Firm News

Following a hearing in support of a request for declaratory judgment, U.S.D.C. Judge Stickman sided in favor of business owners over the Governor's mandated shutdown of businesses under the "life-sustaining" and "non-life-sustaining" designations published and re-published numerous times over March, April and May of this year.

We will tackle a variety of topics on September 21, 2020 at 3 pm. 

This 30 minute presentation followed by Q&A will touch on 10 of the most compelling legal issues facing small business as as we remain in the mid-pandemic phase.

• Contracts that Win

• Employees to Keep

• Employees on Leave

• Vendor Supply

• Real Estate

• Customer Happiness

• (and 4 more if you are counting)

You can register here:

https://us02web.
Read more . . .

Despite the uncertainty that has accompanied the COVID-19 pandemic and that still lies ahead, one thing remains certain: Most businesses will eventually reopen.

On April 16, 2020, President Trump set forth guidelines for the reopening of businesses in the United States. Additionally, governors from various states continue to roll back statewide stay-home orders in the hopes of restarting economies that have been crippled by this pandemic.Business owners navigating this new landscape must figure out how to restart their operations while keeping their staff and customers as healthy as possible. Specific plans of action must be put in place for the safe and effective reopening of businesses.
Read more . . .

Add another poster to the Wall....

The Families First Coronavirus Response Act (FFCRA) requires certain public employers and private employers with fewer than 500 employees to provide their employees with paid sick leave or expanded family and medical leave for specified reasons related to COVID-19.
Read more . . .

The Emergency Paid Sick Leave Act (EPSLA) applies to employees who are unable to
work (or telework) due to one of the following six circumstances:
1. The employee is subject to a Federal, State, or local quarantine or isolation
order related to COVID–19
2. The employee has been advised by a health care provider to self-quarantine
due to concerns related to COVID–19.
3. The employee is experiencing symptoms of COVID–19 and seeking a medical
diagnosis.
Read more . . .

Our existing clients know we take great pride in our client service.  Due to public health concerns surrounding the coronavirus, we have adjusted our service model for the next few weeks.

In order to protect our team and to otherwise slow or limit the impact of the coronavirus, we are taking the following measures until further notice:

• Walk in appointments cannot be accepted

• New client appointments will be deferred

• Currently scheduled client appointments will continue

• We will ask all visitors to self-screen

• We will offer phone or video consults in lieu of office meetings
  

Otherwise, we remain open for business.  

On December 20, 2019, President Trump signed the Setting Every Community Up for Retirement Enhancement Act (SECURE Act). The SECURE Act, which is effective January 1, 2020.

The Act is the most impactful legislation affecting retirement accounts in decades. The SECURE Act has several positive changes: It increases the required beginning date (RBD) for required minimum distributions (RMDs) from your individual retirement accounts from 70 ½ to 72 years of age, and it eliminates the age restriction for contributions to qualified retirement accounts. However, perhaps the most significant change will affect the beneficiaries of your retirement accounts: The SECURE Act requires most designated beneficiaries to withdraw the entire balance of an inherited retirement account within ten years of the account owner’s death.
Read more . . .

The construction litigation team at Creenan & Baczkowski, PC recently obtained court approval of a successful negotiated settlement against the contractor.  The multi-million dollar settlement resulted from C&B persistence in demonstrating the ongoing nature and scope of the structural damages.  

The C&B Team included Jim Creenan, Esquire, Jake Oresick, Esquire, and paralegal Joanne Parise.  

Many small business owners face a dilemma when  starting out - what address should I use for my official business registration?   

Under Pennsylvania law (15 P.S. Sec. 109), entities required to provide a registered office address in any document filed in the Department of State may enter into a contract for the services of a Commercial Registered Office Provider (CROP), and may list the name of the CROP in lieu of providing a registered office address. This option is also available for any corporation or association that does not have a physical location or mailing address in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania.