Reardon Anderson - October 2021

Reardon Anderson - October 2021

ReardonAnderson C O U N S E L O R S A T L A W

ReardonAnderson.com

October 2021

5 SCENARIOS YOU’LL NEVER FEAR AGAIN

WITH A BUSINESS LAWYER ON YOUR SIDE

NO. 1: WHEN STARTING A NEW BUSINESS

It's Halloween — even though kids mostly enjoy the holiday, you could say there's no better time to face your fears than now. For some, that includes a fear of attorneys. Hey, we understand. It can be emotionally and/or financially intimidating to call an attorney when you're faced with any kind of obstacle in your business. When you don’t have the help of a legal expert, it might seem easier to leave certain problems alone and hope they go away. Unfortunately, ignoring problems is one of the most expensive choices many people make. You don’t have to deal with everything alone. With certain issues, it’s best to call your business law attorney right away. Here are some potential scenarios where you should do just that. In looking to continually serve our clients, Reardon Anderson is gauging client interest in monthly webinars to explain issues impacting individuals and businesses in 2021 and beyond. If you think this would be an added value, please let us know your thoughts by emailing [email protected] . Thank you so much for your support!

This is likely a no-brainer to many of our entrepreneurs! When starting a business, it’s best to know you’re starting on the best possible legal footing as you can. From choosing your legal structure to creating contracts for your customers and clients, you’ll need a business law attorney to help you review the best options and decisions (and potential mistakes) you’re considering. NO. 2: WHEN CREATING NEW SERVICES OR PRODUCTS Any time you create a new product or service, you also create new opportunities for legal complications to occur. This includes the registration of intellectual property, compliance with business regulations and other relevant laws, or even interstate and international business issues. Also, if you draft new contracts for clients, you’ll also want to ensure they’re legally sound and fair. NO. 3: WHEN TRANSFERRING OWNERSHIP OR SHARES IN A COMPANY Before you hand off your company to a friend, family member, or longtime colleague, you’ll want to talk to a lawyer to ensure the smoothest process possible. You don’t want to sour connections, especially lifelong ones. Spend the money to protect yourself, your friend, and your future together in business, even if you’re looking to retire. NO. 4: WHEN ADJUSTING TO NEW LAWS OR OWNERSHIP Working closely with an attorney when there’s a legal change in your field is crucial.

You don’t want to make a mistake that could cost you hundreds of thousands of dollars— neither does your lawyer. No matter how big or small, if there’s a significant legal change in your field, don’t be afraid to lean on a legal expert. It’s also important to work with a business law attorney after new ownership takes over a business to ensure the transition is going well.

NO. 5: WHEN COMPOSING AN EXIT STRATEGY If a partner, major shareholder, or you

decide to suddenly exit the business, it can potentially threaten the business’s ability to continue operating. That’s when a lot of entrepreneurs realize: “Oh no! I never planned for an exit strategy.” With buy-sell agreements or buy-back agreements, partners or major shareholders can sell their interest without legal entanglements or placing undue financial burden on the business. No consultant who is critical to your business comes without a cost, but even a brief consultation can determine what your current legal needs are. Invest in your lawyer’s time, like a fire code inspection or medical checkup, since it can prevent major issues later on. Give us a call today if there’s an issue weighing on your mind, or several. We’re happy to help.

–The Reardon Anderson Firm

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Man Sues Woman for Texting During a Movie Date

‘CAN I PICK THAT?’

The Legalities of Eating Found Fruit

In many parts of the U.S. right now, apples are dangling temptingly over fence lines and ripe pears are dropping onto sidewalks. This is the prime season for fall fruit, but if you live in an area where food grows rampant, then you probably think of it as both delicious and confusing. Be honest: How many times have you strolled down the street, spotted something tasty that was potentially on private property, and wondered, “Is it legal to pick that?”

