Key Steps To Take When Your Business Is Sued

No business owners want to face a lawsuit.  Litigation can hurt a company’s financial standing and industry reputation.  However, these damages can be alleviated by taking proper steps in the event of litigation:

Review the case immediately with legal counsel and hire a lawyer, if necessary.  Put your counsel in contact with your insurance broker to determine if there is coverage for the lawsuit.  provide your lawyer with all the necessary information, including documents and electronic materials, to be used to defend the business against the allegations.

Image source: etalia.net

Never communicate directly with the plaintiff. Similar to what the Miranda warning states, whatever business owners say in relation to the complaint can be used against them.  The task of communicating and cooperating with the other parties should be handled by legal experts.

Inform the insurance provider about the case.  If the business is covered by insurance policies, the relevant insurance provider has to be informed promptly to preserve the coverage.

Foster a compliant atmosphere in the business.  Everyone involved in the organization should be informed to refrain from discussing topics related to the lawsuit, and to preserve all documents, whether hard copy or electronic, that might be related to the lawsuit.

Image source: jumpanzee.com

Dan DeKoter has litigated multimillion-dollar lawsuits for both plaintiffs and defendants. His areas of expertise include business and employment law, civil litigation, and estate and planning administration. Learn more about the “AV”-rated lawyer by visiting this website.

What To Do In Case Of Wrongful Termination

Wrongful termination often occurs in both the corporate and government sectors. According to the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, it receives hundreds of thousands of claims of wrongful dismissal every year.

Image source: norcalrecord.com

Those who feel they were fired or laid off unfairly should observe the following steps:

Keep calm: Panicking, lashing out at superiors, or ranting on the employer will only make matters worse. The recommended course of action begins with keeping calm and finding ways to vent frustrations privately.

Get legal representation: A wrongful termination case requires professional help to increase the likelihood that the fired employee receives what is due him. No single law covers wrongful termination; rather various federal and state laws deal with this legal issue. Lawyers or law firms knowledgeable in this area can also offer advice on how to continue one’s career, such as how to explain the situation to future employers.

Image source: e-legaltechnology.org

Dan DeKoter, whose areas of practice include business and employment law, is an 'AV' rated lawyer, the highest mark given by the premier peer review service at Lawyers.com.  More on his practice here . 

A Look Into Advanced Estate Planning And Its Advantages

Advanced estate planning is needed for individuals with largeestates that may generate estate or inheritance taxes at the state or federal level. Advanced estate planning can protect assets and perpetuate family values for the welfare of future generations.

Image source: moneytalkph.com

Estate and inheritance taxes can be reduced by gifting assets like highly appreciated stock straight to loved ones, or a charity, or into a trust for their welfare, or gifting away interests in closely held business entities like limited liability companies or corporations. By doing so, the value of the owner’s estate is reduced. When the assets or business interests are gifted properly to the beneficiaries or into a trust directly from the owner, the assets can no longer be counted in the value of the owner’s estate and used in the computation of estate tax. An experienced legal advisor can assist you in tailoring a plan suited to your family.

Image source: accountingweb.com

Dan DeKoter is an “AV” rated lawyer, the highest rating given by the premier peer review service as seen at lawyers.com. He has litigated multi-million dollar lawsuits for both plaintiffs and defendants. Visit his firm’s website to know more about his practice areas.