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Protect Yourself from Unfair Contracts

Maryland Business Contract LawyerOur Maryland Business Lawyers Can Help Protect You Against Unfair Contracts As a business owner, you will enter into a number of contracts -- leases, supplier agreements, employment contracts, and more. A contract legally entered into is supposed to protect all parties from unfair practices, serve as a guideline as to what is expected in terms and conditions and performance, and specify what the parties are to gain from the transaction. You want to ensure that any contract you sign is fair and offers you some legal recourse should a contract dispute arise, but it is equally important to ensure you do not inadvertently create unfair or illegal contracts. An experienced contracts attorney will help you learn how to protect yourself from unfair contracts in Maryland. Unfortunately, problems often arise with contracts, and when a contract dispute arises, it may turn into a lawsuit for breach of contract and become…

What Is the MD Consumer Protection Act – And How Does It Affect You?

If you live in Maryland and have been the victim of an unscrupulous landlord, service provider, or seller of consumer goods, you have a powerful tool to help you fight back and win restitution: The MD Consumer Protection Act (CPA). Created in 1973 to protect citizens against unfair and deceptive business practices and “restore an undermined public confidence in merchants,” the legislation is designed to “set minimum statewide standards for the protection of consumers,” with the recognition that existing laws were “inadequate, poorly coordinated and not widely known or adequately enforced.” It’s also designed to bring awareness to consumer rights and responsibilities within the state. More specifically, the CPA strives to offer “strong protective and preventive steps to investigate unlawful consumer practices, to assist the public in obtaining relief from these practices, and to prevent these practices from occurring in Maryland.” Realizing you’ve been duped or scammed is frustrating, embarrassing,…

How to Review a Commercial Lease Agreement

Commercial LeaseIt is good to know how to review a commercial lease agreement because it serves as a foundation of your relationship with your tenant. Given the economy, a prospective tenant may want to move into a smaller space. Landlords may be eager to keep or attract tenants, given how many they might have lost. The attorneys at Lusk Law, LLC offer you many landlord-tenant law services, including help with how to review a commercial lease agreement and commercial lease review. We help clients with property-related issues and know very well what to look for in a commercial lease agreement. A commercial lease attorney can ensure that a client’s actions are on a sound legal footing and their interests are protected, no matter how the economy impacts their business. Commercial Lease Review Checklist What should be included in a commercial lease agreement? Knowing the answer to this essential question will help…

Most Common Types of Business Contracts

Two people working on a business contractWhat type of business contracts you’ll need depends on your business’s nature, size, and complexity. Contracts are a way to protect your interests. They also clarify what each party is obligated to do and their rights. You may not think a contract is needed until a business relationship goes sour and you’re left holding the bag. Rather than find yourself in this spot, consider using a business attorney to draft your contracts to ensure they fully protect your interests. The attorneys at Lusk Law LLC can answer all your questions about contracts and help you protect your interests. Call us at (443) 535-9715 for more information. Why Choose the Attorneys at Lusk Law LLC? Our attorneys at Lusk Law LLC provide legal services for different types of businesses. We take a personalized approach to each client, focusing on their individual needs and goals. We know the different types of business…

What Is a Breach of Contract in Real Estate?

What Is a Breach of Contract in Real Estate?Contracts govern a wide variety of situations involving real estate. You must sign a real estate contract when you buy or sell a property. In addition, a rental or lease of property is a contractual relationship between a landlord and a tenant. Like other types of contracts, it is possible to breach a real estate contract. A breach of contract occurs when a party fails to abide by its contractual obligations. In real estate, a breach of contract can be a serious issue, potentially resulting in the termination of a transaction. Whether engaging in a buyer/seller or landlord/tenant agreement, you should understand what constitutes a real estate contract breach. By doing so, you will know how to enforce your contractual rights and prevent yourself from accidentally breaching the contract. When Does a Breach of Contract in Real Estate Occur? When a party breaches a real estate contract depends on whether…

How Do You Resolve a Partnership Dispute?

How Do You Resolve a Partnership Dispute?How do you resolve a partnership dispute? This question is one many partners face at one point or another during the life of their partnership. Disputes are inevitable, but they do not have to mean the dissolution of the partnership. There are things you can do to resolve a partnership dispute. Of course, much of this depends on the partners and the context and extent of the dispute. To resolve a partnership dispute in Maryland or any other state in which your partnership is registered, there are two basic approaches: the proactive and the reactive. By being proactive, you can avoid many common disputes. When disputes are unavoidable, you can address them in a few different ways, each of which may render different results––the latter is critical to keep in mind, because it is also key to choosing the right way to resolve the partnership dispute. How Do You Prevent…

Can an LLC Hire an Independent Contractor?

Can an LLC Hire an Independent Contractor?Startup businesses and small firms frequently find themselves needing more people in the early stages of operations. For limited liability companies (LLCs) with low cash flows and few benefits to offer yet, hiring independent contractors can seem like a good compromise. Before you do so, you should consider the benefits and detriments of hiring a contractor. LLC Employee vs. Contractor There are no rules that dictate whether an LLC can or cannot hire an independent contractor. What is important for the LLC owner to remember is the differences between an LLC employee versus a contractor. A small business has more at stake if they misclassify an employee as a contractor and are caught by the state or IRS. A contractor is not covered by employment law Under Maryland wage and employment law, an independent contractor is not granted the same protections and rights as an LLC employee. However, merely hiring…

Should Your Business Have an Attorney on Retainer?

hould Your Business Have an Attorney on Retainer?Owning a business comes with a lot of responsibility. Not only do you have to ensure that the day-to-day operations run smoothly, but you also have to deal with employees, clients, customers, and more. Because of all the issues that may arise, it’s smart to hire an attorney and keep them on retainer. Some business owners choose to hire a lawyer on an ad-hoc basis and use their services only when needed. While this may be more affordable in the early days of your business, having one on retainer offers multiple benefits. For example, what would happen if an emergency or urgent issue occurred? If you have an attorney on retainer, you have someone to deal with the problem right away. You don't have to search for the right legal professional or spend time getting them "up to speed" with your business. The attorney you have on retainer will know…

What Is an Action for Partition?

What Is an Action for Partition?An action for partition is a lawsuit brought by a party (or parties) against another to force the division or sale of real estate. These actions can arise when two or more people co-own property and are in dispute over what to do with it. Sometimes co-owners of homes where one of the parties has moved out may not agree on what to do with the home. The person who has stayed in the house may want to keep it but doesn’t have the funds to buy out the other owner. Sometimes children inherit property from parents and one wants to sell while the other wants to keep the property. If these disagreements can’t be resolved between the parties themselves, it can lead to a partition lawsuit in the courts. Partition actions can be brought over residential or commercial property or even undeveloped acreage. Partitioning essentially means dividing. However, it…

Sole Proprietorship vs. an LLC in Maryland

Sole Proprietorship vs. an LLC in MarylandWhether you’re starting a business or thinking about changing the legal entity owning it, you may want to know the costs and benefits of a sole proprietorship vs. an LLC in Maryland. Is it better to have an LLC or a sole proprietorship? That depends on your priorities. The attorneys at Lusk Law, LLC will be happy to discuss your options and do the work necessary to make it happen. What Legal Entities Can Own a Business? You Have Many Options. One Will Be a Better Fit Than the Others. The four most popular business structures are: Sole proprietorship General partnership Limited liability company (LLC) Corporation More than one person or entity owns a general partnership. Instead of one owner, as in a sole proprietorship, multiple parties (or partners) own it. They all own its assets and can share in its income, but they’re also potentially personally responsible for the…