Scottsdale, Arizona - Titus, Brueckner, Levine & Johnson PC is pleased to announce it has joined the premier international network of law firms known as Legal Netlink Alliance.

This multi-discipline international network of law firms offers clients the personal touch and accountability one would expect from a mid-sized local law firm, with the resources of the larger international firms, but without the inherent inefficiencies, conflict issues and impersonal nature that characterizes many international law firms. Because the firms are independent, the needs and interests of their clients always come first. Legal Netlink Alliance allows firms to provide integrated, cost effective, high quality, personalized service.

Jon A. Titus, senior partner of Titus, Brueckner, Levine & Johnson PC, stated: "By joining this very important network, Titus, Brueckner, Levine & Johnson PC has access to resources which allow us to provide an even higher level of service to our client base, both nationally and internationally.”

Legal Netlink Alliance is an international organization of carefully selected mid-sized general-practice independent law firms. Comprised of over 95 law firms world-wide, these firms were chosen because of their track record of integrity and quality. Member firms are located in North America, South America, Europe, Asia and Mexico.

Titus, Brueckner, Levine & Johnson PC, is a mid-sized commercial law firm. Its practice areas include commercial litigation, business law, real estate, securities, intellectual property and estate planning. The firm recently celebrated its 20th anniversary of providing quality, results-oriented legal representation in a responsive and cost-effective manner.

Contact: Jon A. Titus
Email: jtitus@tbb-law.com

Social media like Facebook and Twitter are becoming more and more commonplace. Employers live in fear of a disgruntled ex-employee making anonymous posts on websites or chatrooms disparaging the company or its products. But what about the converse, the employee who is a bit too enthusiastic in touting his employer? The ubiquitous nature of social media presents ample opportunity for an employee's work-related conduct to appear in an electronic forum. Are there dangers that employers must address in controlling the employee's conduct in those forums?

Late last year, the Federal Trade Commission issued reformulated guidelines designed to protect consumers from deceptive endorsements and testimonials in advertising. The new guidelines extend to endorsements made on what the FTC refers to as the "new media", including blogs, Wiki's and social networking sites such as LinkedIn, Facebook and the like. Under these guidelines the FTC rules define an "endorsement" as "any advertising message. . .that consumers are likely to believe reflects the opinions, beliefs, findings or experiences of a party other than the sponsoring advertiser." Such endorsements may render an employer subject to liability for false or unsubstantiated statements, or for failing to disclose material connections between itself and the endorser. Indeed, if an employee's on-line statements on his or her blog or other social media site relates to the employer's products or services and do not disclose the employment relationship, the employer may be held liable for false or unsubstantiated statements, even though the employee's comments are not authorized or known by the employer.  The "rah rah" employee that raves about the company's products or services on his blog may unwittingly expose the employer to liability for violation of the FTC guidelines.

There may be a safe harbor, however. The FTC comments indicate that although they have brought several enforcement actions, no such actions had been initiated when a single employee acted contrary to established company policy. To take advantage of this safe harbor, an employer should establish a new company policy or revise existing policies to put its employees on notice of the need to use care in social media activities.

If you would like help in establishing such policies or with other employment law issues, please contact John R. Tellier at jtellier@tblj-law.com or call 480-483-9600.

The issue of illegal immigration is exploding on employers' doorsteps. We have all heard about Sheriff Arpaio's immigration sweeps and the Arizona statutes dealing with hiring unauthorized aliens. Now both Maricopa County prosecutors and federal agencies are stepping up their own enforcement.

• On November 18, 2009, the Maricopa County Attorney's Office filed the first employer-sanction case under Arizona's Legal Arizona Workers Act. Investigators reportedly employed undercover sting tactics against the accused Scottsdale business owner. An employer found guilty under this Act faces serious penalties, including suspended or revoked business licenses and/or monetary fines.

• On November 19, 2009, agents of the federal Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) issued Notices of Inspection to 1,000 companies nationwide, including 52 in Arizona, notifying employers that the federal government would immediately begin audits of employee records to confirm compliance with the federal employee-immigration laws. This announcement comes on the heels of a similar announcement on July 1, 2009, where ICE sent Notices of Inspection to 653 businesses nationwide, including more than 30 in Arizona. By comparison, only 503 Notices of Inspection were issued by ICE to businesses nationwide last year. ICE and the Obama administration have indicated that the federal government intends to continue pursuing these audits in an effort to aggressively crack down on the hiring of illegal immigrants in the United States.

Titus, Brueckner, Levine & Johnson PC continues to monitor both state and federal actions regarding employee-immigration laws. We stand ready to advise our employer clients of necessary precautions to avoid violating either state or federal hiring regulations. In light of this increased enforcement, compliance in hiring is more critical than ever. Just as important, employers must be prepared to respond properly when issues arise after the initial hiring decision.

The experienced employment law attorneys at Titus, Brueckner, Levine & Johnson PC can assist employers with compliance procedures, responding to Notices of Inspection or defending against enforcement actions.  Employers with questions regarding employee-immigration audits or who wish to ensure their businesses are in compliance with state and federal employee-immigration laws, should contact us at 480-483-9600 to be put in touch with one of our employment law attorneys.

Scottsdale, Arizona -- Titus, Brueckner, Levine & Johnson PC is pleased to announce the recent closings of two substantial merger and acquisition deals in August and September. In August, Westinghouse Electric Company, LLC acquired CS Innovations, LLC, a Scottsdale based company that provides digital safety systems for nuclear plants. In September, Harris Private Bank acquired Stoker Ostler Wealth Advisors, Inc., a Scottsdale based investment advisory and financial planning services firm that is one of the largest independent advisory firms in Maricopa County. Kurt M. Brueckner and Todd M. Johnson of Titus, Brueckner, Levine & Johnson PC helped negotiate and successfully close these transactions for CS Innovations and Stoker Ostler.

Todd M. Johnson of Titus, Brueckner, Levine & Johnson PC stated: "The recent acquisitions of CS Innovations and Stoker Ostler by large, national companies is not only a testament to the value created by the principals of CS Innovation and Stoker Ostler, but also reflective of the potential for renewed growth in the Arizona economy. Proactive companies are often the best positioned to benefit during an economic recovery. Large investments by national companies in Arizona businesses reflects a belief that the Arizona economy is poised for growth."

Titus, Brueckner, Levine & Johnson PC, is a mid-sized commercial law firm that has significant experience in merger and acquisition deals of all sizes. Its other practice areas include commercial litigation, business law, real estate, securities, intellectual property and estate planning. The firm recently celebrated its 20th anniversary of providing quality, results-oriented legal representation in a responsive and cost-effective manner.