Small Business Owners Need to Plan an Exit Strategy

In Business Law by Coolidge Wall

The United States Small Business Administration defines a “Small Business” as generally one with less than 500 employees. Of the approximately 29 million businesses in the United States, 99% are, by definition, a small business. Ohio has approximately 927,000 small businesses representing 98% of all companies in Ohio, and those companies employ 46% of the Ohio workforce. A recent study published by Babson College estimates that more than 50% of America’s small business owners are over the age of 50. Do they all have an exit strategy? Entrepreneurs are passionate advocates for their customers, their products, and their creative ideas. …

Public Service Employees May Have Student Loans Forgiven Starting Later This Year

In Financial by Coolidge Wall

Beginning in October, individuals with student loans that meet certain requirements will be able to apply for forgiveness of the remaining balance of the loans under the Public Service Student Loan Forgiveness Program. While private loans are not eligible, four types of loans being repaid under certain income-based repayment plans are eligible for the program. Loan forgiveness under this program is not considered taxable income. Generally, a borrower will be eligible for forgiveness if the borrower has been employed full-time by a public service organization while making 120 payments. The borrower must also be employed by a public service organization …

Stanley Appointed to Dayton Women’s Board

In News by Coolidge Wall

Coolidge Wall Co., L.P.A. is proud to annouce that Lu Ann Stanley has been appointed to the Women’s Board, an auxiliary of Dayton Children’s Hospital. The Women’s Board is a volunteer organization of approximately 40 women representing counties throughout the Dayton region from various professional and community volunteer backgrounds. The Women’s Board’s primary fundraiser is the biennial cha|cha dinner and silent auction. In 2017, cha|cha raised over $500,000 in support of a new transformative nurse call system that places Dayton Children’s Hospital among some of the country’s leading children’s hospitals. Ms. Stanley is a member of the Estate Planning and …

David Pierce and Other Dayton Bar Association Officers Participate in ABA Bar Leadership Institute

In News by Coolidge Wall

Joining over 300 other emerging leaders of lawyer organizations from across the country at the American Bar Association’s Bar Leadership Institute (BLI), March 15-17 were Brian L. Wildermuth, President-Elect and David P. Pierce, Second Vice President of the DBA. The BLI takes place annually in Chicago. It offers incoming officials of local and state bars, special focus lawyer organizations and bar foundations the opportunity to confer with ABA officials, bar leader colleagues, executive staff and other experts on the operation of such Associations. Wildermuth and Pierce joined ABA President Linda A. Klein, and ABA President-Elect Hilarie Bass, in sessions on …

US House Narrowly Passes American Health Care Act

In Healthcare Reform by Coolidge Wall

On May 4, the House of Representatives passed the controversial American Health Care Act (HR 1628) by a 217-213 margin. The AHCA is touted by President Trump and House GOP leadership as the bill that will repeal and replace the Affordable Care Act, which was enacted in March 2010. The AHCA now moves to the Senate where its future is uncertain. Introduced March 6, the original bill faced opposition from conservative and moderate House Republicans in addition to the Democrat caucus, the AMA, AARP, and other interest groups. Although amended in Committee to address some GOP concerns, Speaker Ryan pulled …

Intellectual property: often the life blood of an Ohio business

In Business Organizations by Coolidge Wall

Ohio businesses, like enterprises across the country, run a gamut of sizes and types. Cities across the state, and small towns in between, have vibrant and growing pockets of corporate vitality that enrich their communities. Dayton is certainly no exception to that, of course, with the city and surrounding region housing an exceptionally eclectic and dynamic commercial infrastructure. The Dayton area contains some of Ohio’s most important and profitable companies, which contribute immeasurably to the region and state in areas ranging from transportation, media communications and manufacturing to health care, education and a host of other concerns. All those enterprises …

What Will Happen to the Salary-Exempt Regulations Under the New Administration?

In Labor by Coolidge Wall

We have continued to follow the litigation and political maneuvering surrounding last year’s proposed wage and hour regulations. Those regulations, which would have increased the threshold requirement for most salary exempt positions from $455 to $913 per week, were temporarily halted nationwide last November by a federal judge in Texas. Since that time, the case has been appealed to the Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals, while political wrangling over the regulations has continued. Recently, President Trump’s initial pick for Secretary of Labor, Andrew Puzder, withdrew his nomination and was replaced by Alexander Acosta, the dean of Florida International Law School. …