Florida OFR Claims Marijuana and Virtual Currency Are “Emerging Threats”
Florida Office of Financial Regulation recently released a consumer publication, Fast Facts, which claimed that medical marijuana and virtual currency (bitcoins) were “emerging threats” in terms of investments. The pamphlet does not state the factual or anecdotal basis for those statements. The Fast Facts pamphlet is here. See page 9. …
Christopher Hopkins Speaks At Miami Bitcoin – Regulatory Panel (TNABC)
The North American Bitcoin Conference was held in Miami Beach this weekend and included a discussion of regulatory issues among attorneys Jacob Farber, Kathryn Haun, Christopher Hopkins, Andrew Ittleman, and Marco Santori as well as non-lawyers Perianne Boring and Australian Senator Sam Dastyari. One topic that was stressed was that …
Can Your Client Legally Fly a Drone?
Drones were apparently the popular holiday gift last month — to the point that the FAA issued special guidance for new flyers. “Can Your Client Legally Fly a Drone?” is from the January 2015 Palm Beach Bar Bulletin and explains the trial ruling in the Pirker case and some of the …
Florida Virtual Currency “Fibonacci” Lawsuit
As reported on Coindesk, we have filed suit on behalf of two defrauded purchasers against the “Fibonacci” manufacturing and mining organization (see Coindesk.com, “Florida Group Faces Fraud Charges for Alleged Altcoin Pump and Dump,” December 17, 2014). You can read their excellent coverage here. A copy of the lawsuit …
Legal Ethics – Check Your iOS 8 Privacy Settings
Lawyers (and other professionals) have ethical obligations to reasonably know about the technology they use — and ensure that communications are confidential and protected. This article from the December 2014 Palm Beach Bar Journal explains a dozen privacy settings for your iPhone or iPad which should increase your security.
How Jurors and Lawyers Use Social Media and Technology
Lawyers are ethically required to stay competent with emerging technology that impacts their practice. You need confidential communications. You need to know how to research. This article, How Jurors and Lawyers Use Social Media and Technology, discusses how the average juror is using the internet AND explains what your …
Florida Lawyer’s Guide to Marijuana Laws
Floridians will vote this November on Amendment 2, relating to Use of Marijuana for Certain Medical Conditions. Just this past June, Governor Scott signed the Compassionate Medical Cannabis Act into law. How does the interplay between state and federal drug laws work? This article (here) from the October 2014 …
FTC v. Butterfly Labs: Complaint and Response
The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) filed suit against bitcoin-mining hardware manufacturer, BF Labs, Inc. d/b/a Butterfly Labs, on September 15, 2014 alleging misrepresentations and deceptive omissions regarding the marketing and manufacturing of the BitForce and Monarch mining machines. Among other relief, the suit seeks temporary and permanent injunctions as well …
US v. Faiella and Shrem – Ruling on Bitcoin as “Money” or “Funds”
It has been widely reported that bitcoin entrepreneur Charlie Shrem is going to agree to a plea deal. There has been less coverage, however, regarding the Judge’s August 18, 2014 Order. This Order is important to the US v. Faiella and Shrem case because the defendants lost their argument that bitcoin …
Can a Florida Lawyer Advise a Client About Medical Marijuana?
This November, Florida voters will consider whether to legalize medical marijuana. If so, Florida would join several states which have allowed recreational and/or medical cannabis cultivation, distribution, and use. But it remains illegal under federal law. Can lawyers advise their clients about a marijuana business which is legal under …
Technology and iOS Apps for Mediators
Thanks to the Florida Dispute Resolution Center for inviting me to speak at the 22nd Annual Conference this year in Orlando. The materials from the presentation are here. The Adobe Voice presentation about mediation is here.
One Year After Snowden: How Safe Are Your Calls and Emails?
Back in April 2014, I spoke to the Palm Beach Chamber of Commerce about the security of emails and phone communications in the business world (materials are here). This article, “One Year After Snowden: How Safe Are Your Calls and Emails?,” summarizes the key Snowden disclosures over the last year …
Getting to Know Florida Medical Marijuana / Cannabis Laws
A Google Trend report shows that “Florida Medical Marijuana” has generated massive attention since 2013. I attended a recent Florida Cannabis Coalition meeting and, while the speakers were good, the attendees seemed uneducated (case in point, people literally got up and left when they heard about the $150,000 application …
Deleting versus Deactiving Facebook
With the revelation that Facebook is tracking users across the web, even if you log off, I have deleted my Facebook account. Yes, deleted. Not just deactivated. You can “deactivate” your Facebook account and it disappears from sight but it is still there in the Facebook vault, ready for …
In Re Erik T. Voorhees (settlement): Not Really a Bitcoin Case
The hot bitcoin-related story involves the settlement between the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) and bitcoin-advocate, Erik T. Voorhees. This case involves bitcoin but is not about bitcoin. Stated differently, this case is not an attack on bitcoin. It simply involves charges of a crime unrelated to the virtual currency …