While the Supreme Court’s rejection of the federal Defense of Marriage Act, “DOMA” does little to expand the rights of same-sex couples residing in Pennsylvania, as it relates to immigration, same-sex couples may now share the same benefits as their heterosexual counterparts. In defining “marriage” to be between one man and one woman and “spouse” as a person of the opposite sex who is a husband or … [Read more...] about Til Death Do U.S. Part: DOMA No Longer Impedes Same-sex Couples from Living in the U.S. Together
….But Where is the Child?
Yesterday, the Supreme Court of the United States determined that certain provisions of the Indian Child Welfare Act do not apply when Native American birth parents have never had custody of the child. Following the Supreme Court’s decision, the state court must review the case again. Thus, the child’s legal status is still not resolved. The facts of the Supreme Court case are well known and not … [Read more...] about ….But Where is the Child?
One Person’s Trash Is Another Person’s Treasure: Dealing with Former Tenant’s Abandoned Property
Until recently, there was scant legal guidance on how landlords should dispose of former tenants’ abandoned personal property. This resulted in landlords being placed in the precarious position of either suffering expensive delays in releasing an apartment clogged with a former tenant’s personal property or facing significant potential liability for unilaterally disposing of this property. Relief … [Read more...] about One Person’s Trash Is Another Person’s Treasure: Dealing with Former Tenant’s Abandoned Property
Eastern District of Pennsylvania to Decide Whether DOMA Applies to Private Sector
In a matter of first impression, a pending case before the Eastern District of Pennsylvania will determine the application of the Defense of Marriage Act (“DOMA”) to a private profit-sharing plan governed by ERISA. What will this mean for employers and their benefits plans? Regardless of the Court’s decision, this case emphasizes the need for clear communication between employers and employee plan … [Read more...] about Eastern District of Pennsylvania to Decide Whether DOMA Applies to Private Sector
The NLRB “Friends” Employees: Why and How to Develop a Great Social Media Policy
As business leaders, you know the value of your business’s reputation. One of the biggest threats to business growth is negative “word of mouth,” particularly when those words come from someone perceived to have inside knowledge, such as employees of the business. There was a time when employees enjoyed only the limited platforms of backyard barbeques and the occasional family gathering. With the … [Read more...] about The NLRB “Friends” Employees: Why and How to Develop a Great Social Media Policy
