February 19, 2015 A dispute involving between 14-20,000 port workers in California, Oregon and Washington (accounting for approximately 68-percent of container ship clearing) is causing significant enough bottlenecks to drop the GDP of the entire country, forecasters say . It’s said that outbound cargo has been most significantly affected. The issue arose upon the expiration of contracts between the International Longshore and Warehouse Union (ILWU) and the officials in charge of operating the ports. This occurred on Jun 30, 2014 – and negotiations before and since have failed to reach a conclusion. Despite a clear and measurable slowdown in productivity (also evidenced by the number of cargo ships backed up at sea) that correlates to the dispute at hand, the ILWU refuses to admit that there is a coordinated effort to stifle productivity. They instead are offering a downstream blame, that there is a shortage of both trucks and drivers moving cargo from the ships to the yard . In an effort to appeal directly to the workers whom are represented by the union (rather than the union reps themselves) leaflets have been handed out to dockworkers which outline the exact details of the “last, best and final offer” that is currently on the table. This offer had previously not been made public. Port officials hope doing so will persuade dockworkers to apply pressure onto their reps and expedite the process of putting ink to paper on a new contract. Reports from around the country are coming in of business being affected by the slowdown in exports. “We simply don’t have enough space to store the finished goods” reported a northern California almond farm CEO . He was commenting on his recent 33% employee downsizing. A Denver, Colorado toy store owner said that the strike has affected their stocks, causing some products to miss out on the holiday rush . The unfortunate truth about a dispute such as this is that there is only one party that will benefit, and that is the union and its workers. For the rest of the country, we’re forced to sit back and hope that reason prevails – and this problem does not escalate to a full-blown strike. Larry Bellomo is a Laguna Hills bankruptcy, family and divorce attorney who has become trusted throughout southern California following over 30 years serving the community. If you are in need of an extraordinary attorney, give the law offices of Larry Bellomo a call or send us a message for your 100% free no obligation consultation. 
February 9, 2015 Radio Shack is the electronics equivalent to your local hardware store. DIY’ers can find otherwise difficult to come by products like specialty fuses, capacitors, resistors, solder, LED diodes…all sorts of items that, ten years ago, were hard to get your hands on quickly. Internet outlets have largely changed that. And now, the once juggernaut has been pushed into bankruptcy . Are you being wooed at the notion of purchasing a TV for 10% less online over the cost at a physical store? Well if you’re an electronics nuts-and-bolts geek, then you’re aware that for the price of a single piece of electronics hardware at Radio Shack (let’s say, a capacitor as an example) you can purchase and have shipped to your door an entire bag of the same product from an online source. Enter, the demise of Radio Shack . Though wildly more expedient than ordering online (especially when your parts are coming from China), Radio Shack simply can’t sustain itself with their core offerings…even when marked up 2000% (because honestly, even if the part costs $0.05 and you sell a couple for $1.00 each, how do you expect to keep the lights on at such quantities?). This fact is not lost on Radio Shack executives. They have been desperately attempting to diversify and compete with box juggernaut retailers, cramming all sorts of products into their generally small foot-printed stores. It seems that they haven’t quite found a formula that works. In an effort to save the company, it was announced on January 15, 2015 that it was preparing to file bankruptcy. On February 5, they announced they filed for Chapter 11 protection. Shortly after, a list of 1,784 stores (at the time of this writing, there are 4,297 locations ) was published which detailed the retail locations that would closing by the end of March. I’m not sure how the vast majority of consumers feel, but I for one am troubled by this. Not due to some nostalgic love for Radio Shack, but because it’s terribly frustrating not having a particular piece of hardware that a project requires! No one is going to miss another retailer that sells TVs. Or radios. Or telephones. But a physical store you can go pick up some 12 volt switches, a couple uncommon bulbs and a glass fuse? That’s a store that will be missed by a (rather small) group of hobbyists from a wide range of interests, including myself. Fortunately for me, my local store isn’t on that cursed list! Larry Bellomo is a Laguna Hills bankruptcy attorney who has over three decades of experience serving Orange County, California. If you’re in need of the best Laguna Hills bankruptcy attorney, give us a call for your free no obligation consultation.
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January 28, 2018 According to an October 27, 2017, announcement, the Los Angeles jeans company, True Religion, exited Chapter 11 bankruptcy with about $357 million less debt, debt maturities extended, cash to implement a growth plan and a positive outlook for the future. The company emerges with a reduced retail footprint and an exit loan of $60 million from Citizens Bank, the same bank that provided the initial cash during the reorganization process. At the peak of the company, True Religion jeans were selling anywhere from $150 to $250 a pair at their nearly 140 stores and online. The brand also sold at upscale department stores, such as Bloomingdales, Saks Fifth Avenue and Nordstrom and at other locations in the U.S., Mexico and South America. Around 2013, True Religion, like many other apparel stores, struggled for success, watching sales decline as it competed with the internet, online shopping and competing discount retailers. The rapid growth in the trend of athletic wear for leisure caused the sales of blue jeans to quickly decline. Behind $192,000 on rent for its California office headquarters and drowning in major debts owed to creditors, manufacturers, U.S. Customs and Border Protection and malls around the country, True Religion filed for bankruptcy on July 5, 2017, in a U.S. Bankruptcy Court in Delaware. At the time of filing, the company had 128 stores in the United States and 11 stores outside the country. The company made some major changes, hiring John Ermatinger as CEO and president and bringing on a new chief marketing officer and a new vice president of sourcing. They also reduced costs, streamlined processes and closed unprofitable stores. John Ermatinger publicly thanked the company’s supporters — consumers, employees, vendors and suppliers — for their ongoing commitment and devotion to True Religion. He expressed his excitement regarding the future of the company, which includes implementing new growth strategies through innovative partnerships, expanding True Religion’s digital presence and refining its marketing operations. You do not have to be a major corporation to file bankruptcy , Like in the case of True Religion, bankruptcy allows individuals to emerge in a better financial position than before. Our legal team can help you navigate through these difficult times.
