Author Archives: jeshuatlauka

Real Estate update: Mortgage Performance Continues to Improve

Good news from the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency – Mortgage foreclosures are way down, about 48% from a year ago, and mortgage defaults are declining as well. You can see the full report here   This is a good sign for our economy. It is also a good sign for private investorsContinue reading “Real Estate update: Mortgage Performance Continues to Improve”

Michigan Business Law Update: Entrepreneur in Residence Program to Assist Small Business

House Bill 4998 has made some movement, which would create an Entrepreneur in Residence Program to assist entrepreneurs and small business owners. The entrepreneur-in-residence project’s goals would include the following: a) improving outreach by State government to the private sector, b) strengthening coordination and interaction between State government and the private sector on issues relevantContinue reading “Michigan Business Law Update: Entrepreneur in Residence Program to Assist Small Business”

Businesses: Certain Non-Profits Now Have Easier Time Applying for Federal Tax Exemption

Great news for Small Non-profits – the Federal Government is making it easier, more cost-effectively and potentially quicker to gain 501(c)(3) Exemption.   The IRS just came out with its IRS 1023-EZ form, you can see the instructions by going to the follow link Some of the highlights:   1. Only 501(c)3s are eligible.  Continue reading “Businesses: Certain Non-Profits Now Have Easier Time Applying for Federal Tax Exemption”

Churches and Real Estate Law: Leaving a Denomination can be Expensive.

About a year ago I wrote a post about Messy Legal Issues Involving Church Property – you can see it here My article was really a comment on the unique manner in which Michigan law views real estate disputes when churches decide to leave a denomination. – in a nutshell, Michigan law looks at how the churchContinue reading “Churches and Real Estate Law: Leaving a Denomination can be Expensive.”

Businesses: Consequences To Mislabeling Independent Contractors – Court of Appeals Rules Against FedEx – Could Cost Millions.

Businesses: misclassifying your  workers as independent contractors v.s employees (“IC” vs “EE”) could cost you serious money.   As reported by the ABAJournal, The 9th Circuit Court of Appeals, provided a victory for FedEx Truck Drivers classified, by their employer FedEx, as “independent contractors”  – reversing  “a finding in multidistrict litigation in Indiana and held that nearlyContinue reading “Businesses: Consequences To Mislabeling Independent Contractors – Court of Appeals Rules Against FedEx – Could Cost Millions.”

Business Owners: News Headline Illustrates the Potential Legal Consequences of Business Break-Ups

The American Bar Association Journal reported a bit of legal news today-  a Defunct Law Firm was Ordered to Pay Subleases for a Manhattan Office Building, see the article here   Business owners – you know why you create a business entity – a corporation, or a limited liability company – to limit your personal liability fromContinue reading “Business Owners: News Headline Illustrates the Potential Legal Consequences of Business Break-Ups”

Lessons for Business Owners from Recent DOJ Suit: Grand Rapids Landlords to Pay $550,000 and Terminate Manager’s Responsibilities

The U.S. Department of Justice issued a press release yesterday afternoon regarding a Settlement reached with a Grand Rapids Real Estate Owner concerning actions of its Property Manager.  You can see the Press release here   According to the press release, “the owners of the Alger Meadows Apartments in Grand Rapids, Michigan, have agreed toContinue reading “Lessons for Business Owners from Recent DOJ Suit: Grand Rapids Landlords to Pay $550,000 and Terminate Manager’s Responsibilities”

Don’t file a Lien Against a Judge Part II: “Paper Terrorists”

As a follow up to my last blog post about the sovereign citizens, who believe the laws don’t apply to them, I found this interesting article through the ABAJournal, see it here One of the stories cited by the article is re: Victor Cheng:   “The Atta family locked up their Temecula, Calif., home andContinue reading “Don’t file a Lien Against a Judge Part II: “Paper Terrorists””