Chicago, IL - Golan Christie Taglia, LLP is excited to announce that Steven J. Rosenberg has joined the firm. As a successful civil and criminal litigator for over 40 years, trying over 100 cases to verdict in both state and federal courts, Steven J. Rosenberg brings extensive experience in mail and wire fraud and other white-collar crime, SEC investigations, accounting and securities fraud, complex civil litigation, medical negligence, and employment cases involving breach of contract and civil rights violations.

A board of review decision can also be appealed directly to a circuit court. It’s an option that taxpayers often overlook!

Boards of review don’t have the final say about property tax assessments, however they’re a necessary stop in the appeal process. Taxpayers who are unhappy with their board decision have two options: appeal to the state Property Tax Appeal Board (PTAB) as described in my Aug. 24, Sept. 12 and Nov. 27 blogs; or, file a tax objection complaint in the circuit court. You cannot file appeals in both venues. The good news is that taxpayers who miss the 30-day filing deadline for taking an appeal to the PTAB still have time to pursue the tax objection remedy.

We are pleased to announce that Steven J. Rosenberg has joined the firm. As a successful civil and criminal litigator for over 40 years, trying over 100 cases to verdict in both state and federal courts, Steve brings extensive experience in mail and wire fraud and other white collar crime, SEC investigations, accounting and securities fraud, complex civil litigation, medical negligence, and employment cases involving breach of contract and civil rights violations.

There’s a remedy for correcting errors or mistakes in a property tax assessment even after the deadline for appealing to an assessor or board of review has passed.

Mistakes happen. If a mistake occurs in the property tax process, it could be costly if not corrected. Fortunately, some errors are fixable -- even those that may have occurred in a previous year or years -- thanks to what is known as a Certificate of Error, or in property tax parlance, a C of E. When an assessment error is discovered, taxpayers can seek relief by filing a C of E with local assessing officials. However, be advised that the granting of a C of E by an assessing authority is discretionary, not mandatory.

The Illinois Condominium and Common Interest Community Ombudsperson Act (the “Act”), was enacted to “educate unit owners, condominium associations, common interest communities, boards of managers and boards of directors” on their respective rights and obligations as imposed by the governing documents, such as bylaws. In response to “anecdotal accounts of abuses” by Associations in handling enforcement of their covenants and restrictions, the stated goal of the Act is to avoid mistakes and misunderstandings in interpreting the documents, which are both costly and divisive to these kinds of communities.

Currently, SAFE Notes are used primarily within the crowdfunding realm for very new startup companies, but are also emerging in more traditional investment environments. In 2015, the SEC adopted Regulation Crowdfunding, allowing smaller, individual investors to participate in securities-backed crowdfunding. Companies are permitted to raise a maximum amount of just over $1 million through crowdfunding. More recently, the SEC has acknowledged an uptick in crowdfunding and the use of SAFE Notes. The SEC specifically warned against the use of SAFE Notes, however, arguing that they are “anything but simple or safe,” and pointing out the danger in the false sense of safety that the name may bring to even the most seasoned investing veterans.

The Social Security Administration (SSA) recently announced that in 2019 it will begin sending form letters to employers who have one or more employees whose names do not “match” the Social Security Number listed in the SSA database. There are many reasons that the name and number might not match, so employers are cautioned not to jump to conclusions based on receipt of one of these letters.

Beginning on January 1, 2019, all Illinois employers are required to reimburse employees for all expenses incurred that are “directly related to the services performed for the employer.” Reimbursable expenses are considered those for which employers have authorized the employees’ expenditure, and do not include expenses incurred due to an employee’s own negligence, normal wear and tear, or theft (unless the result of the employer’s own negligence). Employers may require employees to submit any expenditure with supporting documentation within 30 calendar days in order for the employee to receive reimbursement.

WHAT IS COLLABORATION SOFTWARE? Collaboration Software—also known as online or groupware— is designed to enhance productivity of a group of participants. It enables communications, the sharing of ideas and information, and the processing and management of files, data and documents. It can track one project or multiple projects, and can exist in cloud-enabled environments, as well as on dedicated servers.

• Is Your Condo Association In Violation Of The Law?
• What Is A Safe Note And Does It Make Crowdfunding Safer?
• Social Security Administration To Begin Sending Out No-match Letters In 2019
• Well-drafted Expense Reimbursement Policy Necessary To Stop Abuses By Employees
• The Benefits And Perils Of Collaboration Software

Please join Golan Christie Taglia attorneys Beverly Berneman and Darrin Baim for an informative lunch and learn to debunk common myths about growing your business.

Wind energy devices have proliferated across the central Illinois landscape in recent years. Get wind of how the assessment process works by talking to a property tax attorney.

Illinois is home to both the Windy City and a very flat, windy prairie. When the state’s first wind turbine went online in rural Lee County in 2003, no one could have guessed that 15 years later over 2,600 of these devices would be operational and account for 6.2% of all in-state electrical production.*

In the never ending battle between the qualifying factors for receiving a charitable property tax exemption as first enunciated in the Korzen case, Methodist Old Peoples Home v. Bernard Korzen, County Treasurer, et al, 233 N.E, 2d, 537, 39 Ill.2d 149 (1968), the Illinois Supreme Court initially set forth the following criteria for successfully obtaining a property tax exemption.

Don't miss this online seminar that discusses the Wayfair case, the basis for being overturned, and its impact on online purchases. Tax attorneys and general practitioners with intermediate practice experience who attend this program will better understand:

Unfavorable PTAB rulings often lead to an uphill battle in court, but working with an experienced property tax attorney can ensure you are well-positioned for a positive outcome.

When taking a case to the Property Tax Appeal Board (PTAB), it’s only natural to hope for the best. However, not everyone receives the result they desire. Fortunately, any party dissatisfied with a PTAB decision can appeal it.*

GCT Senior Litigation Paralegal/eDiscovery Specialist, Tisha Delgado joined host Carl Morrison on the Paralegal Voice podcast on Legal Talk Network to speak about how eFiling works. While some may be hesitant to shift to eFiling from paper filing, Tisha shares the advantages to this electronic system from saving time and energy to being able to file last minute. She also shares tips for using the PACER system and provides resources for those interested in learning more about eFiling.

When defamatory content is posted on a business’ profile, it can drive a business owner to madness. But a calculated response can stop the review from taking on a life of its own. Part I of this article helped distinguish a defamatory review from a simply negative one. What happens when a business owner is saddled with a false statement about his or her business where damages are suffered, devoid of any applicable legal exception?

Illinois may be second in the nation when it comes to the highest property tax burden, but the Prairie State offers its fair share of tax breaks too. Here are a few of the laws designed to help homeowners and businesses cut their taxes.

To address gender pay inequality, many states and local governments have passed laws that prohibit employers from asking job candidates about their salary history. As of January 1, 2019, all of the following states will have such a law in effect: California, Connecticut, Delaware, Hawaii, Massachusetts, New Jersey, New York, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Puerto Rico, and Vermont. Illinois’ law is still in limbo as of the writing of this article due to Governor Rauner’s veto, which the legislature has vowed to override. Additionally, the following municipalities have similar laws for employers within their jurisdiction: Chicago (applies to City departments only), Louisville, New Orleans (applies to City Departments only), and Kansas City. The purpose of these laws is to stop the perpetuation of pay inequality between men, women, and minorities by ensuring that a person’s salary is based upon their value to their current employer.

Since July 2001, Illinois has required employers with 5 or more employees to make reasonable accommodations for employees who want to express breast milk. This requirement includes providing a private room, other than a bathroom, which is in close proximity to the employee’s work area.