Mechanic’s Lien
In Michigan, Contractors, sub-contractors, suppliers, and laborers who have a contract with a General Contractor or Sub-contractor can file a mechanics lien. This can grant a security interest in the property that has been improved through labor or products purchased in reliance on a contract. In order to set one up, it requires a little work on the front end to save a lot of work at the end. If you are a contractor or sub-contractor and you would like to ensure payment for your services, you should contact an experienced attorney to set up a mechanic’s lien and protect your interest.
We are attorneys and small business owner’s in Troy, Michigan. We know that times are tough for businesses right now, and we will do everything we can to get you paid. Once the lien has been established we can file a garnishment on the paycheck or taxes of a person or business so they have no choice but to pay you the amount you are rightfully owed.
To retain Garmo & Kiste, PLC call us at (248) 398-7100 for a free consultation or contact us with a private message.
Every year with the Holidays, Shop Lifting Increases
Shoplifting has risen approximately 20% over the last several years in part because of the poor economy, with a spike in shoplifting and shoplifting arrests during the holidays.Simply put, more shoppers and shopping means more opportunity for shoplifting. And the items most stolen might surprise, such as expensive meat cuts, razors, and tooth brushes.
From the Detroit Free Press:
http://www.freep.com/VideoNetwork/1303938744001/Top-5-Shoplifted-Items
Police departments across Metro Detroit will be on guard against shoplifters during the holiday shopping season. Many local Police for example, will step up patrols around shopping centers, and vendors will increases security efforts.
Under Michigan law, shoplifting is considered retail fraud. Charges for the crime range from first to third degree, depending on the severity and the value of the stolen items.
For more information about the Michigan Retail Fraud laws and to retain Garmo & Kiste, PLC, call us at (248) 398-7100 for a free consultation or contact us with a private message. We are experienced Michigan attorneys with offices in Troy, MI.
Read our detailed article on Retail Fraud using the link below:
From The Detroit News:
http://www.detroitnews.com/article/20121126/METRO02/211260342#ixzz2DKNGycZq
From the Detroit Free Press:
http://www.freep.com/article/20121102/NEWS03/121101016/Shoplifter-steals-1250-Gucci-jacket
Examples of Retail Stores Our Firm Typically Deals With:
Kohls, GM Renaissance Center, Laurel Park Place, Southland Center, Oakland Mall, twelve oaks mall, Partiage Creek, Great Lakes Crossing, Somerset Collection, Lakeside Mall, abercrombie, Abercrombie & Fitch, aerie, Aéropostale, ALDO,American Eagle Outfitters, Bath & Body Works, bebe, Body Shop, The, Brookstone, Buckle, Caché, Champs Sports, Charlotte Russe, Christopher & Banks, Claire’s, Disney Store, Express, f.y.e., Finish Line, Foot Locker, Forever 21, GNC, GUESS, Gymboree, H&M, Helzberg Diamonds, Hollister Co., Hot Topic, Ice Age, Icing, J.B. Robinson Jewelers, JCPenney, Johnston & Murphy, Journeys, Justice, Kay Jewelers, Lady Foot Locker, Leather City, LensCrafters, Lids, Limited, The, Lord & Taylor, Macy’s, Men’s Wearhouse,Merle Norman,Motherhood Maternity, Naturalizer Shoes, New York & Company, PacSun, Payless ShoeSource, Perfumania, Prestige Jewelers, Ritz Camera, rue21,Sears, SoHo, Spencer’s, stride rite, Sunglass Hut, Tapper’s Gold Exchange, Teavana, Things Remembered, Torrid, Toys”R”Us,Trade Secret, Underground Station, Vanity, Victoria’s Secret, Vitamin World, Wet Seal, Windsor, Yankee Candle, Zales Jewelers, Zumiez, Allen Edmonds, Ann Taylor, Anthropologie, Apple, Arden B., AX Armani Exchange, babyGap, Bachrach, Banana Republic, Bare Escentuals, BCBG Max Azria, bebe, Betsey Johnson, Brighton Collectibles, Brooks Brothers, Brookstone, Build-A-Bear Workshop, Burberry, Cache, Coach, Cole Haan, Crate & Barrel, Crocs, EB Games, Eddie Bauer, Meijer, Whole Foods, Trader Joes’, Express/Expressmen, Foot Locker, For Love 21, Fossil, Franklin Covey, Free People, Gap,GapKids, Gucci, Guess, J. Crew/crewcuts , Janie and Jack, Johnston & Murphy, Juicy Couture, kate spade new york, L’Occitane, Lacoste, Lego, Levi’s Store, Lilly Pulitzer, LOFT, Louis Vuitton, Lucky Brand Jeans, lululemonathletica, Lush, M.A.C., Madewell, Marmi, MaxAzria, MaxMara, Michael Kors, Montblanc, Needle & Thread, Neiman Marcus, Nine West, Nordstrom, OMEGA, Origins, Pacific Sunwear, Pandora, Papyrus, Paradise Pen Company, Pottery Barn, Pottery Barn Kids, Ralph Lauren, Restoration Hardware, Saks Fifth Avenue, SEE Eyewear, Sephora, Soma Intimates, Somerset Collection, St. Croix, Steve Madden, Stride Rite, Stuart Weitzman, Swarovski, Talbots | Talbots Petites,Wal-Mart, CostCo, GolfSmith, REi, PetCo, PetsMart, Kmart, Mc Sporting Goods, Sam’s Club, The Art of Shaving, The Body Shop, The Detroit Shoppe, The Limited, The North Face, The Walking Company, Tiffany & Co., Tommy Bahama, Tory Burch, Tourneau, True Religion Brand Jeans, Tumi, Vera Bradley, Victoria’s Secret, White House/Black Market, Williams-Sonoma, Wolford, OfficeMax, Office Depot, Barnes & Noble, Old Navy, TJmaxs, Marshalls, Tanager Outlet Mall, Home Goods, staples, Bed bath and beyond, Walmart, DSW, Ulta, Family Christian Stores, GameStop, ABC warehouse, RadioShack, Pier One, Dick’s Sporting Goods, Jo Ann Fabrics, Michaels, Target, Dots, universal mall, northland mall, Biglots, CVS, RiteAid, Walgreens, Fairlane Mall, Fountain Walk mall, Southland Center, Value City furniture, Art van Furniture, Hobby Lobby, Best Buy, Burlington Coat Factory, IKEA, Summit Palace Mall, Home Depot, Lowes,
Assess Your Options with a Personal Guaranty
It is important to note that signing a person guaranty is NOT standard practice, especially if your business has good credit or significant assets. If you have been asked to sign, are considering signing, or have already signed a personal guaranty it is a good idea to contact an attorney to assess your options. An experienced attorney may be able to negotiate for new terms of a loan whereby a personal guaranty is not required.
