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Letters from our customers: June 11, 2012 Dear Welch, Gold, Siegel & Fiffik: I have been a member for several years and have utilized the letter writing service a few times. In prior efforts to utilize the service, I will be honest, I was not always pleased. The attorneys were resistant to providing a draft of the letter prior to sending it out, and only did so with my insistence. The letters were what they wanted, and were ineffective. Each time I came away feeling I had not been treated as a valued member. I had a very different experience recently working with Atty. Lenora Randall of Welch, Gold, Siegel & Fiffik, PC. She listened attentively and was very supportive. Ms. Randall made it clea that her goal was to get the facts straight and express my thoughts about the issue within the bounds of the prevailing legal parameters. She did not hesitate to review a draft of her letter with me and to make adjustments as neccesary. Her letter was direct on the issues, concise and expressed my concerns and the outcome that I was seeking. Atty. Randall provided the type of service I had hoped to recieve in my prior encounters. I came away feeling grateful to her. Now I am hopefull, because she represents what good customer service should be, and I have reconsidered maintaining Sincerely, Member from Pittsburgh, PA #customerservice #legalshield

Letters from our customers: January 3, 2012 Dear Welch, Gold, Siegel & Fiffik, PC, Many times we find ourselves having to write complaint letters to different companies and with just reason, but there are those times we find ourselves taking the time to write letters of praise, where it deserves just reason to do so. This is one of those times for a letter of praise. There are two women lawyers that I want to write to you about who I feel go above and beyond and excel with client services. Those two women are Attorney Lenora Randall, and Attorney Belinda Lison. Time and time again they both show compassion, insight, integrity, and honesty. Rare principles in today’s world. I do not feel so much along with I have Attorney Randall on the case, or Attorney Lison on the case. Both make handling a stressful matter less stressful, and both listen to me as I assist in providing the needed documentation for them to write a compelling and successful letter on my behalf. Please let them know that they are recognized for an excellent job of skill, and compassion and that I appreciate having the honor of knowing them and working with them on my matters. Very Truly, Member from Pittsburgh, PA #customersatisfaction #legalshield

Letters from our customers: June 13, 2012 Dear Welch, Gold, Siegel & Fiffik: Your attentive document review, and recommendations to me gave me the confidence to file my appeal, and represent myself. Marsha, thank you so much for all your help, I couldn’t have done it without you. Yours Very Truly, Member from Pittsburgh, PA #help #legalshield

WGSF Newswire :Marcellus Shale 6/6/2011 A recent advance in drilling technology has propelled Pennsylvania as a potential boom region for natural gas exploration and production. More than a mile beneath an area of Appalachia covering parts of four states lays a layer of rock called the Marcellus Shale containing a mostly untapped reservoir of natural gas that could swell U.S. reserves. The shale holding the best prospects covers an area of 54,000 square miles, from upstate New York, across Pennsylvania into eastern Ohio and across most of West Virginia. In Pennsylvania, most of the prime shale real estate extends from the north-central to the southwestern part of the state. Pennsylvania, where the Marcellus Shale appears to be thickest, is the heart of the action so far. Many gas-leasing companies have been knocking on landowners’ doors and offering the dream of great profit in exchange for the right to drill. They are rifling through stacks of dusty deeds in courthouse basements to see who has underground mineral rights to the deepest gas formations. The Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection says that drilling permits are up about 25% since 2005 and most of the activity increase can be attributed to wells in the Marcellus. Some estimate that 1,600 wells will be drilled in 2010 alone. Leasing land to a gas company and allowing a gas well to be drilled on your property can be a risky business, however. Even though tests in a particular geographic area might indicate the presence of gas reserves, allowing a company to drill on your property is speculative, potentially dangerous and could yield nothing. The drilling process also comes with certain risks to your property and the water supply. There are many questions to be answered: What does the drilling process entail? How close to my home or well can a well be placed? What percentage of the profit is a landowner entitled to? How can I ensure I am receiving the correct amount of royalties? How can I guard against potential damage due to drilling and gas extraction? There are many potential issues you can negotiate to modify a lease. Those include signing bonus and royalty payments, restrictions on the number or location of wells that may be drilled on the property, site restoration work, protection of the water supply, liability issues and issues regarding pipeline that must be installed on the property. The negotiation of these terms may be your first exposure to an oil and gas lease. Because of the legal nature of the leasing arrangement, an inexperienced landowner may be at a disadvantage when dealing with a more experienced lessee. No landowner should give up any rights associated with their land unless they are fully informed and completely comfortable with their decision. Talk to other landowners and learn more about their experiences with exploration and production and the royalties they received. Seek legal counsel from our experienced attorneys before signing an oil and gas lease. A standard form lease offered by a gas company may not offer all that can be negotiated by an attorney experienced in protecting your interests. Disclaimer: The information contained in this message is provided for general information purposes only and is not intended to be a legal opinion, legal advice or a complete discussion of the issues related to a personal injury case. Every individual’s factual situation is different and you should seek independent legal advice from an attorney familiar with the laws of your state.