THE 3 COMMANDMENTS OF PICKING FRUIT

1. Thou May Pick From Public Lands In most places, it’s perfectly legal to pick fruit from what the law website Nolo describes as “public trees” — trees that grow on public lands, in state or city parks, or in medians. This doesn’t include sidewalks, which are explained in the next section. 2. Thou Shall Not Pick Thy Neighbor’s Fruit Unfortunately, when it comes to who owns a fruit tree, the trunk is what matters, not the branches! This means that even if your neighbor’s apple tree is bowing temptingly into your yard, the apples still belong to them because the tree was planted on their property. Unfortunately, in most places, this also applies to trees dropping fruit on the sidewalk. If the tree appears to be planted on private property, it’s best to leave the fruit be — or knock and ask if you can have it! (Note: This gets hilariously complicated when your neighbor’s fruit falls onto your lawn. Now, you can’t legally eat it without permission, but they also can’t take it without permission! To resolve this, sit down with your neighbors and hash out an agreement.) 3. When In Doubt, Thy State Wins Out The laws around picking fruit can be complicated. Some states don’t even follow the first two commandments! For example in California, you can legally take fruit from branches of a neighbor’s tree that extends into your yard. With this in mind, it’s always wise to research your state’s laws. If you’re still stumped after thorough research, then email a local lawyer or get in touch with a forager (visit RobGreenfield.org/FindaForager to locate one in your state) who will likely know the rules.

We’ve probably all found ourselves annoyed with someone who uses their phone during a movie at the theater, but have you ever been so annoyed that you sued them? That’s what Texas resident Brandon Vezmar decided to do back in 2017, following a “first date from hell” (as Vezmar put it) with Crystal Cruz. According to Vezmar, about 15 minutes into “Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2,” Cruz was texting on her phone. When Vezmar asked her to stop texting, she refused. Then, Vezmar suggested that she step outside of the theater to text. Cruz took his suggestion and never returned. Most people would chalk the experience up to a bad date and move on, but Vezmar was so indignant that he reached out to Cruz the next day and requested that she compensate him $4 for the pizza and $17 for the movie ticket he’d paid for. If she didn’t pay, he threatened to go after the money in small claims court. When Cruz initially refused, Vezmar made good on his threat and filed a petition in Austin, Texas. Vezmar made the case that Cruz had violated the cinema’s no cellphone policy and had negatively impacted his and other moviegoers’ experiences of watching a raccoon and a talking tree (among other beings) save the day. He claimed that while he sought modest damages, it was the principle of the thing that really mattered to him. He called Cruz’s behavior “a threat to civilized society.” As entertaining as it might have been to see that case fully make its way through the legal system, the lawsuit was eventually dropped after the TV show “Inside Edition” reunited Cruz and Vezmar and filmed her paying him back for the date. As the camera rolled, he counted his cash and considered them square. Unlike “Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2,” there were no good guys in this story — but that doesn’t make it any less entertaining to read about after the fact!

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TEAM-BUILDING ACTIVITIES YOU MIGHT ACTUALLY ENJOY

Here’s something that may shock you: Team- building exercises can be fun!

favorite among their 22 different events is Tiny Campfire. TeamBuilding.com’s hosts will curate the content; all you need to do is task your team with securing s’mores ingredients and one tea light. At the virtual event, the host will lead everyone through camping- themed games and share scary stories. You participate and roast your marshmallows for s’mores. This is perfect for fully remote and nationwide teams! USE PROBLEM-SOLVING SKILLS TO HELP YOU ESCAPE Escape rooms challenge your puzzle-solving prowess and require teams to work together to solve riddles, puzzles, and games to, quite literally, escape a room. These games can be found at local (physical) escape room sites, but you can also find board games sold online and platforms — like TeamBuilding.

com — where you don’t have to leave your home or office to play! (Remember, escape rooms are designed for smaller teams.) FIND OUT WHICH DEPARTMENT IS THE ‘SMARTEST’ Whether you opt to host theme-based games with questions based on TV shows or holidays or quiz each other on the history of the company or people in the company, trivia is a great way to learn and problem- solve together. You could host monthly or quarterly events to start a tradition and choose to pit departments against each other or split the whole company up into teams. Ultimately, it’s up to you, but don’t forget to include prizes! Who doesn’t love the chance to win a gift card? Check out Pinterest for great, office-friendly trivia — including trivia from “The Office”!

