Category Archives: Business Law
Online Tourism Sites and Tourist Development Taxes
The COVID-19 pandemic has posed significant challenges to the normal operations of countless businesses throughout the country and the world. Among the industries that have been particularly affected over the past several months is the tourism industry. Challenges have presented themselves in this industry at every level – globally, nationally, regionally, statewide and locally…. Read More »
Arbitration Clauses: Who Decides if the Dispute Goes to Arbitration?
Arbitration is one type of alternative dispute resolution process that may be used to resolve conflicts outside of litigation. Many types of contracts contain clauses that provide for arbitration in the event of a contractual dispute. Resolving a dispute by arbitration can have advantages and disadvantages. Among the advantages often associated with arbitration is… Read More »
The Hotel Industry: National and Statewide Effects of the Pandemic
The hospitality industry has been particularly hard hit economically in terms of job losses and furloughs that have resulted from the COVID-19 pandemic. At the national level, Fox Business reported this week that the number of jobs lost in the hospitality and leisure industry is more than seven and a half million. Based on… Read More »
COVID-19 Lawsuits – Liability Concerns
As businesses begin to resume operations in some parts of Florida and in other states across the nation, consumer health and safety concerns in light of COVID-19 are presenting new questions and posing new challenges. Among these questions and challenges is how litigation based on COVID-19 will be handled. According to a report in… Read More »
Marriage-Based Employment Discrimination in Florida
Discrimination in the workplace is prohibited in Florida by federal and state laws. In an employment discrimination lawsuit, it is generally up to the employee alleging that the discrimination occurred to present all of the elements of a discrimination claim, and then up to the employer to show that the treatment of the employee… Read More »
Unfair Business Practices Under Florida’s Unfair Competition Laws
Florida’s small business community plays a significant role in keeping the Sunshine State’s economy vibrant and strong. According to 2018 data provided by the United States Small Business Administration, small businesses comprised more than 99 percent of all Florida businesses and employed over three million people. The operations of small businesses (and all businesses)… Read More »
Employment Agreements and Restrictive Covenants
Contracts are made up of promises. For example, one party to a contract may promise to do some type of work while the other party promises to pay for that work. The promises on both sides are referred to, in law, as covenants. Most often, contractual covenants require one party or the other to… Read More »
Can My Business Operate as an LLC in Florida?
If you are starting up a new business this year, one important consideration is how that business will operate, or, in other words, your choice of business form. For many new businesses these days, the LLC is a popular choice. In fact, according to the Department of State, Division of Corporations, there were well… Read More »
Avoiding Trademark Infringement When Opening a New Business
Trademark infringement protects a business that has exclusive right to utilize the mark. A trademark is a word, phrase, symbol, and/or a design that signifies and distinguishes the goods or products of one business from those of others. Similarly, a service mark is a word, phrase, symbol or design that signifies and distinguishes the… Read More »
Common Business Disputes & How to Limit Litigation
Business transactions are complex dealings fought with legal issues that can land parties in court. Given the many moving parts of a business transaction, parties have to be cognizant of the aspects of a deal that can be contentious enough to create legal issues. There are a few issues that are heavily negotiated in… Read More »