A checklist for reducing the risk of liability. The New Year presents a great opportunity for small business owners to review their operations and implement procedures to reduce the risk of liability for the coming year. Business owners face the risk of liability on many fronts, whether from transactions with customers, government regulation, or claims […]
There’s no reason that odd couple has to stay together. Benjamin Franklin reminded us that nothing is certain except death and taxes, and history proves him right. However, there is no rational reason the two should be linked and in fact much progress has been made in taking the tax sting out of death. Dead
NLRB’s decision related to email systems may trouble employers. by Jerry Lutkus Many employers have email policies that prohibit employees from using the company’s email for non-work purposes. If you have a no-tolerance policy, a recent decision of the National Labor Relations Board should cause you to take another look at it. The new decision
Tell liability insurance company of claims or suits ASAP. by David L. Simmons, J.D. The Indiana Court of Appeals recently underscored the importance of giving prompt notice of an insurance claim in the case of Travelers Cas. and Sur. Co. v. Maplehurst Farms, Inc., 18 N.E.3d 311 (Ind. App., 2014). This case involved losses incurred
Base your decision on job-related factors, and ask questions carefully. For employers, hiring quality employees has always been of critical importance. Various laws require employers to be more focused in this effort. For example, it was not that long ago that employers asked any questions they wanted: how old are you, do you have any
Businesses must keep an eye on the courts and be ready to adapt to new marriage laws. by Nancy Townsend Indiana’s Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA), which prohibited same-sex marriage and refused to recognize same-sex marriages from other states, was ruled unconstitutional on June 25. Chief Judge Richard L. Young entered a final judgment in
Should you sell on a secured or unsecured basis? Successful businesses must prepare for potential problems and possible solutions related to selling to and buying from companies that are insolvent, or may become so. Here are some considerations in that regard. An important business decision is whether to sell to customers on a secured or
What can your social media policy cover? What can’t it do? Employees talk. That’s no big surprise. Sometimes it’s about sports, the weather or their families. But more often than not, they talk about work–their hours, their boss, their responsibilities, their supervisors, even their new assignments. When they talk about work, sometimes they air their
Seven steps that could save your company millions. by J. Brian Hittinger and Carrie L. Flores Would a $39 million settlement of a gender discrimination claim or a $160 million settlement of a race discrimination claim create an immediate need to shore up your company’s anti-discrimination program? It probably would if you were Bank of
Indiana attorneys tackled common business law questions. by Jacqueline von Ogden Signing contracts. Taking your business online. Sorting through employees’ legally mandated time off. Filing I-9 forms properly. Understanding copyright law. There are plenty of legal pitfalls for businesses out there. It’s better to be in the know before a legal problem arises, rather than
