December 2008 Archives
Good new for those of you who would like to expunge or erase, a summary conviction from your record such as bad checks, retail theft, underage drinking, disorderly conduct, harassment and traffic offenses. The Governor signed House Bill No. 1543 on November 26, 2008, which allows a court to expunge a summary offense. The law goes into effect on January 26, 2009. All you have to show is that you have been free of arrest or prosecution for five years following the conviction for that offense.
People often find that a minor summary conviction is a roadblock to employment opportunities and enrollment in schools or colleges. Summary offenses include: bad checks, retail theft(shoplifting), harassment, disorderly conduct, underage drinking, public drunkenness, and other traffic offenses. Most people charged with summary offenses simply pay the fine and forget about it, until a criminal background check reveals the offense to a prospective employer or educational institution. Sadly, it is often a reason for the employer to deny your application or the school to deny your admission. The good news is we can now expunge these offenses. Please contact our office to discuss the procedure for filing a petition and having a hearing.
Posted by rkslawfirm on Dec 15, 2008
The financial crisis of 2008-2009 has led to a sharp increase in home foreclosures, but has also revealed how home mortgages are packaged and sold off to investors, and also resulted in the passage of a federal law known as the “Emergency Economic Stabilization Act of 2008.” Both the new law and the packaging of mortgages for investment provides means for homeowners to negotiate with the holders of their mortgages to modify the terms of their mortgages and save their homes from foreclosure. This article summarizes important parts of the statute, and features of mortgage “securitization”, in order to highlight how both can be used in negotiating mortgage modifications.
Click Here to download this article.
Posted by Administrator on Dec 11, 2008
As part of our firm’s continuing efforts to keep our clients up-to-date on any and all changes in the law that may concern their business, we would like to inform you that your business may be affected by the newly enacted Pennsylvania Clean Indoor Air Act (the “Smoking Ban”).
Generally, the Smoking Ban states that if your restaurant, bar or other public establishment derives 21% or more of its annual gross sales from the sale of food, you must prohibit all smoking in your establishment. If 20% or less of your annual gross sales are derived from the sale of food, you may fall under an exception to the Smoking Ban. There are many other exceptions under this new law, which include, but are not limited to, private clubs, cigar bars and charity events. If an establishment falls under an exception to the Smoking Ban, such exception is not granted automatically, but must be specifically requested from, and approved by, the Pennsylvania Health Department.
Please note that this is intended to serve only as a notice of change in Pennsylvania law that may concern your business, and is not a comprehensive analysis of the entire Pennsylvania Clean Indoor Air Act. If you think this new law may affect your business, and you wish to gain further information about compliance with, or exception from, this law, please contact us. We will be happy to help you navigate the law and its exceptions, and advise you in the best way to adapt your business to this new legal landscape.
Posted by Administrator on Dec 11, 2008
