September 15, 2010

Unique business, intellectual property, entertainment and trial firm will expand on its first anniversary.

St. Louis – The BrickHouse Law Group, a unique business, intellectual property, entertainment and trial law firm, proudly announces that David B. Groce has joined the firm as a partner.

Groce, 51, is a business lawyer with more than 20 years’ experience representing companies across North America, Europe and Asia. He graduated with a bachelor of science degree from James Madison University in 1981 and received his law degree from the University of Tulsa College of Law in 1984.

Groce has previously served as senior vice president and general counsel of RehabCare Group, as vice president of corporate strategy for Monsanto, as vice president and general counsel of Sara Lee Bakery Group, as vice president and deputy general counsel of The Earthgrains Company and as associate general counsel at Anheuser-Busch.

Founding partner Geoff Gerber says, “David brings to The BrickHouse Law Group a wealth of experience when it comes to providing legal and strategic advice to companies. In addition to being a technically capable lawyer in a number of complimentary practice areas, he brings two decades of experience from the client side which many business people really appreciate.”

St. Louis lawyers Gerber and Pete Salsich III, formerly partners with Husch Blackwell Sanders, founded The BrickHouse Law Group in 2009, seeking to create an agile law firm that aligns its own interests with those of its clients; deploys technology to foster a collaborative, client-centered environment; and leverages the many years of experience its lawyers have gained working within large firms and global organizations.

Salsich says, “Our goal is to deliver the same high caliber of counsel and leadership for which some really large law firms are known. At the same time, our clients receive the efficiency benefits of a well-organized boutique firm.”

For more information, contact Pete Salsich at 314-446-6469 or by e-mailing psalsich@brickhouselaw.com. For more information about The BrickHouse Law Group, visit www.brickhouselaw.com.

###

May 13, 2010

The Law Firms Butsch Simeri Fields, Larson · King, and The Farwell Law Firm File Federal Wage “Donning and Doffing” Class Action Lawsuit Against Farmland Foods.

St. Louis – A federal class action lawsuit alleging that Farmland Foods did not pay employees for the time they spent getting into and out of safety gear, cleaning it and walking to and from their workstations, also known as “donning and doffing,” has been filed in the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Missouri.

David T. Butsch of the Clayton, Mo., law firm of Butsch Simeri Fields LLC, along with the St. Paul, Minn., firm of Larson · King LLP and The Farwell Law Firm LLC, of Kirksville, Mo., filed the suit on April 29, 2010. The name of the case is Jacob Ingersoll et al. v. Farmland Foods, Inc., no. 5:10-cv-06046-REL.

Five Farmland employees working in the company’s Milan, Mo., processing facility filed suit on behalf of themselves, as well as current and former workers in the facility. The workers allege that federal and state wage-and-hour laws were violated when the company requires employees to be ready to work, with personal protective gear on, when the production line starts running but refuses to pay them for the time spent gearing up at the beginning of the day or cleaning up at the end of the workday.

According to the U.S. Department of Labor, “donning and doffing” time is work time that must be compensated.

“Farmland’s workers are entitled to be paid the full amount of wages they have earned,” explains Butsch, “and they want Farmland to revise its pay practices and follow the law.”

Several recent cases involving donning and doffing demonstrate the savings companies hope to achieve by violating the wage-and-hour laws:

• In 2007, Gold’n Plump Poultry Inc. agreed to pay $1.2 million to settle donning-and-doffing claims brought by poultry workers in its Minnesota and Wisconsin processing plants.
• In 2006, George’s Processing Inc. agreed to pay $1.24 million in back pay to its poultry workers in a settlement negotiated with the Department of Labor.
• Workers at various meat and poultry processing companies, including IBP Inc. and Perdue Farms, have benefited from settlements and judgments ranging from $8.4 million to $10 million in back pay.

Mr. Butsch invites employees of the Milan plant to contact his firm at 314-863-5700 or fairwages@bsf-law.com if they wish to obtain information on the lawsuit and how they can participate. Federal law prohibits an employer from retaliating against any employee who seeks enforcement of labor laws.

