Litigation
June 27, 2005
Recent rulings you need to know.
Business Valuation in Divorce
June 27, 2005
The question of how to value private companies in marital dissolution proceedings has been wrestled with for many years. Several valuation methods have been used, although some that are commonly used, and perhaps favored, for other valuation purposes are effectively banned from use in divorce cases due to interpretations of existing case law. Two significant valuation methods, the Guideline Public Company Method (GPC method) and the Discounted Cash Flow Method (DCF method), have been largely excluded from use in divorce cases in some states. This article addresses the GPC method, and when it would be appropriate to use. At a later date, Part Two of this article will address the DCF method.
Domestic Partner Wins Share of Child's 9/11 Benefits
June 27, 2005
A New York State appellate panel upheld a Workers' Compensation claim that will result in a domestic partner sharing benefits deriving from 9/11 with the decedent's child. The consequence of the decision is that Paul Innella's 6-year-old daughter will lose some Workers' Compensation death benefits to a woman who says she was engaged to Mr. Innella. The woman is not the child's mother. "[O]ne certainly could debate the equities of the statute," Justice Crew wrote for a unanimous panel. Nonetheless, the justices said, the provision survives constitutional scrutiny.
Top Ten Things Not to Do in Mediation
June 27, 2005
Given the burgeoning use of mediation, it is likely that most litigators, and many legal dealmakers, will find themselves representing clients in this process. It is thus imperative to understand the mediation process, its goals and possibilities, and to be effective in that process, understanding what works and what can abort the process and its positive possibilities. It is just as important to understand what not to do in the mediation process. Here is a non-comprehensive list of 10 choices counsel or parties might make that reduce the likelihood of arriving at a mutually acceptable resolution through mediation.
Reimbursement Alimony: How Much Is That Piece of Paper Worth?
May 26, 2005
In the past few years, enrollment in graduate programs has reached new levels. Recent college graduates now look to expand their education by obtaining a Masters Degree or Doctorate. Their reasons for attending advanced schooling vary: Whether it is to delay entering the work force or to obtain higher education for increased financial success, the ramifications for a spouse who supports the graduate student can be crucial in marriages of relatively short duration.
A Sex Change Can Also Change a Marriage
May 26, 2005
What happens when your husband becomes your wife? If the state you live in recognizes same-sex marriages, you'll be fine, but if it does not, your future may be uncertain.
Litigation
May 26, 2005
Recent rulings of importance to you and your practice.
New York Broadens Definition of 'Constructive Abandonment'
May 26, 2005
A recent decision in New York State, extending the present definition of "constructive abandonment" under the grounds for abandonment in New York Domestic Relations Law (DRL) ' 170(2) to include a refusal to engage in "social intercourse," as opposed to "sexual intercourse," merits the attention of bench and bar.
A Primer for Cross-Examining Mental Health Professionals
May 26, 2005
With well-established boards in place in each of the three major mental health professions, what stimulated the proliferation of credential-granting boards? And why would mental health practitioners seeking recognition of advanced education and training in a specialty area present their credentials to one of the newer, non-traditional boards? A dispassionate examination of our culture provides at least a partial answer. Many of those wishing to lose weight seek to do so without diet or exercise. Many of those wishing for wealth seek to obtain it by playing the lottery. Many of those who tan themselves because they like the "healthy" look are aware that there is nothing remotely healthy about their tans, but seek 'the look' nevertheless. It should not surprise us that many of those who wish to be perceived as proficient in a specialty would prefer the appearance of proficiency to the reality of proficiency because the look can be obtained much more easily.
