Author Archives: PaulP

Exclusivity Provision in Lease Permits Landlord to Rent to ‘McD’s’ In NJ Shopping Mall (Much to ‘Sbux’s’ Chagrin)

Exclusivity provisions are staples of some commercial leases, particularly in the shopping mall setting. The purpose of these so-called “exclusives” is to protect a tenant from a competing business renting in the same shopping center and potentially undercutting the tenant’s pricing. The larger the tenant (think “anchor” tenant) in terms of resources, the more leverage it has in …

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Process Server’s Return of Service Qualifies As Public Records and ‘Regularly Conducted Business Activity’ Hearsay Exceptions – Florida Appeals Court

My experience with the hearsay evidence rules usually involves trying to get a business record like an invoice or spreadsheet into evidence at trial or on summary judgment.  The business records hearsay exception is found at Illinois Evidence Rule 803(6) and mirrors the Federal counterpart.  “Exception” in the context of hearsay evidence means a document is hearsay (an …

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Wage Payment and Collection Act Amendments Allowing for Attorneys’ Fees and 2% Interest – One Applies Retroactively, the Other Doesn’t – IL 1st Dist

Aside from its application of the apparent agency doctrine to a dispute over commissions, Thomas v. Weatherguard Construction Company, 2015 IL App (1st) 142785 also provides an interesting analysis of when attorneys’ fees and statutory interest can be tacked on to a successful Illinois Wage Payment and Collection Act (“Wage Act”) plaintiff’s suit for unpaid wages …

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