Morrison

Jury Finds Montana Law Firm Liable for $1.5 Million in Malicious Prosecution Claims

Retrieved on: 
Tuesday, May 2, 2023

KALISPELL, Mont., May 2, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Following a five-day trial and five hours of deliberation, a Flathead County jury has found that a local law firm acted maliciously and recklessly in pursuing a bank fraud claim against a West Glacier-based mortgage broker. The jury awarded Deanna McAtee a total of $1.499 million in compensatory and punitive damages against the firm of Morrison & Frampton, PLLP for initiating fraudulent accusations against her more than a decade ago. 

Key Points: 
  • The jury awarded Deanna McAtee a total of $1.499 million in compensatory and punitive damages against the firm of Morrison & Frampton, PLLP for initiating fraudulent accusations against her more than a decade ago.
  • In that case, Morrison & Frampton represented the Whitefish Credit Union, which alleged that in 2008 Ms. McAtee had defaulted on a $523,000 loan to complete a residential construction project.
  • When Ms. McAtee foreclosed on the original borrowers, as directed by the credit union, and obtained a loan from another source to complete construction, the law firm filed a civil complaint against her in 2011.
  • In the verdict issued on the evening of April 28, the jury found that the law firm did not have probable cause to pursue the fraud claims and acted with malice in filing and maintaining those claims, based on the evidence.

Vantem Acquires Affinity Building Systems, Expands U.S. Footprint

Retrieved on: 
Tuesday, May 2, 2023

Today, Vantem , a next-gen modular technology company, announced the acquisition of Lakeland, GA-based Affinity Building Systems , a leading modular home manufacturer serving the Southeast.

Key Points: 
  • Today, Vantem , a next-gen modular technology company, announced the acquisition of Lakeland, GA-based Affinity Building Systems , a leading modular home manufacturer serving the Southeast.
  • Affinity joins Vantem as a well-respected, successful builder of high-quality, customizable modular homes.
  • Once implemented, Vantem’s technology will allow Affinity to expand its portfolio with well-priced, higher energy-efficiency homes that are more hurricane and climate resistant.
  • “We look forward to building on the Affinity team’s success, integrating Vantem’s technology for higher energy efficiency and climate resiliency at competitive costs.

The Universities Accord should scrap Job-ready Graduates and create a new multi-rate system for student fees

Retrieved on: 
Monday, May 1, 2023

A review team is due to finish a draft report in June and a final report in December 2023.

Key Points: 
  • A review team is due to finish a draft report in June and a final report in December 2023.
  • The university fees (known as “student contributions”) paid by most domestic undergraduates are a difficult issue for the Universities Accord review.
  • A multi-rate student contribution system – with the aim of making average student debt repayment times similar across different courses – would be more politically acceptable.

Current student contributions

    • The Morrison government’s Job-ready Graduates policy set current student contributions in 2021.
    • For subjects the government deemed “job ready” or “national priorities,” student contributions were lowered to attract students.
    • These student contributions are added to federal government subsidies called “Commonwealth contributions”, which also vary by discipline, to create a total funding rate received by universities.

What are university groups calling for?

    • Two university lobby groups, the Group of Eight (which includes the University of Melbourne and University of Sydney) and the Australian Technology Network (which includes Curtin, Deakin and RMIT universities), want a single student contribution rate regardless of subjects taken.
    • Before the Job-ready Graduates scheme was introduced, student contributions were roughly linked to future expected earnings in a similar way.

My submission to the Universities Accord

    • But student interests, and within those interests employment prospects and expected salaries, are the main drivers of course choices.
    • My submission to the Universities Accord review focused on practical consequences for students, the government and universities.

Consequences for students

    • Students in longer courses would pay more in total, but final HELP debts on completion would be more similar across courses than under Job-ready Graduates or the previous student contribution system.
    • In practice, however, the same debt has different on-average consequences depending on degree taken.
    • Annual HELP debt repayments are based on the debtor’s income, so students with degrees leading to better-paid occupations make more annual progress towards paying off their HELP debt.
    • For example, before Job-ready Graduates law students were charged more than humanities students, but graduates from both fields on average took nine years to repay their HELP debt.

Consequences for government

    • HELP debt costs the government money as well as students.
    • Normally the government incurs interest subsidy costs, calculated as the difference between what it costs the government to borrow money in the bond markets and the CPI-linked indexation rate.
    • Not all HELP debtors repay, with 15% of new debt estimated to be eventually written off at taxpayer expense.

