• Labor, Employment and Civil Rights Law
  • Enforcing or monitoring union representation
  • Local, State, and Federal employee representation in administrative and court proceedings
  • Representing members of police forces
  • Discrimination based on gender, race, age, disability, Family Medical Leave Act, national origin, religion, pregnancy, sexual orientation
  • Police brutality litigation
  • Wage hour and overtime issues
  • Unemployment Compensation - representing employees and employers
  • Worker's Compensation Defense
• Pension and ERISA issues
• Disability, including:
  • Social Security, SSDI, SSI, overpayment
  • Long and short term disability and repayment
  • Government Benefits
• Real Estate
  • Foreclosure representation
  • Landlord/tenant issues
  • Zoning issues
  • Property transfers
  • Title disputes
• Family Law
  • Adoption
  • Alimony
  • Change of Name
  • Child Support
  • Divorce
  • Paternity
  • Property Settlements
  • Spousal Support
  • Pre/Post Nuptial Agreements
• Collection Issues
• Contract Law
• Personal Injury
• Elder Law, including:
  • Wills
  • Trusts
  • Powers of Attorney
  • Estates
  • Estate Contests
  • Guardianships
• Student's Rights, including:
  • Administrative appeals or grievances
  • Problems involving grades, discipline or discharge

Pennsylvania is an employment-at-will state. This means that, subject to limited exceptions, an employer can discharge or terminate an employee for any reason. On the other hand, an employee can resign his employment for any reason at any time without notice. Exceptions to the employment-at-will doctrine include statutory prohibitions, employment contracts, discharge in violation of public policy, collective bargaining agreements, and specific concentration on civil rights protections.

Although this is a complex area of the law, severance agreements between employers and employees can often be negotiated which involve monetary and non-monetary considerations which permit both parties to end the employment relationship with their respect and dignity intact.

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Pension and ERISA Issues

The Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, more commonly known as ERISA, provides statutory requirements for pensions, disability benefits and other similar matters. Congress passed ERISA as a way to protect employees' rights to their pension and disability plans. ERISA litigation requires an aggressive attorney to counter the frequent efforts by employers to interfere with employees' benefits, and to ensure that employees receive the correct amount of benefits to which they are entitled.

We assist with protecting our clients' benefits through pre-retirement reviews of the pension documents, and explain in plain English the meaning of the documents so that clients are able to make a decision regarding their pension benefits. We can also secure pension documents when the employer or trustee/administrator of the plan will not cooperate in providing the necessary documents. This office has experience assisting clients secure their benefits through litigation in court should the employer or trustee/administrator not cooperate in producing documents, embezzele a client's pension, or fail to pay monies due the client.

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Disability

We can, for a fee, help with obtaining short or long term disability benefits, and can litigate regarding the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), the Family Medical Leave Act (FMLA), and the .

Social Security Disability Benefits (SSI and SSDI)

The Social Security Act was passed by Congress to enable disabled persons to receive benefits if they cannot work for at least a year due to a medically determinable physical or mental impairment. The burden of proving the disability is on the person alleging disability. Applying for Social Security disability benefits and/or SSI benefits is a difficult process, and should not be undertaken without first consulting an attorney, despite what you are told by a Social Security representative.

The Law Office of Faye Riva Cohen, P.C. does not receive payment for its services unless it wins your case. If the Firm wins your case it is entitled to receive a fee established by statute from accumulated past-due benefits. The Firm's telephone consultations for Social Security disability cases are free.

Even if you have been denied benefits before, or you have failed to timely appeal or you are making a work attempt but feel that you still are disabled, you can attempt to receive benefits. If you are receiving worker's compensation benefits, private disability benefits, a pension, welfare benefits or widow or widower benefits you may still be eligible to receive Social Security Disability or SSI benefits. Furthermore, your children under 18 years of age may receive auxiliary benefits. You may also qualify for Medicare.

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Real Estate and Estate Contests

Property transfers, even between family members, must be accomplished in a legally prescribed manner. If this is not done, costly problems may arise many years into the future, after divorce or even death. Please consult this firm if you have any questions on how to probate a will, establish or administer an estate or if you learn that required taxes were not paid or that a property transfer was not properly transacted. Furthermore, if you seek to contest an estate or you are required to defend a contested estate, we can provide you with representation.

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Family Law

The firm also handles family law related cases ranging from divorce, no-fault divorce, spousal support, alimony, child support, child custody, paternity, and protection from abuse (PFAs).

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The Law Office of Faye Riva Cohen, P.C. has various fee arrangements available depending upon the type of case. These fees range from an hourly rate to a pure contingency agreement, with variations of these arrangements. Depending on the type of case, the Firm may agree to work with you on an extended payment schedule after an initial retainer is paid. Whenever possible the Firm will make an attempt to have the attorney's fees paid by the opponent. Costs are always the responsibility of the client.