Regulations & Compliance

Over 140 Nations Adopt Treaty To Cut Mercury

January 21, 2013 10:07 am | by John Heilprin, Associated Press | News | Comments

A new and legally binding international treaty to reduce harmful emissions of mercury was adopted Saturday by more than 140 nations, capping four years of difficult negotiations but stopping short of some of the tougher measures that proponents had envisioned.

A Closer Look At The American Taxpayer Relief Act Of 2012

January 21, 2013 8:00 am | by Mary Balmer, CPA, director of research and development for Sage North America | Articles | Comments

The American Taxpayer Relief Act of 2012, signed into law on January 2, 2013, avoids the scheduled increases to individual income tax rates for most Americans andextends a host of expired and expiring tax provisions for both individuals and businesses. A sigh of relief has been heard as at least one portion of the fiscal cliff was narrowly averted. It also ends the long and acrimonious debate over the Bush-era tax cuts.

Judge Dismisses IN Right-To-Work Law Challenge

January 18, 2013 2:13 pm | by Tom Davies, Associated Press | News | Comments

A federal judge on Thursday dismissed a lawsuit filed by union members challenging Indiana's right-to-work law that was enacted last year. U.S. District Court Judge Philip Simon in Hammond ruled that none of the union's arguments against the law could succeed in federal court, although a challenge could still be made in state courts.

Utah Car Device Company Settles EPA Complaint

January 18, 2013 2:06 pm | by The Associated Press | News | Comments

A Utah company that sold devices to remove emission controls on vehicles has agreed to pay $500,000 to settle claims by the Environmental Protection Agency that it violated the Clean Air Act. The EPA says the illegal devices allow cars to spew smoke containing particulates linked with health problems, including respiratory disease and bronchitis.

Toyota Settles Wrongful Death Lawsuit

January 18, 2013 10:21 am | by Andrew Dalton, Associated Press | News | Comments

Toyota Motor Corp. has settled with family members of two people killed in a sudden-acceleration crash in Utah as part of a lawsuit that was to go to court next month and serve as a test case for a group of hundreds more that are pending. Paul Van Alfen and Charlene Jones Lloyd were killed when their Camry slammed into a wall in 2010.

Ex-Mamtek CEO Waives Hearing On Fraud Charges

January 17, 2013 1:47 pm | by David A. Lieb, Associated Press | News | Comments

The former CEO of a failed artificial sweetener facility waived a preliminary hearing Thursday at which Missouri prosecutors were to have laid out evidence of theft and fraud charges against him, but he will be back in court next week to face a formal arraignment.

Gunpowder Company Owner Faces Trial In Explosion

January 15, 2013 2:26 pm | by The Associated Press | News | Comments

The owner of a New Hampshire gunpowder company that was the site of a 2010 factory explosion that killed two men is scheduled for trial in May. Craig Sanborn of Maidstone, Vt., was indicted last year on two counts of manslaughter and two counts of negligent homicide for negligently engaging in the manufacture, production, testing and storage of explosive material.

FAA To Launch Comprehensive Review Of Boeing 787

January 11, 2013 10:21 am | by Joan Lowy, Associated Press | News | Comments

The Federal Aviation Administration is undertaking a comprehensive review of the critical systems of Boeing's 787s, the aircraft maker's newest and most technologically advanced plane, after a fire and a fuel leak earlier this week, the agency said Friday.

Chinese Police Probe Kickbacks By Foxconn Managers

January 10, 2013 1:53 pm | by The Associated Press | News | Comments

Hon Hai Precision, a leading maker of iPhones and other high-tech gadgets, has said it is working with Chinese police probing allegations that employees of its Foxconn unit solicited kickbacks from suppliers. Hon Hai said in a statement late Wednesday that it will "thoroughly investigate" the alleged kickback case and also review its procurement procedures to close any possible loopholes.

BP Oil Spill Settlement Payments Top $1B Mark

January 10, 2013 1:46 pm | by Michael Kunzelman, Associated Press | News | Comments

Businesses and individuals who claim BP's oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico cost them money have been paid more than $1 billion through the company's class-action settlement with a team of private plaintiffs' attorneys, court-supervised claims administrator Patrick Juneau said.

Governor Wants To Eliminate FL Equipment Tax

January 9, 2013 2:03 pm | by The Associated Press | News | Comments

Gov. Rick Scott wants to eliminate Florida's sales tax on equipment and machinery bought by businesses. Scott on Wednesday in Jacksonville said he will ask the Legislature this year to fully exempt such purchases from sales tax. Florida currently offers a sales tax exemption on equipment purchased for industrial use if it expands a manufacturer's output by at least 5 percent.

U.S. To Require Electric Cars To Make Noise

January 8, 2013 10:12 am | by The Associated Press | News | Comments

A U.S. government safety agency wants electric and hybrid vehicles to make more noise when traveling at low speeds so pedestrians can hear them coming. The cars and trucks, which are far quieter than conventional gasoline or diesel-powered vehicles, don't make enough noise at low speeds to warn walkers, bicyclists and the visually impaired, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration said.

Proposed Asphalt Plant Stirs Up MA Town

January 7, 2013 10:22 am | by The Associated Press | News | Comments

Residents in Uxbridge are in an uproar because a developer is attempting to build an asphalt manufacturing plant in town, even though residents voted to prohibit them in 1995. The problem is that no one apparently recorded the 1995 zoning bylaw amendment after it was approved. So the prohibition isn't on the books following the latest amendment of the bylaws in 2011.