###

MEDIA CONTACT:

David T. Butsch
Butsch Simeri Fields LLC
231 S. Bemiston Ave., Suite 260
Clayton, MO 63105
314-863-5700
butsch@bsflawfirm.com

NEWS RELEASE

April 23, 2010

Foul odors linked to construction and demolition landfill in Virginia’s Henrico County

ST. LOUIS—Since December, the Richmond Times-Dispatch reports, residents of eastern Henrico County, Va., have been subjected to a persistent odor of rotten eggs.

After receiving numerous complaints about the odor, which seems to be the strongest in the morning and evening, the Virginia Department of Environmental Quality assessed air quality in the area. The test results revealed that decomposing drywall dumped at The East End Landfill (TEEL) was releasing hydrogen sulfide, a gas that smells like rotten eggs.

The 150-acre facility, located in Richmond, only accepts construction debris. According to Richard Weeks, DEQ’s chief deputy, some of the material was left exposed to the air. Unfortunately, residents living in nearly 1,000 homes close to TEEL have had to endure the smell.

The odor of hydrogen sulfide, which is particularly pungent, may force people to stay indoors in an attempt to avoid it. It can trigger such physical symptoms as burning eyes, sore throat, nosebleeds, nausea and respiratory problems.

On April 19, TEEL’s owner submitted an odor-management plan proposing frequent checks of air quality, limitation of the time debris is exposed to the air and covering of debris to limit odor migration.

Environmental lawyer Todd Hageman explains, “To bring hydrogen sulfide gas emissions under control within a landfill, sufficient measures must be taken to control the gas production as well as manage new incoming waste.”

Hageman adds, “People can smell hydrogen sulfide at concentrations as low as 0.5 pbb, the odor threshold. Offsite emissions above the odor threshold must be abated – not limited.”

The Simon Law Firm is a St. Louis-based firm that represents people who have lost the use and enjoyment of their property or been hurt as a result of environmental and landfill hazards. The firm has represented more than 700 individual clients in claims arising from the negligent operation of construction and demolition landfills. For more information, contact Todd Hageman by calling 877-767-3108 or e-mailing THageman@simonlawpc.com.

###

CONTACT:

The Simon Law Firm
Todd Hageman 877-767-3108
THageman@simonlawpc.com
www.simonlawpc.com

April 19, 2010

Court rules against China-based World Wide Stationery Manufacturing on all motions

St. Louis – On April 14, a federal judge denied all post-trial motions filed by China-based World Wide Stationery Manufacturing Co. Ltd. after a jury unanimously decided in favor of defendant U.S. Ring, declaring two of the Chinese company’s patents invalid.

“Once again the federal court has made it clear that U.S. Ring’s Insta-Clik mechanism, used in three-ring binders, does not infringe on any valid patents,” says Bob Premnath, president and chief executive officer of US Ring. “The industry faces a number of problems such as runaway steel cost and labor shortages. Using the patent system to overwhelm a much smaller competitor should not be added to the list.”

Since 1913, global supplier U.S. Ring has manufactured ring metals. In 2008, World Wide Stationery began sending letters claiming patent infringement to companies that purchased U.S. Ring’s Insta-Clik binder. In 2009, sales of the Insta-Clik binder fell by 90 percent from the previous year.

In the civil suit, World Wide Stationery alleged that the Insta-Clik binder infringed on two United States patents.

U.S. Ring denied the allegations and asserted two defenses: first, that the Insta-Clik mechanism did not infringe on World Wide Stationery’s patents; and, second, that the patents were invalid because they did not cover new inventions and some of the elements had been invented in the early 1900s. In its counterclaim, U.S. Ring asserted that World Wide Stationery made false statements to its customers. It sought a declaration that the patents were invalid and unenforceable.

The jury concluded that World Wide Stationery’s patents were invalid because they did not cover a new invention. World Wide Stationery then filed three post-trial motions asking for a new trial or a judgment as matter of law.

