(United States Second Circuit) - Held that an insurance company did not have to arbitrate a former employee's claims before the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA), an entity with which the company had severed ties. The FINRA arbitration code no longer applied to the company, even though the employee had once been registered as a securities industry representative of the company.

(United States Seventh Circuit) - Held that a policyholder who successfully sued a life insurance company was not entitled to an award of attorney fees. Reversed the fee award, in this diversity jurisdiction case.

(United States Fifth Circuit) - Held that an insurance company did not abuse its discretion in denying disability benefits to an attorney who stopped working due to intractable migraines. Affirmed the judgment below in this ERISA case.

(United States Seventh Circuit) - In a dispute over life insurance coverage, held that a policy exclusion was applicable because a man's death from engaging in an act known as autoerotic asphyxiation qualified as intentionally self-inflicted injury.

(California Court of Appeal) - Upheld the constitutionality of a recently enacted California statute that effectively bans the importation and sale of ivory and rhinoceros horn. Affirmed judgment on the pleadings against the Ivory Education Institute's lawsuit, which contended that the statute is unconstitutionally vague on its face.

(California Court of Appeal) - Rejected an environmental group's challenge to the issuance of a revised permit for a landfill. Affirmed the denial of writ relief.

(United States Ninth Circuit) - In an amended opinion in a Freedom of Information Act case, held that the Sierra Club was entitled to certain records generated during the Environmental Protection Agency's rule-making process concerning cooling water intake structures. However, other records were protected from public release by the deliberative process privilege. Reversed in part and remanded.

(United States Third Circuit) - Reinstated a medical device seller's claim that certain Blue Cross Blue Shield health insurance companies violated antitrust law by unreasonably restraining trade in the national market for outpatient cardiac monitors. The seller of a cardiac monitoring device contended that it was shut out of the market because the defendants conspired to deny insurance coverage for its product to shield themselves from patient demand for it. Holding that the seller stated a claim under section 1 of the Sherman Act, the Third Circuit reversed dismissal of the complaint and remanded for further proceedings.

Dynamic Interviews With Ordinary People Doing Extraordinary Things

Prayer and a ministry of presence can make an eternal difference.

My grandmother died ten days ago. She was 88 years old. By all accounts she had lived a colorful life, with three husbands, three children, six grandchildren, and seven great-grandchildren. She routinely stated her intention to live another decade. Even though her body was failing her through arthritis and muscle loss, she hadn’t lost her desire to live, to see those great-grandchildren grow up, to enjoy the daffodils in April. But when she was diagnosed with colon cancer in early January and decided not to put herself through surgery, she knew her days were numbered, and she started to prepare to die.

Much has been written of late about the problems with end-of-life care in America. In an earlier post (Have Christians Made an Idol of Life?) I wrote about Ezekiel Emanuel’s argument that Americans should aspire to die around age 75. For many Americans, the final years are a series of financially debilitating medical decisions that—more importantly—result in suffering for patient and family members alike. Many studies have shown that doctors aren’t well-equipped to talk about death with patients, and often physicians suggest further treatments even when they know it will not serve the patient well. For the alleviation of physical suffering and financial burden, a national conversation about health care and end-of-life care has begun. (See, for instance Dying Shouldn’t Be So Brutal in the New York Times, The Ultimate End-of-Life Plan in the Wall Street Journal, and More on Faith and Life Care here in Christianity Today.)

In my grandmother’s case, good health insurance, financial plenty, devoted family members, and a daughter who had worked for years as an oncology nurse secured ...

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(United States Second Circuit) - Held that an insurance company did not have to arbitrate a former employee's claims before the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA), an entity with which the company had severed ties. The FINRA arbitration code no longer applied to the company, even though the employee had once been registered as a securities industry representative of the company.

Six keys to being more productive in life and ministry.

Pastors have a lot going on. We have to be present mentally, emotionally, and physically in many circumstances throughout each week. We often have families that are, or should be, a priority. We have responsibilities that pull us in many directions daily.

As the lead pastor for a church as well as a speaker, author, and doctoral student, I’m often asked, “Pastor, what is the key to your productivity?” Here are some principles I like to remember in order to be productive and try to maximize my God-given potential.

1. Know your calling

We are all first called to receive, embrace, and live from the life of God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit. In response to the love of God, through the Holy Spirit’s power, we grow in our love for God.

For me, after that, I am called to love my wife and then my children.

I am called to serve and shepherd Transformation Church.

I am called to influence and encourage other pastors.

I am called to be an author.

I am called to complete a doctorate in the New Testament in context.

The specifics of your calling will differ, but by knowing and stewarding our callings, we can be free of the “tyranny of the urgent.” Once we clearly define our priorities, then if it’s not on that list, we really need to consider if it’s the best use of our time and other resources.

