Business, economic development - the unofficial Chamber of Commerce

Have you ever heard the term REO? Or bank owned before? These terms refer to the bank foreclosure list kept by any bank and lists all properties the bank owns due to mortgage note defaults. This list could be a great place to find inexpensive, fixer upper type properties for the budding flipper; but beware, flipping homes is a risky business and if you do not do it properly the bank will just end up owning that house again, and that certainly would not make you any money now would it. All you have to do is a little research on the internet to find these lists.

I recently completed my first house flipping investment and made money! I started by calling area banks and obtaining a copy of their bank foreclosure list. I then viewed prospective properties and bid on one. My bid was accepted by the bank and we were able to close the deal ten days later. I was then able to remodel the house, add an attached garage and landscape the entire property. I spent approximately $35,000 on renovations and sold approximately six weeks later for a profit after fees and mortgage payments of $125,000! Now that is a very nice pay day!

A department of the Federal Trade Commission is the Bureau of Consumer Protection, and its “mandate is to protect consumers against unfair, deceptive, or fraudulent practices.” There are six division of the Bureau of Consumer Protection as follows:

Division of Advertising Practices: Consumers are protected from deceptive or unsubstantiated advertising. The focus is on advertising of the following products: tobacco and alcohol, food and over-the-counter drugs, energy-related products, environmental products, and infomercials.

Division of Enforcement: Consumers are protected by enforcing compliance with court orders in consumer protection cases, investigating and prosecuting civil actions to stop fraudulent, unfair, or deceptive marketing and advertising practices, and enforcing consumer protection laws.

The Division of Financial Practices: Many consumer credit statutes are enforced including the Consumer Leasing Act, the Credit Practices Rule, the Equal Credit Opportunity Act, and the Fair Credit Billing Act. The text of these laws can be found on the Federal Trade Commission’s website www.ftc.gov.

The Division of Marketing Practices: Enforces federal consumer protection laws by filing legal actions to stop scams and help victims of scams

The Division of Planning and Information: Measures the impact of FTC activities to protect consumers, including the Identity Theft Program.

The Office of Consumer and Business Education: Establishes public education programs for consumers and industry about fraud, deception, and unfair practices using print, broadcast, and electronic media.

It would be prudent for you or your attorney to visit the FTC’s website, read the regulations, and set up systems to be sure you are in and stay in compliance. If the FTC determines that you are violating any of its regulations, it has the authority to seize your assets pending investigation. If the FTC gets a court judgment against you, the fines are significant and the FTC could shut down your business.

About the author Jo Ann Joy is the CEO and owner of Indigo Business Solutions, a legal and business consulting firm. Indigo Business Solutions is a “one stop shop” for small businesses. We differ from other business consulting firms, because we offer comprehensive legal and business counseling. We can offer most of the professional services that a business requires. We work with our clients to develop strategies that create value and competitive advantage. Our goal is your success. Jo Ann has a law degree, an MBA, and a degree in Economics, but she is not a traditional attorney. Rather, she is a strategic business attorney who works closely with clients to create and implement strategies that will greatly improve their performance and chance of success. Her background includes commercial and real estate law, accounting, financial planning, mortgages, marketing, product development, banking, and business strategies. She ran a successful business for 10 years, and she has written and given presentations on many different legal and business subjects. Jo Ann Joy, Esq., MBA, CEO Copyright 2006 Indigo Business Solutions. All rights reserved. You may contact Jo Ann by phone at (602) 663-7007, by fax at (602) 324-7582, by email at joannjoy@Indigo Business Solutions.net, and by mail at 2313 East Ocotillo Road, Phoenix, AZ 85016 For more information about these and other important business topics and for legal consultation, please visit our website at http://www.IndigoBusinessSolutions.net

Q: My mother was in a car accident last week, and already she’s gotten letters from lawyers asking if she’s ok, and if she wants a lawyer? Is it ethical for a lawyer to send such a letter?

A: First, I hope she is feeling better. Second, in limited circumstances in New York, it may be acceptable for an attorney to send such a letter to a victim of an accident. The majority of lawyers feel such a letter to a victims’ home is demeaning and degrading. Some lawyers feel this is nothing but a solicitation, which is clearly not permitted in New York. Other attorneys (the ones who send these letters) feel that it may be their only chance to entice the injured victim to come to them as a client.

