Friday, 20 April 2018

Discharging Student Loans in Bankruptcy

We all know college is expensive. But just how hard is it to pay off student loans? According to new information published by the National Bureau of Economic Research (NBER), choosing the right school to attend can have a huge effect on your future — but not just on what type of job you might be more likely to get with a fancier college on your resume. It might impact your ability to pay off student loans. This topic is important to bankruptcy lawyers because if you ever get behind on payments…. well, read on.

Discharging Student Loans in Bankruptcy

Sure, picking a $40,000-per-year-tuition college over one that’s half the price should be a serious topic around the dinner table when you’re a high school student. How many grants or scholarships are you eligible and applying for? How big of a loan will you need to get to cover the rest? And how will you pay it all back?

The Treasury Department staffers who authored the working paper for NBER found that low- and middle-income college borrowers struggle with loan burdens after leaving school by matching tax data with information in the Department of Education’s Student Loan Data System. Most low-income borrowers haven’t touched repaying any of the original balance of their student loans five years after college, while a borrower from a high-income family has repaid about 19%.

This is because the employment outcomes for students from low-income families aren’t as fruitful. More than 1 in 10 students from families earning fewer than $30,000 per year are unemployed five years after leaving school, while another 36% are working but earning fewer than $25,000. Meanwhile, only 27% of students from families earning $75,000 to $100,000 are earning fewer than $25,000, while 8% are unemployed.

Additionally, about 1 in 4 borrowers from low-income families default on student loans within five years of entering repayment.

Why the difference?

According to the data gathered for NBER, students from low-income families face tougher challenges with student loans based on their lack of access to wealth. Often, the balance of their loans is larger than when they originally took them out, five years after graduating. Wealthier borrowers also rely less heavily on student debt to finance college, according to left-leaning think tank Demos.

However, the NBER paper suggests that when low-income borrowers attend less selective schools that are still in the middle of the road in terms of economic mobility, about half end up earning more than $25,000 a year after entering repayment.

It’s important to note that the data was collected for student loans in repayment between 2004 and 2009, the tail end of that being right around the time of the economic collapse.

According to the Equality of Opportunity Project, schools that ranked best for upward mobility for low-income borrowers were:

  • Cal State-Los Angeles
  • SUNY-Stony Brook
  • CUNY System
  • Glendale Community College
  • University of Texas at El Paso

The percent of students who come from families in the bottom fifth but reach the top fifth of income distribution are included in the analysis by the Equality of Opportunity Project. Cal State-Los Angeles has the best mobility rate at nearly 10% of students achieving that tier, while the average college in the U.S. only churns out 1.9% of graduates who dramatically increase their wealth.

So, which college is right for me?

You’ll need to weigh a lot of factors when choosing which college is right for you: programs offered, acceptance rate, location, price, and more. If economic mobility is important to you, it’s good to have the data behind trends seen in colleges today.

The colleges reporting the lowest median parent income on the list include schools in New York, Texas, Kansas, New Mexico, and Florida. Of the lowest set of parent median incomes, the best child (individual) median income was reported from graduates of Vaughn College of Aeronautics and Technology in New York, where graduates ages 32-34 are earning $53,000 per year compared to their parents’ $30,900 per year.

No goal of becoming a pilot or engineer? That’s OK. If you go to University of Texas, most campuses will show results of a higher child income than parents’ income — many of which also tend to be in just the $30,000 range.

At City College of New York, you’ll earn $48,500 per year compared to your parents’ $35,500. At Cal State-Los Angeles, you’ll earn $43,000 for your parents’ $36,600.

Meanwhile, some schools aren’t the best choices, economically. Beauty schools, like Paul Mitchell in Costa Mesa, California — the lowest child median income on the list at $10,300 per year compared to their parents’ $85,200 per year — and some technical and community colleges can affect upward mobility rankings. However, students earning two-year degrees at public colleges, in addition to four-year ones, generally have an easier time paying off student loans. Community college also can help students save a lot of money by earning general credits they’d pay big bucks in tuition for per credit hour at a four-year school.

For students, both child and parent, who never attended college, they’re making just $11,500 per year on their parents’ $35,200.

