The Center for Disease Control’s recommended 14-day self-quarantine period for those infected or potentially infected with COVID-19 and Governor Cuomo’s order that, in essence, mandates the majority of New York businesses classified as non-essential to close their doors, raises many questions for both employers and employees. Many New Yorkers are questioning how they are going […]
On March 20th Governor Cuomo announced, “New York on PAUSE,” further extending executive orders 202.6 and 202.7. The result of these actions is sending businesses across New York into an uncharted territory. These executive orders, when read together, require all employers to reduce their “in-person workforce at any work locations by 100% no later than […]
COVID-19 has affected almost everyone and we’ve been getting a lot of questions about related legal issues. Our hope is to address some of the more common questions we’ve been asked. Many of our clients own businesses. Some of those businesses are facing mandatory or recommended temporary closures, or may choose to shut down voluntarily […]
On February 21, the Governor introduced the Renewable Energy Growth and Community Benefit Act for inclusion into the 2020 budget. Its goal is to streamline the process for approving large-scale (sometimes called (utility-scale) renewable energy projects. Currently, projects that anticipate generating under 25 megawatts are required to go through a local permitting process featuring SEQR […]
From Jan 2016 thru June 2018, the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) received over 300,000 complaints about the debt collection industry. The most common: companies attempting to collect debts not actually owed. The Fair Debt Collection Practices Act. Most people have heard of the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act (FDCPA), the most important federal consumer […]
What is a trademark? A trademark is a type of intellectual property that purveyors of goods or services acquire by using some distinctive expression to identify their goods or services and to distinguish them from others available in the market. They protect brands and other non-functional aspects of goods or services by acting as an […]
With cyber-attacks on the rise this year, including recent ransomware attacks on a Central New York school district and library, it seems important to have a discussion about computer security. Whether you work for a multi-national corporation, in the government sector, or for a small business, awareness is the key to preventing system attacks. If […]
A North Country church made headlines last week when the U.S. Justice Department threw its weight behind their challenge of a local zoning board’s decision not to allow them to hold services in a building they recently purchased. Christian Fellowship Centers paid $310,000 for the former nightclub and refitted it to host masses. The problem is […]
In recent years the use of employment contracts has come under scrutiny in many states, including New York. But an employment contract may be necessary in order to prevent disclosure of trade secrets, unnecessary competition, or solicitation of clients or other employees. When creating an employment contract, it is important to ensure the contract is […]
February 14 is fast upon us and you fall into one of two camps: you either agree with the J. Geils Band that love stinks, or you are all about the chocolate and sweet nothings. History books will record the great NECCO Conversation Heart Tragedy of ’19, when the elementary school classic took a year […]