Ron Martin – Page 2

Disability Claim Regulations

May 1, 2019 By Ron Martin

On March 26, 2019, Associate Attorney John Sexton attended the webinar “DOL Disability Claims Regulations: Effects on Employee Benefit Plans-Best Practices for Plan Sponsors, SPD Modifications, Required Disclosures, Appeals and ERISA Compliance.” The webinar focused on the Department of Labor’s new disability claims regulations.

The “Final Rule,” as represented by 81 Fed. Reg. 92316, was issued on December 19, 2016. The new procedures are effective for claims for disability benefits filed on or after April 1, 2018. These new procedures alter and focus on notice, disclosure, and process. [Read more…]

Working With your Family Farming Corporation

April 24, 2019 By Ron Martin

According to the National Agricultural Statistics Service’s Census of Agriculture, family farms make up almost 95% of the farms in the United States. This high percentage makes sense when you look at the USDA’s definition of a family farm. A family farm is “any farm organized as a sole proprietorship, partnership, or family corporation”. For some of these corporations, large or extended family units must work together to make their operation run smoothly.

Unfortunately, sometimes these family farming corporations do not work out as intended. Attorneys Joe Day and John Sexton are happy to announce that they have successfully settled a family farming dispute. These attorneys represented a shareholder in his derivative capacity in an action involving such a corporation as described above.

The attorneys at Day Rettig Martin, P.C. know the importance of family farms in Iowa. They continue to work to help them in whatever ways they can. Please contact one of our attorneys if you need guidance in setting up a legal entity family farm to assist with its management and passing it on to your heirs in a tax-efficient manner. If you need to enforce your rights in a family farm corporation or other legal entity the attorneys at Day Rettig Martin can help you.

Source: https://nifa.usda.gov/family-farms

Working with the Railroad and Your Farm

April 15, 2019 By Ron Martin

There are currently 3,931 miles of railroad track in Iowa, and, according to the 2012 Census, 30,622,731 acres of farmland in Iowa. With farmland making up over 85% of Iowa’s land, it is inevitable that railroads will run through farmland. In most instances, the railroad right-of-way belongs to the railroad company while the adjacent farmland is owned by other persons or entities including family farmers.

If a railroad right-of-way runs through your property, it is important to review your deed for provisions concerning the railroad right-of-way. Unless set forth in the deed, other recorded document, or in a statute, the railroad company does not have greater rights than any other person to enter upon your farmland, pass over it, or use it.

If you have a rail line going through your property, and have questions about your property rights, call attorneys Ron Martin or Mark Rettig at Day Rettig Martin, P.C.

Sources: https://www.american-rails.com/ia.html https://www.farmlandinfo.org/statistics/iowa

Costly Commas

March 20, 2019 By Ron Martin

For many editing and revising are tedious tasks, and people often throw in commas as afterthoughts. However, many disputes stem from interpretation of contracts and laws. As a result, proper punctuation becomes an important aspect of contract writing.

Grammar mistakes in laws caused problems for the United States dating back to 1872 when a misplaced comma, a simple mistake by a typist, cost the United States the modern equivalent of $40 million dollars. The 13^th Tariff Act in 1872 accidentally replaced a hyphen with a comma. This cost the United States tax revenue on imported fruits such as bananas, limes, pineapples, lemons, and oranges. It took almost 2 whole years to remedy this mistake, which cost the U.S. 1.3% of its total tariff profits.

In 1872 an extra comma cost roughly $40 million dollars, and more recently a missing comma cost a dairy company $5 million dollars. Many may think the use of an Oxford Comma depends on an author’s style, but the lack of one led to a dairy company in Maine paying four years of overtime pay to their truck drivers.

Proper punctuation can be tedious to figure out, and in the law so much is left up to interpretation that it is important to have all your commas in their proper places. This makes contract drafting a stressful endeavor. Let the attorneys at Day Rettig Martin, P.C. figure out the punctuation for you.