Interested in what school results in the highest median income for students? It’s Saint Louis College of Pharmacy in St. Louis, Missouri. The median child income is $123,600 — but that’s also coming from a parent median income of $92,500.

What’s the best plan for paying off student loans?

Student loan debt can be tough. It’s important to explore all college payment options when also considering adding student loan debt, and when you’re able to start repaying your debt, you should begin doing so immediately.

It’s also important to know that if you’re feeling crippled by student loan debt years after college, you have options. However, the law makes bankruptcy only an option in discharging student loan debt if you can show undue hardship. If you can satisfy each of these requirements, you may be able to discharge student loan debt:

  1. Based on your current income and expenses, you’re unable to maintain a minimal standard of living for yourself and your dependents if you’re forced to pay off your student loans.
  2. You have additional circumstances that indicate that this state of affairs most likely will continue during most of your repayment period.
  3. You have made good faith efforts to repay your loans.

Erasing Student Loans in a Utah Bankruptcy

Student loans are considered to be in the lowest category of general unsecured debt when you’re looking at bankruptcy, which includes credit card and medical debt. It’s incredibly difficult to get a discharge on student loan debt, even though a growing number of influencers in consumer bankruptcy think that it should be dischargeable. Right now, our office will only file a motion to have student loan debt discharged is if you are permanently disabled and will never earn sufficient income in your lifetime to pay it back.  Even then, there is no guarantee we can do it.  The best route, however, would be to research all your financing options fully before choosing a college, possibly pursuing a degree that may land you a job that allows for loan forgiveness, like being a public school teacher or a nurse, and getting on a repayment plan after you graduate and sticking to it.

Free Consultation with Bankruptcy Lawyer

If you have a bankruptcy question, or need to file a bankruptcy case, call Ascent Law now at (801) 676-5506. Attorneys in our office have filed over a thousand cases. We can help you now. Come in or call in for your free initial consultation.

Michael R. Anderson, JD

Ascent Law LLC
8833 S. Redwood Road, Suite C
West Jordan, Utah
84088 United States
Telephone: (801) 676-5506
Posted by at No comments:
Labels:

Thursday, 19 April 2018

Who are Debt Collectors?

When you fall behind on a debt for an extended period of time, creditors will often send your account to “collections.” As many of you probably already know, this means that you will have a debt collector calling and writing to you in an attempt to collect on the debt. Millions of Americans are pursued by debt collection companies every year, however, very few are familiar with their business model, the laws that regulate them and how best to put a stop to their abusive tactics. As a bankruptcy lawyer, I’ve seen this time and again. This post will help you get up to speed on the debt collection industry and give you practical tips for dealing with the letters and phone calls.

Who are Debt Collectors

Who are these shadowy figures that call at all hours to collect on past-due debts?

The Fair Debt Collection Practices Act (FDCPA) is a piece of federal legislation that regulates the activity of debt collectors. The FDCPA defines debt collectors as:

any person who uses any instrumentality of interstate commerce or the mails in any business the principal purpose of which is the collection of any debts, or who regularly collects or attempts to collect, directly or indirectly, debts owed or due or asserted to be owed or due another.

Just as the name implies, debt collectors are individuals or businesses whose primary job is to collect debts. Although they usually have funky names like RNC Financial or Arrow Financial Services, collection law firms who regularly pursue past due accounts qualify as debt collectors. It is important to be aware be aware that original creditors, such as a bank or credit card company, will not be governed by the FDCPA because they do not fit the definition of a debt collector. The principal purpose of their business is not to collect debts. Generally speaking, the only time an original creditor will qualify as a debt collector under the FDCPA is when they use a name other than their own to collect the debt. In these cases, the FDCPA considers creditors to be debt collectors because they are behaving like collectors.

How do debt collectors get paid?

There are two common arrangements under which creditors work with debt collection companies: contingent payment and debt sale. Under a contingent payment arrangement, the original creditor hires a debt collection company to pursue a delinquent debt, with the collection company receiving a percentage of the amount they are able to collect. Depending on the type of debt, the age of the account and how many attempts have already been made to collect on it, the fee for successfully collecting could range from 10% to 50%. The advantage for debt collectors in a contingent arrangement is cost; they aren’t required to front any money in order to gain the right to pursue the debtor.

