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Monday, November 17, 2014

Power of attorney for financial affairs in California



A power of attorney for financial affairs in California is the topic of this blog post.  Powers of attorney in California are governed by Sections 4000 through 4545 inclusive, of the California Probate Code.  This blog post will discuss the use of a durable power of attorney for financial affairs. The term durable power of attorney refers to the fact that the powers given to the agent will continue to exist even if the person who signed the durable power of attorney becomes incapacitated and can no longer make their own decisions regarding the management of their finances and property unless the durable power of attorney provides otherwise.

A durable power of attorney can also be drafted to become what is known as a “springing power of attorney” meaning that it will not take effect until the person who signed the durable power of attorney becomes incapacitated as defined in the document.  

A durable power of attorney for financial affairs may also be customized for most situations and can grant broad and sweeping powers to the agent such as the power to manage, dispose of, sell, and convey any real and personal property, run a business, for security and financial transactions and to use the property as security if the agent borrows money on behalf of the principal. It can even grant the agent the power to prepare and file tax returns on behalf of the principal and nominate a conservator of the estate of the principal if desired.

The law in California states that a durable power of attorney in California must be dated and must be acknowledged before a notary public or signed by two witnesses. If it is signed by two witnesses, they must witness either (1) the signing of the power of attorney or (2) the principal’s signing or acknowledgment of his or her signature. A durable power of attorney that may affect real property should be acknowledged before a notary public so that it may easily be recorded with the County Recorder in all counties where any real property is located.

A durable power of attorney can be amended or changed only by executing a new durable power of attorney or by executing an amendment through the same formalities as an original. The principal retains the right to revoke or terminate any durable power of attorney at any time, so long as the principal is competent.

Executing a durable power of attorney makes good sense when a person has a trusted person whether a friend, relative or spouse who they trust and can rely on to protect their interests in the event they become incapacitated.

Attorneys or individuals in California who would like to view a portion of a sample 18 page springing durable power of attorney which was created and is sold by the author of this blog post can use the link shown below.

Sample durable power of attorney for California 

Attorneys or parties who would like to view portions of over 300 sample legal documents for California and Federal litigation sold by the author of this blog post can use the link shown below.

View over 300 sample legal documents for sale

The author of this blog post, Stan Burman, is an entrepreneur and freelance paralegal who has worked in California and Federal litigation since 1995 and has created over 300 sample legal documents for California and Federal litigation.

*Do you want to use this article on your website, blog or e-zine? You can, as long as you include this blurb with it: “Stan Burman is the author of over 300 sample legal documents for California and Federal litigation and is the author of a free weekly legal newsletter. You can receive 10 free gifts just for subscribing. Just visit http://freeweeklylegalnewsletter.gr8.com/ for more information.

Follow the author on Twitter at: https://twitter.com/LegalDocsPro

You can view sample legal document packages for sale by going to http://www.legaldocspro.com/downloads.aspx

DISCLAIMER:

Please note that the author of this blog post, Stan Burman is NOT an attorney and as such is unable to provide any specific legal advice. The author is NOT engaged in providing any legal, financial, or other professional services, and any information contained in this blog post is NOT intended to constitute legal advice.

The materials and information contained in this blog post have been prepared by Stan Burman for informational purposes only and are not legal advice. Transmission of the information contained in this blog post is not intended to create, and receipt does not constitute, any business relationship between the author and any readers. Readers should not act upon this information without seeking professional counsel.

Friday, November 14, 2014

Health care power of attorney in California



A health care power of attorney in California is the topic of this blog post.  Health care powers of attorney are governed by Sections 4670 through 4743 inclusive, of the California Probate Code.

A health care power of attorney may be designated as a durable power of attorney for health care in reference to the fact that the powers given to the agent by the principal will continue to exist even if the person who signed the durable health care power of attorney becomes incapacitated and can no longer make their own decisions regarding their health care unless the document provides otherwise.

A health care power of attorney may include a statement of desires concerning life-prolonging treatment, services and procedures and can also include a nomination of the agent or another person to be conservator of the person for the principal is appointed.

Health care powers of attorney in California must be dated and be acknowledged before a notary public.

As with any power of attorney the decision as to whether or not to have one prepared as well as what to include should be carefully considered beforehand.

