March 2010

Susan Bishop was recently quoted in an article for CNNMoney.com regarding independent contractors versus employees and the audits and penalties that come with the misclassification of workers. Read the full article at http://bit.ly/ajqqr1.

Rosalia Tapia recently settled a hotly contested wage and hour case on terms very favorable to her employer client, a large food manufacturing company in California. Attorney Tapia’s aggressive defense of the matter was key in arriving at a nominal settlement amount, substantially below plaintiff’s original demand at the mediation.

A nuisance lawsuit filed by Sharon Glenn Pratt recently forced the removal of a giant tree from land adjoining her client’s property in Santa Cruz County. The tree had been threatening her client’s Ben Lomond home after being damaged in severe weather. A fallen limb from the tree had caused extensive property damage, yet the owners of the tree had ignored all requests to remove it. The client’s homeowners insurance policy was threatening non-renewal if the tree was not removed, and the clients were fearful for their own safety as well.

Sharon Glenn Pratt achieved two substantial settlements in March for her condominium association client, for past due assessments which had previously remained unpaid for years. Pratt & Associates collected by filing lawsuits against the non-paying owners personally, and pursuing default judgments, rather than placing liens on the devalued properties. The condominium association received payment in full for all of the past due amounts, plus the collection costs and attorney fees.