Publications/Articles
Business and Corporate Law | Estate and Trust Planning and Administration | Family Law | Insurance | Labor & Employment | Litigation | Malpractice/Personal Injury | Real EstateUnderstanding the Tax Increase Prevention and Reconciliation Act
Congress uses new legislation to correct inconsistencies and extend some popular but expiring deductions and provisions.[more]
The Pennsylvania Dram Shop Law
Lawsuits Against Bars and Restaurants In Pennsylvania, it is illegal for a liquor license holder, like a bar or restaurant, to serve patrons who are minors (under the age of 21) or people who are "visibly intoxicated." If this...[more]
Client Snapshot: Successful Outcomes Often Demand Extensive Research.
When the Pennsylvania Department of Revenue audited a local family restaurant, its owner was advised to reach out to MacElree Harvey attorneys Joe Bellinghieri and Nikolaos Tsouros to handle the appeal. The State of Pennsylvania...[more]
Client Snapshot: Cross-team Communication Key to Complex Transactions
Complex real estate transactions typically include more than just the purchase or sale of property. Often the transactions involve land development and zoning approvals, environmental concerns, title review and extensive due...[more]
A Contractor's Guide to Pennsylvania's Home Improvement Consumer Protection Act
On July 1, 2009, the Home Improvement Consumer Protection Act ("HICPA" or the "Act") will become effective in Pennsylvania. HICPA will be enforced by the Office of the Attorney General, and is designed to protect consumers from...[more]
A Contractor's Guide to Pennsylvania's Home Improvement Consumer Protection Act
The recently enacted "Emergency Economic Stabilization Act of 2008" (the "Act") contains more than just a "bailout" for troubled financial companies. It also contains several important tax opportunities for individuals. One such...[more]
Establishing A Special Needs Trust
If you have a loved one who is disabled, establishing a Special Needs Trust can supplement government assistance and ensure long-term care.[more]
Low Interest Rates Create Estate Planning Opportunities
This article addresses some of the opportunities presented by various interest rates established by the IRS, which, by historical standards, are currently extremely low. There are few precedents for today's low interest rates,...[more]
"Top Sixteen" List of Common Misconceptions in Estate Planning - Highlighting Misconceptions 2 and 1
Original Article with analysis of Misconceptions #16 and #15 - "Top 16" List of Common Misconceptions in Estate Planning- Highlighting Misconceptions 16 and 15[more]
"Top Sixteen" List of Common Misconceptions in Estate Planning - Highlighting Misconceptions 4 and 3
Original Article with analysis of Misconceptions #16 and #15 - "Top 16" List of Common Misconceptions in Estate Planning- Highlighting Misconceptions 16 and 15[more]
"Top Sixteen" Misconceptions in Estate Planning - Highlighting Misconceptions 6 and 5
Original Article with analysis of Misconceptions #16 and #15 - "Top 16" List of Common Misconceptions in Estate Planning- Highlighting Misconceptions 16 and 15 Analysis of Misconceptions[more]
"Top Sixteen" List of Common Misconceptions in Estate Planning - Highlighting Misconceptions 8 and 7
Original Article with analysis of Misconceptions #16 and #15 - "Top 16" List of Common Misconceptions in Estate Planning- Highlighting Misconceptions 16 and 15 Analysis of Misconceptions #14 and #13 - "Top 16" List of Common...[more]
Who Needs a Premarital Agreement?