Attorneys or individuals in California who would like to view a sample durable power of attorney for health care created by the author and available for FREE download in Word format can use the link shown below.

Sample durable power of attorney for health care

Attorneys or parties who would like to view portions of over 300 sample legal documents for California and Federal litigation sold by the author of this blog post can use the link shown below.

View over 300 sample legal documents for sale

The author of this blog post, Stan Burman, is an entrepreneur and freelance paralegal who has worked in California and Federal litigation since 1995 and has created over 300 sample legal documents for California and Federal litigation.

*Do you want to use this article on your website, blog or e-zine? You can, as long as you include this blurb with it: “Stan Burman is the author of over 300 sample legal documents for California and Federal litigation and is the author of a free weekly legal newsletter. You can receive 10 free gifts just for subscribing. Just visit http://freeweeklylegalnewsletter.gr8.com/ for more information.

Follow the author on Twitter at: https://twitter.com/LegalDocsPro

You can view sample legal document packages for sale by going to http://www.legaldocspro.com/downloads.aspx

DISCLAIMER:

Please note that the author of this blog post, Stan Burman is NOT an attorney and as such is unable to provide any specific legal advice. The author is NOT engaged in providing any legal, financial, or other professional services, and any information contained in this blog post is NOT intended to constitute legal advice.

The materials and information contained in this blog post have been prepared by Stan Burman for informational purposes only and are not legal advice. Transmission of the information contained in this blog post is not intended to create, and receipt does not constitute, any business relationship between the author and any readers. Readers should not act upon this information without seeking professional counsel.
 



 
 
 

Collection agency debt validation letter



A collection agency debt validation letter is the topic of this blog post.  Debt validation letters are authorized by the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act (FDCPA) provision found in Title 15 United States Code section 1692g(b) which allows consumers to send a written communication to any third-party debt collector such as a collection agency that their claim is disputed and validation is requested.  

Section 1692g(b) also states that if the consumer notifies the debt collector in writing within thirty days that the debt, or any portion thereof, is disputed, or that the consumer requests the name and address of the original creditor, the debt collector shall cease collection of the debt, or any disputed portion thereof, until the debt collector obtains verification of the debt or a copy of a judgment, or the name and address of the original creditor, and a copy of such verification or judgment, or name and address of the original creditor, is mailed to the consumer by the debt collector.

You should send any debt validation letter within thirty days of receiving any communication from a debt collector as in most cases this will prevent the debt collector from any further attempts to collect the debt until they have obtained verification of the debt.

If the debt validation letter is not sent within thirty days the debt collector may continue attempts to collect the debt while they obtain verification of the debt.

Title 15 United States Code section 1692g(c) states in pertinent part that even if the consumer does not dispute the validity of a debt within the thirty day period that failure to dispute the validity of any debt may not be construed by any court as an admission of liability by the consumer.

The first thing to do after receiving any communication from a debt collector is to first determine if the debt may be valid or not as the use of a debt validation letter may not be a good idea where the debt is clearly valid as sending the letter may prompt the debt collector to not only verify the debt but also take further collection actions. However if the name of the creditor is listed on the collection agency notice and you do not recognize the name of the creditor than the use of a debt validation letter should be seriously considered.

Attorneys or parties who would like to view or download a sample debt validation letter to a collection agency created by the author and available for FREE download in Word format can use the link shown below.

Sample debt validation letter to collection agency

Attorneys or parties who would like to view portions of over 300 sample legal documents for California and Federal litigation sold by the author of this blog post can use the link shown below.

View over 300 sample legal documents for sale

The author of this blog post, Stan Burman, is an entrepreneur and freelance paralegal who has worked in California and Federal litigation since 1995 and has created over 300 sample legal documents for California and Federal litigation.

*Do you want to use this article on your website, blog or e-zine? You can, as long as you include this blurb with it: “Stan Burman is the author of over 300 sample legal documents for California and Federal litigation and is the author of a free weekly legal newsletter. You can receive 10 free gifts just for subscribing. Just visit http://freeweeklylegalnewsletter.gr8.com/ for more information.

