Zachary Pyers is joined by Zachary Durant, a professional liability attorney at Reminger Co., LPA, for an update on the fall of one of the world’s largest cryptocurrency exchanges - FTX. FTX collapsed in early November 2022 and shook the crypto market, which lost billions and fell below a $1 trillion valuation. In December 2022, the U.S. government brought civil and criminal charges against Sam Bankman-Fried and top executives for misappropriating over $8 billion in customer deposits. Bankman-Fried was convicted in November 2023 on criminal charges for which he was extradited from The Bahamas to the U.S., except for one charge dropped in July 2023. A second trial is scheduled for March 2024, covering charges filed post-extradition.Be sure to check out the video version of this interview on our YouTube page.Visit our website for information about our legal services related to emerging technologies.

Decentralized Autonomous Organizations are self-operating, transparent entities that leverage blockchain technology and smart contracts to make decisions and execute actions without the need for intermediaries or centralized control. In this episode, Zachary Pyers and Sabhi Syed will review this emerging technology and its place in the legal world.Visit our website for information about our legal services related to emerging technologies.

The use of gig economy platforms (such as Uber, Doordash, and Fiverr) has grown at an explosive rate. Torts and employment disputes arising during gig economy transactions are becoming a regular occurrence. In this episode Zachary Pyers and Taylor Wade will discuss the following questions:Why are so many workers becoming gig economy workers? How is the gig economy evolving in the U.S. and abroad?What types of employee rights are being extended to gig workers?Visit our website for information about our legal services related to emerging technologies.

Gig economy workers are generally classified as independent contractors. However, this classification has been continuously challenged by the gig economy workers, and at times, by the App based companies through whom they find work. This has resulted in some state legislatures passing bills that require app-based companies to offer benefits, that are often reserved for employees of the app-based rideshare and delivery companies, to their independent contractors. The first such Bill was in California. Now, other states may be following suit. In March 2022, Washington state lawmakers passed House Bill (“HB”) 2076: The Expand Fairness Act. Effective January 1, 2023, the bill gave Washington app-based drivers the following rights:state Workers’ Compensation coveragepaid sick leavethe guaranteed minimum pay for minutes worked, miles driven, and trips madea requirement that drivers must be provided just cause before account deactivation protection from retaliation for exercising these rightsListen to this week's episode for the details on this ruling.

Workers are traditionally classified as either employees or independent contractors. Gig economy workers are generally classified as independent contractors by the companies. However, we have recently seen both the Courts and state legislatures struggle with this dichotomy as it is applied to gig economy workers, who primarily work as rideshare or delivery drivers.  On March 30, 2023, a federal district judge for the Northern District of California in the case Lawson v. Grubhub Holdings Inc., Case No. 3:15-cv-05128, ruled that a Grubhub delivery driver is an employee, not an independent contractor, for minimum wage and overtime claims, under the ABC test. Listen to this week's episode for the details on this ruling.

Workers have historically fallen into two categories: employees and independent contractors. In November 2020, California voters passed Proposition 22: a ballot initiative to create a third type of worker classification. In February 2021, three California drivers and the Service Employees International Union filed a complaint against the State of California in the Alameda County Superior Court of California. In their complaint, the plaintiffs alleged that Proposition 22 was unconstitutional because it: Intrudes on the Legislature’s exclusive authority to create workers’ compensation laws, Restricts the courts’ authority to interpret the Constitution, Limits the Legislature’s authority to enact legislation that would not constitute an amendment to Proposition 22, andViolates the single-subject rule for initiative statutes.Listen to today's podcast for the implications of this case on gig workers.Be sure to check out the video version of this interview on our YouTube page.Visit our website for information about our legal services related to emerging technologies.

The collapse of cryptocurrency bank Celsius Network was one of the main drivers of the spring 2022 crypto crash, which erased nearly $1 trillion from the market and depleted the funds of thousands of investors. Hosts Zachary Pyers and Kenton Steele discuss the rise and fall of this crypto bank and where things stand now.Be sure to check out the video version of this interview on our YouTube page.Visit our website for information about our legal services related to emerging technologies.

Hosts Zachary Pyers and Kenton Steele discuss the basics of crypto, including blockchain, NFTs, and Bitcoin. They also review the current crypto regulation landscapeBe sure to check out the video version of this interview on our YouTube page.Visit our website for information about our legal services related to emerging technologies.

Zachary Pyers is joined by Zachary Durant, a professional liability attorney at Reminger Co., LPA, to review the rise and fall of one of the world’s largest cryptocurrency exchanges - FTX. They'll discuss the ripple effects of this billion-dollar scandal, including the impact on future crypto regulations.Be sure to check out the video version of this interview on our YouTube page.Visit our website for information about our legal services related to emerging technologies.

