Leonard Sciolla, LLP

Last week, Pennsylvania expanded the powers of Agents acting under a Power of Attorney to ensure the Agents have access not only to the Principal’s emails, but also their other “digital assets.” This should allow the Agents to manage not only the Principal’s emails, but also their online banking accounts, social media accounts, and other digital records. However, these changes only apply to Powers of Attorney executed after January 19, 2021. It is nearly impossible to properly assist a Principal without access to their digital assets today.

If your Power of Attorney was executed prior to 2021 and does not include any language concerning digital assets, you should have your Power of Attorney updated today.

Check out our most recent blog post: "Biden DACA Update 2024"

Need help or know someone in need of navigating the residency application process? Contact Paul H Schultz at Leonard Sciolla, LLP for assistance.

Biden DACA update 2024 aul H. Schultz, Esquire, partner at Leonard Sciolla and Chair of the firm’s immigration practice commented that “this new policy guidance from the Biden Administration keeps families together as they navigate through the permanent resident application process for their loved one. Non-U.S. spouse...

Leonard Sciolla, LLP loves connecting with the community!

Recently, our attorneys have had the pleasure of hosting a table at Moorestown Day in New Jersey, cheering on the local Little League Team, and mingling with other attorneys at the Burlington County Bar Association Picnic.

Great seeing everyone. Hope to see you at the next event!

Today, we celebrate Juneteenth, marking the end of slavery in the U.S. and honoring the ongoing fight for justice and equality. At Leonard Sciolla, we are committed to standing against discrimination.

Happy Juneteenth!

Today, we honor the bravery and sacrifice of those who took part in D-Day, 80 years ago. On June 6, 1944, Allied forces stormed the beaches of Normandy, marking a pivotal turn in World War II. We remember the courage of those who fought for freedom and the lives lost in this historic battle.

Mark your calendars!! 📆😎☀

Leonard Sciolla, LLP will be hosting a booth outside our New Jersey office at Moorestown Day 2024! Check out our post for details and be sure to RSVP to the Community Facebook Event, "Moorestown Day 2024". Our table will have freebies, conversation, and a gift card raffle. We cannot wait to see you there!

*Please note that the community will host the event rain or shine.

🚨 PA BAR EXAMINER APPLICANTS: Reminder if you are planning to sit for the July 2024 PA Bar Exam and are not currently registered that there is one more deadline with additional applicant fees:

Final late deadline- May 30, 2024- $1,500

‼ We wish the best of luck to all that are registered and planning to take the exam! For more information on registration for the PA Bar, view the pabarexam.org website today.

⚖ For assistance with your application process, such as guidance on your Character and Fitness Application, contact Leonard Sciolla, LLP to assist you in accomplishing your goals as a legal professional.

Check out our latest blog post! 💬

OJ Simpson: Can One Be Found Civilly Liable for Wrongful Death Although Acquitted of Murder?

https://www.leonardsciolla.com/blog/oj-simpson-can-one-be-found-civilly-liable-for-wrongful-death-although-acquitted-of-murder/?fbclid=IwZXh0bgNhZW0CMTEAAR3rhxJMosv-IseTV2QDsWurNPGcYQV35ThatvMFa1NCuWfGPO2SwZpEeCE_aem_AcH6vz9bzvu88IztTqjnJuVpOZ0ve2P-9nJDDOKqpK75h98V-M2IDlNqYFhutPABv4yeCafvy9PPgf3i2VNGBwR1

OJ Simpson: Can One Be Found Civilly Liable for Wrongful Death Although Acquitted of Murder? This is a question that has been asked a lot lately due to OJ’s recent passing. The answer is yes. Here’s how. Orenthal James Simpson was found not guilty of the murders of Nicole Brown Simpson and Ronald Goldman on October 3, 1995. Since that date, many discussions have been had...

