Employee vs. Contractor: the Uber Conundrum
The status of Uber drivers is shaking up definitions of employees versus contractors. If you haven’t hired a driver from Uber (or their biggest American competitor Lyft), you are likely [...]
Changes in Tax & Estate Law as a result of the Supreme Court Marriage Equality Decision
image from cnn.com Following the US Supreme Court ruling in Obergefell v. Hodges, Same Sex Married Couples have new options and pitfalls when it relates to taxes and estate [...]
Congressional Changes To Toxic Substances Control Act Receives Initial Bipartisan Support
June 28 through July 4th is Aquatic Invasive Species Awareness Week, as declared by Michigan Governor Rick Snyder. Aquatic invasive species are non-native organisms that can quickly reproduce and do [...]
You Can’t Ask That!
Yes, there are stupid questions. When you are hiring an employee, everybody who is involved in the interview process needs to be well trained and well versed in the legal [...]
Water and Weed Out West: Marijuana’s Impact on the Environment
Marijuana growing is not without its detractors. Some decry the legalization or decriminalization of marijuana, while others are rejoicing that marijuana is now available either medically or recreationally. Opponents of [...]
Dawda attorney, Brian Considine, accepts OCBA Committee of the Year Award on behalf of Energy, Sustainability and Environmental Law Committee.
Pictured from left to right: Phil Grashoff, Kyle Jones, Brian Considine, Nick Maloof, Sue Sadler and Mark Hester (fellow committee members). Photo courtesy of the Oakland County Bar Association, [...]
Bike Night, Twin Peaks and Franchise Agreements
The recent violence at a Waco, Texas restaurant has called into question the rights and responsibilities of franchisees and franchisors. On May 15th, during a so-called “Bike Night” at the [...]
Mediation: What is It and When Should it be Utilized?
95% of cases settle before trial. Within the past couple of decades, there has been a huge push within the legal profession to facilitate settlement through Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR). [...]
Why Should We Care about Delaware?
What’s the big deal with the state of Delaware? It’s the smallest state in the union, and it’s ranked #45 in population with under a million residents. But it’s oversize [...]
The EPA Clean Water Rule: a Work in Progress
The Environmental Protection Agency has drafted and published the Clean Water Rule. The EPA has already presented it to community stakeholders and held public comment meetings. Now the Rule has [...]
The Summer Internship: Education, not Employment
Exams are ending (have already ended at UM and MSU), students are moving out, and the season of the summer internships is upon us. Internships allow young people the opportunity [...]
Commercial Landlord’s Headache: When Your Tenant Files Bankruptcy
Several large companies and small local concerns have filed bankruptcy. How does this affect their commercial leases, including their current and future rental payments? Before we give some general advice, [...]
New Michigan laws governing non-profit corporations
There are new laws on the books in Michigan, which may have a significant impact in the governance and operation of non-profit organizations. These laws, known as Public Acts 557, [...]
Dawda Breakfast: Stage for Ford’s Hinrichs Presentation
Media from the automotive industry reported about Joe Hinrichs' presentation at the Dawda Automotive Industry breakfast. "Without divulging the future, we're very excited about the Continental name," says Hinrichs. [...]
IRS Commissioner Talks About Ramifications of IRS Staff Reductions
Just a week prior to April 15th, also known as “Tax Day”, John A. Koskinen, the Commissioner of the Internal Revenue Service spoke at the gathering of the Urban-Brookings Tax [...]
It’s Not so Easy to Say “You’re Fired”
It is the situation that business owners and HR personnel dread: when it’s time to let an employee go. They simply aren’t fulfilling their job responsibilities and/or they are having [...]
Tax Issues for Divorced Parents with Dependent Children
Getting divorced can be a complicated process. But, the complications are not necessarily over when the judge formalizes a divorce decree. Tax season is another one of those complicated times [...]
Funerals and Tax Forms: Estate Planning Issues for Surviving Spouses
Going through the grief process is not the only difficult work that has to be done after the death of a spouse. Indeed, following this significant loss, handling the estate [...]
Michigan Business Courts: A New Approach to Litigation
Business litigation is changing in Michigan. Public Act 333 officially requires Michigan circuit courts that have three or more judges to establish specialized business court dockets. Those courts with less [...]
Don’t Let Your Drafting be Drafty
In my experience most attorneys fancy themselves as capable, even good, writers. Sadly, in my experience, many of them are wrong (or, at least, they don’t have or don’t spend [...]