Sources: Tariff Acts Passed by the Congress of the United States from 1789 to 1897; Christina Sterbenz “This Comma Cost America About $40 Million” in Business Insider; Daniel Victor “Oxford Comma Dispute Is Settled as Maine Drivers Get $5 Million” in The New York Times; Chris Stokel-Walker “The Commas That Cost” in BBC

Day Rettig Martin, P.C. Attends the 33rd Annual Celebration of Agriculture

March 20, 2019 By Ron Martin Leave a Comment

The lawyers and staff at Day Rettig Martin, P.C. enjoyed the 33^rd Annual Celebration of Agriculture on March 18, 2019. Keynote speaker Tyne Morgan spoke about the future of farming, in addition to the revival of bacon. This year the Celebration of Agriculture raised over $4,000 for HACAP Food Reservoir. All of us at Day Rettig Martin, P.C. were glad to be able to contribute to that worthy cause.

Attorney Ron Martin focuses his career on helping Iowa Family Farmers. Therefore he attends events such as this to help him remain connected with the local farming community. If you have questions about financial matters, bankruptcy, or the future of your farm, come to the law firm with experience in agriculture law.

Attorney Ron Martin Attends the 2018 Farm Progress Show

February 18, 2019 By Ron Martin Leave a Comment

Attorney Ron Martin attended the 2018 Farm Progress Show in Boone, Iowa. This show allowed Ron to see firsthand much of the newest farming equipment. The modern “Draper Head” for combines and seed tenders such as the Seed Chariot pictured here caught his interest. The all-wheel drive tractor pictured is a far cry from the Farmall Super M that Ron operated in high school.

The information that he obtained at the Farm Progress Show provides him with the practical perspective needed when working with agri-business people.

Day Rettig Martin, P.C. Returns to the Linn County Fair to Support Young 4-H and FFA Agriculturalists

February 18, 2019 By Ron Martin Leave a Comment

In 2018, Attorney Ron Martin continued his tradition of attending the Linn County 4-H and FFA Livestock Auctions as a representative of Day Rettig Martin, P.C. Ron grew up on an Iowa Farm and participated in 4-H and FFA programs himself in his youth. He knows firsthand how important the buyers’ contributions are to these programs. Because of this he attends these auctions to show the Law Firm’s support. The attorneys at Day Rettig Martin, P.C. proudly promote the next generation of Iowa Farmers that participated in the Linn County 4-H and FFA Fair. Pictured are some of the livestock bid on by Attorney Ron Martin in support of his community.

Ron also uses his life experiences in his practice; he represents farmers and agricultural businesses in need of assistance with their legal needs.

Attorney Ron Martin Attends the All-Iowa Bankruptcy Seminar

February 18, 2019 By Ron Martin Leave a Comment

The attorneys at Day Rettig Martin, P.C. always look for new opportunities to grow in their fields. So, with this in mind, Attorney Ron Martin attended the 2018 All-Iowa Bankruptcy Seminar. The seminar featured discussions and programs on a wide variety of bankruptcy matters. A multitude of professional speakers shared their insight on the ins and outs of filing for bankruptcy, allowing Ron to make connections and enhance his skill set to better aid his clients in bankruptcy matters.

Attorney Ron Martin is a bankruptcy expert, with experience in individual, business, and farm bankruptcies.

Attorney Mark Rettig Attends the ISBA Family Law Seminar

February 14, 2019 By Ron Martin

The Iowa State Bar Associations’ Annual Family Law Seminar held in Des Moines last October involved legal experts discussing new trends in the field. Attorney Mark Rettig, Day Rettig Martin, P.C.’s leading family law attorney, attended this two-day seminar which included presentations from many of the leading authorities such as Dr. Arnold Shienvold, a specialist in custody evaluations and family mediation. The law is always evolving and the attorneys at Day Rettig Martin, P.C. frequently attend seminars such as this to stay up to date.

Attorney Mark Rettig practices in the areas of family and domestic relations law, probate and estate planning, real estate, litigation, ERISA collections, and in matters relating to Qualified Domestic Relations Orders.