On February 1, 2018, the Michigan Court of Appeals issued an opinion which offers employers guidance regarding ways to document the reasoning behind hiring, promotion, and termination decisions to overcome allegations of discriminatory intent. In O’Dell v. State of Michigan, unpublished opinion per curiam of the Court of Appeals, issued Feb. 1, 2018 (Docket No. …
3 Steps to Protect Trade Secrets Under the DTSA
The Defend Trade Secrets Act (DTSA) was a breath of fresh air for many companies that rely on trade secrets as part of their business model. Under the DTSA, a business’s or individual’s trade secrets—such as copyrights, patents and trademarks—are federally protected. This federal protection allows a business to file a private civil lawsuit if …
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Confidential Settlements of Sexual Harassment Claims Are No Longer Deductible by a Company Under the Tax Act
Companies generally are allowed to deduct all ordinary and necessary expenses paid during the year to carry on a trade or business, including most expenses related to settlement of a lawsuit or claim relating to the business. But expenses such as illegal bribes and fines paid to the government for violation of any law are …