Category: Blog

(AFP photo: View over Barcelona)

(Bloomberg) Felix Revuelta has had enough of Catalan politics.

After running his nutritional products company Naturhouse Health SAU from Barcelona for at least 25 years, Revuelta last month moved the firm’s headquarters to Madrid. The Naturhouse chairman was concerned about an unconstitutional referendum on independence that separatists plan to hold on October 1, disregarding rulings of the Spanish courts.

People do not to like to invest in places where there are problems

“Business needs legal security,” Revuelta said in an interview. “Tension has been growing within Catalan society and between Catalan society and the rest of the country.”

Naturhouse is not the only company alarmed at developments in Spain’s biggest regional economy. Some U.S. firms who based their Spanish operations in Barcelona have prepared plans that would allow them to withdraw from Catalonia overnight if it secedes, said Jaime Malet, Chairman of the American Chamber of Commerce in Spain.

“People do not to like to invest in places where there are problems,” he said by phone.

Constitutional Crisis

Catalonia’s campaign to break away from Spain has become a constitutional crisis as Spanish Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy uses the full force of the law to try to stop the illegal vote. After Catalan President Carles Puigdemont passed his referendum bill last week, Spanish prosecutors filed criminal charges against the separatist leaders and ordered their officials in the region to question any local mayors helping to organize the ballot.

The legislation, which has been suspended by Spain’s Constitutional
Court, would allow the assembly to declare independence within 48 hours
of a “yes” vote with no minimum turnout needed to make the result
binding.

Malet said his personal view is that Rajoy has enough legal weaponry to ensure Catalonia’s bid for independence goes nowhere. Opinion polls also show support for secession has been falling over the last four years as the economic recovery draws moderate voters away from the cause. Even so it makes sense for company boards to have the paperwork in place so that they can move within 24 hours if necessary, said Malet.

Jaime Guardiola, CEO of Banco Sabadell SA, based near Barcelona, said that although he’s seen few companies following Naturhouse’s lead so far it would make sense for executives to be preparing contingency plans, according to a report by Efe. Economy Minister Luis de Guindos, however, played down the risk.

“There haven’t been any significant moves,” de Guindos said Wednesday in televised comments, adding that it would be “irrational” to think secession could happen.

Market Flutters

So far investors have taken a relatively sanguine attitude to the risk of a split. Though the spread that investors charge to hold 10-year Spanish debt instead of German bonds has widened by 24 basis points to 118 since the start of August, that’s still in line with its average for the year.

Even so, Moody’s Investors Service said in a September 11 report that the recent escalation in tensions was negative for credit even though it also expects the region to remain part of Spain.

“Markets until recently have refused to consider Catalonia risk,” said Lorenzo Bernaldo de Quiros, president of Freemarket Corporate Intelligence, a Madrid-based consulting firm. “But investors who don’t factor that in are going to find themselves exposed.”

Revuelta said one of the reasons he decided to move Naturhouse’s head office to Madrid was his concern about the legal instability that a disputed secession would trigger. He said the company already directions most operations from Madrid and that is where the board meets.

This situation has already lasted so long

The company has sales of almost 100 million euros a year and runs 2,400 stores in 33 countries. The first Naturhouse store opened in Spain’s Basque region in 1992.

Even if the consensus is right and the separatists are heading down a dead end, the confusion that their campaign has generated is already adding a headache for international companies like Volkswagen AG, Procter & Gamble Co. and DowDuPont Inc. with operations in the region. Just getting head office to understand what is happening is getting harder and harder.

“This situation has already lasted so long,” said Malet. “It’s a major challenge to explain to American investors and investors in other countries what is actually going on.”

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ANKARA (Reuters) – Global e-commerce companies will be liable for taxes on goods sold directly to Turkish customers under a draw law proposed by Turkey’s government, Finance Minister Naci Agbal said on Friday.

Agbal also told the state-run Anadolu agency that the budget deficit will be at around 60 billion lira ($17.5 billion) year by the end of the year.

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Johannesburg, Gauteng – September 15, 2017 /MarketersMedia/ — Having access to quality legal representation is a growing need in South Africa. While there are currently several thousand lawyers in South Africa, it is seemingly impossible for new clients to find acceptable representation based on client needs and firm service offerings. In addition to finding the right lawyer, many individuals are unsure of which firm to choose because of limited information available online coupled with client uncertainty in the often times ‘un-chartered waters of legal representation’.

In an effort to expand client awareness and the firms boarders in South Africa about available legal services, BM Mudzuli Law has recently launched an all new website.