Zachary Pyers is joined by Adam Ellis, Founder & CEO of Harmoni Solutions, Inc.  Based in Youngstown, Ohio, Adam aims to improve the way that humans interact with machines with Harmoni- a device that revolutionizes the way CNC machine shops track time and performance. Highlights of their discussion include:Adam's entrepreneurial journey and early exposure to the manufacturing industry.How Harmoni's technology could increase efficiency and profitability, making American manufacturers more competitive with their overseas counterparts.Trends in the skilled labor workforce.Areas of potential growth and anticipated challenges for Harmoni in the manufacturing industry.Be sure to check out the video version of this interview on our YouTube page.Visit our website for information about our legal services related to emerging technologies.

Join Reminger Co., LPA and the Columbus Bar Association for a collaborative podcast series on emoji law. Emojis (from the Japanese e, “picture,” and moji, “character”) are an increasingly important way that we express ourselves. It is estimated that 2.3 trillion mobile messages have an emoji or two.    Though they can be cute and fun, emojis can also contribute to misinterpretations and misunderstandings. Disputes concerning emojis can arise in many different legal contexts and there are currently no court guidelines for how judges should handle or interpret them.  We will discuss this burgeoning legal issue with various stakeholders including social media influencers and members of the bench and bar.   In our third episode, Kenton Steele (Associate, Reminger Co., LPA) interviews David H. Thomas (Partner, Taft Stettinius & Hollister LLP). Dave discusses the proliferation of less formal/digital communications in legal cases, including:  Applying existing rules to help manage emojis in your civil and criminal cases How to assign meaning and relevancy to emojis to establish authenticity and admissibility  Advice for attorneys to stay up to date on all types of digital communications

Join Reminger Co., LPA and the Columbus Bar Association for a collaborative podcast series on emoji law. Emojis (from the Japanese e, “picture,” and moji, “character”) are an increasingly important way that we express ourselves. It is estimated that 2.3 trillion mobile messages have an emoji or two.   Though they can be cute and fun, emojis can also contribute to misinterpretations and misunderstandings. Disputes concerning emojis can arise in many different legal contexts and there are currently no court guidelines for how judges should handle or interpret them. We will discuss this burgeoning legal issue with various stakeholders including social media influencers and members of the bench and bar. In our second episode, Kenton Steele (Associate, Reminger Co., LPA) interviews Judge Carl A. Aveni (Franklin County Court of Common Pleas). Judge Aveni reviews how the handling of evidence has changed in recent years. They review the topics below: The move from hard copy to digitized documents in court The evidentiary record of text message and social media communications Emoji issues that have manifested in criminal cases Is a “thumbs-up" emoji a binding contract? Are emojis authentic and admissible?

Join Reminger Co., LPA and the Columbus Bar Association for a collaborative podcast series on emoji law. Emojis (from the Japanese e, “picture,” and moji, “character”) are an increasingly important way that we express ourselves. It is estimated that 2.3 trillion mobile messages have an emoji or two.   Though they can be cute and fun, emojis can also contribute to misinterpretations and misunderstandings. Disputes concerning emojis can arise in many different legal contexts and there are currently no court guidelines for how judges should handle or interpret them. We will discuss this burgeoning legal issue with various stakeholders including social media influencers and members of the bench and bar.  In our first episode, Kenton Steele (Associate, Reminger Co., LPA) chats with Tim Trad (CEO, @onlyincbus). Tim’s platform, @onlyincbus is one of the largest online community news outlets in central Ohio, producing over 4.5 million organic impressions every month. They review the following questions: What are emojis? How are they used in everyday conversation? How can they be used to convey tone/intent? How has digital communication evolved in recent years?

As the legal industry continues to evolve, blockchain may change how attorneys conduct a multitude of services including: smart contracts, land registry, intellectual property rights, chain of custody, litigation, settlements, and financial transactions.Bella Jagielski joins Zachary Pyers on the podcast today.  Bella is a law student at Capital University Law School and serves as the Editor-in-Chief of Vol. 51 of the Capital University Law Review.Bella and Zach answer the questions:What is blockchain technology? What is a smart contract?What is decentralized justice? How can blockchain technology decentralize arbitration and juror networks? How is this technology being used today?What are the potential issues of using blockchain technology?Visit our website for information about our legal services related to emerging technologies.

