Posted on January 30, 2024 in Business Law

Many small businesses overlook the importance of hiring a business attorney thinking it will be too expensive or that they can handle the issues on their own, however the sooner you consult with an experienced business lawyer the better. No matter how small, most businesses need a lawyer at some point, whether it’s to help get the company started or to help with legal battles down the line.

Be Proactive

Lawsuits can be costly for businesses, so most companies hire a business lawyer before they need one. If you wait until your company is in a legal battle to hire an attorney, it might be too late, and you will end up paying more in litigation costs. Experienced business lawyers  are valuable to help negotiate disputes prior to litigation and can also help you negotiate contracts to prevent disputes down the road.

When Might a Small Business Need an Attorney?

The best time to consult with a business lawyer is right away.  When your company is facing issues such as contract disputes, lease negotiations, employee or contractor issues, financial stresses due to natural disasters, pandemics, slow-down in business, vendor issues, what to do with personal guarantees on loans or leases, etc.

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 Posted on January 30, 2024 in Bankruptcy

The past year caused literal changes to our daily lives. The mandatory lock-down caused an economic shutdown affecting the business sector. Well known brands and major companies in every industry filed bankruptcy one after another and it seems like more are still yet to come to terms with their lawyers.

According to bankruptcy attorney’s, filing bankruptcy isn’t a death sentence. Chapter 11 bankruptcy for instance gives companies a chance to negotiate with their creditors to restructure their debt terms. This means that bankruptcy reorganizations can salvage an already failing company from debt.

However, Chapter 11 reorganization is an expensive and time consuming process that only large corporations can handle. What about independent business owners, small businesses and sole proprietors that make up a couple million operating in America’s business sector? What could be their options?

The most recommended is to file for Chapter 7 liquidation bankruptcy. This type of bankruptcy works for both business entities and independent/sole proprietorship type of businesses. While this will liquidate business assets resulting in a total shutdown, it is the cheapest and quickest way for business owners to settle their struggling business.

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 Posted on April 17, 2023 in Bankruptcy

If you are like many Marylanders, you do not carry cash. Why should you when you can use more convenient forms of paying for your purchases, such as bank cards or credit cards? However, being part of a cashless society often means losing track of the amount of money you spend. For many, this means acquiring more debt than they realize.

It often does not take much to fall hopelessly behind on your payments to creditors and lenders. You may be keeping up with the minimum payments until an unplanned major purchase, a car repair or medical emergency tips the delicate balance. Are you aware of the indicators that you may be reaching the danger zone with your debt?

Does this sound like you?

Knowing when your situation is dire is the first step to finding a way back from a financial nightmare. You may assure yourself that times are hard, but perhaps things do not have to be as difficult for you as they are. If you are experiencing any of the following scenarios, you may be at the point where reaching out for help soon is a wise decision:

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 Posted on April 17, 2023 in Bankruptcy

Farmers are a vital part of the American economy as they provide food to people in the United States and around the world. Farmers in Maryland and elsewhere have faced economic challenges caused in part by weather related issues, and newly imposed tariffs are also having an impact. As a result, there has been an uptick in filings for bankruptcy under Chapter 12, which allows farmers to reorganize their debt and pay it back on a seasonally adjusted schedule.

The year 2019 was particularly hard for farmers where the weather was concerned. A very wet spring delayed the planting season, which, in turn, had a negative impact on crop yields. This, coupled with the effect the farmers felt from the tariffs, has led to a difficult year for American farmers.

Congress recently took action to aid the family farmers in the U.S. They recently passed the Family Farmer Relief Act, and it was then signed into law. The law changes the limit of eligibility for Chapter 12 bankruptcy filings from $4.1 million to $10 million. This enables a larger number of farmers to qualify for the program.

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 Posted on April 17, 2023 in Bankruptcy

Bankruptcy has always had a dark cloud hanging over it as something to avoid.

That simply isn’t true. Filing for bankruptcy is freedom from crippling debt. Filing allows you to get the monkey off you back and start anew.

Maybe you made some poor financial decisions, fell on hard times, or fell victim to an injury or disorder that racked up medical bills that seems insurmountable. No matter your situation, bankruptcy is a way out. There is no need to dip into your 401(k) or savings to pay off mounting debt.

Below you’ll find some typical questions and answers to figure out which bankruptcy path (if any) is right for your situation.

What are some situations that can lead to massive debt and eventual bankruptcy?

