Category: Bay Area

Defend Trade Secrets Act of 2016 This newly signed law strengthens the protections for whistleblowers who report illegal practices to the government, particularly with regards to trade secrets. In the past, employees who signed “gag orders” or non-disclosure agreements were hampered in their ability to report malfeasance, particularly in the […]

Congress Looks at Reforming the False Claims Act The False Claims Act was originally created during the Civil War to allow ordinary citizens to sue fraudulent companies on behalf of the government. Companies that intentionally sold low-quality goods to the Union Army could be brought to task by civilians who […]

Types of Elder Abuse Cases Elder abuse can be physical, sexual, emotional or financial. However, most cases involve financial abuse, as shown in two recent cases; The first case involved a couple who claimed to be family friends of the victims. They used the art of distraction,;when the first one […]

Understanding the IRS Whistleblower Program A tax whistleblower reports a tax scheme or fraud carried out by his employer to the Internal Revenue Service (IRS), and in exchange the reporter receives at least 15 % of the proceeds collected. The reward for a whistleblower serves as the carrot that provides […]

Re-Inventing the Wheel: traditional vs ‘Modern’ Annuities Annuities have been marketed to seniors as an essential retirement product for decades, and it’s easy to see why: put your lump sum in up front, and received guaranteed income, with interest, for the rest of your days. This is marketing pitch, and […]

ATTORNEY NEWSLETTER Deferred Income Annuity: good deal or bad investment? A Deferred Income Annuity can be thought of as an apple tree; the longer you wait to receive your apples, the bigger they are. We call that the crux of delayed gratification. However, if you die before the income starts, […]

Residential Care Facilities for the Elderly Pursued For Elder Abuse With the aging population, California has a growing number of new Residential Care Facilities for the Elderly (RFCE). Unfortunately, RFCEs have become more focused on the business than the elderly and the caregivers are generally undertrained and overworked. In consequence, […]

ATTORNEY NEWSLETTER AXA is a major international insurance provider and financial company, offering products in a wide array of different areas. They sell travel insurance, life insurance, annuities and numerous other policies. These two products, annuities and life insurance, financial products that are sometimes considered almost indispensable in the modern […]

According to Civil Code Section 1946.7, a tenant or a household member can terminate a lease with written notice to the landlord when he or she is a victim of domestic violence, sexual assault, stalking, human trafficking or elder or dependent adult abuse. Abuse of an elder or a dependent […]

ATTORNEY NEWSLETTER Understanding and Preventing Elder Abuse It’s becoming increasingly apparent that financial elder abuse is a serious concern not only to seniors and their families, but to society at large. A new study by Metlife suggests that financial abuse costs elders almost $3 Billion every year. This money is […]