June, 2008

Vermont Passes Law to Allow Digital Corporations and LLC's

On June 6, 2008, Governor James Douglas signed a new Vermont law which includes a number of provisions intended to authorize and encourage digital or virtual corporations and limited liability companies to organize in Vermont. To that end, the law is the first in the country to authorize companies to retain records in electronic form (with or without written hard copy), and to hold meetings and otherwise communicate with each other electronically. Peter Erly was actively involved in the passage of that legislation and is continuing to assist companies interested in taking advantage of these new digital business provisions.

June, 2008

Gravel and Shea Obtains Dismissal of Lawsuit Filed by Purchaser of Fake Artwork

The purchaser of a counterfeit Georgia O'Keeffe watercolor filed suit in New York against one of the nation's leading O'Keeffe experts, alleging fraud, negligent misrepresentation, breach of warranty, and six other claims. Representing the expert, Gravel and Shea litigator Andrew Manitsky moved to dismiss the complaint, arguing that the plaintiff did not have a valid claim under any of the nine legal theories alleged, and that, in any event, all claims were barred by applicable statutes of limitations. The U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York agreed with both arguments, and on June 2, 2008, issued a 38-page decision dismissing plaintiff's complaint in its entirety.