I recently came across an article that illustrated how little most people understand about repossessions. This can be a confusing aspect of the law. To make matters worse, repossessions are often wrapped up with the emotions that come with the ownership, or at least possession, of property.
Read MoreGranting a conservation land easement to a charitable organization or city can be a pretty good deal for taxpayers. Frequently in residential and mixed-use development, the developer will opt to conserve land as “open space” in order to enhance the esthetic appeal of the residential community.
Read MoreAs predicted, the leaked Panama Papers—11.5 million documents detailing the use of anonymous shell corporations to conceal wealth and avoid taxes by some of the richest and most prominent members of society—have now spurred an investigation by the U.S.’ Department of Justice into the international tax avoidance schemes exposed therein.
Read MoreThe Fourth Amendment of the U.S. Constitution requires that searches and seizures be “reasonable”.[1] Generally, a search or seizure is considered unreasonable unless based on probable cause.
Read MoreA lawsuit filed late last week alleges that the fees PACER charges for user access to public court filings are too high. Lawyers, law firms, and the public use the Public Access to Court Electronic Records system to view and download documents that are electronically filed with federal courts all over the country.
Read MoreIn 2014 a unanimous Supreme Court found that, absent extreme circumstances, cellphones cannot be searched without a warrant.
Read MoreRather than risking a potential loss that would turn its business model on its head, ride-sharing giant Uber recently settled two class action lawsuits brought by its drivers in Massachusetts and California for $100 million dollars.
Read MoreReal estate is a common investment among professionals and people of moderate and high income levels, especially for generating income for retirement.
Read MoreMany practitioners assume the gain recognized from the sale of real estate will be taxed at capital gain rates. With the exception of selling a primary residence, this can be a hazardous assumption.
Read MoreBreaches of data security are becoming commonplace for United States companies, exposing users’ private financial information and companies’ own trade secrets to the public.
Read MoreAn unlawful search is one where a person acting on behalf of the government conducts a search without a warrant (unless an exception to the warrant requirement applies) in an area where a person has a reasonable expectation of privacy. So, where exactly does one have a “reasonable expectation of privacy?
Read MoreMost people assume that estate planning and asset protection planning are two completely distinct endeavors. That belief is due, in part, to the fact that certain common elements of estate planning (like living trusts) have negligible efficacy in asset protection.
Read MoreThis didn’t sit well with the Author’s Guild who released a statement that “[t]he price of this short-term public benefit may well be the future vitality of American culture.”
Read MoreRide sharing has become increasingly popular in major cities across the United States, as technological advances have brought smartphones with internet and user-friendly app services to the palms of our hands. Ride sharing companies, such as Uber, have changed the way many of us commute, leaving the use of taxis a relic in many of our minds.
Read MorePun intended. Apologies. On Thursday a ruling was issued in an interesting case involving a client’s malpractice suit against its former tax lawyers for allegedly mishandling a lease transaction.
Read MoreSurprising to some—and unsurprising to many—one in five of the largest profitable U.S. corporations paid absolutely no federal income tax in 2012.[1] Indeed, those corporations paid average federal income tax rates of only a measly 14% from 2008 to 2012
Read MoreOn March 30, 2016, the US Supreme Court in a 5-3 decision ruled that a federal law allowing courts to order pretrial freezes on assets untainted or unrelated to a crime violates the Sixth Amendment right to effective assistance of counsel for defendants who are unable to pay their lawyers as a result of such orders.
Read MoreFederal agencies are speaking out against contractual provisions that apparently bar employees from reporting information about their companies to the government.
Read MoreOn Thursday April 7, 2016, a first draft of the United States Senate’s Compliance with Court Orders Act, an anti-security bill, was released.[1] The Senate members responsible for this bill are Senators Dianne Feinstein from California and Richard Burr from North Carolina.
Read MoreApple, Inc., and the FBI recently locked horns regarding the encryption of iPhones related to the San Bernardino terrorists.[1] It seems that the Justice Department is looking for a back door that doesn’t require taking on one of the world’s most powerful companies.
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