When it comes to travel insurance, one size does not fit all. Factors such as COVID-19, natural disasters, and the war on terrorism have greatly shifted the travel landscape across the globe. Sasha Gainullin joins Zachary Pyers on the podcast today.  Sasha is the CEO of battleface, a tech travel insurance company that is redefining what it means to protect travelers worldwide.Highlights of their discussion include:Sasha's journey from small-town Russia to small-town Wisconsin as an exchange student, where he first became involved in the travel insurance industry.Shifts among consumers (Airbnb, online travel agencies, budget airfare) and the world at large (pandemics, natural disasters) have transformed the travel industry. "Un-bundling" coverage to create relevant travel insurance plans. No "copy/paste" plans.The importance of transparency in the insurance industry- be upfront with customers.Scaling your start-up globally while remaining true to your mission.Visit our website for information about our legal services related to emerging technologies.

Zachary Pyers is once again joined by Devin Miller, Founder and CEO of Miller IP Law.  Based in Utah, Devin provides resources for start-ups and small businesses to learn about patents, trademarks, and copyrights and how they can build value into their business and protect their assets. In this episode, Zachary and Devin review common problems faced by start-up entrepreneurs and how to avoid/overcome them. Highlights of their discussion include:Why he started his podcast, The Inventive Journey, and what he's learned from interviewing 300+ entrepreneurs.Common start-up pitfalls: lack of focus, waiting too long to establish an LLC, and not having a quality website.How can entrepreneurs overcome/avoid common pitfalls? (Listen for Devin's Post-It note trick for evaluating new ideas).Opportunities and challenges he's faced during the COVID-19 pandemic, and his future for Devin Miller IP Law.Visit our website for information about our legal services related to emerging technologies.

Zachary Pyers is joined by Devin Miller, Founder and CEO of Miller IP Law.  Based in Utah, Devin provides resources for start-ups and small businesses to learn about patents, trademarks, and copyrights and how they can build value into their business and protect their assets. Highlights of their discussion include:Devin's educational path from dual degrees in Electrical Engineering and Mandarin Chinese to eventually earning a Masters in Business Administration (MBA) and a law degree (JD), led by his passion for entrepreneurship and the law.How he increases accessibility of legal assistance to start-ups by removing common barriers. The pros and cons of utilizing online legal tech companies (like LegalZoom), and finding a middle ground.Why he started his podcast, The Inventive Journey, and what he's learned from interviewing 300+ entrepreneurs.Be sure to join us next week for part 2 of this discussion, where Zachary and Devin review common problems faced by start-up entrepreneurs and how to avoid/overcome them.Visit our website for information about our legal services related to emerging technologies.

Kenton Steele is joined by Brandon Abshier,  Chair of Reminger's IP/E-Commerce and Cyber Risk practice group to kick off our series on cybersecurity.By the end of 2022, there will be approximately 200 billion connected devices. In recent years we have seen significant increases in computer hacks, business email compromise, ransomware attacks, data breaches, and other forms of cyber-crime. How did we get here? How is the law evolving to keep up? How can business and individuals protect their information? Kenton and Brandon will discuss these questions and more.In part 2, Kenton and Brandon will review:The current regulatory framework in the US and abroad The shift of focus from data breaches to personal information privacyTips for companies, governments, and individuals facing a data breachListen to part 1 here. Visit our website for information about our legal services related to emerging technologies.

Kenton Steele is joined by Brandon Abshier,  Chair of Reminger's IP/E-Commerce and Cyber Risk practice group to kick off our series on cybersecurity.By the end of 2022, there will be approximately 200 billion connected devices. In recent years we have seen significant increases in computer hacks, business email compromise, ransomware attacks, data breaches, and other forms of cyber-crime. How did we get here? How is the law evolving to keep up? How can business and individuals protect their information? Kenton and Brandon will discuss these questions and more.Be sure to join us next week for part 2 of this discussion, where Kenton and Brandon review tips for companies, governments, and individuals facing a data breach. Visit our website for information about our legal services related to emerging technologies.

Zachary is again joined by Leila Banijamali, CEO and Co-Founder of Symbium, a California-based company that uses Complaw® to help make sense of complex zoning codes and regulations. Symbium’s applications make the zoning and planning regulations that shape our cities and towns easy to navigate, empowering anyone to quickly assess what's possible on a piece of property or across a jurisdiction.Highlights of their discussion include:A review of computational law (Complaw®) and how it empowers the public to take control of complex government property data.Recent legislative responses to the California housing crisis, including ADU regulations and SB 9 which allows the re-zoning of single-family lots.Leila's vision for the future of Symbium and CompLaw technology, with applications to insurance, financial services, and legal services.Visit our website for information about our legal services related to emerging technologies.