Category Archives: Fiduciary Responsibility

June 30 Deadline To Report Foreign Bank and Financial Account Information Looming


Got a foreign bank account? You may need to get moving to avoid missing an important reporting deadline on June 30.

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Landlords, Lenders & Other Businesses Face Growing Exposures For Failing To Accommodate Special Needs Of Customers


Businesses should take steps to make sure that their business properties, operations and people are properly prepared to meet the special needs of customers and other persons with disabilities, language restrictions or other protected status requiring accommodation in light of the growing emphasis of the Obama Administration on enforcing disability discrimination laws.

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Georgia Manufacturer Requiring Excessive I-9 Work Eligibility Documentation Nailed For Illegal Discrimination


The Justice Department’s December 30, 2011 announcement of its negotiation of a settlement with small Georgia rug manufacturer Garland Sales Inc. (Garland) shows all businesses run big risks for violating Federal Civil Rights and other employment discrimination laws. Careful processes and procedures to balance compliance with I-9 documentation rules and exposures to discrimination charges.

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Record-Breaking Countrywide Settlement Highlights Rising Exposures of US Businesses To Discrimination Prosecution


The Obama Administration sent another sharp reminder to U.S. businesses about their growing exposure to prosecution for illegal discrimination practices when it filed its largest residential fair lending settlement in history this week.

The latest in a stream of discrimination enforcement actions taken by the Obama Administration against U.S. businesses for alleged violations of U.S. civil rights and other discrimination laws, the settlement agreement announced December 21, 2011 provides for payment of $335 million in compensation to the more than 200,000 qualified African-American and Hispanic borrowers that Federal officials allege were victims of the widespread pattern or practice of illegal discrimination against qualified African-American and Hispanic borrowers by Countrywide Financial Corporation and its subsidiaries (Countrywide) while Countrywide served as one of the nation’s largest single-family mortgage lenders and originated more than 4 million residential mortgage loans. Bank of America now owns Countrywide.

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IRS Releases Guidance on Foreign Financial Asset Reporting


The Internal Revenue Service in coming days will release a new information reporting form that taxpayers will use starting this coming tax filing season to report specified foreign financial assets for tax year 2011. US businesses with foreign assets or accounts need … Continue reading

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New School Racial Accommodation Guidance Gives Important Insights For Schools & Other Organizations On Obama Administration Affirmative Action Enforcement


Race One Of Many Enforcement Priorities On Administration Agenda Schools as well as U.S. private businesses and governmental agencies generally should examine two new guidance documents available here detailing what voluntary affirmative action and racial integration options that the Obama … Continue reading

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Justice Department Landlord Suit Shows Businesses Face Rising Disability Discrimination Enforcement Risks


DOJ Sues Another Landloard For Disability Discrimination Latest Action Shows Obama Justice Department Aggressively Enforcing Discrimination Laws The Justice Department on November 23, 2011 sued the University of Nebraska at Kearney (UNK), the Board of Regents of the University of … Continue reading

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Businesses Face Rising Disability Discrimination Enforcement Risks


Enforcing disability discrimination laws is a high priority of the Obama Administration Business leaders increasingly recognize the need to tighten procedures to manage disability discrimination risks.  The rising tide of enforcement actions highlights this expanding exposure. The July, 2011 Justice … Continue reading

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97 Months Prison Sentence For Virginia Businessman Shows Risks of Misleading Investors


The sentencing of a Virginia business man provides a sharp reminder to businesses and others offering investment opportunities to avoid making unsupportable promises or engaging in other communications or actions that could mislead investors.

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Rising NLBR Enforcement Actions Signal Need To Prepare To Defend Anti-Union and Other Non-Union Specific Practices Against Potential Challenges


The National Labor Regulations Board (NLRB)’s announcement of a settlement against a Connecticut nursing home operator this week in conjunction with a series of other enforcement actions highlight the need for businesses to tighten defenses and exercise other caution to minimize their organization’s exposure to potential NLRB charges or investigation. As reflected by many of these enforcement acts, the exposures arise both from active efforts by businesses to suppress union organizing or contracting activities, as well as the failure to identify and manage hidden labor law exposures in the design and administration of more ordinary human resources, compliance, business operations and other policies and practices.

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Executive’s Sentencing Reminder To Government Contractors, Subcontractors of Need To Manage Bid Rigging & Other Compliance Risks


The U.S. Department of Justice’s May 10 announcement of the sentencing of a company executive for conspiracy to commit mail and wire fraud in connection with bids on a contract for the repair of refuse carts for the city of Chicago highlights the need for businesses and business leaders to use care to ensure the honestly and accuracy of minority subcontractor and other representations made when bidding and contracting for government contracts and other conduct in connection with their business dealings with federal, state or local government agencies.

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Improving the Effectiveness of Compliance & Risk Management By Getting HR On The Compliance Team


Businesses leaders concerned with managing risk that can arise when an employee or other workforce member violates Sentencing Guideline or other rules for which the business or leader is legally accountable should not overlook the value of getting their human resources department and others responsible for managing performance on the compliance team.

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Plan Sponsors. Their Owners & Management & Others Risk Personal Liability If Others Defraud Plans or Mismanage Employee Benefit Plan Responsibilities


Executives, board members, and other business leaders of companies providing health, 401(k) or other employee benefits under plans regulated by the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, as amended (ERISA) should heed a series of recent fiduciary liability settlement orders and lawsuits of the U.S. Department of Labor (Labor Department) as important reminders of the potential personal liability exposures executives can may face if their company’s benefit programs are not appropriately maintained and administered.

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Safeguarding Yourself From Liability For Another’s Employee Benefit Plan Embezzlement Or Other Misconduct


TPA’s Embezzlement Guilty Plea Reminds Plan Sponsors, Fiduciaries & Service Providers To Ensure Fiduciaries, Administrators & Staff Prudently Selected, Monitored & Bonded

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