PLDO Law Blog
RI Creates New Tax Credit for Small Business Investment Companies
The Rhode Island General Assembly recently created a new program designed to promote private funding for Rhode Island small businesses. The program creates a tax credit for Small Business Investment Companies (“SBIC”) that invest in eligible Rhode Island businesses....
Estate Planning Ideas in a Low Interest Rate Environment
With the Fed’s recent interest rate cut and more interest rate reductions likely on the way, this may be a good time to take advantage of the low interest rate environment to transfer assets to your beneficiaries with minimal tax consequences and significant benefits...
New Rhode Island Law Limits Non-Compete Agreements
Rhode Island recently joined a growing list of states with laws limiting the ability of employers to use non-compete agreements in the workplace. Employers often insist that employees sign non-compete agreements which would restrict an employee’s ability to work in...
Supreme Court Rules States Cannot Tax Trust Income Solely Based on Beneficiary’s Residence
In N.C. Dep’t of Revenue v. Kimberley Rice Kaestner 1992 Family Trust, the U.S. Supreme Court issued a unanimous decision on June 21, 2019 holding the State of North Carolina may not tax a beneficiary on the income of a trust merely because the beneficiary resides...
Supreme Court to Decide Limits on Police Cellphone Tracking
This term, the U.S. Supreme Court will decide whether the police can track the real-time cellphone-based location and movements of a suspect using the suspect’s cellphone records. In Carpenter v. U.S., the police obtained Mr. Carpenter’s cellphone number from one of...
What is GDPR, You Ask?
Introducing the little-known (but hugely important) General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR). We know, we know. You’ve never heard of it. And, if you did hear of it, you don’t think it applies to your company, to your college, or to your work as a consultant. Well,...
New Law Alert: Use Hands Free Device While Driving in Rhode Island
Rhode Island’s new “hands-free” driving law goes into effect on June 1, 2018. This law prohibits you from holding your phone up to your ear while driving. The law permits the use of “hands-free” devices, such as the phone’s built-in speakerphone, a Bluetooth earpiece...
Overcoming Obstacles to Success
If you are like me, you are always seeking tips on how to overcome challenges. When accelerating progress in your business and professional life, though, you want to avoid reinventing the wheel. We all know that entrepreneurs have vision; however, what sets them apart...
Achieving Zero Tolerance of Sexual Harassment in the Workplace
Employers deal with complicated and difficult HR issues regularly. Although the allegations regarding Harvey Weinstein and the advent of the #MeToo movement have raised attention about the issue of sexual harassment, reporting is limited in providing practical...