Shoveling Smoke artwork

Shoveling Smoke

26 episodes - English - Latest episode: 8 months ago -

Supreme Court Justice Oliver Wendell Holmes said that "lawyers spend a great deal of their time shoveling smoke."  One interpretation of his remark is that lawyers take a vague concept or principle and give it shape, clearing away the smoke.  Our podcast series will focus on current legal issues and news items that may affect your business, your community, or you as an individual.  Our attorneys – sometimes with a judge, client, or other guest – will spend 15-20 minutes exploring an issue and, at the end, provide a few takeaways to assist you in making sense of the gray areas of law.

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Episodes

Do You Hear That? Employers Facing Rise in OSHA section 11(c) Whistleblower Complaints

August 14, 2023 00:00 - 25.8 MB

Season 01 Episode 25                                            18:45 In recent years, the number of OSHA Whistleblower complaints has been steadily on the rise, but why?  In the newest episode of Shoveling Smoke, Frantz Ward Partner Christina Niro joins host Chris Koehler to discuss current trends, how an OSHA whistleblower complaint gets filed and investigated, and how to prepare for and defend against them. Guest: CHRISTINA NIRO  Host: CHRISTOPHER C. KOEHLER

Labor and Employment Updates in 2023 - A Preview of Frantz Ward's Annual Labor Seminar

May 16, 2023 00:00 - 36.1 MB

Season 01 Episode 24                                            15:44 The labor and employment fields seem like they’re in a constant state of change.  If you’re looking for an update, why not learn from the best?  Labor & Employment Practice Group Partner Christina Niro joins host Chris Koehler as she summarizes some of the recent labor and employment updates that will be covered during the firm’s upcoming annual L&E seminar, “Avoiding Panda-monium in the Workplace,” happening June 14, 2023...

Filling the Employment Gap: A Conversation with Team NEO's Jacob Duritsky

December 07, 2022 00:00 - 37 MB

Season 01 Episode 23                                           26:50 As businesses continue to face challenges in locating and retaining employees, it’s clear that a key to the growth and success of Northeast Ohio’s economy is the development of the workforce and talent to fill existing job opportunities and those on the horizon.  Team NEO’s Jacob Duritsky joins Frantz Ward’s Chris Koehler to discuss Team NEO’s 2022 Aligning Opportunities report, which provides data-driven insights into our ...

HR Evolved: How Attorneys can Partner with HR Professionals in a Constantly Changing World

September 30, 2022 00:00 - 43.2 MB

Season 01 Episode 22                                            31:23 Human Resources is an ever-changing field, and the Pandemic only seemed to demonstrate this further.  From updating guidelines to updating technology, the evolution of HR in the last few years alone is enough to put even the most ardent of HR professionals through the wringer.  To help better make sense of it all, Chief People and Human Resources Officer for Equity Trust, Amy Hall, joins the podcast to discuss the change a...

Where There's A Will, There's A Way

July 16, 2022 00:00 - 21.9 MB

Season 01 Episode 21                                             12:54 Will my family be taken care of when I am no longer around?  Who will take care of me if I become incapacitated?  Although these are questions we often don’t like to consider, the Covid-19 pandemic woke many people up to the need to have an estate plan in place.  Frantz Ward attorney Rick Humiston joins the podcast to discuss the basic elements of Estate Planning as well as some additional planning suggestions for busines...

Reading the Fine Print: Making Your Terms and Conditions Match Your Business Goals and Risks

May 08, 2022 00:00 - 27.4 MB

Season 01 Episode 20                                           19:53 As Pete Seeger said, "Education is when you read the fine print; experience is what you get when you don't."  As world events continue to have lingering impacts on the transaction of business, some companies are learning the hard way that their contractual Terms and Conditions don't align with their current business risks and goals.  Frantz Ward attorney Alanna Guy joins the podcast to discuss the foundational elements of p...

Business Law Update: A Primer on Ohio's Revised LLC Act

May 04, 2022 00:00 - 22 MB

Season 01 Episode 19                                            15:58 Ohio recently modernized its laws governing limited liability companies through the Revised Limited Liability Company Act.  The revised regulations apply to all Ohio limited liability companies, regardless of when organized, making it crucial for Ohio LLCs to understand the changes and their potential impact.  Frantz Ward attorney Michael Gibbons joins the podcast to highlight the key changes and the impact those can have ...

