Employee Misclassification Costs Lowe’s Home Center $2.85 Million

Employment Misclassification

  Large companies save a lot of money by hiring independent contractors rather than employees: they save on taxes, pensions, insurance, and other benefits reserved for employees. Whether you are classified as an employee or an independent contractor makes a big difference in your entitlements under the law. Contractors are not entitled to key benefits…

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Are Dogs Property, Not Children, in Canine “Custody” Battles?

Canine Custody

It’s the kind of case that would have made the Dog Whisperer scream. A divorcing couple in Canada petitioned Justice Richard Danyliuk of the Queen’s Bench for Saskatchewan to render a custody decision and visitation rights for their three dogs. Rather than entertain the idea of equating dogs with people, Danyliuk responded with 15+ page…

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Tax Reform Means Higher Taxes for Those Paying Alimony

There are many tax issues facing divorcing couples, and a major one is alimony (or spousal support). Thanks to recent changes to the federal Tax Code, those paying alimony after 2018 will face higher tax bills. For divorce settlement agreements or judicial decrees entered before December 31, 2018, the parties will continue the “old” practice…

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The Whistle that Could Blow Over a Caterpillar

“Whistleblower” is the term used for someone who reports something illegal or unethical in an organization, either internally or to a government agency. That organization can be a government, nonprofit, or private entity. It can include just about any type of wrongdoing, from employment discrimination to bid rigging to illegal pollution to cheating on taxes.…

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