Follow the author on Twitter at: https://twitter.com/LegalDocsPro

You can view sample legal document packages for sale by going to http://www.legaldocspro.com/downloads.aspx

DISCLAIMER:

Please note that the author of this blog post, Stan Burman is NOT an attorney and as such is unable to provide any specific legal advice. The author is NOT engaged in providing any legal, financial, or other professional services, and any information contained in this blog post is NOT intended to constitute legal advice.

The materials and information contained in this blog post have been prepared by Stan Burman for informational purposes only and are not legal advice. Transmission of the information contained in this blog post is not intended to create, and receipt does not constitute, any business relationship between the author and any readers. Readers should not act upon this information without seeking professional counsel.
 



 
 

Thursday, November 13, 2014

Credit bureau debt disputes using the Fair Credit Reporting Act



Credit bureau debt disputes using the Fair Credit Reporting Act are the topic of this blog post.  Credit bureau (CRA) debt disputes are submitted under the provisions of a pursuant to a federal law known as the Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA) found in Title 15 United States Code § 1681 et seq.  The FCRA was created by the United States Congress through legislation back in 1970 and has been amended several times.

The FCRA requires that any CRA who has received a debt dispute letter must conduct "a reasonable investigation" into the disputed information and remove anything they can't verify as accurate. Equifax, Experian and Transunion are popularly known as the “big three” CRA’s.  It is my personal opinion that the most effective way of disputing any debt with the credit bureaus is through the use of a detailed letter disputing the debt and providing as much information and documentation as possible along with the letter.

A recently created federal agency known as the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau accepts complaints at their website at http://www.consumerfinance.gov/complaint/ in the event that any CRA does not properly investigate or does not respond to repeated dispute letters sent by a consumer.

I cannot stress enough the critical mistake that some consumers make by submitting their debt
dispute to a CRA either online or over the telephone.  NO consumer should ever submit any debt dispute to a CRA either online or over the telephone as in most cases they will not have the opportunity to include enough information. It is true that Equifax, Experian and Transunion all prominently feature on their websites that you can submit your dispute online or over the telephone and it sounds much more convenient, however I strongly recommend that you submit any debt dispute through a detailed letter sent by certified mail, return receipt requested to all of the CRA’s that are reporting inaccurate or obsolete information on your credit report. 

Credit bureau debt dispute letters should be at least one full page if not more and should state in detail the fact as to why the information in the credit report is inaccurate as well as containing copies of documents that support the claim of inaccurate information being reported.   Do NOT send original documents to the CRA in any case as you may never see them again. It is also very important to keep several copies of the debt dispute letter and all documents that were provided for your records.

A lawsuit can also be filed against any CRA although in my personal opinion the filing of a lawsuit should be considered as a last resort. Consumers should be sure that they have copies of not only the debt dispute letter but all of the attachments that were sent along with it.  The reason for this is that in the event that you fail to provide the CRA with a detailed explanation of the dispute they may simply respond to any lawsuit by claiming that they are not liable as they did not receive adequate information to investigate the dispute.

Anyone who disputes a debt with a CRA should ensure that they save multiple copies of ALL evidence that could be used in court to prove that they have been damaged.   The consumer submitting the evidence should also include documentation that there is a factual disagreement about what happened to their debt dispute or disputes.  If you fail to save all of the evidence supporting your claim the CRA or the furnisher of the information may file a motion for summary judgment which could result in the case being decided by a judge instead of having a trial by jury.

The most important procedure to remember and to document is to copy and save in a safe place  the certified mail receipt that shows that the CRA received the debt dispute letter as the big three CRA’s are notorious for consistently losing or at least claiming to lose correspondence from consumers. Also important are any letters detailing all denials of credit that have been received as those are proof that a consumer may have been damaged by errors in their credit report.

Consumers should also be sure to include enough information in their debt dispute letter to make sure that the CRA or the furnisher of the information has copies of all documents relevant to the dispute for their review. They may not conduct a reasonable investigation of your dispute but at the very least you will be have proof that you sent the documents to them.

Consumers should also keep in mind that many CRA’s are somewhat unlikely to use the evidence provided to investigate any complaint.  The advantage of providing as much evidence as possible is that this will make it much harder for the CRA to later claim that the error is the fault of the consumer because they did not provide adequate information.

Another letter along with all relevant documents should also be sent by certified mail, return receipt requested to the furnisher of the information to ensure that the furnisher of the information cannot later claim that that the error is the fault of the consumer because they did not provide adequate information.