Often, a symphony of groans accompanies team-building games, and usually, that’s because activities designed to help you connect with others are … boring. As you return to the office, start a hybrid schedule, or continue to work remotely, consider planning the team-building activities below instead of the standard pizza party in the break room. We guarantee you and your coworkers will have a lot more fun and actually bond. HAVE ALL THE FUN OF A CAMPFIRE WITHOUT THE SMOKE TeamBuilding.com is a company designed for this very mission, but our personal

OKTOBERFEST SOFT PRETZELS

INGREDIENTS

1 1/2 cups warm water

3 tbsp oil, divided

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1 tbsp salt

2/3 cup baking soda

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1 tbsp sugar

2 eggs, beaten

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1 packet active dry yeast

Coarse salt, for sprinkling

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4 1/2 cups flour

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DIRECTIONS

1. In a bowl, combine water, salt, and sugar. Add yeast and let rest for 5 minutes. Add flour and 2 tbsp oil, then mix thoroughly into a dough. 2. Remove the dough from the bowl. Coat bowl with remaining oil, then return the dough, cover with plastic wrap, and set it aside in a warm place for 1 hour. 3. Preheat oven to 450 F. 4. Cut dough into 8 pieces. Roll them into thin ropes, then twist ropes into pretzel shapes. 5. In a large pot, boil water. Add baking soda, then boil each pretzel for 1 minute, flipping halfway through. 6. Transfer pretzels to a baking sheet. Brush them with egg and sprinkle with salt. Bake for 10–15 minutes. Enjoy!

Inspired by Tasty.co

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INSIDE THIS ISSUE

THE ROOT OF THE MACA ROOT CRAZE 1 5 Reasons You May Need to Call Your Business Lawyer 2 Man Sues Woman for Texting During a Movie Date The 3 Commandments of Picking Fruit 3 Try These Team-Building Exercises ASAP Oktoberfest Soft Pretzels 4 Is Maca Root Good for Your Health?

WHY ARE PEOPLE TRYING THIS POPULAR SUPPLEMENT?

The popularity of maca root has exploded in recent years, but many people in the U.S. are still unfamiliar with the supplement and its potential benefits. Whether you’ve heard of maca root before in passing or this is your first time, here’s what you need to know. WHAT IS MACA? Maca is grown in the Andes Mountains in Peru and is sometimes referred to as Peruvian ginseng. Maca has an earthy or even nutty flavor and is a common ingredient in Peruvian cuisine. It’s a cruciferous vegetable — like broccoli, cabbage, and cauliflower — with an edible root but is most commonly dried and consumed in powder form. WHAT ARE THE BENEFITS AND RISKS? Preliminary research shows a host of potential benefits. For starters, the plant is highly nutritious, providing high levels of vitamin C, copper, iron, and potassium. There are signs that maca can improve energy levels, mood, learning, and memory. Some reports state that maca can reduce menopausal symptoms, such as hot flashes and night sweats, as well as reduce blood pressure. There’s even evidence that maca root can block harmful UV rays when applied directly to the skin.

Maca root is considered safe and should not have noticeable side effects with moderate use. However, it has been shown to affect hormone levels, so it’s best to avoid maca if you have thyroid issues or are undergoing any type of hormone treatment. As with any new supplement, pregnant and breastfeeding women should consult their doctors before using. HOW DO YOU USE IT? The optimal dose for medicinal use has not been established, but most studies have tested doses ranging from 1.5–5 grams per day. If you want to incorporate maca into your diet, it’s easy to do through smoothies, oatmeals, and baked goods. You can try some today by picking up powdered maca root at health food stores, online retailers, and some supermarkets.

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