Essentially every municipality has adopted a zoning ordinance which, among other things, serves to regulate the development of real property and the types of uses to which such real property may be put within the boundaries of the municipality. Typically, a...
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Firm News
Essential Business Practice: Effective Record Retention Policy
Rule 26 of the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure provides that parties "may obtain discovery regarding any non-privileged matter that is relevant to any party's claim or defense [...]," but may not obtain discovery of electronically stored information from sources that...
Proposed Changes to the Physician Self-Referral Law
Health care providers should be aware of a proposed rule recently issued by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) that expands the regulations governing physician self-referrals, (the "Stark Law"). The Stark Law prohibits a physician from making...
Private Foundation or Charity? Cracking the “Code” on 501(c)(3) Organizations
If you have been involved in the not-for-profit sector, particularly that subsect of the industry involving federally tax-exempt organizations under 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code, then you have probably come across well-intentioned colleagues using the words...
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...