The letter is supposed to only offer them legal assistance and guidance- should they want it. Again, how do you choose which attorney to use when you’re inundated with a flood of letters from different lawyers promising to help you with your accident claim?

The answer is simpler than you think. Ask yourself why a an attorney would even bother to send such a letter. Are they really that desperate to need to send such a letter? How did they get your name anyway? I’ll tell you how- maybe it came from the tow truck operator who took your car away. Maybe it was from an ambulance technician. Maybe it was from a police blotter at the police station. (That’s public information that many investigators working for lawyers troll for in various police stations).

Ask yourself another question. Do you let a stranger into your house simply because he says he saw you need a paint job, and amazingly, he’s a painter who is willing to paint your house for a great price? Did you call him? No. Did you seek out other customers of his to determine if he’s reliable and professional? No. He just showed up while trolling through the neighborhood. Is this the type of painter you want working in your house? I don’t think so.

The same rationale holds true for a lawyer that sends you an unsolicited letter following an accident. What do you know about that lawyer? Probably nothing. Does that mean that he (or she) isn’t a good lawyer? No. But, again, think who you want for your attorney. Does it help knowing that your lawyer gets many cases this way, by sending out unsolicited lawyer letters hoping that a few unknowing people will answer the letter? The choice, as always is yours. Make an informed choice.

Attorney Oginski has been in practice for over 16 years as a trial lawyer practicing exclusively in the State of New York. Having his own law firm, he is able to provide the utmost in personalized, individualized attention to each and every client. In our office, a client is not a file number. Client’s are always treated with the respect they deserve and expect from a professional. Mr. Oginski is always aware of every aspect of a client’s case from start to finish.

Gerry represents injured people in injury cases and medical malpractice matters in Brooklyn, Queens, New York City, the Bronx, Staten Island, Nassau and Suffolk Counties. You can reach him at http://www.oginski-law.com, or 516-487-8207. All inquiries are free and totally confidential.

Thousands of people in the UK are employed in jobs which require the use of dangerous machinery. In 2004/5 57 plant, process and machine operatives were killed whilst carrying out work tasks compared to 2 people in administrative and secretarial occupations. Wood working machinery causes more injuries from work accidents than machinery in any other sector.

The risks to health are obvious, machines with movable working parts carry the risk of trapping workers, between rollers or cogs, entangling limbs, when there are rotating or moving parts or ejection, from grinding wheels or drills. Personal injuries can also be caused by straightforward contact with moving parts such as drill or sander which can cause abrasions or friction burns.

Workers are also at risk from non mechanical faults and hazards such as electrical risks, noise, vibration, dust and fumes. All of these can cause considerable work related injury from electrocution to dust related cancers.

By law all machinery should have safety guards so that moving or dangerous parts are kept away from reach. If dangerous parts are within reach then they should be properly covered to prevent access. If guards can be removed, for example to be cleaned, then proper supervision should be given in order that operatives do not remove the guard at any other time.

Guidelines to prevent a work accident

In order to prevent an accident at work that could potentially endanger someone’s life there are some guidelines that should be followed when machinery is used.

The guidelines are as follows:

Everyone using a piece of machinery should be fully trained and checklists should be used to ensure that all important points are covered

The proper guards should be used and signs displayed to remind workers to use the guards. Guards should be in place before the machinery is started

The areas around the machinery must be kept clean and tidy and free from obstructions

There should be clear space around the machinery so that the risk of accidental interference from other workers is reduced

Lighting should be sufficient around the machinery. Flickering lights should be fixed as they can cause problems with moving parts

Appropriate clothing should be worn when using machinery

If a machine is broken it should be clearly signed to prevent workers from using it and possibly causing a work accident

Making a work accident claim

If you have been in a work accident and sustained a personal injury then you may be entitled to claim personal injury compensation. All employers are responsible for providing a safe working environment. If they have failed in their duty of care and you have sustained an injury as a result then you are entitled to seek compensation.

For free legal advice regarding making a work accident claim or to learn more about machinery accidents visit www.the-claim-solicitors.co.uk, or call them on freephone 0800 197 32 32 for free legal advice.
www.the-claim-solicitors.co.uk have many years experience of handling personal injury claims and can help anyone suffering from a work related injury to get the compensation that they are entitled to.

Editorial notes: Online personal injury compensation claim people with a 97% claim success rate. Call 0800 197 32 32 or visit http://www.the-claim-solicitors.co.uk for more details.

Have you ever noticed how big business often exhibits little common sense? As if they had nothing better to do, Microsoft has sicced the lawyers on a tiny, one-person part-time consulting business. Their attorney said I could no longer use the URL of www.PowerPointPrincess.com – despite the fact that I have used it for half a decade. She said that my use of the name would dilute their trademark, and might confuse people into thinking my site was endorsed by Microsoft.

From what I have read about domain names using trademarks, the jury is still out. It is my understanding that for now, it is ok to do so as long as you are not trying to deceive people into thinking your Web site is affiliated with the owner of the trademark, trying to take business away from that company, etc. My Web site clearly shows that I am actually promoting Microsoft. But I can’t fight them and their plan to cut off their nose to spite their face. Even if the law is on the side of the little guy, who can afford to go up against the Giant?

In reality, the PowerPoint horse has long been out of the barn. Use of the word “PowerPoint“ as a noun (a registered trademark no-no) has become ubiquitous. Every day there are hundreds of articles, ads and announcements saying things such as “We teach PowerPoint” and “Let us design your PowerPoint,” etc. And these without a registered trademark symbol! Some of these commercials are from my competitors. Microsoft cannot get every company, organization, church, and publisher to stop making such statements. By preventing me from using the P word in my URL, potential clients will no longer instantly know that I offer PowerPoint® presentation services, and therefore will turn to my competitors. Is this not an example of restraint of trade?

I pleaded for Microsoft to reconsider forcing me to give up my name in view of various facts such as:

• I have never had a company with “PowerPoint” in its name. However, I have been known by friends, clients, and students as the “PowerPoint Princess” for about nine years. During that period of time, the moniker has caused no one to think I worked for, with, or represented Microsoft or the PowerPoint application.

• I have held the domain name of www.PowerPointPrincess.com since 2001. Not one person who saw that site during all those years ever thought I was connected with Microsoft or the PowerPoint application.

• The alliteration and royalty-based humor inherent in the phrase “PowerPoint Princess” has provided me with instant name recognition, instant clarity as to the type of services I offer, and instant implication of my expertise.

• Despite this world of workplace stress, announcing myself as “The PowerPoint Princess” when I call a business almost always results in a chuckle from the receptionist, and entrée to speak with the person I seek.

I would like Microsoft to be supportive of my message and embracing of my work, as I am of Microsoft. Ten years ago I broke out of the bullet-point mold. Since then I’ve been spreading the word about how remarkably flexible and powerful PowerPoint software really is. And consistent with the light-heartedness of the name “PowerPoint Princess,” I also surprise people by showing them that there is a fun, creative side to the PowerPoint application as well. In fact, one of my teaching venues has been cruise ships. During my class on PowerPoint Photo Album on a recent cruise to Alaska, one student, astonished to see the many special effects I demonstrated, held his head in dismay and said out loud “Why did I buy Adobe?”

It is ironic that over the years, I actually have been helping the Microsoft Corporation in ways beyond what it has done to help itself. Examples include giving talks at special education conferences about how PowerPoint can be used in the classroom — long before any one else was doing it; drafting a curriculum for young children on how to use PowerPoint presentation software as drawing tools; giving lectures, presenting posters and teaching seminars both nationally and internationally on how to use PowerPoint features as tools for people with low vision; teaching classes on the surprising things you can do with PowerPoint Photo Album; demonstrating to scientists how they can use PowerPoint slides to both display and analyze optical illusions; showing scientists how to use PowerPoint Drawing Tools to create visual stimuli for experiments; and even showing litigation attorneys how to use PowerPoint presentations to win their cases (it’s worked every time).

I am currently developing a course (which has potential to become a book) on making digital scrapbooks with PowerPoint presentation software. I am also designing a gallery of amazing things you can do with the application. Both will be full of the wonderful, but little-known, uses and special effects that can be made using PowerPoint features.

Despite repeated pleas to the Microsoft attorney, I was forced to stop using the URL WWW.PowerPointPrincess.com on April 17.

Once again, big business prevails and the little guy fails. The result will hurt everybody – including Microsoft.

This article was written by Debby Gilden, Ph.D., freelance PowerPoint® designer and instructor. Please visit my Web site http://www.PPTprincess.com.

