In January 2024, a significant reporting requirement will take effect for businesses in the United States with the Beneficial Ownership Information (BOI) reporting under the Corporate Transparency Act (CTA). The CTA, enacted in 2021, aims to enhance transparency in entity structures and ownership, combatting money laundering, tax fraud and other illicit activities. As a business owner or professional, your understanding of the key aspects of this regulation is crucial for your compliance. Here’s a comprehensive guide to help you navigate the Corporate Transparency Act. Key Compliance Deadlines ..read more

On November 7, 2023, Ohioans voted to legalize recreational marijuana by passing Issue 2. That raises the issue of whether Ohio employers can still test their employees for use of marijuana.  The answer is yes.   As background, Ohio legalized medical marijuana usage in 2021. In 2023, Ohio voters passed Issue 2 to legalize recreational marijuana. However, under both Ohio’s medical marijuana law, and Ohio’s new legalized recreational marijuana voter initiative, employers still have the following rights:   Employers are still permitted to test their employees for the pre ..read more

(This blog was updated in November 2023.) When you are injured by the actions of another, you may have a legal right to seek compensation for your injuries. Most injury claims and lawsuits arise from an incident involving an accidental injury, such as injuries from a motor vehicle accident, a slip and fall at a store, or a defective product. In cases like these, in order to recover for your injuries, you must first prove negligence on behalf of the responsible party. Legally speaking, negligence is a failure to use reasonable care under the circumstances. In order to establish negligence, you ..read more

(This blog was updated in November 2023.) After my clients sign their wills and trusts, I always ask them two questions: Where are you going to keep these documents and have you given your family that information? Knowing where to find a person’s will is important, but it’s the tip of the iceberg when it comes to communicating your estate plan to your family. Even more important than where to locate the estate planning instruments are the password to the decedent’s email account, the account number and contact information for the cable company and the storage location of last year’s tax return ..read more

Most of the time, board members of nonprofit corporations pay little attention to the code of regulations and bylaws that govern their organizations.  But when there’s a legal challenge to the organization, when there’s deep conflict on the board, or when an aggressive or unscrupulous board member tries to take over, everyone’s attention is drawn to the organization’s governing documents. And too often, board members learn that the documents were drawn up years ago and haven’t been looked at since.  Here is a recap of the most important provisions that should be included within an o ..read more

By Neil D. Schor In early August 2021, President Biden announced that the freeze on student loan repayments has again been extended until January 31, 2022.  Whether the freeze extension will continue after that time is unknown.  Further changes for student loans held by public sector employees were also announced recently by the U.S. Department of Education. However, should a student loan debtor determine that bankruptcy is the best course of action for his or her financial situation, the discharge of the student loan debt through an adversary proceeding remains difficult unless the ..read more

By Martin J. Boetcher The Occupational Safety and Health Administration issued an Emergency Temporary Standard on Nov. 5, 2021, for the purpose of minimizing the risk of COVID-19 transmission in the workplace, however, the OSHA rule is being challenged in the courts.  The United States 5th Circuit Court of Appeals granted a motion to stay the ETS and ordered OSHA “take no steps to implement or enforce” the ETS “until further court order.” Through a random court lottery process, on Nov. 17, 2021, the case and several others were transferred to the United States 6th Circuit Court of Appeals ..read more

Did you know that grandparents in Ohio have legal rights to visit and enjoy custody and visitation of their grandchildren? Unlike many other states, Ohio codifies these rights in state law (in the Ohio Revised Code Section 3109.051). When Grandparents’ Rights are Recognized Ohio law authorizes reasonable grandparent companionship and visitation rights in three circumstances:  In a divorce, dissolution of marriage, legal separation, annulment, or child support proceeding involving a child;  When either the father or mother of an unmarried child is deceased; When a child is born to an ..read more

Successful business owners are always being recruited to join the boards of nonprofit entities sponsored by their customers and suppliers. Participation on a nonprofit board is important and it can certainly support worthwhile charitable causes. In deciding whether to join a nonprofit board, one must consider the issue of personal liability. Ohio Law Protects Board Members Fortunately, Ohio law offers some protection. State law protects nonprofit directors who act in good faith and in a manner they believe to be in the best interest of the entity and with the care of a “prudent person.” Unde ..read more

On January 1, 2023, sports betting will become legal in Ohio. This will allow Ohio residents, or anybody within Ohio borders, to place bets on sporting events, both professional and collegiate. The implementation of sports betting will change the way Ohioans watch sports. Here are some frequently asked questions about legalized sports betting, along with answers. How Do I Place Bets? There are a number of ways one can place bets. One is from your phone. Multiple licensed sports betting servicers like Draft Kings, BetMGM and Barstool Sportsbook are available through phone apps. You would need t ..read more