Monthly Archives: April 2012
Paternity by Estoppel?
In a legal proceeding involving the paternity of a child, one of the strongest presumptions at law is that, absent some irrefutable and clear evidence to the contrary, the child will be deemed to be the natural child of the husband. Until recently in applying… Continue reading
Nonconformity and Abandonment in Zoning (Don’t Abandon Your Nonconforming Grandfather!)
While it seems like they have been with us forever, zoning ordinances are relatively recent in origin. Many local municipalities began to adopt zoning ordinances in the middle of the twentieth century, typically in the 1950’s and 1960’s. Prior to that time there was little… Continue reading
Corporate Officers Making Personal Promises
It is a well settled rule of law that a corporation generally shields the actions of officers, directors and employees from personal liability when they engage in company business. In fact, the main purpose of corporate formation is to shield an individual or individuals from liability… Continue reading
Beneficiary Designations and Divorce
One potential consideration of divorcing spouses is changing beneficiary designations on insurance policies, IRAs, 401(k)s, etc. Usually, this is simply a clerical change that can be done by revising a beneficiary designation form. Notwithstanding the ease of completing such forms, historically many divorced individuals failed… Continue reading
Mayhem
By this time most of us are probably familiar with the quasi-comical “Mayhem” character used in the television commercials of a certain national insurance company. However, the original meaning of the word was far less humorous and had nothing to do with damaging, one’s car,… Continue reading
Name Games
Juliet: “What’s in a name? That which we call a rose / by any other name would smell as sweet.” (Romeo and Juliet, Act 2 Scene 2). As I grew up, I came to realize that I bore the same name as the Honorable William… Continue reading
Labor Law Update
Beginning January 31, 2012, most private sector employers in the U.S. are required to post an “Employee Rights Under the National Labor Relations Act” poster. This poster, which is required under a National Labor Relations Board Rule finalized last summer, provides a list of rights… Continue reading