By contrast, the second most common arrangement under which creditors work with debt collection companies, selling debt, requires debt collectors to purchase past due debts so that they can then try to come after the debtor for the full outstanding balance (or as much of it as they can get). In cases where a borrower has fallen behind and the creditor views the likelihood of successful collection to be small, they may elect to sell the debt at a highly discounted rate to a debt collection company. For example, Creditor X is owed $500,000. Based on the financial picture of the borrower, Creditor X calculates a very small likelihood of collecting the full outstanding balance. In order to recoup some money, Creditor X sells the $500,000 debt to a debt collector for $100,000 or 20% of the outstanding loan balance. The debt collector then pursues the debtor for as much of the outstanding balance as possible. Everything they collect over and above $100,000, is profit.

Consumers need to be aware that the sale of debt in no way guarantees that the debt collector has the legal right to collect. In many cases they do not. Numerous articles have been written on this Forum about debt collection companies who buy “zombie debt,” i.e. debt that is no longer owed due to the expiration of the statute of limitations. In other words, it is not uncommon for debt collection companies to try to pursue consumers for debts that they do not legally owe.

Who regulates debt collection companies? How can I stop them from calling?

Debt collectors are regulated by state and federal law. The scope of this article is to short to address all of the various state laws on the subject, so we will continue to discuss the federal FDCPA instead. I you have questions about your state’s consumer protection laws, it’s always best to contact a local attorney.

Now back to the FDCPA. In order to address widespread abuses in the debt collection industry, Congress passed the FDCPA in order to rein in the tactics of debt collectors. The FDCPA prohibits abusive or coercive behavior in pursuit of a debt and awards consumers statutory damages of $1,000 for each violation of its code of conduct.

Specifically, debt collectors are prohibited from contacting 3rd parties, such as family members and friends of the borrower, when they have knowledge of the borrowers current contact information and address. They must limit collection calls to reasonable hours and must not intentionally harass debtors. Further, once a consumer communicates to a debt collector in writing that they wish for communications to cease or the collector learns that the debtor has hired an attorney, the collection efforts must stop.

Always send written correspondence via fax or certified mail so that you can prove it was sent. If it becomes necessary to pursue a claim under the FDCPA, proof of written communication will help your case.

Debt Collector Law Summary

Debt collectors are third-party businesses whose sole purpose is to collect debts. Under federal law, original creditors do not qualify as debt collectors unless they are attempting to collect under a different business name than was used to extend credit in the first place. Debt collectors get paid when they collect on delinquent accounts; either as a percentage of what they’ve collected or after purchasing the debt outright. State and federal law regulate the debt collection industry. The FDCPA prohibits abusive or coercive tactics on the part of debt collectors when they are pursuing a debtor. If you find yourself overwhelmed by collection calls or letters, it is always a good idea to meet with a local attorney. There are powerful laws that can help.

Free Consultation with Bankruptcy Lawyer

If you have a bankruptcy question, or need to file a bankruptcy case, call Ascent Law now at (801) 676-5506. Attorneys in our office have filed over a thousand cases. We can help you now. Come in or call in for your free initial consultation.

Michael R. Anderson, JD

Ascent Law LLC
8833 S. Redwood Road, Suite C
West Jordan, Utah
84088 United States
Telephone: (801) 676-5506
Posted by at No comments:
Labels:

Wednesday, 18 April 2018

Estate Planning for Blended Families

When parents remarry, children naturally feel the need for security and love from their parent. A blended family can be a major adjustment for all children and spouses. With some thought and planning, you can ensure that all of your loved ones are provided for in your estate plan, and ensure that your family remains harmonious and integrated even through the most stressful times.

Estate Planning for Blended Families

An estate planning lawyer can sit down with you and your spouse, learn your unique needs and concerns, hopes and fears, and then craft a custom estate plan and gifting strategy that will respect your wishes and ensure they are carried out.

Second Marriage

So you’ve gotten married, have settled in, and are ready to start your new life with a wonderful new life partner. Congratulations! Second marriages present many opportunities for happiness and fulfillment. They also present the opportunity for spouses to work together to prepare a comprehensive estate plan that considers the needs and concerns of both spouses, their respective children, children born into the marriage, and any goals the new family has set for their future.

