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Before you buy an Internet radio
March 05, 2011 (Original publish date) • By Dennis Beaver "We are two U.S. Navy officers at the Naval Weapons Station in Lemoore. We have both been fortunate indeed in being married to the most wonderful women in the world - who are from Japan," their e-mail began....
Before you change jobs
March 29, 2008 (Original publish date) • By Dennis Beaver "I can't tell you where I live or which television station I am currently employed at, because if I do it will probably result in my termination. After majoring in Radio and TV Communications, I got a job at a...
Before you consider breast implants
February 05, 2011 (Original publish date) • By Dennis Beaver We will just call her Dotti. The name of her so-called "breast implant surgeon" isn't Dr. Frankenstein, but it should be. "This incompetent GP has made millions of dollars from breast augmentation surgeries,...
Before you go shopping for that new car
March 23, 2013 • By Dennis Beaver Buying a new car is rarely a simple, straightforward procedure unless money is of no concern. Most of us want the best deal possible, yet, customers who understand how an economy functions know that for automobile dealers to remain...
Before you hire a contractor for a major job
April 03, 2010 (Original publish date) • By Dennis Beaver Part 2: "Licensed and bonded." That's what state law requires of contractors, as we discussed last week. But in the world of things that are not as they seem, contractor bonds and many of the companies which...
Before you sign a contract for television advertising
January 05, 2013 (Original publish date) • By Dennis Beaver Smaller media markets across America are where newly minted TV journalists get their start. Often earning $10 an hour, working multiple jobs and long hours at the station, their lives aren't glamorous. If you...
Before you spend too much on a bottle of wine
November 10, 2017 • By Dennis Beaver Today’s story will be of special interest to anyone who enjoys wine, or who, like San Luis Obispo reader, Jamie, wants to surprise a friend. “Katie loves Cabernet Sauvignon and in mid-August, the afternoon of her birthday...
Behavior matters when pulled over by CHP
August 22, 2015 • By Dennis Beaver For a moment, imagine yourself as a Highway Patrol officer, which of course means turning on the red lights, possibly the siren, and pulling a vehicle over for speeding, then, wondering: “Just how dangerous could this stop become?”...
Better Business Bureau does it again
October 18, 2009 (Original publish date) • By Dennis Beaver Often we are asked, "How do you get the material for your articles?" Generally, it's from readers who send in questions, asking for help, and on occasion, alert us to "odd" things they've discovered. That's...
Beware fake Omaha Steaks being sold door to door
June 15, 2013 • By Dennis Beaver If you love to barbecue, then if I say Omaha Steaks, the next word that pops into your head will probably be dinner, followed by mouth-watering, followed by dinner once more, and that will be followed by “Where’s my credit card?” Omaha...
Beware of gift card scams
July 30, 2021 • By Dennis Beaver My paralegal Anne buzzed me: “Dennis, you have readers from Palm Springs on the line, 90-year-old mom and her 55-year-old son. He is trying to prevent her from sending money to scammers using a gift card.” That call could not have...
Beware of snitch tickets
August 17, 2013 • By Dennis Beaver Our recent column on red light and speed camera tickets opened the flood gates to dozens of emails and phone calls from across the country — frustrated, angry drivers who received these tickets in the mail, wanting to know what to...
Beware of tax resolution scams
October 15, 2016 • By Dennis Beaver Listeners of AM, Sirius or XM Satellite radio have heard commercials for “Tax Resolution” companies claiming to make the big bad IRS go away for cents on the dollar. For readers who are or know someone in trouble with the IRS,...
Beware of the mexican timeshare resale scam
September 8, 2017 • By Dennis Beaver In 2004, during their vacation in Nuevo Vallarta, Mexico “Carlos” and “Maria” purchased a $58,000 timeshare at Club Regina. It was bought over Maria’s objections. “I earn the money, I will make the decisions” her macho husband...
Beware of the new life insurance scam
August 05, 2006 (Original publish date) • By Dennis Beaver I was contacted by a life insurance salesman - a friend of a friend - who has a money making proposal that seems extremely interesting. Basically, I apply for a life insurance policy - a really large life...
Beware of TV/Billboard Personal Injury Law Firms: Here’s Why
March 17, 2025 • By Dennis Beaver When was the last time that, when watching TV, you did not see commercials for personal injury law firms who claimed to “fight” for their clients, or offered glowing testimonials from deliriously happy people displaying high-dollar...
