Standard contract language limiting alarm company’s liability found ambiguous by federal appeals court.
- May 27th, 2014
- Wendy Carlisle
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You know that language in your contract–that’s in EVERY alarm contract– that says “Alarm Co. is not liable, but if any liability is imposed it will be limited to $[dollar amount] or a percentage of the annual monitoring charge”? Well,…
The Seven Deadly Sins of alarm contracts (and how to avoid them).
- May 22nd, 2014
- Wendy Carlisle
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In my job, I have the pleasure, and unfortunately sometimes pain, of reviewing alarm sales and monitoring contracts for litigation, potential acquisitions, and revisions to contracts. Here are seven mistakes I see most often.
Three important things to know about PERS contracts and sales.
- March 26th, 2014
- Wendy Carlisle
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If you’ve decided to enter the vibrant market of selling Personal Emergency Response Systems (PERS) you may be wondering what advice a lawyer would give you on how to protect your business. Do you need a contract with your customer? …
BRK files patent infringement suit over Nest Protect smoke/carbon monoxide alarm
- November 15th, 2013
- Wendy Carlisle
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The new Nest Labs, Inc. product Nest Protect– a combination smoke and carbon monoxide detector–looks like an innovative addition to the market. The Nest Protect is sleek looking, user friendly, and it is Wi-Fi connected so that all the Nest…
Georgia Supreme Court denies review of $8.4 million verdict against Monitronics
- November 6th, 2013
- Wendy Carlisle
- 1 Comment
Yesterday, the Georgia Supreme Court denied Monitronics’ Petition for Writ of Certiorari. This means it has refused to review the Georgia Court of Appeals’ decision, which upheld an $8.4 million jury verdict against Monitronics and invalidated exculpatory language in Monitronics’ alarm…
North Carolina Attorney General sues alarm company over robocalls
- October 24th, 2013
- Wendy Carlisle
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The North Carolina Carolina Attorney General filed suit yesterday against now-defunct alarm company ISI Alarms NC, Inc. and its owner, seeking civil penalties for automated calls (a/k/a “robocalls”) the company made to consumers. The AG alleges that more than 1,000 North…
Monitronics asks Georgia Supreme Court to Review $8.4 million judgment.
- October 2nd, 2013
- Wendy Carlisle
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I have been in denial, but, given that it is October, and the weekend weather forecast for my hometown of Minneapolis is quite chilly, it seems I need to face reality: summer is over. So, then, is my summer vacation…
New Minnesota law affecting exculpatory contracts effective August 1, 2013.
- July 31st, 2013
- Wendy Carlisle
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The Minnesota law I wrote about this spring (http:/wp.me/p3fru5-4G) has been enacted effective August 1, 2013. Fortunately, the law was changed substantially from its original iterations, which effectively sought to do away with exculpatory clauses altogether. The new law simply codifies…
Smoke detectors: what you need to know to protect your customers and avoid a lawsuit.
- June 18th, 2013
- Wendy Carlisle
- 1 Comment
Maryland’s new law requiring that smoke detectors have ten-year-life batteries goes into effect July 1, 2013. Working batteries are paramount in ensuring smoke detectors can alert occupants to a fire. Another important way to ensure smoke detection may be less…
Using enhanced call verification? You may need a new alarm monitoring contract.
- May 30th, 2013
- Wendy Carlisle
- 4 Comments
Georgia recently joined the growing ranks of states and municipalities that require enhanced call verification (ECV) for burglar alarm response. (Read Georgia’s new law here: Georgia ECV law). If your jurisdiction requires ECV, or you are voluntarily adopting it, do you…