Leonard Sciolla is wishing everyone a wonderful Mother’s Day Weekend! 💖

Happy Law Day! ⚖ The United States has been celebrating May 1st as “Law Day” since 1958 when President Dwight D. Eisenhower declared it as a designated day of celebration. The purpose serves as recognition of the rights of citizens through the U.S. Constitution.

Each year, a theme is established, and the theme of 2024 is “Voices of Democracy” in honor of the 60th presidential election. Many organizations in the legal community connect with others to present programs, educational workshops, panels, etc. to share the importance of what Law Day signifies and highlight each year’s theme.

Discover more resources by searching “National Law Day” or checking out websites such as the national constitution center, national and local bar associations, or even local court websites.

PA HOUSE BILL UPDATE - HB 1664 - “Virtual Credit Card Legislation” ✔

This is an Act amending Title 40 (Insurance) of the Pennsylvania Consolidated Statutes, in regulation of insurers and related persons generally, providing for payment choice. It prohibits insurers from restricting the method of payment to dentists with consideration of large transactional fees.

💡 For more information on HB 1664, check out the memo below:

https://www.legis.state.pa.us/cfdocs/Legis/CSM/showMemoPublic.cfm?chamber=H&SPick=20230&cosponId=40856

⚖ If you are seeking legal assistance, the attorneys at Leonard Sciolla, LLP are here to help.

House Co-Sponsorship Memoranda

Happy Administrative Professionals Day!! Thank you to our wonderful administrative professionals at Leonard Sciolla for their dedication to client success.

We would like to recognize Mary, Sary, Leticia, Casey, and Abby during this time of appreciation. Leonard Sciolla also thanks the many administrative professionals our firm interacts with daily from other firms, companies, and organizations.

Fun fact: Administrative Professionals Day began after World War II and the increased need for administrative support. Throughout the years, the recognition gained support from national organizations, The United States Department of Commerce, and several manufacturers for office supplies and equipment. In 2000, the title of “Administrative Professionals Week” and “Administrative Professionals Day” to acknowledge the expanding titles and responsibilities of the workforce.

PA HOUSE BILL UPDATE - HB 660 - “Protecting our Pets” ✔

This is an Act amending Title 40 (Insurance) of the Pennsylvania Consolidated Statutes, in regulation of insurers and related persons generally, providing for pet insurance.

This sets out what must be included in pet insurance contracts and provides that consumers must have 30 days to cancel and get a full refund of all premiums.

💡 For more information on HB 660, check out the memo below:
https://www.legis.state.pa.us/cfdocs/Legis/CSM/showMemoPublic.cfm?chamber=H&SPick=20230&cosponId=39403

⚖ If you are seeking legal assistance, the attorneys at Leonard Sciolla, LLP are here to help.

House Co-Sponsorship Memoranda

PA HOUSE BILL UPDATE - HB 657 -"Unfair Realty Agreements" ✔

This is an Act providing for transparency in realty agreements; prohibiting unfair real estate service agreements; and imposing penalties.

Real estate agents cannot have their contract run with the land, create a lien, or be able to assign the contract without notification.

Plaintiffs would be entitled to the greater of actual damages or $5k ($15k if you are over 60 years old, plus attorneys’ fees and costs).

💡 For more information on HB 657, check out the memo below: https://www.legis.state.pa.us//cfdocs/Legis/CSM/showMemoPublic.cfm?chamber=H&SPick=20230&cosponId=3993

⚖ If you are seeking legal assistance, the attorneys at Leonard Sciolla, LLP are here to help.

House Co-Sponsorship Memoranda

Attorney Robert Atkins was proud to be a member of the "What Now? Employment Law in 2024" at the Benecon Health Benefits Seminar last week. The panel discussed increased costs and ways to mitigate such costs, ma*****na antidiscrimination at work, and employer vaccine mandates.