Beyond the Bar: Your 5-Step Guide to Discovering Whether a Lawyer Is Shady
Research shows you can't rely on some state bar websites to vet a lawyer you're considering hiring. Here's how to check out a lawyer before you hire. January 19, 2026 • By Dennis Beaver If you're looking to retain an attorney, you might have heard: "Check their state...
Bias – a ticking time bomb in your organization
November 5, 2021 • By Dennis Beaver “Bruce” is CEO of a Chicago IT company with over 60 employees, where “over the summer of 2021, a very bad feeling began to take hold,” he told me in a lengthy phone call. “Suddenly a great lack of trust became apparent. Some of...
Big Brother wants to control your thermostat
January 30, 2017 • By Dennis Beaver Lovers of governmental conspiracy theories will enjoy today's story, as we look at what has been an on-going effort—for at least 10 years — by California and energy utilities to take control of your home’s thermostat and much more....
Big changes coming in 2023 for business and homeowners insurance
December 23, 2022 • By Dennis Beaver “The fires and storms of 2022 was one of the most costly years to the insurance industry, leading to the failure of several companies across the country. Unlike, ‘What happens in Vegas stays in Vegas,’ where property insurance is...
Bill Bought a Fridge, and Then His Nightmare Began
June 24, 2025 • By Dennis Beaver If you are about to buy a major appliance from Lowe’s or Home Depot, you might want to read this story first and take a moment to consider how angry, frustrated and upset you would feel if what happened to Southern California resident...
Billed 12 Hours for a Few Seconds of Work: How AI Is Helping Law Firms Overcharge Clients
The ability of AI to reduce the time required for certain legal tasks is exposing both the legal profession's reliance on the billable hour to boost firms' income and the unrealistic expectations that lawyers face to remain employed. January 13, 2026 • By Dennis...
BizCounsel Promises Affordable Access to Legal Services for Business
June 7, 2019 • By Dennis Beaver BizCounsel Promises Affordable Access to Legal Services for Business “I just read your article, ‘Golden Rules for Going into Business for Yourself.’ You must have been a fly on the wall in our house when I had the identical discussion...
Black Angus restaurants have advertising problem
November 20, 2009 (Original publish date) • By Dennis Beaver One Saturday afternoon in early November, 2009, Fresno resident Ted, his wife and her parents visited a Black Angus restaurant for dinner. They were celebrating Ted's finding a job after months of being...
Bland Thailand food tour leaves bad taste
October 22, 2011 (Original publish date) • By Dennis Beaver “Your articles on travel insurance and interview with travel attorney Alexander Anolik prompted me to write,” retired naval commander “Bill” emailed from Lemoore. “During the Vietnam war, I was attached to...
Both landlords and tenants gain from new laws
December 29, 2012 (Original publish date) • By Dennis Beaver Landlord/tenant law impacts everyone. Not just landlords or tenants, but all of us — especially when domestic violence hurls itself into the worlds of law enforcement, lawyers and the courts. Being the...
Brotherly love
May 26, 2008 (Original publish date) • By Dennis Beaver We are constantly told of the importance in having a will and estate plan, and yet, so often, little thought goes into fine-tuning -- the careful drafting -- of these documents which have the power to literally...
Building a Business That Lasts: The Critical Steps to Avoid Blunders
August 26, 2025 • By Dennis Beaver "Mr. Beaver, my husband, 'Leroy,' is a high school history teacher and just inherited $50,000. He wants to use it to open a business but does not know what kind of business. "I grew up in a family that still owns several small...
Burning out burnout at your company
November 26, 2021 • By Dennis Beaver No one can ignore the toll COVID and issues flowing from it have taken on the American workforce — stories of first responders, physicians, parents at their wits end facing something they had never experienced before, burnout....
Burnout in the COVID-19 era
June 19, 2020 • By Dennis Beaver When you just saw that word burnout, how did it make you feel? Has the stress of working under what for many of us are completely different conditions due to COVID-19 caused you to worry more than usual, to feel maxed out, frustrated?...
Business Closures, Insurance Claims and the Coronavirus
April 3, 2020 • By Dennis Beaver When disaster strikes, we first worry about health and safety. Then concerns of financial loss and damage come to mind. Many commercial insurance policies contain clauses that protect a business in the event of a disaster–including...
