange implementation and learn about other hot topics from presentations and discussions facilitated by Morris James' Healthcare Industry Team and the experienced insurance experts of Willis of Delaware, Inc.
In a timely News Journal story that highlights Walgreens' recent move to send workers to a private health insurance exchange to buy their own plans, consulting firm and industry expert Accenture stated, "In five years, more than a quarter of the estimated 170 million people now covered by insurance through their employers will be getting their benefits this way." Home Depot and Trader Joe's recently announced their move to switch part-time workers to health exchange coverage as well. More ›
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Delaware Healthcare Industry 2013 Legislative Roundup
Ambulance Company Rural/Metro Files For Chapter 11 Protection in Delaware
The national healthcare industry often converges on Delaware's bankruptcy courts due to the high number of large companies incorporated here. Private equity-owned Rural/Metro Corp. and more than 50 affiliates ("Debtors") filed Chapter 11 protection on Sunday August 4, 2013 after reaching an agreement with creditors. The Scottsdale, Arizona-based company lists assets and debts of more than $500 million. Fortunately for the Delaware healthcare industry, there are no major local creditors.
View the full summary on the Delaware Business Bankruptcy Report.
Author: Eric J. Monzo, Esq. is a member of the Bankruptcy and Creditors' Rights group at Morris James LLP.
ShareNew Delaware Interpretation of Home Health Worker Employment Agreements and Entitlement to Worker’s Compensation, with Drafting Tips
Do you employ home health aides or other travelling employees? Based on a new Delaware Supreme Court case, the terms of these employees’ existing and new employment agreements should be reviewed. The right terms can help protect the employer from excessive worker’s compensation claims, based on a new Delaware Supreme Court case. More ›
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Will Delaware Healthcare Exchange Marketplace Follow CA and NY?
Will the Delaware exchange follow New York and California with lower rates than expected? Stay tuned. Launch date is currently January 1, 2014.
Author: A. Kimberly Hoffman, Esq. chairs the Healthcare Industry Team and is a member of the firm’s Real Estate and Land Use Practices at Morris James LLP.
ShareGet It In Writing – Even At Mediation: Top 5 Lessons from United Health Alliance
Disputes between health care professionals in a small community like Delaware are particularly well-suited for mediation. The process provides a means for sophisticated litigants to resolve their disputes in private without having to air their “dirty laundry” on the town square. The Morris James Health Care Team routinely urges our clients to participate in mediation in the hopes of avoiding trial. Mediation works. But it can be an exhausting process. At the end of a long mediation that results in settlement, the natural inclination of the parties is to shake hands (or not) and go home with the understanding that the settlement documents will be drafted on another day. Once upon a time a handshake was all that was required to seal a deal. The Chancery Court’s recent decision in United Health Alliance, LLC v. United Medical, LLC, however, is a cautionary tale about going home without a signed agreement. After a brief discussion of this recent Delaware court decision you will find the top 5 takeaways for navigating and avoiding, or successfully mediating, healthcare related disputes. More ›
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