Posts by Bob Halagan, Halagan Law Firm, LTD.

Effective August 1, 2015, the Minnesota Legislature adopted a new law governing Limited Liability Companies (“LLC”).  This law has the greatest impact on new LLCs but also has implications for existing LLCs and the relationship between their member/owners.  The adoption of the new law is intended to reduce the formality associated with operating an LLC. …

If you have terminated an employee or are in a business with regular personnel turnover, you have probably been faced with the prospect of attending an unemployment hearing. Here are some tips on how to get ready for a hearing. Do you need to participate? The first question is whether to contest a claim for…

One of the “growth” areas in employment litigation is retaliation claims, and in particular retaliation claims relating to worker’s compensation. Close ties between organizations representing employees in worker’s compensation claims and attorneys who handle plaintiffs’ employment retaliation claims, make it very likely that if you terminate an employee with an outstanding worker’s compensation claim, you…

In most small to mid-sized businesses, the question arises at some point in the life of the business whether to bring in a new or additional partner to the company.  Usually the question arises under one of two circumstances: (1) the employee is a dynamic rain-maker and you want to make sure he or she…

The cost of legal fees in resolving disputes remains one of the biggest challenges in managing your business.  Disputes that are over the minimum you can bring in conciliation court (generally $7,500 – $10,000 depending on the court) and less than $50,000 can net you a legal bill higher than the amount you recover.  Are…

One of the most unpleasant tasks for a business owner is confronting the non-productive or misbehaving employee.  Employees are a company’s most valuable resource but they can also be a sinkhole of wasted costs, time and resources if the “rotten apple” isn’t quickly pruned.  Here are some approaches to consider when handling the employee in…

If you are thinking that about selling your business, there is a long checklist of things to do to get ready for a sale.  Here is a list of some of the things you should consider: Packaging Your Business for Sale DO spend time with your accountant to make sure your financials are in acceptable…

One of the biggest criticisms of unions is the concept that they reward the poorest performer while failing to adequately compensate the best performers.  Union contracts typically have a one-size fits all pay scale that applies to everyone in particular classification (ex. every mechanic gets paid the same wage).  Some union contracts focus on seniority;…

I recently negotiated a labor agreement on behalf of an electric cooperative in which all of the compensation was based on achieving certain performance standards.  This type of compensation plan is extremely rare for a unionized company and reflects an approach to compensation that can serve as a model for non-union employers as well. The…