Most Americans probably take it for granted that they have the right to walk into a financial institution such as a bank and receive the same services that any other customer would receive. Unfortunately, however, there have been recent instances in which such...
Rhode Island Litigation Blog
Employers must be careful to avoid pregnancy discrimination
Managing human resources at a small- or medium-sized organization can be challenging. After all, not only must you recruit and retain talented workers, but you also must comply with an exceedingly complex set of federal, state and local employment laws without the...
5 common signs of workplace discrimination
Ideally, your workplace is an environment in which you feel safe and respected. When you go to work, you should not fear discrimination or harassment so federal and state laws protect employees from this type of illegal behavior. Knowing the common signs of workplace...
Non-Retained Experts in Federal Court
Among the advantages to using a non-retained expert in commercial litigation are three that are particularly worth mentioning: the client will not have to pay the fees and expenses of an outside expert (which can be substantial, in some cases); the in-house expert may...
What should you do if a debt collector sues you?
Amid the current public health crisis, more than 40 million Americans have filed for unemployment. With so many people in financial hardship, debt-collection lawsuits are likely to become even more prevalent in the months—potentially years—to come. How common is it to...
The 3 types of late paying customers
Only around 70% of new businesses with employees make it through the first two years, according to recent data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. As a business owner, you know how difficult it is to maintain profitability regardless of the age of your...
What to do when a customer refuses to pay you
When you work for a small business, most of your customers will pay you for your services on time. Yet a small subset of your clientele will either delay payment or try evading it altogether. While their debts may seem insubstantial, they can have a significant effect...
Supreme Court case focuses on federal LGBTQ protections
Since 2013, the federal government has treated LGBTQ-related workplace discrimination as sex discrimination. However, some fear those protections could end after the U.S. Supreme Court heard arguments on Oct. 8 over the firings of gay men and a transgender woman. The...
Your Rights at Protests and Counter-Protests
These days, many people are interested in protesting. Yet it often seems as if the government would prefer citizens to express their grievances in a less disruptive way. Over the course of U.S. history, municipalities and police forces have tried many methods for...
R.I. Supreme Court Substantially Limits Scope of Expert Discovery
The Rhode Island Supreme Court has significantly limited the scope of expert discovery in Superior Court. Cashman Equipment Corp, Inc. v. Cardi Corp., Inc., No. 2014-284-M.P., slip op. (R.I. June 3, 2016). This case was a construction dispute in which the plaintiff...