Joanne Murray, an associate of the Firm, published an article entitled “Lead and Testing Under the CPSIA: What Toymakers Need to Know About Testing, Tracking and Content Limits” in the January issue of "TD Monthly",  a web publication of the Trade Organization of the toy, hobby, game and gift  industry.   This article discusses  how the new toy safety regulations apply to small to mid-sized toy manufacturers.   

To read the full article, open the following link:   http://www.toydirectory.com/monthly/article.asp?id=4004
 

Joanne M. Murray has been elected to serve a three-year term on the Board of Directors of the Bucks County Bar Association.  The Bucks County Bar Association, one of the oldest and most active bar associations in the United States, has over 700 members and is dedicated to providing support and fellowship for the advancement of the legal profession.  Murray will also serve as Chair of the Women Lawyers Division of the Bucks County Bar Association for a one-year term.  She has served as the Division’s Vice Chair for the past two years.  Murray will preside at all meetings for the Women Lawyers Division, and will be responsible for planning events such as CLE programs, coordinating guest speakers, and planning the Division’s annual reception honoring a local woman who has contributed to the legal community. 

Susan Maslow,  a Partner of the Firm, participated in the Free Enterprise session of the Central Bucks County Chamber of Commerce’s Leadership Advancement Program, which was held at  Byers’ Choice, Ltd in Chalfont, PA at 8:30 am.   Other panelists included Ben Bugajewski, CEO of, Bugajewski Facility Services and Bob Byers, Jr., CEO of Byers’ Choice, Ltd.  The discussion was facilitated by Pete Bonacum, a business coach with Action Coach and an active member of the Leadership Advancement Program.  Ms. Maslow relayed how she began her career as an attorney, shared some of the keys to her success and discussed the challenges and opportunities facing the business community in general in the hope of assisting the audience in their personal “rise to leadership”.

 The Leadership Advancement Program of the Central Bucks County Chamber of Commerce is an exclusive benefit of membership designed for entrepreneurs, business and non-profit executives. The Panel Discussion was part of a nine month, eleven session program offering a select group of Chamber members rare, in-depth access to Central Bucks County’s most influential non-profit, corporate and government leaders. The Leadership Advancement Program is open exclusively to Chamber members who may apply for themselves or sponsor an employee. Applications are accepted throughout the year, with selections made by early September.

 

Michael W. Mills, Esq., a Partner of the Firm,  will serve as Chair of the Orphans’ Court Section of the Bucks County Bar Association in the year 2010.  Mike will help to oversee the efforts by the Orphans’ Court Section, whose mission is to provide a means by which lawyers who are interested in Orphans’ Court procedures and substantive estate laws can meet and discuss developments, as well as act as a liaison with the Court in dealing with these matters.

Michael A. Klimpl, was a featured speaker at the Bucks County Bar Association’s Annual Bench Bar Conference, held this year in Cambridge, MD from September 24-26.  Klimpl spoke at one of the breakout sessions on “Counseling Business Clients on Employment Law Issues,”.  The Bucks County Bar Association, whose purpose is to provide support and fellowship for the advancement of the legal profession, brings lawyers and judges together to improve the justice system by hosting the Annual Bench Bar Conference.               
Michael Klimpl, a member of the Bucks County Bar Association, focuses his practice on Employment Law, Real Estate, Municipal Law, Zoning and Land Use, Civil Litigation, Estate Planning and Estate Administration.  He has been a member of the Bucks County Solicitor’s Office since 1984, representing the interest of the County of Bucks, its Commissioners and various departments and agencies.  Michael received his J.D. from Columbia University and B.A., cum laude, from the University of Pennsylvania.

