Legal Pointers to Help You Choose the Right Piece of Land

The one area that comes to mind when we think about how too many choices make our decision hard is Real Estate. There are too many options available in terms of commercial and residential property. Whether it is a flat, independent house, villa, booth, plot, etc., there's something lucrative and appropriate for everyone. Many people buy plots for commercial purposes. They may want to build a shop or a booth there, or a place for their tuition or dance center. Endless business ideas culminate in buying a plot as the first step. But it is not a joke. Serious consideration and effort must go behind the purchase of a commercial plot.

Commercial plots are much harder to look for and buy as compared to residential ones. The location for your business must be a prime one, the transportation should be such that your place of business is accessible and I should be financially viable. Once your money is given away for the purchase, it could a real hassle for you if the choice turns out to be the wrong one. To avoid all that, you must make sure that you do research on your plot, compare with others, ascertain the market rates and ensure that your location suits your business and company as well. A wrong choice could harm your business. So take your time, there is no hurry.

The legal hassles involved in buying a plot are many. The seller should give you all the original legal documents beforehand so that you can scrutinize properly. Some of the legal tips are -

* Make sure you acquire the services of a good lawyer who can help you avoid some major or minor loopholes that property documents entail.

* Confirm the legal status of the plot before even thinking of purchasing it.

* You must know who the plot belongs to. The ownership should not ever be a grey area.

* Make sure nobody else is involved in selling the property. You should opt to see the plot's previous deeds as well.

* Make inquiries in all the official places to see if there is something that has been hidden from you.

* Beware of being handed over a liability by checking if all the taxes have been paid so far or not.

* Any balance payments, in fact, must be paid already by the seller like the electricity and water bills. No notice or requisition related to your property should be outstanding.

* Check from the registrar office if your plot has any dues or complaints of the legal nature.

* Make sure that if the seller had bought the plot on loan, then he should have returned the whole amount that was due.

* Measure the plot. This is important. Many property dealers exploit the trust you put in them. You select a plot and are content that is exactly what you will own after the purchase. But before the purchase, ascertain the size that you had specified. Keep visiting your plot location regularly so that nobody can rob you of even an inch of your property.

Buying a plot is a decision taken with patience and calm. Start off your commercial success by buying a safe and good commercial plot.

US Supreme Court Confirms Right For Third-Parties to Bring Retaliation Claims

A plaintiff claimed he was fired by his employer in retaliation for his fiancé's filing of an EEOC complaint against the same employer. On January 24, 2011, the US Supreme Court unanimously held that Title VII of the Civil Rights Act protects a third-party such as a fiancé from employer retaliation based on a co-employee's protected activity.

The US Supreme Court held that Title VII's antiretaliation provision must be construed to cover a broad range of employer conduct. The Court relied on the standard set forth in Burlington N. & S. F. R. Co. v. White (2006) 548 U.S. 53, which prohibits employers from acts that would dissuade a reasonable worker from making or supporting a discrimination charge. The Supreme Court found that the Burlington standard must be applied in an objective fashion, and found that a reasonable worker obviously might be dissuaded from engaging in protected activity if she knew that her fiancé would be fired.

The US Supreme Court further found that Thompson was within the "zone of interests" sought to be protected by Title VII's antiretaliation provisions and had standing to sue as an aggrieved party.

While it is now clear that fiancés have the right to sue for retaliation, the US Supreme Court declined to identify a fixed class of relationships for which third-party retaliation is unlawful. In the majority opinion, Justice Scalia states, "We expect that firing a close family member will almost always meet the Burlington standard, and that inflicting a milder reprisal on a mere acquaintance will almost never do so, but beyond that we are reluctant to generalize." The Supreme Court went on to state that the significance of any given act of retaliation will often depend on the particular circumstances. As a result, the Supreme Court left open the question of whether third-parties such as friends of those making discrimination and sexual harassment complaints can succeed on retaliation claims.

If you feel that you have been retaliated against at work because of your relationship with a coworker who has opposed sexual harassment or discrimination, it is worth exploring the facts of your particular situation with a knowledgeable retaliation attorney to see if you have a viable case under the precedent set by this case.