Posts written by buteralaw
Planning for Nursing Home Costs
As the cost of nursing care skyrockets, we seem to be receiving more and more inquiries concerning nursing home planning. Unfortunately, such questions are typically asked a few weeks or even days before nursing home care is inevitable. By this time it is usually too… Continue reading
Increasing Estate Tax Exemption
For many years, the federal estate tax scheme provided essentially that by virtue of a dollar-for-dollar credit against the federal estate and gift tax liability (the “unified credit”), up to $600,000 worth of property could be sheltered from estate tax. As a result, basic estate… Continue reading
Avoiding Wage/Hour Problems
Here is a short quiz to see how your business is doing at avoiding some common wage/hour pitfalls: 1. Can an employer avoid paying overtime to employees because of their job titles or the fact that they get paid a “salary” (the same amount every… Continue reading
Your Tenant’s Bankruptcy – All is Not Leased
Despite the booming economy, bankruptcy filings are up, and consumer bankruptcy filings are way up. If you have ever been on the receiving end of a “Notice of Commencement of Case” from the Bankruptcy Court, you know the sinking feeling that you are not going… Continue reading
The Queen’s English – Beaten and Beleaguered, but Unbowed: The Comma!
Someone has estimated that the comma may be used as much as all other forms of punctuation combined. Far too many times a better word is misused.Fear of the unknown (i.e., when and when not to use it) leads many to insert the comma injudiciously… Continue reading
Latin Lovers ’99
At the conclusion of a civil trial (a car accident case, for example) the jury finds for the injured pedestrian against the driver of the car which hit her. The defense lawyer jumps up and asks for a judgment non obstante veredicto. What does the… Continue reading
Copyright – All Rights Reserved
Have you ever stopped to notice how prevalent intellectual property has become in our daily lives? Most brand names of products or services seem to carry the designations “©,” “©,” or ” “; many inventions display the “patent” or “patent pending” notices; and with barely… Continue reading
It’s Election Year (Break Out the Clown Hats!)
Given the enormous success of our economy over the past decade, the vast influence of the U.S. culture especially through the internet and satellite television across the globe, and this county’s undisputed military might, it is fair to say that our President occupies the most… Continue reading
Pointers on Points – The License You Save May Be Your Own
You need not be nick-named “leadfoot” to get speeding tickets. The police and local officials know that there are roads where everyone exceeds the posted limit. In fact, many roads in our area would be eternally grid-locked if the limits were strictly enforced. However, local… Continue reading
Finally, Res Judicata
Contrary to what some non-lawyers might think, res judicata is not the name of the latest trendy disco, nor is it the most recent Latin pop music phenomenon to hit our shores. Instead, it is an important legal doctrine which promotes finality in court cases.… Continue reading