February 2010

Bring Your Gun to Work Day?
We've All Heard of "Bring Your Child to Work Day."
But What About Your Gun?

         You may recall a few weeks ago, Washington Wizards star basketball player Gilbert Arenas pleaded guilty to gun charges after he took his handgun into the team's locker room.  What if Arenas had been in Indiana and had left his Smith and Wesson in his car?  A potential new law that just passed both houses of the Indiana General Assembly would make "take your gun to work day" a right for almost every employee in Indiana - and a potential nightmare for Indiana employers.

         Read the entire article about possible legislation regarding firearms at the workplace.

Indiana Court of Appeals Clarifies Statutes of Limitation
Applicable in Construction Matters

         A recent Indiana Court of Appeals case considered what statute of limitation is applicable to an owner's defect claim against a construction manager at risk, ultimately holding that a 10 year statute of limitation for an action related to a written contract applied.  However, there is uncertainty regarding what statute of limitation applies to claims made by an owner against other project participants such as architects, agency construction managers, and inspectors, and these uncertainties should be taken into account both during contract negotiations and when claims arise.

         Read the entire article about statutes of limitation in construction matters.

Welfare Law Changes Impacting Employers and Retirement Systems in 2010

         While employers and retirement systems are attentively watching to see whether and how Congress will move forward with federal health care reform, there are several welfare laws that have already been enacted that impact group health plans in 2010.  For your convenience, Ice Miller has prepared a summary chart on the recent welfare developments affecting employers and retirement systems, including governmental employers.  This chart provides information on several new welfare laws, including the COBRA subsidy, the Genetic Information Nondiscrimination Act and the new Mental Health Parity rules.

         If you would like assistance reviewing your group health plans for compliance with any of the new welfare laws summarized on the welfare law chart, please contact an Ice Miller Employee Benefits attorney.

This publication is intended for general information purposes only and does not and is not intended to constitute legal advice. The reader must consult with legal counsel to determine how laws or decisions discussed herein apply to the reader's specific circumstances.