We frequently receive inquiries about jury duty. Employees generally want to know their obligations and rights and many clients want to know if they can be excused. To answer these questions, we have prepared the following outline of jury selection procedures in Bergen County. These procedures were updated after Governor Whitman signed new legislation about […]
It’s Not Perry Mason
One of the least understood aspects of litigation practice, by the non-attorney, is the process called “pre-trial” discovery. Interrogatories, Notices to Produce, Demands for Admissions and Depositions are a litigants means of obtaining proof in a case and providing the grounds for attempting to impeach an opposing party and/or witness at trial. Discovery can be […]
Constructive Lawyering
When I was in law school, Carol and I rented an apartment in a two-family house from a couple who were both lawyers. Not only did both husband and wife practice law, but it seemed like all their friends were lawyers or law students. Our first holiday season at this apartment, the couple invited us […]
Titling of Assets
You have probably read that there are plans to help minimize taxes, avoid probate and add convenience to your estate. How the asset is owned or “titled” affects these plans and can yield unexpected results. An asset can be owned by a person:a.) individually b.) as joint owners without a right of survivorship; and c.) […]
Brownfield Law “Opens” Troubled Sites
On January 6th of this year, Governor Whitman signed into law a comprehensive set of revisions to the State Site Remediation Law. Now commonly referred to as the “Brownfields Act”, this legislation potentially opens opportunities for redevelopment of hundreds of under utilized or abandoned sites that have been contaminated by hazardous substances. In simplest terms, […]
When a Partner Dies or Quits
When a shareholder of a large, publicly-held corporation dies, there is generally no impact on the operation of the company since his/her shares normally pass to heirs. Although the heirs are now shareholders of the company, under normal circumstances, they have no ability to control the company’s destiny. By contrast, the death or withdrawal of […]
Workplace Privacy and E-mail
The growing proliferation of new technologies in the workplace, such as voice messaging, fax and electronic mail, have created an entirely new area of concern for both employees and employers: the balance between an employer’s ownership rights v. employee’s privacy rights. This issue comes up most often in the context of electronic mail or “E-Mail”.E-mail […]
Don’t Wait To Plan Your Estate
Failing to properly plan your estate can put your family in turmoil for years after your death. Tax avoidance and saving money is a major part of estate planning – when done properly, planning can minimize or eliminate federal estate taxes on most estates. To take advantage of these opportunities, you must be thoughtful and […]
New Lead Paint Regulations
Lead from paint, dust and soil can be dangerous, if not managed properly. Lead exposure represents a health risk to most people, especially young children and babies on the way. The Federal Government has recognized the dangers associated with lead and has adopted new disclosure requirements related to lead based paints and lead based paint […]
Life Insurance Trusts to Avoid Taxes
As, you probably know, life insurance proceeds are not taxable for income tax purposes. However, these proceeds are taxable for Federal Estate Tax Purposes. Unfortunately, this causes many families to suffer unexpected financial burdens after the death of a loved one because Federal Estate Taxes are approximately 50% on all assets over $600,000.00. For example, […]