WGSF Newswire : Our Newest Addition to WGSF, P.C. July 24, 2012 We welcome Deirdre B. Moser, who became an Associate with Welch, Gold, Siegel & Fiffik, PC. Her practices include Business Law, Civil Litigation, and Real Estate transactions. Disclaimer: The information contained in this message is provided for general information purposes only and is not intended to be a legal opinion, legal advice or a complete discussion of the issues related to a personal injury case. Every individual’s factual situation is different and you should seek independent legal advice from an attorney familiar with the laws of your state.

WGSF Newswire : Wage Claims on the Rise July 23, 2012 The Department of Labor is cracking down on employers, and especially restaurants for violating the minimun wage, overtime pay and record-keeping provisions of the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA). In addition, claims filed by employees seeking back wages are significantly on the rise. Federal Judicial Caseload Statistics reports that well over 6,000 wage and hour lawsuits were filed in each of the years 2011 and 2010. Overall the fedearl courts have seen a 325% increase in these types of claims since 2001! Business ownders can be personally liable for violations of the FLSA and other wage laws, so compliance must be taken seriously. The FLSA applies to virtually all employers. The cost of violations can be severe. Following an FLSA audit, you can be assessed back pay, overtime, interest and penalties for up to the two years preceding the audit. An audit may also lead to investigations be the IRS and Department of Homeland Security. If you think any of the following common problems are present at your business you should seek professional guidance on complying with the FLSA: Paying employees in cash without withholding required payroll taxes Not ensuring that employees receive overtime pay for each hour worked in excess of 40 hours in a week Paying a salary to employees who work over 40 hours per week who are entitiled to receive overtime wages Not keeping records of wages paid to employees Collecting and redistributing tips to employees Taking an excessive tip-credit against employee wages Not having necessary I-9 form and other records of employees’ identification Not paying employees required minimum wage A business owner’s best defense when faced with an employment claim is excellent records. It is the owner’s burden to prove that employees were paid wages in compliance with the law. WIthout good records, meeting that burden is a very difficult task. Defending a wage claim without good records can be very costly and sometimes fatal to a small business owner. Welch, Gold, Siegel & Fiffik, PC advises buiness regarding FLSA and other employment issues. We have defended employers in suits filed by employees seeking unpaid wages and in Wage and Hour Audit Proceedings. If you have any questions regarding the FLSA and whether your business is in compliance with the FLSA, please contact our Business ream of Michael E. Fiffik, Esquire, and Deirdre B. Moser, Esquire at 412.391.1014 for a confidential consultation. Disclaimer: The information contained in this message is provided for general information purposes only and is not intended to be a legal opinion, legal advice or a complete discussion of the issues related to a personal injury case. Every individual’s factual situation is different and you should seek independent legal advice from an attorney familiar with the laws of your state.