You don’t need to face your debt problems alone
ARE you having trouble paying your bills every month? Are you being harassed by bill collectors who will not leave you alone no matter how many times you tell them…
Category: Business
Covering the week’s most noteworthy business news impacting the Filipino-American and Global Filipino community.
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Are undocumented workers entitled to back wages if fired due to disability discrimination?
IN 2003, Vicente Salas started work for Sierra Chemical in its production line filling containers with chemicals used for water treatment. The company hires seasonal workers because demand for its…
Facing foreclosure: Here’s one mistake you should avoid
YOU already know that your home is in foreclosure. You’ve received that dreaded Notice of Default. You know that after 90 days, your home can be scheduled for a Trustee…
Does bankruptcy court have power to void debtor's homestead exemption?
The situation we are going to discuss involves the debtor’s homestead claim of exemption for his residence in a bankruptcy proceeding. In California, the homestead claim of exemption is $75,000,…
Whistleblowing Playboy employee in retaliatory firing, awarded $6 million
Internal complaints of illegal acts are protected CATHERINE Zulfer was employed by Playboy Enterprises, Inc. for about thirty years in various accounting positions. During the last eighteen months of her…
Need to file bankruptcy but worried about your credit?
IF YOU are in debt and are seriously considering bankruptcy as an option, I am sure a lot of thoughts are going through your mind. I just want to get…
Can debtor pre-filing admission of fraud be used to defeat bankruptcy relief?
In this discussion, we envision a situation where a person signs a declaration before he files a bankruptcy admitting that he has defrauded someone, and that if he should file…
Pregnant? Let’s keep both your mouth and your baby healthy
Are you pregnant or thinking about becoming pregnant? Do you know someone who is pregnant? While you’re picking out tiny clothes and reading childcare books, remember the importance of your oral health!…
How do you file if you are missing a W-2?
YOU should have received Form W-2 (Wage and Tax Statement) from your employer by now. If you did not, here are 10 tips to help you file: 1. Employers have…
When is an employment termination illegal?
(Unfair does not mean Unlawful) Q: I WORKED in a company for more than 10 years. A new supervisor was recently transferred to my department. This person and I do…
Are you facing debt problems and don’t know what to do?
WHEN people are going through financial difficulty and are unable to pay their bills, their first reaction is often to ignore their debts and avoid contact with creditors. They think…
Invoking 5th amendment right against self-incrimination in bankruptcy
THE 5th amendment to the United States Constitution states that no person may be compelled to testify against himself. Hence a person may refuse to answer a question on the…
Should you be organized or messy when you face the IRS auditor?
THERE are two different approaches to prepare for an audit: shoe-box and organized approach. Let’s discuss each method so you can determine which one is best for your next audit….
Workers at Amazon.com warehouses in high court battle over backwages
Waiting at work for security checks may be compensable JESSE Busk and Laurie Castro are former employees of Integrity Staffing Solutions, Inc., a company which provides warehouse space and staffing to…
To get out of debt, control your spending
DO you dream of simplifying your life, reducing your stress and regaining control of your financial future? Everyone dreams of living a debt-free life and yet we know that today,…
Do you recognize these 6 common misconceptions about dental health?
DURING medieval times, people believed they could cure a toothache by driving a nail into an oak tree. Silly, right? Today’s misconceptions are different. There are still some crazy ideas…
Statutory rapist discharges victim’s damages in bankruptcy court
SEXUAL intercourse with a minor is called statutory rape. Whether the minor consented is irrelevant. If the law states that anyone below 16 is a minor, then carnal knowledge of…
Do you qualify for earned income credit?
HERE are the top 10 things the Internal Revenue Service wants you to know about this valuable credit: 1. If you qualify, it could be worth up to $6,044 this…
Jury awards $26.1 million to employee terminated due to age discrimination
IN 2002, Bobby Nickel was hired by Corporate Express as a facilities manager. In 2008, Corporate Express was acquired by Staples. In 2011, at the age of 64, Mr. Nickel…
Mentally unstable lawyer discharges $82,000 of students loans
FIRST of all, I am not the lawyer in question although I am able to speak fluent Thai and Russian after 3 bottles of beer and the last judge I…
10 tips in deducting charitable contributions
1. YOU may deduct donations to qualified organizations. Qualified organizations have tax-exempt status from the IRS. These include corporations or foundations organized in the U.S. for religious, charitable, educational, scientific,…
Are homeowners liable for injuries caused by drunk guests?
ON April 27, 2007, Jessica Manosa hosted a party at a vacant residence owned by her parents. Manosa and most of the attendees of the party were under 21 years…
Do you have a secret fear of losing everything you have?
I KNOW we’ve never met. But there’s a common concern we all share. As a debt relief attorney, I hear it from people who consult with me everyday. It is…
Questions to ask yourself about brushing
BRUSHING: It’s the foundation for keeping your mouth clean and healthy. In fact, it’s so basic that most people don’t think about it very much—they just do it. If you’re…
Adversary complaint to challenge discharge cannot be settled by parties
DEBTOR filed for Chapter 7 bankruptcy relief to discharge $150,000 of unsecured debt. Creditor who holds a state court judgment for $50,000 on a signature loan files an adversarial case…
What status should you use to file your tax returns?
HERE are 12 tips to help you choose your correct filing status: 1. There are five filing status options to choose from: single, married filing jointly, married filing separately, head…
Employees working 12 hours per day may be owed backwages
Q: I AM an hourly employee at a skilled nursing facility working 12-hour shifts, three days a week. I usually work more than 12 hours per shift finishing up paperwork…
When you have no choice but to file bankruptcy
Facing serious debt problems can be depressing to a lot of people. It may seem like the end of the world. You may feel angry, depressed, guilty- or a combination…
Misrepresentation of debtor’s true income leads to denial of bankruptcy discharge
THE new bankruptcy law requires debtors to calculate their gross and net incomes using the means test form B22. Differences in the calculation of income can result from many factors….
How to avoid IRS audits in 2014
1. E-FILE. When you e-file, your chance of getting an error notice from the IRS is significantly reduced. Besides, it’s faster. Your refunds also arrive sooner. 2. Check your occupation. …