Category Archives: Business Law
Trademarking a Smell-It’s Difficult, but it Can be Done
Humans are visual creatures. And when it comes to intellectual property, be it copyrights or trademarks, we often think that IP is related to only what we can see. But our sense of smell tells us a lot also—and in fact, smell is so powerful that it is possible to actually trademark a scent… Read More »
Preparing a Non-Party Witness: What Can A Lawyer Say and Not Say?
In almost any business litigation case, there are witnesses that are not parties to the case—that is, they are not clients of the attorneys in the case. They are neutral bystanders or others who have some evidence relevant to the issues in the lawsuit. When they are going to be deposed, or even before… Read More »
Understanding Corporate Positions and Titles
When it comes to companies, there are a lot of titles and positions that are talked about. They are often interchangeable; even people savvy in the legal and business world, confuse them, or use them haphazardly. But titles in the business legal world do mean a lot, and have very specific legal meaning. Here’s… Read More »
Corporations and LLCs: What’s the Difference?
You probably know about companies that are actual Florida corporations, and companies that are Limited Liability Companies, or LLCs. But do you really know the difference? It may not seem to matter to you—until you’re the one looking to start a business, and you need to know which corporate structure is best for you…. Read More »
Do You Know Quid Pro Quo Harassment When You See It?
Your business would never sexually harass anyone. You know the rules, and you avoid breaking them. But there’s one form of sexual harassment that is harder to spot, and which often happens seemingly, at least at first, innocuously: Quid pro quo sexual harassment. And it could happen in your business, without you knowing it…. Read More »
Hold Harmless and Liability Waivers: Make Them Enforceable
Let’s say that you are in a business or an industry where you have concern that you could end up getting sued—particularly sued for injuries. There are a lot of ways to run your business as safely as possible, but you are concerned there may be no guaranteed, foolproof way to insulate yourself from… Read More »
Loans, Interest and Usury: It’s Not as Easy as You Think
If you are in the business of loaning money to other people, and you charge interest, you hopefully know about the maximum legal interest rate that you can charge. Go above that rate, and you’re not only breaking the law, but you could end up losing all the money that you borrowed—in addition to… Read More »
Temporary Injunctions: Pros and Cons
When people or businesses sue, they usually sue for money damages. But often, they will also ask for an injunction. An injunction is a court order that stops someone from doing something or from engaging in a specific behavior. When are Temporary Injunctions Needed? Injunctions are common for things like intellectual property infringement, where… Read More »
You Received an OSHA Complaint: Now What Do You Do?
You run a safe operation. You value the safety of your company, your property, and your workers. And then one day it happens: There is an accident at work, and the government, through the Occupational Safety Hazard Administration (OSHA) comes knocking at your door. You have an OSHA complaint. What do you do? The… Read More »
Can You Prevent Someone From Declaring for Bankruptcy?
If you enter into a business contract, you may have some concern about how to ensure that the other side complies with its end of the bargain. And while your contract can contain stiff financial penalties, you know that companies can and do, go out of business. You’re concerned, so you include a provision… Read More »