Consequences for universities

    • For universities, the total funding rate matters more than how it is divided between Commonwealth and student contributions.
    • But student contributions matter independently in one specific set of circumstances: when universities “over-enrol”.
    • Universities would lose money if they over-enrol in these courses, discouraging them from offering more student places.

The politics of single rate student contributions

    • A flat student contribution that left the government and universities in the same financial position as now would be about $10,000 per year for a full-time student.
    • $10,000 is more than double what teaching and nursing students pay now.
    • Based on 2021 enrolment data, a flat student contribution would, on average, lead to women paying slightly more than under Job-ready Graduates.

What now?


    A flat rate student contribution would be simple and improve on Job-ready Graduates for universities and students in high student contribution courses. But a three or four-tier student contribution system would do more to equalise repayment burdens between students. It would be fairer overall, and politically easier for the government to sell.

With the COVID crisis easing, is the National Cabinet still fit for purpose?

Retrieved on: 
Friday, April 28, 2023

The establishment of the National Cabinet in March 2020, which brought together the prime minister, state premiers and territory chief ministers to coordinate the national response to the COVID pandemic, played into this strength.

Key Points: 
  • The establishment of the National Cabinet in March 2020, which brought together the prime minister, state premiers and territory chief ministers to coordinate the national response to the COVID pandemic, played into this strength.
  • Compared to other intergovernmental forums, the National Cabinet was designed to be nimble, decisive and not weighed down by bureaucracy.
  • However, three years on, and with the pressing nature of the pandemic easing, it’s time to rethink the National Cabinet.

1. An informal approach is no longer sustainable

    • While the current model for National Cabinet worked well at the height of the pandemic, the same approach is not ideal today.
    • Since the abolition of the Council of Australian Governments (COAG) in 2020, National Cabinet has served as the primary forum for Australia’s leaders to meet and consider important issues facing the country.

2. The veil of secrecy must be lifted

    • Federal Court Justice Richard White held that simply naming the institution a “cabinet” did not automatically grant it confidentiality.
    • Read more:
      Morrison government loses fight for national cabinet secrecy

      But even after that decision, both the Morrison and Albanese governments have refused Freedom of Information requests for National Cabinet documents.

    • Adding in a policy of blanket secrecy about National Cabinet further constrains our ability to hold governments accountable and undermines public trust.
    • Read more:
      Nowhere to hide: the significance of national cabinet not being a cabinet

3. National Cabinet must have a true federal-state balance

    • If the National Cabinet is to succeed into the future, its participants must be committed to the aims of federalism.
    • Any reform of National Cabinet should ensure it is a truly federal body.
    • These issues remain a challenge to fostering greater equality in the National Cabinet and optimising our federation to the greatest advantage.

Where to from here?

    • But the transition from COAG to the National Cabinet was so swift, there was no opportunity to develop a truly workable, sustainable model.
    • The National Cabinet has an opportunity to learn from the deficits of COAG and create a lasting model of federal cooperation and achievement.

Will a preoccupation with party unity destroy the Liberal Party?

Retrieved on: 
Wednesday, April 26, 2023

The original Liberal Party was created from a fusion of the Protectionist and Free Trade parties in 1910.

Key Points: 
  • The original Liberal Party was created from a fusion of the Protectionist and Free Trade parties in 1910.
  • It was officially named the Liberal Party, with Alfred Deakin as its leader, in 1913.
  • Lyons “knew how to win elections” said former National Party prime minister, Stanley Bruce, but was bereft of policy initiative and struggled to maintain party discipline.
  • It would take wholesale party reform and a revitalisation of the liberal message, led by Robert Menzies, for it to re-emerge as the Liberal Party that won government in 1949 and held office for 23 years.
  • Is current intra-party contention of a scale that saw the implosion of the UAP and the creation of the modern Liberal Party?
  • The republic issue, championed by Labor prime minister Paul Keating in the 1990s, looked likely to cause division with the Liberal Party.
  • Indeed, Howard used the occasion to underline, as he often did, that the Liberal Party was a “broad church”.

FHU College of Business Students Receive Academic, Performance Awards

Retrieved on: 
Wednesday, April 26, 2023

HENDERSON, Tenn., April 25, 2023 /PRNewswire-PRWeb/ -- The Freed-Hardeman University College of Business hosted a luncheon and awards presentation Tuesday, April 18, 2023, to recognize graduating senior business majors for their academic achievement and leadership in various disciplines. In addition to the achievement awards, the college announced the students set to receive the Sewell Scholarship for the 2023-24 academic year.

