Experienced, Personalized And Effective Legal Solutions
For more than 40+ years, the attorneys at Gusty A.E. Sunseri & Associates, P.C., have produced trusted legal results for our clients.
Individuals who are interested in starting a business have many important decisions that they must make. One critical issue that they must figure out is how to raise the funds needed to finance their endeavor. This week we want to take a brief look at venture capital and how it...
Individuals who are invited onto the property of another, whether that be as a customer in a store or as a social guest at a friend’s gathering, usually don’t give much thought to how the property itself may pose a danger to their safety and well-being. Yet, oftentimes property owners...
Being accused of a crime can fill an individual with anxiety. This is understandable. After all, a conviction on criminal charges can result in harsh penalties that can have long-lasting consequences. For example, an individual may wind up facing the possibility of months or even years behind bars. He or...
For an establishment that serves alcohol, losing a liquor license is incredibly detrimental and may even ruin your business. In Pennsylvania, it is the Pennsylvania State Police, Bureau of Liquor Control Enforcement (PSP BLCE) that enforces liquor license violations. A business may lose its liquor license for many reasons. Below...
Divorce can be a stressful process for anyone, but it can be even more so for children. Kids oftentimes don’t have any concept that their parents are even capable of breaking up, so the sudden shift in relationship and their own living environment can leave them emotionally and physically changed....
Your company has grown from just a few employees and family members to an expanding concern and now it’s time to get serious about creating an employee handbook. Where do you start? First, you need a good idea about what you want to achieve with the handbook. An employee handbook...
Forgery is a serious criminal offense in Pennsylvania. Those who are convicted of this crime can face significant penalties, including jail time, fines, and damage to their reputation, and one of these convictions can also be used against an individual in future legal matters to show that he or she...
Starting a business can be a tricky endeavor. Those who are successful in doing so can feel an enormous sense of pride, as they should, since this is a big accomplishment. However, business troubles don’t end with the successful creation of a business. Instead, they are oftentimes just beginning. Knowing...
For decades, people have wondered whether living together before tying the knot increases or decreases the risk of divorce. Some say that living together first gives couples the opportunity to truly get to know each other, while others claim point to studies, including a recent one, that claim that cohabitation...
Individuals who have been involved in a car accident usually know that the injuries suffered in these wrecks can fall anywhere on a spectrum of severity. At one end are those injuries that are debilitating and have life-long impacts. These injuries include brain and spinal cord injuries, which can leave...
Whether you are a Pennsylvania entrepreneur starting a new company or an established business owner seeking to expand, you likely will face the necessity of signing a commercial lease. As you know, few businesses operate out of premises they own, and instead lease property out of which to conduct business....
A sudden arrest for alleged criminal wrongdoing can turn your world upside-down. At one moment you might be going about your business as usual, and then you’re being threatened with years of imprisonment and financially ruinous fines. Your reputation can also be irreparably damaged. This is the case for many...
It doesn’t take someone experienced in the field ofdivorce to recognize that it is, in addition to an emotional process, a financial transaction. Marriage dissolution in Pittsburgh, in part, consists of dividing assets and debts in a way that is fair under the circumstances. This is commonly referred to equitable...
As we discussed on a recent post to this blog, the digital age has reshaped the ways in which business is carried out. While this can make markets broader and communications more efficient, it can also make matters more confusing. In the world of business, misunderstandings and downright deceit can...
The unexpected death of an individual usually raises eyebrows. In many of these instances, people who are close to the deceased individual, as well as the police, often look to place blame on someone else. This can cause Pennsylvania residents to be charged with serious criminal offenses. Amongst those offenses...
As someone who owns and operates your own small business, you probably try your best to put “aces in places” and hire people you trust will work hard on your behalf. While hiring the right people is a critical component of operating any business, so, too, is setting clear guidelines...
For Pennsylvanians who have children, no other family law may mean more to them than child custody and visitation. When they come up, the outcomes of these issues can completely define or redefine one’s relationship with his or her child. This means that those who have an interest in maintaining...
We’ve talked previously on this blog about the dangers that can be posed by semi-trucks when they are driven in an unsafe fashion. Sadly, Pennsylvania residents can’t tell when a trucker is tired, intoxicated, or distracted, which means that at any given time they could be susceptible to being seriously...
With new emerging technologies come changes to the business environment. This is especially true when it comes to the digital world where computers, cellphones, and other devices make interconnectivity a 24-hour affair. Due to this, Pennsylvania employers and employees alike need to ensure that they are taking the proper steps...
It’s an unfortunate reality that many Pennsylvanians fail to recognize the magnitude of being charged with a crime, even those that seem relatively minor. These individuals neglect to see that a conviction for just about any criminal offense has the potential to carry penalties that include jail time, fines, and...
