WEDC awards $75,000-to-law-entrepreneurship-clinic-News
The Law & Entrepreneurship Clinic at University of Wisconsin Law School has been awarded a $75,000 Entrepreneurship Support grant from the Wisconsin Economic Development Corporation. The award means the clinic can expand its offering of no-cost legal services for entrepreneurs, especially those in the food and beverage sector. That’s good news for area entrepreneurs, who, for all their creative wealth, can find themselves short on legal know-how — and on cash. The clinic offers them free early-stage legal and business counseling to help set their startups on the path to growth. All the legal work is performed by UW Law students, who are preparing to become practice-ready transactional attorneys. Under the supervision of licensed attorneys, students manage clients, lead meetings and direct their own research. Anne Smith According to director Anne Smith, approximately 1,500 clients have benefited from the clinic’s services since it opened its doors in 2009, but Wisconsin’s food and beverage industry has been underrepresented. Now the clinic is gearing up to provide food and beverage startups with specialized outreach, training and legal services. “With the grant money, we’ll be able to help our clients comply with complex state and federal food safety regulations, as well as dealing with other hurdles they might encounter early on,” Smith says. Funds from the grant will also help the clinic meet the evolving needs of its clients. WEDC funds are slated to support the development of the clinic’s patent practice and increase its capacity to work with international entrepreneurs. “The added expertise and tools enable us to strategically advise startups so they can avoid future pitfalls and appropriately manage their businesses down the road,” Smith says. “Ultimately, the state’s economy benefits.” And she says, boosting the state economy is part of the L&E Clinic mission. Last year alone, the clinic’s free services amounted to nearly 7,200 hours, which collectively saved clients over $1 million in fees. A recent clinic survey found that 75 percent of its clients have remained in business, 22 percent had annual revenues of $100,000 or more, and 10% employ five or more people. The L&E Clinic is one of 11 organizations to receive nearly $500,000 in total funding through the WEDC’s new Entrepreneurship Support pilot program. The program aims to grow entrepreneurship throughout the state, with education, mentorship and training, business development and financial services. - See more at: http://news.wisc.edu/wedc-awards-75000-to-law-entrepreneurship-clinic/#sthash.kDyPcUTP.dpuf
Source news.wisc.edu 2-8-2017
Magellan settles spill claims, will pay $16M in injuctive relief-News
WASHINGTON (Legal Newsline) — The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the Department of Justice on Jan. 19 reached a settlement with Magellan Pipeline Company L.P. for alleged Clean Water Act violations related to a fuel spill.
"Fuel spills have real and lasting impacts on clean water for communities," Cynthia Giles, assistant administrator for EPA's Office of Enforcement and Compliance Assurance, said. "Companies need to take the necessary precautions to make sure fuel is transported safely and responsibly. This settlement puts in place important pipeline safety and spill prevention measures that make this industry safer for communities."
According to the EPA, approximately 5,177 barrels of petroleum products, including gasoline, diesel and jet fuel, spilled from the company’s pipelines in separate incidents in Texas City, Texas, Nemaha, Nebraska and El Dorado, Kansas. In order to settle the allegations, Magellan will pay roughly $16 million in injunctive relief and $2 million in civil penalties.
“This settlement holds Magellan accountable for multiple petroleum fuel pipeline spills that impacted waterways in three states,” John C. Cruden, assistant attorney general for the Justice Department’s Environment and Natural Resources Division, said. “The terms of the agreement require Magellan to improve training of its staff and monitoring of its pipeline system’s integrity and increase public transparency about leaks and responses.”
Source legalnews.com 2-7-2017
Washington state AG pushes bill to raise age for tobacco purchases to 21-News
OLYMPIA, Wash. (Legal Newsline) — Washington State Attorney General Bob Ferguson went before the state’s Health Care & Wellness Committee on Jan. 23 to support an increase of the legal age for purchasing tobacco from 18 to 21.
Ferguson supporting House Bill 1054, a bill with bipartisan support in its third year. The legislation, which is supported by 65 percent of Washingtonians according to an Elway Research poll, would make Washington the third state to change the legal age to 21. Hawaii and California have already passed similar laws, and more than 2000 local jurisdictions have, as well.
“Washington state has long been front and center in the fight to protect kids from the dangers of smoking,” Ferguson said. “It is past time to pass this proposal into law.”
A U.S. Department of Health & Human Services survey in 2014 showed that about 95 percent of adult tobacco users start using before they turn 21.
“Stopping smoking saves lives,” said Sen. Mark Miloscia, chair of the Senate State Government Committee. “The research is clear that many smokers become addicted between the ages of 18 and 21. Simply increasing the smoking age to this milestone will have a significant and long-lasting effect on the number of addicted smokers, saving lives and driving down healthcare costs.”
Source legalnews.com 2-7-2017
