Articles
Minding the Mine Fields: Commercial Leases and Hidden Costs
There are so many variable expenses when starting or growing your business that there is no reason to voluntarily agree to another one, especially when it is often a major expense. That would be the cost of occupancy for your business. And the landlord should want a...
Social Networking Passwords Protected by New Illinois Law
Recently, Illinois passed a new law that protects potential and current employees’ privacy rights. Effective January 1, 2013, House Bill 3782 makes it unlawful for an employer to request or require an employment applicant or employee to provide any password for the...
A Primer on Unemployment Claims in Missouri
Chapter 288 of the Missouri Revised Statutes, commonly known as the “Missouri Employment Security Law,” governs all claims for unemployment benefits. To be eligible for unemployment benefits under Section 288.040, RSMo., a claimant must, among other things, lose...
A Supervisor is not an “Employer” for Purposes of a Wrongful Discharge Claim
There has long been a debate over what exactly constitutes an “employer” as that term is defined under Missouri’s employment laws. While Missouri courts have made it clear that an “employer” can include individuals in addition to the company itself, individual...
It Might Not Get Easier in the Hereafter; Estate Planning for Digital Assets
We are gradually, and grudgingly, learning that our online presence can outlive our physical presence and possibly take on a life of its own. As we begin to move more of our activities — financial, social, work, leisure, creative — to the Internet, the question about...
Missouri Supreme Court Makes Important Clarifications to the Law Governing Tax Sales
In Missouri, the county tax collector conducts an annual sale each August of real property on which tax payments have been delinquent. The owner of the property sold for taxes has a one-year redemption right in which he must pay the purchase price plus the cost of the...
Happy Independence Day!
We hope you have a fun and safe holiday! There is no better time to review the Declaration of Independence, which was adopted by the Continental Congress on July 4, 1776. QUICK FACTS: Many believe Independence Day should actually be July 2nd, as the Continental...
25 Years: Thank You!
Today marks our 25th anniversary as a law firm here at Weiss Attorneys at Law (formerly Weiss & Associates). It is something that we take immense pride in. You really don't think about reaching a milestone such as 25 years in business; you just get up every day...
In Gratitude: Personal Reflections on Our Firm’s 25th Anniversary
July 1, 2012, marks our 25th anniversary at Weiss Attorneys at Law. Wow! There is a lot to be said for a milestone such as this, but for me, personally, there is one word that sums it up perfectly: gratitude. Gratitude for the opportunity to represent such a wonderful...
Measuring the ROI of Social Media
I just read St. Louis Small Business Monthly (May 2012)—I know I am a little behind on my reading—and Jeffery Gitomer’s article, “Measuring the ROI of Social Media? There’s a Laugh and a Joke,” touched upon some of the thoughts I have about measuring the ROI (Return...
JOBS Act – The Start of Something Big
On March 27, 2012, Congress passed the Jumpstart Our Business Startups Act (the "JOBS Act"), which President Obama signed on April 5, 2012. While this is a great deal for smaller companies, many of these provisions address companies of a much larger size than our...
St. Louis-based Weiss Attorneys at Law is Tapping Online Marketing Potential
Online marketing has become a necessary communication, networking and marketing tool for businesses. Even with online marketing exploding in the legal arena, many law firms and attorneys remain outsiders unsure about the real value to be gained from online...