This is the second blog in a series of blogs examining the differences between New Jersey Lien Law and Pennsylvania Lien Law. Read part one discussing notice and timing differences here.

Since these states share a border, and many contractors operate in both states, they should be aware of the differences in the corresponding Lien Law Statutes. One key difference between the two states concerning the ability to file construction liens by a contractor is the writing requirement. Pennsylvania and New Jersey are on the polar opposites of the spectrum when it comes to the necessary writings to file a lien claim on a property.

Continue Reading New Jersey Lien Law vs. Pennsylvania Lien Law: The Writing Requirement

When community association board members hire a transition attorney for their condominium or homeowners association, they may not know exactly what to look for. They may not know much about transition to begin with, or may not know the right questions to ask in order to find the right transition attorney. If your association is looking for a transition attorney, or you are reconsidering the one you have, the following may help you to identify the right transition attorney.

Continue Reading How to Know You Have the Right Transition Attorney for Your Community Association

A shortage of economically attractive men is yet another reason you may need a pre-nup before tying the knot. A recent Cornell University study published in the Journal of Marriage and Family says that one of the reasons the U.S. has seen a decline in marriage is because there is a shortage of men who are “economically attractive.” The study attributes the shortage to various factors, including the economy, which currently has more lower-paying and unstable jobs. Additionally, women are climbing the economic ladder and now have different expectations for a spouse.

Continue Reading Though Unattractive, You Still Need a Pre-Nup or Cohabitation Agreement

CBD products: you may have seen them at your local grocery store, convenience store, or chiropractor’s office in the form of gummies, brownies, sodas, and cookies. CBD is one of many cannabinoids found in the cannabis plant. Unlike THC, which gives users a “high,” CBD contains little to no psychoactive properties, but comes with many benefits. CBD is being heavily studied and is showing great promise as a nutritional and wellness supplement. CBD products are currently being used to treat pain, inflammation, stress, and symptoms resulting from a wide range of medical conditions, such as epilepsy, multiple sclerosis, arthritis, anxiety, and chronic pain. CBD binds to the body’s cannabinoid receptors to induce feelings of calmness and pain relief. It has been hailed as a safer, more natural alternative to opioids and other addictive drugs.

While the CBD craze has resulted in an influx of CBD products hitting the market, the CBD market remains unregulated and susceptible to abuse and deceptive practices. The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) seized various CBD products from store shelves across the country after health claims relating to products which are not approved by the FDA, but suggest they are approved and/or intended for use in the diagnosis, cure, mitigation, treatment, or prevention of diseases like cancer and Alzheimer’s disease. After the passage of the Agricultural Improvement Act (the “Farm Bill”), which legalized the cultivation, processing, and sale of hemp and hemp products, the FDA Commissioner reaffirmed that CBD, regardless of whether or not it is derived from hemp, cannot be lawfully marketed with a claim of therapeutic benefit without prior FDA approval.

Continue Reading The ABCs of CBD in Food and Beverages

California Assembly Bill 5 (the “Bill”) was passed in Senate on September 9, 2019 after passing the Assembly back in May. According to reporting by the New York Times, it is expected that California Governor, Gavin Newsom, will sign the bill.

The Bill changes the status quo on the classification of employees and independent contractors. As the preamble to the Bill makes clear, California courts currently follow the common law rules for determining whether an employer-employee relationship exists or whether a person is an independent contractor. That test has numerous parts, but one of the important elements for a person to be considered an independent contractor is that the person must be free to control the performance of their work.

Continue Reading California Assembly Bill 5 and the (Non-)Impact on the Financial Services Industry

This article was co-authored with Bojana Petkovic, Project Manager, at LoudCloudHealth.com

The trend of cannabis legalization is spreading throughout the globe. Uruguay and Canada became the first two countries to fully legalize the plant for both medicinal and recreational purposes. The USA has not yet done the same on a federal level, nevertheless some states have already passed laws that allow growing, processing, distributing, and using cannabis products.

In this article, we discuss the world of cannabis legalization, talk a little bit about the history involved as well as the public’s opinion, potential benefits and risks of cannabis use, and more.

Continue Reading An Introduction to Cannabis Legalization

Acting Governor Sheila Oliver has signed into law S1150, creating a flexible inspection schedule under the Department of Community Affairs (DCA) for multiple dwelling inspections under Title 40.

Historically, the DCA has required inspections at a minimum of once every five years. The length of time between inspections raised concerns over what additional violations could take place over the period before the next inspection, as well as the potential lack of action to address noted issues. To provide a solution, S1150 was introduced by sponsors Sen. M. Teresa Ruiz and Sen. Brian Stack.

Continue Reading New Tiered, Flexible Multiple Dwelling Inspection Schedules in New Jersey

Not all bananas are created equally. Rasta Imposta, a retail wholesaler of Halloween costumes, filed a claim for copyright and trade dress infringement and unfair competition against Kangaroo Manufacturing, another costume retailer, after Rasta’s CEO discovered Kangaroo selling a costume that resembled one of Rasta’s costumes without a license. The costumes in issue in Silvertop Assocs. v. Kangaroo Mfg., No. 18-2266, 2019 U.S. App. LEXIS 22989 (3d Cir. Aug. 1, 2019) consisted of full-body yellow banana outfits:

banana costume copyright infringement

Continue Reading A Case of Bananas: Costume Copyright Infringement

Audrey and Matt are young and in love. They have just graduated college and adopted Tenley, a one-year-old shelter puppy. Carol and Jack are in their late 50s and are getting married. Carol raises show dogs, and one of her dogs, Buddy, won multiple prestigious awards for agility. Steve and Jill, both in their early 30s, are getting married once Steve finishes his residency. Jill is an avid horsewoman and they plan to buy a property large enough to accommodate a stable. Finally, Larry and Sarah are getting divorced. They agree that the dog, Riley, should follow the children, which they will share custody of equally. However, in addition to the fact that Larry and Sarah both work and need doggy day care, Larry has substantial travel requirements for his job, which necessitates either Sarah taking Riley more than half the time, or expensive boarding expenses.

Continue Reading Puppynup – It’s a Thing, and If You Are an Animal Lover, You Need It