Forensic and Litigation

In today’s litigious society, disputes culminating in lawsuits are inevitable.  Economic damages are often awarded to make injured parties financially whole, and in some cases, that appears to be cut and dried.  However, supportable economic damage assessments that withstand the trier of fact’s (judge or jury) scrutiny are derived from complex calculations performed by third-party…

It’s easier and less expensive to prevent corporate fraud and white-collar crime than to recover from it, or defend against it, after the fact. According to the Association of Certified Fraud Examiners (ACFE) 2020 Report to the Nations, organizations lose an average of five percent of their annual revenue to fraud each year. So, although…

Unfortunately, only you can answer that question. According to WorldPopulationReview.com, in the United States 50% of you are choosing to leave him or her and for second or third marriages that increases to 60% and 73%, respectively. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reports the national average divorce and annulment rate in 2019…

In August of 2021, an Economic News Release from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reported that 4.3 million American workers had quit their jobs, a number that increased by 242,000 since “The Great Resignation” in April of this year. Experts have credited working conditions, new opportunities to work from home, and toxic corporate culture…

Buying or selling a business is no easy task. One of the most critical steps in that process is performing adequate due diligence, no matter what side of the transaction you are on. Due diligence is an evaluation process that typically spans a wide range of areas including financial, legal, operational, IT and marketing matters. …

The uncertain economic environment during the COVID-19 pandemic has made business valuation practitioners questioning the more historically utilized inputs. Many companies have experienced unforeseen growth or decline, depending on the industry and other unique attributes of those companies. The pandemic has enhanced the focus of the risks associated with cash flow realization, the factors affecting…

Acquiring an accretive business is one way business owners can grow their companies and expand their wallet share. A focused M&A strategy can enable a profitable company to achieve explosive growth and enter new geographic markets/customer segments more expeditiously in today’s global environment. However, developing and implementing a merger or acquisition strategy is often a…

Jeffrey Baresciano, CPA, CFF, ABV, CVA, Director of Mercadien’s Forensic & Litigation Support Services Group, was featured in the Pennsylvania Institute of Certified Public Accountants (PICPA) CPA Now blog. His article entitled, “The Right Valuation Approaches During Times of Uncertainty”, discusses how important it is to ensure that the entire story of a closely held…

Wrongful termination litigation tends to increase during economic uncertainty, following company-wide layoffs and reductions in work force. The COVID-19 pandemic is no exception. Forensic accountants are often retained to provide economic damages assessments related to claims involving allegations of wrongful termination. Mercadien’s Forensic & Litigation Support Services Group has substantial experience evaluating these claims, which…

Regulatory and enforcement actions are expected to increase in the foreseeable future as a result of the substantial number of businesses that applied for and received funds under the Small Business Administration’s (SBA) Paycheck Protection Program (PPP). Recipients of the PPP loans should be mindful of the legal risks the borrowers and/or organization may face…