In July of 2009, the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (“EEOC”) issued guidelines on employee severance agreements titled “Understanding Waivers of Discrimination Claims in Employee Severance Agreements.” Frequently, employers offer departing employees money or benefits in exchange for waiving liability for all future claims connected with the prior employment relationship,…
Indiana Business Lawyer Blog
Indiana Business Law – Recent Case of Adballa v. Qadorh-Zidan Addresses Important Issues Regarding Corporate and Limited Liability Company Fiduciary Duties
In a case of interest to Indiana business lawyers, Abdalla v. Qadorh-Zidan, the Indiana Court of Appeals addressed issues relating to corporate and limited liability company (“LLC”) fiduciary duties owed to former shareholders and members with respect to preparation of tax returns for time periods prior to members and shareholders’…
WHEN DOES AN INDIANA FARMING BUSINESS CONSTITUTE A NUISANCE?
Indiana farm business owners and Indiana lawyers should be aware that the Indiana Court of Appeals recently held that a farmer’s mycelium drying business constituted a nuisance.1 In Bonewitz, the farmer’s neighbors complained that the mycelium drying business caused foul odors, noise and vibrations from delivery trucks, sawdust particles blowing…
Indiana Creditor Rights: What Constitutes A Commercially Reasonable
Lenders who take possession of collateral based on a default on a loan are often concerned about ensuring that the sale of such collateral would be found to be commercially reasonable by a court if challenged. Of interest to Indiana creditors and Indiana creditor lawyers, the Indiana Court of Appeals…
Indiana Utility Law: Indiana Supreme Court Finds “Reasonableness” Standard of Review Applies to Review of Indiana Utility Regulatory Commission (IURC) Decisions Regarding Regulatory Settlements
Indiana utilities and Indiana utility lawyers should be aware that the Indiana Supreme Court recently had the opportunity to consider the standard of review that courts follow in reviewing utility regulatory settlements of an administrative agency. N. Ind. Pub. Serv. Co. v. U.S. Steel, 907 N.E.2d 1012 (Ind. 2009). The…
IRS & Department of Treasury Amend Time, Manner to Submit Annual Electronic Notice
The Internal Revenue Service (IRS) and Department of the Treasury have promulgated final regulations impacting tax-exempt organizations with gross annual receipts that generally do not exceed $25,000. The final regulations, and removal of temporary regulations, became effective July 23, 2009. The regulations are applicable to annual periods beginning after 2006.…
Parr Richey’s Advice to Wind Energy Landowners –- Beware, The Written Documents Are Crucial!
Have you been approached by a wind energy company soliciting your land for inclusion in a new wind farm proposed for the area. If you have, the promised compensation may look good for the fairly small acreage committed for the structures and related equipment. You may have been given a…
IRS Issues Electronic Filing Regulations for Small Tax Exempt Organizations
The Internal Revenue Service (IRS) and Department of the Treasury have promulgated final regulations impacting tax-exempt organizations with gross annual receipts that generally do not exceed $25,000. The final regulations became effective July 23, 2009. The regulations are applicable to annual filing periods beginning after 2006. In 2006, the Pension…
LIABILITY PITFALLS THAT COULD RUIN YOUR DAY
Here is a case that could describe many farmers and other businessmen retaining independent contractors. It is summer time and paint crews travel from farm to farm offering to paint grain bins or other outbuildings. Almost every farmer owning grain bins will have had this experience and many of us…
Indiana Business Law – Non-Compete Agreement: Former Employer Has Protectable Interest in Customer Goodwill; Proper Measure of Damages for Breach of Non-Compete Agreement is Lost Net Profits as Liquidated Damage Clause was Unenforceable
This past May, the Indiana Court of Appeals ruled on a breach of a non-compete agreement case addressing whether a former employee’s covenant not to compete with his past employer was enforceable under Indiana law and determined the proper measure of damages for a breach of this agreement. Coffman, an…