Model A Fitness of Boonton, New Jersey has sued Retrofitness for fraud, consumer fraud, breach of contract, and violations of New Jersey’s Franchise Practices Act. Retrofitness Enterprises and Retrofitness Corp. owns, operates and franchises body building, health and fitness facilities under the “Retrofitness” trademark. The Retrofitness lawsuit is being watched by franchisors and franchisees alike.
Adam J. Siegelheim, member of Stark & Stark’s Business & Corporate and Franchise Groups, authored the article Small Business Owners Need to Plan for Tax Increases in 2011 for the September 2009 edition of Mercer Business Magazine.
Cary S. Kvitka, member of Stark & Stark’s Business & Corporate and Franchise Groups, will present a seminar entitled, Key Legal Considerations when Buying an Existing Business, Buying a Franchise, or Starting a Business From Scratch, for the Greater Princeton Area SCORE. The seminar will be held Wednesday October 21, 2009 from 6:45 – 8:45 PM at the Princeton Public Library.
Many Contractors may have become familiar with the recent Amendments to the Pennsylvania Mechanics’ Lien Law which became effective in January of 2007. Those Amendments were the first Amendments to the Law since the Law’s adoption in 1963, and reflected an effort on the part of the Pennsylvania Legislature to re-assert the Contractors’ and Subcontractors’ right to file Mechanics’ Liens for non-payment by restricting effective Up-front Lien Waivers and providing a bonding procedure to ensure payment where Up-front Waivers were required
The Commonwealth and its political subdivisions or agencies, like private business entities, often enters contracts for goods and services with third parties. As is sometimes the case with commercial transactions, the Commonwealth or its subdivisions may fail to honor its contractual obligations, including the obligation to pay for goods and services that it orders and receives. The question then arises from the perspective of persons or entities who have suffered from the Commonwealth’s breach of its contractual obligations – how does one enforce a contract against the state government?
Henry E. Van Blunk, Shareholder in Stark & Stark’s Business & Corporate Group, and Thomas D. Giachetti, Chair of Stark & Stark’s Securities Group, authored the article, Forgivable Loans From Wirehouses or Captive Broker-Dealer Firms, as part of the Charles Schawb report, A Case For Starting or Joining a Registered Investment Advisory (RIA) Firm.
Adam J. Siegelheim, member of Stark & Stark’s Business & Corporate and Franchise Groups, will participate as a panelist at the 2009 New Jersey Organization and Sale of Small Business seminar, as part of the New Jersey Institute for Continuing Legal Education’s Skills & Methods Course. The seminar will take place Wednesday September 16, 2009 from 6:00 – 10: 00 PM at the Grand Versailles Quality Inn in Maple Shade, New Jersey.
One of the most important decisions a business owner makes is to choose the type of entity that is best for their business (“C” corporation, “S” corporation, limited liability company, partnership). While it may have some drawbacks, it is not uncommon for business owners to elect to do business as a C corporation due to lower corporate tax rates and the feeling that a C corporation makes your business seem more substantial.
Often times, clients who own property will forward for attorney review pro se Mechanics’ Lien Claims filed by a contractor claiming non-payment by the owner or a prime contractor presented in a commonly seen, pre-printed form with fields in which the contractor scribbles in certain information about the claim. Many contractors use these forms and circulate them in the industry to friends and associates in order to save on legal costs and fees.
Adam J. Siegelheim, member of Stark & Stark’s Business & Corporate and Franchise Groups, will present a seminar entitled, How to Start a Business, for the Greater Princeton Area SCORE. The seminar will be held Tuesday September 8, 2009 from 6:45 – 8:45 PM at the Princeton Public Library. Mr. Siegelheim will present the seminar along with Jack Armstrong, President of Franchise Network of New Jersey and CFO of FranNet LLC.
