Court Explains Why Valuation Report Is Discoverable
Galasso v. Cobleskill Stone Products In a short but very educational opinion, a New York appellate court answered a fundamental question: Under what circumstances must a valuation report be disclosed? The crucial factors were the report’s relevance and purpose. ...
Appeals Court Upholds Grocery Store Buyout Ruling and Fair Value Determination
Lund v. Lund A protracted Minnesota buyout dispute involving the heirs to a local grocery store empire may have reached the end. The state appeals court affirmed most of the district court’s rulings, including the buyout order and fair value determination. The...
Is a New Individual Health Plan in Your Future?
The Affordable Care Act (ACA) requires companies with at least 50 employees to provide health benefits and pay for a good portion of the coverage's cost. But many smaller employers in Maine and across the country provide health coverage too — even if they aren’t...
How Much Can Your Business Deduct for Vehicles Placed in Service in 2019?
While people are jumping in their cars and hitting the road here in Maine for some summer adventures, you and your small business may be hitting the road in a new vehicle. If you are adding a new car or truck to your business’ fleet, the purchase could qualify for...
Analysis Holds Up in Divorce Litigation
Hultz v. Kuhn A Maryland divorce case illustrates the difficulties an appraiser charged with valuing a small company in the divorce context may face and how he or she may prevail in court. The wife was the sole shareholder in a tree services business. The issue at...
Expert’s Inability to Defend Income Analysis ‘Is Decidedly Troubling,’ Court Says
Judges are alert to incongruities in valuations, as is clear from a recent condemnation case in which landowners hired three experts to calculate the compensation owed to them. The court excluded all experts under Daubert, and it had particularly harsh words for the...
How to Benefit from the Rising Average Age of American Workers
According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, one in five workers is aged 55 or older. By 2026, that number is expected to be one in four — meaning the proportion of young workers in the overall labor pool will shrink. In a state such as Maine — which, according...
$6 million award in lawsuit exposes rift in prominent Maine business family
Tucker Cianchette has won a nearly $6 million verdict against his father over the failed buyout of a Yarmouth car dealership, exposing a rift in one of Maine’s most prominent business families. Cianchette sued his father and stepmother, Eric and Peggy Cianchette, on a...
Should Employers Allow Emotional Support Animals in the Workplace?
We love our four-legged friends here in Maine. You'll often see people bring their dog along with them on their adventures, whether that be to the beach, the lake, the mountains or even a brewery patio in Portland. Which makes sense, many of us recognize and cherish...
Courts Are Alert to Valuations Unmoored From the Facts
Cristofano v. Chahal Perhaps experts feel pressure from the hiring attorney or the client, perhaps they are unable to access key documents or information, or perhaps they simply lack valuation and litigation experience. Whatever the reason, case law provides too many...