U.S. District Court Judge for the Eastern District of Missouri Carol E. Jackson denied the motions. (World Wide Stationery Manufacturing Co., Ltd. v. U.S. Ring Binder, L.P., cause no. 4:07cv1947.)

U.S. Ring Binder was represented by Anthony G. Simon and Timothy E. Grochocinski of St. Louis’ The Simon Law Firm.

U.S. Ring Binder produces the metal ring mechanisms found in looseleaf binders, notebooks and day planners, as well as clips for clipboards and lever arch mechanisms.

###

CONTACT:

Bob Premnath
bp@usring.com
800-888-8772
www.usring.com

NEWS RELEASE

April 15, 2010

Family law firm with offices in Brooklin and Lindsay provides $5,000 grant to local nonprofits

BROOKLIN, ON—The family law firm of Russell I. Alexander is pleased to announce that applications are currently being accepted for a $5000 grant for nonprofits serving greater Durham and the City of Kawartha Lakes.

The Russell I. Alexander Charitable Giving Fund aims to help not-for-profit agencies, established at least two years, and  promote community development, arts and culture, sports, education, or health and human services.

In 2009, the first year of the Russell I. Alexander Charitable Giving Fund, Covenant House of Toronto, ON received the grant.  Prior to 2009, family lawyer Russell Alexander consistently supported a variety of charitable and not-for-profit organizations and events such as:

• Kawartha-Haliburton Children’s Foundation and Dream Ball
• Minor hockey teams, tournaments and individual players.

“We are proud to be able to help our community in this very meaningful way,” says Alexander. “We are looking for local organizations and individuals to support that have an important mission, but may not have the visibility and resources of some of the larger charities. We try to choose groups that we believe have a good track record of success, and also can use the grant to implement meaningful outreach efforts.”

The grant guidelines and application are posted on the firm’s website. The application deadline is July 31, 2010.

About Russell I. Alexander

Russell I. Alexander Barristers & Solicitors is a law firm dedicated solely to family law. The law firm’s experienced lawyers and staff offer pre-separation legal advice, they provide advice and representation in separation and divorce matters. The family law firm also assists clients with family-related issues including: custody and access, separation agreements, child and spousal support, division of family property, paternity disputes, and enforcement of court orders. For additional information, please visit www.russellalexander.com.

###

CONTACT:

Russell Alexander Family Lawyers
Russell Alexander 866-647-6335
ria@russellalexander.com
www.russellalexander.com

NEWS RELEASE

April 5, 2010

Residents air concerns about a possible underground fire and odors at Ohio landfill

ST. LOUIS—More than 100 people attended an April 1 public meeting in Colerain Township set up by environmental regulators and aired their concerns about a possible underground fire and strong odors emanating from the Rumpke landfill in Ohio, The Community Press reports.

Pollution concerns about the facility, located on Hughes Road in Colerain Township, aren’t new. Last fall, gas extraction wells at the landfill registered excessively high heat readings. And on March 19 it was announced that the Ohio Environmental Protection Agency and Rumpke landfill reached a settlement agreement that requires the owner to pay a $98,000 penalty for air pollution violations and follow an action response plan that included such measures as adding clay soil, stabilizing landfill slope, installing additional gas collection devices and enhancing monitoring.

At the April 1 meeting, Paul Ruesch, an environmental engineer with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, addressed the underground heat readings, indicating that although it was unclear whether they indicated an underground fire or a “reaction,” the dynamic was the same.

A community activist group, Property Owners Want Equal Rights, attended the meeting. Nancy Lindemood, POWER’s founder, called for an analysis and reporting of air sample results and independent monitoring of well temperatures, as well as monitoring of air, gas and groundwater.

Environmental lawyer Todd Hageman explains, “When a landfill fails to apply the proper slope cover, air can enter the body of the landfill which fuels waste combustion. The fire then creates voids and vents in the landfill which further magnify the production and release of landfill gas like hydrogen sulfide. Underground fires are often a problem for mismanaged landfills.”