Unpacking the Packing: A Perspective on the Efforts to Expand the Supreme Court

March 02, 2022 00:00 - 39.6 MB

Season 01 Episode 18                                           28:49  Controversy regarding the claimed increased partisanship of the U.S. Supreme Court and efforts to change the Court's makeup by expanding its numbers continues to be in the headlines.  Frantz Ward partner Greg Farkas joins the podcast to walk us through these issues and give us an idea of the practical pros and cons of what an expansion of the Court might mean. Guest: GREGORY R. FARKAS     Host: MICHAEL E. SMITH

Public-Private Collaboration as a Means to Economic Development - A Blueprint from the Shaker Heights Development Fund

November 12, 2021 00:00 - 36.3 MB

Season 01 Episode 17                                            26:22 Nick Fedor, Executive Director of the Shaker Heights Development Corporation, joins the podcast to discuss a real estate development fund his organization is sponsoring, allowing private investment to redevelop an emerging commercial district of Shaker Heights. Frantz Ward attorney Karl May also joins to explain how they were able to navigate the securities and regulatory issues posed by this innovative investment offering...

The Basics for Building Your Workforce

October 19, 2021 00:00 - 18.2 MB

Season 01 Episode 16                                              13:10 As a business grows, a very exciting step is adding the company's first employees, but it is also one that should be very intentional and well-considered. Frantz Ward attorney Megan Bennett joins the podcast to discuss the importance of developing job descriptions, considering the terms "employee" and "independent contractor," and how to develop policies and procedures to ensure a legally compliant business. Guest: MEGAN...

Hot! Hot! Hot! Don't Get Burned by the Perils of Buying and Selling Residential Real Estate

October 01, 2021 00:00 - 33.9 MB

Season 01 Episode 15                                            24:39 The residential real estate market in Cleveland continues to boom, with home price values increasing by more than 10-20% in northeast Ohio over the past few years.  So Shoveling Smoke thought this would be a good time to review the nuts and bolts of the residential real estate transaction and to identify the possible pitfalls that come with buying in a hot market.  To cover those topics, we invited Frantz Ward partner Mark...

You Came Up With a Great Business Idea During the Pandemic - Now What?

September 07, 2021 00:00 - 27.2 MB

Season 01 Episode 14                                             19:44 A fledgling business doesn't just need a solid business plan; it also needs a strong legal foundation. This foundation is not "one size fits all," so it's important to tailor your choices to your specific industry and your risk tolerance, long-term goals, and budget. Frantz Ward attorney Alanna Guy joins the podcast to discuss the building blocks necessary to start a new business - from choosing and forming the appropriat...

Criminal Sentencing Reform: A Conversation with Supreme Court of Ohio Justice Michael Donnelly

August 21, 2021 00:00 - 36.6 MB

Season 01 Episode 13                                            26:34 In light of the wide disparity of sentences for felonies across Ohio, the Ohio Criminal Sentencing Commission has developed and is implementing a Criminal Sentencing Database designed to provide judges with data to rely upon when crafting sentences. Supreme Court of Ohio Justice Michael Donnelly, one of the leading advocates of the program, and Frantz Ward’s Managing Partner, Chris Keim, join the podcast to discuss the ini...

Scoring Big for the CLE: A Conversation with David Gilbert, President and CEO of the Greater Cleveland Sports Commission

August 21, 2021 00:00 - 45 MB

Season 01 Episode 12                                            32:42 Cleveland’s profile as a destination city continues to grow and no entity is more responsible for that success than The Greater Cleveland Sports Commission. Shoveling Smoke welcomes guests David Gilbert, GCSC’s and Destination Cleveland’s President and CEO, and Christopher Keim, Frantz Ward’s Managing Partner and member of the GCSC Board of Trustees.  Guest: DAVID GILBERT, PRESIDENT AND CEO of the GREATER CLEVELAND SPORTS ...

Don't Learn Safety by Accident: A look at Worker Safety and OSHA Initiatives under the Biden Administration

August 21, 2021 00:00 - 24.1 MB

Season 01 Episode 09                                             17:31 Continuing our discussions about what the legal landscape may look like under the Biden administration, Labor and Employment partner Christina Niro joins us to discuss what we can expect in terms of workplace safety initiatives and the work of the Occupational Safety and Health Administration. We will discuss anticipated increases in OSHA inspections, new rules and regulations that may arise, and the potential expansion o...

Breaking Up Is Hard To Do: Navigating the Domestic Relations Arena

August 21, 2021 00:00 - 31.3 MB

Season 01 Episode 08                                           22:46 Frantz Ward Domestic Relations Partner Katie Arthurs joins us to explain the divorce and dissolution process, to discuss the best strategies for navigating the difficult and often painful challenges that arise in a divorce, and to provide important insights on how you can best protect your businesses from being impacted by such events. Guest: KAITLYN D. ARTHURS     Host: MICHAEL E. SMITH          

Spurring Economic Growth in Northeast Ohio: A Conversation with Bill Koehler of Team NEO

August 21, 2021 00:00 - 28 MB

Season 01 Episode 11                                              20:19 Frantz Ward is proud to partner with Team NEO, the business and economic development organization focused on accelerating economic growth and job creation throughout the 18 counties of Northeast Ohio.  Bill Koehler, the organization’s CEO, joins the podcast to discuss the economic outlook for the region, how the public and private sectors are working together to both attract new businesses and help existing businesses, a...