Although there are exceptions a CRA can be held liable under the FCRA for reporting negative information more than seven (7) years old and any bankruptcy more than ten (10) years old.  In most cases a court judgment can be reported for no longer than ten (10) years or the statute of limitations for enforcing a court judgment in the state where the judgment is entered which may be more than or less than 10 years depending on the particular state where the judgment was entered.   

Another issue to watch out for that should be properly disputed is what is known as re-aging of debt. This happens because debt collectors will often sell accounts to one another and occasionally they will report an inaccurate time causing the debt to be reported longer than it should.

Attorneys or parties that would like to view or download a FREE 3 page debt dispute letter to all three credit bureaus created by the author of this blog post can use the link shown below.



Attorneys or parties who would like to view portions of over 300 sample legal documents for California and Federal litigation sold by the author of this blog post can use the link shown below.

View over 300 sample legal documents for sale

The author of this blog post, Stan Burman, is an entrepreneur and freelance paralegal who has worked in California and Federal litigation since 1995 and has created over 300 sample legal documents for California and Federal litigation.

*Do you want to use this article on your website, blog or e-zine? You can, as long as you include this blurb with it: “Stan Burman is the author of over 300 sample legal documents for California and Federal litigation and is the author of a free weekly legal newsletter. You can receive 10 free gifts just for subscribing. Just visit http://freeweeklylegalnewsletter.gr8.com/ for more information.

Follow the author on Twitter at: https://twitter.com/LegalDocsPro

You can view sample legal document packages for sale by going to http://www.legaldocspro.com/downloads.aspx

DISCLAIMER:

Please note that the author of this blog post, Stan Burman is NOT an attorney and as such is unable to provide any specific legal advice. The author is NOT engaged in providing any legal, financial, or other professional services, and any information contained in this blog post is NOT intended to constitute legal advice.

The materials and information contained in this blog post have been prepared by Stan Burman for informational purposes only and are not legal advice. Transmission of the information contained in this blog post is not intended to create, and receipt does not constitute, any business relationship between the author and any readers. Readers should not act upon this information without seeking professional counsel.
 



 

Written demand to cease and desist to collection agency



A written demand to cease and desist to a collection agency is the topic of this blog post.

Consumers have the right to send a written demand to a third-party debt collector such as a collection agency to demand that they cease all communications if so desired, or that all telephone communications be ceased.  

Demands to cease and desist to a collection agency are authorized by the provisions of the Fair Debt Collections Practices Act (FDCPA) found in Title 15 United States Code sections 1692c and 1692k. The FDCPA states in pertinent part that any consumer may send a written demand to any third-party debt collector such as a collection agency. The State of California has a law which is much broader in scope and is known as the Rosenthal Fair Debt Collection Practices Act which has a provision found in California Civil Code Section 1788.17. This provision authorizes the use of a cease and desist letter to any debt collector regardless of whether they are the original creditor or not.

A collection agency cease and desist demand should be sent by certified mail, return receipt requested so that the consumer has documentary evidence that could be used in court if the collection agency does not comply as continuing collection efforts after being notified in writing to cease and desist is a violation of both the California and Federal versions of the FDCPA.

Copies of all written communications as well as all documents and receipts that relate to the mailing such as the signed return receipt for the certified mail should be made by the consumer.

Additional ways in which debtors can deal with any debt collectors including collection agencies will be discussed in future blog posts.

Attorneys or parties who would like to view or download a sample collection agency cease and desist letter created by the author of this blog post and available for FREE download in Word format can use the link shown below.

 
Attorneys or parties who would like to view portions of over 300 sample legal documents for California and Federal litigation sold by the author of this blog post can use the link shown below.

View over 300 sample legal documents for sale

The author of this blog post, Stan Burman, is an entrepreneur and freelance paralegal who has worked in California and Federal litigation since 1995 and has created over 300 sample legal documents for California and Federal litigation. If you are in need of assistance with any California or Federal litigation matters, Mr. Burman is available on a freelance basis. Mr. Burman may be contacted by e-mail at DivParalgl@yahoo.com for more information. He accepts payments through PayPal which means that you can pay using most credit or debit cards.

