Category Archives: Business Reports

By Tammy J. Arquette, Esq.
Small business owners typically put in many hours per week to operate and sustain the success of their company. They make investments of money, time and sweat equity.
They take on debt. And they utilize various experts to assist in the operation of the business, from accountants and lawyers to insurance and real estate professionals. Statistically, 50 percent of all marriages end in divorce, but when you add the stress of building a business, the strain on the marriage may be too much to bear.
Sometimes the best offense to protecting business asset is a good defense planned out when circumstances are still favorable and amicable. A classic example is the effect of a divorce on a small business.
The Domestic Relations Law defines marital asset as “all property acquired by either or both spouses during the marriage and before the execution of a separation agreement or the commencement of a matrimonial action, regardless of the form in which title is held, except as otherwise provided” in a separation agreement. This means that a business venture that is started during the marriage is subject to equitable distribution in the divorce process.
And a business that was commenced before the marriage is also at risk to the extent that it appreciated in value during the marriage.

By Jennifer Tsyn
Whether your business is just starting up, expanding, or relocating, you are likely to find yourself negotiating a lease. Of major concern to most commercial tenants are the maintenance, upkeep and repair of their space and the entire building. These issues should be carefully negotiated and then written into the lease.
1. Who is responsible for repairs and maintenance of the tenant’s space?
Commercial leases often require that tenants maintain, repair and replace those portions of the HVAC, electrical, plumbing, and water and sewer systems that are located inside or outside of the leased space, but which exclusively serve the leased space.
Tenants should always take steps to learn whether the heating, cooling and ventilation for their space will be provided by a shared HVAC unit or a designated HVAC unit, and whether that unit will be considered to be inside their space or outside of it (for example, if there is a rooftop unit). Similarly, tenants should make sure that they understand what parts of the electrical, plumbing, water and sewer systems that they will be responsible for.

By Deborah Verni
Only about 40 percent of adults in America have a will, which may not be entirely surprising. No one wants to be reminded of their own mortality or spend too much time thinking about what might happen once they’re gone.
Many people are uncomfortable discussing how they will distribute their estate with their children. Perhaps you don’t want your children to realize how much they may receive after your death. Or you may think your choice of heirs could change in the future.

By Charles S. Amodio, CPA, CFF,
MAFF, MBA
In many personal injury cases, the award of damages often centers on the calculation of the loss of future earnings. The loss of future earnings is awarded where the jury finds that a plaintiff has suffered a reduction in his or her ability to earn money because of an injury.
The jury is typically instructed to consider the loss of future earnings based on a variety of factors, including the plaintiff’s earnings before the accident, opportunities for promotions and work-life expectancy.