Illinois Employers – Are You Aware of IEPA Amendments?
[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]This article originally appeared in the Novmeber 2019 issue of the Rockford Chamber of Commerce VOICE. Asking a prospective employee his or her salary history is a long-standing job interview question, and often the starting point for negotiating an applicant’s starting salary. Illinois employers may not realize that as of September 29, 2019, it’s illegal […]
In the Spotlight with Patricia Hall
Get to know WilliamsMcCarthy LLP Associate Patricia Hall a little better in this issue of “In the Spotlight.” We asked Patricia questions like what influenced her to become a lawyer, who are her professional and personal mentors, and what we might be surprised to learn about her. When did you decide you wanted to be a […]
Trademarks 101 – What Every Business Owner Should Know
[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]Trademarks are an essential part of any business. They represent your goodwill, your reputation, and help people tell the difference between the products and services your business offers and the products and services of others. Here are a few things every business owner should know about trademarks:[/vc_column_text][vc_empty_space][vc_tta_accordion style=”flat” shape=”square” color=”white” active_section=”1″ no_fill=”true” el_class=”attorney_acc”][vc_tta_section title=”What is […]
Divorced? What To Do When Traveling Abroad with Your Child
[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text] Separated or divorced parents often wonder whether or not they are permitted to take their child(ren) out of the country without their spouse or former spouse’s permission. With summer travel just around the corner, its important to know your rights as a parent, and avoid potential problems when traveling internationally. The United States does […]
Illinois Employers Should Update Their Expense Reimbursement Policies
[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text] Illinois employers must now reimburse employee expenses because of an amendment to the Wage Payment and Collection Act that went into effect on January 1, 2019. The amended Act now requires Illinois employers to reimburse employees for all necessary expenditures or losses incurred by the employee within the employee’s scope of employment and directly […]
5 Tips for Your Estate Plan When You – or a Family Member – are Tying the Knot
February is National Weddings Month, and whether it is you or a family member who popped the question or said yes on Valentine’s Day, marriage is among the life events that has the most significant impact on family estate plans. An upcoming marriage for you or someone in your family is a good time to […]
Illinois Supreme Court Limits Recourse Against Subcontractors in Residential Construction
[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text] What happens when you buy a newly constructed house and you move in only to find that there are defects in the construction which result in the house not being reasonably fit for its intended use as a residence? In Illinois the courts have created an implied warranty of habitability which is made part […]
Post-Closing Issue? Don’t Count on the Merger Doctrine to Save You
[vc_row][vc_column width=”5/6″][vc_column_text] The following article originally appeared in the November 2018 edition of the Illinois State Bar Association’s Real Estate Section Council Newsletter. Consider the following scenario: You are wrapping up the final touches on a client transaction binder following the successful closing of the sale of their real estate when you receive a call […]
Using the Holidays as a Springboard to Discuss Family Health History
[vc_row][vc_column width=”5/6″][vc_column_text] If you’re like most of us at WilliamsMcCarthy LLP, you will be spending more time with relatives this holiday season. This time together with family is a great opportunity to talk about family health history. Understanding health problems that may run in your family provides you and your loved ones with the invaluable […]
Protect Your Employees from Third Party Harassment
[vc_row][vc_column width=”5/6″][vc_column_text] Most employers are well aware of the unlawfulness of harassment in the workplace, either by a supervisor or co-worker. A lesser known situation arises when your employee is harassed by a third party who is not your employee, such as an on-site vendor or customer. The law is very clear that employers have […]
Timing Matters: The Impact of the New Tax Law on Maintenance Obligations in Divorce
[vc_row][vc_column width=”5/6″][vc_column_text]Published by Carol N. Bailey and Tyler B. Slack on June 27, 2018[/vc_column_text][vc_row_inner][vc_column_inner][vc_column_text] The year 2018 is almost halfway over and for individuals in Illinois currently involved in a divorce proceeding or contemplating filing for divorce, the question of whether their divorce case will be finalized before January 1, 2019 will have important implications when it comes to receiving […]
Sending Your Child Off to College? Don’t Forget the Discussion on Alcohol, Incapacitation, and Consent
[vc_row][vc_column width=”5/6″][vc_column_text]As parents get ready to send kids off to college, no doubt they have thought about the obvious – tuition, room and board, and perhaps even whether their child can operate a washing machine. What does not make the list of concerns is Title IX, but it ought to. During orientation, one of the […]
