Business

WHAT’S PAST IS PROLOGUE …

Author: Molly O'LearyOn: Mar 24Categories: Business, Uncategorized No Comments

Assuming the role of president for the Idaho State Bar in July of 2013 prompted me to spend some time reflecting on some of the role models in my life. The first such role model was my mother, Mary Kathryn Callaghan O’Leary. As a song my younger...

HOW’S THE VIEW FROM YOUR FISCAL CLIFF …?

Author: Molly O'LearyOn: Mar 24Categories: Business, Uncategorized No Comments

‘Tis the season to wrap up loose ends for and take stock of the financial health of your business. Are there any looming “fiscal cliffs” in your business’s near future? Here’s a checklist for taking inventory: Do you have sufficient elasticity...

UNTIL DEATH DO US PART …

Author: Molly O'LearyOn: Mar 24Categories: Business, Uncategorized No Comments

Depending on your point of view the phrase “until death do us part” can either sound hopelessly romantic or like another way to say “albatross around my neck” – and no, I am not speaking of a traditional marriage. In Idaho, a business partnership...

LET THE MASTER ANSWER …

Author: Molly O'LearyOn: Mar 24Categories: Business, Uncategorized No Comments

Most business owners like the idea of being self-employed and, therefore, the “master of their universe”. But the downside of that dominion is that sometimes the business and/or its owner(s) may be liable in damages for its employees’ conduct...

EVERYTHING WE NEED TO KNOW ABOUT CREATING A SUCCESSFUL WORK ENVIRONMENT, WE LEARNED ON 9/11 …

Author: Molly O'LearyOn: Mar 24Categories: Business, Uncategorized No Comments

In the wake of marking yet another anniversary of September 11, 2001 , and as we follow the post-Arab Spring developments around the globe, we are provided with yet another opportunity to contemplate what lessons we learned from 9/11 and how those...

EVEN THE COURT EXPECTS YOU TO HAVE CLEAN HANDS …

Author: Molly O'LearyOn: Mar 24Categories: Business, Uncategorized No Comments

Our legal system is based on the common law passed down to us from merry ol’ England. In addition to express rules (statutes) that one can research in the Idaho Code (legislature.idaho.gov/idstat/TOC/IDStatutesTOC.htm) and regulations...

LET THE MASTER ANSWER, Part II …

Author: Molly O'LearyOn: Mar 24Categories: Business, Uncategorized No Comments

Last week’s blog addressed the legal theory called respondeat superior, or “let the master answer”. As discussed, if an employee injures someone (or something) during the course and scope of his or her employment, under the respondeat superior...

USE A LITTLE HORSE SENSE …

Author: Molly O'LearyOn: Mar 24Categories: Business, Uncategorized No Comments

In my practice, I occasionally come across small business owners that appear to be confused regarding the difference between an independent contractor and an employee. Oftentimes, this confusion is fueled by a misguided belief that it is better to “1099”...

GOING TO THE CHAPEL …

Author: Molly O'LearyOn: Mar 24Categories: Business, Uncategorized No Comments

If you’re going to the chapel to get hitched with a business partner, you need a pre-nuptial agreement. For a limited liability company, the document is officially called an Operating Agreement. For a corporation, the concepts discussed below may...

NEW YEAR RESOLUTIONS …

Author: Molly O'LearyOn: Mar 24Categories: Business, Uncategorized No Comments

BE IT RESOLVED … to clean up your business “act” in the New Year. Here are a few suggestions of areas where most small businesses would do well to pay more attention: Inventory. No, not the widget-counting kind (although if you’re in the widget-selling...

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