Joanne Murray, an associate of the Firm, published an article in the September issue of "Upon Further Review",  a web publication of the Philadelphia Bar Association which links lawyers to local news and analysis.  To read the full article dealing with the new law imposing heightened testing and other requirements of interest to Consumer Product Manufacturers, Importers and Retailers, open the following link:  http://uponfurtherreview.philadelphiabar.org/page/Article?articleID=306cc9e8-babb-4f0d-8562-da2416e6f823

Patricia C. Collins, an Associate of the firm, gave an interview on Brad Segall’s WOGL radio show, “"The Philadelphia Agenda" on July 26, 2009.  Patty Collins has been practicing law since 1996 in the areas of Employment Law, Health Care and Litigation. Patty drew from her employment law expertise to discuss employers’ use of background checks and the sources used to perform them for job applicants;, and the management of employees’ use of computers and the Internet at work for non-work purposes and the implications of usage policies and computer monitoring.  Segall’s radio show airs every Sunday morning from 6 to 7 am on WOGL-FM 98.1. 

 

Joanne Murray, as Associate of the Firm, published an article in the August, 2009 issue of "Small Business CEO" magazine to assist business owners in maintaining a good relationship with their lenders, particularly in this difficult financial climate.

 Joanne concentrates her practice in corporate and commercial transactional work, including commercial lending transactions. 

 

 To read the full article:

 

http://www.smallbusinessceomagazine.com/article.aspx?Article=405

Do you remember the email we sent you April 30th regarding the "Red Flags" Rule going into effect on May 1st?  Do you remember our email two days later advising you that the Federal Trade Commission ("FTC") issued an eleventh hour stay of enforcement, changing the deadline from May 1st to August 1st?  Well, guess what?  Once again, the FTC announced yesterday that it will further delay enforcement of the Rule until November 1st, 2009.  You can breathe easier for 90 more days.  After that, who knows?
 
Since the "Red Flags" Rule has caused so much confusion and anxiety for our clients, Antheil Maslow & MacMinn, LLP is holding a Seminar in conjunction with Parente Randolph, LLC on October 29, 2009 at the Bucks County Bar Association from 8:30 a.m. to 11 a.m.  Susan Maslow and Patricia Collins of our offices will be addressing the "Red Flags" Rule and the new HIPAA/HITECH requirements.    Chad Schieken, CISA, Director of Corporate Governance and Risk Management at Parente Randolph, LLC, will provide guidance on Network Security Assessments.  Save the date.  We know you will be fascinated.  Invitations will follow. 

Antheil Maslow & MacMinn, LLP can provide guidance in helping your Company comply with the Red Flag Rules and the new HIPAA/HITECH requirements.  Please call your primary attorney at the Firm, or if you are not presently represented by us, contact Susan A. Maslow, Esq. or Patricia C. Collins, Esq. to discuss any questions you have regarding the above issues or to schedule an appointment.

We routinely tell clients with fewer than twenty employees that they do not have to provide COBRA coverage to terminated employees.  Effective July 10, 2009, this will no longer be true for those small employers who provide healthcare coverage for their employees.  On that date, Pennsylvania's "Mini-COBRA" Law will require those employers to provide COBRA coverage to employees and their participating dependents who experience a "qualifying event," such as termination or a reduction in hours.  The coverage will continue for nine months after termination, but the terminated employee can continue the coverage under certain circumstances.  Mini-COBRA will require small employers to provide notice to employees that the coverage exists, and notice upon termination of the availability of the coverage.  Employers could charge the terminated employee 105% of the premium for Mini-COBRA coverage, subject to the subsidy created by the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act ("ARRA").
 
The ARRA subsidy requires employers to help terminated employees defray the cost of healthcare.  If an employee loses coverage under a health plan between September 1, 2008 and December 31, 2009 as a result of the employee's involuntary termination of employment, and elects Mini-COBRA continuation coverage, the employee will pay not more than 35% of the full premium for up to nine months.  The employer must provide the remaining 65% of the premium for a period of nine months, or until the employee obtains other coverage.  The employer is entitled to a tax credit as a result of these payments.
 
By July 10, 2009, small employers in Pennsylvania should work with their health insurance providers to assure that Mini-COBRA coverage will be available to eligible employees.  Antheil Maslow & MacMinn, LLP can provide guidance for employers to ensure compliance, and to prepare the notices required by the law.