In December of 2015, the Rhode Island Supreme Court provided guidance on the duties an attorney advising a trustee owes to the trust's beneficiaries. Audette v. Poulin, 127 A.3d 908 (R.I. 2015). Audette, the beneficiary of a trust, brought claims of negligence and...
PLDO Law Blog
Adam Greshowak
Florida Court Rules Invalidated Will Does Not Revoke Prior Will
A Florida Court has recently applied the doctrine of dependent relative revocation to uphold a prior will where the later will was procured by undue influence. In re Estate of Murphy, 184 So. 3d 1221 (Fla. App. 2d Dist. Jan. 20, 2016). The testatrix, Virginia Murphy,...
Notice of an Employee’s Rights under FMLA Must Include Job Protection Rights
A recent decision by the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit highlights the importance of proper notice to employees of their rights and responsibilities under the Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA). (Vannoy v. Fed. Reserve Bank of Richmond, 4th Cir., No....
Employers Must Diligently Investigate Reports of Employee Misconduct
Imagine you receive an email from a customer stating that one of your employees engaged in serious misconduct. However, it's not clear from the email whether the customer is merely disgruntled at your company's service, or if your employee indeed engaged in...
Employees Texting In The Workplace: Some Practical Tips
Fake news. Fake videos. Deep fakes. We have all heard stories of people photoshopping or faking photos to make others look bad or create a scandal. However, an equally disturbing trend is emerging: fake text messages. There are numerous sites and apps available to...
Project Nightingale: Take-Away Lesson for Providers and Payors
There has been much ado lately about a newly-revealed joint venture between Ascension Medical Group and Google. Ascension is the nation’s largest non-profit health care system; Ascension Medical Group is the company’s subsidiary physician group, with facilities in...
Rhode Island Supreme Court Dismisses Tenant Appeal
In a recent Rhode Island Supreme Court decision, the Court summarily dismissed a residential tenant’s appeal due to the tenant’s failure to continue to pay rent during the pendency of the appeal. This requirement, which is set forth in section 34-18-52 of the Rhode...
Why Trusts Are The Favored Option For Your Four-Legged Friends
Pets are as loved as any other member of a family these days. Although our pets can’t inherit money, you can protect them if they outlive you. There are two main considerations when planning for your pets in the event of your death or incapacity: placement and...
Three “Must Have” Estate Plan Documents Every Parent Needs For Their College Student
When preparing to send your child off to college, there are many things parents need to consider. One item that is likely not on the to-do list is having an estate plan for your college student. Typically, young adults heading off to college are 18 years old and...