Legal Issues


Recent Legal Issues Articles

Is Your Social Networking Policy Illegal?

By Minda Zetlin |  Dec 13, 2010

Thousands of companies have rules about how employees use Facebook that could get them in legal trouble. But do you put up with angry rants about supervisors...  Read more


Employee Retaliation Suit Reaches Supreme Court

By Eric Markowitz |  Dec 9, 2010

Eric Thompson was fired by his company three weeks after his wife, also an employee of the company, sued for gender discrimination. He claims it was no coinc...  Read more


Dealing With Disappearing Debtors

By Norm Brodsky |  Dec 1, 2010

Norm Brodsky advises what to do when customers go bust.  Read more


What’s the Value of an A?

By Clarissa Cruz |  Nov 24, 2010

Chef Jean-Georges Vongerichten describes his efforts to get the Health Department's top rating.  Read more


Court Sides With Small Business in Predatory Pricing Case

By Courtney Rubin |  Nov 24, 2010

A California Supreme Court ruling that cracks down on predatory pricing is being hailed as victory for small businesses.  Read more


Gas Station Cashier Fired for Wearing "Say No to Bongs" Shirt

By Courtney Rubin |  Nov 23, 2010

Kenneth McAllister wore the homemade t-shirt to protest his employer's decision to sell bongs and bags of fake marijuana.  Read more


Man Sues Restaurant Over Artichoke

By Clarissa Cruz |  Nov 22, 2010

A Miami doctor named Arturo Carvajal is suing Houston's Restaurant for not explaining to him that an artichoke's outer leaves are inedible.  Read more


11 Things to Do When a Client Files Bankruptcy

By Carolyn M. Brown |  Nov 22, 2010

Unfortunately, you can’t collect on the debt, but you can attempt to make a deal to get paid what is owed.  Read more


Labor Board Backs Workers' Right to Bad-mouth Bosses Online

By Courtney Rubin |  Nov 8, 2010

In what could be a precedent-setting case, a federal agency says employees' right to gripe online is protected.  Read more


Employee Discrimination Case Reaches Supreme Court

By Eric Markowitz |  Nov 4, 2010

A fired hospital employee and Army reservist in Illinois takes his case to the high court over the interpretation of the fabled “cat’s paw" theory.  Read more


Does Your Part-Time Employee Qualify for Overtime?

By Courtney Rubin |  Oct 25, 2010

Laws that apply to employees who work even a few hours a week can be tricky to follow. As more businesses hire part-time help, here's how to avoid a problem.  Read more


Religious Discrimination Complaints On the Rise at Work

By Courtney Rubin |  Oct 20, 2010

The EEOC is getting 'very aggressive in its investigations,' says one lawyer. Here's what you can do to protect yourself.  Read more


Do Employee Complaints Have to Be Written Down?

By Eric Markowitz |  Oct 14, 2010

The Supreme Court hears a case on what constitutes a formal employee complaint filed under the Fair Labor Standards Act.  Read more


Entrepreneur Wins $625 Million Payout From Apple

By Courtney Rubin |  Oct 6, 2010

Yale University professor David Gelernter said Apple's software infringed on three of his patents. A federal jury agreed.  Read more


Supreme Court's Docket Puts Business in the Spotlight

By Eric Markowitz |  Oct 4, 2010

A look at five pending cases that have the potential to change the way you do business.  Read more


Would You Refuse to Hire Someone Wearing Dreadlocks?

By Courtney Rubin |  Oct 4, 2010

The U.S. Equal Opportunity Employment Commission is suing a Virginia company for denying a job to a Rastafarian who wouldn't cut his hair because of his reli...  Read more


An Entrepreneurial Safari

By Issie Lapowsky |  Sep 29, 2010

Each day,  Inc.'s  reporters scour the Web for the most important and interesting news to entrepreneurs. Here's what we found today: ...  Read more


Tennessee Ruling Makes Discrimination Cases Harder for Businesses

By Courtney Rubin |  Sep 29, 2010

A state supreme court breaks from the established federal framework and puts a greater burden on employers to prove a discrimination claim is false.  Read more


Federal Regulations Costly for Small Businesses

By Courtney Rubin |  Sep 27, 2010

Because many costs are fixed, small businesses pay about a third more per employee than larger companies, finds the SBA.  Read more


Senate Advances Small Business Aid Package

By Courtney Rubin |  Sep 15, 2010

The bill, which includes a $30-billion loan fund, is now all but guaranteed to pass.  Read more


Small Businesses Rally to Fight New 1099 Rules

By Courtney Rubin |  Sep 14, 2010

The new requirements -- a 1099 form for every purchase above $600 -- will cost them time and money, firms say. Congress will debate two possible solutions to...  Read more


Would You Challenge Taylor Lautner to Push-ups?

By Courtney Rubin |  Sep 2, 2010

Twilight star Taylor Lautner is suing a California trailer company. The company's response: A PR stunt in the form of a push-up challenge.  Read more


FTC Settles First Case in New Crackdown on Fake Reviews

By Courtney Rubin |  Aug 27, 2010

PR firm Reverb Communications posted phony positive reviews on iTunes without revealing it was being paid to do so.  Read more


Facebook Sues Start-up Teachbook Over Name

By Courtney Rubin |  Aug 26, 2010

The online community for teachers has two employees, less than 30 users, and is yet to launch officially.  Read more


A Catch-22 for Oil Spill Victims

By Issie Lapowsky |  Aug 20, 2010

BP gives people looking for settlements a tough choice.  Read more