Relationships. Commitment. Results.
Careers
A recent federal circuit court decision clarifies that Ohio business owners have the right to protect their private business records from state inspection in the absence of a search warrant. That’s despite statutory provisions purporting to allow warrantless searches. Liberty Coins LLC, et al., v. David Goodman et. al. (6th Cir. 2018) involved a […]
The numbers are ever-increasing: Facebook currently reports 2.01 billion users; LinkedIn has 500 million members; Twitter comes in at 330 million users; and YouTube reports approximately 5 billion views per day. Social media is not going away, but instead becoming more prevalent every day. While there can be positive aspects to staff members’ use of […]
The National Labor Relations Board’s recent noteworthy decision to reverse the joint-employer standard will likely impact a variety of industries and businesses nationwide. That decision centers around the case of Hy-Brand Industrial Contractors, Ltd. On December 14, 2017, the NLRB ruled that two or more entities will be considered joint employers only if there […]
Patent applications worldwide have been on a steady rise in recent years, up by nearly eight percent in 2015, according to the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO). And here in the U.S., the number of applications grew by nearly two percent that same year. A majority of them come from large companies as independent […]
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. However, there is another way to get a liquor permit into a municipality when all of […]
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. The U.S. District Court for the Western Division of Washington state concluded that parents may […]
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 […]
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 […]
The 6th Circuit Court of Appeals has spoken: preemption under the Employee Retirement Income Security Act (ERISA) does not apply when a municipality is acting as a market participant. The 6th Circuit upheld certain bidding ordinances for municipal projects that favored companies providing health and pension benefits to employees. On January 4, 2018, the 6th […]
On December 14, 2017, the National Labor Relations Board overturned a controversial 13-year precedent and issued a major decision relating to the legality and enforceability of certain employee handbook rules for employers nationwide. This decision is likely to have far-reaching impact on the employer – employee relationship. With this NLRB action, a major constraint […]
Although liquor permits in Ohio are issued by the state, a municipality has the right to request a hearing on the renewal of any permit within its borders. It can do so by objecting to the permit’s renewal as provided in Ohio Revised Code §4303.271. All liquor permits in Ohio, for the sale of […]
The intellectual property you create is a vital asset. However, creating and maintaining a durable intellectual property portfolio can be costly. Many sophisticated entrepreneurs or business leaders forgo prioritizing protection of such intellectual property because it is often perceived as just another inessential expenditure, rather than a shrewd, strategic investment. Some overlook protecting their […]