How Home Improvement and the Law Intersect

If you have a beautiful home, there will come a time when your hands begin itching to do home improvement! This can include anything from new paint colors to building outbuildings to even home extensions. But there can also be another consideration you need in order to progress in your goals. You certainly don’t want to do anything that isn’t legal, whether with your city or county, or with your HOA. How can you know what things need a special permit, or legal action, and which would not?

Fraudulent Contractors

Everybody has heard terrible rumors of awful and fraudulent contractors. This kind walks in, looks over the project you need, and says that absolutely they can do the work, often beginning the next day, even! And then they get halfway through and disappear like they’re ghosting a bad dinner date. You’d like to avoid those, especially before they begin carving into your counters or walls! Be smart in advance and document your contract, and keep work receipts. This helps if you have to go to small claims court. Prevent fraud by getting recommendations from three trustworthy people and references from your potential contractor.

Zoning Laws

You might not mind if your neighbor has a goat in their backyard, or a couple of cute chickens in a coop. But if they begin having dozens of roosters waking you each morning, or start a business in their front yard including a large pig sty, you might get concerned. The law breaks communities into zones, some of which are not allowed to have businesses, some which are residential in places and business in others, and many which forbid things like farm animals or one hundred and fifty foot flag poles. Zoning laws also regulate building sizes and noise restrictions, which is good in case a large factory wants to build in your backyard!

Injury Liability

If you’re having people work on your property, whether as formal contractors or informal “friend helpers,” you need to consider injury liability. All it takes is a simple fall from a ladder to cause an individual to have ongoing pain from working on your house or property, and you need to know what your personal liability is for that. If your contractor is licensed and bonded, then they generally have their own insurance for such things, which is important. You want your building and repairs finished, but you don’t want someone’s carelessness or an unavoidable accident-causing injury which will cause you ongoing financial complications. Generally, your homeowner’s insurance will protect you from that problem, unless it was your own carelessness or neglect which caused the accident in the first place.

Local Permitting

You can improve your home life with all the features you can add to a deck, patio, and general backyard area. And one of the biggest ways you can do so is with a new outbuilding, like a shed or garage. But, you can’t do either unless your local city ordinance workers allow you a permit for building! Yes, you own your property, but it’s their job to make sure local ordinances are followed. For example, if you have plans to build a shed, you generally need to build carefully within your property line, no more than ten to fifteen feet from the fencing of the line. Plus, getting a permit ensures that you are protected if neighbors try to dispute what you’ve built.

Construction Defect

Construction defect laws can include several major types of defects in construction. This includes there being a major flaw in the plans. A design flaw can mean that no matter how shiny the builders made your build, if the plans were done incorrectly, your build cannot be safe to use or work properly. If there are workmanship defects, this means that your build has bits put together incorrectly. And if there are material defects, this means the materials used to make your build, no matter how nice it looked finished, were defective and unsafe.

Liens

Liens can be a legitimate way for a contractor who is honorable and has finished a remodel to regain their money if a property owner refuses to pay. However, if you have an untrustworthy contractor, they technically could put a lien on your property claiming that you refuse to pay, when you have, or when you are concerned about construction defects involved in the build. They must be fought in court, of course.

Subcontractor Collusion

You want your contractor and subcontractors to work well together, but collusion means that they are working well together with the intent of fraud. This might mean that a subcontractor inflates a price, which the contractor then presents to you, for example. Bids can be rigged. Sneakiness is to be avoided, so research to make sure your contractor doesn’t take kickbacks or other fraudulent practices.

Substituting or Removing a Material

If you have a material substituted without your knowledge, this can mean having substandard materials in your home. Something as simple as substituting the drywall for one made overseas which includes asbestos can make complicated and expensive repairs in your future. You want everything in your build to be up to code, and done safely, naturally. This involves knowing if anything is substituted, and documenting in case future repair is necessary.

