Vol. 16, No. 8 - April 30, 2010
8150 Leesburg Pike, Suite 700, Vienna, VA 22182
703-242-4670; Fax 703-242-4675
www.csaaintl.org

This issue of the CSAA Signals is brought to you by our sponsor:

DICE Corporation - Enterprise-level and Windows OS Software
www.dicecorp.com | 1-800-RUN DICE (800.786.3423) | International: 989.891.2800

Please visit http://www.dicecorp.com for information on its products and services or click on the banner above.

Table of Contents

• Don't Forget to Sign Up for the Upcoming CSAA Webinar: Alarm Contracts-An Update
• ACCENT Listserver to be Transferred to CSAA
• Utah Supreme Court Reverses Dismissal of Action Brought By Peak Alarm Against Salt Lake City
• ESX Exhibitors: TODAY is the Last Chance to Show Your CSAA Spirit!
• Did You Know ...
• Correction
• Remember to ...

Don't Forget to Sign Up for the Upcoming CSAA Webinar:
Alarm Contracts-An Update
Tuesday, May 11, 2010, 2:00 PM - 3:00 PM EDT

A good alarm contract is critical to the operation and success of your business. Attend this webinar to learn the key elements and new developments for alarm contracts.

This FREE seminar will be presented by one of the preeminent lawyers in the alarm industry: Alan L. Pepper, Partner, Law Offices of Mitchell Silberberg & Knupp LLP.

Don't miss this important webinar!

• Title: 2010 CSAA Alarm Contract Update
• Date: Tuesday, May 11, 2010
• Time: 2:00 PM - 3:00 PM EDT
  

Register here now!

ACCENT Listserver to be Transferred to CSAA

The Central Station Alarm Association (CSAA) and the Security Industry Association (SIA) would like to announce that CSAA will take over sole responsibility for the administration and management of the Alarm Call Center Education, Networking, and Training (ACCENT) listserver. Launched by CSAA and SIA to facilitate the networking of its members, ACCENT has been managed and administered by SIA since it began over 10 years ago.

“We would like to thank SIA and its CEO, Richard Chace, for making this great resource available to our industry so many years ago,” said Steve Doyle, executive vice president and CEO of CSAA. “The time and effort spent in the management of this great resource by the SIA staff was remarkable. We have enjoyed our partnership with SIA and want to thank, in particular, Kimberly Roberts and Arminda Valles-Hall for their work these past few years.”

CSAA President Ed Bonifas echoed Doyle’s comments.

“We are grateful for SIA’s generous commitment and assistance to our association and our industry,” said Bonifas. “From providing the initial funding for the CSAA Central Station Operator Level I online training to partnering with us in the Alarm Industry Communications Committee (AICC) and the Security Industry Standards Committee (SISC), SIA has always been willing to offer its support.”

SIA CEO Richard Chace said the listserver will be in good hands at CSAA.

“It has been our pleasure to manage this important resource for the security industry,” Chace said. “We are happy that the listserver will live on with the central station experts at CSAA, and we look forward to continuing to work with the organization to advance the interests of the industry.”

An announcement regarding the date of the switchover to CSAA will be posted on the ACCENT listserver.

Please contact Celia Besore at cbesore@csaaintl.org to be added to the listserver or if you have any questions.

Utah Supreme Court Reverses Dismissal of Action
Brought By Peak Alarm Against Salt Lake City

On April 16, 2010 the Supreme Court of the State of Utah ruled that the District court erred when it dismissed the claims of the Plaintiffs Peak Alarm and the Howes and remanded the case back to the District Court for disposition of the claims

After the case was dismissed by the District Court, Mitchell Silberberg & Knupp was brought into the case to assist local Utah counsel, Jones Waldo, on the appeal. Supervised by Les Gold, Douglas Bordewieck and Arthur Fine along with local counsel, Stephen Clark, worked on the appeal brief.  Arthur Fine argued the case before the Supreme Court.

The case arose directly from an employee of Peak Alarm, calling for a police response when teenagers set off burglar alarms at a high school.  The police department concluded the employee-caller had violated a statute criminalizing a knowing report of a false alarm.  The employee mistakenly informed the police that a Peak Alarm security guard verified the break-in, when in reality it was a school employee who verified the break-in. 

A single count criminal prosecution of the Peak Alarm employee concluded with a directed verdict in favor of the Peak Alarm employee.  The criminal case was dismissed as the criminal court concluded that the prosecutors presented no evidence that the employee knowingly made a false alarm.  Following the acquittal, the employee sued the City.  On cross-motions for summary judgment the state district court dismissed all of the employee’s claims. 