Considerations in Estate Planning

When spouses have prior children, unique estate planning strategies are needed to ensure that the blended family remains harmonious and cooperative throughout the marriage and after the death of one spouse. We are all too familiar with the family contention and discord that happens when a parent dies without an estate plan in place. Add the concerns presented by children from multiple marriages and it becomes readily apparent that a comprehensive estate plan and gifting strategy is more important than ever: a plan that considers the assets of each parent, their wishes to help their children later in life, and the new couple’s own children’s needs, possibly.

Many people feel that leaving their property to their spouse at death is the easiest way to deal with estate planning. But vague assurances or even the most optimistic of hopes that the children and surviving new spouse can work it out are no substitute for a real estate plan. Leaving property to the spouse does not ensure that all the children of both spouses are provided for. It can also result in unwanted tax consequences, eroding the legacy you worked so hard to provide. Children from the previous marriages need to feel security: they need to know that with dad’s new wife or mom’s new husband, they will not be forgotten. Cherished family heirlooms are meaningful to them, and they want to make sure special memories stay in their lineage.

Beware of joint tenancy

Property held in joint tenancy poses a special danger for the blended family: when one spouse dies, title automatically transfers to the surviving spouse and becomes part of his or her estate. Eventually, it will pass to the children of the surviving spouse only. Your children may have grown up in and become attached to that home, but may end up disinherited from those fond sentiments while the home goes to their step-siblings who do not have the same emotional investment in it.

Free Consultation with a Utah Estate Lawyer

If you are here, you probably have an estate issue you need help with, call Ascent Law for your free estate law consultation (801) 676-5506. We want to help you.

Michael R. Anderson, JD

Ascent Law LLC
8833 S. Redwood Road, Suite C
West Jordan, Utah
84088 United States
Telephone: (801) 676-5506
Posted by at No comments:
Labels:

Tuesday, 17 April 2018

Financial Planning for Beginners

Earlier this year, household debt balances in America rose to $12.73 trillion, the highest in our history. In fact, 73% of us die in debt. With this much debt, it’s hard for many people to reach long-term goals such as retirement savings, or shorter-term goals such as paying for a wedding. Many of us just wing it when it comes to our finances, thereby decreasing our opportunities and our joys in life. But with a bit of planning, we can take control of our finances, which gives us much more control over our lives and our futures.

Financial Planning for Beginners

You will find that the following guidelines make a big difference.

Set Your Financial Goals

We all know it’s impossible to get anywhere without knowing where we want to go. Many of us have more than one financial goal, which means we need to set priorities. That doesn’t mean you can’t work toward more than one goal at once. Think about what is the most important thing to you now:

  • Paying off debt;
  • Contributing to an emergency fund;
  • Saving for short- or medium-term goals, such as paying for a wedding or a vacation; or
  • Saving for long-term goals, such as retiring comfortably.

In order to reduce both your risk and your anxiety, it’s best for most people to prioritize paying down their debt and building an emergency fund but without ignoring their retirement. Of course, your goal setting will depend to a large extent on your priorities in life. Recognize what those are and plan your spending accordingly. For some people, buying a large, comfortable house is paramount. For others, travel and new experiences are more important. Neither is right nor wrong. The point is to plan and act to make your personal goals become a reality.

Pay off Debt

Many people wonder how they got into so much debt and they don’t see a way out of it. But you can climb out of debt with good planning. If you are part of an average American household, you may have $15,654 in credit card debt, $27,669 in auto loans, and $46,597 in student loans. And almost half of credit card holders have revolving debt, meaning rather than paying off their debts every month, they carry it forward. If you have these kinds of debts, you are probably paying thousands of dollars per year just in interest.

Also, if you are in debt, you may occasionally overdraw your bank account trying to cover payments. That’s usually a minimum $34 bank fee and more if you don’t repay the money almost immediately. Banks are thrilled when you overdraw. They make more than $30 billion every year in overdraft fees.

Contribute to an Emergency Fund

If anything is constant it’s that nothing is constant. Life happens, and you need to be have a little cash put away for an emergency. Try to have at least enough money to get you by for three months. Six months is better. Shockingly, about 70% of Americans have less than $1,000 in the bank. If you have sudden medical bills, an accident, or lose your job, you need some cushion. If you don’t have an emergency fund, this should be a top priority.

