New York Paralegal Blog

When it comes to big new laws, the headlines often tout broad benefits. But a closer look at what's being called "The One, Big, Beautiful Bill" reveals a more complex picture, especially for those making $30,000 or less per year. While there are some perks like deductions for tips and overtime, a deeper dive suggests potential downsides that could hit low-income households hardest in the long run. The Good (But Not Totally Free) News: Tips and Overtime You might have heard about the bill's promise of "no tax on tips and overtime." This is a big draw, especially for service industry workers and those who put in extra hours. The reality is that it's more of a tax deduction than a complete tax elimination. Think of it this way: these earnings will be subtracted from your income before your federal income tax is calculated. This means you'll owe less in income tax. However, a crucial point to remember is that Social Security and Medicare taxe...

A bill for licensing paralegals in New York state would be something to get excited about if the reason for its introduction were not suspect. The justification of this bill is as follows :

William Johnson, also known as “Dollar Bill,” pleaded guilty today to sex trafficking of a minor between August 2010 and September 2010. The plea was entered this morning before United States District Judge Roslynn R. Mauskopf at the U.S. Courthouse in Brooklyn. When sentenced, the defendant faces a minimum of 10 years’ imprisonment and a maximum of life imprisonment, as well as forfeiture of his residence and other property used in the commission of his criminal conduct. The guilty plea was announced by Loretta E. Lynch, United States Attorney for the Eastern District of New York; Janice K. Fedarcyk, Assistant Director in Charge, Federal Bureau of Investigation, New York Field Office; and Raymond W. Kelly, Commissioner, New York City Police Department. At today’s proceeding, the defendant admitted to harboring a 15-year-old girl in his home in St. Albans, Queens, between August and September 2010, and having the victim work for him as a prostitute. As alleged in the government’s...

A bill intended to prevent parties from using the federal judicial process to conceal matters that harm the public health or safety circumvents the prescribed method of changing court rules, a federal judge told a congressional subcommittee. U.S. District Judge Mark Kravitz of Connecticut testified in behalf of the Judicial Conference of the United States before the House Subcommittee on Commercial and Administrative Law. He chairs the Conference’s Advisory Committee on Civil Rules. Kravitz said the Conference opposes the Sunshine in Litigation Act of 2008 (H.R. 5884) “on the ground that it effectively amends the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure outside the rule-making process,” contrary to federal law. “Direct amendment of the federal rules through legislation, even when the rule-making process has been completed, circumvents the careful safeguards that Congress itself established,” he said. The bill at issue would impose requirements on federal judges for sealing certain materials in...