Looking from the Outside In: A Conversation with In-House Counsel Kelley Barnett

August 21, 2021 00:00 - 25.9 MB

Season 01 Episode 10                                             18:48 Former Frantz Ward partner Kelley Barnett has seen it all – from trying major felony cases as a Cuyahoga County Prosecutor to becoming a top commercial trial lawyer at Frantz Ward to serving in her current role as vice-president and corporate counsel for labor and employment at AmTrust Financial Services. In this episode, she sits down with her former colleagues to discuss the keys to success in her transitions to each ro...

Order in the Court: A Conversation with Judge Brendan Sheehan of the Cuyahoga County Court of Common Pleas

August 21, 2021 00:00 - 37.3 MB

Season 01 Episode 07                                            27:07 Shoveling Smoke is pleased to welcome The Honorable Brendan J. Sheehan, Administrative Judge of the Cuyahoga County Court of Common Pleas and our first outside guest for the podcast. We will get Judge Sheehan’s unique perspectives on several topics, including the judge’s personal experiences, court operations and trials during COVID, the status of the new jail/justice center project, and other services provided by the cour...

A Dose of Prevention - COVID Vaccine Primer for Employers

August 20, 2021 00:00 - 19.6 MB

Season 01 Episode 02                                             14:13 Now that the COVID-19 vaccine is poised for a more widespread roll-out, employers are finally able to develop plans to get their employees back to the workplace. But the vaccine will present employment law issues: Can you mandate that your employees get vaccinated? What do you do if they refuse? Frantz Ward attorney Megan Bennett answers those questions and more to help employers navigate the reopening of their businesses...

Changing of the Guard, Part I – Employment Law Outlook under the Biden Administration

August 20, 2021 00:00 - 32 MB

Season 01 Episode 04                                            23:15 A new presidential administration and a shift in control of the Senate mean changes in the legal landscape as well.  This three-part series will address the anticipated changes in the laws and regulations related to employment, health care and tax issues, and at the agencies responsible for enforcement of those laws.  In Part 1, Frantz Ward Partner Brian Kelly guides us through the outlook on the labor and employment law f...

Changing of the Guard, Part II – Health Care Outlook under the Biden Administration

August 20, 2021 00:00 - 31.6 MB

Season 01 Episode 05                                           22:56 In part 2 of this three-part series discussing the anticipated changes in the laws and regulations we can expect during the Biden administration, Craig Haran provides insight on how things will progress on the health care front, discussing how the administration will handle the implementation of policies and laws relating to the ACA, COVID relief, Medicare, Medicaid, and other hot-topic issues.  Guest: CRAIG T. HARAN     Ho...

Changing of the Guard, Part III – Tax Law Outlook under the Biden Administration

August 20, 2021 00:00 - 30.3 MB

Season 01 Episode 06                                           22:02 A new presidential administration and a shift in control of the Senate mean changes in the legal landscape as well.  In Part Three of our series on the anticipated changes due to the new look in Washington, Matt Kadish provides a civics lesson and explains why it’s particularly hard to read the tea leaves on tax issues this year.  But he has some predictions on what changes we are likely to see, when they’ll occur, and the ...

Forgiveness is Divine: Looking at the 2021 PPP

August 20, 2021 00:00 - 26.9 MB

Season 01 Episode 03                                             19:31 Frantz Ward partner Melissa Jones provides insight on the new rules and regulations of the 2021 version of the PPP and gives some ideas as to how your company’s participation in the PPP might help your bottom line. Guest: MELISSA A. JONES     Host: MICHAEL E. SMITH           

Where Have You Gone Mrs. Pfalsgraf?

August 18, 2021 00:00 - 26.1 MB

Season 01 Episode 01                                             18:56 Understanding Premises Liability in the COVID world. Frantz Ward Partner Pat Haggerty provides insights on protecting your business from potential liability for claims from people supposedly contracting COVID while on your property. We will discuss the types of claims you may face and the preventive strategies that will minimize your risks. Guest: PATRICK F. HAGGERTY     Host: MICHAEL E. SMITH      

Introducing: Shoveling Smoke - A Frantz Ward Lawcast

August 14, 2021 00:00 - 1.58 MB

Season 01 Introduction                                         01:06 Supreme Court Justice Oliver Wendell Holmes said that "lawyers spend a great deal of their time shoveling smoke."  One interpretation of his remark is that lawyers take a vague concept or principle and give it shape, clearing away the smoke.  Our podcast series will focus on current legal issues and news items that may affect your business, your community, or you as an individual.  Our attorneys – sometimes with a judge, cl...