*Do you want to use this article on your website, blog or e-zine? You can, as long as you include this blurb with it: “Stan Burman is the author of over 300 sample legal documents for California and Federal litigation and is the author of a free weekly legal newsletter. You can receive 10 free gifts just for subscribing. Just visit http://freeweeklylegalnewsletter.gr8.com/ for more information.

Follow the author on Twitter at: https://twitter.com/LegalDocsPro

You can view sample legal document packages for sale by going to http://www.legaldocspro.com/downloads.aspx

DISCLAIMER:

Please note that the author of this blog post, Stan Burman is NOT an attorney and as such is unable to provide any specific legal advice. The author is NOT engaged in providing any legal, financial, or other professional services, and any information contained in this blog post is NOT intended to constitute legal advice.

The materials and information contained in this blog post have been prepared by Stan Burman for informational purposes only and are not legal advice. Transmission of the information contained in this blog post is not intended to create, and receipt does not constitute, any business relationship between the author and any readers. Readers should not act upon this information without seeking professional counsel.

Thursday, November 6, 2014

Basic California restraining order defense strategy



Basic California restraining order defense strategy is the topic of this blog post.   Utilizing an effective restraining order defense strategy is extremely important due to the fact that having a restraining order entered against you can have very serious consequences that can negatively impact your life, both in the present and in the future. For instance many permanent restraining orders have a typical duration of 3 years and in some cases even longer, and if anyone violates a restraining order, or even are alleged to have violated a restraining order, they are subject to arrest. 

Another negative impact of having a restraining order entered against you is that the restraining order can limit or even temporarily eliminate your rights under the Second Amendment to the United States Constitution to own or possesses any guns, firearms or even ammunition. It can   also negatively impact your employment and sometimes your reputation in the community as well.

There can be challenges involved in utilizing an effective restraining order defense strategy if all that you have are the word of the victim against your own word in situations where there are no pictures or witnesses to support your side of the story.  The importance of proper preparation is important as that can enable someone to properly challenge the issuance of a restraining order and in appropriate situations possibly convince the court that one is not necessary.   Due to the serious consequences of a restraining order parties are advised to seek an experienced attorney who has knowledge with these types of legal issues.

The first essential element for any restraining order defense strategy should be to carefully review and study the law in order to understand the elements required for the particular type of restraining order that is being sought.  In the State of California for example, there are several different types of restraining orders such as civil harassment, domestic violence restraining orders, restraining orders involving elder abuse, workplace violence, emergency protective orders, and criminal protective orders.  Proper research of the law regarding the particular type of restraining order that is being sought will allow you to determine who has the authority to issue them, the burden of proof required in order to obtain the restraining order, the duration of the restraining order, and most important of all, what elements are required in order to obtain them.

The second essential element for any restraining order defense strategy is to carefully review the allegations made in order to determine if those allegations do or not apply to each element required for the particular order of protection being requested.

One example that is fairly common would be the issuance of a temporary restraining order in California based on an allegation of domestic violence in that case the burden of proof is very low a reasonableness of abuse or possible abuse will be enough.  Meeting that lower burden of proof however will entitle the requesting party to a restraining order that will last only until an evidentiary hearing can be held to determine if a longer protective order such as a permanent order should be issued. In order to obtain an order with a longer duration will require a higher burden of proof known as a finding of a preponderance of the evidence. A preponderance of the evidence means that the party that has the most evidence supporting their position will prevail. Many judges would agree that where it can be shown “it is more likely than not” that the elements necessitating a restraining order are met, that a restraining order must be issued by law.
In order to obtain any long-term restraining order based on domestic violence the protected party will need to show both a relationship and abuse.  The elements of abuse for domestic violence are detailed in California Family Law Code § 6300 et seq.

The third essential element for any restraining order defense strategy is for the defending party or their attorney to persuade the court that the allegations asserted by the other party do not fit the definition of abuse.  

In some cases a declaration will be filed by the protected party that is exaggerated or consists mostly of vague generalizations with no specific facts provided.  In these situations a good argument can be made that the other party has failed to provide any specific details of circumstances and is therefore not credible because of the lack of details. For instance if the declaration alleges that the petitioner has been harassed numerous times a defense strategy would be to request that the petitioner identify each and every instance of harassment and whether the communication was not proper meaning a communication that served no legitimate interest.  The burden of proof is on the petitioner requesting the restraining order to prove each and every element required under the law. The duty of the defending party is to attack the credibility of the petitioner.

