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LegalShield Referral Firm Appointed Lead Counsel in Zantac Litigation We congratulate our long time referral attorney partners at the Philadelphia law firm of Anapol Weiss. U.S. District Judge Robin Rosenberg of the Southern District of Florida appointed the Anapol Weiss firm as co-lead counsel to spearhead the hundreds of lawsuits filed over heartburn medication Zantac. If you are currently taking Zantac, you should discuss the potential risks with your health care provider. You may be entitled to monetary damages. Contact us for a consultation about your situation. The lawsuits, both individual cases alleging personal injuries and class actions brought for economic damages, allege that the companies that made and sold Zantac knew its active ingredient, ranitidine, metabolized in the human body to form a carcinogen known as N-nitrosodimethylamine, or NDMA. The lawsuits follow the U.S. Food and Drug Administration’s investigation of NDMA in some blood pressure and heart failure medicines. Last month, the FDA announced it was requesting manufacturers to withdraw all prescription and over-the-counter Zantac from the market, citing concerns about potential carcinogens. Sanofi-Aventis U.S., based in New Jersey, which recalled over-the-counter Zantac last year, is one of several defendants in the cases. Others are GlaxoSmithKline, with a U.S. unit based in Philadelphia, which first received FDA approval to sell the drug and recalled prescription Zantac last year, and Boehringer Ingelheim Pharmaceuticals Inc., which has U.S. headquarters in Connecticut, and New York’s Pfizer Inc. They both sold Zantac. #zantac #zantaclawyer #zantacrecall #Zantaclawsuit

Everyone’s good buddy, the IRS, did struggling small businesses dirty when no one was watching. Paycheck Protection Program loans were designed to help small business that were reeling with the COVID tsunami. The basics of the program were fairly straight forward: spend the money mostly on payroll to take care of your employees and the loan will be forgiven. It was a lifeline to small businesses when they needed it most. I applied and helped other clients apply as well. But now the IRS is tugging that Paycheck Protection lifeline away. On April 30 – in the dark of the evening when nobody was paying attention – the IRS changed the rules. It eliminated much of the benefit of the Paycheck Protection Program loans. The new rules: businesses that receive Paycheck Protection Program loans may not receive tax deductions for using those funds to pay expenses like payroll and rent. No deduction for doing exactly what the PPP loan rules told businesses to do. Congress specifically drafted the passage of the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act so that small businesses could receive the loans, spend the money, earn loan forgiveness and not have them count as taxable income. Business owners already feel that the Paycheck Protection loans have too many strings attached. The rules also are continually changing causing borrowers to worry that their loans will not be forgiven. The IRS’ move seems to be totally inconsistent with what Congress intended. Here’s how the IRS taketh away from struggling businesses: Say a business receives a $300,000 loan to cover payroll for eight weeks. If the business cannot deduct that amount as expenses, that means its federal tax burden bites at a rate of 37%. That equates to a $111,000 increase in taxable income. It reduces the tax-free benefit of the loan to $189,000 intended by Congress. Thanks IRS – you never disappoint! We do not this is how Congress intended the Paycheck Protection Program loan to work. We encourage you to call your federal representatives, senators and the Small Business Administration. Call your local news station and tell them how this change is going to make things even worse for your business. Hopefully with enough pressure, the IRS will back down, or Congress will pass legislation restoring the deductions. A group of Congressmen have already sent a letter to the IRS. You can echo their sentiments in your calls and letters to Congress. If you have questions about the ever-changing rules relating to Paycheck Protection loans and how to get loan forgiveness, we can help. #loanforgiveness #paycheckprotection #paycheckprotectionprogram #sbaloan