The police are supposed to work to serve and protect the public. This means patrolling neighborhoods, upholding the law, and stopping crime in progress. As is the nature of their profession, officers sometimes become confrontation with individuals. While this is expected from time-to-time, in some instances it leads to scuffles...
Conflict in the workplace is common, but if left unchecked, it can have an adverse effect on the business. Here are three areas of concern with issues that seem simple enough to resolve, but which could escalate into employer-employee disputes. Performance problems An employee may feel he is performing his...
Domestic violence is one of those issues that most people are aware exists but fail to recognize its prevalence. There are likely thousands upon thousands of families in Pennsylvania where domestic violence and emotional abuse are a frequent occurrence. While these situations can obviously leave victims susceptible to serious harm,...
Many Pittsburgh-area residents who are injured as a result of the negligence of another are fortunate enough to escape with relatively minor injuries. These injuries may include scrapes, bruises or cuts. More moderate accidents leave victims suffering from broken bones and gashes that may require stitches. Although these injuries can...
Various documents are necessary in the workplace. Employment contracts can serve a very important purpose in the business world. On one hand, it can allow an employee to solidify his or her compensation and benefits, as well as the term during which he or she will be employed. On the...
Parking lots are the scene of many fender benders. Cars blindly pull out of parking spots only to be struck by oncoming vehicles. Others pull into parking lot lanes too quickly and too widely, causing them to strike vehicles traveling in the opposite direction. Fortunately, given the relatively slow speeds...
There are a number of ways to start a new business. Some people take a unique idea or an old idea with a fresh twist and start their enterprise by building it from the ground up. Others, though, would rather jump into a business that is already reputable and has...
If you are a resident of Pennsylvania who is looking to establish your own business, you may be giving some close consideration to exactly what type of business structure you want to create. Different business structure types offer different benefits and drawbacks, but if minimizing the amount of personal liability...
Those facing family law issues can quickly find themselves upset and overwhelmed. This is understandable, as these matters are often charged with emotion. This can be especially true when children are involved. Marriage dissolution, or even the end of an unmarried relationship that had children, can lead to a fight...
We enter the property of others with little thought about what could happen while on that property. Premises liability is the legal theory where an individual who is injured by a dangerous property condition can recover compensation for his or her damages if certain legal elements are shown. For example,...
The decision to start a business isn’t one that should be taken lightly. Those who choose to engage in entrepreneurship often wind up putting their future and their finances on the line. When their businesses fail, their financial security and future can take a significant setback. This is why it...
When you are looking to hire employees for your business, you should have an employment contract. A good contract will explain all the terms of employment clearly and protect you from liabilities. If you do not have a comprehensive contract, you may face lawsuits from your employees if something goes...
It’s not uncommon for relationships to sour, even familial ones. Most of the time, these relationships can be repaired after harsh words are exchanged. In other instances, though, these spats turn into allegations of criminal wrongdoing. Physical violence, theft, sexual assault and even murder can all be alleged against an...
Ending a marriage comes with many important and difficult decisions. When it comes to divorce legal issues, to many Pennsylvanians, none are as important as child custody and visitation. Depending on how the matter sorts out, an individual may find him or herself part of a joint custody arrangement, whereby...
There’s no doubt that the economy has recovered considerably since the Great Recession. With the job market growing in response and the employment rate continuing to decline, employers are often left competing for the best employees in their field. This means that the terms of one’s potential employment need to...
A few weeks ago on the blog we discussed the dangers of drowsy driving. Unfortunately, far too many motorists on the road today are fatigued, which can seriously impact their driving abilities. Their reaction time can be slowed, their decision-making impaired and when they fall asleep behind the wheel they...
Estate plans are an essential tool for those in the Pittsburgh area who want to protect their legacies. If you feel like you cannot benefit from estate planning when you have debt, you have been sadly misinformed. You do not need to have a considerable amount of wealth or debt...
There’s no denying the fact that car accidents continue to impose extensive physical, emotional and financial devastation of Pittsburgh residents. Although there are a number of reasons for these wrecks, including wrongdoing on a victim’s part, it oftentimes results in a driver facing criminal charges. Sometimes such charges are relatively...
Before a business can get up and running in Pennsylvania, many important decisions must be made. Amongst those decisions is the one regarding the structure that the business will take. There are often advantages and disadvantages to each, and fully understanding them is imperative to making the right decision. One...
Thanks to public service initiatives, laws and tragic stories, Pennsylvanians are well aware of the dangers posed by drunk driving. These motorists can see their driving skills severely diminished as reaction time slows, the ability to multitask is impaired, and maintaining a lane becomes extremely difficult. As dangerous as drunk...
Unmarried Pennsylvanians who see their relationship with their significant come to an end can find themselves facing similar, if not identical, family law issues as those who go through a divorce. When it comes to one of these issues, though, there can be some significant differences. Whereas paternity is assumed...
