Posts written by buteralaw

Small Games of Chance

Last year Governor Corbett signed into law an update to the Local Option Small Games of Chance Act which took effect in late January.  The revised law allows liquor licensees with hotel (H), restaurant (R), and privately owned public golf course (C) licenses to obtain… Continue reading

The Queen’s English – Beat Them Back If You Can

In the last Sunday of December of each year in the New York Times, Timothy Egan provides us with a list of words which might have been colorful at one time but whose overuse has caused them to become pallid clichés and candidates for his… Continue reading

Latin Lovers 2014

Most lawsuits are personal in nature, reflecting claims brought against individuals or legal entities such as corporations, limited liability companies and the like (all of which are considered legal “persons”).  Such personal claims are referred to as in personam actions.  There is another form of… Continue reading

No Good Deed Goes Unpunished — Landlords Protect Yourselves

You only have to get burned once to realize that trying to be a benevolent landlord can cost you a lot of money and sleep. I represent large landlords, which lease hundreds of residential units, and they are keenly aware that, while it is important… Continue reading

Queen’s English Evolving Synonyms

Meanings of words change over time mostly because of general usage.  It is not uncommon for purists, who usually wish to preserve our language “as is”, to be offended by these changes; but often to resist them is to try to reverse the changing tides.… Continue reading

What is a Spendthrift Trust

The laws of most states, including Pennsylvania, provide for the creation of “spendthrift trusts”.  A spendthrift trust is, as its name suggests, a type of trust in which the trust assets are immune from creditors of the beneficiaries of the trust.  Generally, such a trust… Continue reading

Estate Taxes are Probably Not Your Problem: Simplify Your Will, Review Your Estate Planning Devices

As we have noted in this newsletter on a number of occasions in the past year and a half, the federal estate tax has become a non-issue for most married couples, and opportunities to simplify estate plans now abound.  In 2014, one individual will be… Continue reading

Fore II

In our continuing effort to keep you abreast of the latest news in golf liability (OK, it’s December – maybe we can’t play golf but we can write about it!) we bring you a recent case from New Jersey: A golfer playing a ball on… Continue reading

Update on Prior Articles

We had previously written about two important cases that are now on appeal to the Pennsylvania Supreme Court. The first was Bricklayers of Western Pennsylvania Combined Funds, Inc. v. Scott Development Company (2012), in which the Pennsylvania Superior Court reversed a decision by the trial… Continue reading

On The Move…

March 1, 2014 will be an important date for the Firm as we relocate our offices . . . a few steps away! With our existing Lease at Suite 212 coming to an end after nearly 25 years we were presented with the opportunity to… Continue reading