Key Points: 
  • HENDERSON, Tenn., April 25, 2023 /PRNewswire-PRWeb/ -- The Freed-Hardeman University College of Business hosted a luncheon and awards presentation Tuesday, April 18, 2023, to recognize graduating senior business majors for their academic achievement and leadership in various disciplines.
  • In addition to the achievement awards, the college announced the students set to receive the Sewell Scholarship for the 2023-24 academic year.
  • Special guest speakers were Susan Edmonds, widow of Jim Edmonds, and Brian White, a member of the FHU College of Business Advisory Council.
  • "We are proud of all our graduates — including the top award recipients — because of their hard work and integrity," said Matt Vega, dean of the FHU College of Business.

EQS-News: Dr. Anna Catharina Wolschner joins Cherry SE as General Counsel

Retrieved on: 
Monday, April 24, 2023

Munich, April 24, 2023 – As of May 1, 2023, Dr. Anna Catharina Wolschner will take over the management of the newly created legal department at Cherry SE [ISIN: DE000A3CRRN9] as General Counsel.

Key Points: 
  • Munich, April 24, 2023 – As of May 1, 2023, Dr. Anna Catharina Wolschner will take over the management of the newly created legal department at Cherry SE [ISIN: DE000A3CRRN9] as General Counsel.
  • "As part of the ongoing international expansion of Cherry SE with its strong brand profile, a diverse product assortment and multi-channel distribution both in B2B and B2C, we are very pleased to have gained Dr. Anna Catharina Wolschner as General Counsel, an experienced manager with broad legal expertise in external legal advice as well as across industries," commented Oliver Kaltner, CEO of Cherry SE.
  • Dr. Anna Catharina Wolschner is a legal executive with proven experience as general counsel in various legal fields.
  • "I am thrilled to assume the role of General Counsel for this esteemed company," said Dr. Anna Catharina Wolschner.

Staffbase Builds on Strong Growth with Trio of C-Suite Hires

Retrieved on: 
Thursday, April 20, 2023

Strategic hires come at a key moment in Staffbase's journey and will help the company take things to the next level.

Key Points: 
  • Strategic hires come at a key moment in Staffbase's journey and will help the company take things to the next level.
  • "It's great to see how far Staffbase has come on our journey to helping companies around the world improve communication and engagement with their employees," said Dr. Martin Böhringer, CEO of Staffbase.
  • Representing the company's growth and progress, Staffbase also announced today three executive new hires.
  • With the appointment of Patel, Morrison, and Burnand, Staffbase further strengthens its executive team and is well-positioned to continue its growth trajectory.

Staffbase Builds on Strong Growth with Trio of C-Suite Hires

Retrieved on: 
Thursday, April 20, 2023

The company also announced the expansion of its executive team with three C-Suite level new hires.

Key Points: 
  • The company also announced the expansion of its executive team with three C-Suite level new hires.
  • "It's great to see how far Staffbase has come on our journey to helping companies around the world improve communication and engagement with their employees," said Dr. Martin Böhringer, CEO of Staffbase.
  • Representing the company's growth and progress, Staffbase also announced today three executive new hires.
  • With the appointment of Patel, Morrison, and Burnand, Staffbase further strengthens its executive team and is well-positioned to continue its growth trajectory.

IFF Mourns the Passing of Board Chair Dale F. Morrison

Retrieved on: 
Wednesday, April 12, 2023

With heavy hearts and deep sadness, IFF (NYSE: IFF) shares the recent passing of Dale F. Morrison, Chair of the IFF Board.

Key Points: 
  • With heavy hearts and deep sadness, IFF (NYSE: IFF) shares the recent passing of Dale F. Morrison, Chair of the IFF Board.
  • Morrison served more than a decade as a member of the IFF Board, including as Chair since February 2022.
  • He worked closely with IFF’s leadership team and Board to oversee a period of growth as IFF solidified its essential role in the CPG value chain.
  • Morrison notified IFF earlier this year of his intent to retire from the Board at the 2023 Annual Shareholder Meeting, due to health reasons, and Roger W. Ferguson, Jr., current member of the IFF Board, succeeds Morrison as Board Chair, effective immediately.