Category: Consumer Columnists

When a married couple decides to divorce in California, one of the most significant issues they will face is dividing their assets and debts. If the couple owns a business…

The honest debtor is the only debtor who can get a discharge in bankruptcy. But who is an honest debtor? If we go by layman’s definition just to get an…

Courts protect identity of undocumented employee A recent decision from the California Supreme Court reminds us that employee protections found in California law apply to ALL employees, without regard for…

Client owns a restaurant that survived the pandemic with take-outs. The commercial lease for the restaurant is in the name of client. Client is the sole proprietor of the restaurant. Client…

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…

Q: I work part-time as a caregiver for a family, taking care of a senior in their house  overnight. I start work Tuesday nights at 10:30 p.m. and stay until…

Client is a young senior. At 65, in my book, she’s a young senior. She has been living by herself since she divorced 20 years ago. Her adult children have…

IN a recently-concluded federal case an employer’s retaliatory conduct in Georgia, turned an  unpaid wage bill of $915 into approximately $40,000 in liability, illustrating precisely what an  employer should not…

When a married couple decides to divorce in California, one of the most significant issues they will face is dividing their assets and debts. If the couple owns a business…

Americans opting to retire in the Philippines cite lower cost of living and better quality of life After more than 50 years in America, my father retired permanently in the…

THE Catholic of Diocese of Oakland has just filed Chapter 11 seeking bankruptcy protection from 330 lawsuits arising from sexual molestation cases that happened during the 70s and 80s. Bankruptcy…

Pablo, a hardworking Filipino mechanic and naturalized U.S. citizen,, worked in Los Angeles  for 23 years and earned enough to retire. However, he was persuaded by an insurance agent to …

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…

Narcissistic behavior can be a major factor in the breakdown of a marriage, leading to divorce. Many divorcing spouses would point to the other spouse’s personality as the reason they…

Is that legal?   Q: I AM a college graduate in business management from the Philippines who migrated to the United States. I got work as a caregiver at a…

Why your written notices to employer can better protect you Q: I got along great with my former boss, but I could sense our new manager didn’t like me  from…

Q: Our employee handbook says we’re supposed to get meal breaks before the end of the 5th hour of our shift, but work gets so busy that I don’t have…

On June 21, 2022, Pres. Biden signed into law the Bankruptcy Threshold Adjustment Act. It increased the Chapter 13 debt limits to a total of $2.75M without secured or unsecured…

A common question that is asked by a person who has a pending immigration petition or application is “how much longer until USCIS makes a decision?”  The question is understandable,…

Q: I worked in a company for over 10 years. A new supervisor and I do not get  along. Last week, the company terminated me without any explanation. I do…

When job termination can give rise to employee’s legal action Q: I’m an account executive at a real estate company. I enjoy the work and I’m good at it. But…

THE Catholic of Diocese of Oakland has just filed Chapter 11 seeking bankruptcy protection from 330 lawsuits arising from sexual molestation cases that happened during the 70s and 80s. Bankruptcy…

Many people are of the perception that simply downloading a prenuptial agreement from the internet and signing it with their fiance offers them a bullet proof protection from a divorce. …

Wallen Lawson worked as a territory manager for two years for PPG Architectural Finishes, Inc. (PPG), a paint manufacturer. Lawson sold and stocked PPG paint products in Lowe’s home improvement…

THE client has been in business since 2014. It has multiple outlets, more than 15 in the Southland. Some outlets are profitable, some break even, and some lose a little…

If you live with a chronic illness and are considering the prospect of purchasing life insurance, you may be wondering if your condition will get in the way of your…

Looking closely at your time records Some employers do not pay for a “few minutes” of time worked by employees before or after  their schedules. Five or ten minutes of…

Client is a young senior. At 65, in my book, she’s a young senior. She has been living by herself since she divorced 20 years ago. Her adult children have…

When an employee quits from work, the employer must pay all wages due within 72 hours, unless the employee has given 72-hour previous notice in which case payment shall be…

THE highest profile cases of bankruptcy filings are Walt Disney, Milton Hershey, Orange County, a certain Catholic diocese in the USA that was hit by the child molestation cases, the…