Commercial leases are complex and can be intimidating to tenants who may have less power in negotiations. Even worse, the effects of a bad lease can last for years. If you must move or if your business fails, you may still be on the hook for payments. That’s why it’s crucial that you fully understand…
Are you ready for “gotcha” claims? That’s where someone deliberately goes looking for companies to sue for violating a law. For example, a client recently received a letter from an attorney claiming that they had violated the Fair Chance Act of New York City (“FCA”) and seeking $3,000 in fines, penalties and legal fees. Under…
Small business owners often juggle multiple responsibilities which can leave them vulnerable to neglecting important protections for their business. They also may feel they don’t need or cannot afford legal help so they will handle legal matters themselves. Unfortunately, the DIY approach is difficult to manage when there are so many different areas that can…
The “Me Too” movement has sparked discussions about how people treat each other in the workplace. While the “Me Too” movement primarily relates to sexual harassment in the workplace, employers must also be cognizant of the growing issue of violence/bullying that not only exists in workplace settings, but is as frequent and consequential as sexual…
The start of a new year is a good time to look back at what personal and financial changes have occurred over the last year and how they may impact your estate plan. Even if you don’t have to worry about an estate tax, you still should review your estate plan to ensure you are…
The new year brings new changes to employment laws enacted by the legislatures in New York State, New York City and Long Island. The more employers know about their obligations, the less risk of liability they face. The following is a summary of the new rules: New York State Paid Leave Changes This law went…
Earlier this year, New York passed a law requiring all employers to provide annual sexual harassment prevention training to employees as well as comply with other requirements. Although the Department of Labor published guidance for employers on what the training must include, there is still confusion about several key points: Training deadline. The training deadline…
Election day is coming on November 6, and like many states, New York has a voting leave law which imposes certain obligations on employers. Do you know that you may have to give time off to employees to vote? While there is no federal law governing voting leave, New York Election Law § 3-110 provides…
When was the last time you checked your IRA accounts to see who you named as beneficiary? Certain types of accounts and insurance policies, which provide for a beneficiary designation, such as 401(k) plans, IRA accounts, life insurance policies and bank and brokerage accounts are not generally part of your probate estate when you die….
As you are hopefully aware, in April 2018, Governor Cuomo signed into law a comprehensive policy requiring all New York State employers to provide sexual harassment prevention training and a sexual harassment prevention policy to all employees. The Governor tasked the Department of Labor (“DOL”) and Division of Human Rights with promulgating the exact requirements,…
A recent Newsday article reported that a Smithtown body shop had to pay $400,000 to settle federal charges that it failed to properly pay employees overtime. That amount includes $185,000 in back wages, $185,000 in damages and $30,000 in civil penalties. Violations of wage and hour laws carry significant liability (and notoriety) that few businesses…
No one wants to think about what would happen if they or a family member suddenly became ill or was seriously injured. Unfortunately, when we don’t plan for such possibilities, it can cost us in terms of loss of control over medical decisions, added stress and significant financial and legal problems. There are 3 important…
