Most people are unaware that credit card companies will negotiate with you if they believe that it is in their best interest to do so. Many times, you can negotiate a reduction of your interest rate, elimination of late charges and annual membership fees. If you are delinquent in payments, they may even agree to…
Q: I was petitioned by my current employer to work in a residential care facility in the U.S. While I worked 6 days a week, and often on a 10-12 hour shift each day, my employer did not pay overtime. When I asked for additional payment, my boss said that I should be thankful that…
IF the divorcing parties are both reasonable in their expectations in resolving their family law case and if they don’t think involving lawyers in their divorce case early on would be an efficient and cost effective way of going about their divorce process, then perhaps mediation is the way to go. It can be a more…
We’re now 3 years into the pandemic which started in 2019. The very sad American tragedy of more than 1.0M Covid deaths In America, we have the great tragedy of having more than 1.0M Americans who died from Covid. Even with the new bivalent booster which specifically protects against Omicron and its subvariants and the…
Facing difficult financial times can be a frightening thing for a lot of people. When bill collectors are hounding you, at some point, you realize that something must be done but you just don’t know where to begin or where to go for help. Often, options can also be confusing unless you get the right…
WHAT are friends for? Friends, of course, like to help each other. But to what extent and what favors can you ask from a friend? The client’s friend wanted to set up a restaurant. The friend was a chef who had just graduated from culinary school. His idea was to serve street food from his…
Q: I was injured in a recent car accident while returning to work on an errand. I had to undergo multiple surgeries. I missed several weeks of work and will need more time off for treatments. I am afraid to tell my employer about my need for more time off because I might be fired….
When your financial circumstances are forcing you to declare bankruptcy, bankruptcy can be one way of dealing with debts that you can no longer manage on your own. Of course, the decision should not be taken lightly, and it is best to consult with an experienced bankruptcy attorney to see if it is best for…
Couples get divorced for various reasons. California is a no fault state. The reasons why a couple is getting divorced are often irrelevant to the issues of the family law case. Divorce is often a difficult and negative experience for most families. However, getting divorce may have some unintended benefits in the immigration law arena. …
Dear Attorney Tan, I was driving home and was at a complete stop when another driver rear ended my car. I was not feeling well after the accident, as my back seemed very tight and stiff. I took some days off from work. After a week, I contacted the other driver’s insurance to report the…
18IT was 9 p.m. at night. Client had just finished his “hot pot” dinner at a famous restaurant and was on his way home. Home was only 10 minutes away. He had lived in this neighborhood for 30 years and was familiar with all the streets. This time he decided to make a right turn…
Debt is a common problem that a lot of people struggle with and many people want to know how they can become debt-free. Of course, in today’s society, you can’t afford to spend cash on everything and sometimes you have to use a credit card or get a loan. The problem is that when those…
THE client is 67. Her husband passed away five years ago after a long fight with kidney failure. He was on dialysis for eight years waiting for a kidney transplant. It’s a long wait to get new kidneys from a donor. The average waiting period is 10 years. However, just because it’s been 10 years…
How whistleblower laws protect them Denise Bertone worked as a coroner investigator for the Los Angeles County Department of Medical Examiner-Coroner (DMEC). For most of her 25-year tenure, she was the expert pediatric coroner investigator for most child deaths. In 2013, a disabled child was found nearly drowned in a washing machine and was comatose. …
LIFE just happens. Sometimes even the best laid plans can go wrong. How do you respond when this happens to you? Do you easily give up when you’re overwhelmed? Remaining calm can be difficult when things are chaotic and so the usual reaction is panic. Bankruptcy can be a lifesaver for people who are at…
THINKING about one’s demise is not something people want to spend time thinking about. However reality is that we all have to face this one day. It is just a matter of whether you depart this world prepared or unprepared. If you pass away with at least $184,500 in gross assets and you do not…
THE constitution of the United States of America allows bankruptcy to its citizens and residents to allow them to become productive again if they are saddled with accumulated debt. The Supreme Court calls Chapter 7 bankruptcy a “the fresh start.” You may have good income but debt repayment could be eating up all of your…
Q: MY employer brought me to America to work as live-in nanny for their youngest child. I would be paid $1,000 per month with weekends off. When we arrived in Los Angeles, my employer took my passport. I was then made to work 7 days a week, up to 16 hours per day, taking care…
Considering bankruptcy is often the last option for most people in attempting to resolve their debt problems. Realizing the conditions for bankruptcy, the kinds of debts that may or may not be discharged, as well as the effects it can have on one’s credit report, may help people make the right decision when considering bankruptcy….
Parents that are going through divorce and legal separation sometimes have to make a decision to move out of state for various reasons. It may be because their family network is in another state. This decision often have a significant impact on the visitation of the other parent because it would be more difficult for…
California lawmakers voted unanimously this month to pass Senate Bill 836, which reenacts and expands the provisions of an existing law (SB 785) signed by former Gov. Jerry Brown in 2018. That law prohibits the disclosure of a person’s immigration status in open court unless the judge determines (in a private hearing) that the immigration status…
Parents that are going through divorce and legal separation sometimes have to make a decision to move out of state for various reasons. It may be because their family network is in another state. This decision often have a significant impact on the visitation of the other parent because it would be more difficult for…
THE client’s company filed for Chapter 7 relief as it was bankrupt. It had two warehouses and rent for one was $15,000 a month, the other $20,000 a month. The original business started 12 years ago when the client had a partner. They imported merchandise from Asia and distributed them here in the USA. For…
Amanda Frlekin and others worked for Apple Inc. as retail store employees in California. Apple imposed mandatory searches of employees’ bags, packages, purses, backpacks, briefcases, and personal Apple technology devices. Apple employees are required to clock out before submitting to the exit search. Failure to comply with this policy may lead to disciplinary action, up…
AT 90 years old, this senior was my oldest client. Everything came crashing down on him during his golden years, unfortunately. He had a business, which looked like it never made money but he kept on doing the business just because it gave him something to do every day. So, he had $34,000 in credit…
THINKING about one’s demise is not something people want to spend time thinking about. However reality is that we all have to face this one day. It is just a matter of whether you depart this world prepared or unprepared. If you pass away with at least $184,500 in gross assets and you do not…
Facing difficult financial times can be a frightening thing for a lot of people. When bill collectors are hounding you, at some point, you realize that something must be done but you just don’t know where to begin or where to go for help. Often, options can also be confusing unless you get the right…
JAMES Karl signed a sales associate agreement classifying him as an independent contractor with Zimmer Biomet Holdings, Inc. a company that designs, manufactures, and markets medical products. Karl sold orthopedic devices in the San Francisco Bay Area. He and his team were paid by commissions. Karl’s time was spent primarily on demonstrating the products, setting…
AT 90 years old, this senior was my oldest client. Everything came crashing down on him during his golden years, unfortunately. He had a business, which looked like it never made money but he kept on doing the business just because it gave him something to do every day. So, he had $34,000 in credit…
Parents who are going through divorce and legal separation sometimes have to make a decision to move out of state for various reasons. It may be because their family network is in another state. This decision often have a significant impact on the visitation of the other parent because it would be more difficult for…
