Arrests and jail sentences can throw a person’s entire life into disarray. And when that person has primary custody of a child or children, incarceration can affect many more lives than their own. Child custody decisions aren’t easy to make in the first place, and if the custodial parent is arrested, those decisions can get even more complicated. So what happens to children when parents go to jail, and who gets custody?...
So you want to get your federal income tax return done early, but you still haven’t received your W-2 in the mail. What should you do? The IRS requires employers to file a Form W-2 for each employee. These forms must be sent out to employees by February 1. If employers fail to do so, they could face some costly consequences. That being said, one option if you haven’t received your W-2 forms by February 1 is to report your employer to the IRS....
At will employment means that a company can terminate an employee relationship for no cause or any cause, so long as the basis of termination is not illegal under federal or state law. On the flip side, the employee can also leave the company for reason or no reason. The at will employment doctrine gives companies and employees broad roles in making employment decisions. For small businesses, at will employment has its definite advantages and disadvantages....
When can lawsuits be consolidated? Cases that are similar enough in fact or in the legal issues presented can often be grouped together and heard at the same time. That’s what’s happening with more than 80 lawsuits alleging economic injury from GM’s ignition-switch recall. Both criminal and civil cases can be consolidated, although courts have to consider the potential risks and benefits to each party before granting or denying a motion to consolidate....
Most of us have one or two secrets. After all, isn’t that what incognito internet browsing is for? Some of these can be as innocent as a couple indecent websites, while others can be criminal convictions, hidden assets, or illegitimate children. And past skeletons in your closet can affect future legal cases. Your lawyer will likely ask you to give her all relevant information about your case. But when do you need to bring skeletons out of your closet and into your lawyer’s office?...
As President Barack Obama and his family prepared for their holiday trip to Hawaii, a woman accused of telling the Secret Service that she would “blow away” First Lady Michelle Obama was arrested. According to the Associated Press, the woman arrested for threats to First Lady Michelle Obama was 35 year old Kristy Lee Roshia. She was arrested two miles from the Kailua home where the Obama family planned to stay during a Christmas visit later this week....
It’s been a weird year for the Supreme Court. It lost arguably its highest profile and most controversial justice in February, with the passing of Antonin Scalia. He has yet to be replaced, but functioning with just eight justices has hardly slowed the Court down. While it passed on a few cases and four 4-4 ties left lower decisions intact, the Supreme Court did hand down some massive decisions during its October 2015 term....
Financial experts will all say that planning for retirement should start as early as possible. Starting the process may be difficult for many 20 somethings who don’t have a clue where to start. Dedicating a set percentage of your monthly income to savings is not appealing to anyone, let alone younger people just entering the workforce; but the benefits of consistently doing so are exponential. If you’re struggling to get started, below you’ll find 3 essential tips to help you start planning for retirement....
Salvatore’s, a Boston-area pizza chain, came up with the crazy and/or brilliant idea for alcoholic pizza. Now they’ve put it in action in their customers are into it. The idea came when the corporate chef wanted to incorporate dried cherries into a pizza. The cherries were too tough when the pizza came out of the oven so he got the idea to hydrate them. In vodka. The only catch is that the alcohol doesn’t burn all the way off in the oven....
Applebee’s has settled a lawsuit brought by parents of a Texas boy who suffered brain injuries when an allegedly drunk restaurant patron crashed into their car. The parents of Abdallah Khader, now 6, sought $10 million from Kansas City, Mo.-based Applebee’s in a civil lawsuit, Dallas’ KTVT reports. The amount of the settlement was not disclosed. The Khaders’ lawsuit accused workers at a Mansfield, Texas, Applebee’s of serving a man 23 drinks in less than two hours, leading him to drive drunk and crash into the Khaders’ car....
High pressure sales tactics aren’t only illegal, they’re bad for business. Overpromising, misrepresenting your products, or misrepresenting your customers can get you into a lot of hot water. Before you use these strategies chasing your next quota, think about the legal ramifications. Bait and switch is a dishonest, and often illegal, form of sales and marketing. Companies will market one product at a low price, baiting customers to come into a store, but may not carry sufficient inventory of it....
Yes, you can sue for injury stemming from an accident at a railroad crossing. However, your lawsuit will only be successful if someone was negligent. Railroad crossings are generally hazardous and sometimes accidents just happen. Railroads are only liable for incidents that stem from their negligence. So, if you do what some commuters in California have done recently and abandoned your car on the tracks, do not expect to successfully sue for damages....
We all want to spend more time with our kids. And if you’re divorced, there are probably good reasons why you might not have warm feelings towards your ex. So when your child says she doesn’t want to go to your ex’s for visitation or joint custody, that should be a good thing right? Not necessarily. Child custody agreements are legally binding, and disobeying one could get you into trouble. So can you force your child to obey a custody order?...
While drinking my morning coffee the other day, I happened to notice that in the spot where the barista usually writes the name of the person who ordered the drink was instead written simply “Beard.” This makes sense. After all, I do have a rather large beard. And generally, I don’t really mind being objectified as “Beard.” But what if the cup had said “Fat?” Or “Aging hipster wearing glasses and tight pants?...
Companies have mostly moved past cold calling and have focused more of their marketing efforts on email. But the federal CAN-SPAM Act sets boundaries on what businesses can and cannot do with respect to blasting emails at their customers. Your business may be worried about seeming spammy, but it should be more worried about the FTC bringing down the hammer if you violate federal law. So does your email marketing campaign violate the CAN-SPAM Act?...
Getting bitten by a dog is never a particularly pleasant experience. But not every dog bit incident will necessarily make for a successful dog bite injury lawsuit. From the extent of any possible injuries, to the circumstances surrounding the incident, there are many factors that a personal injury attorney will use in determining the potential merits of a lawsuit. What makes for a good dog bite injury claim? Here are a few questions that you will likely be asked:...
Hands-free technology in your car may keep your phone habits legal, but these devices are still dangerously distracting drivers. A new study by the American Automobile Association’s Foundation for Traffic Safety has found that both handheld and hands-free calls resulted in a “moderate risk” to drivers. With these new findings, is it safe to keep using distracting devices in our cars? Although many studies have recognized the risk of handheld phone calls on driver safety, few have evaluated the cavalcade of new hands-free features being released in new automobiles....
Under federal law, LGBT equality isn’t mandated in employment practices. But that doesn’t mean it’s not important for your business. The Human Rights Campaign just released its 2013 Corporate Equality Index, which focuses on how big corporations are addressing LGBT workplace-equality issues. As a small business owner whose reputation relies on how well you treat others (including your employees), you can use the Index as a guide on how to be more LGBT-friendly in your employment practices....
Hitchhiking forms the backbone of American folk rock and horror films, and relies on the good intentions of drivers and hitchhikers alike. But state laws and federal regulations may prevent you from legally partaking in the American hitchhiking experience, if you’re not too careful. So is it legal to hitchhike or pick up hitchhikers? Here’s a general overview: As you might expect, the 50 states do not agree on how to regulate hitchhikers....
Are groundhogs legal as pets? Not that the movie “Caddyshack” would lead you to believe that groundhogs aren’t adorable, but each state has its own specific laws about what kind of rodents you can legally possess as pets. For groundhog enthusiasts and those clamoring to cuddle with a woodchuck this Groundhog Day, let’s burrow deeper into the issue with a general overview of groundhog pet laws. Groundhogs Are Wild Rodents State laws are extremely specific on the types of non-domesticated animals which people can possess as pets, and groundhogs are by most accounts are still considered wild animals....
