At a car dealership, a long-standing and trusted salesperson colluded with an accomplice to submit fraudulent loan applications, inflating vehicle prices and trade-in values. They pocketed a significant portion of the loan proceeds, eventually getting caught through an internal audit, leading to legal action and the dealership’s efforts to recover the funds and restore its…
Artificial Intelligence (AI) is revolutionizing various industries in America; however, scammers are taking advantage of its increased usage and sophistication to perpetrate fraud. Car dealerships are a prime target for AI frauds because they deal with high-value transactions and collect sensitive customer information. Scammers may pose as legitimate car buyers, use fake identities, or steal…
IT’S A BRAVE NEW WORLD… As you probably have already heard, ChatGPT is an artificial intelligence (AI) system that provides a vast array of information including legal advice. The system, which was developed by a Silicon Valley startup, uses natural language processing and machine learning to answer basic legal questions. As a search engine, it…
Employers for decades have performed drug tests on employees to determine if they are fit for employment on a day-to-day basis. Often drug testing was only performed as a qualification for employment. In other cases, employers would do routine drug testing to ensure that employees were not using illegal drugs once employed. In other instances,…
As car dealerships continue to evolve and grow during this time of flux related to technology advancements, supply chain issues and the effects of the COVID pandemic, Schwartz Ettenger has identified numerous employee-related issues that we recommend addressing now to ensure continued success of your dealership(s). The top ten employee-related issues facing car dealers today…
Parents who have children battling addiction or struggling with mental illness are often too consumed with the daily care and concern for their child to give consideration to the future and how their son or daughter will be cared for when they are gone, or whether their child will be able to manage the assets…
What Is Succession Planning? To put it in a nutshell, the term ‘succession planning’ refers to a business strategy companies use to pass leadership roles down to the next generation. After years of hard work and personal sacrifice, succession planning ensures that businesses continue to run smoothly and without interruption, after important people move on…
As legalization, regulation and rising acceptance of the cannabis industry, for both medical and recreational use, gains momentum in New York state and around the nation, numerous opportunities – and challenges – face this industry and its affiliated businesses. Whether it’s asset protection, regulatory compliance and risk management, labor and employment-related disputes, negotiating, reviewing, and…
Are you recently widowed, or do you have a close friend or relative who has lost a spouse? During such a difficult time, with so much to take care of, panic can set in as you begin navigating the probate process – don’t panic, the professionals at Schwartz Ettenger can help! Not everyone needs to…
Twenty years ago, I was sitting in my office when I got a call from a client who had just been served a lawsuit under the Americans with Disabilities Act (“ADA”) for not having handicapped access to its restaurant. Amongst other things, the lawsuit alleged that the restaurant did not have an ADA compliant ramp…
The Fall Meeting of the National Association of Dealer Counsel (NADC) in Chicago is always an informative meeting for me, where I can learn about the latest legal and business issues from fellow attorneys representing dealerships nationwide and attorneys working for the National Automobile Dealers Association (NADA). Here are some highlights of the issues from…
Three of our attorneys have been named to the 2022 Super Lawyers, New York Metro Edition in the following categories: Lee A. Schwartz, Esq., Founding Member (Corporate Law, Real Estate Law), Jeffrey S. Ettenger, Esq., Member (Employment Law) and Marci S. Goldfarb, Esq., Senior Counsel (Trusts and Estates). Additionally, Kevin E. Timson, Esq., Counsel (Car…
