Gogel & Gogel

Avoid the Pitfalls When Buying Commercial Real Estate

Gogel — Wed, 09 May 2012 20:37:07 +0000

Buying commercial property to house your business? Excellent idea, there are very good values in this real estate market. But think before you take that deed. It may be a better idea to use a limited liability company to own the real estate. If you already operate your business under a limited liability [...]

Returning to our roots

Gogel — Fri, 27 Apr 2012 15:25:42 +0000

Gogel and Gogel is returning to our roots. Our law firm was born in southern Berkshire County with an office over the Stockbridge General Store, above the same General Store pictured by Norman Rockville in his famous drawing of Main Street Stockbridge, we provided legal services to businesses and individuals in Stockbridge, Lenox [...]

Getting your business organized

Gogel — Tue, 24 Apr 2012 12:19:13 +0000

Do you have effective sexual harassment policies and preventive procedures?

Gogel — Tue, 03 Apr 2012 14:53:38 +0000

Employers need to communicate a sexual harassment reporting policy and have in place effective preventive measures. Workplace contact between employees, co-workers, and their managers can lead to a variety of complaints. Some of these complaints do not rise to the level of violations of law, but an expanding array of conduct in the [...]

The Double Edge Sword of Employee Handbooks

Gogel — Mon, 26 Mar 2012 14:26:36 +0000

It may be time for employers to check their Employee Handbooks. Recent case law has made updating handbooks a wise idea.

For instance, a Pennsylvania court found that an Employee Handbook creates a contract and upheld a $187.6 million award against Wal-Mart for its failure to provide paid breaks to employees [...]

Will a government or mortgage lender program save my home?

Gogel — Mon, 19 Mar 2012 17:23:42 +0000

Maybe, and maybe not. While there certainly are housing programs out there and the forty-nine state Attorneys General settlement of certain mortgage claims contains some relief, not everyone will qualify for relief under these programs. Qualification criteria are complex and a remedy may depend on who owns your mortgage. For instance, the current [...]

The Pitfalls of ‘Debt Settlement’

Gogel — Mon, 05 Mar 2012 15:41:55 +0000

Many people think that “bankruptcy” is a dirty word. Somehow even though the Bankruptcy Code allows individuals a fresh start if you have fallen on financial hard times, it does not feel right to some people. Instead, the debt settlement option seems more attractive.

It isn’t and here is why.

Should I Sign a Reaffirmation Agreement in my Bankruptcy case?

Gogel — Thu, 01 Mar 2012 19:21:33 +0000

The Gogel Vlog Ep. 2

Is a “debt buyer” suing you?

Gogel — Tue, 21 Feb 2012 12:16:50 +0000

Unfortunately, in this economy it is familiar story. You have a credit card or two that you could no longer afford to pay, using common sense; you paid your mortgage and bought groceries for your family instead. Now the sheriff is at your door with a summons and complaint. But who is suing [...]

Refund anticipation loans; a high cost solution to a short-term problem.

Gogel — Tue, 14 Feb 2012 14:24:41 +0000

This time of year I am sure many of you have heard or seen information concerning the availability of “refund anticipation loans”. One national tax preparation chain has people standing outside in the cold dressed like the Statute of Liberty holding signs advertising these loans.

Should you apply of one? The [...]