Vermont’s signature environmental law, Act 250, in place now for over 40 years, has protected Vermont’s environment through a process that requires developers to demonstrate that that they meet certain statutory criteria before they can begin their projects. Unfortunately, Act 250 does not apply to some of the largest developments Vermont has encountered in recent […]
A man filed for divorce a year after he separated from his wife. He was represented by an attorney at various times during the divorce, but at the final hearing, held two years after he filed, he was unrepresented. The parties had been notified of the final hearing many weeks earlier. The wife, who had an attorney, had […]
Effective January 1, 2013, the sellers of real property that is not served by a public water system will have to provide the buyer with certain information about the potential health effects of consuming contaminated groundwater and the availability of test kits from the Vermont Department of Health. According to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency […]
I have written before of the frustration I feel for my clients who do not understand why Family Court judges in Vermont seem to be reluctant to enforce family court orders. Recently in three separate cases clients rightly expressed their dismay at not receiving prompt and decisive responses from the court when the opposing party […]
I confess that I have had frustrations over the years with the Vermont courts’ reluctance to enforce court orders in family court. In New Hampshire, where I practice family law occasionally, the attitude of the courts is quite different: just an allegation of violation of a court order will often result in an ex parte […]
Effective July 1, 2011, entrepreneurs in Vermont have a new business entity to consider when determining how to set up shop. The “Vermont Benefit Corporation Act” creates a new corporate model that encourages “for profit” businesses to focus on solving social and environmental problems. Ordinary corporations have a legal duty to protect their shareholder’s interests above […]
In a 6-3 decision issued June 23, 2011, the United States Supreme Court struck down a Vermont law which restricted the ability of pharmaceutical companies to obtain information about what type of drugs doctors were prescribing to patients. The information is used by drug companies to more effectively market their products to doctors. Sorrell v. […]