Business two-way radio owners target of scam
February 1, 2014 • By Dennis Beaver Following our recent articles on deceptive-range claims made by manufacturers of consumer walkie talkies, we were contacted by “Hank,” a reader in California’s Central Valley whose agriculture and ranching-related business requires...
But the phone book ad said, ‘No recovery fee’!
June 23, 2012 (Original publish date) • By Dennis Beaver It is impossible to turn on TV, open the phone book to the attorneys section or surf the Web and not find ads for personal injury lawyers, which generally all sound pretty much the same and stress, “No recovery,...
Buying a horse? Don’t saddle yourself with these headaches
February 4, 2022 • By Dennis Beaver For anyone considering the purchase of a horse, today’s story will be especially relevant and began with emails from “Kent” and “Miranda.” Kent wrote: “A few months ago someone suggested that a great way of dealing with all the...
Buying a smart TV to use Skype?
May 28, 2016 • By Dennis Beaver If you recently purchased or are close to buying a smart TV and a reason is the ability of Skyping with family and friends on a large screen, then have a bottle of aspirin and blood pressure meds, handy, because by the time you finish...
Cal State University Channel Islands dorms now are safe
September 20, 2019 • By Dennis Beaver Today’s story will be of special interest to students who attend California State University Channel Islands and live on campus in a residence hall. For those who cherish Freedom of Speech and Expression, it is now a safe place...
California lawyers target of internet scam
March 21, 2009 (Original publish date) • By Dennis Beaver Chances are you've never heard of Golden Bright Manufacturing located in Hong Kong. But Palmer Tank & Construction, on South Union Avenue, right here in Bakersfield where I live — that name might ring a...
Call It Legal Extortion – Part 1
September 6, 2008 (Original publish date) • By Dennis Beaver Part 1 Sexual Harassment lawsuits have become a simple, cost-effective way for some lawyers to legally commit blackmail and extortion. Why do I say legally? It's because an attorney can get away with making...
Can a business ban you from entering their premises?
March 3, 2023 • By Dennis Beaver One of the strangest phone calls I’ve received thus far in 2023 was from “Rudy,” who called to ask if a private business’ ban against him could be lifted. He began our conversation with, “Can you get a ban they have on me removed?”...
Can a Judge Tell a Father to Avoid Risky Triathlons for His Sons?
November 12, 2024 • By Dennis Beaver How deeply into the daily lives of couples should family law judges venture? That was the ultimate question from a reader in a situation that, despite “living” in divorce court for many years, I had never been asked. For anyone...
Can a landlord be civilly liable for a tenant’s murder?
March 23, 2018 • By Dennis Beaver For a moment, I would like you visualize the unthinkable. It is 5 AM. The phone rings. A somber voice identifies himself as a police detective and asks if you know “Sammy.” “Of course,” you reply, “What’s wrong?” “I am so sorry to...
Can employees be forced to get a COVID-19 vaccine by their employer?
January 19, 2021 • By Dennis Beaver COVID-19 vaccinations are here. What if you don’t want to get one, but your employer says, “No shot, no job?” Is there a way that the business world and government can encourage taking the vaccination voluntarily as opposed to...
Can employers trust what employment agencies say?
January 04, 2014 • By Dennis Beaver If you are an employer presently using, or considering using the services of an employment agency, our story today could save you hours of wasted time, embarrassment, theft or worse, and we begin with this question: When an...
Can I disqualify a judge from hearing my case?
October 12, 2018 • By Dennis Beaver “Is it possible to prevent a certain judge from hearing my case, or, am I stuck with whatever courtroom I’m assigned to? Is there a way to reduce the chances of having a judge who has a reputation for being a 'loose cannon,' not...
Can I hire a lawyer to handle just part of my case?
June 13, 2015 • By Dennis Beaver “Mr. Beaver, I would like to hire a lawyer to handle just a part of my divorce case, but when I call around town, not one lawyer has agreed to help me that way. They all want to take the entire case or have nothing to do with it....
Can language apps teach you to speak a foreign language?
March 29, 2024 • By Dennis Beaver “I was asked to look into Spanish-language-learning programs for our insurance brokerage sales staff. Your past articles are highly critical of Babbel and Rosetta Stone. Their commercials claim to have a method of teaching languages...