Save for Short- and Medium-Term Goals

Once you have your debts under control and have a comfortable emergency fund, you may want to turn your attention to some short- or medium-term goals. This could be anything from buying a car, going on vacation, or buying a house. Life is to be enjoyed. Just don’t pursue these goals while going deep into debt or ignoring putting money aside for an emergency.

Save for Long-Term Goals

Of course, a long-term goal everyone should have is saving for retirement. Here are a few ways to do so:

  • Start putting money aside as soon as you can, even if it’s only $50 per week.
  • Don’t put your retirement behind everything else. It is far too easy to push it off. Don’t steal money from your retirement to renovate the kitchen or fly to the Bahamas for a few days.
  • If your employer will match retirement funds, put in the maximum amount they will match.
  • If you are over age 50, you can make a larger retirement contribution. Do this.

Know Where Your Money is Going

The first step to reaching your goals is understanding what you have to work with. You need to know where your money is going before you can redirect it to be more in line with your goals.

  • Go through your bank statements and receipts and list what you are spending on.
  • Separate your costs into two groups. The first group is fixed costs, such as rent or mortgage payment and insurance. The second group is flexible costs such as going to the movies and other entertainment, eating out, and gasoline.
  • Make a note of your assets and net worth.
  • Check your credit scores.
  • Add up your debt.

You don’t need to go back years. Just take a look at your spending and financial information from the last few months.

Build a Budget

Just as you can’t get anywhere without deciding where you want to go (your goal), you also can’t get there without a plan. Once you have a firm grasp on the money you have coming in, your debts, your expenses, and how you spend your extra money, you need to make a budget.

“Budget” is a word that can strike terror into the hearts of many people to the point that they become paralyzed with fear. The word can conjure images of failure, similar to the word “diet.” There is no need to put yourself through this. Your budget doesn’t have to look like anyone else’s. Recognize your personal priorities and be realistic.

If you are saving for a short- or medium-term goal that is extremely important to you such as a big wedding or a vacation, you might be willing to tighten your belt in some areas for a bit. But if you live and die for weekend golf or morning lattes, those may not be the first place to look at cutting your spending.

Just realize you may not be able to have it all, at least not all the time.

Get Help if You Need It

Some people become almost paralyzed with fear when it comes to dealing with their finances. If sifting through your financial records and creating a budget is too much for you, get help. There are various levels of help according to your needs. Help can come in the form of budgeting software, budgeting services, financial advisors, accountants, and bankruptcy attorneys.

The most important thing is that you get started immediately, because your future won’t wait.

Free Initial Consultation with a Utah Lawyer

It’s not a matter of if, it’s a matter of when. Legal problems come to everyone. Whether it’s your son who gets in a car wreck, your uncle who loses his job and needs to file for bankruptcy, your sister’s brother who’s getting divorced, or a grandparent that passes away without a will -all of us have legal issues and questions that arise. So when you have a law question, call Ascent Law for your free consultation (801) 676-5506. We want to help you.

Michael R. Anderson, JD

Ascent Law LLC
8833 S. Redwood Road, Suite C
West Jordan, Utah
84088 United States
Telephone: (801) 676-5506
Posted by at No comments:
Labels:

Monday, 16 April 2018

An Employee is Hurt During a Workplace Emergency – Can the Employer be Held Liable?

Whenever a crisis arises in the workplace, there is often concern regarding who is liable — whether it’s the government, a healthcare provider or the company itself. Liability during emergency situations is a tricky matter, and many businesses could be held accountable for employee injuries if they respond in the wrong way or fail to respond at all.

An Employee is Hurt During a Workplace Emergency - Can the Employer be Held Liable

Emergency situation liabilities can stem from a wrongful death case to a slip and fall case that may involve a lawyer. This can put a lot of pressure on both employers and government officials from West Jordan, Utah to the rest of the state.

Potential Areas of Liability

Emergency first responders can potentially be held liable under matters of civil and criminal liability. They may be protected by different liabilities and waivers, but there’s still room for egregious conduct when responding to an emergency situation. For instance, an unfortunate slip and fall could arise during an emergency — and first responders could potentially be held liable on grounds of negligence.

