.::WELCOME TO LAWNEWTRENDS.COM::.

Archive for October, 2008

What Identity Theft is
Maybe you have heard many recent news stories concerning identity thefts. It is basically the use of your personal social security number, drivers license number or maybe even something like your mother's maiden name (many internet sites ask for that), by an unathourized person, meaning someone other than your own self. That is not a very comforting thought, i am sure you will agree. It is good to stay prepared for the event that such misfortune may befall you. It does sound like too much at first. But imagine you go shopping, select your favorite trousers and when it is time to pay you are told your credit balance is next to zero on your card. Only you know that it cannot be so - now you would need to follow up with the bank etc. Here is how you can take measures to prevent identity theft

In these unsettled times, it's the sign of a smart business
owner to expect the best but prepare for the worst. What
will happen to your business if you are unavailable due to
any circumstance? Perhaps you are a Reservist and get called
into active duty, for example.

By drafting a Power of Attorney, you will be giving someone
the legal right to look after your business affairs if you are
unavailable, away, mentally incapacitated, or otherwise unable
to make business decisions.

Just as many individuals postpone writing a will, many business
owners avoid the step of drafting a Power of Attorney. Both
appear to have a superstitious belief that the act of preparing
for potential problems will attract misfortune.

A leading company, which deals with the problems of drink and drug related accidents at work has given out a six-point plan, which they hope will begin to cut the number of injuries that occur in the workplace due to intoxicants.

Grendonstar Distribution Ltd (GDL) advocate a 'total solution' for improving health and safety in the workplace by introducing a number of rigorous steps to weed out behaviours which could lead to serious injury or even death.

What does New York Law Say About Medical Fee Splitting?

Generally, New York Law bans fee splitting in the practice of medicine. This prohibition applies to both corporate and individual settings. Specifically, New York Public Health Law section 4501(1) expressly forbids both businesses and individual practitioners to practice medicine for profit in a manner that includes the referral or recommendation of persons to a physician, dentist, hospital, health related facility, or dispensary for any form of medical or dental care or treatment of any ailment or physical condition. The Law also prohibits physicians and other health care professionals and facilities to accept for medical or dental care or treatment any person referred or recommended for such care or treatment by a medical or dental referral service business located in or doing business in another state if the medical or dental referral service business would be prohibited if the business were located in or doing business in New York. In simple words, it is prohibited to give or accept fees for patient referrals.

1. A disposable Email ID
It is always safe to have an alternative email id than your business id. For instance, if you would like to use an email id to buy something online or to download a product, you could use the disposable one. This way, even if somone did crack this password they would not be able to get in touch with your business partners. You could use something like yahoo and maybe hotmail for this purpose - here you can make any number of IDs for free you know.

Debitor audits have returned to Chapter 7 bankruptcy cases.

Although it does not come with a great shock, debtor audits in Chapter 7 bankruptcy cases have returned. The U.S Trustee has commenced debtor audits as of May 12, 2008.

Isn't the U.S. Trustee technically doing debtor audits when bringing 2004 Exam Subpoenas? Isn't the U.S. Trustee already seeking tax documentation and proof of income through these 2004 Exam Subpoenas? Of course. However, they are not technically considered audits as mandated in Section 603(a) of Public Law 109-8, the Bankruptcy Abuse Prevention and Consumer Protection Act of 2005.

URL theft by a partner or co-owner: We receive calls every week from companies who essentially tell us that an ex-partner or company owner has taken control of their domain registrations and that the now-ex-partner refuses to release the stolen name to the company. Perhaps the name was registered initially in one partner's name. In some cases, that business owner redirects the domain to another website, essentially putting the online business out of business. More often, the business owner demands some sort or money or other consideration in exchange for the domain name. Essentially, they use the URL as leverage to obtain something they couldn't achieve in the context of the partnership. This is perhaps the most common example of domain name theft. Domain names stolen in this fashion account for about 25% of the calls and emails we receive in the domain theft area.

1. What it is
Online crimes have quickly become coom place today. It comes as a nasty surprise to one when you know your password has been hacked into. At times it can cause you monetary loss as well as embarassment among people, that you have 'sent' emails to. The internet in itself is a great place to learn more about identity theft. You can find much information on how you can stay protected on the internet, right on the internet!

If you are starting a new Law Firm you will probably want to lease an office that maximizes space. However, as your practice grows so will your need for more space. As a growing Law Firm you do not want to choose between moving and growth. This dilemma need not arise if you plan ahead and acquire expansion rights.

Social Security benefits can affect child support in two ways. First, if either the parent paying child support (the "obligor") or the parent receiving child support (the "obligee") receives Social Security benefits, the Arizona Child Support Guidelines require that the Social Security benefits be included in determining either parents income. Thus, the Social Security benefits help to determine the initial child support obligation.

Second, the Social Security benefits can affect the amount of child support that must be paid out of pocket by the parent paying child support. Section 26 of the Arizona Child Support Guidelines addresses this issue and states verbatim as follows: