Protecting Your Website From Liability
A. Privacy Policy. Website owners often times ignore the Privacy Policy for their site because there is not a lot of information on needs and requirements. The Privacy Policy for a website is a very important element if there are any breaches of security. This policy is the statement that you make to visitors to […]
You’ve Served Your Country Honorably and You Are Now Entitled To Benefits. Use Them – You’ve Earned It!
Thousands of people, both young and old, have been galvanized to take to the streets with signs, to march in solidarity in the name of various important social issues, but sadly, nobody is marching to protect our veterans, or to guaranty them the safe and comfortable future they have so rightfully earned through their selfless […]
Certificates of Insurance: What do they really tell us?
Construction contracts almost always impose a myriad of insurance requirements upon general contractors, subcontractors, managers, design professionals and owners involved in the project. Typically, the insurance procurement requirements are divided among the parties, with one contracting party often agreeing to obtain a particular kind of coverage for another, which is extended on an additional insured […]
New York SAFE Act – A Practical Roadmap to Navigating New York’s Newest Firearms Law
The ownership of firearms by private citizens is heavily regulated in the United States with literally tens of thousands of different laws existing on the books at the Federal, State and Municipal levels. These regulations vary drastically from state to state, so it is extremely easy for the average law-abiding gun owner to become confused […]
Small Business and Intellectual Property
A small business’s intellectual property (IP), i.e., all its intangible assets, including logos, trade names, designs, inventions and product names, are often not given due consideration by the small business owner. Just as a business can own a building or inventory it can own IP if it takes the necessary steps to establish and protect […]
Insurance for Contractors 101 – Beware of the Cheap Policy! The most Affordable Insurance Policy May Put Your Business At Risk
Responsible construction contractors understand the importance of maintaining a commercial general liability policy of insurance (“CGL”). Having insurance coverage with ample policy limits provides peace of mind that the business is protected against claims involving, among other things, personal injury, illness, death, or property damage suffered by employees or property on a project site. However, […]
Don’t Forget To Address Your Legal Affairs Before You Deploy
Preparing for a military deployment is extremely stressful. Your mind will be focused on dozens of things, including your training, your equipment, the mission and the safety of your fellow brothers and sisters in arms. You will most likely want to dedicate your remaining time at home with loved ones and friends. As such, there […]
DOT and FAA Finalize Rules for Small Unmanned Aircraft Systems
As drone technology becomes more sophisticated and accessible, the use of unmanned aerial systems (“UAS”) for non-hobby commercial applications will become more frequent. According to industry estimates, the use of UAS in furtherance of commercial interests could generate more than $82 billion for the U.S. economy and create more than 100,000 new jobs over the next […]
Launching A Website? Consider Trademarks and Branding
Small business owners should take certain steps before launching their website to be successful. Here are a few tips that business owners should consider:
New Anti-Discrimination Rules in New York
Discrimination can unfortunately manifest itself in many different forms in modern society and can range from, among other things, discrimination based upon race, religion, age, familial status and/or disability. Federal, State and local laws have for several decades attempted to redress past wrongs and prevent future discrimination by imposing, often times, severe penalties against those […]
Renting Your Home in the Town of Southampton
If you own a home within the Town of Southampton and want to rent your home, whether it be annually, seasonally or monthly, it is imperative that you apply for and obtain a rental permit from the Town. If you already have rented your home without having obtained a permit, you may be at risk […]
Protecting Your Trademark on Social Media Platforms
Trademarks are valuable assets, and trademark owners must be diligent in protecting their marks on all social media platforms to safeguard their brand. Here are a few basic tips for protecting your trademarks:
Defining the Important Role of Local Counsel
Earlier this week, the New York City Bar Association issued an opinion that defines the professional obligations of attorneys who act as “local counsel.” Lawyers very often use the term “local counsel” to describe an attorney who provides assistance on a matter within their jurisdiction, while the attorney primarily responsible for the matter, or “lead […]
Popular Estate Planning Tool May Now Be Subject to Tax
For years estate planning practitioners used a sale to an intentionally defective grantor trust (“IDGT”) to freeze the value of property from the taxable estate of a client. Although not codified in the Internal Revenue Code or regulations as an acceptable estate planning tool, sales to IDGTs have withstood IRS scrutiny.
The First-Time Homebuyer Exemption to the Peconic Bay Real Estate Transfer Tax
Since 1998, New York’s Tax Law § 1449-aa et seq. has allowed the five East End towns to impose upon buyers of certain real estate in those towns a 2% real estate transfer tax (the “Peconic Bay real estate transfer tax”) in order to fund the Peconic Bay region community preservation fund established pursuant to […]
2015 Cost-of-Living Adjustments for Retirement Plans
The Internal Revenue Service announced the cost of living adjustments affecting dollar limitations for pension and retirement plans for tax year 2015.
New Law: NYS Homeowners Must Re-register to Qualify for Basic STAR Exemption
The NYS School Tax Relief (STAR) Program provides an exemption from school taxes for owner-occupied, primary residences where the combined income of the owners and spouses who reside on the property does not exceed $500,000. This is known as the Basic STAR exemption.
What the Fiscal Cliff Compromise Means for All of Us
As we all know by now, the feared “fiscal cliff” was averted at the eleventh hour. After tense and exhaustive negotiations that kept the country on edge, the Senate approved a bill to avert the fiscal cliff two hours after the midnight deadline on January 1, 2013, and the House of Representatives voted to approve […]
Insurance Tips for Long Islanders in the Wake of Hurricane Sandy
As Long Islanders begin to recover from the devastation of Hurricane Sandy, many of them will likely turn to their homeowners’ insurance policy for coverage.
Does the Affordable Care Act a/k/a Obamacare Impose a 3.8 Percent Sales Tax on Your Home?
Barring repeal after the upcoming election, a 3.8% Medicare contribution tax will come into effect in 2013 to help pay for the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act a/k/a Obamacare (the “Act”). There is a lot of false or misleading information on the Internet about this tax and its impact upon the sale of one’s […]
The High Cost of Failing to Comply With a Contractual Notice of Claim Provision
A decision earlier this year from Justice Elizabeth H. Emerson of the New York State Supreme Court, Suffolk County Commercial Division, illustrates the harsh consequences that can result from failing to comply with a contractual notice of claim provision, even when the alleged breaching party has actual notice of the apparent claim.
Losing Protection of Registered Trademarks by Abandonment
Trademarks are an important part of any business. Once a mark is registered and, therefore, federally protected, the protection afforded by the registration is dependent upon continued use of the mark. The owner of a trademark loses its rights to a mark if it does not use the mark in a consistent and controlled manner.
The Basics of Copyright and Trademark
Copyrights and trademarks are collectively known as intellectual property rights. A copyright protects an original artistic or literary work. A trademark protects and identifies the source of goods of one party from those of another, and, similarly, a service mark protects and identifies the source of a service, rather than a product.
