With little fanfare, the one-year-old Consumer Financial Protection Bureau has become the chief enforcer of the Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA) and has issued revised forms. Employers and consumer reporting agencies must start using the new FCRA forms no later than Jan. 1, 2013. The updated forms are available in Appendixes K, M, and N [...]
Small business owners in Illinois are receiving official looking green or blue envelopes from “Corporate Records Services,” which call them to provide corporate and personal information, such as the business name, address and credit card information with the payment of $125 to prepare corporate records. With the scam looking official, small business owners are sending [...]
As 2012 nears the end, now is a good time to review your business contracts containing automatic renewal and extension provisions. The 2009 Wisconsin Act 192, Wis. Stat. § 134.49 (the “Act”) created a new law requiring businesses, including, but not limited to, the health care providers and insurers, to notify their customers of automatic [...]
A new bill, House Bill 5665, was recently introduced to the House of Representatives, creating the Class 3 felony for false representation and fraudulent claims for real estate title. This bill has been long overdue. Legislative Summary: "Amends the Code of Civil Procedure. Provides that a person commits false representation concerning title to real estate, [...]
We recently received the following email communication from our website hosting company and felt that it's important to pass the word around. The email's text is copied in its entirety, and we disclaim any and all responsibility associated with the information set forth therein. "Dear Sir/Miss, You may have heard about Protect-IP (PIPA) and the Stop [...]
The IRS has issued the new 2012 optional standard mileage rates used to calculate the deductible operating costs of an automobile used for business purposes. The new rates are as follows: Beginning on Jan. 1, 2012, the standard mileage rates for the use of a car (also vans, pickups or panel trucks) will be: • 55.5 [...]
Recently, the Wisconsin Department of Justice posted an extensive guidance on the implementation of the new Wisconsin concealed carry law, 2011 Wisconsin Act 35. For a summary of the DOJ’s emergency rules and procedures enacted to implement the new concealed carry law, see the DOJ’s website: http://www.doj.state.wi.us/dles/cib/ConcealedCarry/ConcealedCarry.asp http://www.doj.state.wi.us/dles/cib/ConcealedCarry/ccw-faq-20111020.pdf On November 7, 2011, the Joint Committee [...]
Effective November 1, 2011, the Wisconsin legislature enacted a new concealed carry law, 2011 Wisconsin Act 35 (the “Act”). Wisconsin joined the other 48 states that allow their residents to carry concealed weapons. In essence, the Act permits qualified residents to carry certain concealed weapons, including electric weapons, into parks, beaches, private business properties, and [...]
The IRS announced today the cost of living adjustments affecting the pension plan contribution limitations for tax year 2012. Many of the pension plan limitations for 2012 will increase due to the cost-of-living index adjustment. Some of the important changes are summarized below: The elective deferral (contribution) limit for employees who participate in 401(k), 403(b), most [...]
We are pleased to announce that Oleg Feldman has been selected to be part of Top Tier Legal Group, LLC. Top Tier Legal Group is a company that provides the general public with a network of some of the best, most trusted attorneys in the Southeastern Wisconsin. The company recruits attorneys that have been recommended to [...]