Civil Liability

Civil liability is most likely where liability issues are going to arise. Civil liabilities include negligence, intentional harm, privacy violations, discrimination or misrepresentation. Even though one particular employee may have been responsible for an injury, the employee’s company would be held liable, as an employee acts as a representative of his or her company. However, an intentional tort can place blame upon an individual, if intent to harm can be successfully proven.

So if an employee were to intentionally trip someone, resulting in a slip and fall injury, then the employee could be held liable. If an accident were unintentional, then a company would have to hire a good lawyer out of West Jordan in order to ensure a smooth court case.

Defense in Intentional Torts

If you and your lawyer find yourself involved in an intentional tort case, there are two general arguments that you can make: you can either argue consent or necessity. In the argument of consent, such as in the case of a drug injury, one can argue that the patient was informed beforehand of what drug was going to be administered. This argument can also be used if medicine was administered while the person was unconscious.

Another argument that can be used is necessity. This could be used in a case in which someone intentionally causes a person to slip and fall in order to protect the person from further harm. These are a couple of routes that your West Jordan-area lawyer may take if you are involved in an intentional tort lawsuit.

Negligence

In an emergency situation, employers should do everything within their power to assist employees in danger — if not, they could be held liable for an injury due to their negligence. This could be a tough case for your lawyer to argue, especially if you had to opportunity to provide assistance but failed to take action. Your West Jordan-based company could be found liable for an injury due to negligence if you weren’t properly prepared, or breached some kind of employee confidentially.

If you find yourself in court in West Jordan Utah due to a slip and fall case during an emergency situation, use this knowledge and be prepared.

Free Consultation with a Utah Business Lawyer

If you are here, you probably have a business law issue you need help with, call Ascent Law for your free business law consultation (801) 676-5506. We want to help you.

Michael R. Anderson, JD

Ascent Law LLC
8833 S. Redwood Road, Suite C
West Jordan, Utah
84088 United States
Telephone: (801) 676-5506
Posted by at No comments:
Labels:

Sunday, 15 April 2018

Claims in a Business Divorce

When conflict within a privately owned company cannot be resolved through negotiation and the parties stand at the brink of filing litigation to resolve their disputes, the parties must analyze whether their claims are direct or derivative in nature. The distinction between direct and derivative claims and claim procedures may trap the unwary.

Claims in a Business Divorce

Direct Claims in a Business Divorce Case

Direct claims are those claims brought by an owner for losses suffered directly to that owner and are unique to the owner. In the personal injury context, the plaintiff is entitled to bring claims based upon their bodily injuries caused by the wrongful conduct of the defendant(s).Similarly, claims by a business owner must only be for the economic harm or equitable relief necessary to correct the wrong by the defendant(s).

Derivative claims are claims brought by an owner on behalf of or in the right of a corporation or LLC. The shareholder steps into the shoes of the company to enforce the rights of the company against the defendant(s).The owners’ claims arise because of their ownership in the company.

Stemming from these basic definitions are issues related to whether damages being sought are truly direct or damages suffered by all shareholders. If the damages claimed are suffered by all shareholders then the claim is not direct.

Derivative Claims in a Business Divorce

In Utah, the code discusses the necessary steps for a derivative claim. An LLC derivative proceeding is governed similarly under the Utah Code Annotated as well. First, a shareholder may not commence or maintain a derivative proceeding until it is established that the shareholder was an owner in the corporation at the time of the act or omission or became a shareholder through transfer by operation of law from someone who was an owner at the time of the wrongdoing. In addition, the shareholder must fairly and adequately represent the interest of the company in enforcing the rights of the company.

A shareholder may not start a derivative lawsuit until a written demand has been made upon the corporation to take suitable action to correct the wrongdoings and recover losses for the company. In addition, once a written demand is received, ninety days must expire from the date of the demand before a lawsuit may be commenced. Exceptions to this rule exist when the demand has already been rejected, the statute of limitations will expire within the ninety days, or irreparable injury to the company would result by waiting for the expiration of the ninety days. The purpose of the written demand is to give the company an opportunity to investigate the claims and take action prior to being embroiled in litigation. If the corporation does commence an inquiry even after the demand and a Complaint has been filed the court may take action to stay the derivative proceedings for a period necessary to complete such investigation.

