Author Archives: David Toback
Lawsuit Challenges Legality of Online Property Value Website
The value of your home means a lot. Whether you are trying to sell it, use it to show assets, use it to take out an equity line of credit, or to demonstrate net worth, you generally want the value of your home to be as high as possible. Who Values Property? Property is… Read More »
Read the Fine Print in Your Business’ Debt Obligations
Retail giant Toys R Us recently filed for bankruptcy, and according to reports, it did so for the same reason that many individuals do: The company took on too much debt. If you think that big companies are immune to the pitfalls of loans and debt, think otherwise. And if debt is enough to… Read More »
IRS Allows Deductions for Certain Hurricane Losses
As Hurricane Irma ravages the state, Florida residents will likely incur massive losses. Hopefully, the losses will be minimal, or at least, covered by some form of insurance. But if they are not, and if the losses are great enough, Floridians may be able to qualify for some tax relief under the tax code,… Read More »
How to Use Tenancy by the Entireties to Protect Your Business
The protection of property owned by a husband and wife jointly is one of the most well known protections in the law. Ask many people about creditor or asset protection and a number will already know that creditors can’t take property that is owned jointly by a husband and wife. That concept is better… Read More »
Recent Case Strengthens Right to Marry for Incapacitated People
Guardianship laws have come under some criticism lately for bringing out greed and corruption. The system appoints a guardian to care for another person’s (called a “ward”) affairs when the ward cannot do so for himself, for example, when the ward is physically or mentally incapacitated. A recent case brings up yet another potential… Read More »
Settlement Agreements Need to Say What They Mean
If your business is involved in a dispute, and you try to resolve it through a written agreement, it’s important that your settlement document say everything you intend it to say. That’s because settlement agreements are contracts, and a recent case reinforces how important it is to be thorough with these documents. Lawsuit Over… Read More »
Make Sure You’re Not Accidentally Violating Someone’s Copyright or Trademark Protections
Major retailer Costco is in some hot water, and is now liable to Tiffany’s for over $19 million for selling jewelry labeled under the Tiffany’s label, even though the jewelry was not from Tiffany’s. Although this is a dispute between two multimillion dollar companies, the legal lessons are also valuable to those with small… Read More »
Don’t Ignore Your Corporate Bylaws
If you have a business, and that business has investors, shareholders, or a board of directors, you probably have bylaws. If you are like so many business owners who see bylaws as a nuisance or an unnecessary burden, you may have simply used a form to fill out your bylaws that you purchased from… Read More »
What OJ Simpson Can Teach Us About Asset Protection
OJ Simpson was granted parole recently, and will be leaving prison in October. But while he will be free for the sake of having his rights restored and the ability to come and go, there’s one thing that the parole board can’t free him from: the obligation to pay back the multimillion dollar verdicts… Read More »
What is a Do Not Hospitalize Directive?
A recent article points out how a potentially important directive is sometimes overlooked in the arsenal of health care directives. We’re used to planning ahead to appoint health care surrogates, powers of attorney, or issuing do not resuscitate (DNR) orders. But what about a do not hospitalize order? The Do Not Hospitalize Order As… Read More »