2. Simplify and declutter your life

A lack of productivity in people’s lives is often the result of not knowing our calling and having a cluttered life, filled with activities but not production.

In our 21st-century world, choices are everywhere, and we often clutter our lives with too many options because we are afraid we are going to miss out on something. ...

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Release Of Brand New Single "I'm A Lady That's Redneck Crazy" To All Digital Platforms And Country Radio

He now urges people to be careful and to stay home. “I hear your frustration,” he said of those protesting to restart the economy, “but what good is all the things you’re protesting for if you’re dead?”

The first time I smoked a cigarette, I was 14 years old. By the time I was an adult, I was smoking two packs a day. I tried the nicotine patch, gum, and even Chantix, the pharmaceutical drug, to quit smoking cigarettes. None of these worked. I’m embarrassed to say that I even tried hypnosis. It wasn’t until I tried vaping as an adult that I was able to find a solution and quit smoking those dreadful cigarettes. Vaping was so effective, I quit smoking cigarettes in one weekend after 20 years of addictive cigarette smoking. I’m one of the 350,000 Coloradans and one of approximate 13 million responsible adults in America who have used vaping products to quit smoking more harmful cigarettes.

(United States Third Circuit) - Reinstated a medical device seller's claim that certain Blue Cross Blue Shield health insurance companies violated antitrust law by unreasonably restraining trade in the national market for outpatient cardiac monitors. The seller of a cardiac monitoring device contended that it was shut out of the market because the defendants conspired to deny insurance coverage for its product to shield themselves from patient demand for it. Holding that the seller stated a claim under section 1 of the Sherman Act, the Third Circuit reversed dismissal of the complaint and remanded for further proceedings.

(United States Fifth Circuit) - In the bankruptcy proceeding of an investment business that had committed securities fraud, revived some of the bankruptcy trustee's claims against individuals and entities that referred potential investors in exchange for sales commissions. Reversed a dismissal in relevant part.

(United States Fourth Circuit) - Affirmed that an insurance company did not improperly terminate an individual's long-term disability benefits. A former medical transcriptionist who had stopped working due to pain in his forearm and wrist that prevented him from typing argued that he was still disabled, as that term was used in his employee welfare benefit plan. However, the district court found no evidence that the insurer's decision to discontinue his benefits was unreasonable, and the Fourth Circuit affirmed the dismissal of his ERISA action.

At The Movies, the band featuring vocalist Björn “Speed” Strid (Soilwork, The Night Flight Orchestra), guitarist Chris Laney (Randy Piper’s...

The post AT THE MOVIES (SOILWORK, KING DIAMOND) Covers "(I've Had) The Time Of My Life" appeared first on Metal Injection.

The Colorado Parks and Wildlife Commission vote 8 - 3 Thursday in favor of approving a ban on organized wildlife contests.

(United States Third Circuit) - Reinstated a medical device seller's claim that certain Blue Cross Blue Shield health insurance companies violated antitrust law by unreasonably restraining trade in the national market for outpatient cardiac monitors. The seller of a cardiac monitoring device contended that it was shut out of the market because the defendants conspired to deny insurance coverage for its product to shield themselves from patient demand for it. Holding that the seller stated a claim under section 1 of the Sherman Act, the Third Circuit reversed dismissal of the complaint and remanded for further proceedings.

Van lifers are used to wandering the roads. But now, they're stuck in one spot -- and trying to not draw attention to themselves.

Coronavirus has turned life upside-down, but Coloradans found alternative ways to celebrate in the here-and-now.

Van lifers are used to wandering the roads. But now, they're stuck in one spot -- and trying to not draw attention to themselves.

Jennifer Page jokes that four months in, this decade is already the worst of her life.

These are all programmable organisms called xenobots, the creation of which was revealed in a scientific paper in January.

Glimmers of normal life twinkled ever so faintly in parts of Colorado on Monday as the state became one of the first in the country to lift its stay-at-home order.

Kirk Franklin is in his own lane of gospel!

Nicki Micheaux calls her fans to volunteer with her!

Check out The Walls Group's latest video.

“This first issue is all about presence and gratitude.”

She said actor Pierce Brosnan prevented her from choking.

She says she's doing something she's "always wanted to do."

Find out how artists prepare to perform on the main stage!

The 2019 BET Awards honors Grammy winner Mary J. Blige.

Mary J. Blige receives the Lifetime Achievement Award.

Listen to this woman sang!

It just got real.

It just got real.

A hotshot banker returns to the small town she left behind.

A hotshot banker returns to the small town she left behind.

The 20-year-old was fatally shot on February 19.

A look at the personal photos recently shared by Bey.

Demonstrators gathered after the death of Sean Reed

Phillip Spruill Jr.'s family speaks out about his suicide.

Mary J. Blige receives the Lifetime Achievement Award.

The actors discuss how they're spending their time at home.

Demonstrators gathered after the death of Sean Reed