| CA: State Law Banning Forced Arbitration Preempted
The Federal Arbitration Act preempts a California law that bars enforcement of predispute arbitration agreements in construction and design defect disputes, the Third District Court of Appeal has ruled. The justices Thursday reversed an El Dorado Superior Court judges ruling that John T. Shepard could not be forced to arbitrate with the builder of his house in the Cottonwood Park development in Placerville. Shepard claims that a plumbing pipe installed by Edward Mackay Enterprises, Inc. and Cottonwood Development and their subcontractor, Gary Lewis Construction, leaked and damaged his house and possessions. The defendants asked Judge Suzanne Kingsbury to compel Shepard to comply with a binding arbitration clause in the real estate purchase agreement. Shepard opposed the motion on the basis of Code of Civil Procedure Sec.
Sex education in schools most effective when students have right ...
It can be a positive way of dealing with sexuality as a well thought out choice regarding one's body, mind, spirit and sexual health."
Students should know about their right to choose and what options they have to stay safe. Whether students intend on engaging in premarital sex, they should be provided with information that will allow them to have a healthy attitude about sex even if they do wait until their wedding night.
Hayley Freeman is a freshman English major from Fort Worth. Her column appears Wednesdays.
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Touts Karol's Experience
This is the time of year when this publication is filled with letters of support for various candidates for school board elections. As a former member of the East Williston Board of Education, I have a unique perspective on the traits necessary to make an individual an effective school board member. As a parent who has completed the entire K through 12 cycle, I have witnessed our educational programming at each grade level. As a taxpaying citizen and self-employed businessman, I am acutely aware of taxes and the cost of maintaining qualified and dedicated employees and the need to keep those costs in check. The East Williston School District is in a period of great transition. A new superintendent has recently been selected. A new middle school principal search has been launched.
Tax ruling may decide Shin verdict
Former central bank governor M.R. Chatumongol Sonakul's confirmation yesterday that shares transferred from a company to its staff should be tax-liable _ when he cited a past Revenue Department ruling _ means the ruling will likely be used as a yardstick for judging the Shin Corp-Ample Rich share transaction case. M.R. Chatumongol was commenting after he testified in his capacity as former director of the Revenue Department to the Assets Scrutiny Committee (ASC) inquiry into the case yesterday. The panel had sought his confirmation on the Revenue Department's ruling, which was made in 1995. Under the ruling, capital gains tax would be imposed on shares given as gifts and on those sold at below market price. M.R. Chatumongol said some people had attempted to exploit legal loopholes to evade tax liabilities by transferring shares to individuals.
BSC/ Sodexho set to start negotiation process
With the binding contract between Bridgewater State College and Sodexho set to expire in 2008, negotiations are set to begin sometime next semester.
"We will know more about this process in the fall," said Margarita Vieira, Director of Administration Support Services. "We would like to have a plan in place before the old plan expires."
The pervious contract was a 10-year contract that was renewed with Sodexho in 1998. Since the college has had a vender, it has always used Sodexho or another subsidiary of the same company. A committee will most likely be formed to take a look at whether there will be a new contract, whether the college will keep the same vendor, and what might need to change with the existing contract. If any contract is made in the near future it will most likely be a multi-year contract.
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