Credit Cards and Their Falling Points Ah, the complex world of credit scoring. If only the credit reporting agencies would share their secret formulas. (33 views)
Exploring Mediation as an Alternative to Traditional Legal Disputes Approximately a year ago, I overheard a conversation about a divorce. ''Know any good divorce lawyers?'' my friend Bill asked. Another friend, John, knew some good ones, but warned that Bill could expect to spend $20,000-40,000 on attorneys' fees alone, not to mention costs for investigators and accountants. Worse, given courts' backlogs, the whole process would likely... (77 views)
Property Damage in Key Biscayne: What You Need to Know About Homeowner Insurance Bartender Geno Marron slapped both palms down on the poolside rattan bar and delivers his rapid-fire Sonesta welcome like a rapper. Blink and you swear you're back with the Beach Boys circa 1969, when the Sonesta Key Biscayne was built. (110 views)
How to Manage Tough-Luck Situations as an Attorney - Tips for Lawyers Dealing with Difficult Cases In the summer of 2001, eight hungry beetles apparently escaped from their quarantine in a commercial nursery south of Seattle. Three of them were quickly captured. The other five never were heard from again, but at the time they added up to potential disaster. Now the case of those ravenous beetles is pending in the U.S. Supreme Court on a petition for review. (15 views)
Understanding the Fair and Accurate Credit Transactions Act (FACTA) - A Lawyer's Guide Quick, Mom, turn on the TV. (And don't let Dad change the channel.) The newscasters in Lawrence, Kan., should be abuzz about ''FACTA'' and how you can get free copies of your credit reports starting March 1. (54 views)
5 Reasons Why the CAN-SPAM Act Has Failed to Stop Unwanted Spam Emails The CAN-SPAM Act of 2003 became effective on January 1, 2004. The Controlling the Assault of Non-Solicited Pornography and Marketing Act was designed to address what has become—according to a recent survey—a $21.58-billion annual productivity problem. Unfortunately, as most of us can attest, the world's hawkers and peddlers continue to fetter our in-boxes. Why, more... (76 views)
Resolving a Legal Dispute: How to Deal With an Indignant Father - A Guide for Attorneys The case of Angry Father v. Fed-Up Principal , now pending in the U.S. 7th Circuit, never will be ranked among the great cases of the 21st century. Even so, it provides a nice little case study for a course in Human Nature 101. (14 views)
Discover India's Splendors Old and New with a Unique Privileged Tour A privileged tour of India reveals wonders old and new. I had certainly seen photos of the legendary Taj Mahal, but like photos of any wonder, they rarely capture the intensity of the actual experience. (13 views)
Understanding the Roth Rules: Tips and Strategies for Achieving Financial Security If you're confused about which type of retirement account to choose, here's the quick and easy (and probably smartest) strategy: Put your money in a Roth IRA. Compared with an employer-sponsored retirement account — such as a 401(k) or 403(b) — or a traditional IRA, the Roth is by far more flexible and likely will lead to more money in retirement. (47 views)
Anacapa Island: California's best-kept tourist secret ANACAPA ISLAND, Calif. - I was startled by a tourist's ringing cell phone. Obviously it's impossible to escape from this modern technology item, even on this primitive, uninhabited island off the coast of Southern California. (632 views)
End of Life Decisions: A Legal Reflection on the Schiavo Case In the sad case of Terri Schiavo, there are no good answers. Florida's highest court has authorized the best of the bad ones: Pull the tubes and let the young woman die. The relief act that President Bush signed on Monday is an affront to the rule of law. (17 views)
Investing in Stocks for the Long-Term: What You Need to Know The following is adapted from the February issue of Rule Your Retirement. Take a 30-day free trial today and receive a complimentary copy of our bestselling book, Money After 40. (7 views)
Begin a Bright Future: Tips for Moving to a City with a Rich History The common wisdom in China is that if you want to learn what happened 2,000 years ago, you visit Xi'an. If you want to learn what happened 1,000 years ago, you visit Beijing. If you want to find out what is happening today, you go to Shanghai. (155 views)
When to Draw the Line: Navigating Ethics in IT Law | LawCrossing Oral argument in the Supreme Court had barely begun on March 2 when Justice Sandra Day O'Connor interrupted with a question. The case was Van Orden v. Perry , No. 03-1500. At issue was the power of Texas to sanction a display of the Ten Commandments on the Capitol grounds in Austin. Erwin Chemerinsky, of Durham, N.C., spoke for the plaintiff, Thomas Van Orden. (743 views)
''They'' Don't Have All the Answers Are ''They'' Right? I had heard (one of those things that ''they'' say) that checking your own credit report lowers your credit score. Is that true and will the score be hit three times if ordering all three free reports? I appreciate your time. — Sincerely, David (13 views)
