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Please Click HerePosted on January 20, 2010 by Mark J. Bradley
We want to alert you to some important changes in the federal estate, gift and generation-skipping transfer (GST) tax laws that went into effect on January 1. In 2001, Congress passed a law that gradually increased the amount that persons could transfer at death free of estate and GST taxes. The amount grew to $3.5 […]
Posted on January 15, 2010 by Mary Ellen Schill
The Employee Benefits Security Administration (EBSA) has issued updated model COBRA notices to reflect the COBRA subsidy extension which was part of the Fiscal Year 2010 Department of Defense Appropriations Act. We issued a legal update on December 22, 2009 which summarized the extension and its effect on an employer’s obligations under the American Recovery […]
Posted on January 14, 2010 by wally
The Genetic Information Nondiscrimination Act of 2008, affectionately known as “GINA,” is a big deal for employers and sponsors of group health plans. For those of you who have been busy with your day job, here are the answers to all of the questions you would have asked if you had the time… What is […]
Posted on January 13, 2010 by Ruder Ware Alumni
Social Security Administration Releases Key Figures for 2011 The Social Security Administration (“SSA”) recently released key figures for 2011 that will affect all elderly and disabled individuals who receive program benefits, including social security benefits, supplemental security benefits, and Medicare benefits. This notice summarizes these changes and their impact on various benefits. Social Security Retirement […]
Posted on January 13, 2010 by Ruder Ware Alumni
The Social Security Administration (“SSA”) recently released key figures for 2010 that will affect all elderly and disabled individuals who receive program benefits, including social security benefits, supplemental security income benefits, and Medicare benefits. This notice summarizes the changes and their impact on various benefits. Social Security Retirement As many seniors already know, there will […]
Posted on January 12, 2010 by Ruder Ware Alumni
Many states in the nation have adopted laws that address an employee’s duty of loyalty to his or her employer. Wisconsin courts have generally taken a restrictive view on such a duty. However, the courts have applied it to officers of a company and employees who hold positions that involve policy making. Recently, the Wisconsin […]
Posted on December 31, 2009 by Ruder Ware Alumni
In Ledbetter v. Goodyear Tire & Rubber Co., No. 05-1074 (U.S. May 29, 2007), the U.S. Supreme Court ruled that for purposes of calculating an employee’s 180-day time limit for bringing a Title VII claim, the employer’s initial unlawful decision to set the employee’s pay, rather than each subsequent issuance of a paycheck based on […]
Posted on December 29, 2009 by Mark J. Bradley
In 2001, Congress made changes to the federal estate, gift, and generation-skipping transfer tax laws. To satisfy a procedural requirement in the Senate, the 2001 law contained a “sunset” provision, meaning that it would expire at the end of ten years, at which time the provisions of the law in effect in 2001 would be […]
Posted on December 22, 2009 by Mary Ellen Schill
Yesterday President Obama signed the Fiscal Year 2010 Defense Appropriations Act, and included within that law is an extension of the COBRA premium subsidy enacted last February as part of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (“ARRA”). Our earlier updates on the ARRA COBRA premium subsidy can be found in “COBRA Provisions in […]
Posted on December 16, 2009 by Steven P. Lipowski
Businesses must be wary of the risks associated with promises made in advertisements or other promotional materials, as in some cases these promises extend beyond mere puffery and create express warranties of performance. Generally speaking, advertisers are permitted to engage in “puffery” in the promotion of their products. Puffery is generally defined as promotional statements […]