In 1992 Stella Liebeck, spilled a cup of McDonald’s coffee onto her lap, and was awarded $2.9 million in damages. Ever since then, the name “Stella Award” has been applied to any wild, outrageous, or ridiculous lawsuit and emphasizes the … Continue reading
Author Archives: Mark Klein
FDIC Insurance Update
In October 2008, Congress increased the basic limit on federal deposit insurance coverage from $100,000 to $250,000. The limit is scheduled to return to $100,000 on January 1, 2014. The temporary limit now in effect has not changed the fact … Continue reading
$200,000 for Identity Theft Victim
Nicole discovered that someone with a name very similar to hers had stolen her identity and opened fraudulent accounts in her name and under her Social Security number. This was only the beginning of a long and arduous saga in … Continue reading
Bonus Plan May Trigger Overtime
The federal Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) provides that employers may not require their employees to work more than 40 hours per workweek unless those employees receive overtime compensation at a rate of not less than one and one half … Continue reading
Caregiver Bias in Employment
Today, it is commonplace for workers to handle both work and caregiving responsibilities for spouses and children, parents and other older family members, or relatives with disabilities. Women still are disproportionately more likely to exercise primary caregiving responsibilities but, in … Continue reading