Parties involved in restraining order proceedings in California who wish to consult or retain the services of a competent, aggressive and experienced attorney can visit the website of attorney Nathan Mubasher by clicking the link shown below. Mention this blog post and receive a FREE consultation and exclusive discount.

Law Offices of Nathan Mubasher

Attorneys or parties who would like to view portions of over 300 sample legal documents for California and Federal litigation sold by the author of this blog post can use the link shown below.

Over 300 sample legal documents for sale

The author of this blog post, Stan Burman, is an entrepreneur and freelance paralegal who has worked in California and Federal litigation since 1995 and has created over 300 sample legal documents for California and Federal litigation. If you are in need of assistance with any California or Federal litigation matters, Mr. Burman is available on a freelance basis. Mr. Burman may be contacted by e-mail at DivParalgl@yahoo.com for more information. He accepts payments through PayPal which means that you can pay using most credit or debit cards.

*Do you want to use this article on your website, blog or e-zine? You can, as long as you include this blurb with it: “Stan Burman is the author of over 300 sample legal documents for California and Federal litigation and is the author of a free weekly legal newsletter. You can receive 10 free gifts just for subscribing. Just visit http://freeweeklylegalnewsletter.gr8.com/ for more information.

Follow the author on Twitter at: https://twitter.com/LegalDocsPro

You can view sample legal document packages for sale by going to http://www.legaldocspro.com/downloads.aspx

DISCLAIMER:

Please note that the author of this blog post, Stan Burman is NOT an attorney and as such is unable to provide any specific legal advice. The author is NOT engaged in providing any legal, financial, or other professional services, and any information contained in this blog post is NOT intended to constitute legal advice.

The materials and information contained in this blog post have been prepared by Stan Burman for informational purposes only and are not legal advice. Transmission of the information contained in this blog post is not intended to create, and receipt does not constitute, any business relationship between the author and any readers. Readers should not act upon this information without seeking professional counsel.


Tuesday, November 4, 2014

The effect of the Credit Report and Credit Score on Spousal Support Requirements



The effect of the Credit Report and Credit Score on Spousal Support Requirements is the topic of this blog post. 

Any attorney or mediator who is working with a client involved in divorce proceedings needs to understand the impact that the valuable information contained in a true and accurate credit report has on efficiently reaching the terms of an equitable settlement.  The lack of a true credit report with a credit score puts different but equal pressure on any settlement negotiations if both reports are not available and may change the ‘starting point’ parameters and expectations of the negotiations.

Because of the revelations and informative detail that it contains, the subscriber credit report with a credit score, is the most relied upon information source for all commercial lenders, employers and many insurance companies.   

By obtaining a subscriber credit report (with a credit score), the level of social and financial reliability of each party, and several crucial economic factors that are clearly relevant to the ultimate terms of the agreement can be more accurately confirmed as well as the true credit identity of each party.

If the lower wage earner has a good credit history and can most likely get a job, the requirement for transitional support in a financially realistic agreement, may be a lower support payment and/or a shorter period of time.

If one of the partners has been a stay-at-home spouse instead of a wage earner, it's quite likely that there are going to be higher cost needs in order for that parent to generate enough income to be self-supporting.

Consider the case of a stay-at-home spouse that has no job skills, no personal credit to use during the transition period, and no personal credit identity confirmed by the credit report. As a result of these factors, there is also no credit score. The credit score is very important for many kinds of jobs.

Almost every employment application includes a request that the applicant grant permission to obtain a credit report or check the applicant’s credit score. This is done so that the employer has a basis to evaluate the desirability of the applicant for potential employment.  If that background check comes back “no credit report” or “no credit score,” it's going to be very, very difficult to get anything other than a menial job, if that.  As with a stay-at-home spouse, the higher earner will typically have to pay out more during the transition period.

Organizing and decoding credit related documents can be outsourced to a specialist if your office staff isn’t trained/experienced in dealing with credit related foundational issues.

If you are an attorney or mediator with questions about credit reputation and how it can affect your clients, click here: www.creditdamageexpert.com     

Copyright 2014 Georg Finder, all rights reserved. Posted with the express permission of the author.

