Yearly Archives: 2013
Has your Car Suffered “Diminished Value”?
The concept of money damages for “diminished value” (beyond the cost of repair) as a result of repairs to a motor vehicle following an automobile accident is becoming more widespread and more well known. Assume that as you were driving your two year old vehicle… Continue reading
Is Your Will Over 3 Years Old?
When was the last time you looked at your will? If it is more than a few years old, recent legislation, coupled with changes in your own circumstances, may have caused your existing will to become obsolete. Consider: Many older wills typically used complicated trust… Continue reading
Legislature Resolves Landlord’s Dilemma Regarding Abandoned Property
In the past, we often received calls from landlord clients about what to do with personal property that tenants have left on the leased premises. In many cases, the landlord had already arranged for a new tenant and was not certain about his or her… Continue reading
The Queen’s (Somewhat Fractured) English
The Queen’s (Somewhat Fractured) English Among the many gifts Baseball has bestowed upon us are two notable philosophers, Casey Stengel and Yogi Berra. Both have left a legacy of wonderful aphorisms, which often appear to be contradictory, but somehow most make sense. You judge. Casey: Most… Continue reading
Non-Cash Contributions to Limited Liability Companies
We are frequently met with a situation where one or more individuals wish to form a limited liability company to engage in a new business or real estate enterprise. Limited liability companies are preferred vehicles for many such endeavors because they combine low maintenance and… Continue reading
Parenting Coordinators: A Good Concept Gone Awry?
Courtroom angst often rises to extreme heights in proceedings involving custody of children. Most of these cases are ancillary to divorce actions which have the parents embittered before they ever walk into the courtroom. Add to that the parties’ fear of having custody of their… Continue reading
Auto Accidents: A Checklist
For many people, traffic mishaps are an unfortunate fact of life. A proper reaction can reduce injuries and costs as well as accelerate the clean-up and repair process. The time to prepare for an accident is before one happens, when heads are cool, calm and… Continue reading
Car Rental Company’s Inflated Damage Claim May Violate Consumer Protection Law
In a decision handed down last month, Grimes v. Enterprise Leasing Company of Philadelphia, LLC, the Pennsylvania Superior Court addressed the issue of whether a car rental company could be liable to its customer under the Unfair Trade Practices and Consumer Protection Law (“UTPCPL”) for… Continue reading
Joint Wills, Mixed Families and the “Disinherited” Stepchild
The most common estate planning scenario we see is the “joint will” between spouses. For example, husband gives everything to wife, unless she predeceases him, in which case everything goes to the kids. Likewise, wife, in her will, gives everything to husband, unless he dies… Continue reading
Crimes and Misdemeanors
The criminal law of Pennsylvania is largely codified in a lengthy statute known as the Pennsylvania Crimes Code, taking up several book volumes of the Pennsylvania Statutes. The Crimes Code covers everything from “petty theft” to “grand larceny”, from “simple assault” to “murder”. Criminal conduct… Continue reading