Regardless of what kind of build you have done, your best bet is documentation. Do the work to find contractors who can honorably do the work that you need done in your home and property. Know your contractor and subcontractors, and document their names and business names, licenses, bonds, etc. The chances are that you will never need this info, and your build will go off without a hitch! But, just in case you have some sort of problem later on—whether you need to sue for breach of contract or prove you were following regulations yourself—knowing information like this can help you protect yourself while renovating your home!

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How to Stay in Compliance with Workplace COVID-19 Regulations

Finally, after over a year of staying home and under lockdowns, the world is finally returning to all sorts of in-person activities. Everything from malls to sporting events and concerts have popped back into action. And now, even the return to the workplace is upon us. But with some changes. There are a lot of COVID-19 regulations now for in-person work. Here are ways for you to make sure your workplace stays COVID-19 regulation compliant.

Understand Vaccine Mandates

Most states have vaccine mandates for the return to the workplace. But every state, local, and federal jurisdiction can have different regulations that can be challenging to understand and stay on top of. Make sure you understand the federal and local guidelines over who needs to be vaccinated, and what needs to happen to allow the non-vaccinated to return to work. Testing and vaccine cards are likely to be required for your employees, so make sure you know what is needed and communicate it clearly with your employees to avoid confusion and errors.

Take Reasonable Precautions

You should also take all possible precautions in your workplace to ensure the safety and health of all employees, and that your workplace is always COVID-19 regulation compliant. The most important aspect of this is maintaining the concept of social distancing. To remind your employees that distancing is encouraged, you should have signage posted around the workplace. Distancing signs set expectations to protect people at your business. With proper signage, you ensure that the expectation around the office is clear.

Wear Your Masks

The science is clear that wearing masks helps to slow or prevent the spread of the disease. For the safety of all employees and customers and clients that enter your workspace, masks should be the norm in your workplace. When you wear masks, you spread a clear message that safety and health are valued and supported at your workplace. They also communicate that you care about the safety of others and are willing to protect others. By wearing masks in the workplace, you can prevent outbreaks in your workplace and help to always stay COVID-19 compliant.

COVID-19 regulations can be a real headache for the workplace. But they don’t have to be debilitating or complicated. Ensure that you are doing these three things at your workplace, and you can rest assured that you are doing everything in your power to remain COVID-19 compliant.

Read this next: Why You Need Legal Help Before Expanding Internationally

Regulatory Agencies Every Business Needs to Know About

When you run a business, there are a series of laws you will have to follow to protect your business, your employees, and your customers. Independent and federal agencies are often tasked with enforcing these rules and regulations, and will review companies and industries as necessary. Being familiar with these agencies can help your business stay compliant.

CPSC

One agency you should be aware of is the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC). This independent agency of the U.S. government is responsible for promoting the safety of consumer products and enforcing safety standards. They also address potential risks of injury from using certain products. Applying their regulations to your product research and development and manufacturing practices is important to stay in compliance. For instance, if you create children’s toys with small parts, you are required to disclose this information on your product packaging. All art materials must be reviewed and certified by a toxicologist to ensure their safety. In the event of a recall, you must disclose this information to consumers.

OSHA

The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) is responsible for protecting the health and safety of employees. OSHA regulates workplace safety and what records you keep. It specifies rules that workplaces are required to follow across the country. When setting up your business or revisiting your policies, you should read OSHA requirements to make sure you are in conformance with the applicable regulations. You can be fined for violating OSHA, because you doing so jeopardizes the health and safety of all employees. Be aware too that small businesses have different OSHA requirements than larger corporations.

FTC

The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) was established to protect consumers from predatory or deceptive business practices. The FTC ensures that competition remains in the market by enforcing antitrust laws so that no corporation is allowed to completely dominate an industry. You should be aware of federal, state, and local business laws to make sure your business practices are legal. The FTC also reviews scams and cases of false advertising to help protect consumers. It will review proposed company mergers to ensure fairness and make sure that the price of goods does not rise because there is less competition.