Anyone who has hired an attorney for legal representation is
entitled to frequent communication and status reports. Every
client deserves to know where the case is headed and get an
update on the attorney’s progress, or lack of it. If you are
thinking about retaining a lawyer, or already have one, here are
a few pointers about what to expect from or initiate with your
legal counselor.

1. Clients should receive status reports on case developments.
Any action that your attorney takes on your behalf should be
discussed with you beforehand and afterward. You need to know
how the case is being processed, and the means your attorney is
using to accomplish client goals. Pleadings, hearings,
pre-trials, and trial preparation, along with required
due-dates, are just some of the matters that clients need to
know about. If your attorney does not inform you of these things
in a timely manner, ask for periodic updates so you can keep
abreast of case developments.

2. You should receive a return call from your attorney when you
leave a message. Most legal representatives hire competent
secretaries or assistants to handle phone calls and relay
messages from clients. Assuming that your lawyer is in town and
not involved in a major trial, he or she ought to be able to
return your call within a day or two. If you are calling and
leaving several messages that seldom bring a response, your
attorney is not doing a good job. If there is a head of the
firm, you might want to get in touch with that person to explain
your dissatisfaction.

3. Most people can be reached in a variety of ways, including
cell phone, fax, landline, email, and post. Tell your attorney
which method you prefer, and provide one or more alternate means
of contact in case the first should fail for some reason. Ask
for the same information from your lawyer so that if you need to
get in touch, you will be able to do so in more than one way.

4. Use a message system. Either set up a voice mail recorder on
your home phone or utilize one at work or on your cell phone.
Ask your lawyer that if he or she is unavailable, whether you
can leave messages with the secretary or in a voice message box.
Sometimes direct contact is impossible, but messages can relay
information on a temporary basis.

5. Expect routine communication. If you are not hearing from
your attorney on a monthly basis, at least, while he or she is
managing an active case for you, request monthly updates in
writing or by phone. You can even offer to call in for them if
that will make the lawyer’s job easier. The important thing is
that you stay connected so the two of you can do a better job of
working for a positive outcome to your legal case. If your
lawyer does not contact you, be sure and get in touch with him
or her.

An injured person contacts a company that offers pre-settlement lawsuit funding, sometimes at the suggestion of an attorney. The finance company contacts the lawyer who is handling the case, and obtains information about the case. Based upon that information provided, the loan company estimates the value of the likely eventual settlement or verdict, and offers a cash advance to the injured person based upon that estimate. The fee may be a flat fee, or a monthly fee that accrues each month the loan is outstanding. When the case settles, or the defendant pays after losing in court, the loan and associated fees are paid to the finance company.

These advances are offered as non-recourse funding, which means that an injured person has no obligation to repay if the lawsuit is lost. Similarly, if the ultimate settlement or verdict is smaller than anticipated, the amount that must be repaid never exceeds the amount of the injured person’s share of that verdict or settlement. For legal reasons, these advances are not characterized as loans.

Amounts available vary significantly, depending upon the nature of the case and the company involved. Many companies offer pre-settlement funding amounts between $500 and $25,000. A few offer amounts up to $100,000. Fees also vary depending upon the company and the type of case. Some companies will fix the fee for the advance up front. Others will charge a monthly fee for each month between the time the funding is issued and when it is repaid, sometimes as high as 15% per month.

Afra AmirSanjari is the Principal for Peacock Capital.

Peacock Capital specializes in solving the cash flow challenges of Small/Medium Businesses, Government Vendors and Individuals with innovative financial solutions by providing a network for securing operating capital.

http://www.peacockcapital.com

info@peacockcapital.com

The State of Michigan keeps several different archives of information on criminal records. However, a minor problem is that majority of these sources of Michigan criminal records deal mostly with convictions. Criminal records for Michigan State do not necessarily warrant convictions. In fact, not all criminal records for Michigan result in convictions. And for this reason, databases maintained by the Michigan State Government may not be as comprehensive a source as we would like them to be. Therefore, it is advised that when you conduct a criminal records search, you do not use the state repository as your only source of information. There are also various other sources of Michigan criminal records that are rarely tapped into. These are the following:

State Police

As stated earlier, the most obvious choice for you to search for Michigan criminal records is the state repository. It is the Michigan State Police that maintains the official database of criminal history record information. Here you can find an archive of all Michigan criminal records of felonies or misdemeanors of a serious nature. The Michigan criminal records contained in the Michigan State Police database are actually fingerprint-based arrest records. By statute, law enforcement agencies and court clerks are required to create fingerprint cards for each record of arrest that are sent to the Michigan State Police. If the Michigan criminal records are not accompanied by fingerprint cards, then they will be included in the repository.