• A divorce and thus a much lower income
• Physical or mental health problems
• Unemployment due to a myriad of possibilities
• Creditor harassment seeking unpaid debts
• The bank is threatening foreclosure to your home or property

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 Posted on April 17, 2023 in Slip And Fall

Slip-and-fall accidents can cause debilitating injuries. Losing balance can lead to serious injuries. Be careful and take necessary precautions.Slip-and-fall accidents can cause debilitating injuries. Losing balance can lead to serious injuries. Be careful and take necessary precautions.Far from being a sight gag or a punchline, a slip-and-fall incident can be a debilitating and injurious experience. It is possible for people to suffer serious injuries when they slip and lose their balance, resulting in a fall.

Factors such as age and health can influence how serious a fall is. Once you understand the serious kinds of injuries that people can suffer, you will likely no longer consider such experiences humorous.

Broken bones are a common risk in a slip-and-fall accident

Broken bones, also known as fractures, are relatively common injuries that can occur in a broad range of traumatic incidents. Fall, including slip-and-fall accidents, can easily result in broken bones. In many cases, fractures of the arms, hands or fingers may be more common because of people attempting to brace or catch themselves as they fall. People can also break leg bones, ribs or even their hips.

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 Posted on April 17, 2023 in Motor vehicle accidents

No one would text and drive if they knew they were going to cause an accident and seriously injure — or even kill — another person. That said, while we know that distracted driving leads to a lot of accidents every year, people continue to take this risk. They often just assume that it will be someone else who crashes, not them.

Part of the equation is that people tend to think they can quickly send a short text without really putting themselves in danger. Research has shown that it often takes as long as five seconds, though. Not only is that longer than many people assume it will take, but they can drive farther — about 100 yards — than they realize.

This is why these deadly accidents keep happening. People just do not fully grasp the danger. They take risks because they don’t know just how vast those risks are. You see this time and time again as people express remorse after causing an accident. By then, though, it is too late and the damage is done.

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 Posted on April 17, 2023 in DWI

Summer is in full swing, and you’ve been enjoying some down time, perhaps attending a concert or two, going to the beach, or getting together with friends for a backyard barbecue. These types of activities often include alcohol consumption, which isn’t necessarily a problem but might be if you drink then get behind the wheel of a car to drive.

Driving under the influence of alcohol is a crime in California and all other states. The easiest way to avoid an arrest, of course, is to abstain from alcohol if you plan to drive. That doesn’t guarantee anything, however, because there have been many incidents where perfectly sober people have been arrested on suspicion of drunk driving. If a police officer pulls you over and asks you to get out of your car, you can bet he or she thinks you’ve been drinking.

Field sobriety tests

In California and most other states, police typically use three field sobriety tests to determine if they have probable cause to make a DUI arrest. When you step out of your car, the officer at hand might ask you to submit to a walk-and-turn test, a one-leg stand test or a horizontal gaze nystagmus test.

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 Posted on April 17, 2023 in Motor vehicle accidents

Summertime is a time for socializing with friends and enjoying the warm weather. Often the experience includes alcohol. It is possible for a person to not be aware of how alcohol may impact his or her ability to safely drive a car. Impaired drivers cause many of the fatal motor vehicle accidents that occur in Maryland.

Early on a recent morning police were called to the scene of a crash where a vehicle had collided with a utility pole. When officers arrived, there was no sign of the driver but they found a passenger who was unconscious. The passenger was pronounced dead at the scene as a result of severe trauma produced by injuries suffered in the crash.

The driver was apprehended nearby after a short search by law enforcement officers. He was transported to Calvert Health Medical Center with injuries that were not considered life-threatening. He faces multiple charges, including drunk driving, failure to report an accident, negligent and reckless driving and failure to remain at the scene of an accident. An additional charge for speeding was also assessed.

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 Posted on April 17, 2023 in Bankruptcy

Many Americans talk about a sad decline of mom-and-pop, Main-Street, small businesses. The subject is a favorite among elected officials around election season. But for many years, advocates have pressed for changes in federal bankruptcy laws that could give struggling small businesses a fighting chance of keeping their doors open.

One strong and long-awaited change took effect only this year, and the word is still getting out to the small-business community.

Trying to level the playing field with big business

A long-standing criticism of U.S. bankruptcy laws is that they take good care of huge, Fortune 500 businesses. The arrangement, so these objections claim, allows these corporations to not only survive but thrive through challenges that would sink most family-owned businesses.

Indeed, until now, courts rejected the Chapter 11 bankruptcy filings of most small businesses. To add insult to injury, these filings were expensive and time-consuming for small businesses to complete and, if they even made it to the reorganization process itself, challenging to weather.

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