Running a business requires following applicable laws and regulations enforced by independent and federal agencies. Following these regulations protects your business and keeps your consumers safe. Mistakes can cost you financially and can also cause you to lose your customer’s trust.

Read this next: How to Stay in Compliance With Workplace COVID-19 Regulations

How to Give Sufficient Warning to Employees about Job Risks

When people show up to work, they generally expect the work environment to be reasonably safe. After all, that’s part of the responsibility of being an employer. But what about those jobs or industries that come with risks? Pretty much all jobs have them to some degree, and it’s important for employees to be given sufficient warning about them.

Give Them a Thorough Training

It’s hard to overstate how important workplace safety is. One of the best things you can do to promote workplace safety and to keep employees aware of job risks is to have regular, thorough safety training. The types of safety training you should have at your workplace will depend on the industry you work in and the jobs that are performed. Discuss the risks, what should be done to mitigate them, and what employees should do if the danger results in an accident or injury.

Use Standard Symbols and Colors

In order for your employees to be safe at work, it’s crucial that you make use of standard symbols and colors to mark the presence of hazards and dangerous substances. There are six major colors in the ANSI standard that help your business keep employees safe. There are a variety of symbols that can be used to identify different hazards and the dangers associated with them. Any business that makes use of these should make sure their employees understand what the different colors and symbols mean, as well as how to interact with marked substances.

Discuss Them in the Hiring Process

Arguably the first thing you should do in order to make sure that your employees have sufficient warning concerning the risks of any given job is to discuss them during the hiring process. You might start by listing some of the things employees should expect during the course of their duties on the job, like lifting heavy objects. Discuss some of the common workplace hazards during the interview process. That can help you get a feel for what sort of experience the prospective employee has in dealing with those hazards and risks.

Having sufficient warning about the risks inherent to any given job is an important part of safety in the workplace. Every employee has the right to work in an environment where reasonable safety precautions have been taken. When proper precautions have been taken and adequate warning has been given, both employees and businesses will find that the risk of injury greatly decreases.

Want to know about workplace laws regarding the pandemic? Check out this article!

How to Build Your Brand as a New Lawyer

Being new in any profession is difficult because you want to establish yourself in the field. This can be especially tricky if you are starting your own business. As a new lawyer, whether working at a firm or starting your own you need to build your brand to establish yourself.

Know Your Niche

Simply saying that everyone needs legal services is not enough to attract clients. You need to market to the people who you are best suited to serve. A niche is a group that is worth marketing to based off of a certain characteristic. Having a niche is most specifically suited to helping a potential client find you. It tells them you will specifically be able to help them. Finding your niche helps you to market to them specifically and it helps you reduce your competition.

Open an Office in a Good Location

There are many considerations when choosing an office location. When making any consideration on an office location, you should always keep the client in mind. It should be a place that is easy and safe for them to get to. You don’t want a place that is a hassle of a drive for your clients, and you don’t want a difficult or unsafe parking situation. Another consideration is if you need to make regular trips to court, it may be more convenient for your office to be close to the courthouse. Cost is another consideration. Going to the suburbs may save some money rather than being downtown.

Start a Professionally Designed Website

A website is a great way to showcase your brand and generate clients. A website can help clients find and communicate with you. Your website can give clients your contact information. Many people want to gather some information before calling and your website will allow them to do that. The website is a platform to explain who you are and what you do as a lawyer. Having a professional website also builds credibility. An established well-designed website helps your business look professional.

Dress Professionally

Dressing professionally can help you look and feel the part. Your clients first impression of you is the way you look. You should showcase your professionalism through your dress, while also making sure to stay true to your authentic self. People will be drawn to both a professional and authentic lawyer. You should ensure that your clothes fit well and are flattering. You can order many items such as skirts or trousers that will help you look the part. Measuring yourself before shopping online helps you avoid having to return a skirt.

Know Yourself

You can make your legal business entirely your own, but you need to know yourself first. The type of lawyer you portray to the world will make you stand out and will help you attract the right kind of business. You should know what kind of lawyer you want to be. You should have something unique to offer that is different from other legal professionals, something that sets you apart. You need to know what you stand for and your goals. You should know what kind of clients you want to work with and how you can serve them.

