Jun 30, 2021 | Bankruptcy Blog
Companies not only strive to adequately meet the needs of their desired target audiences but also work to establish and maintain positive relationships with their employees, customers and community. Even with the use of best business practices, situations may arise in which a company is unable to come to a resolution without the assistance of legal intervention as a lawyer, like a bankruptcy lawyer. Having a business lawyer on retainer may help in navigating through such strenuous circumstances.
Understanding Types of Potential Conflict
Conflicts can come about at any time between any two or more parties. Whether it be an internal or external disagreement or accusation, it is important that a company understand all possible scenarios that may potentially occur. Business lawyers employed on a retainer typically have extensive knowledge of common charges and lawsuits that might be filed against the company. Therefore, they may be able to assist in implementing proactive measures to avoid any future liability, as well as develop effective strategies aimed at placating any existing issues. A company may find it beneficial to utilize the skills of a lawyer when dealing with matters relating to:
- Codes of conduct, policies and regulations
- Execution of contracts
- Dissemination of proprietary information
- Wrongful termination and lost wages
- Unsafe working conditions
- Faulty products
- Damage to ecosystems
- Exposure to harmful substances
Easing Undue Stress
Predicting the exact moment that a company will need to retain the services of a lawyer is nearly impossible. In an emergency, a company without representation may struggle to find somebody that knows the inner workings of its company and can adequately provide services in a timely and cost-efficient manner. Having a business lawyer on retainer may be one way for companies to avoid such situations. These lawyers should be knowledgeable of the company’s products and services, executive level management team and financial standing; this greatly minimizes the amount of time spent on company research. When paying a lawyer on retainer, a company is ensuring that it continuously remains one of the lawyer’s top priorities and can request their services at any given time. The company can therefore devote its time to managing the current situation rather than scrambling to find someone to competently defend them.
Although some businesses are lucky enough to never encounter any legal issues, this doesn’t hold true for the majority of companies. Contact a business lawyer to discuss retainer services and how they may assist your company with any legal matters that you may encounter.
Apr 30, 2021 | General Blog
Personal Injury Lawyer
After being injured in an accident, you might feel overwhelmed with all the expenses, and the thought of hiring a personal injury lawyer in Washington, DC, such as from Cohen & Cohen, could exacerbate those feelings. While you need to file a lawsuit to gain compensation to help you with your expenses, you don’t have the funds to pay your lawyer upfront. The good news is you might not have to.
Contingency Fee Agreements
Personal injury lawyers understand that the circumstances surrounding most personal injuries don’t exactly give you time to save up for representation. This is why many of them allow for contingency fee agreements. Instead of you paying your lawyer upfront, or even as you go through the process of your case, pay would be contingent on winning the case. That fee would come out of your settlement. This means if there is no settlement, so if you lose the case, you wouldn’t end up paying the lawyer fee at all.
Many contingency fees range anywhere from 33% to 40%, but could also vary based on a few factors. For example, if a lawyer has more experience and is more sought after, he or she might charge a higher percentage for the fee, such as 45%. This means that 45% of your settlement would go to the lawyer. If your settlement is $80,000, the lawyer would be paid $36,000.
The obvious benefit of a contingency fee agreement is that the fee comes out of the settlement at the end, but there are other benefits as well. For example, you often receive better representation from a lawyer who charges a contingency fee because his or her payment depends on whether the case is won.
Other Costs
Keep in mind there are other costs associated with personal injury cases. These are often not included in the contingency fee, but it depends on your lawyer. For example, the agreement with your lawyer might allow you to pay these additional costs after you reach a settlement. It might be included in the contingency fee because the lawyer would pay for them along the way. In another agreement, a lawyer might require you to pay these additional costs along the way. Be sure you know and understand what they are, as well as what and when you are required to pay.
Contact a Lawyer Today
When you’re injured in an accident that could have been avoided, you deserve to be compensated. Contact a personal injury lawyer today with any questions.
Mar 18, 2021 | General Blog
We are proud to announce that as of February 25th, 2021, the Law Offices of Neil Crane have become official Friends of the Southern Poverty Law Center! The SPLC is a non-profit organization that fights for racial justice in and beyond the southern region of the US “working in partnership with communities to dismantle white supremacy, strengthen intersectional movements, and advance the human rights of all people.”
The organization is currently monitoring over 1,600 extremist hate groups across the nation including the Ku Klux Klan and neo-Nazi movement. They work to expose these groups’ actions to the public as well as file investigative reports and train law enforcement officers. In 2020 alone, they tracked 838 American groups which can be found in their comprehensive Hate Map on their website. The SPLC has published an annual census of hate groups operating within the country since 1990.
SPLC also works closely with educators and students within their Learning for Justice program. They provide free resources to schools in order to supplement curriculum while not only transforming communities into inclusive, safe spaces but also implementing the value of social justice into the development of children that they will carry to their adulthood. Currently, the Learning for Justice program includes more than 500,000 educators who subscribe to the organization’s resource materials.