If the parties are now prepared to file their litigation, they must also comply with the Utah Rules of Civil Procedure. The Complaint should be verified and allege that the plaintiff was a shareholder or member of the company at the time of the transaction or obtained their ownership interest by operation of law from someone who was such an owner. The Complaint must further allege with particularity the efforts made to obtain the action desired from the directors or other management authority of the company and the reasons for the plaintiff’s failure to obtain the action sought or for not making such an effort. In addition, the plaintiff must demonstrate that they fairly and adequately represent the interest of all shareholders or members similarly situated in enforcing the rights of the company.

Termination of Derivative Proceedings

A derivative proceeding may not be dismissed or compromised without approval of the court after notice. On the termination of the derivative proceedings, the court may make orders with respect to expenses incurred including attorney fees. If the court finds that the plaintiff’s derivative action has resulted in a substantial benefit to the corporation it may order the corporation to pay the plaintiff’s expenses and fees. However, if the court finds that the derivative proceeding was commenced or maintained without reasonable cause or for an improper purpose, the court may order the plaintiff to pay all defendant’s reasonable expenses and fees.

The Utah statutes have a procedure which effectively terminates the plaintiff’s derivative claim and the right to be heard before a jury or a judge if certain conditions are met. First, if the corporation investigates the matter and resolves internally the issues raised in the derivative demand the basis for the lawsuit is eliminated. The second method available to obtain early termination of the litigation is for the corporation to move the court to appoint a panel of one or more independent persons to determine whether the maintenance of the derivative proceeding is in the best interest of the corporation. The court appointed panel, like the company appointed panel, must conduct a reasonable inquiry in good faith and if it concludes that the maintenance of the derivative proceeding is not in the best interest of the corporation, the corporation may ask the court to dismiss the claim. In sum then, the plaintiff’s claim falls to the hands of either a court appointed or company appointed independent panel to determine whether or not the claim should effectively be maintained in litigation. If in fact it is determined by this panel that the maintenance of the derivative proceeding is not in the best interest of the corporation, the plaintiff then has the burden to prove by clear and convincing evidence that the panel has not acted in good faith, may not have conducted a reasonable inquiry and has drawn a conclusion that is not in the best interest of the company.

In a business divorce context, plaintiffs pushing for separation who file direct or derivative claims, effectively have two fronts to attack the wrongdoers or those from whom they would like to separate. Derivative proceedings present a procedure that may reduce the cost of litigation by use of the independent panel. The pressures of litigation may force the parties to separate hopefully by settlement rather than litigation because of the direct or derivative claims.

Free Consultation with a Utah Business Lawyer

If you are here, you probably have a business law issue you need help with, call Ascent Law for your free business law consultation (801) 676-5506. We want to help you.

Michael R. Anderson, JD

Ascent Law LLC
8833 S. Redwood Road, Suite C
West Jordan, Utah
84088 United States
Telephone: (801) 676-5506
Posted by at No comments:
Labels:

Payday loans and Bankruptcy

Even though the holidays are over, people of every income range have been buying gifts for others and now the lenders want to collect. For many, this is just an added year-end expense. Others who feel the pressure to give to family and friends but don’t have the money may look for other ways to fund this seasonal expense. The ads for “payday” loans tend to prey upon that need, offering quick cash now with a short-term temporary loan. But before giving into temptation, be aware of the pitfalls that could affect your financial future into next year…and beyond.

Payday loans and Bankruptcy

What is a payday loan?

Also known as a cash advance or a check loan, a payday loan was originally given that name because repayment of the loan was typically due on the borrower’s next payday.

Some common features of payday loans include:

  • the loan is for a small amount, generally $500 or less;
  • repayment is usually due on the borrower’s next payday;
  • the date of your next payday is disclosed to the lender to allow the lender to draft a payment from your checking account when the payment is due; and
  • the loan has unusually high interest rates.

Generally, the loan can be used for whatever purpose it is needed: the necessary, such as an emergency medical bill or an overdue electricity payment, or the frivolous, such as a quick weekend trip. But the key to using the loan in the most advantageous way depends on when and how the loan is repaid.

