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Protecting Intellectual Property In Digital Marketing Assets

By John Wright, Esq. Small businesses can achieve big results from digital marketing efforts, but must take care to protect intellectual property from theft and infringement. Intellectual property found in digital marketing assets includes creative works subject to...

Use Of Criminal Background Checks – The EEOC’S “Guidance”

Use Of Criminal Background Checks - The EEOC’S “Guidance” And Attempts To Regulate A Court’s Decision That The EEOC Statistics Are “Scientific Dishonesty” A federal judge cast doubt on government efforts to restrict employers' use of criminal background checks when it...

Protecting Your Client’s Business in Divorce

By John J. Schrot, Jr.
Divorce can be bad business for your client.  Mixing a business and its assets with a divorce can become financially and emotionally devastating for the divorcing couple and for its family, as well as for the business’ employees and co-owners.  Division of property is usually the chief issue in divorce, and the business is usually the most valuable asset in a divorce.  Planning can avoid this principal source of contention that occurs in a divorce. Avoiding a court battle will minimize the pitfalls.

2010 HIRE Act — Tax Breaks for Employers

2010 Hiring Incentive to Restore Employment ("HIRE") Act -- Tax Breaks for Employers The recently enacted Hiring Incentive to Restore Employment Act ("HIRE") created two new tax benefits to encourage employers to hire and retain new workers. Employers who hire...

Small Nonprofit Organizations May Lose Their Tax Exempt Status

Small Nonprofit Organizations May Lose Their Tax Exempt Status A recent New York Times article has brought back into the spot light a 2006 federal law that could force as many as 400,000 charitable organizations, civic organizations, business leagues, and social clubs...

Purchasing Michigan Real Estate – An Investment Opportunity

Purchasing Michigan Real Estate - An Investment Opportunity Michigan's unprecedented drop in real estate values, especially in southeastern Michigan, has been a blow to many but has created opportunities for others. Southeastern Michigan is now perceived by the rest...

Appealing Michigan Property Tax Assessments in 2010

Appealing Michigan Property Tax Assessments in 2010 The ongoing decline in property values in Detroit and surrounding southeast Michigan communities has further-expanded the substantial discrepancies between taxable values and market values for real estate. Assessors...

Giving Gifts to Individuals: Some Basic Questions Answered

Giving Gifts to Individuals: Some Basic Questions Answered What factors other than taxes should I consider in deciding whether or not to make a gift? Given your net wealth, liquidity, income, age, health, and family obligations, consider whether making the gift would...

The IRS Says, “You Can’t Hide Your House Behind Your Spouse.”

The IRS Says, "You Can't Hide Your House Behind Your Spouse." On April 17, 2002, the U.S. Supreme Court decided U.S. v. Craft holding that the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) can use a husband and wife's personal residence, or other property that is owned via tenancy...

Section 1031: What is a Tax-Deferred Exchange?

Section 1031: What is a Tax-Deferred Exchange? There are many ways to accumulate wealth, even in periods of economic sluggishness. One of the more attractive investment vehicles is an investment in real estate. Careful consideration should always be given to selecting...

Your Employee Health Care Plan and the EEOC Announcement

Your Employee Health Care Plan and The U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) Announcement For more than a year, the EEOC has maintained the position that the Pregnancy Discrimination Act requires an employer-sponsored health care plan to cover...

Estate Law Changes

Estate Law Changes - Add Confusion and Some Relief On June 7, 2001, the Economic Growth and Recovery Tax Act (EGRTA) was signed by President George W. Bush. This law, which included a highly publicized "repeal" of the federal estate tax, brought about some relief, but...

Potential Law Changes for Gifts

Potential Law Changes for Gifts of IRAs to Charity In the event that an individual gives appreciated stock to the charity of their choice, they are able to take a charitable deduction for the full value of the gift despite the fact that they do not have to recognize...

Email, the Internet, the Employee and the Law.

Employer Control of the Ether: Email, the Internet and the Employee Are you worried about what your employees are doing with this wonderful new tool you have given them to assist them in doing their jobs? Aside from all the things you have thought about, have you...

Primer on Hybrid Section 301 Claims

A Short Primer on Hybrid Section 301 Claims for the Unionized Employer If you have employees that are represented by a union, you may have terminated an employee who is then unhappy with you for discharging him and also unhappy with his union for deciding not to...

Mary, Mary, Quite Contrary, How Does Your Weingarten Grow?

National Labor Relations Board has reversed its own 15-year-old precedent. Weingarten grows everywhere. Until July 10, 2000 Weingarten rights only existed in unionized work forces. Now, the National Labor Relations Board has reversed its own 15-year-old precedent....

New Federal E-Sign Law Allows You to Make Your Mark in Cyberspace

 The Electronic Signatures in Global and National Commerce Act - Make Your Mark in Cyberspace On June 30, 2000, President Clinton signed into law the Electronic Signatures in Global and National Commerce Act ("E-Sign"). The new law contains provisions regarding the...

Does Your Company Have a Cell Phone Policy?

Costly Conversations - Does Your Company Have a Cell Phone Use Policy? Do your employees use cell phones to conduct business when they are driving? If the answer is yes, your company should adopt a policy that either prohibits cell phone use while driving or minimizes...

Asset Protection Planning Starts At Home

An effective Asset Protection Planning and Strategy Starts At Home. Does the term "Asset Protection" conjure visions of a remote Caribbean Island or the Swiss Alps? This is not the place to begin an asset protection analysis. We suggest that you begin by consulting...

Protecting Your Trade Secrets in the Digital Era

Protecting Your Trade Secrets in the Digital Age In recent years, as the competition for talented employees has increased, the variety of means by which a company's trade secrets can be stolen by departing employees means that businesses are at greater risk than ever...

The Tradition of Bribery in International Business

The Tradition of Bribery in International Business -  bribery of public officials. The investigation by the International Olympic Committee of Salt Lake City and other venues has shed light on a very dark tradition of international business - bribery of public...

Have You Committed Fraud Lately?

Have You Committed Fraud Lately? - Your omission could turn out to be expensive. Be wary of job applicants, especially for key positions, asking about your company's financial well being or asking you for current financial statements. The Michigan Court of Appeals...

Tired of Training Your Competitors’ Employees?

Tired of Training Your Competitors' Employees? - burden and expense of providing technical training. More and more employers are picking up the burden and expense of providing technical training for their employees. While some of this training is done on site, much of...

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