October 2006

In the last post I discussed incorporation and asset protection.  An often overlooked area of asset protection is estate planning.  My partner, Matt Gardner of Sullivan & Ward, P.C., has started a new Wealth and Estate Planning blog.  In his blog Matt will discuss estate planning, probate, small business planning and asset protection. …

Many advertisements on the Internet tout the benefits of forming a corporation.  The first benefit typically mentioned is that a corporation provides "limited libility".  Many of these companies would have you believe that if you form your own company for $99.00 you can magically protect your assets from creditors.  But asset protection is more than…

Judge Scott Rosenberg delivered yet another blow to Microsoft in the Iowa consumer case when he refused to limit the size of the Iowa class-action lawsuit.  Microsoft had argued the interests of volume buyers were not the same as consumers who made individual purchases.  Microsoft also argued that the plaintiffs could not show "that all…

An often neglected agreement in the formation of a small business is the buy-sell agreement.  Every business that has multiple owners should consider having a buy-sell agreement.  Such an agreement covers how an owner can sell shares and how to value those shares.  Further, a good buy-sell agreement sets forth what happens in the…

Here is an update to the ongoing Iowa consumer case against Microsoft:

Polk County, Iowa District Court Judge Scott Rosenberg has ruled that Roxanne Conlin is allowed to try the case against Microsoft.  Microsoft had filed a motion attempting to exclude Conlin on the basis that she had engaged in misconduct when she persuaded a…