Now that the papers have been filed and the divorce is finalized, you’re all done with your ex, right? Well, maybe not. Depending on the type of legal separation and what was filed in the divorce agreement, there may still be a few issues to work out. Even though you’re not legally married, you still might have to determine who gets what remains of shared property, who gets paid what in alimony, and who gets custody of your kids....
These days it seems like everyone proclaims to be an expert in something. But when it comes to court cases, who qualifies as an expert witness? As TV courtroom dramas show, expert witnesses are usually called in by one of the parties to help jurors understand complicated, technical concepts. However, not everyone can qualify as an “expert,” and not all types of expert testimony may be permitted. Here’s a general overview:...
An Oregon man has filed a wrongful death lawsuit against both the driver that hit him and his father as they crossed the street on foot, as well as the bar that served the driver alcohol on that night. The father was killed after being struck, landing on the roof, then being thrown off the roof a mile down the road. The son survived after medical treatment including surgery. While the accident was initially hit and run, law enforcement was able to track down the driver....
So you’re leaving your job. Did you give your employer two weeks notice? (Or, did your employer give you two weeks notice?) What should you do next? The uncertainties of leaving a job extend to more than just “Where will I work next?” If you’re leaving your job, here are five legal reminders for your to-do list: Many states have laws that consider paid vacation time a form of earned wages....
When a worker loses his or her job, unemployment insurance is designed to provide income while the worker looks for a new job. For those who are eligible to receive unemployment insurance, it can often be the only thing preventing them from falling behind on bills, car payments, mortgages, and other financial obligations. But along with each state’s eligibility requirements for receiving unemployment benefits, there are typically additional requirements for keeping benefits once they’ve started....
As service dogs have become more prevalent, businesses need to know how to legally handle these animals and their human counterparts. Some common questions raised by business owners include: Is it legal to prohibit service dogs at your place of business? And what can you do if you suspect a customer’s (or employee’s) purported “service dog” doesn’t meet the legal standard for such an animal? Service dogs occupy an intersection of state, federal, and local laws, so businesses should take extra care to consider the following:...
One of the worst things that can happen to a business is to get caught up in a high-profile lawsuit with a celebrity. Just ask lawyers and PR managers for Duane Reade, the drug-store chain that’s being sued by actress Katherine Heigl for allegedly misappropriating her image on Twitter and Facebook, The Associated Press reports. While business owners may be eager to boast that celebs use their products or shop in their stores, what legal lessons can you learn from Heigl’s lawsuit?...
It’s all fun and games until someone gets hurt at the stadium. There may be nothing more fun than taking your family out to a ball game. But if you watch Sportscenter, you’re probably well aware that balls, bats, pucks, and even seven-foot men can hurl into the stands, causing serious injury or even death. But can you bring a lawsuit if you’re injured at a sporting event? The answer is: it depends....
It’s back to school time in most of the country but the Chicago teachers’ strike has put a halt on that for parents in the Illinois capital. It’s only the second week of school but there’s been tension between teachers and Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel for a while. The previous contract between educators and the city expired in June and negotiations have been ongoing for months. Those talks broke down Sunday and resulted in strike Monday morning, reports Reuters....
Unless you are a citizen by birth, gaining U.S. citizenship can be a long, extensive, and complicated process. And while it may not be legally required for you to hire an immigration lawyer to file for citizenship, it may be a good idea to have someone with some professional experience on your side to guide you through the process. Whether you have difficulty understanding English, need assistance gathering the necessary documents, or just want to know why some applications are denied so you can avoid the same fate, there are times when you might want a lawyer to file for citizenship....
Business owners beware: A website domain-name registration scam is catching some entrepreneurs off-guard. But the BBB says it’s easy to protect yourself from this scam, once you know how to spot it. How can business owners avoid buying domain names from scammers? Some businesses have been falling victim to scammers who sell website domains to business owners using their companies’ names, claiming the domains are about to be snatched up by a third party....
The East Coast has been a legal battleground for gay marriage of late, with the federal 4th Circuit and a state court in Florida striking down same-sex marriage bans as unconstitutional. In Florida, a state court judge in Miami-Dade County ruled against the Sunshine State’s prohibition on gay marriage, but it won’t mean same-sex nuptials in the state just yet. Meantime, a federal appellate court upheld a lower court’s ruling, striking down Virginia’s ban on same-sex marriage and potentially changing the legal field in five states....
In July, Los Angeles will open the doors of its Office of Small, Local and Disadvantaged Business. The new city office will help small businesses navigate the many rules and benefit programs scattered throughout different city departments. Many other cities also gave a small business office that can serve as a good resource for navigating local regulations and opportunities. As reported by the LA Times, Los Angeles’ Office of Small, Local and Disadvantaged Business aims to demystify municipal bureaucracy....
As his story goes, former soldier and reserve deputy Dwayne Thurman was cleaning his wife Brenda’s designer model Glock .380 pistol when the gun went off, firing a round into Brenda’s chest. Dwayne called 911, and Brenda was declared dead shortly after she arrived at the hospital. But it’s what happened in between the shooting and when emergency responders first arrived at the house that’s the subject of two lawsuits filed by Brenda’s children against the adoptive father....
What steps do you need to take when you’re preparing to sue someone? Initiating a lawsuit is a big step, as litigation can be a lengthy and costly process for everyone involved. So before you file a lawsuit, you may want to try to exhaust all other options to settle your claims. If you do decide to pursue legal action, here are some general tips on how to prepare to sue someone:...
Can you fire a pregnant waitress? Or any other pregnant employee? Josie Muriel says you can’t, which is why she is suing Larry Flynt’s New York Hustler Club for sex and gender discrimination. She says she was demoted and then fired after management learned of her pregnancy when she began to show. She further alleges that management told her that her “condition” was a liability to the club. That liability probably relates to the skimpy outfits worn by waitresses at the club....
It’s not often police kill a dog and are forced to pay, but a Chicago jury on Friday made a statement when it awarded the family of Darren and Thomas Russell $243,000 for an incident during which Chicago police raided the brothers’ home and shot the family’s dog. An additional $90,000 was also awarded to Thomas Russell, who was found to have been falsely arrested for obstructing authorized service of criminal process when he asked the officers if he could secure the canine....
15,235 votes in the Senate. 2500 bills authored. 552 cosponsored pieces of legislation passed into law. The numbers chapter the story of the U.S. Senate’s leading liberal lion. Senator Ted Kennedy, formally Edward Moore Kennedy, passed away this week after battling brain cancer. He has inspired a legacy of championing health care reform, civil rights, equal rights, education, and a breadth of laws in the public interest over his 46 years as a Massachusetts senator....
We knew it was coming, but today the Supreme Court announced it will take a case that will provide a test for how Second Amendment gun rights will apply outside of Washington, D.C. Last year, in a hotly contested ruling, the Supreme Court announced individual Second Amendment rights for those in the District of Columbia. Now we may learn what type of gun laws will be allowed in cities across America....
Many business owners dream of international expansion, but there are important issues to consider before going global. Forays into foreign markets have all the usual problems and risks of any new business, plus cultural and linguistic challenges. And an unsuccessful international venture can be much more costly than failing at home. Of course, nothing ventured, nothing gained, so going global also presents opportunities for profit that are otherwise impossible. To prepare for the bold step of international expansion, consider the following....