January 16, 2018 A Fresno State professor who intimidated a pro-life group was ordered to pay $17,000 and attend training on the First Amendment. He was recorded on video in an attempt to harass pro-life students who were drawing with chalk on the sidewalk. He also asked students from his public health class to assist him in his efforts. He claimed they were outside of the campus free speech area, but no such area has existed on campus since 2015. The sidewalk messages suggested pro-life options for students. The president of the club stated that the First Amendment gives students the right to speak on campus. She documented an incident between herself and the professor on video. He can be heard telling her that she is not in a free-speech area. However, she claimed that she had school permission to be there and to be speaking. The professor began erasing the sidewalk messages with his shoe. He told her that she did not understand the areas where free speech was permitted on campus. Alliance Defending Freedom acted as legal representation for the group, the Fresno State Students for Life. The professor must pay $1,000 to the president and $1,000 to another student as well as legal fees. However, he said that the money was paid by his insurance company, so he is not concerned about the legal fees. He does not admit to any wrong actions but is willing to attend the training so that he can learn the opinions and thoughts of others. The president expressed her relief that he will not be able to harass them again and explained that the case was not about winning money. She was extremely surprised at his actions, especially on a public campus. She further opined that professors should encourage and not prohibit free speech. Legal counsel for the pro-life group stated that the professor’s behavior flagrantly violated the First Amendment He added that school officials do not have the right to restrict freedom of speech on campus. The school did not comment about the case. If you believe that your First Amendment rights have been violated, you will need experienced legal representation to defend you. Contact us so that we can discuss your case.
January 5, 2018 The complexities of any divorce include dividing money, property and assets between both parties. While this might not be as complex for a millennial as it is for a couple who has spent their lifetime acquiring possessions, both types of divorce require finding a qualified family lawyer to deal with the personal issues. Legal experts report that stereotypes claim that other generations are more loyal than millennials who don’t really value traditions. She continues that even though they wait to marry, they still place a high priority on the institution. However, she added that they will not tough out a relationship the way their parents did. This by no means makes a divorce any easier for millennials. They feel just as hurt and disappointed as any others who divorce , but their outlook for the future tends to be more optimistic. Although marriage rates in the U.S. continue to decline, divorce rates are also dropping. Millennials delay marriage until later in life, placing an emphasis on education and careers before taking this significant life step. Millennials tend to be more open to diverse relationships, including living together. In the past, prenuptial agreements held a negative connotation as if one of the parties expected the marriage to end. The more-practical millennials, who prioritize acquiring and preserving wealth, see the prenup as a planning tool and communication map to manage financial expectations and interests. Creating a prenup with a lawyer realistically deals with the uncertainty of the future and helps a couple draft specific plans. Millennials choosing to live together instead of marrying can benefit from an attorney’s expertise when drawing up a cohabitation agreement, protecting both parties and their assets in case the relationship ends. When couples know the laws regarding cohabitation , marriage and divorce in their state, they tend to be ready for even unexpected contingencies. Whether a couple plans to cohabitate, marry or file for divorce, planning for a big relationship step helps the individuals prepare for the future, no matter what happens in the marriage. Consulting with a knowledgeable, experienced family lawyer sets up both parties for success.
December 23, 2017 The 32-year-old mother entered the high rise in downtown Memphis as a memory tugged at the far corners of her mind. Suddenly, it came to her. She had been in this very building with her own mother for the same purpose — to file bankruptcy . She anguished over the decision but a court order had recently enforced a judgement against her that allowed a company to seize a portion of her check. With her struggle to make ends meet, the judgment would put an unbearable strain on her already overburdened finances — the proverbial straw that broke the camel’s back. Despite the stigma, she decided that bankruptcy would stop the vicious cycle of juggling bills each month so that she could now start fresh. She even dreamed of becoming a homeowner one day. While the U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the Western District of Tennessee in Memphis funnels millions of dollars to the court, the lawyers and the creditors, the debtors for whom the entire system exists don’t fare so well. The clients are stuck in a vicious cycle. Most people choose to file Chapter 7, which allows the person to start over from square one without seizing any debts. In contrast, Chapter 13 requires monthly payments while stopping car repossessions and home foreclosures. This method is most common in the South and was what this mother chose. She didn’t understand the difference between the two. However, filers who opt for Chapter 13 must continue making payments for five full years. Most cannot even last 12 months under the program. These individuals went through each and every step of the bankruptcy — paying filing and legal fees and dealing with a seven-year blemish on their credit record — but do not ultimately benefit from the program. Once they have defaulted, they revert back to all unpaid debts with interest rates higher than ever. When comparing Caucasian filings with African-American filings, the latter usually file under Chapter 13 but cannot complete the program. Some return for repeat filings, with a few filing Chapter 13 up to 20 times during their lifetimes. They view bankruptcy as a last resort. If you are considering bankruptcy, talk to our knowledge attorneys about which options — Chapter 7 or Chapter 13 — is best for you.