“Our website is specifically designed to help those in need of criminal, commercial or family law services to find the information and resources they need,” stated company representative Matthew Shaw. “The website is easy to use with simple navigation and helpful service pages. Our goal with the site is to make it easy for those people in need of legal services to find and contact us.”

Originally founded in 2012, BM Mudzuli Attorneys law Firm has been helping and representing clients in the area since then; however, the team made the decision to take their services online to reach even more potential clients. With years of experience, the legal team is able to help with any type of family law, commercial/corporate law and criminal law issue a person may be facing.

“We represent clients from all walks of life,” continued Shaw. “We also understand how difficult it can be to find quality representation for many. This is why our services are now highlighted online. We are dedicated to helping individuals find and utilize the top notch legal services we offer.”

The newly launched website provides an overview of all the services provided by the law firm, as well as a brief history of the lawyers. Those in need of legal services can learn more by visiting the Website at https://mudzulilaw.co.za. This site also provides contact information for the law firm.

ABOUT BM MUDZULI ATTORNEYS

The firm was originally founded in 2012 by Brian Maano Mudzuli after he completed his Articles and a stint of professional practice at a reputable firm in Limpopo. Today, the law firm focuses on personal injury, family, commercial and criminal law services. In addition to having a strong team of lawyers, the law firm also has adequate support staff in place to help ensure that any client requirements are able to be made, regardless of how complex the case may be. The goal of the law firm is to help clients achieve the most desired outcome for their legal situation.

Contact Info:
Name: Matthew Shaw
Organization: Bm Mudzuli Attorneys
Address: Johannesburg, Gauteng 2001
Phone: 073 041 6603

Source URL: https://marketersmedia.com/bm-mudzuli-attorneys-announce-launch-of-all-new-website-for-law-services/239498

For more information, please visit https://mudzulilaw.co.za

Source: MarketersMedia

Release ID: 239498

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MOSCOW (Sputnik) — Russia is currently deciding on what US law firm will represent Moscow’s interests in court while fighting a case concerning the seizure of Russian diplomatic property in the United States, Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Ryabkov said Wednesday.

“We are currently dealing with this issue, one of the United States’ large law firms will probably be recruited for these purposes,” Ryabkov said, adding that the entirety of the information about what happened would be transmitted to the chosen firm.

Ryabkov indicated that Moscow was looking for a knowledgeable firm possessing a profound understanding of the US judicial system, legislation, law enforcement practices and precedents that had existed and still existed in this field. Russia hopes that whichever firm is selected will manage to ensure an effective defense of Moscow’s position and a desired outcome in the case, according to the deputy foreign minister.

On Tuesday, Ryabkov said that Moscow would file a lawsuit against the closure of its diplomatic property in the United States within the coming weeks following Russian President Vladimir Putin’s order last week.

On September 2, the United States shut down Russia’s Consulate General in San Francisco and trade missions in New York City and in Washington, DC. US officials said the move came in response to Moscow’s decision in late July to reduce the number of US diplomatic staff in Russia to 455 people, the same number of diplomatic personnel Russia has in the United States.

After Russian diplomats left the diplomatic compounds, US security agents conducted searches inside the buildings. The Russian Foreign Ministry said that the United States’ actions constituted a violation of international law, including the Vienna convention on diplomatic and consular relations.

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Law enforcement officials and the Buffalo Bills recently revealed security procedures for the upcoming football season.

Since 2013, the Erie County Sheriff’s Office has been the lead law enforcement agency for New Era Field and the Buffalo Bills. More than two years ago, the Sheriff’s Office increased the number of visible, quick-response patrols in and around the stadium as a response to global events. Those enhancements remain today, with added roles and increased measures.

The Erie County Sheriff’s Office, the Buffalo Bills, local, state and federal law enforcement agencies, and the National Football League continually review and implement effective techniques to combat possible threats, according to a release from the Sheriff’s Office. Fans will continue to see uniformed SWAT team operators, law enforcement canine units, and other specialized sheriff’s personnel on game days, as well as other agency personnel, the release said.

The Sheriff’s Office, in conjunction with the Orchard Park Police Department, the New York State Police, and the Buffalo office of the FBI, prepare for every event at New Era Stadium to ensure guests can focus on the game or event and enjoy the daylong experience, according to the release.

“The Western New York region enjoys a very unique partnership between all levels of law enforcement. Our collaboration and efforts provide excellent security, and we are proud to be part of this group, which allows Bills fans to have a great visit to New Era Field,” said Sheriff Tim Howard. “I know some people are still uncomfortable seeing my SWAT operators and a large police presence, but I won’t apologize for being well-prepared for the citizens of Erie County and the Bills’ fans.”