In the Spotlight with Daniel Huntley
When choosing a lawyer, it’s important to know not only their credentials, but also why they do what they do. You can read our attorney bios on our website. However, we thought we’d dig a little deeper to find out what makes them tick. Why did they choose their practice areas? When was the moment when […]
Pregnancy Accommodation Law Benefits Employees, Families and Illinois Businesses
[vc_row][vc_column width=”5/6″][vc_column_text] Published by Troy E. Haggestad and Timothy J. Rollins on January 31, 2018 [/vc_column_text][vc_column_text]Many Illinois businesses and employees are familiar with the federal Pregnancy Discrimination Act of 1978 (“PDA”) and the federal Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 (“ADA”). Fewer seem aware of the relatively recent Illinois Pregnancy Accommodation Act (“PAA”), which applies to all employers […]
Estate Planning Myths & Realities
[vc_row][vc_column width=”5/6″][vc_column_text] Published by Daniel A. Huntley and Adam M. Fleming on October 16, 2018 [/vc_column_text][vc_column_text] It’s estimated that more than half of Americans do not have an up-to-date estate plan. As a result, National Estate Planning Awareness Week was adopted in 2008 to help individuals understand what estate planning is and why it is such a vital […]
Top 5 Tips for Small Businesses to Combat Cyber Fraud
[vc_row][vc_column width=”5/6″][vc_column_text] With the recent security breaches, many of us are justifiably concerned about how to protect our information, especially for business who have employees. In the digital age, it’s not always practical to keep certain information “off-the-grid.” The September 2017 Equifax breach affected an estimated 145 million Americans, and the Senate conducted a hearing […]
Court Provides Guidance on Interplay between ADA and FMLA
[vc_row][vc_column width=”5/6″][vc_column_text] The differing obligations and requirements of the Americans with Disabilities Act (“ADA”) and the Family Medical Leave Act (“FMLA”) are a constant source of difficulty for most employers. On September 20, 2017, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit, in Severson v. Heartland Woodcraft, issued a very pro-employer decision that provides […]
Real Property Disclosure Reports: Avoiding Unnecessary Legal Risks
[vc_row][vc_column width=”5/6″][vc_column_text] When selling residential property, a distinctive part of the process is completing the Real Property Disclosure Report, which in most cases, is required pursuant to Illinois statute. A Real Property Disclosure Report is a report created by the seller of residential real estate disclosing any issues with the property of which the seller […]
Great News for Employers
[vc_row][vc_column width=”5/6″][vc_column_text]Federal law requires employers to pay employees time-and-a-half once they work more than 40 hours in a week. Employers do not have to pay an employee from overtime payments if the employee’s duties are classified as managerial in nature, and the employee is at a certain salary threshold. In 2016, the Obama administration raised […]
In Observance of Law Day, We Reflect on 150 Years of the 14th Amendment
[vc_row][vc_column width=”5/6″][vc_column_text]Every year since 1958, the United States has proclaimed May 1 Law Day, an annual opportunity to reflect on the importance of the rule of law in our daily lives. This year, as we close in on the 150th anniversary of the ratification of the 14th Amendment, the American Bar Association has chosen as […]
Tips For Buying and Selling a Home
[vc_row][vc_column width=”5/6″][vc_column_text]Buying or selling a home is the one of the largest transactions that the average American will undertake. In the Rock River Valley, it is often possible, though not recommended, to conduct a home transaction without the assistance of legal counsel. Real Estate lawyers can add value even in a transaction that seems simple […]
Planning for Legal Incapacity After an Alzheimer’s Diagnosis
[vc_row][vc_column width=”5/6″][vc_column_text]Unlike most cancers or AIDS, which are mainly physical afflictions, the symptoms and effects of Alzheimer’s disease strike at the heart of who we are as a person and have profound effects on our abilities to enter into legally valid arrangements. Given the effects of Alzheimer’s, great emphasis should be placed on the dignity […]
A Brief Primer on Rule 191(b) Affidavits
[vc_row][vc_column width=”5/6″][vc_column_text]The following article was featured in the July 2016, vol. 61, no. 1 issue of Trial Briefs, the newsletter of the ISBA’s Section on Civil Practice & Procedure. When an attorney is faced with the challenge of responding to a 2-619 motion to dismiss or motion for summary judgment, he or she may want […]
Insufficient Documentation Can Lead to Denial of Charitable Gift Income Tax Deduction
[vc_row][vc_column width=”5/6″][vc_column_text]A recent opinion issued by the United States Tax Court, James J. Isaacs v. Commissioner, TC Memo 2015-121, reminds both donors and charities to pay attention to the Internal Revenue Code and regulatory requirements for donors to enjoy a charitable deduction for donations over $250 in value. In this case, Dr. James Isaacs, a […]
