Monthly Archives: August 2014
Landlord’s Right of Entry – Plan Ahead for Problems and Opportunities
In landlord/tenant law, the general rule is that until the termination of the lease, the tenant has exclusive control and possession of the premises. Thus, the landlord has no right to enter the property during the term of the lease. To deal with this rule,… Continue reading
Latin Lovers
Some things are wrong because they are always wrong; other things are wrong only because the law says so. Acts that are malum in se (literally “wrong in itself”) are so inherently bad that all would agree that they should be punished. Murder and robbery… Continue reading
Saying Goodbye to the Capital Stock Tax – Again
One of the staple planning tools for real estate investors in Pennsylvania is the use of a limited partnership to own real estate. To retain the limited liability benefits that investors sought, these partnerships often featured a general partner that was a corporation or a… Continue reading
Quantum Meruit Claims: A Primer
One of the Hollywood moguls of the ’30’s coined the wonderful phrase: “An oral contract isn’t worth the paper it’s written on.” And that’s advice to be heeded. A well-drafted agreement (on paper, of course!) can cause parties to avoid litigation in transactions that fail… Continue reading
Queen’s English – Superlative Adjectives
There are certain adjectives which express an ultimate thought and should not be modified further; they are the superlative or uncomparable adjectives. They describe an absolute state so that any effort to add (or subtract) from their meanings results in either a contradiction or a… Continue reading
IRS Offers In Compromise
The Internal Revenue Service (“IRS”) has a little known program which provides for the settlement of tax debts for less than the full amount owed. Eligible taxpayers with significant tax debt that they cannot pay can make what is known as an “Offer in Compromise”… Continue reading
Good Neighbors
Restaurateurs and tavern owners have a duty to be respectful of their neighbors. The Pennsylvania Liquor Code regulates activity occurring under the licensee’s control on or about any licensed establishment, especially if that activity is at all related to the licensed facility. The Pennsylvania State… Continue reading