Use Marketing Tools

There are so many marketing tools you can use to build your brand as a new lawyer. Writing a book or legal guide is a great marketing tool. This is an inexpensive option that can be distributed anywhere that gives you great exposure through what you write your book about. You could also give presentations in which you are recognized as an authority on a topic to help generate referrals. Social media is another huge marketing tool. This is a great way to share knowledge and advertise what you do in a simple way. You can create groups and give out free information while generating a following. You can also purchase ads that help you target certain groups.

Get Feedback

Feedback is essential as a lawyer. While you are building your brand as a new lawyer, this is especially important for you to build a strong brand. To ensure you are reaching the right niche, ask for feedback to see how well you understand and help your desired niche of clients. This is the best way to ensure you are providing value for them. You can also utilize feedback for pricing. This helps you know how willing clients are to pay your fees and how you compare to competitors.

Building your brand as a new lawyer will take some work. Work one step at a time to make sure your foundation is solid. All the time and effort for your brand will be worth it as you start to see success.

Check out this article on how business owners can stay compliant with local regulations!

How to Avoid Making Your Workplace a Magnet for Lawsuits

There are many expenses to take care of in a workplace, lawsuits are one that can be avoided. Not only does avoiding lawsuits help save you money, but it can also mean a safer environment for the employees. To avoid making your workplace a magnet for lawsuits, clean up messes, closely follow safety standards, and document everything.

Clean Up Messes

Keeping your workplace clean is important in avoiding lawsuits. A dirty workplace can cause physical harm and can also make your employees sick. Dust can cause allergies and asthma and mold can cause your employees to get very sick. Spills or clutter can be a physical safety hazard that can cause your employees to slip, fall and get hurt. Regular cleaning should take place at the workplace. Any messes that occur should be cleaned up immediately. You should foster a culture of cleanliness and get your employees involved. Doing this will help your business be compliant in safety regulations and will help your employees feel safer.

Closely Follow Safety Standards

Closely following safety standards can help your business avoid lawsuits. Safety standards are set in place to ensure employees have a safe and healthy place to work. Unlike OSHA, ANSI standards are completely voluntary. ANSI doesn’t develop standards but approves committees that create standards. Following workplace safety standards will help your business be compliant to safety standards which will create a safe place for your employees to work. This will avoid health issues due to an unhealthy workplace as well as preventing accidents.

Document Everything

Problems in the workplace are your employees’ word versus your word. Thus, the importance of keeping documentation. When incidents occur, ensure that they are well documented. Documentation should be detailed and should be documented close to the time of the incident. Keep your documentation clear, concise and fact driven. Leave emotions and other commentary out. The ideal situation would be for the employee to sign the documentation, so they know the issues were brought up.

To avoid making your workplace a magnet for lawsuits will help your workplace run smoother, be safer, and will save you money. Cleaning up messes, following safety standards, and documenting everything are a few of the many ways this can be accomplished. Taking these steps will decrease lawsuits and make the workplace a better place for you and your employees.

Check out this article on regulatory agencies every business needs to know about!

Basic Safety Measures to Take for Your Employees and Customers Alike

In the world of your business, you are responsible for everything that happens under your watch. As a concerned member of society, that means that you need to do what you can to keep all your employees and customers safe. No matter what business you are in, there is the potential for danger, and you need to make sure that you are taking all necessary steps to keep your employees and customers safe.

Clean Up After Messes

When a mess occurs, it can be inconvenient to clean it up immediately but it is necessary. A mess in your business can make it difficult for your employees to stay safe and may lead to unsafe situations for your customers as well. By taking care of messes as soon as possible, you can reduce risk and prevent the mess from growing even larger and more frustrating. Have cleaning supplies easily available in your office so any employee can quickly take care of a mess. Even something as simple as cutting down on clutter can make your office a safer place.

