Many large employers, particularly retailers, include anti-union information or videos as part of their new hire training process in an effort to prevent unions from gaining a foothold with workers. These videos have been around for a while in all their cheesy, disinformational glory. The National Labor Relations Act (NLRA) permits employers to share their […]
Behind the scenes with Target’s anti-union video Read More »
Sarbanes-Oxley, passed in 2002 in the wake of the Enron disaster, includes a protection in Section 806 that employees of a publicly traded company from retaliation for whistleblowing on accounting fraud and other prohibited acts under Sarbanes-Oxley (SOX). In the past, most courts held that the employees of contractors to public companies did not enjoy
Sarbanes-Oxley retaliation claims apply to employees of contractors Read More »
50/50 custody refers to custody arrangements outside of the standard possession order that split time evenly between the parents. This arrangement might work as alternating weeks or an alternating group of days. Although these arrangements are not the norm, they can be approved by a family court and sometimes work very well. If you believe
5 Problems with 50/50 Custody in Texas Divorces Read More »
Uncontested divorce participants comment after the fact that they liked the idea of an uncontested divorce; but along the way there were some tense discussions that made them feel like because they chose an uncontested divorce they were stuck giving in to whatever demands their spouse wanted to prevent the divorce from becoming contested. Often
Is it better to get an uncontested divorce or fight for what you deserve? Read More »
I receive many calls and emails each week regarding diminished value claims. Almost every time, the story is the same. Although the other driver caused the wreck, the insurance company refuses any discussion of a diminished value claim. The person might pursue a few hundred dollars all the way up to tens of thousands of dollars. Regardless
In a Texas divorce with kids with joint custody or sole custody the family court must order a possession schedule for how the parents share time with the children. The judge can sign a divorce decree or child custody order with virtually any schedule as long as the schedule is in the best interests of
Is the standard possession order required in my Texas divorce with children? Read More »
I receive this common question from people in the midst of a divorce, particularly those attempting a pro se divorce. (Divorce without the help of an attorney.) The story is sometimes different but the question is always the same. Sometimes the spouses agree not to mess with dividing retirement accounts in the divorce to keep things
The Family and Medical Leave Act is a federal law that protects the rights of employees to up to twelve weeks of medical leave within a twelve month period for treatment of a serious medical condition. FMLA protects not only the right to a single continuous leave period; FMLA also protects the right to take
Should I ask for FMLA intermittent leave? Read More »
Mediation is a common practice in Texas divorces because it offers the opportunity for the spouses to make decisions between themselves about how to divide parenting issues and property rather than have a judge or jury make those decisions for them. Mediation is a process in which a neutral third party (the mediator) works to
Is mediation right for my divorce? Fort Worth divorce lawyer explains Read More »
A salvage vehicle means a vehicle declared a total loss due to a wreck or theft. In Texas it is possible to buy and drive a vehicle with a salvage or rebuilt title. It requires inspection by the Department of Motor Vehicles and a certificate issued on the basis of the inspection. Many people are leery
Diminished value on a salvage title Read More »
Today’s society is moving increasingly towards becoming a paperless society. That includes the way we pay for goods and services. It is rare that people pay in cash, especially with the reward systems attached to credit cards. The convenience of throwing down plastic comes with a price, at least to the business owners. Credit card
When can employers deduct credit card fees from tips in Texas? Read More »
Back in 2012, several local Dallas, Fort Worth and Denton media outlets reported a racial discrimination suit involving a prosecutor at the Denton County District Attorney‘s office and her allegations that an assistant DA, much higher up the food chain, had made racially discriminatory remarks that constituted a hostile work environment. The trial court awarded
Denton County prevails in racial discrimination appeal Read More »
In a Texas divorce, one of the major assets to address in a property division include retirement accounts, such as a 401k or defined benefit pension plan. Retirement assets within a private employer’s retirement plan are typically governed by ERISA. ERISA, the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, establishes particular processes for dividing assets
Earning the Q in your QDRO Read More »
This month the federal Fourth Circuit Court of Appeals issued its decision in Summers v. Altarum Institute. It’s the first appellate court to address the definition of “disability” under the Americans with Disabilities Act Amendments Act (ADAAA). The ADAAA has been a tremendous source of agony for employer-side lawyers (and employers). It expanded the meaning of
A recent Pew Research poll indicates 73% of the U.S. population uses social media. It’s out there. There are so many social media outlets to choose from it’s difficult these days to find people not on multiple social media sites. Although Facebook may be suffering from a wave of withdrawal, other sites are maintaining their status
Social media and employment discrimination claims Read More »
You have seen at least one of Brian Loncar’s advertisements as the “Strong Arm” personal injury lawyer. His ads have run for at least a decade for his high volume personal injury firm in Dallas. Loncar got into a car wreck in Dallas (or Highland Park) with a Dallas Fire Department Fire Engine. Loncar claimed the
Even the strong arm can’t muscle past qualified immunity in Dallas, Texas Read More »
Overtime rules under the Fair Labor Standards Act and Texas Payday Law result in  improper wage calculations in employment law. Some employers engage in illegal acts to avoid paying overtime. Many fail to fully understand when they must pay overtime and how the calculation of overtime pay must occur. (For a primer on overtime pay,
Overtime pay with personal leave in Texas Read More »
Beginning January 1, 2014, the IRS began enforcing rules on restaurant mandatory gratuities that will have an impact on both the income of tipped employees and how restaurants can get themselves in hot water with the Department of Labor and/or IRS by misapplying these mandatory gratuities. Restaurants typically charge these mandatory service charges for large
IRS Rules for Mandatory Gratuity Read More »
Noelle Roni, the former principal at charter school Peak to Peak Elementary in Colorado, was allegedly terminated in November for opposing what can only be described as a bizarre school practice. According to news reports, the school fired Roni after she demanded cafeteria workers stop stamping the hands of students who received lunches but did
Colorado Principal Fired for Opposing Bizarre School Practice Read More »
A common mistake child support obligors make is paying child support payments directly to the obligee-parent rather than to the Texas Attorney General’s State Disbursement Unit (SDU). This mistake can be costly for the obligor even if the obligor believes he or she can pay less by making child support payments directly to the other
Child support payments not paid through the Attorney General Read More »