Georg Finder, an Orange County, CA, Credit Damage Evaluator (CDE), is an expert on credit reporting violations and credit damage measurement. He has more than 15 years experience evaluating credit reports and appearing for both plaintiff and defense.  Mr. Finder has authored numerous articles, including his upcoming book, Divorce credit smarter, not credit out-smarted. He is a. MCLE provider on credit report issues and credit reputation damage compensation. Learn more about Georg Finder and his services at www.creditdamageexpert.com  

The creator and owner of this blog, Stan Burman, is an entrepreneur and freelance paralegal who has worked in California and Federal litigation since 1995 and has created over 300 sample legal documents for California and Federal litigation. .

To view over 300 sample legal documents for California and Federal litigation created by Stan Burman visit View over 300 sample legal documents for sale


Follow Stan Burman on Twitter at: https://twitter.com/LegalDocsPro

You can view other sample legal document packages for sale by visiting: 
http://www.legaldocspro.com/downloads.aspx

Monday, November 3, 2014

Credit damages can be recoverable as a special injury



The issue of credit damages and whether they are speculative is the topic of this blog post.  As will be shown in this blog post losses from credit damage are not speculative.  This blog post is a guest blog post written by Georg Finder and is one of a series of guest blog posts on credit damages.

Losses resulting from credit damage are in fact a measurable form of special injury that lawyers are capable of recovering for their clients in appropriate situations.  In the past, the argument has been made that credit damage losses were too speculative and should therefore not be recoverable as a special injury.   The fact is that for over one hundred years courts all over the United States have recognized that damage to credit is a cognizable injury for which victims can and should recover.  For one of many examples see the case of Bell v. May Dept Stores Co., 6 S.W. 3d 871, 876 (Mo. 1999).  It is extremely important that all lawyers recognize damaged credit as an important part of their client’s injury.

Speculative damages are generally defined as those that are contingent on a future event or those deemed highly improbable.  Any reasonable attorney will understand that they cannot recover speculative damages.   As a result, to recover for loss of credit reputation lawyers must prove that some credit damage actually occurred. It must be further shown that the loss can be quantified into an actual dollar amount with reasonable certainty.

 The good news is that tools and experts exist in the field of credit damage to clearly explain to the trier of fact such as a judge or jury whether any credit damage has actually occurred and how much loss was likely suffered.  A sophisticated credit damage analysis uses quantifiable measurements to show compensable damage for loss of credit reputation.  The effective presentation of a thorough investigation of an individual’s credit situation before and after their injury provides a strong argument for recovery for credit reputation damage making it an important tool in preparation for trial and settlement negotiations.  

When a lawyer’s client has suffered credit damage it may be helpful to get in touch with an economic damage expert to conduct the necessary measurement. The nation’s pioneer in this area is Georg Finder.     Mr. Finder is the author of numerous books and has developed an easy to use credit Damage Measurement Report to help lawyers identify when credit damage may be at issue.  In addition, he has developed the California State Bar’s first MCLE seminar on credit damage.  Mr. Finder is available for consulting and expert witness services for lawyers.  Consider contacting George Finder through his website: Credit damage expert website.

Copyright Georg Finder 2014, all rights reserved.  Posted with the express permission of the author.

Georg Finder, an Orange County, CA, Credit Damage Evaluator (CDE), is an expert on credit reporting violations and credit damage measurement. He has more than 15 years experience evaluating credit reports and appearing for both plaintiff and defense.  Mr. Finder has authored numerous articles, including his upcoming book, Divorce credit smarter, not credit out-smarted. He is an MCLE provider on credit report issues and credit reputation damage compensation. Learn more about Georg Finder and his services at Credit damage expert website  

The creator and owner of this blog, Stan Burman, is an entrepreneur and freelance paralegal who has worked in California and Federal litigation since 1995 and has created over 300 sample legal documents for California and Federal litigation.

To view over 300 sample legal documents for California and Federal litigation created by Stan Burman visit View over 300 sample legal documents for sale



Follow Stan Burman on Twitter at: https://twitter.com/LegalDocsPro

You can view other sample legal document packages for sale by visiting: 
http://www.legaldocspro.com/downloads.aspx