We're Here
If You Need Us.

Don't be afraid to ask for help before it's needed.

Contact us to discuss your workers' compensation, veterans' benefits, social security disability,
COBRA health insurance, estate litigation, medical malpractice, dangerous drugs or personal injury matters as well.

The Valentine Law Office is here to assist the Hudson Valley's business community and its management and staff with all business, corporate and employment matters.  We will help you start your company, guide you through hiring and firing employees, draft employment and vendor contracts, design your policy and procedure handbook, assist with advertising, provide confidentiality and non-compete agreements, and aid you through litigation if necessary.  We also support and counsel employees in situations involving employment contracts, severance, unfair treatment and wrongful termination. 

We are professionals supporting professionals. This firm does not promote litigation - in fact, we do not accept contingency fee cases.  We are serious about what we do in both manner and appearance, and operate with the utmost professionalism and ethics, striving to prevent costly and undignified conflict.  Our goal is to implement preventive measures, or respectfully and honorably reach an amicable result in the event of an undesireable situation.  If the wrongdoer is unwilling to effect a reasonable compromise, we will not hesitate to take the matter to court, where we have years of experience litigating in New York City against many formidable adversaries in complicated, multi-million dollar, high-profile cases on behalf of fortune-500 companies and powerful executives in the corporate, legal, medical, financial and insurance industries. 

We liaise between exectives and ownership/management concerning the formation of employment contracts and termination issues, such as "for cause" firings, separation agreements, COBRA benefits, outplacement services, stock options and restrictive covenants.  Often, more than one area of expertise is required to provide a comprehensive consult regarding business and employment matters. No need to hire a multitude of attorneys. We can provide you with full legal support in most areas concerning your business, and provide all-inclusive legal conselling for employees.

Ask yourself the following questions and contact us if you desire to discuss these or other issues in greater detail:

If you are a business owner, executive, manager or supervisor:

• Setting up a business - is a corporation, LLC, PLLC, or partnership right for me?
• What paperwork is necessary to place employees on payroll?
• Does my business really need insurance?
• What exactly is workers' compensation?
• Who is responsible for insuring independent contractors?
• Can I ask if a potential employee has a criminal background?
• May an employer terminate an employee who is pregnant or sick if they can't do the job?
• Is an employer held hostage by inefficient employees because they are members of a protected class?
• How do I handle an employee engaged in substance abuse?
• I know two of my employees are involved in a personal relationship - what are my rights and responsibilities?
• I don't need so many employees.  Does it matter legally if I fire the best worker I have and keep my best friend?
• An employee disclosed a minor violation of a health code by my company, forcing me to use the employees' bonus money to get into compliance.  Now other employees don't want to work with her and I don't trust her.  Can I fire her because she is an "at-will" employee or am I forced to retain her?
• I have to downsize - how can I best do this without risking lawsuits for wrongful termination?
• Some of the guys tend to get overly friendly with the staff - what should I do to limit claims of sexual harassment?
• I have business secrets I don't want disclosed - how can I assure my employees retain my confidential information?
• I have no policy or procedure handbook.  Will that affect my business in the event of a lawsuit?
• I am afraid I will hire an employee who will leave me and go to work for a competitor - can I prevent that?
• I don't want my employees to leave and take my clients or accounts with them - can I prevent that?
• Do I have to indemnify all employees in the event they are named in a lawsuit?

If you are an employee:

• I was asked my age at my interview and the job was given to a younger candidate - is that legal?
• Do I have to submit to a drug test, and if I fail are the results kept confidential?
• How soon after I discover I'm pregnant do I have to tell my employer?
• Is my employer entitled to know that I am receiving psychological or substance abuse counseling?
• Am I entitled to medical leave and how do I ask for it?  Will I be paid?  Am I entitled to keep my job?
• I am uncomfortable around a co-worker who behaves inappropriately towards me or others - what can I do?
• I was asked to sign a contract agreeing not to work in my home town for 2 years after I quit.  What does that mean for me?
• I have taken more sick days than I am permitted.  Can my employer fire me?
• I was terminated without a reason and replaced with a younger person.  Is that age discrimination?
• I work overtime but am paid a salary.  Am I entitled to overtime wages anyway?
• My boss constantly berates and embarrasses me in front of others - is there anything I can do to stop that?
• Our HR manager favors certain individuals who tend to get promotions before more qualified workers - is that legal?
• Does my employer have to pay for my legal costs if I am sued because of my position with the company?
• I have been offered stock options in lieu of salary - what is that and is it to my benefit?
• Does my employer have to pay me unused vacation time after I quit?
• My employer created a fake excuse for firing me.  Am I entitled to unemployment benefits?
• My employer investigated my personal emails.  Is that permissible?  Do I have a right to privacy?
• I think my employer is engaged in illegal activities - what are my responsibilities?  Can I get in trouble if I know and don't tell?

If you need answers to any of these questions, 
call us to discuss your situation and how we can help. 

The Valentine Law Office PLLC
5 Fairlawn Drive, Suite 102
Washingtonville, NY 10992
(845) 497-5010 tel.
jvalentine@valentinelawoffice.com
www.hudsonvalleyemploymentlaw.com

Experience you can trust.