Q: I own a piece of property jointly with my ex-boyfriend and I don’t want to anymore. What are my options? A: You have several options. If you and your
Know the Law: Dividing Jointly-Held Property
SJC Weighs in on Standard for FMLA Abuse
On June 5, 2019 the Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court issued a decision in DaPrato v. Massachusetts Water Resources Authority, SJC-12651, 2019 WL 2364353 addressing directly the question of whether it
Planning for Departure of a Business Co-Owner
When two or more individuals start a new business venture, often the last thing they think about, or want to think about, is the day when they will no longer
Know the Law: Will the New Tax Laws Make Divorce Settlement More Difficult?
Q: I am thinking about getting a divorce. Will the new tax laws make settlement more difficult? A: Likely, yes. It is the end of the first quarter of 2019,
What to Do When Your Business is Accused of Patent Infringement
Steps to take if a cease-and-desist letter arrives in the mail Several large verdicts for patent infringement against household names such as Apple, Groupon and Samsung illustrate the potentially severe
Considerations in Drafting Public-Facing AI Policies
For some time now, in response to the California Online Privacy Protection Act, Canada’s Personal Information Protection and Electronic Documents Act, and similar statutes and regulations from other jurisdictions, any
SJC Rules Massachusetts Retail and Inside Salespersons Entitled to Overtime and Sunday Premium Pay
The SJC, Massachusetts’ highest court, issued its long awaited decision in Sullivan v. Sleepy’s LLC, SJC-12542 on May 8, 2019. The case should be of concern to businesses which pay
Know the Law: Subpoenas for Company Records
Q: I have a business and received a subpoena saying I have to produce company documents. The subpoena seems broad, and some documents I am being asked to turn over
Know the Law: Who Pays NH Real Estate Transfer Taxes?
Published in the Union Leader (3/24/2019) Q: I’m buying my first home soon, and my broker said that in addition to the price of the home, I’ll need to pay
DOL Says Some Gig Economy Workers are Independent Contractors
In an opinion letter dated April 29, 2019, the U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) explained that some service providers working for a virtual marketplace company (VMC) are independent contractors under the Fair Labor
Small Cells in the Public Right-of-Way
Since the advent of the smart phone in 2007, the year-over-year growth in throughput demand on the nation’s wireless communications infrastructure has been meteoric. In response to that demand, and
Evolve Into an Information Secure Law Firm
Part 3 of a special three-part series on cybersecurity (Part 1, Part 2) Becoming information secure is an evolution. Law firms achieve success only over time, with concentrated effort and commitment,
Know the Law: Has the Department of Labor Relaxed Rules on Independent Contractors?
Q: I recently read that the the U.S. Department of Labor has issued a ruling relaxing the laws on independent contractor classification. I have been using independent contractors in my
“Earned Wages” Not The Equivalent of “Back Pay” Under Massachusetts Wage Act
The Supreme Judicial Court has just recently made it abundantly clear that for liability to hold under the Massachusetts Wage Act, G.L. c. 149, §148, “[t]he work must have been
Where Were the Chaperones? (NBOA’s Net Assets, May/June 2019)
It’s a job, not a vacation. Back to basics on supervision and school trips. A story about a school trip to Washington, D.C., dominated the news cycle in January, especially
Court’s LGBTQ ruling awaited
Will Title VII Civil Rights Protect the Community from Discrimination? Next term, the U.S. Supreme Court will hear three cases affecting LGBTQ workers. The issue covered by these cases is