Workers in the United States are protected from discriminatory as well as unfair employment practices by numerous state and federal laws. One specific type of workplace practice that workers are protected from is “harassment.” How is workplace harassment defined though? Most people have some idea what the word “harassment” means to them; however, “harassment” in the legal context is not necessary used the same way as it is in everyday conversation.
Read MoreIf you are a small business owner, or own an interest in a larger enterprise, you will likely be involved in litigation at some point. It is very rare for a business owner to remain in business for long without facing some type of legal dispute. The longer you are in business, the better the odds that you will be named as a party to some type of commercial litigation.
Read MoreAlthough many companies have some type of non-fraternization policy that prohibits personal relationships among employees, workplace romances are extremely common. It is easy to understand how you could develop more than a business relationship with someone with whom you work closely day in and day out over a long period of time. Whether or not you are violating a company policy is only one possible problem if you do enter into a personal relationship with someone from work.
Read MoreFor the average person, purchasing a home will be the largest and most important investment they ever make. It can also be a confusing and stressful process given the complexity of the transactions involved and the importance of the outcome. Prospective home buyers are required to navigate a seemingly endless number of steps before they finally become a homeowner. A buyer also typically commits to repaying a sizeable mortgage loan as part of the home buying process. Relying on professionals to assist throughout the home buying process certainly helps; however, as recent scandals have proven, even well-known individuals and institutions in the financial industry are not always above reproach.
Read MoreIn the United States, employees are protected in the workplace by a variety of local, state, and federal laws against discriminatory and fair, and unsafe, employment practices. If you are a Pennsylvania worker you should have at least a basic understanding of the employment law regulations that govern you and your workplace.
Read MoreIt often comes as a surprise to people that landlord and tenant laws are some of the most complex laws we have, due in large part to the fact that the landlord-tenant relationship can be governed by local, state, and federal laws. As a result, both landlords and tenants are frequently unsure of where they stand from a legal perspective. Whether you are a landlord or a tenant, you may need to know what steps are required to evict a residential tenant in Pennsylvania.
Read MoreWorkers in the United States are fortunate enough to be protected by a number of state and federal laws that provide them with workplace rights and prohibit discriminatory and unfair employment practices. As you probably already know, most employers are required to pay most employees at least a minimum hourly wage in the U.S. You may, however, be unsure whether or not you are entitled to overtime wages.
Read MoreFor your business dispute lawsuit to be filed in federal court the court must have what is known as “subject matter jurisdiction.” Jurisdictional issues can become complicated very quickly, depending on the facts and circumstances of the lawsuit. As a general rules, however, the vast majority of lawsuits originate in state courts because federal courts only have very limited subject matter jurisdiction.
Read MoreAn injunction is simply a court order that orders a party to do something, or to refrain from doing something. What makes an injunction unique, in legal terms, is that a party may seek an injunction before the lawsuit is actually litigated. As a general rule, a court will not make decisions regarding the merits of a case before both sides have had the opportunity to be heard on the matter. An injunction can be an exception to this rule.
Read MoreThe Real Estate Settlement Procedures Act of 1974, or RESPA, was passed in an effort to prevent dishonesty and fraudulent dealings among the entities involved in the buying and selling of property, including lenders, construction companies, real estate agents, and title insurance companies. Because of the complex nature of RESPA it is in your best interest to work closely with a Pennsylvania real estate lawyer if you are planning to purchase real estate; however, a general overview of RESPA may also help you to better understand your rights as a buyer.
Read MoreThroughout your lifetime, you will likely enter into hundreds of contacts, both personal and professional. Some are relatively simple and of little importance while others are complex and control major purchases or significant business agreements. There is also a very good likelihood that you will end up in a dispute over one of these contracts at some point in your life – particularly if you are a business owner. Knowing that a contract could become the basis of a dispute is an excellent reason to insist that the contract be in writing. Why is it so important though to have a written contract when there is a contract dispute?
Read MoreA zoning variance is an exception to the existing zoning law. If you own property, or wish to purchase property, and the existing zoning does not allow you to use the property in the way in which you wish to use it, you have two basic options – try to get the zoning changed, or apply for a variance. Re-zoning, or changing the existing zoning, it typically much more complicated and harder to get approved than obtaining a variance because a variance is a one-time exception for a particular property whereas re-zoning permanently changes the existing zoning designation.
Read MoreAccording to the Wage and Hour Division of the U.S. Department of Labor, many employees are guaranteed overtime in certain conditions by the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA). FLSA is a federal law applicable throughout the United States, including in Pennsylvania. PA also has its own rules on overtime. According to the FLSA, employees are entitled to overtime once they have worked at least 40 hours during the course of a standard work week. A workweek is defined as a "fixed and regularly recurring period of 168 hours — seven consecutive 24-hour periods."
Read MoreIn Pennsylvania, the amount you pay in property taxes is determined by your millage rate as well as by an appraisal that is performed on your home. The higher the value that your home is appraised for, the higher your real estate taxes will be. As a result, residential property tax appeals are focused on challenging the valuation of your appraisal so you can try to get the official value of your home lowered.
Read MoreThe job of a business litigation attorney is to provide advocacy and representation for someone who is suing or who is being sued in connection with business law matters. Many cases end up settling outside of court because an attorney is able to help the disputing parties reach a negotiated settlement. Mediation or arbitration are also possible methods of resolving business disputes. However, even if you hope to resolve your case through a negotiated settlement or alternative dispute resolution, you still need a business litigation attorney.
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