The Bills still employ private security firms, and there will be undercover security teams roaming the parking lots and inside the stadium assisting with the proactive identification and resolution of potential fan behavior or safety-related issues, the release said.

All fans should be prepared to remove their cellphones, cameras and glasses cases before they get to the front of the line to enter the stadium. Fans do not need to remove their keys, wallets or loose change. Fans are still encouraged to arrive at the gates at least one hour before kickoff, and gates open 90 minutes before kickoff.

The release said the Sheriff’s Office will maintain its commitment to increased patrols in the New Era Field parking lots and traffic posts surrounding the stadium.

Deputies assigned to the Bills parking lots will encourage fans to tailgate responsibly and follow the rules, which include no glass bottles and no binge drinking. Fans can grill food, play catch and have fun cheering on their hometown team, but the sheriff and the Bills ask fans to do so responsibly. Those individuals who are irresponsible or reckless in the parking lots or the stadium are subject to ejection, summons or arrest, the release said.

Howard said if an individual or a group can’t respect their fellow fans and ignore the Fan Code of Conduct, his deputies will take appropriate measures to allow others to enjoy the game.

As the partnership between the Bills and Sheriff’s Office continues, so does the decrease in stadium arrests and ejections, the release said. In 2017, the average number was fewer than three per game, and the number of ejections reportedly continues to decrease.

The Sheriff’s Office and the Bills jointly support the Designated Driver Program and encourage everyone to be responsible and designate someone in the group to be the designated driver.

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Purdue Pharma, Endo Health Solutions, former pharmacists and dozens of defendants in drug-dealing cases are all named as defendants in a lawsuit filed by the Scott County Board of Commissioners on Monday, September 11.

The action requests damages for all of the dollars Scott County has had to spend expanding its jail capacity, finding new facilities for its Health Department and other expenses caused by the illegal use of opioids in the county.

The county is targeting manufacturers of such opioids as Oxycontin, Percocet, oxycodone and hydrocodone. The suit claims manufacturers began a marketing scheme in the 1990s “…to persuade doctors and patients that opioids can and should be used for chronic pain…” Thus was created a larger group of patients “…much more likely to become addicted and suffer other adverse effects from long-term use of opioids.”

Such manufacturers, the lawsuit continued, “…downplayed the serious risk of addiction, promoted the concept of ‘pseudoaddiction,’ exaggerated the effectiveness of screening tools in preventing addiction, claimed that opioid dependence and withdrawal are easily managed, denied the risks of higher opioid dosages and exaggerated the effectiveness of… opioid formulations to prevent abuse and addiction.”

Cited in the over 200 pages of the lawsuit is the statement that Scott County “…is at the forefront of this (opioid) crisis… By 2012, 106 prescriptions for opioids were written for every 100 people in (Indiana).” A total of 33,000 in the United States are said to have died from overdoses in 2016. One in 15 people who take opioids illicitly will try heroin within ten years, the suit stated.

An estimated 2.6% of Americans have injected drugs, compared with 12% of Austin (residents), one source is quoted as stating.

Scott County still remains Indiana’s lowest-ranked county for health outcomes, it also pointed out.

The 2015 HIV/Hepatitis C outbreak in Austin is also mentioned as an alleged result of illicit opioid use. Prescription opioid use “…has not displaced heroin but rather triggered a resurgence in its use…” the lawsuit claimed.

The document stated that plaintiffs are seeking “…damages for the amounts paid in connection with the results of opioid abuse, including but not limited to county law enforcement, EMS, addiction treatment costs and the like.”

Additionally, Scott County is seeking a declaration that manufacturers have “…violated Indiana law, an order requiring manufacturer defendants to cease their unlawful promotion of opioids and correct their misrepresentations and an order requiring…..defendants to abate the public nuisance they have created and knew their actions would create.”

Punitive damages, trebled damages and attorneys’ fees and court costs are also requested as are monies to cover… “additional demands for public services…including costs for addiction treatment and the treatment of babies born addicted to opioids.” The lawsuit continued, requesting “…damages and equitable relief…on behalf of all Scott County citizens who or which have sustained damages or losses as a result of opioid abuse.”

Defendants in a lawsuit have 20 days to respond with their own filings or to request additional time to file answers to the allegations presented.

Lawsuits filed represent only one side of acclaim or claims.

 

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