Articles

Recent IRS Ruling That All Legal Marriages Are Equal For Federal Tax Purposes Impacts Same-Sex Couples And Employers

The June 2013 United States Supreme Court decision in United States v. Windsor invalidated the portion of the Defense of Marriage Act ("DOMA") that defined "marriage" for federal purposes as the union between a man and a w…

CAUTION! CONSTRUCTION ZONE: A Piece-Rate Compensation System Can Be An Effective Tool For Construction Businesses, But What About Overtime?

Written By Devon D. Williams

If your business involves construction, then you may be familiar with the concept of piece‑rate compensation.  Under this system, employees are paid based on the number of units, or pieces, they complete, rather…

Incorporating N.C.G.S. Section 6-21.6 into Case Evaluations and Strategy

Written By Allen N. Trask, III

Prior to Oct. 1, 2011, it was very difficult to recover attorneys' fees in a business contract case.  There were narrow exceptions, including exceptions for cases involving the North Carolina Unfair or Deceptive Trade…

"#YOUSHOULDSUE" The Danger of Firing an Employee who has Called-Out the Company in Social Media

Written By Grant B. Osborne

Employers may like to believe that they are free to discharge an employee who, via Facebook, has encouraged a former co-worker to hire a lawyer and sue the employer.  Why in the world, you might ask, would an employer…

"Dont Txt Me Pls…Im Driving." Could You Be Liable For Sending A Text Message To A Driver?

Written By Michael J. Parrish

A New Jersey court has held that a person sending a text message to a driver might be liable for injuries or damage caused by the driver's crash.  What is your (and your children's) risk of the same becoming the law i…

My Property Was Sold At a Foreclosure Sale. Do I Still Have to Pay Back The Loan?

Just because the lender sold the property you put up as security for a loan at a foreclosure sale doesn’t mean you are no longer responsible for paying the remainder of the debt it secured after application of the fo…