In a 1995 “Seinfeld” episode, George Costanza takes exception when he spots a security guard forced to stand his entire shift while on duty at a men’s store. His outrage is appeased only when he later decides to provide the guard with a chair.
Under a new law (35 ILCS 200/9-275), the Cook County Assessor is hunting for homeowners who are claiming property tax exemptions for which they do not qualify. The consequences can include repayment of up to 6 years of unpaid tax, plus 10% interest per year plus a penalty of 50% of the total unpaid tax. Moreover, the Assessor is authorized to record liens against real estate if the homeowner does not pay as required.
Just in time for summer, consider the plight of snowboarders in the Wasatch Mountains of northern Utah, home of the Alta Ski Area. Alta is well-known as a skiers-only resort. It is one of only three in the country that bans snowboarders.
One of the most feared prospects for many employers is a workforce unionization effort. Management and human resources personnel will often take vigorous measures to avoid the increased labor expense and inflexibility regarding personnel decisions that seem to invariably follow once a company becomes unionized.
By now, virtually every consumer knows of or was affected by highly publicized hacking incidents involving large companies’ computer systems. The 21st century crime of data breaching, most recently aimed at certain lawyers’ papers in Panama City, Panama, also famously victimized Target, Home Depot, Ashley Madison, Sony, eBay and, ironically, the ID theft-protection firm Lifelock, among others.
Jeff Samardzija of the 2015 White Sox finished last in the league in total earned runs and gave up the most hits and home runs. Following that performance, he still signed a new five-year, $90 million deal with the San Francisco Giants. At least the “Shark” won 11 games last season.
Legal questions posed by friends and family are expected by most lawyers. What is unexpected is one recurrent question. “Should he blow?” Other lawyers who double as parents of high school- and college-age drivers will surely relate.
Cold beer and the U.S. Constitution. Linking together these revered but distinct foundations of America seems a bit off.
Serving as a director on corporate boards is often quite an honor, carries prestige and can prove rewarding. Yet, as a San Francisco federal court just demonstrated, it can also come with significant risk.
Prominent among judicial doctrines ripe for reversal — right up there with contributory negligence and baseball’s antitrust exemption — is the rule immunizing the government from negligence claims by military personnel for injuries suffered on the job.