BW INSIGHTS

Use of Microgrids During Natural Disasters

By BrownWinick | 09.01.2017
The nation’s attention is focused on the devastation brought to Texas and Louisiana by Hurricane Harvey, but there is one positive development that deserves our attention: the use of microgrids to ensure the continued operation of essential services in the face of natural disasters. An electric microgrid is broadly defined as a local network of... Read More

Tight Limits on Where Patent Lawsuits May Be Filed

By Michael Dee | 06.01.2017
On May 22, 2017, the United States Supreme Court unanimously, and drastically, limited the rules for where patent infringement lawsuits may be filed. In TC Heartland, LLC v. Kraft Foods Group Brands, LLC, the Supreme Court held that the patent venue statute, 28 U.S.C. §1400(b), allows a patent infringement lawsuit to be brought only in the... Read More

New Guidance on Dental Labs as Business Associates

By BrownWinick | 04.07.2017
In March 2017, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Office for Civil Rights (OCR) confirmed that a dentist does not need to sign a business associate agreement with a dental lab when the dentist shares with the lab protected health information for purposes of treating patients. The OCR guidance, which was provided in an e-mail to the... Read More

Every Business Needs to Actively Manage Its Intellectual Property

By Jordan Meggison-Decker | 03.24.2017
You and your neighbor have been tinkering in your garage for weeks and you are ecstatic that you have finally developed a new product…a hair dryer. You know you want to develop a business around your hair dryer idea, but what is the next step? One of the first steps to consider is protecting your business’ intellectual property. You may be... Read More

2016 Tax Return Preparation Reminders

By Christopher Nuss | 03.20.2017
It’s that time of year again when folks are sorting out (or maybe just starting to sort out) their tax return filing obligations for 2016. As this is done, consider whether any of the following apply to you – this tax season I’ve been seeing and advising on these topics frequently. Limitations on the deductibility of pass-through losses on your... Read More

Is My Software Patentable?

By David Breiner | 03.03.2017
Is my software patentable? Maybe!!! Does it solve a problem rooted in computer technology? Does it improve the performance or functioning of a computer? Does it solve a technological problem by applying well understood operations in non-conventional and/or in non-generic ways? If the answer to any of these questions is yes, then it is possible... Read More

Iowa Certificate of Need Becomes Focus of Iowa Legislature

By BrownWinick | 02.24.2017
Two bills have been introduced this week at the Iowa Legislature to significantly limit the scope of Iowa’s Certificate of Need (“CON”) Program. One of these bills was introduced by Governor Branstad. Committee action on at least one of these bills is planned for next week in advance of next week’s funnel deadline. Below you will find links to the... Read More

Updated HIPAA Privacy Rule Guidance

By BrownWinick | 02.24.2017
Accidents, sudden illness, and hospitalization of a family member are stressful incidents for individuals and their loved ones. Uncertainty regarding the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act’s (“HIPAA”) Privacy Rules’ restrictions on the sharing of information with certain family members or loved ones sometimes adds to that stress.... Read More

Subpoena Response When Requesting Health Records

By BrownWinick | 02.24.2017
In recent years, many states, including Iowa, have changed their court rules to allow attorneys to sign and issue subpoenas in pending cases without prior court approval. While the issuance of such subpoenas may be acceptable under general state law, providing documents in response to a subpoena that is only signed by an attorney may lead to a... Read More

SEC Attempts to Modernize How Businesses Raise Capital

By Allison Lindner | 02.07.2017
In 2017, new rules regarding certain exemptions from securities registration requirements are going into effect, adopted by the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”) on October 26, 2016, as the SEC attempts to modernize how businesses raise capital. You should take note of these changes: Amendments to Rule 504 of Regulation D under the... Read More

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