If you have already signed and may default, or have already defaulted we may be able to negotiate a settlement with your lender, as we have for hundreds of others, and extinguish the debt for once and for all. Additionally we can analyze the validity of the personal guarantee, and assess your options.
Maybe most importantly, we have seen many people sued individually for Debts that are not personally guaranteed, or where by the personal guarantee taken is not valid under law, we have attached several examples for your reference, Call us today, maybe we can save you $72,000.00, $22,000.00, or $52,000.00 like we did for these three.
To retain Garmo & Kiste, PLC, for assistance in these matters call us at (248) 398-7100 for a free consultation or contact us with a private message. We are experienced Michigan attorneys with offices in Troy, MI.
Unauthorized Practice of Law Check
While individuals have a right to represent themselves in a Court of law, if you are the President, Member, or Resident agent of a Corporation you DO NOT have the right to represent your company as the Defendant or Plaintiff in a lawsuit. In fact to do so would violate MCL 450.681, the statute prohibiting the unauthorized practice of law. So, if your LLC is getting sued, you need an attorney to represent you or else the Judge is duty bound to dismiss your pleadings and your case. As small business owners ourselves, we know that money can be tight when you’re just starting out. Our rates are very reasonable and we’ll work to get the best result for you and your business. To retain Garmo & Kiste, PLC call us at (248) 398-7100 (248) 398-7100 for a free consultation or contact us with a private message.
What You Need to Know About a Personal Guaranty
A personal guaranty is when someone (usually the business owner) signs on a loan or line of credit for the business. Basically, it means that if the company does not have enough assets to cover the liability, the note holder may pursue the signatory personally.
If asked to sign a personal guaranty, you should think hard before you sign. Many people take out a line of credit or a small business loan to jump start their business with an infusion of cash, or even to just get started in the first place. It is tempting to see any business set-backs as temporary and not think about the long term consequences of taking on personal liability. However, many times needing these loans are a sign that the business is struggling. Even if the business if just starting out, it is important to hope for the best, but plan for the worst. If your business has poor credit, or few assets, there may be no other option but to sign a personal guaranty. Just be aware that by doing so, you are losing a lot of protections provided by the formation of the LLC, and essentially “piercing the corporate shield.” You will be required to pay this debt as you would any other personal debt such as a mortgage or car loan. If you default on it you could have a judgment entered against you or even have your wages and tax returns garnished. The lender will not care if your business has failed, is struggling, or has even gone bankrupt you will always be liable until its paid off.
Small Business Owners- How to Shield Yourself from Personal Liability
Small Business Owners, Insulate Yourself from Personal Liability!
Being a small business ourselves, our attorneys understand that starting a new business in a poor economy is no small task. Between creating a business plan that generates profit, finding financing, hiring and managing employees, and marketing your business the average small business owner has his or her hands full. But because owning a business is so taxing, so time intensive, many business owners do not consider their own legal relationship to their businesses. Small business owners who fail to insulate themselves from their businesses put themselves and their personal assets, i.e. their homes, their cars, their big screen televisions, at risk, for no reason. The responsibility for paying back debts incurred by your businesses tacked onto you personally.
Learn How to Avoid Being Sued, keep from Losing your Personal Assets, and how to Deal with Creditors and Collection Agencies.
No one wants to think their business will fail. But even Henry Ford, business magnate, entrepreneur, philanthropist, and Detroit’s own, bankrupted two car companies, before starting Ford Motor Company, the first of which never even made a car. Our attorneys hope that each business client we advise not only succeeds but flourishes. But that does not mean we don’t advise our clients to plan for the worst. Having started our legal careers as collections attorneys, it was hard not to notice a constant theme- a business collapse, a failed pizza franchise, a realty company, a certified public accountant, whatever the business, the owner now the target of our collection suit, simply because he or she did not plan for the worst, because he or she did not insulate themselves from their businesses’ debts.
Over the years, as with consumer collection matters, Garmo & Kiste, PLC has developed several low-cost tactics to protect our clients individually. Our tactics are designed to insulate the individual from their business. Whether you are a start-up business or one that has been at operating for years, it’s never too late to give our attorneys a call to see how we can help you plan for the worst.
Small Business Owners, Insulate Yourself from Personal Liability. To retain Garmo & Kiste, PLC, call us at (248) 398-7100 for a free consultation. We are licensed Michigan attorneys, with offices in Troy, MI.