Can they kick you out of an AYCE restaurant for eating too much?
January 24, 2025 • By Dennis Beaver We’ve all seen news stories where giant swarms of locusts descend on farmers’ fields and within minutes decimate their crops. But, did you know there is a human version? That’s right, human “locusts” devouring plate after plate,...
Can they refuse me a job because of how I sound?
June 8, 2006 (Original publish date) • By Dennis Beaver "I am interviewing applicants for a sales position in my Eureka office. Now, you must understand that I am African-American originally from the Eastern part of our country and have lived in California for many...
Can we fire our minister
August 22, 2009 (Original publish date) • By Dennis Beaver "I am writing you on behalf of several members of the congregation in a Presbyterian church located near Sacramento. There is a problem with our minister and we hope that you will be able to provide some...
Can we grow our creativity?
November 3, 2023 • By Dennis Beaver “Matt” emailed this question: “Do you know something I can read that would help me deal with an issue several of my employees have raised. They tell me that I am favoring the stars in our company – similar to teachers pets –instead...
Can You Be a Good Parent to an Only Child When You’re Also a Business Owner?
July 7, 2025 • By Dennis Beaver Over the many years that I've practiced law and written a syndicated legal advice column, couples who are also business owners have asked personal questions that I am always happy to answer. Here's a recent one: "We are thinking of...
Can you fire an employee because of poor language skills?
August 28, 2020 • By Dennis Beaver “Jesus” phoned, wanting to speak with me. Anne, my paralegal, buzzed me, saying, “There is a guy on the phone who wants to talk with you but I can’t understand him.” It required every ounce of patience to make out what he was saying....
Can you learn to speak a new language in 10 days? Sure, when pigs fly.
March 17, 2012 (Original publish date) • By Dennis Beaver It is virtually impossible to go online or open almost any magazine and not be constantly told about how some language program makes it easy to learn a foreign language “like a child learns a language,...
Can you legally get out of a long monitoring contract, Part 2
May 06, 2006 (Original publish date) • By Dennis Beaver Last week we looked at home and business alarm systems and little known laws that come into play when law enforcement respond to a false alarm. As I mentioned, False Alarm Ordinances require the registration of...
Can you trust the Better Business Bureau
July 11, 2009 (Original publish date) • By Dennis Beaver A restaurant advertised a two-for-one senior discount. A couple saw the ad, went in, and asked a waitress about the discount before ordering. She stated, "No, we don't have a discount for seniors." They then...
Car dealer blames customer for test drive catastrophic engine failure
September 9, 2022 • By Dennis Beaver If a car dealer lets you take a car out for a test drive and it suffers catastrophic engine and transmission damage, are you responsible for the repair charges? Note, I didn’t say, “Because of something that you did wrong,” rather,...
Care about your family? You need these documents
July 30, 2011 (Original publish date) • By Dennis Beaver Last week we answered a question from Jenny, a 32-year old reader who wanted to know if she needed a will. "I'm single, never been married, no children, rent an apartment and own my car. I've got checking,...
Care for Your Trees or Else!
August 16, 2019 • By Dennis Beaver While most business owners are aware they have a legal duty to maintain their premises in a safe, hazard-free condition, some fail to understand or accept the fact that this includes trees on the property. Trees provide shade, are...
Careful how you demand justice for inappropriate behavior
January 19, 2018 • By Dennis Beaver “With so many examples of sexual harassment coming to light, suddenly a long-suppressed memory surfaced, and frankly, Mr. Beaver, I want my former employer to pay for what they did,” Mary Ann stated during the kind of phone...
Case becomes a comedy routine
April 15, 2006 (Original publish date) • By Dennis Beaver I received a notice from my former attorney that tells me I need to participate in fee arbitration or he will file suit against me in Small Claims Court. Can you tell me what to expect, and how the Fee...
Cell phone companies rip off overseas callers
August 12, 2006 (Original publish date) • By Dennis Beaver I just returned from a trip to the Orient and Australia. My cell phone provider told me how to make calls, but I was never really clear on what it cost to call home. The phone bill came to a whopping $600 and...
Cellphone apps almost cost Sergio $25,000
April 6, 2013 • By Dennis Beaver While there are hundreds of thousands of cellphone applications — commonly referred to as apps — which claim an ability of doing almost anything, some are downright dangerous to your wallet if believed. Sergio discovered just how...