Jim Gladys, Esquire Our “Deeper Dive” series features our attorneys who primarily focus on providing services to LegalShield members and clients every day.  Attorney James J. Gladys has been with our firm since May 1, 2015.  Before joining us, he owed his own law firm that advised local boroughs and townships. Q: How do you connect to LegalShield members? Attorney Gladys: I understand that when a client contacts us, they are facing a problem and are often anxious and under stress about it. I recognize that those feelings are very important to the client, often as much as helping them find a solution to their problem. I believe in the “Golden Rule”: treat others as you would want to be treated. While I try to help solve their problem, I try to help them to understand what is happening and why. I sometimes use humor to make their day and life better. Q: How do you bring value to your clients? Attorney Gladys: I bring value to my clients by having a broad knowledge of many substantive areas and years of courtroom experience. I have been to the “rodeo” more than once. What I like best about working with my clients is that it allows me to do what I’ve always believed a lawyer should do: trying to help the people that I encounter. I also enjoy problem solving. The members of LegalShield give me an ongoing supply of interesting problems that I can help with. Q: Tell us about a recent success for a LegalShield member. Attorney Gladys: Sometimes – more often that folks might imagine – what should be a simple legal matter turns into something unexpectedly complex. Recently, I had the pleasure of assisting two clients who were recent arrivals in the USA with real estate transactions. In both cases, their deals are in turmoil. They did not understand what is happening or why. The legal documents were long and filled with terms they did not understand. They felt like they are getting steamrolled by the other persons and the real estate agents involved. In both cases, I was been able to explain the process for them to an understandable level and given them the tools (I sometimes refer to as “magic words”) to fight back. The other parties and the real estate agents, who I believe were trying to deal with these members unfairly, were not expecting any push back given the clients’ backgrounds. There is a good chance that the deals will go through or that the members may settle on favorable terms if not. Q: My greatest accomplishments: Attorney Gladys: My two daughters Q: The best advice I have received Attorney Gladys: I heard this at a commencement ceremony from the president of the university: “Never lie, never tell the whole truth, never pass up a chance to go to the bathroom.” -My attitude towards life is that life is a journey, not a destination -The best ideas come from being in the shower #legalshieldpennsylvania #municipallaw #legalshield #zoninglawyer #zoninglawyerpittsburgh #municipallawyer #jimgladys #zoninglawyerpa

We can help you apply for your PPP Loan Businesses that received Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) loans are getting a break pertaining to laid off employees. For purpose of loan forgiveness calculations, borrowers can exclude laid-off employees if the employees turn down a written offer to be rehired, according to new guidance from the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA). The loans can be forgivable — meaning they won’t necessarily have to be paid back. But there are conditions on forgiveness. One big one: 75% of the forgiven amount must be spent on payroll. And the rest can only be spent on a few categories: rent, mortgage interest or utilities. But with many businesses unable to reopen, owners wonder how to spend that much on payroll when they have little or no work for their employees to do. In addition those problems, some employees have been turning down offers to be rehired for the same jobs for a variety of reasons, one of them being that they are making more money in unemployment benefits and pandemic unemployment assistance than they do in pay at their jobs because the CARES Act temporarily provides an additional $600 per week to people who have been approved by their state for unemployment insurance. The guidance was included among three new questions the SBA added over the weekend to a PPP frequently asked questions (FAQ) file it maintains in consultation with IRS. The SBA and Treasury plan to issue a new rule specifying that a borrower may exclude an employee from loan forgiveness calculations if the borrower made a good-faith, written offer of rehire and also documented the employee’s rejection of that offer. The guidance does not specify what form that documentation should take. Businesses are encouraged to issue return to work requests in writing to their employees along with proof of mailing. These should be retained as records to be provided when loan forgiveness is sought. There are many issues to consider for businesses preparing to reopen. Employees may refuse to return to work for a variety of reasons. Employers need to understand how to respond to employee reactions. My firm is here to help business owners navigate the complex issue of reopening their businesses. #sbaloan #businessattorneypennsylvania #loanforgiveness #PaycheckProtectionLoan #PPPloan #businessattorneypittsburgh #sbaloan #smallbusiness #paycheckprotection

