As a business owner, receiving a summons for a lawsuit can be a stressful experience. Understanding the proper procedure to defend yourself and your business requires an understanding of legal terms and documents associated with your case. In a civil case, a person files a claim against another. The plaintiff is the party filing the lawsuit. The defendant is...
Contract disputes may arise when one party didn’t even realize an enforceable contract existed. In Florida, some contracts must be in writing to be valid and enforceable. Some oral contracts are also enforceable. However, evolving technology adds to the confusion regarding valid contracts. Many wonder whether agreements made over email or text message are legally binding. Consulting with an...
Under Florida law, a business is generally not required to pay severance to a terminated employee. The U.S. Department of Labor generally does not require employers to offer severance pay. However, the existence of an agreement outlining severance terms creates a legal obligation to satisfy those terms. What Is Severance Pay? Severance pay is compensation an employer provides to...
Electing to be treated as an S-corp offers many benefits to both the business and the owner in Florida. An S-corp election may save money for your business especially when business profits are greater than your reasonable salary. Determine whether an S-Corp election is right for you and contact the qualified business attorneys at BrewerLong today! Making an S...
Business interruption refers to an unexpected disruption to the operation of a business. There are many reasons why businesses may suffer interruptions to their operations. Interruptions are usually the result of a catastrophic event, such as a natural disaster or possibly a pandemic such as COVID-19. When a business is not able to operate, the ability to generate revenue...
The COVID-19 global pandemic has turned many business structures upside down. Nationwide, employers have notified their employees to work from home to slow the spread of the virus. Despite this change in structure, maintaining the productivity of your employees ensures the survival of your business. Employers must consider legal implications, procedural issues, and technological factors associated with this new...
A fiduciary duty is a duty to act in the interest of another individual with respect to certain transactions, even above one’s own interest. A fiduciary is obligated to act in good faith and to act with care and loyalty toward those to whom they owe fiduciary duties. If you believe someone involved in your business has violated their...
One of the first things to decide when you start a new business is what to name it. It is common for a business to advertise and operate under a different name from its legal one. However, Florida law requires you to register any alternate names so that the public is aware of who is actually operating the business....
Most people do not start a partnership expecting to get into disputes with their partners. However, just as with other relationships, business partnerships can go sour. Partnership disputes about finances, authority, or the business’s goals can make a partnership become unworkable. In other situations, one partner’s misconduct may put the business in jeopardy. You can head off many partnership...
Can Two Business or Products Have the Same Name? You’ve come up with a clever name for your product or business and run a Google search on it, and there’s another product or business with the same name, or a very close one, in another state. But they haven’t registered the trademark with the U.S. Patent & Trademark Office....