Department of Corrections

The Department of Corrections keeps a database of criminal records of everyone who has served time in prison. The Michigan criminal records stored here contain good details about the crime and the database even includes pictures of the criminal. The inclusion of photos are good for minimizing cases of mistaken identities wherein someone who is without a record may appear to have one because of names that are similar. The DOC database only contains criminal records of imprisonment and criminals who have been sentenced to prison do not show up here.

County Clerks of Court

Perhaps the most excellent way to verify whether a Michigan criminal action has been initiated against someone is to check whether there are criminal records of it in the Offices of the County Clerks of Court. Each court case is documented first by the Clerk of Court of the county where the case is to be heard. These documents are based on the information provided during the arrest incident.

Records of Arrests

Michigan criminal records of arrests at the county jail level are excellent sources, too, but they may not be as readily available as the others. However, there are some private sources that you can contract to legally provide you with these.

Find Anyone, Anywhere, Anytime… Dig Up Dirt on Anybody… Even Uncover Secrets and Closely-Guarded Information… Plus, Do It All Legally and Without Anyone Ever Finding Out! Visit the Criminal Background Check site for more information.

Nothing is more frustrating than trying to search for news about a specific trial, especially when the mainstream media isn’t interested. Now, Case Watchers keeps readers apprised in an easy to read format.

Updated daily, Case Watchers provides a summary of the case, links to the latest news stories and comments from readers. Our hottest and most frustrating current trial is the case against Francis Zarro accused of casino fraud in NY. News about this trial has been difficult to find, but our readers are great about letting us know when news is breaking. Other interesting cases include the man with nine wives, a judge on trial for bribery, the Tri-State Crematory case, a teen accused of killing his grandparents, the Seattle spammer trial, two serial killers, hired hits and many, many more. New cases are regularly added and are often suggested by readers.

The Jerry Dean trial, covered by Court TV, ended well before the story aired and we were there first. Jerry Dean was accused of killing a woman who filed a sexual harassment charge against him. However, the jury acquitted Mr. Dean and the case remains unsolved. Another troubling case is the “Deer Hunters Trial” involving the Duvall brothers. Although this case is closed, it remains active to capture the post criminal trial civil cases, such as the wife of the victim suing the wife of the defendant.

In addition, Case Watchers brings new attention to the plight of missing people. To date, we have eleven “cold cases” profiled and are offering awards to those willing to sponsor a missing person page by adding a link to their home page. In addition to the profile pages, each missing person has a poster page readers can print and distribute in their area. Families of other missing people are invited to send us a link for our “Missing” page.

Casewatcher.com is owned and operated by Marti Talbott, author of: “Colorado Cold Case – the Botham/Miracle Murders.”

About The Author

Marti Talbott is the mother of two and the grandmother of six living in Seattle. Aside from being an author, she enjoys acrylic painting.

White Collar Crimes are defined as non-violent acts committed by individuals or businesses in the course of daily working activity. Some of these crimes include embezzlement, bribery, tax evasion, false advertising and other types of fraud. They are generally used to obtain money, property or services to gain advantage in business or in ones personal life.

According to the FBI, white collar crimes cost the United States more than $300 billion annually. These crimes are considered to be federal offenses and even though state and local law enforcement may be involved in the cases, charges will most often be presented by federal agencies such as the FBI, IRS, US Customs, Secret Service, EPA or the SEC.

Penalties for white collar offenses generally include fines, house arrest, community confinement and sometimes imprisonment. Federal agencies will many times make mistakes when prosecuting these criminals. They routinely make mistakes that violate peoples constitutional and civil rights. That is why it’s so important to hire a lawyer if you’ve been charged with any of these types of crimes. Just going to trial can be enough to humiliate, embarrass and often time destroy the future of a growing business. It’s best to just settle these cases outside of the courtroom and protect the name of your business.

Please visit our San Diego Criminal Defense Law Firm if you have been convicted of Fraud or any other type of crime at http://www.sddefenselawyers.com

You may freely reprint this article granted that this resource box is attached and all hyper links remain intact and active.