Jacob B. Derenthal January 2018 Mergers, Acquisitions & Joint Ventures Mitigating risk in M&A transactions Walter | Haverfield partner Jacob Derenthal offered strategies for buyers and sellers to mitigate risk in mergers and acquisitions (M&A) transactions in the January 22, 2018 issue of Crain’s Cleveland Business. [More]
John N. Neal January 2018 Liquor Control Law, Public Law Services Pass the Permit: How to circumvent liquor permit quotas Are you having difficulty finding a liquor permit to transfer in your city, village or township? It's a common problem. Oftentimes, all of the permits are taken because the liquor permit quota in a particular area is maxed out. [More]
Kathryn I. Perrico January 2018 Education The pendulum swing for personal liability in IDEA violation lawsuits In an about-face move, a federal court took a surprise stance in a recent education case (Crofts v. Issaquah School District), which may put teachers and administrators across the country at a disadvantage and give parents the upper hand. [More]
Rina R. Russo January 2018 Labor & Employment Services Confidential Settlements of Sexual Harassment Claims are No Longer Tax Deductible In response to the recent wave of sexual harassment allegations and the #MeToo movement, the 2017 Tax Cuts and Jobs Act includes a provision some call the "Harvey Weinstein tax." Specifically, the law amends the Internal Revenue Code to prohibit a business from deducting the costs of a settlement payment (including attorneys' fees) for a sexual harassment claim, if the settlement agreement contains a nondisclosure (confidentiality) provision. New Section 162(q) was added to the Internal Revenue Code and provides that no deduction shall be allowed for "(1) any settlement or payment related to sexual harassment or sexual abuse if such settlement or payment is subject to a nondisclosure agreement, or (2) attorneys' fees related to such a settlement or payment." This provision applies to all such settlements entered into or paid after December 22, 2017, the date President Trump signed the bill into law. [More]
Christina Henagen Peer January 2018 Education, Special Education Law Decoding Ohio's New Truancy Law for Students with Disabilities When Ohio updated its truancy law in 2017, the move required schools to emphasize prevention over punishment. Lawmakers shifted the focus from court proceedings to intervention strategies in schools, hoping students will return to the classroom and face a better chance for academic success. In the process, the juvenile justice system can reduce its caseload and focus on more serious matters. [More]
Kevin J. Soucek January 2018 Intellectual Property 5 Ways to Safeguard Your IP A company’s intellectual property is a vital asset that should be protected. Walter | Haverfield Attorneys Kevin Soucek and Jamie Pingor list five ways that businesses can safeguard their IP in an e-article published by the Council of Smaller Enterprises (COSE), a division of the Greater Cleveland Partnership. [More]