On December 26, 2024, the United States Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit vacated the stay of the preliminary injunction and once again enjoined enforcement of the reporting rule and the CTA “in order to preserve the constitutional status quo while the merits panel considers the parties’ weighty substantive arguments.”
Is Your Rental Real Estate Activity Eligible for the Qualified Business Income (QBI) Deduction?
Scott Emery | Allison Plunkett
The Internal Revenue Service (IRS) has finalized guidance regarding rental real estate and whether that activity qualifies for treatment as a trade or business for purposes of the QBI deduction introduced with the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act of 2017. In this article, we explain the safe harbor recently provided in Revenue Procedure 2019-38. The…
Legal Update: Minnesota Wage Theft Statute Changes
Court Anderson | Eric Friske
Employers in Minnesota should be prepared for sweeping changes that go into effect next week. On July 1, 2019, Minnesota will 1) start requiring employers to provide written wage-related information to employees, 2) change existing law governing when employees must be paid and the penalty for failing to pay wages and commission owed, as well…
U.S. Supreme Court Resolves Treatment of Trademark Licenses in Bankruptcy
J.R. Maddox
For decades, federal courts have been split on what happens to a trademark licensee’s rights when a debtor-licensor “rejects” a trademark license agreement in bankruptcy. In this article, we discuss the two longstanding interpretations of this issue, the recent resolution by the U.S. Supreme Court, and the resulting impact on licensors and licensees. The issue: Rejection-as-breach…
Although Copyrights Vest Immediately, Enforcing Them Requires Another Step
J.R. Maddox | Benjamin (Ben) Hamborg
Copyright Registration is Mandatory, Prior to Filing an Infringement Suit A recent ruling by the U.S. Supreme Court has clarified that the Copyright Office must grant registration of a copyright before the copyright holder can sue for infringement and recover damages. This article explains the ruling and its implications. The United States Copyright Act of…
Cabin Fever: Considerations for Owning a Cabin with Family or Friends
Carter DeLaittre | Allison Plunkett
With this winter’s relentless snowfall and low temps, many of us have a serious case of cabin fever. As we patiently wait for spring to arrive, we dream of escaping “up north” for peaceful summer weekends of fishing, water skiing and sunset cruising on one of Minnesota’s many beautiful lakes. For some, that dream includes…
Proposals and Prenups: What to do before – or after – you say I do
Lisa Spencer
February is the month of love, so it’s no surprise that Valentine’s Day is a popular day for couples to get engaged. Unlike previous generations, Millennials appear to be taking their time finding the love of their lives. According to the U.S. Census Bureau in 2018, the average age for saying “I do” is 27.8…