If your business needs assistance with employment law, the attorneys at Leonard Sciolla, LLP are here to help. For more information on the recent Benecon Health Benefits Seminar, check out our shared post on LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/leonard-sciolla-llp-8a403226

Cheers to a decade of legal excellence! Congratulations to partner, Marisa Ciarrocki, Esq., for celebrating her 10-year anniversary with Leonard Sciolla, LLP today. We are so grateful for Marisa’s partnership, dedication, and ability to make a difference for her clients. Here’s to many more years of success!

PSA: Portions of the Pennsylvania Court system are currently down due to a cyberattack. The attack disabled parts of the online interface but did not appear to compromise any data. Read more:

Pennsylvania Courts website down due to cyberattack The cyberattack is impacting court web services including PACFile, the use of online docket sheets, PAePay, and the Guardianship Tracking System.

With the new year comes new Estate Tax Exemptions, Yearly Gift Tax Exclusion, and updated income tax brackets. The Estate Tax Exemption is $13.61 million per person for anyone dying in 2024. The yearly Gift Tax Exclusion is $18,000 per individual donee.

The 2024 income tax brackets have been adjusted as follows:

37% for incomes over $609,350 ($731,200 for married couples filing jointly)
35% for incomes over $243,725 ($487,450 for married couples filing jointly)
32% for incomes over $191,950 ($383,900 for married couples filing jointly)
24% for incomes over $100,525 ($201,050 for married couples filing jointly)
22% for incomes over $47,150 ($94,300 for married couples filing jointly)
12% for incomes over $11,600 ($23,200 for married couples filing jointly)
10% for incomes of $11,600 or less ($23,200 for married couples filing jointly)

If you are in need of an Estate Law or Tax attorney, contact Leonard Sciolla today.

The Eagles season came to a disappointing end last night in Tampa Bay. The Birds were predictable on both sides of the ball and were unable to adjust to the strategies being employed against them. While we’d love to have some pithy comparisons to the law and adjusting to the other side’s changes, we, like all the other Philadelphia fans out there, are just not having it today.

Time has finally run out on Disney. As copyright protections that have been in place for 95 years expire, Steamboat Willie, Disney’s beloved first animated film, and the original design of its star, Mickey Mouse, enter the public domain in 2024. With the copyright expired, artists are free to use the design in their own works. Some are already doing so with two horror movies and a horror videogame featuring Mickey announced. Other notable pieces entering public domain include the final published Sherlock Holmes stories, the first Hardy Boys Adventures, and the movies Metropolis and The Jazz Singer. The expiration of protection only involves one version of Mickey Mouse. Much of Mickey’s design is still protected. At Leonard Sciolla, our intellectual property attorneys can help you protect your assets.

Apple Watch Series 9 and Ultra 2 sales are set to discontinue indefinitely this week in the U.S. due to a patent infringement issue. Masimo, a medical device company, is claiming that Apple’s pulse oximetry technology in these two Apple Watch versions infringed on Masimo’s intellectual property. The U.S. International Trade Commission (ITC) ordered in October that Apple discontinue sales by December 25th. In order to ensure compliance, Apple will begin the pause at 3PM on Thursday for online sales and after Sunday in stores. The dispute has now been turned over to the White House, which can veto the ruling up until December 25th, 2023. If the White House does not step in and the decision becomes final, Apple is expected to appeal.

Today marks the 90th anniversary of the adoption of the 21st Amendment and the end of Prohibition. The only time America has repealed an Amendment to the Constitution. For those celebrating, perhaps look to your official state drink: Yuenling for Pennsylvania and the Jack Rose for New Jersey.

On a cold wet afternoon, the Eagles completed a comeback victory over the Buffalo Bills, 37-34, as Jalen Hurts ran in the walk off touchdown in overtime. It was a total team victory, but a true special day for Brandon Graham. Sunday, Graham became the Eagles’ all-time leader in regular season games played and added a key sack to end a Bills drive. It was Graham’s 189th game. Leonard Sciolla congratulates Brandon Graham on his remarkable longevity and this achievement and wish Graham many more successful games in Midnight and Kelly Green.