As the spring wedding season draws near, a premarital agreement may not be part of your wedding planning, but in certain circumstances, it should. You don't necessarily need to be wealthy to need a premarital agreement and...[more]
Not a Comprehensive Reform of Health Care, but a Helpful Measure for Families
While Congress and town hall meetings continue a rancorous debate about whether there will be any form of comprehensive healthcare or health insurance reform, Pennsylvania has enacted at least one measure that will provide some...[more]
The Legal Uncertainty Surrounding the Disposition of Frozen Embryos in American Divorce Proceedings
Child custody battles and fights over the disposition of marital property are frequent occurrences during divorce proceedings. The enduring fight to maintain control and raise one's children typically revolves around issues such...[more]
A Word of Caution: There is Still Work to be Done After the Signing of a Property Settlement Agreement
In the majority of divorce cases, most of the effort is spent negotiating a comprehensive property settlement agreement in which Husband and Wife identify and value marital assets and agree upon a final distribution. The property...[more]
Family Care Agreements in Difficult Economic Times
Caregiver agreements are formal contracts under which relatives are hired to care for elderly family members. Although these types of contracts are not new, families may be open to entering into a family care agreement given our...[more]
Family Court Litigants Can Resolve Differences Through Alternative Dispute Resolution
The Court system has a budget problem arising from an increase in case filings with no corresponding budget increase to handle the additional caseload. The current financial crisis does not appear to have decreased Family Court...[more]
Top Five Things to Consider When Renewing or Purchasing Car Insurance
In these challenging financial times, consumers are looking to save money wherever they can, including reducing insurance costs. As an attorney who focuses his practice on advising people after they have had the bad fortune of...[more]
Property Insurance Issues in Commercial Finance
Business Department In any secured finance scenario, the prudent lender must ensure that the collateral pledged as security for the loan is protected against potential loss. This is advisable whether the collateral is...[more]
Tax Planning
Securing personal and business tax deductions now may help you save big this April[more]
Mediation in the Workplace
Every day co-workers in conflict expend time and energy that results in losses to employers. Informal workplace conflicts result in wasted time, reduced decision quality, drive skilled employees away, cause sabotage, theft and...[more]
FMLA Protection Regarding Doctor's Notes
Employee is out for two days and brings in a doctor's note that simply states patient was ill and unable to work two days. Coincidentally, the employee had previously scheduled vacation days for Friday and Monday, meaning she had...[more]
New Employee Protections Included in Health Care Reform
The recently passed health care reform bill has been described as sweeping and historic. Included in this legislation are some controversial provisions, which if introduced on their own, would have sparked much debate. These...[more]
Make Sure Your Employment Taxes Are in Order
Do you employ independent contractors? If so, you should be aware that the IRS is focused on you. The IRS just began its first comprehensive audit of employment tax issues in over 25 years. The IRS plans to audit 6000 companies...[more]
Employers Must Beware of Use of Criminal Backgrounds of Applicants
Employers often seek to limit eligibility for employment to those who have no prior history with the criminal justice system, and there are statutes that expressly disqualify those with some types of criminal records from...[more]
Anatomy of a Jury Trial
Hopefully, you have never had the misfortune of being a party in a jury trial - criminal or civil - and never will. However, odds are that you will one day be called as a juror. Whether a case is criminal or civil (a lawsuit...[more]
Client Snapshot: Attorney as trusted advisor
Most business owners and individuals experience a variety of situations that require legal counsel - family matters, business expansion, an employment dispute. Rather than finding an attorney for each scenario, a local...[more]
Client Spotlight: Cooler Heads Prevail in Divorce Matters
Divorce is never easy and most have at least one primary battleground issue. For a prominent local businessman, the issue of child custody became the focal point in his divorce. The man's wife was having an affair and, when...[more]
Client Snapshot: Trial Pivotal for Victim of Auto Accident
Most Personal Injury cases can be and are settled without going to trial. Usually, at some point prior to trial, the insurance company evaluates the negligence of the defendant, the injuries of the plaintiff, and offers a fair...[more]
New Remedies for Delaware Victims: The Elder or Disabled Victim's Enhanced Penalty
The elderly and the disabled make for especially vulnerable victims of consumer fraud. A recent Delaware statute gives the elderly or disabled victim of consumer fraud new and additional protections. The "Elder and Disabled...[more]
Probation Before Judgment: Dismissal in Slow Motion
In Delaware, the Attorney General is the criminal prosecutor for all three counties. The Attorney General's authority to drop charges or "nolle prosse" charges was and remains absolute. [more]
The Role of a Personal Injury Attorney
You have been injured in an accident that was not your fault. Several questions run through your mind. Who will pay for my medical expenses? Who will pay my bills when I'm out of work? What care will I need in the future and who...[more]
Products Liability - What Happens When Defective Products Injure People?
In Pennsylvania, sellers of defective products are held strictly liable for injuries to consumers. In simple terms, the injured consumer does not need to prove carelessness or negligence in the manufacture or sale of the product....[more]
Pennsylvania's Strange Law on Falls on Ice and Snow: The Hills and Ridges Rule
Winters in Pennsylvania bring snow and ice, leading to treacherous conditions on sidewalks and in parking lots. Ice and snow cause countless falls and, along with them, many serious injuries. The Pennsylvania courts have...[more]
Negligence - When Does an Accident Create Legal Liability?
