Legal Insights
Is Your Real Estate Transaction Subject to Philadelphia Real Estate Transfer Tax?
May 6, 2016 Although parties to both commercial and residential real estate transactions may find themselves burdened with yet another expense associated with the purchasing or selling of real estate in Pennsylvania, there may be relief for some.
Commonly Asked Q&A for Child Support
April 26, 2016 By: Elizabeth Early One of the most commonly asked questions that I hear from new clients is: “How is child support calculated?” When parties transition from a shared household income to two separate, individual incomes, it is natural for both parties to feel anxious about just how much they will be expected […]
The NLRB Takes Aim at Employee Handbooks Affecting Employment Law
April 19, 2016 By: James B. Shrimp The National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) and it’s field offices continue to seek to influence the non-unionized, private sector workplace. Last week, an administrative law judge in an NLRB proceeding involving Quicken Loans, and affiliated companies, Fathead and One Reverse Mortgage, ruled that over 20 provisions of an […]
Reasons for Adjusting Child Support Payments in Pennsylvania Family Law Cases
March 30, 2016 By: Melissa Boyd Shortly after getting married, you and your spouse agree that you will leave your job to be at home with the family. Ten years later, you and your spouse decide to separate. The court awards you child support. After a few years, you experience life changes that make the […]
Calculating Child Support in Pennsylvania When Income Varies or Changes
March 25, 2016 By: Melissa Boyd Child support in Pennsylvania divorce cases is dependent upon a large number of factors governed by rules also known as Pennsylvania Support Guidelines. Those domestic relations guidelines dictate the amount of child support which a spouse or parent should pay based on the income of both of their net […]
Courts, Schools Can Limit Contact by Difficult Parents - in Custody Cases and Elsewhere
February 8, 2016 By: Thomas D. Rees, Esq. and Elizabeth Early, Esq. Tom Rees is a partner in High Swartz’s employment and litigation group and devotes significant time to representation of independent schools. Liz Early is an associate in High Swartz’s family law group.
Just Hang Up! The Perils of Pocket Dialing and Accidental Calls.
January 28, 2016 By: Thomas D. Rees, Esq. Dialing mistakes are no longer just material for late night comedy. Several recent employment cases show the consequences of “pocket dialing” on cell phones. The mistaken calls disclosed plans to fire executives, disrespect for management, conflicts of interest, and affairs with co-workers. The misdialing employees and supervisors […]
Oh No, A Surprise Snow Day!!
January 8, 2016 By: Mary Cushing Doherty This post originally appeared in the Local Living Magazine on December 2015 issue. Most parents of school age children react dramatically differently to snow days than their little ones. The overwhelming announcement that school is closed sneaks up by surprise: significant snow was not expected; rain should not […]
Ban the Box: Hiring Just Got More Complicated in the City of Philadelphia
December 18, 2015 By: Jim B. Shrimp, Esq. For decades, private employers have used a number of tools to analyze and evaluate candidates for positions, including requiring resumes, work and personal references and the completion of an application. Two tools that have also been used are credit checks and criminal background checks. I wrote an […]
Enforcing a Restrictive Covenant
There are four essential requirements that make a restrictive covenant enforceable in the eyes of the court. In a previous post, I detailed the types of restrictive covenants. Click here to read that post. Obtaining an employee’s signature on a post-employment restriction is easy work compared to court enforcement of a restrictive covenant. The former […]