Charging for a missed appointment
June 2, 2008 (Original publish date) • By Dennis Beaver Is it legal for a doctor, lawyer, CPA or most any professional to charge for a missed appointment? That was the question left on my cell phone voice mail by Sandra, who lives in Atascadero, Calif. In case you did...
Cheapskate business owners send a message to customers
December 29, 2017 • By Dennis Beaver We've all heard the saying, "Penny wise and pound foolish." "For business owners, it means focusing on saving money to the point of turning customers away. There has to be a balance between money saving practices and providing...
Chiropractor trying to get business the wrong way
July 3, 2020 • By Dennis Beaver “Nick” is a recent graduate Palmer College of Chiropractic in Davenport, Iowa who returned to his home town in Southern California, opening an office. “After I hung out my shingle, it was clear that I needed to attract a patient...
Christmas vacation surprise
November 22, 2006 (Original publish date) • By Dennis Beaver When our son Chad drives home from college over school breaks, within minutes of his arrival my wife and I go to work sorting and then washing what seems like an entire trunk load of soiled clothing. It is...
Cigarettes for sale, cheap
March 12, 2010 (Original publish date) • By Dennis Beaver "We've got a situation which I'll bet most people who buy things on-line have never heard of," Holly's e-mail began. Readers are always welcome to drop by our office. One week later, Santa Maria residents Holly...
City of Good Neighbors attorney caught trying to rip off doctor
May 26, 2023 • By Dennis Beaver Today’s story will not only be of special interest to health care providers —physicians, chiropractors, physical therapists, and psychologists, who treat auto accident victims on a lien basis — but will offer suggestions on how not to...
Client’s rights when lawyer has a conflict of interest
January 10, 2015 • By Dennis Beaver In America’s small towns both lawyers and clients face two challenging realities: Lawyers who know and must be able to work with each other; The fact that almost everyone knows each other or are related in some way. Often an...
Clients who become victims
August 09, 2010 (Original publish date) • By Dennis Beaver Divorce for some represents the ultimate in sadness and failure. Yet, for many couples, it is a realization they simply should not live together and need to move on with their lives. That's how it was - at...
College Grads: This Is What Hiring Managers Are Thinking (But Won’t Admit)
March 4, 2025 • By Dennis Beaver Recently, I was invited to speak about navigating etiquette and work culture at the 2025 California State University Bakersfield Career Conference hosted by SHRM (Society for Human Resource Management). I’ll be presenting alongside Dr....
Come to work sick again and you are fired
March 27, 2025 • By Dennis Beaver This is one of the worst flu seasons in many years. A few days ago, infectious specialist “Dr. M” called from NYU Langone and asked that I discuss the risks to co-workers, when someone with a cold or the flu uses over-the-counter...
Compassion – the key to employee retention
May 13, 2022 • By Dennis Beaver “In the era of The Great Resignation, there is a tool – a path - as old as humanity itself which can be the most effective way to show employees that the boss really does care about their welfare and wants the best for them,” notes...
Complaints that get results/replies that win you customers
September 24, 2021 • By Dennis Beaver This column is often copied on complaints readers have sent to businesses, governmental agencies and professional service providers. Some are easy to read, coming right to the point, outlining what happened and the desired...
Confession of an attorney who took really early retirement
January 31, 2009 (Original publish date) • By Dennis Beaver One of the more interesting things about the legal profession is the disillusionment young lawyers often experience when they move from government jobs into the very different world of private practice. It...
Confessions of a former timeshare sales manager
April 11, 2015 • By Dennis Beaver Our recent article on timeshares resulted in dozens of emails and phone calls, two which stand out. One was from Hanford readers Trish and Roy, on vacation at a resort in Mexico, signed up for a “90 minute presentation.” “Fortunately...
Confessions of a solar salesman
March 4, 2017 • By Dennis Beaver “I have read your column for years and need your help in righting a wrong, my wrong. “For the past six months I‘ve been one of those obnoxious, pushy creeps you meet when walking into almost any home improvement store — anywhere in the...
Consider having a lawyer on retainer
October 23, 2009 (Original publish date) • By Dennis Beaver Part 1 "I recently lost my job as a claims adjuster with a large insurance company in Fresno and decided to go into business with my brother-in-law, Dan. We're negotiating to buy an office-cleaning business...