Sometimes, accidents and bad things just happen - car crashes, slips and falls, bad outcomes from medical treatment. Not all accidents create legal liability. How do you know when someone is legally responsible for an accident? A...[more]
Medical Malpractice in Pennsylvania
I often get questions about possible legal claims arising out of poor outcomes from medical treatment. The mere fact that a complication, injury or death occurred during medical treatment does not necessarily justify a Medical...[more]
The Coffee Case: McDonald's Got Lucky
One of my pet peeves as a trial lawyer is the misconception that people still have, many years later, about the infamous McDonald's Coffee case. Based on what I believe was slanted coverage by the media in favor of Big Business...[more]
Non-Conforming? Not a Problem!
Lawfully Non-Conforming Properties Vest Rights in their Owners.[more]
Conservation Easements
Conservation easements offer lasting protection to historic, scenic, and ecologically significant areas, as well as significant tax benefits to landowners[more]
A Primer on Mechanics' Liens
The Mechanic's Lien Act was recently amended, quite likely as a result of complaints from homeowners who paid their general contractor in full, yet still had mechanic's lien claims filed against their home. Here's how mechanic's...[more]
First-Time Homebuyer or Long-Time Homeowner: You May Qualify for a Tax Credit
If you did not previously qualify for the homebuyer tax credit, you may under new legislation. The Worker, Homeownership and Business Assistance Act of 2009 (the "New Act"), signed into law on November 6, 2009, extends and...[more]
Upcoming Changes to Pennsylvania's Mechanic's Lien Law
Pennsylvania's Mechanics' Lien Law has been changed once again. In 2006, the Pennsylvania Mechanics' Lien Law of 1963 was substantially modified for the first time in decades. One of the most significant changes restricted the...[more]
Be Careful Where You Plant Trees and Shrubs
As the weather warms, you may visit a local garden center and eye trees and shrubs for planting in just the right place — possibly in your front yard. Before you install new plants near a roadway, though, you should be aware of...[more]
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Alexander Ewing
Special Counsel
West Chester, PA
aewingjr@macelree.com 610.436.0100 main 610.840.0303 direct 484.888.6689 cell 610.429.4486 fax Assistant: Michele Luczeczko mluczeczko@ macelree.com
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Alfred A. Gollatz
Partner
West Chester, PA
agollatz@macelree.com 610.436.0100 main 610.840.0219 direct cell 610.430.7885 fax Assistant: Michele Luczeczko mluczeczko@macelree.com -
Brian L. Nagle
Partner
West Chester, PA
bnagle@macelree.com 610.436.0100 main 610.840.0224 direct cell 610.429.4486 fax Assistant: Carol Gettz cgettz@macelree.com -
Christopher J. Curtin
Partner
Centreville, DE
ccurtin@macelree.com 302.654.4454 main 302.505.7294 direct cell 302.654.4954 fax Assistant: Valerie Maitland vmaitland@macelree.com -
Denise M. Antonelli
Associate
West Chester, PA
dantonelli@macelree.com 610.436.0100 main 610.840.0233 direct cell 610.429.4486 fax -
Duie Latta
Associate
West Chester, PA
dlatta@macelree.com 610.436.0100 main 610.840.0279 direct cell 610.429.4486 fax Assistant: Jessica Stubblebine jstubblebine@macelree.com -
Duke Schneider
Partner
West Chester, PA
dschneider@macelree.com 610.436.0100 main 610.840.0238 direct 610.952.8937 cell 610.429.4486 fax Assistant: Brooke Davis bdavis@macelree.com -
Felice Glennon Kerr
Partner
Centreville, DE
fkerr@macelree.com 302.654.4454 main 302.504.7295 direct cell 302.654.4954 fax Assistants: Valerie Maitland vmaitland@macelree.com
Doreen Fell dfell@macelree.com -
Harry J. DiDonato
Partner
West Chester, PA
