Author: blogger

Digitally Resolving the Challenge of the Menu Labeling Law

by

March 16, 2018

4:02 pm

Comments Off on Digitally Resolving the Challenge of the Menu Labeling Law

Law

The new Federal law passed through healthcare reform legislation is projected to affect over 200,000 restaurants throughout the United States.

The Food Labeling Law is outlined at: http://www.fda.gov/Food/GuidanceComplianceRegulatoryInformation/GuidanceDocuments/FoodLabelingNutrition/ucm223408.htm. The highlights are as follows:

Was signed into law March 23, 2010 and requires nutrition labeling of standard menu items for chain restaurants, retail food establishments and corporate caterers with 20 or more locations, food delivery establishments, convenience stores, movie theaters, bakeries, cafeterias, airlines and trains as well as chain vending machines, food carts, lunch wagons and cookie shops.
Three major requirements are: calorie count must appear on menus and menu boards (includes desserts, beverages, takeout, and website menus); a statement must appear on the menu that puts the calorie information in the context of a total daily caloric intake; and additional nutritional information must be available upon request.
All standard menu items (including meat, poultry and alcoholic beverages) will be required to display the calories count in a type size that matches the name or price of the menu item (whichever is larger) and with the same color or contrasting background as the menu item.
Compliance is required by March 2011.

This new law presents some major challenges that restaurant owners and food services are finding daunting. These include:
Obtaining proper nutritional analysis from suppliers
Regulating specific portion control
Finding aesthetic solutions for displaying nutritional information
Updating these as suppliers change portion sizes and recipes

Restaurant owners are in a flurry trying to figure out how to display the mandated information within the confines of existing menu boards. Printed signage does not allow the flexibility for changes and updates.

But if restaurants take a digital approach to requirements of the law the last two challenges in the above list are easily solves. Now is the time for restaurants to change to digital menu boards. Why?

1.Easy to design and maintain an attractive menu board that meets the requirements of the law and stays true to restaurant brands.
2.When linked to databases, digital menu boards are dynamically updated as nutritional content changes are made and as a bonus, promotions can be scheduled to automatically start and stop at specified times.
3.Hardware and software for digital menu boards is becoming more cost effective and energy efficient.
4.Eateries using digital boards portray a sleek, updated appearance that customers are coming to expect.

Digital menu boards allow restaurants to have the flexibility to create, design and redesign until they find something that works with their particular establishment. This experimentation is missing with printed signage. Also, consider that errors of last minute changes can be fixed in a matter of seconds in one store or over a network of hundreds of stores.

Printed signage does not offer that kind of flexibility. Static menus require a complete remake of the menu board for one small error or change, not to mentions the fees involved in redesign, shipping and the wait for new menus to arrive.

Restaurant owners and franchises are rightfully concerned with the potential consequences of not meeting the requirements of the law by failing to reflect nutritional values correctly or in a timely manner. But digital menu boards free food service providers from fear since information changes are reflected immediately.

It is without question a necessity for restaurants to switch to the use of digital menu boards to meet upcoming regulation deadlines.

Where is the most reliable source for digital menu boards that will change the food service world?

With over 30 years of technology experience, Noventri provides the food service industry with digital menu boards that are at the lowest prices, the easiest to deploy andare the greenest option avai

Can An Mpls Divorce Law Firm Be Located On The Internet

by

March 16, 2018

5:27 am

Comments Off on Can An Mpls Divorce Law Firm Be Located On The Internet

Law

The rise in nuclear families and the fast pace at which life seems to be advancing are all facts leading to the growing distance between people and their dear ones. Sometimes, in the most troubled phases of life, one is faced with the challenge of seeking a solution alone. Divorce is one such experience wherein the support of friends and family is very essential. Some people are fortunate to have it, while many others are not so lucky. Emotional, mental as well as legal guidance can be extremely useful at such times, and this can usually come from a loved one. However, those without such support systems should not despair. An increasingly large number of people are now relying on the Internet to give them knowledge; support and information on finding the right MPLS divorce law firm.

