Monthly Archives: February 2010
When is a Worker an Independent Contractor or an Employee
There is often a fine line between an employee and an independent contractor. When should a worker be considered an employee or an independent contractor? The distinction between the two can have significant implications for both the worker and the business owner. An… Continue reading
An Irrepressible Tide, Pardner!
As quiet as it is irrepressible, the game of “Texas Hold’em” has become universal over the past decade. It is a form of draw poker, and it is especially popular in bars. At the start of each game, usually the players put $1 or $2… Continue reading
Employee Claims and Bankruptcy
We have seen an uptick in the number of employees or former employees of bankrupt companies that seek help filing “proof of claim” forms. An employee who has been terminated either before or after the date that his employer has entered into bankruptcy should… Continue reading
Joint Ownership of Bank Accounts
In related articles in this and recent issues, we have discussed the effect of joint ownership of bank accounts. In one article we noted the general rule that the right of survivorship (which causes the ownership of the entire account to pass to the surviving… Continue reading
Cell Phone Records and the Fourth Amendment
On February 12, 2010, the Third Circuit Court of Appeals heard oral argument on what is, surprisingly, an issue of first impression: can the federal government subpoena a person’s cell phone records from its mobile phone provider without a showing of probable cause that the… Continue reading
Haiti Charitable Contributions Deductible for 2009
Under legislation just passed by Congress, taxpayers who make donations for the Haiti relief effort during 2010 would be able to deduct those donations on their 2009 tax returns which are due to be filed by April 15, 2010. The obvious purpose of the legislation… Continue reading