Author: Michael S. Oswald, Chartered

Hi! I’m Michael Oswald. I am a business guy who also happens to be a lawyer. I love living in Boise, Idaho! I’ve also had the pleasure of living in Silicon Valley, Colorado Springs, Austin, and Orange County, CA. I started this blog so business owners and senior execs could find actionable guidance on common legal issues. Titles of posts I have previously written include: “The Managerial Overtime Exemption, and How to Keep It,” “Using a Sales Contract that speeds up Getting to Yes,” and “Tone at the Top is Vital for Preventing Sexual Harassment!” I provide a wide range of business-savvy legal services to small and medium companies and nonprofits. I am also certified to teach Real Estate Law by the Idaho Real Estate Commission. My favorite thing to do for a business is to take their standard sales contract and strip it down from an unintelligible 20-page monstrosity to a concise, 3-page doc that is easy for their customers to understand and to sign! I have experience in a number of industries, including Real Estate, Construction, Defense, and Technology (Hardware, Software and E-Commerce). I look forward to collaborating with you!
By Michael S. Oswald, Chartered Posted on

Why Every Employer Needs a Call-in Policy

In my blog post of 12/10/2020 titled Are Your Telework Policies Ready for the New Year? I mentioned that Jeff Novak is another great employment law resource. Well, Jeff strikes again!

By Michael S. Oswald, Chartered Posted on

Health Care Law Enforcement – What you Need to Know for 2021

The Mintz Levin https://www.mintz.com/ law firm is an excellent source of updates on business law. I subscribe to several of their newsletters and regularly attend their continuing legal education webinars.

By Michael S. Oswald, Chartered Posted on

Employers: Do You Understand Your Duty of Religious Accommodation?

What Does “Discrimination in Employment” Mean?

I suspect most people know that it is illegal for employers to engage in several forms of workplace discrimination.

By Michael S. Oswald, Chartered Posted on

Are Your Telework Policies Ready for the New Year?

I often quote my friend Eric B. Meyer of The Employer Handbook when I’m writing about employment law.

By Michael S. Oswald, Chartered Posted on

Employers: Do You Understand Your Duties to Our Veterans?

A recent post by my friend Eric B. Meyer on his The Employer Handbook prompted me to make sure I understood an employer’s duties to our military veterans.

By Michael S. Oswald, Chartered Posted on

What to Make of the CDC’s Mask Endorsement?

RationalGround.com offers Critical Analyses of the CDC’s Mask Endorsement.

In my 10/15/20 post – COVID Mask OSHA Requirements – I discussed the OSHA’s requirement for employers to choose equipment that is suitable to the hazards facing their employees, and for implementing a respiratory protection program.

By Michael S. Oswald, Chartered Posted on

Do you Sell Tech to the Government? You Need to Know Your False Claims Act Risks!

According to this https://www.morganlewis.com/pubs/uptick-in-fca-investigations-and-litigation-targeting-tech-services 11/2/2020 White Collar Lawflash from the Morgan Lewis law firm,

“The False Claims Act (FCA) imposes liability on any person for making false claims or false statements in connection with a claim. 31 USC § 3729(a)(1)(A), (B). A “claim” is any request or demand for money made directly or indirectly to the government. FCA liability requires proof of materiality, meaning that the government would not have paid a claim had it known of the alleged falsehood.

By Michael S. Oswald, Chartered Posted on

COVID School Closure Lawsuit – Part of a Litigation Wave

I was semi-watching a local TV news broadcast Wednesday morning until one item got my full attention: The Liberty Justice Center (“LJC”) has filed suit against the West Ada School District to prevent a local teachers union from holding any more “sick-out” actions.