Unfortunately, the concepts of right and wrong often may not influence the decision to breach a contract. This is particularly true during difficult economic times when parties to a contract often use the threat of litigation to forcibly renegotiate the terms of their agreements. Needles to say, when asking a party to honor their contract, it is unsettling to hear someone respond with “sue me.” More...

Some self-storage managers have adopted a strategy of using sophisticated algorithms and demand analyses designed to maximize revenue when calculating their rents. This means that customers will receive a different rate for storing at the same facility. A customer who calls twice in a single day may receive two different quotes. More...

The U.S. Longshoreman and Harbor Worker’s Compensation Act (Act) was enacted to create a uniform system to compensate longshoremen and harbor workers for workplace injuries that did not depend on the precise site of his or her injury. However, the Act states that such compensation will be provided “only if the disability or death results from an injury occurring upon the navigable waters of the United States.” More...

The Volunteer Protection Act of 1997 (VPA) is a federal law designed to promote volunteerism by protecting volunteers from liability if an injury occurs while they are volunteering. Many organizations relying on the services of volunteers assume that the protections afforded by the VPA extend to the organization itself. Unfortunately, this assumption is incorrect, and the consequences of this misunderstanding can be severe.More...

Today, condominium residents are feeling the pain of their neighbors' financial struggles, particularly in the form of budgetary shortfalls created by unit owners defaulting on their obligation to pay assessments. Assessments, which represent each unit owner’s share of the funds required to pay the association’s common expenses, are the life-blood of an association. The revenue generated by assessments enables the condominium association to undertake the maintenance, management, and operation of the condominium community. Unfortunately, the current slump in the housing market, particularly in Florida, has hit condominium communities especially hard. More...

On August 23, 2011, a 5.8 magnitude earthquake centered near Mineral, Virginia was felt from Alabama to Ontario. Many of those affected did not know that earthquakes could happen in places like New York City, Washington D.C., or Philadelphia. These people held the common, but mistaken belief that earthquakes generally occur only on the West coast of the United States, particularly in California. Unfortunately, the reality is that earthquakes pose a national threat.More...

Completing an application for insurance can be time-consuming and tedious. Nevertheless, the application is important because an insurance company will use an applicant’s answers to determine whether to offer insurance and how much to charge. In making these determinations, insurance companies generally have the right to rely on an applicant's answers without conducting their own investigation. However, insurance companies may be entitled to deny coverage to those who provide false or incorrect information on their application. Since a denial of coverage can be devastating for an insured, it is important to understand what is required of insureds when they are completing their insurance applications.More...

It is not uncommon for insureds, even sophisticated ones, to be confused about the precise meaning of the coinsurance clause found in their property insurance policies. In fact, many insureds fail to appreciate the effects of the coinsurance clause until they are endured after a loss. While experience may be the best teacher, it is rarely the cheapest, particularly when the lesson involves the coinsurance clause a/k/a the coinsurance penalty. More...

Even after learning that the mid-sized car he reserved was unavailable, Jerry Seinfeld did not hesitate when asked whether he would like to purchase insurance for the remaining rental car. "Yeah, you better give me the insurance because I'm gonna beat the hell out of this car."

Though this dialogue is fictional, the situation is not. Unfortunately, many of those asked about rental car insurance simply do not know how to respond.More...

? Apply for Fiduciary Liability now.      
*Contact us for a risk assessment of your 401(k).

Employers offering 401(k) plans to their employees assume significant responsibilities under the Employee Retirement Income Security Act. As the federal law designed to protect employee retirement plans, ERISA imposes strict standards of care upon those who establish and administer such plans. More...

Ordinarily, a ruling handed down by the Supreme Court of Florida will find its way into the law books with little fanfare and in relative anonymity. More...

Facing increasing and unpredictable energy costs, buildings capable of significantly reducing energy consumption have become increasingly attractive to those in the market for real estate. More...

Did you know that in response to the high number of commercial property vacancies, landlords, in an effort to entice new tenants, are increasingly offering more favorable lease terms? But even sweetheart deals like these carry some risks that business owners need to protect themselves against with well-designed insurance policies.More...

In many states, including Florida, workers' compensation insurance rates are set by the state, which means that regardless which insurance company ultimately provides the insurance, the rates remain the same. More...

Every American is painfully aware of the impact of skyrocketing health insurance costs. Rising premiums, higher deductibles, larger co-pays, reduced benefits - both employers and employees are feeling the pinch as they look for plans that are affordable for everyone. More...

John F. Kennedy once said that "a rising tide lifts all boats" to illustrate the idea that everyone benefits from a strong economy. More...

Did you know that your business equipment is exposed to a unique set of risks not common to other types of property? More...

True story: A bookkeeper for a gas station began stealing from his employer, embezzling thousands of dollars in just a few months. The owner, unaware of the employee's dishonesty, went on vacation, leaving the bookkeeper with unsupervised access to the business's bank accounts. Upon returning, the owner discovered that the bookkeeper had absconded and that the business had suffered a huge financial loss. More...

Did you know that in the event of a disaster, business interruption insurance can be just as vital to the survival of your business as coverage for your building and its contents? More...