Put Up Signs

You cannot simply expect that employees and customers will know how to stay safe at your place of business. You have to let people know, so they can stay away from dangerous situations and act appropriately when they need to be in a more dangerous place or use dangerous chemicals. Signs play a critical role in keeping employees safe at your workplace. Have a lot of clear signage in your workplace so that you can keep everyone informed and involved in maintaining safety.

Plan Things Out

Sometimes emergencies happen, and you can’t know when a disaster will strike. However, you can plan in advance so you have procedures in place just in case something goes wrong. Your plan should include meeting places, procedures to get out of the building, and other pertinent information. You should make sure that everyone is aware of these procedures and even practice from time to time so you can keep things calm and collected if an emergency ever happens.

Preparing for potential issues is part of being a business owner. And you don’t want to forget to prepare for safety as well as your financial and expansion planning. When you plan in advance, you can make your business a safe place and avoid the stress, trauma, and liability that can come along with a safety issue at your business.

Check out this article on how to avoid making your workplace a magnet for lawsuits!

How to Give Your Business Greater Legal Protection

Legal authority protects our lives, our property, our day to day activities and it also protects our businesses. In fact, legal protection is essential to keeping your company safe from accidents and attacks in whatever form! Here are a few ways to give your business greater legal protection.

Make Sure You’re Properly Insured

Insurance is your first line of defense. In the unfortunate case of an accident or malintent from someone, you need the funding to make repairs or course-correct, and insurance is your safety net! Don’t underestimate the potential need for a reliable insurance policy—no one is immune to accidents, and it is far better to be safe and protected against even a potentially damaging event, than to be caught unprepared and unable to help yourself in the realization of a damaging event! Every aspect of your business should be insured, from your products themselves to the production of them, to the location of production, to the employees running the whole show.

Prevent Accidents and Injuries

Even with a financial safety net in place, it is important to do all that is in your power to prevent accidents and attacks from happening in the first place! Implement whatever protocols necessary to keep your products safe, and the people manufacturing or performing administrative tasks safe too. You can prevent lawsuits from injuries by following voluntary safety standards. Training of on-the-job takes should be mandatory for all hires, and routine evaluations and memos updating or reminding employees of those protocols should be implemented. Keep yourself and everyone involved with production and logistical handling, alert and aware of dangers!

Find a Good Lawyer

Trying to find a lawyer in the middle of a crisis can force you to settle for services that may not provide you with the best protection or best value for your expense. Take the time now to research and explore what kinds of legal help you may need in case of emergency, and either develop a relationship with a lawyer who you can rely on to help you in those moments or consider hiring a lawyer on retainer so that you can feel confident in your access to them for any and all legal needs.

Without any protection, your business remains vulnerable to any number of harmful and expensive moments that (inevitably) come up in running a company. Prepare yourself with the necessary resources to buffer and defend your business whenever you need, for whatever you need!

Read this next: How to Avoid Making Your Workplace a Magnet for Lawsuits

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Common Issues That Lead to Injuries in the Workplace

Every employer feels the responsibility to keep their workers safe from harm. Not to mention that a workplace injury can hurt both the employee and your business. If employees lose work time, you could experience production delays, scheduling problems, and worse. To protect employees and yourself, you should identify any potential issues that could lead to injuries and take steps to eliminate them.

Falling Objects

Falling objects are a major cause of injuries in the workplace. Tools dropped by a worker on scaffolding or ladder can land on someone below, causing injury or even death. Using tool tethering is one measure you can take to prevent this. Workers should also wear hard hats.

Construction is not the only business that has to worry about falling objects. It can happen in an office, warehouse, retail establishment, restaurant, or anywhere there are shelves or high surfaces. Injuries can also occur when unsecured furnishings tip over.

