GKG Law frequently represents aircraft owners in contesting the validity of notices of liens filed with the FAA relating to their aircraft. Many aircraft owners face issues relating to FAA lien filings that create a “cloud” on the title to their aircraft. Often, such a cloud arises when vendors that have provided services relating to […]
The District of Columbia Office of Tax and Revenue (“OTR”) has become aggressive in challenging Taxpayer’s self-determinations that they are Qualified High Technology Companies (“QHTCs”) and thus exempt from the District of Columbia’s corporate franchise tax. GKG Law recently represented a Taxpayer who received a Notice of Proposed Assessment of Tax Deficiency (“Proposed Assessment”) against […]
GKG Law, P.C. recently successfully represented a non-vessel operating common carrier (NVOCC) in litigation in which the NVOCC's customer requested that another shipper be identified on the NVOCC's bills of lading while the goods were in transit. Subsequently, when the goods arrived at their destination and were unable to clear Customs because the goods were […]
In a case handled by GKG Law, the United States Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit recently held that contracts extending a non-vessel operating common carrier's (NVOCC's) common law maritime liens are enforceable as written. The decision is a major victory for NVOCCs and reinforces the benefit to carriers of utilizing expansive lien language […]
Carriers continue to pursue demurrage and detention claims against shippers and NVOCCs. Indeed, it appears that many carriers view demurrage and detention claims as profit centers in an otherwise difficult ocean transportation environment. In such an environment, it is important for NVOCCs to recognize that there are a variety of defenses against such potentially catastrophic […]
Recently one of our trade association clients learned that bankruptcies can be painful for creditors, sometime even years after the debtor files for bankruptcy. Our client only discovered that a judgment in excess of $86,000 had been entered against it as a result of a preference action (a suit by a debtor or its trustee […]
Carriers have recently escalated their efforts to recover demurrage claims against shippers and non‐vessel operating common carriers (NVOCCs). This places NVOCCs in a very difficult position as often NVOCCs are not able to prevent such demurrage and detention charges from continuing to accrue. For example, if Customs officials in China, India or elsewhere hold cargo for extended […]
Court Dismisses Demurrage Claim Against NVOCC
Your association may be compelled to provide confidential information to government agencies pursuant to a subpoena. How do you know that such information will not subsequently be disclosed to third parties and ultimately, the public at large, pursuant to a Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) request? While it may be impossible to guarantee that confidential information is […]
An association’s trademarks are usually among its most important assets. Nonetheless, in our practice we often find that associations are not doing everything they can to protect those valuable assets, particularly in light of the enhanced risks that arise with social media. This article briefly discusses the basics of trademark law and sets forth […]