The critically acclaimed movie, "The Wolf of Wall Street," directed by Martin scorsese and released in 2013, recounted the story of a former stockbroker convicted of fraud crimes related to stock market manipulation as part of a penny stock scam. Leonardo DiCaprio...
PLDO Law Blog
Pannone Lopes Devereaux OGara LLC
What Rhode Island’s New Social Media Law Means to Your Business
Social media's surge in popularity has caused a sea change in how people act and behave, as well as the image they portray, whether intentionally or not. It didn't take long for employers to recognize social media as a useful tool to learn more about potential new...
When It Comes to Your Cell Phone, What Does Your Right to Privacy Include?
If you are one of the more than 90% of American adults who own a cell phone, consider for a moment what your device contains. Millions of lines of text? Hundreds of personal photographs? Your internet search history? Confidential or proprietary documents attached to...
Is A Not For Profit Organization Permitted To Engage In Lobbying Activities?
Lobbying provides an avenue through which charities can create change in communities and be a voice for the marginalized or disenfranchised in society. However, organizations exempt from taxation under the Internal Revenue Code ("IRC") Section 501(c)(3) are expressly...
HASTE MAKES WASTE . . . CASH THE CHECK.
One never knows what corner the grim reaper lies behind. A final illness can often accelerate quickly and deprive a donor of adequate time to complete gifts for tax purposes that he intended to make. In a recent federal court case, the Third Circuit Court of Appeals...
ATTENTION SNOWBIRDS: DO YOU PASS THE DOMICILE TEST?
“A person doesn't know how much he has to be thankful for until he has to pay taxes on it.” This anonymous quote is timely. It is rumored that the Rhode Island Division of Taxation (“the Division”) is reviewing its procedures for determining whether a Rhode Islander...
HOW CLOSELY HELD BUSINESSES CAN PREVENT MANAGEMENT DEADLOCKS
Differences in opinion on how to achieve a stated goal in a closely held business can lead to disputes that block the enterprise from moving forward. Closely held businesses are characterized by a limited number of shareholders and a lack of public trading. The...
WHY ESTATE PLANNING FOR BUSINESSES IS CRITICAL (NOT OPTIONAL)
Owning your own business can be extremely demanding. From your customers to your employees, there’s hardly enough time in the day. While most entrepreneurs are consumed by the day-to-day challenges of running their businesses, they often neglect the critical task of...
PAY EQUITY IN RHODE ISLAND: EMPLOYERS, ARE YOU IN COMPLIANCE?
Rhode Island’s Pay Equity Act was expanded in 2023, creating additional obligations for employers with employees located in, or working from, the state. Once only prohibiting differences in wages based on gender, Rhode Island’s Pay Equity Act prohibits differences in...
