Posts written by buteralaw

Kevin Palmer Addresses PBI Seminars

   Kevin Palmer was a featured lecturer last month in separate seminars for attorneys sponsored by the Pennsylvania Bar Institute, speaking on Pennsylvania real estate law in both Philadelphia and Mechanicsburg.  The seminars, entitled “A Family of Laws for the Family Lawyer”, brought together specialized… Continue reading

Dramshop Concept Stretched

A dramshop is a bar.  The name has evolved from the Middle Ages in England when drinks were sold by the dram which is one-eighth of an ounce. Under the Liquor Code in Pennsylvania (and similar statutes in most states) it is illegal to serve… Continue reading

Queen’s English — Those Pesky Capitals (and even Peskier Relatives!)

If you have ever been uncertain regarding the capitalization of titles, the following rules may assist: (a)  Do not capitalize doctor, madam (or madame), sir, or similar names unless they occur before a proper name. We say, “the doctor will be unable to see you”;… Continue reading

The State of Eminent Domain in the State

Last year the Supreme Court of the United States agreed to hear the eminent domain case Kelo v. City of New London. Eminent domain is the power of a governmental entity to take private real estate for public use, with or without the permission of… Continue reading

The Queen’s English — Parenthetically Speaking

The parenthesis is often used to enclose incidental explanatory matters in a sentence.  Normally the sentence is complete without the information in parenthesis which is inserted to add color or explanation but contains information not vital to the meaning of the sentence.  Have you ever… Continue reading

Business Valuation

Before purchasing or selling a business, it is essential to determine the value of the targeted business.  Without knowing the value of a business, a purchaser will not be in a position to make an informed offer.  He or she will either overpay for the… Continue reading

New Resident Obtaining Driver’s License and Registration

 Moving presents all sorts of annoyances and hassles.  This is especially the case when one moves to a new state.  As our society becomes more mobile, individuals are more apt to move to another state than their parents.  Because each state has different laws regarding… Continue reading

The Limits of At-Will Employment

Pennsylvania is an at-will employment state, which means that an employer can terminate the employment of an employee for any or no reason, so long as it is not an illegal reason.    The at-will employment doctrine allows either the employer or the employee to terminate… Continue reading

Latin Lovers

The term “bona fide” crops up throughout the legal profession, and most of us probably have some sense of what the term means.  However, more often than not, the term “bona fide” is used improperly or ambiguously.    Literally, bona fide means simply “good faith.“ … Continue reading

The Covenant Not to Compete– Too Much of a Good Thing?

    In a recent decision US District Judge Stewart B. Dalzell ruled on a covenant not to compete of an employer in Telford, PA.  (Fresco Systems USA, Inc. v. Bodell).  Fresco, which supplies packaging supplies for companies that roast and package coffee, enters into written… Continue reading