Criminal prosecutions are often based on evidence that is collected during the execution of a search warrant. Although the police certainly have the right to request a search warrant, certain requirements must be met before it can be determined that a search warrant can be legally issued. After all, the...
As a Pittsburgh area entrepreneur, you probably have yet to learn that disputes and disagreements happen all the time. It is important for you to learn proper methods of resolution to mitigate the need for litigation. In some business disagreements, it is possible to resolve them without racking up the...
As we have discussed previously on this blog, ending a marriage is not an easy time. Divorce can have a tremendous impact on one’s finances for years and even decades to come. Most often, this impact is caused by property division, alimony and child support, which is why it is...
Drunk driving is aggressively policed across Pennsylvania. Therefore, many individuals who are subjected to a traffic stop are also subjected to field sobriety tests. Others are forced to take these tests, in addition to a breathalyzer test, after being chosen for closer inspection at a DUI checkpoint. Regardless of how...
Whether they like it or not, business owners often find themselves amidst conflict. Sometimes this friction is caused from the negotiation of a contract or laying out a business plan with partners. However, some conflict arises from interactions with employees. This is particularly true in the hiring and firing process....
With consistently warm weather just around the corner, many Pennsylvania residents may be preparing themselves to take their motorcycles out of the garage and hit the road. Although riding a motorcycle can be a peaceful, relaxing, fun and cost-effective way to get around town, it can also be dangerous. Some...
As a new Pittsburgh area business owner, you may feel excited and ready for the challenges that come with growing and maintaining a successful company. Here at the outset is the ideal time to anticipate potential legal and ethical issues that might arise so you can put plans in place...
There are essential documents when it comes to starting and running a business. Contracts can provide a solid foundation for conducting business, hiring employees and ensuring that competition is minimized. However, a contract is only as strong as the terms contained within it. Since a contract is essentially a bartered...
The war on drugs has been raging across the U.S. for a number of decades now. The only difference is that the drugs receiving the most attention now and those accused of violating the state’s drug laws are different than they were in the 1980s and 90s. Today, the focus...
Divorce is a complex process in itself. When a divorcing couple owns a business, it can become even harder. If you are contemplating divorce or are beginning the process, there are a few facts that you should be aware of. Relevant laws The court determines the validity of divorce terms...
Some criminal offense may seem relatively minor to Pittsburgh residents. Some may not even seem like crimes at all. This is particularly true when young adults vandalize the property of another. It can be easy to write these instances off as young people making mistakes, but Pennsylvania law views it...
On its face, the business world is pretty easy to understand. Companies are created to sell goods and services to customers. Once you dig a little deeper, though, you can see that the business world can be fraught with legal complexities. Merely starting a business can be a legal and...
Entering onto property owned by another should not give rise to fear. Unfortunately, though, far too often unsuspecting individuals invited onto the property of another are subjected to dangerous property conditions that can leave them with serious injuries. Oftentimes, this occurs in a retail or grocery store, but it can...
Businesses have a lot of issues that must be dealt with on a consistent basis. Many of these matters have a direct impact on a business’s bottom line. Whether it is a contract dispute that threatens to slow the delivery or sale of a product, an intellectual property infringement that...
With the opioid epidemic seeming to take the country by storm, local law enforcement agencies are cracking down hard on both those they believe are selling illegal narcotics as well as those who use them. The penalties for even the most minor drug conviction can leave individuals in a difficult...
In today’s growing economy, one’s business is only as good as the employees who work there. This means that attracting and maintaining top-notch talent can be crucial to a business’s success. Although there may be many ways to try to attract beneficial employees, one way to try to secure desirable...
Being charged with a criminal offense can be frightening. Prosecutors who are convinced of your guilt can threaten to put you behind bars for longer than you ever imagined. This can rip you away from your job, your family and everything else you have worked hard for in your life....
Contract disputes are a common problem for businesses. They can occur between employers and employees or between different companies. Frequently, it is between a business and an independent contractor. As a small-business owner, you likely utilize the services of independent contractors to get work done that you cannot do. You...
Starting a business isn’t just about identifying a problem and finding a solution. Sure, these aspects are critical to founding and successfully running a business, but there are a number of logistical elements that can be just as pivotal to a business’s success. For example, even though many Pennsylvania businesses...
Car accidents leave their victims with all kinds of injuries. Those who are fortunate, escape with nothing but a few scrapes and perhaps a bruise or two. Others, though, face a far worse fate. These individuals suffer serious injuries that leave them permanently disabled. While their new physical limitations are...
There are many considerations that must be taken into account when creating and maintaining a business. The type of business created, the employees to hire and countless management decisions can all make or break one’s company. One long-term, ongoing business issue is the building and maintenance of the brand and...
Starting a business is an exciting endeavor, and there are many ways to establish your company legally so that you can begin turning a profit. Navigating all of the options and determining the best one can be a challenge, but many business owners elect to form their business as a...