How to Celebrate St. Patrick's Day with Traditional Irish Customs On March 17, the whole world is Irish - or so it seems, when parades, fireworks and other celebrations abound all over North America and Europe, in Asia and even in Russia. But it is Dublin that throws the world's biggest St. Patrick's Day party, a weeklong celebration featuring carnival-style parades, concerts, visual arts and dance events, outdoor theater, exhibitions,... (247 views)
Justice Sandra Day O'Connor: A Pioneer and Trailblazer for Women in Law Justice Sandra Day O'Connor emerged from last week's scrum at the high court with her usual dignity and grace. Her dissenting opinion in Roper v. Simmons , the capital punishment case, provided a model of judicial restraint. The majority opinion by Justice Anthony Kennedy provided a model of mush. (45 views)
Financial Advice for Families My husband and I like to shop. A lot. I pay the bills and keep track of our accounts. Right now we have no credit card debt, but our savings is shot. I've decided to try and get my spending under control and have started keeping a log of my expenses. So how do I get the Mister to take note of what he spends? — Laura in N.J. (4 views)
Legal Staff Smarten Up: The Rising Need for Education Among Paralegals and Legal Assistants For paralegals and legal assistants, education is increasingly important. The reason? More than ever, human resources managers and firm business managers scrutinize candidates' education as much as their experience. (111 views)
Unspoiled and Unbelievably Pleasant: The Lasting Charm of Fiji The sand under my bare feet is sparkling white and powdery fine. As I stroll along the winding beach my feet sink in ever so slightly - just enough to nicely cushion my steps. (25 views)
Navigating Michigan's Murky Waters: An Overview of Michigan Water Law Seventeen years have passed since John Rapanos had his great idea: He would dump dirt and sand on 50 acres he owned in Michigan. On them he would build a shopping center and other structures. Three counties would benefit from new taxes, thousands of people would have jobs, and everyone would live happily ever after. (125 views)
Boost Your Finances: 5 Steps to Financial Triage | LawCrossing We make our financial plans based on the present continuing into the future, and maybe getting a little better along the way. ''If I get a raise and a bonus like I got last year," we say to ourselves, ''I'll be able to afford a bigger home.'' Or maybe it's ''I seem to have several hundred dollars left over each month, so I can afford paying a $900 monthly car payment.'' Or... (16 views)
The pains of being hacked Be grateful for Paris Hilton. No, not for filling in where Anna Nicole Smith left off. We have Paris to thank for a timely cyber-security wakeup call. When the contents of her T-Mobile Sidekick — her phonebook, nude photos, and other personal information — were posted on the Internet, entertainment news-watching Americans everywhere were forced to consider the once... (13 views)
Explore Prague | An Insider's Guide to the Amazing Czech Capital Consider a castle high on a hill crowned with a cathedral. Below, ancient bridges span a river curving through centuries of rich architecture. No ugly concrete high-rises intrude. (91 views)
Using Public Access for Private Interests: How Private Action Impacts Public Use The Supreme Court heard argument on Tuesday in the most significant case it will hear this term. The case is Kelo v. City of New London. By the time the court's term ends in June, we may have a better picture of what has become of the concept of private property in the United States. (3 views)
How to Properly Comply With the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) Before the Department of Labor Visits This is the second of a two-part series on the FLSA and what law firms and their clients should know. The first article reviewed the importance of understanding the white-collar regulations and where most employers misinterpret them. This second part provides an overview of the recent changes to part 541 of the FLSA, what you need to know about white-collar exemptions and... (70 views)
Explore a Tropical Paradise on Mexico's Secret Coast: Get Away from It All First, we slathered ourselves top to bottom with mud containing coconut, cucumber and papaya. If laughter is medicine, it was already working wonders. When we walked into the marvelously warm ocean to wash it all off, we were becoming blissful. (137 views)
How to Manage Working with Difficult Colleagues Around Valentine's Day In a week awash with the sentiments of St. Valentine, it may seem unseemly to comment upon a recent opinion in the Supreme Court of Virginia. The case, alas, had nothing to do with sentiment. As M. Chirac is wont to say, au contraire. (19 views)
How to Accumulate $40K of Debt Without Taking Action | Debt Solutions from LawCrossing A few months ago, I wrote a short article highlighting just how high some credit card interest rates are. The rates were so high that I have had trouble getting them out of my head. Permit me to quote myself: (21 views)
Essential Guide to the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA): Anticipating the DOL Examination This is the first of a two-part series on the FLSA and what law firms and their clients should know. Part One reviews the importance of understanding the white-collar regulations and where most employers misinterpret them. The second part will provide an overview of the recent changes to part 541 of the FLSA, what you need to know about white-collar exemptions, and the... (86 views)