The agriculture community has faced problems with animal welfare organizations using undercover videos that are sensationalizing alleged acts of animal cruelty on livestock operations. Larger livestock farmers using conventional production practices and concentrated animal feeding operations are at greater risk. Due to the media attention from these undercover videos, several states have developed legislation aimed to proscribe undercover video surveillance …
Missed the Local Food CLE? Don’t Worry, You Can Get the Recording
Last Thursday I moderated a fantastic local food law CLE (i.e., “Continuing Legal Education”). The faculty worked hard putting together substantive materials for the attendees including relevant ancillary materials (such as this, this, and this). If you missed the live webinar, you can purchase the CLE from the American Bar Association’s (“ABA”) webstore here. Though the CLE was directed to …
Internship Programs Under the Fair Labor Standards Act
Summer is around the corner.. and ’tis the season for unpaid interns! I recently came across this helpful factsheet from the U.S. Department of Labor, Wage and Hour Division, on internship programs under the Fair Labor Standards Act (“FLSA”). The factsheet clearly defines the test that is used for determining whether the “trainee” test for interns is satisfied so that …
Last Day to Register for Local Food CLE
Don’t forget that tomorrow I will be moderating a local food law CLE for the American Bar Association (“ABA”) General Practice, Solo & Small Firm (“GP Solo”) Division’s Agriculture Law Committee titled “Counseling the Local Food Movement: What a Practitioner Should Know” discussing procurement laws for local food, direct farm marketing (farmers markets, CSA’s), Food Safety Modernization Act exemptions, Cottage …
Spoke to Undergraduate Agriculture Career Class via Skype
Yesterday I had an opportunity to talk about being an agriculture lawyer to an undergraduate agriculture careers class in Wisconsin via Skype. I remember being that age and not really knowing what I wanted to do. To tell you the truth, I grew up looking up to Colleen Callahan and wanted to *be* her…with a career in agriculture journalism/communications. For …
Licenses, Degrees, and Professional Practices/Businesses in NY Divorce Actions
New York uniquely classifies a spouse’s enhanced earning capacity (a professional degree or license) or professional practice or business as an asset for equitable distribution purposes. In order for enhanced earning capacity or interest in a business or professional practice to be considered during equitable distribution, it must be “marital property.” For example, a license or degree is marital property …
Presenter on Sustainability in Agriculture
I will be a panelist at this event on May 16th from 8:00 to 10:00 am with the Association of the Bar for the City of New York (“City Bar”) titled “Feeding Ourselves, Sustaining the Planet.” I will be presenting on sustainability developments in “Big Ag.” It is sponsored by City Bar’s Committee on International Environmental Law and the Committee …
Animal Law Mediation
I was recently asked whether I handle animal law mediation. And the answer is, “why yes I do.” I am a previous member of the New York State Bar Association Committee on Animals in the Law, New Jersey State Bar Association Committee on Animal Law, and the New York Lawyers’ Association Committee on Animal Law. I have also had …
Legal Webinar Regarding Farm Animal Space
I want to give a brief shout-out on a webinar presented by Elizabeth Rumley from the National Agricultural Law Center on the “Legal Issues in Animal Agriculture: Regulating Living Space.” I had an opportunity to hear Elizabeth Rumley present during this online agriculture law class last year and she’s one smart cookie (she’ll be presenting again this year). You can …
Law Student Discount for Upcoming Local Food Law CLE
Hey law students- great news! I just found out that the American Bar Association (“ABA”) is awarding law students who need financial assistance a special discounted rate of $25 to attend this upcoming CLE titled “Counseling the Local Food Movement: What A Practitioner Should Know” scheduled on Thursday, May 10th from 2-4pm ET. You can register online for the CLE …
New York Farm Animal Welfare Law
I have updated my New York Farm Animal Welfare Law Outline and you can view it now on JD Supra. I highly recommend that livestock producers in New York have a general understanding of these statutes. I highly recommend that every single farm in the state of New York have a good working relationship an attorney, veterinarian and Cornell University …
Overview of Equitable Distribution in New York
New York courts in a matrimonial action uses the term “equitable distribution” to describe how the assets will be divided between the two spouses. The term “equitable distribution” refers the equitable (not necessarily equal) distribution of marital assets upon a divorce. (When I tell my clients that the court divides things “equitably” not not necessarily “equally” I get a …