Legal Question in Business Law in California

I am a RME for a Tree Company in

Santa Cruz, Ca. My son is employed is employed by me.

Our family have been in the

tree business for over 30 years:

firewood, removing trees, triming,

grinding. What do I need to protect

myself against lawsuits?

by


Asked on 11/13/11, 10:24 am

2 Answers from Attorneys

Anthony Roach Law Office of Anthony A. Roach

Insurance, including worker's compensation insurance.

Read more
Answered on 11/13/11, 10:41 am

Follow all CalOSHA rules, do your work properly and safely, and as Mr. Roach said, carry insurance. You will need commercial vehicle insurance, Comprehensive General Liability, and workers compensation (just because he's family doesn't mean you can avoid carrying workers compensation on your son). You say you are the RME, so that indicates you are incorporated. That means you must also be sure to keep up your corporate formalities, maintain separate accounts and bookkeeping, buy and keep all vehicles and equipment in the corporation's name, etc., to make sure the corporation has and maintains a real existence separate and apart from your personal life and finances. Since most small corporation owners are sued individually when their corporation is sued, since so many of them DON'T keep up the separation between themselves and their company, it is probably a good idea to also carry an umbrella policy in connection with your homeowners and personal auto insurance.

Read more
Answered on 11/14/11, 10:40 am


Related Questions & Answers

More Business Law questions and answers in California