The stunted economy in Western Massachusetts has frozen the size of local law firms for several years. While nearby Hartford and Boston firms had ballooned to lawyers in the hundreds, …
On November 18, 2003 the Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court ruled that gay and lesbian couples have the right to civil marriage in Massachusetts. The ruling in Goodridge v. Department of …
Business funding has become more challenging lately as rates appear to be on the rise and venture capital seems to have dried up. What were yesterday’s obvious funding solutions may …
Very often, a person’s home is one of the single largest assets they may own. As a means of attempting to protect the home from long term care expenses, an …
Tax season is looming, and the right time to be thinking about reducing your tax burden is NOW. Grumbling about your tax situation when you meet with your accountant in …
According to the statistics provided by Womanshelter/Compañeras in Holyoke, intimate partner violence (IPV) costs business between $3-5 billion annually in diminished productivity and increased health cost, absenteeism and employee turnover. …
The Family Leave Medical Act (FLMA) of 1993 was designed to provide an avenue for certain employees to balance their professional and family lives in a means that would be …
Since there is no crystal ball capable of predicting the future, the concept of composing an article about the financial outlook for Western MA presented an interesting challenge. Upon considering …
Bankruptcy is a term that carries many negative connotations. Indeed, society often reacts to both personal and corporate bankruptcy as a sign of failure or ineptitude. That’s why companies and …
All people, regardless of age, deserve to be treated with dignity, respect and in a fashion that keeps them safe from physical, emotional and financial harm. This is particularly relevant …
For any restauranteur or related establishment within the alcoholic beverages industry, a primary asset of the business is the alcoholic beverage liquor license itself. A common misnomer among restaurateurs and …
We all recognize the necessity of planning throughout our lifetimes for a comfortable retirement. It is likely that most of us have IRAs, 401Ks, pensions, stocks, bonds, mutual funds, or …
Francis R. Mirkin, Esq., Julie A. Dialessi-Lafley, Esq. • 2003-06-05
Buying commercial real estate and protecting your investment are important matters that require careful consideration on a variety of levels. The purpose of the acquisition, either as investment property or …
In 1994, in the wake of Desert Storm, Congress passed The Uniformed Services Employment and Reemployment Rights Act, (USERRA.) Its purpose is to encourage participation in the United States armed …
Telemarketing is a telephone solicitation, which functions as a verbal advertisement for a product or service that the vendor wants you to purchase. Until January of 2003, in the Commonwealth …
When an individual becomes incapacitated to the point that he or she is incapable of making his or her own decisions, someone needs to take responsibility. Ideally, this has been …
Governor Romney’s sobering State of the State address in January painted a clear picture of the poor economic condition of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. In a nutshell, Massachusetts must reduce …
According to the most recent social security statistics available, from 1996, the median income of unmarried women aged 65 and older is a mere $10,483 per year, and the average …
There are more than a million species of the microscopic fungi that we call mold. They perform a basic biological function of breaking down organic materials and are necessary for …
You may feel that no one could be like you. You may feel, rightfully so, that your identity is unique. Nonetheless, an identity thief may be masquerading as you and …
In the seemingly strange world of bankruptcy proceedings, being deemed a preferential creditor is not a good thing. Because of the unsettled nature of our troubled economy, your company may …
There is no common law marriage statute in Massachusetts, so unmarried couples who live together enjoy none of the rights and protections that their married counterparts do. Unless their partnership …
Considering the current substantial expense of a college education, the projections for rising educational costs for over the next fifteen to twenty years are almost unbelievable. Relief can be found …
Very often, a person’s home is one of the single largest assets they may own. As a means of attempting to protect the home from long term care expenses, an …
Obtaining a commercial loan from a financial institution can be complicated, and it requires substantial consideration. A bank traditionally proposes terms that are necessarily protective of its own best interests, …
