Articles
Environmental Marketing Claims: Federal Trade Commission's Revised Green Guides
By: Martha L. Perkins
12/12/2012
Takeaway: If your company makes any kind of environmental claims to customers, whether it sells to consumers or to other businesses, you need to review the FTC’s revised Green Guides and evaluate your environmental marketing claims to ensure they are in compliance. Introduction
NLRB "Pushing the Envelope" to Protect Employees' Rights to Communicate Online
By: David L. Cahn
12/05/2012
Takeaway: Through its recent activities the current National Labor Relations Board (“NLRB”) has indicated its determination to make itself relevant to all U.S. employees (and employers), by focusing a less prominent part of its authority -- to insure that “Employees shall have the right . . ....
Contingency Planning for the Business Owner -- Are You Covered?
By: David L. Cahn
12/05/2012
Most of the work that I do for franchise owners falls into two categories: (1) helping to evaluate a potential franchise opportunity and negotiating the franchise agreement and real estate lease, and (2) evaluating potential exit strategies from the franchise and/or claims against the franchisor....
"Gangland" Judicial Opinion is a Reminder of Liability for Franchisees and Their Franchisors
By: David L. Cahn
12/05/2012
In Ford v. Palmden Restaurants, LLC, the Court of Appeals of California issued a strong reminder to both restaurant franchisees and their franchisors of their potential liability for criminal conduct that takes place on a restaurant’s premises. While the legal principles at issue differ for...
"Sign of the Times" in Baltimore County
By: Timothy M. Kotroco
12/03/2012
I was fortunate to spend the first half of my professional career working in Baltimore County Government, and for many of those years I was the Director of Permits and Development Management, overseeing the entire development process in Baltimore County. In that capacity I regulated many things,...
By: Paul W. Madden
12/03/2012
Take-Away: The IRS frowns on arrangements that allow someone to "game the system" and shift income back and forth across tax years. If a severance payment isn't due until after the departing employee signs a Waiver and Release, then the employee can theoretically hold off signing long enough to...
WHNPA General Membership Meeting - Nov. 29, 2012
By: Ann M. Garfinkle
11/29/2012
About 40 members of the WHNPA filled the WTTG Studio for a general membership meeting on November 29, 2012, to hear two experts speak about the timely subject of "copyright, privacy, appraisals and authenticity." The speakers were Ann Garfinkle, an attorney with Whiteford, Taylor & Preston, and...
Karsenty v. Schoukroun and the Spousal Share: A Historical Perspective
By: Peter W. Sheehan, Jr.
11/27/2012
This article was originally published in the November 2012 issue of The Advocate, a newsletter of the Baltimore County Bar Association. On September 13, 2012, Peter W. Sheehan Jr., Esquire, of Whiteford, Taylor & Preston gave Estates and Trust committee members an update on the current status...
Key Provisions in the New Maryland Towing Law
By: Keisha A. Garner
11/16/2012
Takeaway: The Maryland General Assembly made changes to the Maryland State Transportation Code, effective October 1, 2012, regulating towing procedures for all Maryland community associations. Applicability of State towing law (Sec. 21-10A-01(b)(2))
Is Your Organization Required to Pay DC Use Tax?
By: Eileen Morgan Johnson
11/15/2012
We have been contacted by clients who are confused by the new District of Columbia 2013 Budget Support Act and its requirement that DC employers file an annual use tax return if they are not currently filing a sales tax return. This article is intended to answer some of the questions your...