The Supreme Court in relevant part reversed the state district court’s granting of summary judgment in favor of the City on the employee’s eight state claims and on his Fourth Amendment seizure claim, allowing those claims to proceed to trial.  The Supreme Court held in relevant part that the False Alarm statute only criminalized the act of reporting a crime with knowledge that no crime existed; it did not criminalize any knowing false statement in connection with the report of a crime.

The case will now go to trial on the merits.

FULL LEGAL BRIEF: http://www.leagle.com/unsecure/page.htm?shortname=inutco20100416c53

ESX Exhibitors: TODAY is the Last Chance to Show Your CSAA Spirit!
Deadline extended to April 30, 2010

The Central Station Alarm Association (CSAA) is kicking off its 60th Anniversary celebration at this year’s Electronic Security Expo (ESX). You have a unique opportunity to show your support of the CSAA and also get extra exposure for your company and your ESX booth.

We would like to invite you to incorporate our special CSAA 60th anniversary logo into your giveaways this year. Whether you’re giving away pens, key chains, stress balls or other items, by using the anniversary logo you will receive extra attention from the attendees. If you are not planning on distributing give-aways, but would like to participate in this cross-promotional activity, please contact us at the e-mail addresses/phone number below.

Once we receive your commitment to incorporate our CSAA 60th Anniversary logo, your company will benefit from the following program:

• Each attendee packet will include a special “passport” flyer . The passport will include a list of the participating exhibitors. Your booth will be highlighted on the passport's show floor plan. The attendees will visit each of the listed exhibitors’ booths and collect stamps/stickers supplied by CSAA. Attendees who receive stamps/stickers from every exhibitor in the passport will be eligible to participate in a drawing hosted by CSAA for an E-book (such as the Kindle or the Nook) at the conclusion of the show.
• Special promotions through CSAA publications (CSAA web site, CSAA social media sites, CSAA e-newsletter) will promote the names of CSAA Anniversary supporters and their booth numbers.
• Signage at the CSAA booth will list each of the participating exhibitors with the respective booth numbers. Additional passports will be available at the CSAA Booth.

This is a convenient way for your company to support the CSAA’s 60th Anniversary celebration and gain extra booth traffic.

Time is of the essence for you to sign-up and participate in this celebratory program. Please reply by Friday, April 30, 2010 with your commitment to participate in our celebration this year. We will contact and supply you with everything you need.

Please download the sign-up form at http://www.csaaul.org/2010CSAAAnniversaryExhibitorProject.html.

Should you have any questions, please contact Teresa Brewer, CSAA 60th Anniversary Chairperson at teresa.brewer@systemsensor.com or Celia Besore at communications@csaaintl.org or 703-242-4670, Ext. 16.

We look forward to hearing from you very soon. Your support is greatly appreciated.

Did You Know ...

That the CSAA Central Station Operator Level I Online Training is authorized for 1.2 ESA's (formerly NBFAA) NTS CEUs? The CEU course number is 08-2449.

For additional information, please contact Becky Lane at blane@csaaintl.org or 703-242-4670, Ext. 18.

CORRECTION:
The tag below last issue's ad banner should have read:
Micro Key's Enterprise Level Solutions for the Alarm Industry
Stop by our ESX Booth #509

Remember To ...

• Order your copies for A Practical Guide to Central Station Burglar Alarm Systems - 4th Edition. Download the 2010 order for the A Practical Guide to Central Station Burglar Alarm Systems - 4th Edition here. If you have any questions, please contact Celia Besore, CSAA Vice President of Marketing & Programs at 703-242-4670, Ext. 16 or cbesore@csaaintl.org.

• Take advantage of the ESX Early Bird rates and register now for the 2010 Electronic Security Expo (ESX), June 14-18, 2010 in Pittsburgh, PA. ESX is co-sponsored and co-owned by CSAA and ESA. Click here to register online today. Register by May 21 for best pricing!

• Purchase your ticket for the Tuesday, June 15th CSAA's 60th Anniversary celebration at ESX. CSAA will celebrate with the Electronic Security Association (ESA) at the August Wilson Center for African American Culture. The event will take place during the 2010 ESX in Pittsburgh, PA, June 14-18, 2010. Purchase your ticket by May 21st to receive the early bird discount pricing of $125. Visit www.esxweb.com to sign up!

• Purchase your ticket for the 2010 CSAA Central Station Excellence Awards. The CSAA Central Station Excellence Awards Breakfast and ceremony will take place on Wednesday, June 16, 7:45am - 9:30am during ESX 2010 at the David L. Lawrence Convention Center in Pittsburgh, Penn. Tickets are included in the ESX Deluxe Pass or can be purchased separately for the CSAA Member Early Bird rate of $50 (if purchased before May 21). You can purchase your tickets at http://www.esxweb.com/register.