Author Archives: Michael Pike and Daniel Lustig
Florida Leads The Nation In New Business Formation
Are you thinking of starting a business? If so, you’re not alone. In fact, you have so much company that you are part of a group of business owners that have made Florida the number one state in the nation for the creation of new businesses. Florida is Number One In February of 2021,… Read More »
March Is Brain Injury Awareness Month
For more than three decades, the Brain Injury Association of America (BIAA) has been observing Brain Injury Awareness Month. By conducting an engaging public awareness campaign in March of each year, the goals are: De-stigmatizing brain injury through outreach within the brain injury community Empowering those who have survived brain injury and their caregivers… Read More »
Annual Reports Are More Important Than You May Think
Even if all your state paperwork is in and filed, the state is never truly done with you. That’s because every year, you will have to file annual reports. Yes, these can be more of a nuisance than anything else, and rarely is there a devastating error that can be made on an annual… Read More »
What Is Injunctive Relief And How Could It Help You?
When a business agreement is violated, we often think about what we are owed—that is, how much money we’ve lost, or how much money the breach has cost you. But businesses often fail to consider another element of damages—getting the offending behavior to stop—immediately. A Classic Example Let’s say that you have a list… Read More »
Don’t Forget These Things In Your Trade Secret Agreements
In your business you probably have a lot of trade secrets, and you are probably aware of the need to protect those trade secrets. You may even have employees or other outside agents sign agreements promising to protect your trade secrets from disclosures. But there are certain elements that every trade secret agreement should… Read More »
Drafting An Enforceable And Legal Security Agreement
The business of lending can be a profitable one, but as everybody knows with lending comes the risk of not being paid back. That risk can often be minimized by securing property, but securing property the right way and the way the law requires is an absolute necessity. Why Secure Any Property? The benefit… Read More »
Business Fraud: Florida Moving Company Operators Indicted For Alleged $12 Million Scam
On February 18th, 2022, the United States Department of Justice (DOJ) announced that Matthew Pardi and Ashley Lynn Hars, the owners of a Florida-based moving company, have been indicted on criminal fraud charges. The federal complaint contends that their company engaged in a number of different violations, including allegedly holding consumer belongings for “ransom”… Read More »
What To Know About Civil RICO Claims And Arbitration
Arbitration is a form of alternative dispute resolution (ADR) through which a legal conflict is resolved by an independent arbitrator instead of in state or federal court. Many different types of commercial disputes may be subject to arbitration, potentially even including civil RICO claims. At Pike & Lustig, LLP, we have extensive experience representing… Read More »
Federal Judge: Chemours Must Face Shareholder Lawsuit Over Alleged Mistreatment Of Maximum Potential Liability For Hazardous Chemicals
According to reporting from Reuters, a federal judge has ruled that Chemours—the Wilmington, Delaware headquarter American chemical company—must face a lawsuit from shareholders over its alleged misrepresentation of the cost of certain environmental cleanups. However, some of the other claims raised by the shareholders were dismissed. In this article, our Miami shareholder disputes lawyers… Read More »
Drafting An Enforceable Arbitration Agreement
Whether it is a good idea or not to include an arbitration clause in your business contracts is an individual decision. You, along with your business law attorney, should consider your business, and weigh it against the pros and cons of arbitration, before making that decision. But once you’ve made the decision to require… Read More »
Protecting Your Business From COVID Related Lawsuits
COVID, and the current state of the pandemic, can be confusing. One day everything seems to be getting better, with restrictions being lifted, and the next day, there’s a new strain or variant, with new restrictions. Some of those restrictions may be suggestions by the CDC, and others may be laws that are put… Read More »
Considerations For Remote Work Agreements
When the pandemic subsided, many businesses opted to allow workers to continue to work from home. Many employers allowed this and carried on their normal business activities, without giving any thought to whether or not they may need remote work agreements. What is a Remote Work Agreement? A remote work agreement isn’t a new… Read More »
Crowdfunding And Venture Capital Basics
Not every company has the ability to immediately go public and raise capital through an initial public offering. For those who don’t, one viable option may be venture capital. What is Venture Capital? You may have heard of venture capital and private equity being spoken of together. While they are similar, there are technical… Read More »
Why You Should Have Uninsured/Underinsured Motorist Coverage
Statistics show 25% of crashes that happen in Florida, are hit-and-runs, where drivers decide running from the scene would be better than calling 911. Victims of hit-and-run crashes will ideally have Uninsured/Underinsured Motorist Coverage, also simply known as UM coverage. In the context of a hit-and-run accident, this coverage can pay for things like… Read More »
Pedestrian Deaths Spike During Pandemic
According to a recent New York Times article, pedestrian deaths have dramatically increased over the course of the pandemic: “Two years into the pandemic, such fatalities are soaring into record territory amid a nationwide flare-up in reckless driving. In various initiatives to reverse the trends, authorities in one state after another are citing factors… Read More »
Make Sure Your Business Doesn’t Infringe On Another’s Intellectual Property
If you start a business, you will name your business, and perhaps think of a slogan or saying. You may not give much thought about intellectual property—copyrights or trademarks—but if you aren’t careful, you can end up on the wrong end of a major intellectual property lawsuit by another company that holds the idea,… Read More »
Michael Pike Appears On WPTV To Discuss Hit-And-Run Awareness
Pike & Lustig, LLP Managing Partner Mike Pike recently appeared on WPTV to discuss hit-and-run awareness. To watch the video, click here. Nearly 25% of all crashes in Florida involve a hit and run, which translates to Florida drivers fleeing the scene of an automobile accident roughly 25 to 50 times a day. However,… Read More »
Congress Ends Forced Arbitration In Sexual Harassment Cases
You probably know that there are a host of federal laws that prohibit discrimination and harassment in the workplace. That includes prohibitions on sexual harassment. Sexual harassment can lead to your business being sued under both sexual harassment laws, as well as being sued for intentional battery or assault. Using Arbitration In order to… Read More »
What Is Proximate Cause In A Civil RICO Claim?
Through a federal civil RICO lawsuit or a Florida civil RICO lawsuit, a plaintiff can hold a defendant liable for financial damages caused by racketeering activity. Civil RICO claims are not just for holding criminal enterprises accountable. A legitimate business or organization could face civil RICO liability if they have caused another party losses… Read More »
Survey: Class Action Shareholder Lawsuits Are Expected To Rise Sharply In 2022
According to a report from the Valdosta Daily Times, U.S. companies are preparing for a steep rise in class action litigation—especially class action lawsuits that are being initiated by shareholders. A recent survey from a reputable organization found that corporate leaders are anticipating a 27 percent increase in class action litigation, the highest increase… Read More »