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The cloud is the “it” thing for business lately. You hear and read about it constantly. Are you thinking about moving your business data to the cloud? Is the cloud right for your small business? You may be using cloud services already without even realizing it. Individuals who access their email or calendar through Google applications are using cloud-computing services. They entrust their data to Google’s “cloud.” Cloud software can provide services beyond scheduling functions....

A veteran LAPD detective faces charges of murder in what may have been a case unnecessarily gone cold. The AP reports that Stephanie Lazarus, 49, is scheduled to face a judge today on charges that way back in 1986 she broke into victim Sherri Rae Rasmussen’s condo, and beat and shot her to death. Why would a detective murder someone? Well, although it is somewhat unclear at this point in time, it may have been as basic as jealousy considering that Lazarus had once dated Sherri Rasmussen’s husband, John Ruetten....

Proponents of Texas House Bill 274 say the bill, if it becomes law, will limit frivolous and junk lawsuits with a new Texas “loser pays” statute. But proponents may want to be careful what they wish for. House Bill 274, as passed recently by the Texas House of Representatives, provides a kicker to the pure “loser pays” rule, reports the Associated Press. Remember “loser pays,” aka the “English Rule,” contrasts with the “American Rule,” where each party bears their own attorney fees unless shifted by a statute....

A new study predicts that between 2 and 3 million small business jobs in California will disappear over the next 3 to 4 years. The reason? Risky home mortgages. Thought toxic home loans (and securities based on them) only caused the meltdown of financial markets? Unfortunately, due to the number of small business owners who took out mortgages to finance their businesses, those risky home loans may kill many small business jobs as well....

In a prior post on this blog, the attempts of same sex couples to divorce in Texas, a state where same sex marriage is banned, were discussed. Today, there is an update from this outpost on the frontier of same sex divorce. As previously noted, Texas Attorney General Greg Abbott is working hard to uphold the Texas law banning same sex marriage, by preventing same sex divorce. According to the Houston Chronicle, a lesbian couple who were legally married in Massachusetts and later moved to Texas, have agreed to, and received a divorce....

You might be excused for thinking it is a snack of Greek origin, involving grape leaves. No, this is the Defense of Marriage Act, signed into law by President Clinton in 1996. DOMA is a federal law that defines marriage, with two key components. First, Section 2 allows states that do not themselves recognize marriages between same sex couples to refuse to recognize legal same sex marriages performed in other states that do, and second, Section 3 defines marriage for purposes of federal law as “a legal union between one man and one woman as husband and wife....

If your permanent resident status is based on a marriage, and that marriage is falling apart, you may be worried about your green card. Getting a divorce can be an emotionally and legally scary prospect, especially if you’re worried about being deported. While you may not lose your green card due to a divorce, you may have to file some extra paperwork. Immigration Services Conditions are placed on permanent residence to ensure that marriages aren’t attempts to evade immigration laws....

A 6-year-old boy was accidentally shot in the head with a .22 caliber rifle by his 4-year-old neighbor in Toms River, New Jersey. The shooting came days after another 4-year-old accidentally shot and killed the wife of a sheriff’s deputy in Lebanon, Tennessee, the Chicago Tribune reports. The accidental shootings raise questions about whether parents of small children can be sued for their children’s actions. Vicarious Liability State laws vary on parents’ civil liability for the acts of their minor children....

Earlier this week, the Labor Department announced that it would levy $1.7 million in fines on Ashley Furniture, one of the world’s largest furniture companies. The fines stem from a number of health and safety violations the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) found at Ashley’s factory in Arcadia, Wisconsin. What do small business owners need to know about this penalty? Signed into law in 1970, the OSH Act allows OSHA to craft regulations regarding workplace safety, which aren’t just handy guidelines; they’re the law....

In this day and age, it only makes sense that many schools are considering social media policies. While the use of social media sites like Facebook and Twitter can’t be regulated by schools at all times, what about in the classroom? And what about school-related posts? A private boarding school in New Hampshire, which provides a tablet to every teacher and student, may be setting an example for others. The New Hampton School has implemented three levels of social media policies....

