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Friday Factoid: Marshawn Lynch Applies to Register His Oft-Used Catchphrase
This content has been archived. It may no longer be relevantOne may file an “intent to use” application to seek the USPTO’s authorization to register a mark before the applicant commences use of the mark. On February 18, 2015, media averse Seattle Seahawks’ running back Marshawn Lynch applied for the USPTO to register I’M JUST…
How Small Businesses Can Reduce Their Third-Party Cybersecurity Liability
In a survey published last June, PricewaterhouseCoopers found that the majority of U.S. businesses are unprepared for a cybersecurity breach. Indeed, fewer than half (44%) have implemented processes for evaluating third parties before entering into agreements with them, and only 31% include security provisions in contracts with external vendors and suppliers. For small and mid-sized…
The Weekly Scenario: IRAs & Based Adjustments
Question: Do IRA’s receive a so-called based adjustment at the owner’s death? Answer: No, after an IRA owner dies, if he or she had tax basis, his beneficiary inherits that basis (not a basis adjustment based on a new fair market value), which is distributed tax free using the so-called ‘pro-rata’ tax rule. During an individual’s lifetime,…
Government, federal court complicate HOA pool rules
This week’s column was written by Michael Hunter’s law partner, Bill Hamel. Most swimming pools have a list of rules posted somewhere on the premises. We’ve all seen them. The rules contain common sense prohibitions against dangerous pool activities, such as having glass in the pool area and diving into the shallow end. And almost…
Read|Delete: Don’t Let March Madness Ruin Productivity
March Madness is the annual sporting event that captivates the nation and sends people scurrying to TVs and electronic devices. For over three weeks, more than 130 teams will compete for the national championships in two tournaments. The question is: how many people will be watching the games at work? An annual report estimates that…
NLRB Issues Problematic General Counsel Memo Regarding Employer Rules
On March 18, 2015 the National Labor Relations Board’s (“NLRB”) General Counsel, Richard Griffin, Jr., issued an extensive report in which he purported to provide helpful guidance to employers on how to structure various Employee Handbook provisions in a manner that will pass muster under Section 7 of the National Labor Relations Act (“the Act”)….
HOA boards should tread carefully on assistance animals
Editor’s note: this week’s column was researched and written by Mr. Hunter’s associate attorney, Michael Tarwater Jr. We are often asked about pet restrictions in the context of homeowners’ associations (HOAs) and their enforceability with respect to assistance animals for persons with disabilities. An HOA’s governing documents often restrict the type, size, and quantity of…
Why You Need Title Insurance
Why does a home buyer need title insurance? Here is one example: Imagine you just signed a contract to purchase a house. Since you are not flush with cash, you need to secure a home loan, so you contact a bank to get the process started. The bank requires that a title exam be performed…
Virginia Law Requires Landlords to Clean or Disclose Former Meth Labs to Lease Applicants
For landlords and property managers in Virginia, cleaning former meth labs is not only a matter of saving face: it’s the law. Newly-passed state legislation requires landlords to tell prospective tenants whether their selected unit was previously used to manufacture methamphetamines, as well as whether the space has been cleaned to meet state standards. Landlords…
Friday Factoid: What’s in a Name? Millions!!!
In many cases, the value of a work of authorship can skyrocket if the work is attributed to a famous artist. For example, a painting was sold at Christie’s auction house in London in 2013 for $5,212, and the same painting was later resold in January 2015 at Sotheby’s auction house in New York for…
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