St. Louis Legal Issues Blog

Why does LeBron James want to trademark 'Taco Tuesday?'

On behalf of David M. Duree and Associates, P.C. posted in Intellectual Property Litigation on Sunday, September 8, 2019.

The term "Taco Tuesday" is used in homes, school cafeterias and restaurants throughout the country. Therefore, some people have considered basketball superstar LeBron James' recent move to trademark it to be somewhat audacious.

The trademark request was filed last month by LBJ Trademarks LLC to protect the term's use in a variety of forums, including online marketing, social media, "downloadable audio/visual works," podcasts and "entertainment services." However, his representatives say the move is not what it seems. A spokesman for the Los Angeles Laker says, "The filing was to protect the company from potential lawsuits should we decide to pursue any ideas, nothing of which is in development…."It has nothing to do with stopping others from using the term."

When kids drink on prom night

On behalf of David M. Duree and Associates, P.C. on Thursday, September 5, 2019.

You remember it like it was yesterday. Picking out a dress or a tuxedo, maybe having it altered (at the last minute), getting ready and meeting your date. It felt like the most important night of your life, and, at the time, maybe it was. It’s tough to imagine that, for many teens, prom night is their last night alive.

Drinking on prom night has become something of a normalized right of passage. According to MADD, over 60% of parents believe their kids will drink on prom night (even though 96% of parents don’t approve). This means that some parents believe that teens drinking on prom night isn’t a big deal. But it’s a very big deal, especially if a teen who’s been drinking gets behind the wheel.

10 interesting facts about slip and fall accidents

On behalf of David M. Duree and Associates, P.C. on Wednesday, September 4, 2019.

Slip and fall accidents are all too common and can lead to minor and devastating injuries, and sometimes, even death.

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, fatalities associated with slip and fall accidents differed between men and women, with 5% of falls leading to death for women as compared to 11% for men. Overall, women experience more slip and fall accidents more often.

What parents of new drivers need to know

On behalf of David M. Duree and Associates, P.C. posted in Personal Injury on Monday, September 2, 2019.

If you're the parent of a teen who's going to be taking driver's ed and getting their license this school year, you'll likely be spending some hours in the front passenger seat with them. They'll want and need plenty of behind-the-wheel practice before they take their road test.

It's probably been at least a couple of decades (and likely more) since you learned to drive. Even if you've been driving safely and managed to avoid an accident during these years, it's essential to realize that some things have changed since you took driver's ed.

80 people indicted by feds for romance scams, other fraud

On behalf of David M. Duree and Associates, P.C. posted in Civil Rights and Consumer Protection on Wednesday, August 28, 2019.

Earlier this year, we discussed "romance scams" and how older people, in particular, are victimized by online scammers claiming to be interested in pursuing a relationship. They convince their victims to send them money to help them travel to see them or for some other bogus reason. Last year, as we noted, romance scams cost Americans a combined $143 million.

Romance scams are among the types of online fraud for which federal prosecutors are indicting 80 people. In announcing the indictment on Aug. 22, one U.S. Attorney called it "one of the largest cases of its kind in U.S. history." The indictment follows a yearlong FBI-led investigation. The defendants, most of whom are Nigerian nationals, are accused of defrauding victims of a minimum of $6 million and attempts to get another $40 million. They're also facing money laundering charges.

What are 3 common causes of child injuries?

On behalf of David M. Duree and Associates, P.C. posted in Personal Injury on Wednesday, August 21, 2019.

Parents and caregivers in O'Fallon need to keep a close eye on children no matter what age they are. When they don't, it puts them at serious risk of injury or death. There are several ways that minors get hurt when left unattended by their adult caregivers.

Data from the National Institutes for Health (NIH) shows that drowning is sadly the leading cause of death of children ages 1 to 4 in the United States. At least three kids lose their lives in this country each day due to drowning. Many of these deaths could have been prevented had the pools that parents and caregivers allowed their kids to play around been surrounded by a fence. They could have prevented them by more closely watched their kids around bodies of water as well.

Missouri officials warn of phony DNA tests

On behalf of David M. Duree and Associates, P.C. posted in Civil Rights and Consumer Protection on Friday, August 16, 2019.

There have been significant advancements in genetic testing in recent years. With a simple swab of the cheek, people can learn whether they have genetic markers that could make them prone to developing serious and potentially fatal diseases, such as certain types of cancer.

However, officials with the Missouri Department of Social Services (DSS) are warning people to beware of people offering them free genetic testing. There have been numerous cases reported throughout the country of scammers posing as researchers or health care professionals offering free DNA tests to Medicare and Medicaid recipients. Unfortunately, in some cases, actual doctors have been in on the fraud.

Elevator malfunctions can cause physical, emotional injuries

On behalf of David M. Duree and Associates, P.C. posted in Personal Injury on Sunday, August 4, 2019.

If most people could see just how elevators are suspended by cables, they'd probably think twice before stepping on one. However, we take for granted that they're going to get us to our destination safely -- whether it's the top of a St. Louis high rise office building or the second floor of a department store.

Elevator malfunctions that cause serious injuries are relatively uncommon. However, they do happen. Even if an elevator doesn't crash, if it plummets multiple stories, the people in it can suffer debilitating injuries. Elevator maintenance workers are especially at risk of being injured since they're often working on elevators that aren't working properly.

My kids should be safe in the back seat, right?

On behalf of David M. Duree and Associates, P.C. on Thursday, August 1, 2019.

Most parents require their children to sit in the back seat of the family vehicle. Usually, this is because old wisdom says that the back seats are the safest seats in the event of a collision. However, a recent study indicates that this may no longer be true. The study found that those sitting in the front seats may now fare better a car crash than those sitting in the back.

As a parent, this news may alarm you, but don’t put your child in the front seat just yet. There are a few considerations to keep in mind when determining the safest place in the car for children to sit.

Intellectual property protection requires more than strong NDAs

On behalf of David M. Duree and Associates, P.C. posted in Intellectual Property Litigation on Thursday, August 1, 2019.

As a business owner, you probably rely on nondisclosure agreements (NDAs) to help protect your intellectual property (IP). Well-drafted, strictly enforced NDAs are certainly a good first step.

However, technology has created many more ways in which IP can get into the wrong hands. People who aren't bound by NDAs can access your company's proprietary data without setting foot anywhere near your offices or computers. Common sense precautions are still important, however.