Every successful small business needs a supply chain and relies heavily on having the right vendors and the right relationships with those vendors. So how do you stay on good terms with the businesses that keep you in business? By creating and maintaining open lines of communication, sharing customers’ expectations and future goals, and, most of all, avoiding a few common legal pitfalls. Here are some best practices for keep your vendor relationships health, productive, and legal....

Can you be fired for protesting? Substitute teacher Patricia McAllister was fired in mid-October after making a public comment about “Zionist Jews” at Occupy Los Angeles. Ten days later, Caitlin Curran, of public radio’s The Takeaway, was fired after a photo of her at Occupy Wall Street surfaced online. Were these women legally fired? And should other Occupy protesters be concerned? Ultimately, whether a person can be fired for protesting depends on state law and the terms of his or her employment contract....

Suing a school district may not be the most common way to resolve an issue with school administrators, but it is a course of action school employees, parents and families can take under certain circumstances. If a school violates someone’s rights or causes injury or harm, the injured party can seek compensation. Generally, suing a school district is an uphill battle for plaintiffs and involves a complex legal process. The first of many steps a plaintiff will need to take is to determine the grounds for the lawsuit against the school district....

The world (and the internet) is full of medical bill horror stories, from massive costs for uninsured patients undergoing extensive treatments to denied insurance claims wreaking havoc on families and loved ones. Getting stuck with a large medical bill can put a major crimp on your bank account, savings, credit score, and financial future. So how do you challenge a medical bill? It’s worth repeating that bills usually have a due date....

These days, more and more people live their lives online – chatting with friends, stalking an ex, trolling a public figure, and shopping for … everything. So, it makes sense that more and more of our conflicts will also have some web-based aspect to them. And while you may know how to sue your neighbor, or the business down the street, what happens when you have a problem with someone you’ve only dealt with over the internet?...

Did you know that Instacart shoppers went on strike on November 19 and 20? Probably not, that is, unless you read the news about it. Despite the negative press the company has gotten over the low wages that their independent contractor shoppers earn, an Insta-Shopper strike came and went without so much as a noticeable service disruption. This is likely due to the fact that the $3.4 billion company has some pretty deep pools of contractors....

A salmonella outbreak from alfalfa sprouts eaten at Illinois Jimmy John’s restaurants is being investigated by local and federal health agencies, the Chicago Sun-Times reports. After receiving 46 reports of Illinois residents falling ill from Jimmy John’s salmonella related illnesses since Nov. 1, the Illinois Department of Public Health is now investigating alfalfa sprout producers and suppliers. The elderly, infants and those with impaired immune systems are most susceptible to falling ill, the FDA stated....

We’ve been hearing a lot about Sheriff Joe Arpaio of Maricopa County, Arizona. In addition to his tough on crime chain gang tactices, he became a lightning rod for immigration debate by using a tremendous amount of his county’s resources to go after illegal immigrants under federal immigration laws. Then the feds clipped his wings a bit. So what’s the relationship between local police and federal immigration laws? First of all, some background....

Legal guardians can be appointed to take care of children and incapacitated adults. So how does one become a legal guardian? Becoming a legal guardian requires a court order. Once the guardianship relationship is established, the guardian will be legally responsible for the care and supervision of minors or adults who are unable to care for themselves. Here are the basic steps toward becoming a guardian: Need More Help? While you’re allowed to represent yourself at a guardianship hearing, it’s a good idea to at least consult a family law or probate and estate planning attorney for more guidance on how to present your case....

Martha Stewart’s company has settled a lawsuit by Macy’s over Stewart’s home products deal with rival retailer J.C. Penney. Martha Stewart Living Omnimedia Inc. gave Macy’s an exclusive contract to sell products from the “Martha Stewart Collection.” But Stewart’s company and J.C. Penney were able to find a “loophole” in the contract, CNNMoney reports. Though terms of the settlement were not disclosed, the corporate dispute provides a teachable moment for small business owners when it comes to contract law....