America is grappling with a compelling question during the coronavirus pandemic: should we allow Big Tech and the government to use our smartphones to track our movements, body temperature, and activities to slow the infection rate? As explained by the wonderful...
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Navigating Mortgage Relief Options Under The CARES Act
Homeowners challenged to stay current with their mortgage payments due to the COVID-19 crisis are finding relief in several federal emergency measures provided in the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act or the CARES Act. Two provisions include a 60-day...
Remote Notarization Has Arrived in Rhode Island (Temporarily)
On Friday, April 3, 2020, Rhode Island Secretary of State issued revised Standards of Conduct for Notary Publics in the State of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations, adding Section 8, which authorizes Remote Online Notarization (RON) of legal documents during the...
A “Reasonable Accommodation” Must Be Reasonable
For employers determining what constitutes a “reasonable accommodation” can often be a challenge. A very recent decision by a federal court in Connecticut highlights the fact that what constitutes “reasonable” is not without limits, and an employer is not obligated to...
FLORIDA CANNABIS LAWS UPDATE
While Florida Governor Ron DeSantis has made clear his opposition to legalizing recreational cannabis use in Florida, trends certainly seem like they are going in that direction. For example, in April, the state doubled the number of licenses available to cultivators...
COMPREHENSIVE CHANGES TO LAND USE AND ZONING LAWS
As part of the 2023 legislative session, the Rhode Island General Assembly passed numerous laws, all with varying degrees of impact on zoning and land use issues. One such bill changes the standard by which municipal zoning boards judge applications for a dimensional...
IRS TARGETS MONETIZED INSTALLMENT SALES IN PROPOSED REGULATIONS
IRS Commissioner Werfel has continued the theme from the Dirty Dozen list published in early 2023 to promulgate regulations regarding monetized installment sales. This particular brand of transaction has been marketed to high income individuals with the promise of a...
KEYS TO THE KINGDOM: BALANCING MERIT VS. INHERIT MODELS IN THE FAMILY BUSINESS
A recent article published by Harvard Business Review outlines the importance of distinguishing between merit compensation and inheritance.1 In most family businesses, the second generation inherit positions and compensation, which is usually a formula for disaster....
THE RISE OF THE ROBOTS: ATTORNEY LAMOUREUX TACKLES CHATGPT ON WPRO’S MATT ALLEN SHOW
Since its recent grand entrance to the world stage, ChatGPT has been infiltrating and proliferating past the tech realm and into the business world. As Artificial Intelligence (AI) continues to advance, more companies are turning to these technologies to replace human...