| The Rule 505 Exemption from Registration Requirements for Small Securities Offerings |
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| Before selling shares of stock to the public, a company normally must file a detailed registration statement with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The usual registration statement must contain a prospectus with audited financial statements and other information required for review by Commission staff. However, several exemptions from registration requirements are available for stock offerings that are of lesser value or sold to restricted categories of purchasers. More... |
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| Director and Officer Liability under OSHA |
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| Employers have a general duty under the Occupational Safety and Health Act (OSHA)1 to provide a workplace free from "recognized" hazards. A violation of this duty can lead to criminal sanctions2 in addition to civil penalties. An employer can also be exposed to liability under occupational safety and health regulations promulgated by the Secretary of the Department of Labor. Directors and high-level executive officers must act to reduce or eliminate workplace dangers or risk OSHA liability. More... |
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| Employees' Duty of Loyalty |
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| Generally, an employee owes the duty of undivided loyalty to his or her employer. Courts take varying approaches to the issue of an employee's duty of loyalty. Some jurisdictions do not acknowledge a separate cause of action for an employee's breach of loyalty unless there is a fiduciary relationship between the employer and the employee. The claim is usually pleaded as a breach of a fiduciary duty. Some jurisdictions recognize a separate claim for an employee's breach of the duty of loyalty but also acknowledge its relationship to a fiduciary breach. A common thread in all jurisdictions is that employees who occupy a position of trust and confidence owe their employers a higher duty of loyalty than lower-level employees. The scope of the duty of loyalty depends on the particular fact circumstances and the nature of the employment relationship.
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| Federal Regulation of Corporate Takeover Bids or Tender Offers |
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| Traditionally, proxies of shareholders of corporate takeover targets were sought for votes in favor of the takeover. Rules issued by the Securities and Exchange Commission to regulate the content of proxies so that shareholders were able to make an informed decision provided some protection for shareholders. More... |
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| The Duty of Directors and Officers Regarding Corporate Opportunities |
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| The corporate opportunity doctrine provides that corporate directors and officers have an obligation not to take personal advantage of opportunities that may be to the advantage of their corporation. The doctrine follows from the duty of loyalty of directors and officers to the corporation.More... |
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