Seattle Real Estate Attorneys & Lawyers

Enacted in 1993, the Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA) requires certain employers to provide unpaid, job-protected leave for qualifying medical and family situations.

FMLA mandates that employees of all genders receive at least 12 weeks of unpaid, job-protected leave within 12 months of giving birth, adopting a child or becoming a foster parent. Employees affected by personal or family illnesses are also protected under FMLA.

Employees with immediate family affected by military service (e.g., called to active duty or injured in the line of duty) may take 12 to 26 weeks of unpaid, job-protected leave depending on the circumstances.

Employees may also receive FMLA leave leading up to a pregnancy if they suffer from a related “serious health conditi

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What Is Cumulative Voting?

Cumulative voting is a type of voting system used by a company's shareholders that allows them to distribute their votes between candidates when voting for a company's directors. It is also known as proportional voting.

Shareholders get one vote per share that they hold, multiplied by the number of directors that need electing.

Where multiple candidates are running for a position, each shareholder can choose between voting for a single candidate or splitting their votes between multiple candidates.

How Does Cumulative Voting Work?

If a shareholder with 10 shares is participating in a vote for two open board seats, with Candidates 1 and 2 running for one seat, and Candidates 3 and 4 running for the second seat, they would receive 20 votes (10 x 2). The

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What Is the Economic Espionage Act?

The Economic Espionage Act was established by Congress on October 11, 1996, as a comprehensive framework by which law enforcement agencies can prosecute those who steal trade secrets.

Why Is the Economic Espionage Act Important?

The definition of "trade secret" is broad. Trade secrets are defined as all types of scientific, business, financial, economic, technical, or engineering information. This information can come in various forms, including programs, codes, processes, procedures, techniques, and methods.

Both the tangible and intangible are covered under the EEA.

As long as an owner has taken the necessary precautions, also known as "reasonable measures," to keep the information a secret, he or

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Statement of Work: What Is It?

A statement of work (SOW) is a document that lists all the work a supplier will do during a project. It will define the amount of work, the expected quality of the job performance, and the timeframe for completion.

A well-written SOW will help both parties understand the parameters of a successful project. A poorly worded SOW could lead to conflict. The parties may argue over unclear expectations and the definition of good work.

To avoid such arguments, a well-written SOW should include:

• A list of expected products and services
• A list of tasks leading to the product's creation
• Specifics regarding who will handle each of the listed tasks
• Due dates for deliverables
• Payment schedule and deadlines
• Determination of which party will helm the project

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What Is an Incumbency Certificate?

An incumbency certificate is an official document that identifies and authorizes certain people to agree to and execute legally binding agreements on behalf of a corporation.

The incumbency certificate may be requested by another party to confirm that the person has the right to enter a binding agreement with the corporation. It may also be used in this case as a way to confirm and guarantee the signer's identity.

The incumbency certificate can also be used to identify the current directors, officers, and possibly, shareholders of the company. The certificate states who holds which positions within the company.

The people listed on the incumbency certificate are typically the chief executive officer and the chief financial officer. The incumbency certificate of a company is typi

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