Far too often we see small business owners with a business model that has a critical defect: the lack of quality contracts. While Google and other websites can provide basic contract forms that appear useful, these forms have serious downsides. Typically they fail to include provisions that are specific to your business and may even…READ MORE
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We have written often about the pitfalls presented by wage and overtime laws, and how those laws carry severe monetary consequences for employers. Policy makers have targeted “wage theft” with these regimes, but all too often well-meaning companies are punished for systematic failures. We have seen a rash of actions taken against responsible employers who…READ MORE
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Be forewarned: If you permit an underage driver to drink alcohol in your home, you may be subject to civil liability. On July 5th, the highest court in Maryland ruled that adults can be liable for the harm suffered or caused by persons under 21 whom they knowingly permit to drink on their property. Maryland does…READ MORE
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“Wage theft” has become the buzzword du jour in certain circles. According to an analysis from the Federal Judicial Center (FJC), more workers than ever are filing wage-and-hour lawsuits. The number of wage and hour lawsuits filed under the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) has been steadily on the rise, surpassing all other employment-type cases….READ MORE
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Some people are born obsessive organizers. Some are not. And while it’s not our job to tell you that your desk needs organizing or your wallet needs thinning out, our litigation department is awash in cases where parties lacked a solid system for pro-active record keeping. Sure, most of your dealings will conclude uneventfully, never…READ MORE
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Does your business rely on information that you wouldn’t show to your competitors? If you don’t have a secure grasp on such trade secrets, you are at risk of losing these valuable assets with no way to recover them. The good news? You can easily protect a trade secret under Maryland and/or D.C. law, if…READ MORE
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You’ve chosen a contractor to perform your home remodeling or renovation, you’ve settled on the plans for the work, and you’ve planned how to rearrange your life around the work. But what if all doesn’t go according to plan? If not, you might find yourself in an uncomfortable and expensive situation. The Maryland Home Improvement…READ MORE
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So you meet the requirements to be a licensed home improvement contractor in Maryland. You work hard to develop business, satisfy your clients, and build a reputation. But do your written contracts comply with the long list of requirements set forth in the Maryland Home Improvement Act (“MHIA”)? If not, you might find yourself facing…READ MORE
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Starting a new business with one or more partners is exciting. You’re all full of ideas. The adrenaline keeps you awake at night. Of course, you know there are risks, but the negatives pale in the bright light of optimism. The last thing you want to think about – and one of the first things…READ MORE
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Congratulations on winning your lawsuit. You now have an official piece of paper from a court that says you are owed a lot of money. But your frustration may just be beginning because judgments do not enforce themselves. The same company you had to drag to the courthouse will probably drag its heels in paying. Those who…READ MORE
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