Stick It Where the Sun Don’t Shine: Land Use Challenges Siting Large-Scale Ground-Mounted Solar Projects
Federal and state authorities throughout the country have adopted pro-renewable energy policy goals to promote the growth of alternative energy sources using climate-friendly technologies. With the passage of the Inflation Reduction Act, the federal government has encouraged substantial investment in the expansion of renewable energy resources in the United States. On the state level, different…
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Farmer Designation in Rhode Island Bears Fruit Via Relaxed Land Use Rules
It’s no secret that regulation, especially regulation pertaining to land and land development, is rapidly changing in Rhode Island. While being a farmer, developer, open space cultivator, or general owner of property in the state comes with its unique challenges, there are certain privileges available to landowners if they are willing to follow the advice…
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How You Can ‘Stop the Clock’ Against Claims of Adverse Possession
For most Rhode Islanders, there is no more exciting feat in their lives than when they can finally become homeowners. A home is often the largest investment many citizens make in their lifetime, so the gravity of the purchase is well warranted. Purchasing property comes with many complex aspects, some of which are extraordinarily easy…
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The Paperwork Curbing Enthusiasm for College Football Realignment
College athletics — more specifically, college football — has become a media behemoth over the past two decades. Competition has always been fierce on the field, but with millions of dollars in broadcasting revenue in the balance, competition has intensified off the field for many programs as they look for avenues to increase their annual…
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Proposed SEC Rules Aim at Putting Private Funds More in Public View
Whether everyday Americans saving for retirement, college tuition, or their forever homes know it or not, there’s a chance that their money is tied, directly or indirectly, to private funds[1]. Moreover, those Americans probably don’t consider themselves investors in private funds and likely view private fund investors as ultra-high net worth individuals and institutional investors.…
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Upcoming Data Privacy Laws a Reminder to be All Over Your Map
Much like the beginning of 2023, when two new state data privacy acts went into effect, the midpoint of 2023 will feature two more state data privacy acts coming onto the books. On July 1, 2023, the Colorado Privacy Act (“CPA”) and the Connecticut Data Privacy Act (“CDPA”) become effective, and those states join California…
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Not Theirs for the Taking: SCOTUS Rebuffs County’s Full Property Seizure
From Cicero’s De Officiis to the Magna Carta and the homesteaders of 1862 to the millennials of 2023, humankind has long recognized the importance of a place to call home. Codified in the Fifth Amendment (“…nor shall private property be taken for public use, without just compensation”) and bolstered by over 200 years of case…
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Ed Sheeran’s Court Victory Adds Important Layer to Copyright Law
After almost five years of litigation, British singer-songwriter Ed Sheeran pulled out all the stops (and his guitar) to obtain victory over claims his 2014 song “Thinking Out Loud” infringed on the copyrights held by the estate of Ed Townsend, who co-wrote Marvin Gaye’s 1973 hit “Let’s Get it On.”[1] The lawsuit alleged that Sheeran…
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Potential Changes Threaten Estate Planning Strategies, Create Urgency to Act
Actor Will Rogers is widely credited with stating that “the only difference between death and taxes is that death doesn’t get worse every time Congress meets.” While most taxpayers fear tax laws changing for the worse, estate and gift taxation has only grown more favorable to taxpayers over the last decade despite very public opposition.…
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New Rules Aim to Make SBA Loans More Accessible, Abundant, and Better
The United States Small Business Administration (“SBA”) oversees two loan programs that are intended to benefit small business owners and promote employment. The programs, known as the 7(a) Loan Program and Section 504 Loan Program, serve different purposes. 7(a) loans are intended to provide funding for short and long-term working capital, for purchases of furniture,…
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