Blogs

Employment Law

Cunningham v. Feinberg: Virginia Employers May be Answerable in Maryland Courts for Unpaid Wages

In a case with potential significance for many Virginia employers, the Court of Appeals of Maryland recently decided in Cunningham v. Feinberg that the Maryland Wage Payment and Collection Law (“MWPCL”) may be applicable to unpaid wage claims arising from employment agreements entered into in Virginia. Thus, a Virginia employer that does not exercise care…

February 10, 2015

Construction

Protecting Your Brand: A Gift Not Reserved for the Holidays

In light of the recent holiday season, one thing that all construction industry professionals can agree on is that brand protection is a gift whose usefulness never ceases. You understand the significance of it. Your logo may appear on scaffolding, on the tops and sides of buildings, or in trade publications. Your workplace safety and…

February 6, 2015

Construction

Arlington County Retail Action Plan Update

On January 20, during a special work session open to the public, the County Board considered updates to the Arlington County Retail Action Plan (the “Retail Plan”). County Board members met with Arlington Economic Development staff, the Arlington Retail Task Force of the Economic Development Commission and members of the Planning Commission. In the audience…

February 4, 2015

Tax Law

Obama Proposes Changes to Federal Tax Policy

In his State of the Union Address on January 20, the President outlined changes he would like to see made to federal tax policy. Among his proposed changes, President Obama suggested closing the stepped up basis “loophole” and increasing the top tax rate on capital gains and dividends from 23.8 percent to 28 percent. If such proposals become law, this could have major impacts on mid- and high-income Americans and their families. Currently gifts made at death receive a favorable “step up in…

February 2, 2015

Construction

Fairfax Circuit Court Limits Homeowners’ Ability to Challenge Zoning Administrator

Contentious land use approvals often result in lawsuits, which, even when unsuccessful, can lead to costly delays for developers. In the recent case styled In Re: November 20, 2013 Decision of the Board of Zoning Appeals of Fairfax County, the Fairfax County Circuit Court threw out one such legal challenge by homeowners to a controversial…

January 28, 2015

Construction

The City of Fairfax and Affordable Housing

Legislation proposed in the Virginia House of Delegates would give the City of Fairfax specific authority to adopt an affordable housing ordinance offering bonus development density in projects that provide an affordable housing component. Legislation at the state level is necessary, because under Virginia’s Dillon Rule a locality has only those powers that are expressly…

January 22, 2015

Employment Law

Does the Pregnancy Discrimination Act Require Employers to Provide Light Duty Accommodations to Pregnant Employees?

Thirty-five years ago, the Pregnancy Discrimination Act (“PDA”) established that it is unlawful for employers with fifteen or more employees to discriminate against pregnant workers “because of or on the basis of pregnancy, childbirth or related medical conditions.” That remains the basic law of the land today. What has remained unclear, however, is whether Congress,…

January 16, 2015

Intellectual Property

Privacy Policies for Mobile Apps: One Size Does Not Fit All

Online privacy is a growing concern for us all. As a mobile app owner or developer, you must include a privacy policy in your app that details the information you collect from users and the manner in which that information is stored and used. Although borrowing a privacy policy from a similar app or purchasing a template online may be tempting, doing so can potentially create huge legal and financial liability for your company, and ultimately carries more risk than benefits. The key to your…

January 15, 2015

Construction

Arlington’s Expanding Technology Zones

Arlington’s County Board is set to expand the number of properties eligible for its Technology Zone tax incentive program. On December 13, the County Board will consider adding properties zoned Commercial/Mixed Use or Industrial to the list of qualifying properties. Currently, only properties located within one of the County’s four Technology Zones qualify for the…

December 10, 2014

Construction

Amendment to the Interstate Land Sales Full Disclosure Act

Changes to the Interstate Land Sales Full Disclosure Act will be effective March 29, 2015. These changes will exempt condominium developers from the filing and registration requirements of the Interstate Land Sales Act. This amendment will eliminate the need for condominium developers to register condominium projects with the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau and to provide condominium unit purchasers with the property reports and contractual protections required under the Interstate Land…

December 5, 2014