Hiring a good MPLS divorce law firm can be made easier by searching relevant information on the Internet. Firstly, a reputable law firm is bound to have their presence online. A quick search of law firms can throw results of the top firms in the city. It is but evident that a law firm has spent time, effort and money in ensuring theirs is the top-ranking name in search engines and they are sure to be well versed with the changing times. Being Internet savvy is a mark of innovation nowadays. Therefore, a good MPLS divorce law firm will have a nice website with strong online presence. This, however, does not imply that the old-world law firms become less reputable; it only affirms the credibility of those moving with the changing times.

Once you have found some key names through your search, the websites of the law firms can be visited and researched well. Take care to read their history, case studies, client testimonials and about the legal team. Gain as much background knowledge as possible before physically approaching an MPLS divorce law firm. As you do your research, also consider the competition and their repute. Searching with keywords related to specific cases listed in their portfolio may result in further revelations, good or bad, about the law firm. It is important to understand all the nuances of a particular law firm with which one does not have a previous association. The Internet provides just that source of information.

If the website lists the team of divorce attorneys of the firm, searches with individual names can also be made. Apart from their link with the law firm, their individual standing can be gauged through reviews, articles, interviews and case studies available on the Internet. Their names may occur in relation to certain lawsuits, which may reveal some aspects of their career previously unknown. All of this research ensures that the MPLS divorce law firm that one is about to hire to pursue their divorce case is the most appropriate for them. After all, good research can result in acquiring perhaps the best legal expertise that one can get.

