Summary of 2017’s Major Immigration Policy Changes
Giselle Carson Dec 29, 2017 in H-1B/H-4
Yearly Archives from 2017
The current administration has set a goal of slowing down the legal immigration process to achieve a reduction in immigration and arguably protect US jobs. As a result, last year saw its fair share of policy upheavals, including: Three successive travel bans; The six-month suspension of premium processing for all H-1B petitions, including those counted against the annual H-1B cap; The unprecedented Level Wage 1 H-1B visa requests for further evidence (RFEs), which has led […]
Continue ReadingTurning 70½ in 2018? What You Need to Know about RMDs
John Crawford Dec 28, 2017 in Estate Planning & Preservation
Are you one of the millions of Americans with an IRA or 401k who have recently turned 70 or will reach that age in 2018? There are a few rules you need to know to avoid heavy penalties by the IRS for failure to take the proper required minimum distribution, commonly known as the “RMD”. When to Take the RMD If you turn 70 between July 1, 2017, and June 30, 2018, you should take […]
Continue ReadingCan You Register Your Domain Name as a Trademark?
Crystal Broughan, Intellectual Property Attorney Dec 28, 2017 in Intellectual Property
A domain name can become a trademark only if it is used as a trademark. Simply registering a word or words as a domain name does not itself establish trademark rights. Remember, a trademark identifies and distinguishes the source of goods or services. The key is whether the trademark has been used to make such a visual impression that consumers would see it as a symbol of origin separate and apart from anything else. The […]
Continue ReadingAttorney David Boies’s Career-Killing Ethical Breach for Weinstein
Edward L. Birk Dec 21, 2017 in First Amendment
Many have wondered how Harvey Weinstein’s story went unreported for so long. Part of the reason may have come to light in a recent New Yorker article. According to the New Yorker article, and other news coverage, Weinstein hired attorneys and private intelligence agencies to collect damaging information on journalists working on stories about him as well as their sources. The explicit goal of these investigations was to prevent the publication of the abuse allegations […]
Continue ReadingCopyright Tasks to Complete Before Next Year – Part 2
Crystal Broughan, Intellectual Property Attorney Dec 21, 2017 in Copyrights
There is no shortage of things to get done before the end of the year, so don’t let your copyright concerns fall by the wayside. In my last post, I shared one important task for companies with DMCA agents to complete before year-end: re-file your registration with the U.S. Copyright Office. There is one more important task to complete if it is relevant to your business. Task 2: Complete a Year-End Review of Your Original […]
Continue ReadingMedicaid Planning 101: What You Need to Know
John Crawford Dec 15, 2017 in Estate Planning & Preservation
Medicaid is the joint state-federal program that pays for nursing home benefits. Since it is a joint program, the requirements vary from state to state, although the program itself is fairly uniform. This summary reflects only Florida law, and is current as of December 2017. General Requirements to Qualify for Medicaid Allowable Assets In general, the person seeking to qualify cannot have more than $2,000 of assets in his or her name ($3,000 combined limit […]
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