A Law Firm Concentrating in Private and Commercial Law
The Pennsylvania Supreme Court recently ruled that income generated in Delaware by the sale of land in Delaware was in fact taxable as income in the state of Pennsylvania for a Pennsylvania pulpwood company. In 2004, Glatfelter Pulpwood Company, a … Continued
Lawmakers in Harrisburg are considering a proposal that would exempt business assets from the state’s inheritance tax. The legislation is a welcomed glimmer of hope for many family-owned, small businesses in Pennsylvania. Still struggling with the shaky economy and the … Continued
The latest Wells Fargo/Gallup Small Business Index indicates U.S. small-business owners plan to spend less on capital in the next twelve months than last year or the year before. As we recently reported, small business credit is steadily improving. The … Continued
With the U.S. economy slowly climbing up from the recent recessional pit, small business owners’ credit profiles appear to be leading the way. Studies by industry analysts show the average credit profile from small business owners improved in 45 of … Continued
Wells Fargo recently stepped up its efforts to reach small business owners via an online platform it calls the Business Credit Center. Business owners and managers can learn how to develop a strong credit application, estimate business capital needs, and … Continued
The number of Pennsylvania workplace fatalities shrunk in 2011 compared to 2010. In 2011, a reported 186 people lost their lives in workplace accidents in Pennsylvania, while 200 employees died in 2010. The 186 people who lost their lives in … Continued
As we discussed in our last article, there are many potential terms to consider when drafting your standard equipment lease. We identified some necessary terms and defined the purpose of each. In this post we will discuss some additional lease … Continued
There are a myriad of potential terms to consider when creating an equipment lease. Deciding which terms to leave in and which to take out can feel like gambling to equipment owners, so some leases end up unnecessarily long and … Continued
The presidential election is behind us and the fiscal cliff has been avoided, for now at least. With these two potentially derailing issues out of the way, business surveys and lending analyses indicate small businesses are ready to take the … Continued
As soon as the new begins to wear off the New Year, kids around the country will begin itching for spring break. Odds are good when spring rolls around that some of the children in warmer parts of the country … Continued
A commercial lease is a written contract to rent specific property or space for a specific time. When a commercial lease contains a sublease clause, the tenant may choose to sublet the premises to another tenant. In a sublease, the … Continued
In a recent article we discussed an incident on a Southwest Airlines flight where a passenger spilled hot water on herself. The incident brings to mind McDonald’s “hot coffee” lawsuit, where an elderly woman received third-degree burns over the lower … Continued
Recently, a passenger traveling on a Southwest Airlines flight asked the flight attendant for hot tea. The attendant followed standard protocol and gave the passenger a cup of hot water from the designated dispenser, along with a tea bag. … Continued
A written lease agreement promotes the stability and longevity of your business. New businesses are often too fragile to survive moving locations. A valid written lease agreement can help prevent that from happening to you. A commercial lease is a … Continued
With the holiday season upon us and everyone gathering together for Christmas and New Year’s parties, be sure your bar and restaurant employees are familiar with Pennsylvania’s laws on over serving. In Pennsylvania, a bar owner can be held liable … Continued
If you are considering buying a retail business, the Christmas shopping season is a good time to do an on-site evaluation of apparent business volume. If the business ought to be busy but isn’t, consider it a signal that either … Continued
We recently had the opportunity to answer legal questions regarding limited liability companies (LLCs) in New North Business Matters, a monthly business to business publication serving northern Allegheny and southern Butler Counties. Eight thousand copies are mailed to business leaders, … Continued
The U.S. Chamber of Commerce issued a report ranking business lawsuit climates in the nation. Pennsylvaniacame in at number forty, meaning it has one of the worst perceived climates for businesses defending against lawsuits. According to the Chamber of Commerce: … Continued
In September, Pennsylvania State Representative Thomas Murt introduced H.B. 2619. The bill, if enacted, will amend the Pennsylvania Human Relations Act to keep employers from requiring applicants to consent to the employer viewing the applicant’s credit report. Under the proposed … Continued
The vast majority of U.S. consumers enter into electronic contracts on a regular basis, often more than once a day, when we use the bank’s ATM, pay at the pump using a debit card, or authorize debit or credit card … Continued