Google Emerges From FTC Probe Relatively Unscathed

January 4, 2013 10:22 am | by Michael Liedtke, AP Technology Writer | News | Comments

Google has settled a U.S. government probe into its business practices without making any major concessions on how the company runs its Internet search engine, the world's most influential gateway to digital information and commerce. Thursday's agreement with the FTC covers only some of the issues raised in a wide-ranging antitrust investigation that could have culminated in a regulatory crackdown.

China Fines LG, Samsung In Flat Panel Price Case

January 4, 2013 10:18 am | by The Associated Press | News | Comments

China fined South Korean and Taiwanese makers of LCD display screens $56 million on Friday for price-fixing, joining the United States and Europe in a crackdown on the industry. Suppliers have been hit by American and European regulators with penalties totaling more than $3 billion for colluding to push up slumping prices of display screens in 2001-06. U.S. courts have sentenced 12 executives to prison.

Big Brother Takes The Wheel

January 4, 2013 8:00 am | by Meaghan Ziemba, Associate Editor, PD&D | Blogs | Comments

While I am all for the advancement of automobile safety, I wonder if placing black boxes in cars is stepping over the privacy boundary? A recent article, “Black Boxes in Cars Raise Privacy Concerns” discussed the placement of event data recorders, also known as black boxes, being placed in new cars and light trucks – such a development caused me to raise an eyebrow.

Judge: Ohio GM Workers Can Sue Over Back Pay

January 3, 2013 2:05 pm | by John Seewer, Associated Press | News | Comments

A federal judge says General Motors workers in northeast Ohio can move forward with a lawsuit against the automaker and the United Auto Workers. The union's request to dismiss the lawsuit was turned down late last week. Nearly 30 workers at GM's Lordstown factory say they were improperly classified as temporary employees after losing their jobs and then being rehired.

Fiscal-Cliff Deal No Recipe For A Robust Economy

January 3, 2013 2:02 pm | by Christopher S. Rugaber, Paul Wiseman, AP Economics Writers | News | Comments

Housing is rebounding. Families are shrinking debts. Europe has avoided a financial crackup. And the fiscal cliff deal has removed the most urgent threat to the U.S. economy. So why don't economists foresee stronger growth and hiring in 2013?

Upstate NY Factory Faces $75K In Fines For Hazards

December 21, 2012 2:03 pm | by The Associated Press | News | Comments

Federal workplace safety regulators say a factory in the Mohawk Valley put its workers at risk with a series of violations. The Occupational Safety and Health Administration has recommended almost $75,000 in fines against Nationwide Tarp Inc., which makes tents and other canvas products in Amsterdam.

Nokia, RIM Settle Old Disputes In New Patent Pact

December 21, 2012 9:48 am | by Matti Huuhtanen, Associated Press | News | Comments

Nokia Corp. and Canadian smartphone rival Research In Motion have agreed on a new patent licensing pact which will end all existing litigation between the two struggling companies, the Finnish firm said Friday. The agreement includes a "one-time payment and on-going payments, all from RIM to Nokia," Nokia said, but did not disclose "confidential" terms.

China To Overhaul Struggling Solar Panel Industry

December 20, 2012 2:16 pm | by The Associated Press | News | Comments

China's government says it will encourage mergers among producers of solar panels to strengthen an industry that has suffered huge losses due to excess production capacity and price-cutting wars. The announcement, which analysts have expected for months, comes as Beijing faces trade sanctions by the United States and possibly Europe over complaints its support for solar panel producers violates trade rules.

Federal Incentives For Wind Set To Expire Soon

December 20, 2012 2:05 pm | by Dirk Lammers, Associated Press | News | Comments

Wind energy advocates are pushing for the credit renewal. The American Wind Energy Association, quoting a study by Navigant Consulting, said a new U.S. manufacturing sector and 37,000 jobs could be lost by the first quarter of 2013 if Congress fails to act.

German Prosecutors Charge Ex-Porsche Chiefs

December 19, 2012 10:13 am | by The Associated Press | News | Comments

German prosecutors have charged two former Porsche executives with market manipulation in connection with the sports car company's failed takeover of Volkswagen AG, officials said Wednesday. Prosecutors in Porsche's home city of Stuttgart accuse former chief executive Wendelin Wiedeking and ex-chief financial officer Holger Haerter of making misleading statements about the company's intentions in 2008.

Gov't Warns Mitsubishi Over Improper Recall Handling

December 19, 2012 10:10 am | by The Associated Press | News | Comments

The government on Wednesday gave a verbal warning to Mitsubishi Motors Corp. for its improper handling and explanation of minivehicle recalls prompted by oil leaks. The Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism is expected to inspect the company soon over the four recalls reported since November 2010.

Taiwanese Exec Guilty Of LCD Screen Price Fixing

December 19, 2012 10:08 am | by The Associated Press | News | Comments

A federal jury in San Francisco has convicted a former executive at a Taiwanese company of participating in a global LCD screen price-fixing conspiracy. The U.S. Department of Justice says Shiu Lung Leung could face up to 10 years in prison and a $1 million fine for his role in illegally fixing computer screen prices in the U.S.