Our “Deeper Dive” series features our attorneys who primarily focus on providing services to LegalShield members every day. Attorney Kurtanich has been with our firm since 2020. Before joining us, she worked as an attorney specializing in mineral, energy and natural resources, regulatory and utility law. She can respond to a wide variety of legal issues and has experience with business law, oil and gas law, regulatory law, utility law and contracts. Q: How do you connect to LegalShield members? Attorney Kurtanich: I try to actively listen to their questions, issues, and concerns. In order to provide the best legal advice possible, I need to truly understand the heart of the issue. I achieve this understanding by listening, clarifying my understanding, and then advising. My goal for client engagement is to have clients feel comfortable speaking to me no matter how big or small the issue may be. Sometimes, clients are embarrassed to ask a question that they think might be silly. However, those are often the very questions which need to be addressed. I put clients at ease to ask their questions and ask them to tell me what happened and what their concerns are. Asking a client to provide a narrative allows the client open up while allowing me to gather discrete details that I would not otherwise have. Sometimes I have to ask tough questions, and clients appreciate that. I bring value to my clients by providing an approach which gathers the most details. Each individual client is unique and therefore has a unique set of circumstances. My clients teach me something new every day. Q: Tell us about a recent success for a LegalShield member. Attorney Kurtanich: I recently spoke with a LegalShield member who had never filed for unemployment compensation before and had no idea where to start. I guided her through the process, she was able to file her claim, and has successfully received benefits. Q: My greatest accomplishments: Attorney Kurtanich: I was someone who couldn’t run a 5K but I wanted to challenge myself. After a lot of hard work, I was able to compete in a triathlon in 2016, a marathon in 2017, and an ultramarathon trail run in 2019. Those were tough, but conquering my fear of public speaking through Toastmasters might’ve been my biggest challenge. Q: The toughest lesson I have learned: Attorney Kurtanich: The toughest lesson I learned was to step out of my comfort zone. It can be scary to step out of your comfort zone, but in the long run you end up with an entirely different perspective which allows you to view issues differently and provide a more holistic level of client service. –My attitude towards life is live every day to the fullest and treat each day as though it may be your last. –Best advice I have received is to listen, learn, and then lead. #AdieKurtanich #businesslaw #oilandgaslaw #smallbusinesslaw

What You’re Saying About Us We’re blushing! Thank you for your kind words and feedback. We very much want to hear from you. We take your comments seriously and are always striving to improve. “Professional and Kind” – The office person that I spoke to (Kathy) regarding my file was both professional and kind. The lawyer Who called me regarding my issue (Barbara Weiss) was also sympathetic, knowledgeable, and reassuring. Thank you for offering this service. Keep up the good work! – Amelia (April 2020) “Knowledgeable and Helpful” – We were contacted twice by the firm. Once by the attorney’s assistant and once by the attorney. Both of them were very professional, knowledgeable and helpful. They both exceeded our expectations. So far, we are very happy with the services and the people. – Robert (April 2020) “Responded Quickly” – The attorney gave me excellent advice and responded quickly whenever I reached out for assistance. Great job!! – Joseph (April 2020). Thank you for the opportunity to help you when you need it most!

