When COVID-19 hit the scene, Americans were taken by complete surprise. In the blink of an eye, life as we knew it changed with jobs coming to a screeching halt and social distancing becoming the norm. While many things may have changed, one did not – debt collectors are as aggressive and persistent as ever. The Current Situation With consumer
On January 12, 2021, Gov. Mike DeWine signed into law House Bill 352, the Employment Law Uniformity Act. The law becomes effective April 13, 2021 and makes significant changes to Ohio’s framework for addressing workplace discrimination claims as codified in Ohio Revised Code Chapter 4112. In addition to clarifying a number of issues, the law also contains some significant substantive
If you receive a summons and complaint or have been threatened with a lawsuit, you should know how a lawsuit works and what to expect. A lawsuit or even the threat of litigation can be an extremely stressful experience. Here are some tips on what to do if you’ve received a summons and are being sued: 1. Review the Complaint.
Good trademark selection is almost always a curious process. You want your client to select a distinctive and memorable mark, but not one that is too close to a competitor’s brand or one that is so descriptive that it’s unprotectable. The trademark selection and clearance process is sometimes a bit like navigating an American Ninja Warrior obstacle course. The United
At the heart of every criminal case is the evidence. Whether the defendant has been caught red-handed committing a crime, or there is less credible proof that a crime occurred at all, the prosecution, defense, and jury will all focus their attention on the strength of the evidence at hand. In fact, in some cases, evidence is the difference between
President Joe Biden has promised to reverse Trump’s hostile immigration agenda in his first 100 days. Some changes are expected to come quickly through executive orders and agency memos, but regulations and legislation could take months. UNDOING THE DAMAGE FROM DAY ONE Biden promises to reinstate DACA on day one. He’s also promised to include Dreamers in his education plan
We expect to see significant changes in environmental policy under the new Biden administration. There may be new, or at least reauthorized, environmental laws with Democrats now holding the Presidency and narrow majorities in both houses. President Biden affirmed that climate change is a top priority by appointing former Secretary of State John Kerry as the nation’s “climate czar,” a
So often as an attorney who primarily practices in the area of divorce and family law, I hear people say, “But that’s not fair.” It is an interesting thing because the goal of a divorce settlement is for it to be equitable, but is equitable always fair? I hear this so much, I often wonder why is it that most
PAYING MEAL AND REST PERIOD PREMIUMS AT THE EMPLOYEES’ HOURLY RATE California Labor Code Section 226.7 requires that employers pay employees one additional hour of pay at the employees’ “regular rate of compensation” for the failure to provide compliant meal and rest periods. Employers and the Department of Labor Standards Enforcement have always calculated this “premium” at the employees’ regular
One way employers responded to George Floyd’s murder was to institute, reaffirm or enhance initiatives to improve diversity, inclusion and equity in the workplace. That’s great news, of course; diversity is good for everyone. But there is business risk requiring purposeful assessment: can D&I efforts constitute “discrimination” against traditionally favored groups, or at least be construed or weaponized as such,
When COVID-19 hit the scene, Americans were taken by complete surprise. In the blink of an eye, life as we knew it changed with jobs coming to a screeching halt and social distancing becoming the norm. While many things may have changed, one did not – debt collectors are as aggressive and persistent as ever. The Current Situation With consumer
On January 12, 2021, Gov. Mike DeWine signed into law House Bill 352, the Employment Law Uniformity Act. The law becomes effective April 13, 2021 and makes significant changes to Ohio’s framework for addressing workplace discrimination claims as codified in Ohio Revised Code Chapter 4112. In addition to clarifying a number of issues, the law also contains some significant substantive
If you receive a summons and complaint or have been threatened with a lawsuit, you should know how a lawsuit works and what to expect. A lawsuit or even the threat of litigation can be an extremely stressful experience. Here are some tips on what to do if you’ve received a summons and are being sued: 1. Review the Complaint.
Good trademark selection is almost always a curious process. You want your client to select a distinctive and memorable mark, but not one that is too close to a competitor’s brand or one that is so descriptive that it’s unprotectable. The trademark selection and clearance process is sometimes a bit like navigating an American Ninja Warrior obstacle course. The United
At the heart of every criminal case is the evidence. Whether the defendant has been caught red-handed committing a crime, or there is less credible proof that a crime occurred at all, the prosecution, defense, and jury will all focus their attention on the strength of the evidence at hand. In fact, in some cases, evidence is the difference between
President Joe Biden has promised to reverse Trump’s hostile immigration agenda in his first 100 days. Some changes are expected to come quickly through executive orders and agency memos, but regulations and legislation could take months. UNDOING THE DAMAGE FROM DAY ONE Biden promises to reinstate DACA on day one. He’s also promised to include Dreamers in his education plan
We expect to see significant changes in environmental policy under the new Biden administration. There may be new, or at least reauthorized, environmental laws with Democrats now holding the Presidency and narrow majorities in both houses. President Biden affirmed that climate change is a top priority by appointing former Secretary of State John Kerry as the nation’s “climate czar,” a
So often as an attorney who primarily practices in the area of divorce and family law, I hear people say, “But that’s not fair.” It is an interesting thing because the goal of a divorce settlement is for it to be equitable, but is equitable always fair? I hear this so much, I often wonder why is it that most
PAYING MEAL AND REST PERIOD PREMIUMS AT THE EMPLOYEES’ HOURLY RATE California Labor Code Section 226.7 requires that employers pay employees one additional hour of pay at the employees’ “regular rate of compensation” for the failure to provide compliant meal and rest periods. Employers and the Department of Labor Standards Enforcement have always calculated this “premium” at the employees’ regular
One way employers responded to George Floyd’s murder was to institute, reaffirm or enhance initiatives to improve diversity, inclusion and equity in the workplace. That’s great news, of course; diversity is good for everyone. But there is business risk requiring purposeful assessment: can D&I efforts constitute “discrimination” against traditionally favored groups, or at least be construed or weaponized as such,