Top 10 Law Office Billing Pitfalls – How You Can Avoid Them

by

March 16, 2018

12:53 am

Comments Off on Top 10 Law Office Billing Pitfalls – How You Can Avoid Them

Law

Law firm billing and accounting requirements are inherently different from other service businesses. Even among legal practices, billing requirements can vary greatly from one area of practice to another.
Because time spent on billing and accounting is administrative and not billable, a law firm’s profitability depends on capturing all billable time and expenses, generating invoices in a timely manner and managing collection efforts proactively. Another highly important aspect that sets law firm billing apart from that of other businesses is that law firm billing and trust bookkeeping come under the purview of state ethics guidelines.
Law firms today cannot function without a legal billing software that fulfills the firm’s practice-specific billing needs and helps them avoid common billing pitfalls. The top ten most prevalent mistakes law firms make, when it comes to billing and accounting are:
Pitfall #10 Not Using Matter-Based Recordkeeping
Many service businesses perform multiple types of jobs for a customer and generate one invoice that covers everything. The same billing process does not work for law firms.
Matter based recordkeeping is unique to law firms. All transaction details must be kept at a matter level rather than client level. Law firms are usually required to keep each task (called “matter”) completely separate from other matters for the same client or other clients. For law firms, matter-based recordkeeping is critical because it allows them to produce proper records with ease for client billing inquires, billing disputes or state audits.
Pitfall #9 Not Accounting for Varied Types of Legal Matters
Accounting for retainers, time and expenses, etc. will vary depending upon the nature of the matter in question. Most law firms handle a variety of cases and use an assortment of client billing arrangements , such as hourly, retainer based hourly, fixed and contingency. A firm’s billing system must be able to handle all types of billing arrangements and the intricacies of each case.
Pitfall #8 Missing Flexibility in Setting Billing Rates
Professionals (or Timekeepers) at law firms are likely to have standard hourly rates for different tasks. An attorney billing software must be able to set Timekeeper rates accordingly, support discounted rates or a previous year’s rates for old matters, without much manual intervention.
Pitfall #7 Failure to Track and Allocate Disbursements
While law firms focus on capturing all billable hours, they often neglect to properly track and allocate expenses for billable matters. Expense tracking is just as important as time tracking. If you do not allocate expenses to a matter as expenses are incurred, you might never collect them. Matter expenses you forget to allocate are lost profits.
Expenses are typically paid in variety of ways (checks, credit cards and cash), adding another layer of difficulty. A trust account disbursement, however, is not an issue because the expense will come out of client funds.
Pitfall #6 Not Preparing Customized Professional Quality Bills & Reminders
The billing process is a direct reflection of your firm and is a vital part of your client communication. While law firms are conscious of providing top quality legal services, their high standards often fall short when it comes to client communications such as invoice and payment reminders. Not only is it important to generate invoices on a fixed billing cycle, but it also equally important to prepare professional quality invoices. Cluttered and hard to understand invoices are a recipe for late payments and client questions and are aspects of legal billing that become even more important when payments are in arrears.
Pitfall # 5 Not Utilizing Built-in Software Collection Support
Many law firms let unpaid bills pile up and end up with a collection problem. Take a proactive approach to debt collection rather than grappling with the issue after the fact. An efficient law office billing software will provide built-in collection support. Don’t wait for a billing cycle, if a matter’s unbilled balance has reached a low threshold point. Remember, bill collection is an on-going and vital practice management process.
Pitfall # 4 Not Checking for Client Conflict of Interest
For most law firms, conflict checking is a must. Your firm’s roster of clients is already available in your billing system. Instead of duplicating work, make every attempt to use the same system as a conflict checker. While developing a bulletproof conflict of interest system is challenging, development in today’s computer software makes it easy to build an integrated database that quickly identifies conflicts of interest.
Pitfall #3 Not Handling Client Advances Properly
Pitfall # 3 involves a host of potential problem areas. A law firm’s cash flow and profitability depend upon client advances (or retainers). However, from an accounting/bookkeeping perspective, client advances (retainers) need special treatment and must be handled carefully. The varied nature of client advances, an initial deposit to a trust and/or operating account, and reducing balances, as fees are earned, can significantly complicate your back office operation, if your billing system is not capable of processing retainer transactions systematically.
And, apart from itemizing legal fees and expenses, a legal time & billing software must always display remaining retainer balances on your client invoices.
Pitfall # 2 Loosing Track of Trust Funds
Every law firm endeavors to keep trust books clean and accurate, but most either fail or spend significant time and resources trying to do so. Ninety percent of the trust fund tracking battle is won, if your system provides integrated billing and trust bookkeeping . The trust bookkeeping portion of the system must prevent common trust errors (e.g. ledger card overdraft), provide a bank reconciliation tool and three-way reconciliation reports.
Pitfall # 1 Choosing Complex Software and Failure to Protect Data Integrity and Security
The most common and the most dangerous of all legal billing pitfalls include trying to cope with complex software, failure to protect data integrity and implement secure measures. Technological tools are more hindrance than help, if the tools are too complex to use. Software that isn’t user friendly and requires external consultants or trainers consumes valuable time and eats profits.
Data integrity and security are a matter of taking precautions to protect data from unauthorized access and use. You can minimize threats and easily avoid Pitfall #1, if your billing system has built-in features for controlling access to data, has checks in place for error detection and a regular data back-up function.
Reap the Benefits of Legal Billing Software Development
Computers and software have changed how companies everywhere do business. Technology today allows law firms and other businesses to compete with their larger counterparts on many levels.
Choose software with care and reap the benefits of technological developments in legal billing systems. Before you purchase legal billing software, analyze program features to ensure that the software’s design can help you avoid the ten common legal billing pitfalls. The right software will not only enhance your firm’s in-house capabilities and productivity, but will also help you comply with state ethics guidelines and increase profitability.

The California Lemon Law – Where Did It Come From

by

March 6, 2018

9:29 pm

Comments Off on The California Lemon Law – Where Did It Come From

Law

,

Not many people understand where laws began but many times it’s important to know this to help you better understand the law itself. This is also true with the California Lemon Law.

This law started in 1979 by a woman in Lemon Grove, California. She purchased a car and while waiting it to be repaired she lost her patience. Considering that 3 months had gone by, you can understand why. All by herself, she picketed that exact dealership for a whole 5 months. During that time she was verbally abused by the mechanics, salesman and customers. Finally after all this time she got some attention from the local newspaper. A citizen’s movement began, support for her situation built and it resulted in the California Lemon Law being enacted.

This humble beginning spawned a lemon law in every single state. Of course the law varies from state to state but they pretty much all say the same thing; that the vehicle must be in good condition, without malfunctions when it was sold and throughout the life of the warranty.

California, like most other states, states that after a reasonable number of attempts to repair the vehicle by the dealership, if the vehicle still isn’t fixed, then it can be considered a lemon. The only exception to that rule is if the malfunction could cause bodily harm or even death. If that’s the case, then it can be just one attempt to repair it and if it isn’t fixed, it can be considered a lemon and the vehicle will quality under this law.

