The National Labor Relations Board (NLRB)’s general counsel ruffled a few feathers last month by finding that employees who skip work to protest could be protected from termination under the National Labor Relations Act (NLRA). This has the potential to be a pretty startling finding for employers with politically active employees . . . soRead More
Resources
Don’t Get Whammed for Spam
It is tough to think of a business that does not use email marketing in 2018, but did you know that you can be subject to penalties of more than $40,000 if you violate Federal “spam” regulations? It’s true, and it’s unfortunately easy to make a mistake. We’ll provide the basics in this email, but,Read More
Can My Personal Injury Settlement Be Taken Away From Me By Someone Else?
Believe it or not, this issue came up recently. I have changed the facts a bit, but imagine the following scenario: A friend is involved in two lawsuits, one as a plaintiff in a personal injury case, and another one as a defendant. In the first case, he expects that the case will eventually settleRead More
Independent Contractor Violations Continue: How to Avoid the Heat in 2018
Hiring someone to work for your company that you call an independent contractor can be risky, particularly because making a mistake can lead to so many federal and state agencies pouncing on a mistake. The bottom line – to be an independent contractor, they really need to have their own company, that they have beenRead More
Partly at Fault?
You Can Recover Damages, Even If You Made a Mistake
Many cases we take involve some fault by our clients. Picture the following examples: You are driving above the speed limit when another vehicle pulls out in front of you and T-bones your car. You are crossing the street against the walk signal when a car runs a red light and hits you in theRead More
Update: Don’t Forget About Your Interns… Should You be Paying Them?
Should you be paying your interns? The federal Department of Labor (“DOL”) isn’t forgetting about this issue, and you shouldn’t either. Last year, we published an article on the factors the DOL was using to determine whether interns should be paid or whether a company could legally not pay their intern hire. Last month, theRead More
Is your settlement taxable?
Are The Proceeds Of Your Personal Injury Settlement Taxable?
A common question plaintiffs ask is whether they are required to pay taxes on the money they receive to settle a claim for personal injuries. The answer is generally no, and the reason for the rule is relatively simple. The IRS does not count compensation for personal physical injuries or physical sickness as income. LookRead More
When to take action
Injured By Someone Else? Take Action Before The Evidence Disappears!
If you are injured in an accident caused by the carelessness of another person, you should not wait to contact a lawyer. Most good lawyers will never pressure you to file a lawsuit; however, all good lawyers will want to begin investigating your case right away. Swift action immediately after an accident can make aRead More
Understand Your Insurance: CGL Coverage
ST&A Construction Law Bulletin: Many contractors and project owners enter into contracts or projects with a false sense of security because the contractor has an insurance policy with limits that exceed the value of the project. If a dispute arises over allegedly defective work, everybody assumes insurance will take care of the problem. Often, thatRead More
Drug Testing?
Thinking about doing drug testing or expanding existing testing? Maine law contains strict rules about testing – in fact, you can’t do drug testing in Maine without state approval. The Central Maine Human Resources Association will be addressing the issue of drug impairment in the workplace on February 20 (go to www.cmhra.org), a helpful first step if consideringRead More