E-Verify is on the lips of employers and legislators across the country. However, E-Verify is not the magical solution many people believe it to be. It’s best to start with what E-verify does not do for an employer. E-Verify does not verify employment eligibility for the employer. E-Verify does not remove the responsibility of the employer to complete an I-9 Form in accordance with federal regulations. An I-9 Form must be completed for every employee…

On December 14, 2018, the Iowa Supreme Court, in Lowe’s Home Centers, LLC v. Iowa Department of Revenue,  found that there is at least one additional category of taxable services—installation—to consider.  This ruling deviates from the position historically taken by many throughout the State of Iowa that if a service is not a taxable repair, it falls into the non-taxable category of new construction. The Iowa Supreme Court made it clear that taxable repair…

Commercial Real Estate Loan Documentation Best Practices PART 1:  Commitment Letter Following credit approval, the formal real estate lending process typically starts with a commitment letter which seeks to establish the primary specific terms and conditions of the proposed financing. It is an opportunity for the parties to ensure that they are in basic agreement with the loan amount, repayment terms, interest rate, collateral, guaranty requirements, and fundamental representations and covenants. The commitment letter fleshes…

Commercial Real Estate Loan Documentation Best Practices PART 1:  Commitment Letter Following credit approval, the formal real estate lending process typically starts with a commitment letter which seeks to establish the primary specific terms and conditions of the proposed financing. It is an opportunity for the parties to ensure that they are in basic agreement with the loan amount, repayment terms, interest rate, collateral, guaranty requirements, and fundamental representations and covenants. The commitment letter fleshes…

On September 18, 2018, the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau published in an “interim final rule” which, among other changes, contained a new “Summary of Consumer Rights” under the Fair Credit Reporting Act.   The new Summary is available in English in Spanish here. Most certainly not coincidentally, Friday, September 21, 2018, was the effective date for a provision of the “Economic Growth, Regulatory Relief, and Consumer Protection Act,”  mandating a change in the information that…

On September 18, 2018, the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau published in an “interim final rule” which, among other changes, contained a new “Summary of Consumer Rights” under the Fair Credit Reporting Act.   The new Summary is available in English in Spanish here. Most certainly not coincidentally, Friday, September 21, 2018, was the effective date for a provision of the “Economic Growth, Regulatory Relief, and Consumer Protection Act,”  mandating a change in the information that…

Contractors hired to work on Mandelbaum’s new tower—“The Fifth”—need to be familiar with Iowa’s mechanics’ lien law if they want to protect their mechanics’ lien rights. The Des Moines Register reports that construction may begin soon on the proposed 33 story tower at 5th Avenue between Walnut Street and Court Avenue. Many contractors will be involved in construction, and contractors will need to be careful to ensure that they protect their mechanics’ lien rights. This…