hdidonato@macelree.com 610.436.0100 main 610.840.0237 direct 610.888.6201 cell 610.429.4486 fax Assistant: Jessica Stubblebine jstubblebine@macelree.com -
James B. Urie
Partner
West Chester, PA
jurie@macelree.com 610.436.0100 main 610.840.0221 direct 484.889.9802 cell 610.429.4486 fax Assistant: Brooke Davis bdavis@macelree.com -
Jane M. Shields
Partner
West Chester, PA
jshields@macelree.com 610.436.0100 main 610.840.0261 direct cell 610.430.7885 fax Assistant: Barbara Butler bbutler@macelree.com -
John F. McKenna
Partner
West Chester, PA
jmckenna@macelree.com 610.436.0100 main 610.840.0215 direct cell 610.430.7885 fax Assistant: Ann Marie Romani aromani@macelree.com -
Joseph A. Bellinghieri
Partner
West Chester, PA
jbellinghieri@macelree.com 610.436.0100 main 610.840.0239 direct cell 610.429.4486 fax Assistant: Ruthann Boyd rboyd@macelree.com -
Kristin A. Molavoque
Associate
West Chester, PA
kmolavoque@macelree.com 610.436.0100 main 610.840.0203 direct cell 610.430.7885 fax Assistant: Sandy Eckard seckard@macelree.com -
Lance J. Nelson
Partner
West Chester, PA
lnelson@macelree.com 610.436.0100 main 610.840.0214 direct 610.322.6768 cell 610.430.7885 fax Assistant: Ann Marie Romani aromani@macelree.com -
Leo M. Gibbons
Partner
West Chester, PA
lgibbons@macelree.com 610.430.0100 main 610.840.0227 direct cell 610.430.7885 fax Assistant: Diane Shoemaker dshoemaker@macelree.com -
Leonard J. Rivera
Partner
Kennett Square, PA
lrivera@macelree.com 610.444.3180 main 610.840.0128 direct cell 610.444.3270 fax Assistant: Lilia C. Soler lsoler@macelree.com -
Louis N. Teti, LL.M.
Partner
West Chester, PA
lteti@macelree.com 610.436.0100 main 610.840.0312 direct 610.322.6769 cell 610.429.4486 fax Assistant: Janis Moroz jmoroz@macelree.com -
Mary Ann Plankinton
Partner
Kennett Square, PA
mplankinton@macelree.com 610.444.3180 main 610.840.0126 direct cell 610.444.3270 fax Assistants: Lilia C. Soler lsoler@macelree.com
Doreen Fell dfell@macelree.com -
Mary Ann Rossi
Partner
West Chester, PA
mrossi@macelree.com 610.436.0100 main 610.840.0204 direct cell 610.430.7885 fax Assistant: Sandy Eckard seckard@macelree.com -
Matthew McGowen
Associate
West Chester, PA
mmcgowen@macelree.com 610.436.0100 main 610.840.0217 direct cell 610.429.4486 fax Assistant: Jessica Stubblebine jstubblebine@macelree.com -
Michael G. Louis
Partner
West Chester, PA
mlouis@macelree.com 610.436.0100 main 610.840.0228 direct 610.836.2477 cell 610.430.7885 fax Assistant: Diane Shoemaker dshoemaker@macelree.com -
Nikolaos I. Tsouros
Associate
West Chester, PA
ntsouros@macelree.com 610.436.0100 main 610.840.0272 direct cell 610.429.4486 fax Assistant: Ruthann Boyd rboyd@macelree.com -
Peter E. Kratsa
Partner
West Chester, PA
pkratsa@macelree.com 610.436.0100 main 610.840.0209 direct 610.636.1800 cell 610.429.4486 fax Assistant: Theresa Nadachowski tnadachowski@macelree.com -
Robert A. Burke
Partner
West Chester, PA
rburke@macelree.com 610.436.0100 main 610.840.0211 direct cell 610.429.4486 fax Assistant: Carol Gettz cgettz@macelree.com -
Timothy F. Rayne, LL.M.
Partner
Kennett Square, PA
trayne@macelree.com 610.444.3180 main 610.840.0124 direct 484.888.0590 cell 610.444.3270 fax Assistant: Cheryl McCarthy cmccarthy@macelree.com -
W. Patrick Scott
Partner
West Chester, PA
pscott@macelree.com 610.436.0100 main 610.840.0229 direct cell 610.429.4486 fax Assistant: Robin O'Donnell rodonnell@macelree.com -
William J. Gallagher
Partner
West Chester, PA
wgallagher@macelree.com 610.444.3180 main direct cell 610.444.3270 fax Legal Assistant:
Diane S. Albertson dalbertson@macelree.com Administrative Assistants:
Theresa Nadachowski tnadachowski@macelree.com Erin E. Jones ejones@macelree.com -
William T. Wilson
Partner
West Chester, PA
wwilson@macelree.com 610.436.0100 main 610.840.0206 direct cell 610.430.7885 fax Assistant: Barbara Butler bbutler@macelree.com
