Supreme Court Decision Alert - March 25, 2014

Today (March 25, 2014) the Supreme Court issued two decisions, described below, of interest to the business community.

• Lanham Act—Standing to Bring False-Advertising Claim
• Federal Insurance Contributions Act—Tax Consequences of Severance Payments Upon Involuntary Termination

Lanham Act—Standing to Bring False-Advertising Claim

Lexmark International, Inc. v. Static Control Components, Inc., No. 12-873 (previously discussed in the June 3, 2013, Docket Report)

The Lanham Act creates a federal private cause of action for "any person who believes that he or she is or is likely to be damaged" by false advertising or unfair competition. 15 U.S.C. § 1125(a)(1)(B). Today (March 25, 2014), in Lexmark International, Inc. v. Static Control Components, Inc., No. 12-873, the Supreme Court held that, to bring a claim under the Lanham Act, a party must allege that (1) injury to a commercial interest in sales or business reputation (2) proximately caused by the