As was widely expected, the $350 billion allocated for this program was not nearly enough to meet demand. Many sole proprietors and small business owners were left in the cold as they were not able to apply until April 10 and many banks stopped accepting applications mid-week this week. Whether you applied or didn’t have quite enough time to get an application together, we have some advice for you. 4 Things You Should You Do Now 1. If you have no idea what this article is referring to, you’re not alone. It was easy to miss or not understand this loan program and how it works. We are here to tell you that you ARE missing out on a very favorable loan program that can help your business. Call us — we need to tell you about it. We can help you get your piece of the program. 2. Don’t give up! Congress is working to allocate additional money to the program. If you did not file an application, keep working to prepare one. Be ready to file when banks resume accepting applications and you’ll need to act fast. The newly allocated money will be soaked up by pending applications that did not get approved before the first batch of money ran out. You’ll need to be ready to file quickly when banks resume accepting applications. Well organized applications will be the first ones to get approved. Don’t take any chances — we can help you. We’ve completed these applications and know what the banks are looking for. 3. If you filed, keep working! If you filed an application, call your bank and confirm that your application was received. Don’t assume that because your application was received that you’ll be approved. Ask the bank about the status of your loan and what else that will be expected from you to get the loan funded. Have your supporting paperwork ready to submit when asked by the bank. The loan program is first come, first served so businesses that are responsive and have their ducks in a row will go to the front of the line. 4. Apply for an Economic Injury Disaster Relief Loan directly with the SBA. That program is still accepting applications. Its not as favorable as the Paycheck Protection Program loans in that it is higher interest rate and is not forgivable. It is a good loan program nonetheless and can help your business. Need help?  Our business attorneys, Michael E. Fiffik, Esquire and Lacey F. Gordon, Esquire can help you navigate the COVID loan programs.  Call us. #business #businessloans #COVID #paycheckprotection

A power of attorney is a necessary part of protecting your family and your hard earned assets. Attorney Jennifer Bamonte, the head of our estate planning department, tells you why. #estateplanning #power #Wills

Below is a list of COVID-19 car insurance company refunds, credits and rebate programs. Some companies have yet to announce any program. Driving is down between 35% to 50% during the COVID pandemic. This is very beneficial to insurance companies. Some industry experts consider the rebates and credits they are offering as relatively small in comparison to the benefit these companies enjoy with your reduced driving. If your company has yet to offer a credit or refund, you should contact your agent and ask what can be done to reduce your premiums for the next couple of months. For additional rate reductions: if you have multiple cars in the household and you are able to keep one on the sidelines, consider changing the status of one of your cars as out of use. It’ll keep comprehensive insurance on the car and keep you legal but will result in increased savings. Just don’t forget to change the status back when you start driving again. This is a great time to review your auto policy. We’d be happy to review your auto policy with you, offer other tips on saving money and advise you on the best coverage to protect you and your family. Companies Offering Rebates or CreditsAllstateAmerican Family InsuranceAmica InsuranceErieEsuranceFarmersGEICOHartfordLiberty MutualNationwideProgressiveState FarmTravelersSafe AutoSafecoUSAACompanies Not Offering Rebates or CreditsAAADonegalInfinity/Kemper #COVID #personalinjury

As a result of Governor Wolf’s Shelter-in-Place order, everyone is driving less. On Monday, April 3, 2020 Allstate’s CEO said that “driving mileage is down 35% to 50%, even in states that do not currently have shelter-in-place orders.” As a result, Allstate is refunding 15% of premiums to policyholders. We think you deserve a rate reduction too and we’re going to do something about it. LegalShield members who have an auto insurance policy are invited to contact us. Our attorneys would be happy to write a letter on your behalf to your insurance company asking that your rates be reduced or that you receive a premium refund. Not a LegalShield member? You should be. Check them out at covid19.legalshield.com. You can also get a copy of a form that you can use to send a request in yourself here. #COVID

I have been a member since mid 1990’s. Today it is not if I need an attorney, but when I need an attorney. Someone used my checking account to electronically pay the bill. It was an honest mistake as the account numbers were very similar. The company said they could not do anything about it. I went to the PUC and was told to file a formal complaint. After months and months and numerous phone calls I finally reached someone who also said they cannot do anything. At that point I called LegalShield spoke to the attorney sent over all documentation and a letter was sent. JUST ONE LETTER! Happy to report that I received by overnight mail refunding my money. Amazing how people’s attitude change when an attorney gets involved. Thank you very much! Meyersdale Member

Dear Attorney Maietta, with deep appreciation and profound gratitude thank you for your continued support for our mother until her death. I will be forever grateful, thank you again. Philadelphia Member