News & Legal Updates Archive

A recent decision out of Ohio’s 3rd District Court of Appeals reinforces the seemingly well-settled Ohio law that the construction statute of repose applies only to tort actions and does not operate to preclude actions based upon a breach of contract.

Hitting a five-year high, the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission filed 86 new lawsuits in September 2017. The EEOC made alleged violations of the American Disabilities Act a target of its year-end activity

McDonald Hopkins LLC, a business advisory and advocacy law firm, will be hosting a Business Hour regarding the European Union’s General Data Protection Regulation and how the regulation could affect American businesses.

Can you request a candidate’s salary history? In most states the answer is “yes.” However, concerns about equal pay issues between men and women have led some jurisdictions to pass laws that preventing employers from requesting historic wage information.

In its recently adopted budget, North Carolina plans to adopt even more tax reforms in 2019. But as is par for the course in North Carolina, not everyone is so thrilled.

On Oct. 30, 2017, Gov. Tom Wolf signed a measure that revises a number of provisions for horse racing, and the lottery, among other things. It also authorizes the Department of Revenue to operate internet games, referred to as “iLottery” and “Internet instant games.” Pennsylvania is only the fourth state to legalize online gambling.

In a decision that the Texas Comptroller of Public Accounts released in late October, an Ohio-based corporation was liable for $36,000 of unpaid sales and use taxes, plus a 10 percent late-filing penalty, and accrued interest.

McDonald Hopkins LLC held a Business Hour webcast on Nov. 2 regarding how antitrust laws do not only apply to large corporations, such as Google, Apple and Microsoft, but to businesses of all sizes.

The 6th U.S. Circuit Court recently revived a punitive class action, antitrust lawsuit - Cates v. Crystal Clear Techs., LLC - where homeowners alleged that an arrangement between developers of their communities and a telecommunication service provider constituted an unlawful tie in violation of the Sherman Act.

When you’re selecting a candidate to fill an open position at your company, there are many variables to consider. One thing, however, that cannot factor into your hiring decision is anything about a candidate that could fall under protected status.

Nearly 85 percent of Alaska’s budget is made up of revenues from oil and gas industry activities. Because of the state’s disproportionate dependence on oil production, the fluctuations in world pricing have had a substantial impact on Alaska’s economy.

All partnerships and most LLCs need to amend their partnership and operating agreements in response to the IRS' new partnership audit rules. The good news is that many small partnerships can affirmatively opt out of the provisions ahead of time. In this video, tax attorney David Ebersole explains the opt out process and details who is eligible to opt out.

The first complaint against the Vendors Making Internet Sales regulation was filed on Oct. 24, 2017, asking the court to declare that Massachusetts’ new regulation violates the commerce clause of the U.S. Constitution, and the Internet Tax Freedom Act, which the suit alleges preempts any state regulations that violate its prohibitions.

Lawmakers in the Great Lakes State are taking the necessary steps to curb action on two unpopular taxes on soda and personal income. The prohibition on soda taxes became law last week, and one senator is readying a new proposal to eliminate personal income taxes.

The IRS released guidance for its auditors to use in order to determine if a plan has a qualification issue when required minimum distribution has not been timely paid to missing participants or beneficiaries.

Joking with your coworkers around the watercooler is one thing, but keep in mind what you think of as just fun, off-hand comments could lead to a lawsuit for your company.

Governor John R. Kasich announced that Michael W. Wise of Chagrin Falls (Cuyahoga Co.) has been appointed to the Oil and Gas Leasing Commission for a term beginning October 10, 2017, and ending September 29, 2018.

On Sept. 26, 2017, the Ohio Supreme Court decided MacDonald v. Cleveland Income Tax Bd. of Review. The case provides that a Supplemental Executive Retirement Plan must be excluded from the Cleveland municipal income tax as a “pension” benefit.