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The local economy remains very strong and businesses continue to grow. I find these are good times for business owners to determine whether they’re protected against risks that could cause major distress to their company. One of them is not having an ownership agreement (also known as a shareholder, buy-sell, or operating agreement) that adequately […]

QUESTION: WHAT DO BUSINESS OWNERS NEED TO KNOW ABOUT THE DEPARTMENT OF LABOR’S OVERTIME RULE? ANSWER: Overall, the changes to the existing overtime rule would significantly increase the minimum salary requirement for exempt employees under the Fair Labor Standards Act (“FLSA”). Prior to the Department of Labor’s (“DOL”) adoption of the changes, FLSA required covered

Estate planning is important for a number of different reasons. Making your intentions clear, avoiding a costly administration process, and keeping the process as simple and least burdensome to your loved ones are the most common I hear from my clients. What clients and advisers sometimes forget in this process are the impact of taxes

Sometimes landlords feel that the law treats them as parents and tenants as their children. Two cases earlier this year reinforce that. The usual rule in “slip and fall” cases is that, if the defect is open and obvious, the fault lies with the person who slipped. Thus, if a person sees a parking lot

People are vital to all businesses and many businesses simply wouldn’t exist without certain key people. When a business owner sells a company, having these key employees continue in their roles can be critical for the buyer and justifying what they’ve paid. Alternatively, if these key employees leave, the value of the business deteriorates and

After a rancorous political campaign season, I read the Court of Appeals opinion in Bedford v Witte and Hoyer with great interest. In both political campaigns and litigation, broad and emotional allegations are often made. While there are few rules for political campaigns, there are boundaries for statements by attorneys and other persons about public

If you want to build a new house, there are a number of factors you need to verify. Assumptions can lead to problems or at least added cost. –To know if you can legally build what you want, check zoning and private restrictions. You may find you cannot build that accessory building you want. –Verify

A national survey found that 51% of employees were not engaged in their job last year. Even worse, 17.5% were actively disengaged. These were the highest levels measured since 2000. This issue of engaging employees combined with a 3.2% unemployment rate in the local economy creates significant challenges for companies. Business owners know that attracting,

OSHA, the federal agency that creates and enforces worker safety rules, has new rules going into effect on December 1, 2016. Michigan has an OSHA-approved state plan, so the Michigan’s Occupational Safety and Health Administration applies to most employers in the State of Michigan. However, the federal government retains enforcement of the anti-retaliation provisions of

In writing legal agreements, it is best to be clear. Often this means that lawyers use legal jargon because courts have already ruled what such jargon means. But legal jargon used incorrectly can make trouble. An easement agreement created an “exclusive” access easement was “for the sole and exclusive use” of both the grantor’s and