Vehicle accidents are often very traumatic for everyone involved. You may have physical pain from injuries and emotional pain from having your life suddenly upended. You experience stress from the damage to an expensive piece of your property and the uncertainty of what will happen next. In the midst of all your upheaval, it's easy to become overwhelmed and sign anything from the insurance company just to have it all over with. This stress is the very reason to slow down, take a deep breath, and give serious consideration to your next steps. Here are seven tips for dealing with auto … [Read more...]
4 Good Reasons Why Your Business Should Not Use Contract Templates Found Online
When you are the owner of your own business, you should always make sure that you have clear and enforceable contracts in place for your business dealings. Contracts ensure all parties are clear about the terms of a deal and that there is a procedure when minds change. Many business owners incorrectly believe well-drafted contracts can be expensive to create. As a result, businesses often cut corners. Entrepreneurs often use Google to find a contract template, give the document a cursory review, and start using it for their own business. They might feel that the contract is “good … [Read more...]
Robert Hill Selected to “Best of the Bar” list for Third Consecutive Year
We are pleased to announce that Robert is included in the San Diego Business Journal's 2017 "Best of the Bar" list of outstanding attorneys. This marks the third consecutive year Robert was honored with this prestigious acknowledgement. Nominations for the "Best of the Bar" list are generated through a peer voting process. Lawyers throughout San Diego County were urged to cast votes for attorneys in private practice who they consider the most outstanding in their field. The San Diego Business Journal reported that this year it received a record 2,535 votes for 1,133 attorneys … [Read more...]
Protecting Your Business: How to Avoid Contract Disputes
Any good business deal begins with a contract. While parties may engage in many meetings, verbal assurances, and handshakes, the details of the parties’ final agreement should be in writing. If you are getting ready to begin a project or business deal, consult with an attorney from an experienced business law firm like the Law Offices of Robert L. Hill to ensure your contract is providing you with the protection and clarity that your business needs and deserves. Make Sure Both Parties Understand the Full Scope/Terms of the Project First and foremost, a contract must reflect a thorough … [Read more...]
Cracking Down on Financial Elder Abuse
Seniors are one of the most vulnerable groups in our society. Far too often unscrupulous people prey upon this vulnerability. It is very important to understand the warning signs of financial elder abuse so you can immediately guide victimized seniors to help. Seniors Lose Billions of Dollars Every Year Through Financial Elder Abuse While most seniors are treated with the love, care, and devotion they deserve, studies show that elder abuse is all too common. According to the National Council on Aging, as many as five million older Americans are abused every year, with the annual loss by … [Read more...]
Robert Hill Recognized by Super Lawyers Magazine for Third Consecutive Year
We are pleased to announce that Robert Hill has been selected to the 2017 San Diego "Rising Stars" list published by Super Lawyers Magazine. Only 2.5% of attorneys in San Diego receive this distinction. This is the third consecutive year Robert was chosen as a "Rising Star" in the San Diego legal community! Super Lawyers uses a patented multiphase selection process to select the attorneys to include in its annual list, with peer nominations and evaluations combined with independent research. The magazine's objective is to create a credible, comprehensive, and diverse list of outstanding … [Read more...]
Arbitration or Litigation: Which is Better for You?
Hopefully your business is growing. Your projects may be moving ahead so successfully that the last thing on your mind is a disagreement with a client, partner, or vendor; however, as most of us realize, even in the best of times disputes can occur. That's why when two or more parties decide to work together on a project where money is being exchanged for services, they generally take preventative measures beyond the talk and the handshake and draw up a thorough business contract. The contract ensures all expectations are outlined fully so, should any confusion or disagreement arise in … [Read more...]
Investment Advisers Sanctioned for Lack of Due Diligence
The Securities and Exchange Commission ("SEC") recently announced it had imposed monetary penalties on thirteen investment advisory firms. The SEC concluded the thirteen firms failed to conduct due diligence to determine the veracity of false claims made by an investment management firm before the firms began recommending the investment to their own clients. The enforcement action concerned claims made by F-Squared Investments ("F-Squared"). F-Squared claimed its "AlphaSector" strategy for investing in exchange-traded funds ("ETF") had outperformed the S&P Index for several years. … [Read more...]
Appellate Court Upholds Broad Scope of Arbitration Agreements
A California appellate court recently upheld an arbitration agreement contained within an employee handbook, even though the employee never signed the actual agreement. The case reinforces the broad scope of arbitration agreements and underscores the importance of speaking with experienced counsel when presented with legal documents. The case began when the plaintiff sued his former employer in Los Angeles Superior Court for racial discrimination, wrongful termination, failure to pay for overtime and rest breaks, and other related causes of action. The employer moved to compel the … [Read more...]
FINRA Warns of Increase in “Boiler-Room” Investment Fraud Scams
The Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (“FINRA”) has received a number of complaints from individuals – particularly seniors – defrauded through “boiler room” style cold calls. According to FINRA, consumers receive unsolicited cold calls from individuals who claim to work for legitimate organizations that offer stock recommendations. The callers use high-pressure tactics to urge consumers to buy penny stocks or other speculative investments. But the calls are scams. The purported organizations often are not registered with FINRA and may not even be valid business entities. … [Read more...]