The Simon Law Firm is a St. Louis-based firm that represents people who have lost the use and enjoyment of their property or been hurt as a result of environmental and landfill hazards. The firm has represented more than 400 individual clients in claims arising from the negligent operation of construction and demolition landfills. For more information, contact Todd Hageman by calling 877-767-3108 or e-mailing THageman@simonlawpc.com.

###

NEWS RELEASE

March 12, 2010

The Simon Law Firm’s Environmental Attorneys Comment on Suit Against A&L Salvage Landfill

Ohio attorney general cites immediate threat to public health in suit against owners of Lisbon, Ohio, facility

ST. LOUIS—The Ohio attorney general has filed a 20-count complaint and preliminary injunction against the owners of A&L Salvage Landfill in Lisbon. The landfill has a long history of odor complaints and hydrogen sulfide emissions exceeding the recommended safety level and is suspected of harboring subsurface fires.

The suit was filed on March 10 against A&L Salvage, Amato Properties LLC, Jack Amato, Jeffrey Aldrich and the Amato Family Trust of East Liverpool. The Ohio AG and Ohio Environmental Protection Agency issued a joint news release explaining that the suit was filed because of the immediate threat to public health, enjoyment and the environment posed by the facility.

The environmental lawsuit seeks an order that would require the landfill owners to cover the landfill waste with a foot of soil within the next six weeks. It also asks for civil penalties to be imposed for a wide range of alleged violations, including:

• Failure to manage surface water and discharge into a nearby creek
• Failure to apply weekly debris cover
• Failure to implement a monitoring plan for explosive gas

The landfill has been closed for a year, but problems persist. The odor of hydrogen sulfide is worsening, and temperature readings indicate the presence of subsurface fires.

Environmental lawyer Todd Hageman notes, “Neighborhood air monitors have recorded hydrogen sulfide readings as high as 110 parts per billion, far above the human odor threshold of 0.5 ppb. The failure to manage surface water magnifies H2S production and the lack of cover allows the gas to escape. Subsurface fires will aggravate gas production and escape issues.”

Hydrogen sulfide, which smells like rotten eggs, may trigger such physical symptoms as burning eyes, sore throat, nosebleeds and respiratory problems.

The Simon Law Firm, based in St. Louis, represents people who have lost the use and enjoyment of their property or been hurt as a result of environmental and landfill waste and odors. The firm has represented more than 700 individual clients in claims arising from the negligent operation of landfills. For more information, contact Todd Hageman by calling 877-767-3108 or e-mailing THageman@simonlawpc.com.

###

The new firm, Carey Danis & Lowe, will handle pharmaceutical liability, product liability, personal injury, medical malpractice, class actions, and economic loss cases throughout the United States.

eTWIST allows police officers to record and enter evidence data information at the crime scene.  Primary Marking, a St. Louis-based company, estimates that law enforcement agencies using eTWIST can save up to 50 man-hours each week.

The Maplewood Police Department, serving a suburb of St. Louis, and law enforcement agencies in Cold Spring, KY and Alexandria, KY. have ordered or currently utilize the high-tech tracking system.

eTWIST makes the work of any law enforcement, military or private enterprise that tracks chain of custody evidence easier. State and local law enforcement agencies may be able to apply for federal funding through the Byrne Justice Assistance Grant program to assist with purchasing technology.

eTWIST features Windows Mobile 5.0/6.1-based software that can be integrated with a Motorola mobile computing device. Using the system, officers can record evidence at the crime scene and generate RFID or bar code labels via a Zebra GX420t or RFID Printer. The information, including the case number, time, date and the officer’s department service number, uploads to a database. The labels or RFID help make tracking and protecting the evidence’s chain of custody easier. (patent pending)

For more information, visit www.primarymarking.com or contact P.J. McIntyre by calling 314-344-9178 or emailing at pmcintyre@primarymarking.com.