Yearly Archives: 2018

Hurricane Florence – Protecting Yourself from Charity Scams

We are lucky, here in southeastern Pennsylvania, to not be too heavily affected by the yearly hurricane season. Amid all of the cooperation, generosity and heroism shown during such events, there is also a disheartening and much different phenomenon: scam artists posing as charities that… Continue reading

Burdens of Proof

When it comes to the burden of proof in a courtroom, two important questions arise:  What is the burden of proof, and who has it? In criminal cases the burden of proof is always on the prosecutor since the accused has a constitutional right to… Continue reading

Breweries, Limited Wineries and Distilleries

Pennsylvania is in the midst of a “craft” transformation. This phenomenon includes alcoholic beverages such as beer, wine and spirits. Consumers have increasingly been demanding products that are locally sourced and made in small batches of quality ingredients designed to meet the taste and preferences… Continue reading

Estates and Installment Sale Obligations

In our estates practice we frequently find debts held in an estate that are owed by a family member of the decedent. Frequently these loans are forgiven or are distributed out to the debtor (usually a child of the decedent) pursuant to the terms of… Continue reading

Congratulations Bill Brennan!

Join us in congratulating Bill Brennan and his family on their latest acquisition — TWINS! (Bill could never be satisfied with just one grandchild! Bill’s daughter Liz recently gave birth to twin daughters.  All are doing well and Bill is thrilled to be a Grandfather. … Continue reading

What is the Difference Between an H (Hotel) and an R (Restaurant) Liquor License in Pennsylvania?

The two most common retail liquor licenses in Pennsylvania are the H license or hotel license and the R license or restaurant license. Virtually all restaurants and taverns serving alcohol in the Commonwealth utilize one of these two types of licenses.  In recent years the… Continue reading

Security for a Loan

If you loan money to someone, whether to an individual or to a business, you should try to obtain security (collateral) for your loan, in case the borrower defaults.  When you buy a car, if you finance the purchase, the lender puts a “lien” on… Continue reading

The Commonwealth’s 6th Auction for Expired R-Licenses

The bidding process for the sixth auction for expired restaurant licenses is now open.  The Commonwealth is offering 25 expired restaurant licenses in a sealed bid auction.  There will be one license offered in the following 25 counties:           Bids for… Continue reading

Queen’s English: Words That Can Fool You

What follows are several words that can sound alike, but can confuse and be easily be misused: Affect and Effect.  Affect is always a verb and is meant to influence (“The rain affected the score.”).  Effect can be a noun (the “consequence of”) or a… Continue reading

Buying Real Estate for Your Business

It is common for businesses to lease the real estate upon which the business is operated. However, it sometimes makes sense to own the real estate upon which you run your business. What factors do you need to consider before purchasing real estate to use… Continue reading