The #MeToo and Black Lives Matter movements have brought about profound cultural reaction and change, a groundswell of litigation and numerous new laws. Some of the most high-profile sexual harassment and discrimination cases have taken place in the media and entertainment industry, raising questions about the unique challenges and risks...
This month, New York federal district court Judge Laura Taylor Swain gave what is expected to be her final substantive ruling on the dispute between Sketchworks Industrial Strength Comedy Inc. and the copyright owners of the musical Grease, which Sketchworks’ musical Vape parodies. In her ruling, Judge Swain held that...
Doc10, Chicago’s only all-documentary film festival, announced its first-ever awards program, which honored documentary filmmakers. Among this year’s winners is RPJ Client Jessica Devaney, who was presented with the Vanguard Award, created to honor innovative documentary filmmakers, for her production of 17 shorts and features, including Pray Away. The award...
In Morgan v. Sundance, Inc., No. 21-328, 2022 WL 1611788 (U.S. May 23, 2022), the U.S. Supreme Court ruled that federal courts, in analyzing a claim that a party has waived the right to arbitrate a dispute under the Federal Arbitration Act (“FAA”), should not impose a requirement of prejudice....
We live in a new world of virtual currency, the Metaverse, AI, and so many more developments that are disconnected from tangible physical objects. But the insurance industry’s approach to coverage for business losses due to COVID-19 remains rooted in the mid-20th Century, if not earlier. That is, the industry...
We are pleased to welcome our newest outstanding colleagues to the firm! Marie Pierre joins RPJ as our experienced Office and Personnel Manager, providing support in general office operations, human resources and personnel oversight, and client relations. Prior to RPJ, Ms. Pierre worked as the Paralegal Supervisor at the American...
It is graduation season. As children graduate high school and start preparing for college, once they reach 18 years of age, they are no longer “minors.” Most parents are not aware, but when the child gets to college, parents are no longer the automatic decision makers. For example, a parent...
At the upcoming 2022 Tribeca Film Festival, three of RPJ’s clients will premiere documentary feature films as part of the Festival’s Spotlight Documentary, Viewpoints and Documentary Competition selections. Tickets are available for purchase here. Naked Gardens, directed by Ivete Lucas and Patrick Bresnan and produced by Tabs Breese, follows the...
Did you know that the Supreme Court is poised to overturn Roe v. Wade? Apparently many are upset because, in the words of Chief Justice Roberts, this leak is an “egregious breach of trust” and a “betrayal of the confidences of the court” which seems to be eclipsing the bigger...
On May 5, Variety featured Milisuthando Bongela's self-titled documentary on Black middle-class women in post-apartheid South Africa, as part of the 2022 Hot Docs Forum. The film, for which RPJ provides production legal services, is produced by Marion Isaacs for The Good Black Project, in co-production with Sonia Barrera and...