The future of gig work after Prop 22
Independent contractor status harm most workers With nearly $200 million in funding from app-based companies like Uber and Lyft, California’s Proposition 22 was voted into law by Californians. It is…
Category: Consumer Columnists
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Do you want to get out of debt and start fresh in 2021?
ARE you sick and tired of being in debt and having bad credit? Do you want to start over but simply don’t know where to begin? Is filing bankruptcy an…
Time worked by employees though unproductive to employer must be paid
Commission-based employees owed for non-sales work STEVE Johnson and Scott Scollitt worked as mortgage loan originators for U.S. Bank National Association. These employees sued their employer for unpaid wages and…
New retiree chooses Chapter 7 fresh start to wipe out $45K credit cards
THE client just turned 67 and has been working for 40 years at a job that pays him $70K a year. He retired two months ago so he doesn’t make…
Filing bankruptcy when faced with the unexpected
MANY people find themselves in the position of facing overwhelming debt, with constant calls from creditors and no obvious way out. For some, job loss sent them into a downward…
Best car concepts at the Las Vegas CES
THE biggest electronics convention in the world has traditionally been confined to gadgets of the future but the 2020 Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas featured exciting new cars –…
3 different Chapter 7 cases
FAMILY of 3: $40,000 credit cards owed Client no. 1 is so young. She is in her late 30s. I remember when I was that young —a young lawyer with…
The rights of employees working in private households
The overtime compensation for ‘live-out’ employees is computed in the same way as that of a regular non-exempt employee who works in other occupations. This means ‘live-out’ household employees must…
Superfast 5G for cellphones at the Las Vegas CES
There’s been a buzzword in cell phone speeds: 5G. Just what is meant by 5G? Our Asian Journal crew found out some valuable data at the latest Consumer Electronics Show…
Worried about your debt problems during the pandemic?
FIRST of all, you are not alone. I just read the news today and experts are warning us again about expected spikes in COVID cases for the rest of the…
Reimbursement for business expenses while working from home due to COVID-19
Q: WHEN California’s Safer at Home Order took effect in March 2020, I and my co-workers were instructed to work from home. Since then, I have had to buy a…
Clients seek to discharge $100K and $30K credit cards
Qualify for different chapters of bankruptcy code Most debtors prefer to have a Chapter 7 wipe out of debt. This is called a fresh start without debt. Most debtors who…
Robots at the Las Vegas Consumer Electronics Show
SOME of us feel anxiety over robots taking over our jobs. Yes, they can take over repetitive chores, but let’s view them as helpers to release us from boring repetitive…
Is the fear of bankruptcy stopping you from getting the help that you badly need?
WHEN the virus makes your income disappear overnight, it can be very frightening to realize that you can’t go very long without it because your bills don’t stop just because…
Returning to work after the employee’s or family member’s COVID-19 illness
Q: I WAS off work for 2 months as a result of my COVID-19 infection. I was hospitalized and received treatments while under quarantine, Thank God I was eventually relieved…
Chapter 7, 13 or debt settlement? Client with $40K in credit card debt examines the differences
THE client is 42 and is going through a divorce after a short two-year marriage. He has moved out of the marital home and now lives by himself. He has…
How to avoid IRS audits
1. REPORT all income IRS receives copies of 1099s and W-2s from your work, bank, buyers – people who pay you. Failing to report a W-2 wage statement or1099 subcontract…
New law provides greater protection for your home against creditors
THIS has got to be the best news I have heard recently! Given the huge job losses and high unemployment rate that have left many unable to pay their debts,…
Why Prop 22’s denial of employee status is bad for CA workers
Independent contractors are in business for themselves and generally work on a freelance basis, often with several clients. They either have specialized skills (e.g., actors, writers) or advanced degrees (e.g.,…
Young client chooses Chapter 7 as business dies with $80K credit cards owed
THE client is young in his 50s. Believe me, that’s young. This is not only mentally young, but physically, 50s is still quite young. It is said that the 60s…
How not to behave during an IRS audit
1. DON’T go to your appointment unprepared. 2. Don’t be late for the appointment. 3. Don’t volunteer information. 4. Don’t bully IRS personnel. And if they bully you back? 5….
Employee’s right to privacy during accommodation of illness or disability
Lauren Scricca worked as a Clinical Nurse for the University of California Irvine Medical Center (UCI) and was assigned to the Acute Rehab Unit. Throughout the 10 years she worked…
Can bankruptcy help you survive the COVID-19 recession?
THERE have been increasing talks recently about making needed changes under the Bankruptcy Code to protect families and business owners who are suffering during this pandemic. While the government has…
Is client liable personally for company lease of warehouse? Company opts for Chapter 7
THE landlord of the warehouse leased by the client’s company has filed a lawsuit to collect $300,000 of unpaid rent from the company. The question that immediately comes to mind…
Can bankruptcy help you survive the COVID-19 recession?
THERE have been increasing talks recently about making needed changes under the Bankruptcy Code to protect families and business owners who are suffering during this pandemic. While the government has…
How IRS agents are trained to audit you
MY Tax Tips are usually written from your perspective. Let’s make this interesting a bit – turn things around and discuss this from the IRS agent’s perspective. This is how…
New laws protect California workers during this pandemic
IN continuing efforts to protect workers and their families from COVID-19, California recently enacted the following legislation: Notice to employees of potential exposure and report of outbreaks Assembly Bill 685…
Reasonable accommodation at work due to COVID-19
Q: My coworkers and I have had to work from home due to COVID-19. We are slowly returning to the office and I am concerned. I am an older worker…
Filing bankruptcy due to credit card debt
MOST people don’t talk about their credit card debt because they find it embarrassing. They can talk to their friends and family about everything else but when it comes to…
Can an employer legally fire me because I (or a family member) got COVID-19?
Q: I read about severe cases of COVID-19 infections requiring several weeks of recovery. Can the employer fire me while being on leave due to this illness? Do I have…