The Trouble With Payday Loans

Regardless of when the loan is repaid, the interest rates charged by the lenders are exorbitant compared to other credit sources. Interest on credit cards typically ranges from 12 percent to 30 percent on an annualized basis. A payday loan, on the other hand, generally carries a finance of charge of $10 to $30 of every $100 loaned. The annual percentage rate (APR) on a charge of $15 per $100 rate would be about 400 percent.

The interest rate alone is bad, but the real problems begin when the loan is not repaid within the two-week period. Obviously, most people who turn to a payday loan for a critical expense one week are unlikely to be in a greatly improved financial position in two weeks. In many cases, the borrower has to rollover the loan to the next payday (or the next, or the next…) and the high interest rates continue to accrue.

Payday Lending Online

That’s an ugly picture, but it can get worse. Payday lending is illegal in many states, but lenders will often operate online in order to get at consumers across state lines. Beware the online payday lender – many of them are just scams. They’ll collect an upfront fee and leave you with nothing. The website (and your fee) will disappear into the night and you’ll be left with less cash than before.

Who uses payday loans?

When considering the “typical” payday loan borrower, the obvious answer is someone in at least short-term financial trouble. But a study done by Pew Research in 2012 provides more specific information: most payday loan borrowers are white women between the ages of 25-44. In addition, the study identified five groups that are more likely to take out a payday loan:

  • those without a four-year degree;
  • those who rent, rather than own, a home;
  • African-Americans;
  • those who earn less than $40,000 per year; and
  • those who are separated or divorced.

Payday Lending Under Pressure

Many states have outlawed payday loans, having found them to be predatory and taking advantage of the people who use them. On the other hand, the lenders may choose to not do business in states that do allow them because those states have tightened their regulations on payday lenders to the extent that the lenders no longer make enough of a profit in those states due to the restrictions on interest rates and fees.

In 2013, the Consumer Finance Protection Bureau launched an aggressive investigation into payday lenders and their effect on American finances, soliciting complaints from consumers about their experiences with the loans. A year later, the Bureau has investigated almost 1600 of these complaints. Of those investigations that have been closed, only about 11 percent have resulted in a favorable outcome for the borrower.

During its investigation, the CFPB found that about 12 million Americans use some form of these loans. But the most disturbing part of the investigation was the discovery that almost 4 out of every 5 of the loans are not repaid within 14 days, causing the continuing high-interest renewal or rollover. And over 60 percent of those borrowers roll the loan over so many times that the interest and other fees end up being more than the original loan amount.

One consumer group, the Consumer Federation of America, states that the fault with the system is that the lender focuses on the ability to collect, not necessarily the borrower’s ability to repay. With access to the borrower’s checking account or employer information, the lender is in a position to collect the money owed if necessary.  But why do that when more money can be accrued by just continuing to rollover the debt and increase the interest owed over and above what was originally loaned.

Another consumer group, Consumers Union, is looking for changes to be made and enforced in the industry. Among its recommendations are:

  • limit the fees and interest that can be charged on the loans;
  • make repayment schedules longer, e.g., a few months rather than a couple of weeks; and
  • put a cap on the number of payday loans one person can borrow in one year.

Payday Loans in Bankruptcy

For those whose financial picture doesn’t improve enough to stop the continual rollovers and renewals, bankruptcy may eventually be an option to consider. If taking out payday loans is all that keeps a budget afloat, it may be time to look at putting a stop to the revolving door.

While payday loans in general may be discharged in bankruptcy, there are situations where the lender may have a valid objection. First, some debts incurred within 70 to 90 days of filing bankruptcy cannot be discharged because the creditor may claim that the debt was incurred while planning to file bankruptcy and discharge the loan with no intention of ever paying it back.

Free Consultation with a South Jordan Bankruptcy Lawyer

If you have a bankruptcy question, or need to file a bankruptcy case, call Ascent Law now at (801) 676-5506. Attorneys in our office have filed over a thousand cases. We can help you now. Come in or call in for your free initial consultation.

Michael R. Anderson, JD

Ascent Law LLC
8833 S. Redwood Road, Suite C
West Jordan, Utah
84088 United States
Telephone: (801) 676-5506
Posted by at No comments:
Labels:
Subscribe to: Posts (Atom)