In terms of legal triumph, the Southern Poverty Law Center has battled through several landmark cases starting with Smith v. Young Men’s Christian Association in 1969. The city of Montgomery, Alabama closed its recreational facilities instead of integrating them and when the local YMCA took over its programs, they continued to exclude Black people. Morris Dees, the SPLC co-founder, sued and won this case forcing the YMCA to integrate its programs. Throughout the years, SPLC continued to fight for the human rights of Black people, disabled people, women, children, immigrants, and the LGBTQ+ community.
We are more than honored to be Friends of the Southern Poverty Law Center because of their monumental work throughout history and continued determination to achieve social justice across the entire country. For more information contact The Law Offices of Neil Crane today.
Mar 18, 2021 | Tax Debt Resolution Blog
The recently passed American Rescue Plan includes another stimulus check in the amount of $1,400 but be very careful because this relief payment will be different from the rest. Unlike the first $2,000 check and the second $600 check, this payment can be garnished for unpaid debts.
Typically, there are three kinds of debts that can be paid via garnishment:
- IRS tax debt
- Other governmental debt
- Private debt
The first two stimulus checks were protected from all three types of debt but this upcoming payment is only protected from tax and governmental debt and outstanding child support. It is still vulnerable to garnishment by private creditors.
On Monday, March 8th, 2021, consumer and banking trade groups sent a letter to Congressional leaders pleading for this stimulus payment to be exempt from garnishment saying, “otherwise, the families that most need this money – those struggling with debt and whose entire bank accounts may be frozen by garnishment orders – will not be able to access their funds.” They urged Congress to pass a separate bill in order to prevent the checks from going directly to people’s creditors.
Unfortunately, this protection was not enacted by the legislature and therefore these stimulus funds remain accessible to banks and private creditors. This is particularly important here in Connecticut where the state collection courts have reopened allowing old garnishments to continue and new garnishments to be granted and enforced. Be careful since creditors know about your existing accounts.
Since it is difficult to change bank account information with the IRS, the only other way to prevent garnishment to the direct deposit is to close the account and wait longer to receive the check by mail. If you receive paper checks, you could cash it at retail stores or check cashers, but you run the risk of very high processing fees.
We stay updated on all governmental changes and adjustments made during this pandemic in order to provide the best advice and available options. If you are facing overwhelming debt and are concerned about your incoming stimulus check, please do not hesitate to contact a debt attorney from The Law Offices of Neil Crane call us at (203) 230-2233.
Mar 10, 2021 | General Blog
President Biden’s new American Rescue Plan introduces a wide variety of Covid-19 relief expansions, including an extended child tax credit. This bill makes interesting adjustments to the child tax credit program that is currently implemented in an effort to, according to President Biden, “give families who are struggling the most the help and the breathing room they need to get through this moment.”
This proposed credit grants an annual $3,000 per child ages six to 17 or an annual $3,600 per child under six years old. If this bill is passed, families could start receiving monthly payments of $250 from the IRS for school-aged children by this July. Additionally, families could receive about half of their total child tax credit this year and then claim the remaining amount on their 2021 tax returns.
The proposed credit expansion is income-based:
- Eligible families include individuals with a yearly income of $75,000 or less and joint filers with a yearly income of $150,000 or less.
- The credit is then reduced by $50 for every $1,000 of additional adjusted gross income.
- The credit is capped at individuals with a yearly income of $95,000 or more and joint filers with a yearly income of $170,000 or more.
- However, taxpayers who are ineligible but still make less than $200,000 individually or a joint $400,000 can still claim the original $2,000 per child credit.
Another change that this bill proposes to the program is that the credit becomes fully refundable. Under the current policy, taxpayers could only get up to a $1,400 refund if their credits exceeded the taxes they owed. If this plan is approved by the House this week, taxpayers could get the full $3,000 or $3,600 refunded. Additionally, parents do not need to be employed to be granted this credit and the proposed policy expands to US territories. Hopefully, through the passage of this bill, families who have been facing pandemic-related financial hardships could get some relief.
Mar 10, 2021 | General Blog
On Saturday, March 6th, 2021, the US Senate approved President Biden’s American Rescue Plan, a $1.9 trillion Covid-19 relief package. This bill will be going through the House of Representatives this week in efforts to get President Biden’s signature before key unemployment programs expire on Sunday, March 14th.
This bill includes:
- A $300 weekly boost to unemployment benefits through September 6, 2021
- The distribution of $1,400 stimulus checks to individuals with an $80,000 or less yearly income or joint tax filers with a $160,000 or less yearly income beginning this month
- The allocation of funds towards Covid-19 testing and vaccine distribution
- The direction of funds to state, local, and tribal governments and schools
- The expansion of tax credits for children to $3,000 annually per child ages six to 17 and $3,600 per child under six
- The expansion of tax credits for low-income employees
- The expansion of rental payment and nutrition expense assistance
- The extension of health insurance subsidies
Unsurprisingly, this bill has faced a whirlwind of partisan controversy within the Senate, House, and media despite a 68% American public approval rating, a total of about 527,000 American Covid-19 deaths, and the highest unemployment rate since the Great Depression. The American Rescue Plan is being swiftly pushed through Congress so this highly-anticipated, final passage decision is expected by the end of the week.