The most important aspect of this law is regarding the warranty. It doesn’t matter if the car is one month old or two years old. If the vehicle is still under warranty, then you can qualify for this law. Also, don’t forget that this law doesn’t just cover automobiles. It also covers: trucks, SUVs, vans, boats, recreational vehicles and motorcycles. The same thing applies to all the vehicles except for the last three. They have several specifications that must be in order before they can qualify.

Many times when you purchase a vehicle, the dealership will say that it is being sold “as is.” If you bought a vehicle like that, it still can qualify. Saying “as is” does not exempt that vehicle from being considered a lemon. You still can go forward, get yourself a good “lemon law” attorney and get your money back or a new replacement vehicle.

Remember, when you look for an attorney, find one that will give you a free case evaluation to see if your vehicle qualifies. Also, find one that will not make you spend any out of pocket expenses. What they usually do is work on your case and they take a percentage of any of the money that they recover for you.

The 5 Most Exciting Law Enforcement Jobs

by

March 4, 2018

6:21 am

Comments Off on The 5 Most Exciting Law Enforcement Jobs

Law

, , ,

There are hundreds of law enforcement jobs accessible, and whereas any job within the law enforcement field is certain to be fascinating, some jobs are a bit additional exciting (and nerve-wracking!) than others. Browse on for an inventory of the five most adrenaline-pumping law enforcement jobs available.

Special Weapons and Ways (SWAT) Officers

Special Weapons and Ways (SWAT) officers are highly trained police officers who handle extraordinarily high-risk operations that normal cops aren’t equipped to address. SWAT groups may be asked to provide assistance on drug raids, give extra security at high-profile events, conduct hostage rescue missions, and more. Due to the violent dangers they usually face on the duty, SWAT team members have special protecting gear and firearms, including armored cars and assault rifles. This law enforcement job is adrenaline-jolting and unpredictable. If you’re part of a SWAT team, you’ll never understand what to expect once you head to work.

CIA Clandestine Services Core Collectors

CIA Clandestine Services Core Collectors are the CIA agents who work abroad, collecting intelligence data from foreign sources so as to assist maintain US safety and security. These agents travel internationally and interact with a variety of folks in hopes of obtaining clandestine data that they can report back to CIA headquarters. The task involves travel, danger, and intrigue. For the most half, CIA agents are needed to keep their true identities and purpose hidden while on and off the job. Unlike most other law enforcement jobs, CIA agents have to stay what they do for a living a secret from almost everybody they know, including friends.

Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) Special Agents

FBI special agents, like CIA agents, are responsible for investigating and maintaining US security. In contrast to internationally-serving CIA agents, however, FBI agents generally work on the national level. FBI agents are sometimes assigned to one specialty, which may embrace fields such as foreign counterintelligence, organized crime, cyber crime, and more. Irrespective of what their specialty, all agents should pass stringent government security clearance necessities, as most are aware about classified government information.

Transportation Security Administration (TSA) Federal Air Marshals

The TSA is that the US government organization responsible for keeping each side of US air transportation safe, from airports to airplanes. TSA Federal Air Marshals are on the front lines of this mission to keep US air travel free of terrorist threats. These armed law enforcement officers serve undercover in airports and on passenger flights to confirm the safety of air travel out and in of the United States. Working undercover, a federal air marshal must discretely monitor his surroundings for suspicious activity. Air marshals would like to know regarding everything from aviation medication to close-quarters self defense. They are conjointly held to higher standards of firearm accuracy than any other law enforcement jobs agency. Being a federal air marshal could be a high-pressure job which requires masses of your time traveling and constant alertness.

Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) Agents

Law enforcement jobs with the DEA support the US government in its war against drugs. DEA special agents are primarily responsible for serving to to enforce the US Government’s drug and drug trafficking laws. The task of a DEA agent involves helping to analyze and prosecute drug traffickers. This often means that working undercover whereas investigating suspected traffickers and collecting intelligence info to assist convict those people who are breaking US drug laws. Like the opposite jobs profiled here, DEA agents typically interact with dangerous individuals and can be put in unpredictable situations.