Often times in business, we have the opportunity to get exactly what we want and need. The problem is, we just don’t ask for it correctly. Take, for example, something I did just the other day. I wrote an article and sent it to one of...
The Volunteer Protection Act of 1997 (VPA) is a federal law designed to promote volunteerism by protecting volunteers from liability if an injury occurs while they are volunteering. Many organizations relying on the services of volunteers assume that the protections afforded by the VPA extend...
Today, condominium residents are feeling the pain of their neighbors' financial struggles, particularly in the form of budgetary shortfalls created by unit owners defaulting on their obligation to pay assessments. Assessments, which represent each unit owner’s share of the funds required to pay the association’s...
On August 23, 2011, a 5.8 magnitude earthquake centered near Mineral, Virginia was felt from Alabama to Ontario. Many of those affected did not know that earthquakes could happen in places like New York City, Washington D.C., or Philadelphia. These people held the common, but...
Completing an application for insurance can be time-consuming and tedious. Nevertheless, the application is important because an insurance company will use an applicant’s answers to determine whether to offer insurance and how much to charge. In making these determinations, insurance companies generally have the right...
In an effort to avoid annoying and unnecessary communication, are we insulating ourselves from opportunity? Take this situation that happened just yesterday. I had a lead for someone and didn't have his email address. I called the receptionist to get it. She, rather unpleasantly, answered, "That...
A surprising number of employers offering employee benefit plans to their employees, including 401(k) plans, are refusing to purchase fiduciary liability insurance. Despite the dubious wisdom of refusing the insurance, the decision must be accepted if it was made with a complete and accurate understanding...
According to the Department of Justice and the Federal Trade Commission, the nation's computer fraud problem is increasing on a yearly basis. Those using computers to perpetrate their crimes have introduced the business community to a plethora of risks that are typically uninsured by traditional...
Self-storage operators are not immune to slip-and-fall liability. While the volume of foot traffic at a self-storage facility may not reach that of other types of businesses, customers must still enter the premises to store, access and retrieve their property. As a result, an exposure...
Do employers have seven days to notify the Occupational Safety and Health Administration of a work-related incident that has resulted in the death of an employee? No. All employers covered by the Occupational Safety and Health Act of 1970 are required to notify the Occupational Safety...