Monthly Archives: June 2006
The Right of First Refusal: No Time to be Casual
One of the most commonly used devices in real estate is the right of first refusal (“ROFR”). A tenant may be given a ROFR by a landlord to buy the leased premises if the landlord wishes to sell at any time while the lease is… Continue reading
Queen’s English He/She/It/Their/Them
The rule is that which requires pronouns to agree in case with the noun (or pronoun) it refers to. “All of the boys wore their coats.” Both all and their are plural, and all is well. But in “Everyone must wear their coats,” everyone is… Continue reading
Expungement – Oops, Don’t Do It Again
Say your son is away at college, and one night you get a call that he’s been picked up for DUI. Although he only had a few drinks, he is nevertheless guilty of the offense. After you’ve finished strangling him, you hire a good lawyer… Continue reading
Changes in Medicare and Prescription Drug Access
There has been much talk in this year’s Presidential Election about the Medicare Prescription Drug Law. Passed in December 2003, the Medicare Modernization Act, as it is being called, provides for a temporary benefit, the Prescription Drug Discount Card Program which is in effect now… Continue reading
Latin Lovers
If nothing else, lawyers always have an argument. Ad Hominem is a type of argument which desperate lawyers sometimes employ (and experienced judges frown upon) where the facts and/or the applicable law are not terribly helpful. Literally the term means “to the man,” and amounts… Continue reading
Partition: Breaking Up May Not Be Hard To Do
The purpose of the legal action known as partition is to allow joint owners of property, who no longer desire to own that particular property, to divest themselves of ownership for reasonable and fair compensation. While a partition action can be used for personal property,… Continue reading
Falling Trees
If a tree falls and nobody is there to hear it, does it make a sound? Yes, especially if the tree started on your property and fell on your neighbor’s house.If a tree rooted on your side of the property line falls across the property… Continue reading
The Barnes Foundation’s Move to the Parkway Approved
The wonderful collection of Dr. Albert Barnes, including hundreds of paintings of the Impressionist Masters, is soon to be relocated to a new site on Philadelphia’s Benjamin Franklin Parkway. The highly anticipated decision was rendered by Judge Stanley Ott, and unless the students who protested… Continue reading
Employers Beware: Wage Payment and Collection Law
The Pennsylvania Wage Payment and Collection Law (“WPCL”) provides a statutory cause of action for employees against employers and responsible individuals; it allows an employee to sue for unpaid wages and recover additional damages of 25% of the unpaid amount and counsel fees. The WPCL… Continue reading
7 Tips for Financial Well-Being
Here are some quick tips to consider in the coming year to improve your financial picture: Get rid of high interest credit card debt by refinancing or using a home equity second mortgage at lower interest rates. The interest may become deductible and the overall… Continue reading