Water Spills

Whenever there are spills on the floor, a slip and fall accident can occur, leading to possible serious injury. Certain businesses that use water frequently, such as restaurants, hair salons, and dog groomers, are more prone to spills. However, water spills and splashes can happen in any workplace, such as in an entryway during bad weather. If a customer experiences a slip and fall, it could lead to a lawsuit. To prevent this, spills should be wiped up promptly, and signs should be placed wherever there’s a possibility of wetness. Wet floor signs can help indicate the danger to customers and employees alike.

Obstacles

Many workplace injuries are caused by people tripping over or running into obstacles in doorways, aisles, stairways, and other places. Loose rugs, exposed cords, and uneven floors are some of the obstacles that can cause potential harm from falling. Boxes or equipment left in the wrong place can also cause falls and bumps. Employees should be trained to keep passageways, doorways, and staircases clear and open. Equipment should be stored when not in use. Use adequate lighting in walkways and install handrails on stairways, ramps, and other areas. Use signs to alert workers of low overhead clearance.

Workplace safety should be a team effort, as employers and employees should work together to eliminate or mitigate potential risks. A combination of using protective equipment, proper safety training, and alertness to dangers can protect workers and customers from injuries.

Read this next: How to Give Your Business Greater Legal Protection

Chris Jackman Lawyer and Founder of The Jackman Law Firm Talks About the Future

Chris Jackman was born and raised in Dallas, Texas. He holds degrees from Texas A&M, The University of Wisconsin, and Creighton University. He is married and lives with his wife and their two dogs in Dallas, Texas.

After working briefly for a law firm right out of law school, Chris Jackman became motivated to create a different kind of law firm. His vision was to create a law firm that put his clients first and treated them like family, where he could work tirelessly every day to help his clients, and most of all, to win and win big for his clients.

Since the successful launch of his firm, Chris has made his goals a reality. He has litigated thousands of complex cases, tried dozens of cases to judges and juries, authored two legal books, spoken at legal seminars, and won hundreds of cases for his clients.

Chris Jackman is active in helping the communities he serves through his law practice. He volunteers for Meals on Wheels, which delivers meals to the elderly, and Reading Partners, which helps disadvantaged school-age children learn how to read and write. He has also established a 501c3 charity called Hearing Help, which helps provide hearing aids to school-age children.

We sat down with Chris Jackman where we discussed what the future holds for his business and the strategies he’s using to help his firm grow.

What is the toughest decision you’ve had to make in the last few months?

The toughest decision I’ve had to make recently is whether to take my firm national by opening offices in other states. The market is tough, competitive, and evolving quickly. There are risks associated with striking out into a new market that I’m unfamiliar with, but I take comfort in the fact that I know as long as I stick to my core values and work hard, the work will take care of me and success will come.

What is one strategy that has helped you grow your business? Please explain how.

The one strategy I’ve used to help me is to set goals with set durations to them. For example, I have monthly, quarterly, yearly, and ten-year goals.

I’ve read and listened to Jim Collins’ Good to Great book many times and I’m an acolyte of his teaching with respect to goal setting.

What has been your most satisfying moment as an attorney?

My most satisfying moments come when former clients call me, either to refer a case to me or to just say hello and see how I’m doing.

I always tell my staff that we are a customer service business first and foremost and we just happen to provide legal services to people. When past clients call to say hi, I’m reminded that this core value is what keeps people coming back year after year.

What does the future hold for your law practice?

The future for my business looks very bright and has tremendous room for expansion as we aim to become a national law firm, with offices in multiple states.

By the end of the year, we anticipate having a presence in metro Phoenix, Tucson, Salt Lake City, and Portland.

The year after that will likely see more expansion as we look to scale up and help even more people.

What are you most excited about?

I’m most excited about helping more people, expanding my charitable giving, and growing my firm’s footprint across the country.

Every day I wake up excited to see what kind of difference we can make in people’s lives.

If you were to start again, what would you do differently?

If I were to start over again, the biggest change I would make would be to hire a business coach earlier. I didn’t hire one until I was seven years into my business. I would have grown so much faster if I’d had solid advice early in my career. I encourage people to get coaches early and use them often.

Follow Chris Jackman – Lawyer on Facebook.