Considering a Timeshare? Don’t You Ever!!
April 5, 2019 • By Dennis Beaver Over the past several years this column has told you about the nightmares that timeshare owners lived through, both when first purchasing--often under physical and mental duress--and then when attempting to get themselves out of their...
Consumer fraud caught as it happened
November 25, 2022 • By Dennis Beaver It isn’t often that I am a “witness” to a glaring example of consumer fraud, but thanks to “Frank” and his grandmother, “Thelma,” I was “virtually” standing next to her, listening to an optical salesperson violate several of their...
Contractual clauses you may want to avoid
January 5, 2021 • By Dennis Beaver “I am selling one of my three lube and tire stores to a large national chain that has similar shops all over my part of the country. Their attorney prepared the sales agreement. Our family’s lawyer pointed out two paragraphs he did...
Conversation with a con artist
June 14, 2008 (Original publish date) • By Dennis Beaver "Want to know the easiest way of separating people from their money? Join a Church!" That was the way "Greg" began one of the more interesting discussions I have had in recent months with a reader. Our...
Coronavirus and college tuition
April 17, 2020 • By Dennis Beaver In March of this year, many colleges and universities all across America began switching to distance teaching with Skype, Zoom or other web-based, video-conferencing technologies. For some classes — depending upon a student’s major —...
Coronavirus and timeshares
April 24, 2020 • By Dennis Beaver Over the past several weeks I have heard from several readers who have discovered that their parents purchased a timeshare and are now ill with the coronavirus. Some have died. “What happens to their timeshare?” is the question. “As...
Coronavirus has a silver lining for families
April 10, 2020 • By Dennis Beaver “The coronavirus is reshaping our world, and much of what we see today is very, very bad — from major health concerns to millions of people suddenly finding themselves out of work. To some degree, we are all finding it necessary to...
Couple ripped off by food trailer con
August 12, 2022 • By Dennis Beaver If you have been thinking about getting into the food truck or trailer business, then today’s story will cause your blood to boil when you see what happened to our readers “Denzel” and “Leila,” who reside in Southern California. All...
Cover your tattoos, remove piercing or find another job
January 7, 2022 • By Dennis Beaver May an employer require employees to cover up visible tattoos or remove piercings while on the job? That was the question from “Sal” who manages a health and fitness spa in the Pacific Northwest. Frazzled, he called my office,...
COVID-19 – better than a divorce?
August 6, 2021 • By Dennis Beaver “Mr. Beaver, I’ll bet you have never heard a story that I’m about to tell you, but it is the truth. I think that I may have contributed to my husband’s death from COVID. Will the attorney-client privilege apply to our conversation,...
Credit-card swiping scam
November 1, 2014 • By Dennis Beaver If your business uses a credit card reader -- also called a credit card swiping machine -- today’s story will prevent you from becoming one more victim in an on-going nationwide rip-off of small businesses across the United States....
Cure for the Great Resignation – hire older workers
May 6, 2022 • By Dennis Beaver A truly fascinating, just released book by Psychology Professor Becca Levy of Yale University shatters many of the basic – and completely wrong assumptions – that we have been told were gospel about aging as far back as most of us can...
Custody is never permanent
September 06, 2008 (Original publish date) • By Dennis Beaver Barbara and I divorced when our son, Ryan, was four. Barbara was given physical custody. I remained in our small San Joaquin Valley farming town, have always provided support and have a close relationship...
Customer has problems with auto repair shop
August 13, 2016 • By Dennis Beaver Our story today will be of interest to anyone who owns a car or RV, and we begin with a question: “What is the one thing an automotive repair shop must provide before any repair work is done? If it is not provided and they work on...
Dangers in signing a power of attorney
January 14, 2009 (Original publish date) • By Dennis Beaver "My daughter wants me to sign a general power of attorney for a house we are buying together back east," Maggie, a reader in Stratford, explained in an e-mail. "It will be in both of our names and I am...
Deadly sin gets you fired
February 18, 2010 (Original publish date) • By Dennis Beaver Janet, Laura and Maggie (names changed) are preschool teachers at a Christian school in San Bernardino. The divorced friends are in their mid-30s, and with their children, share a house together. The school...
Dealing With a Bad HOA Board? This Book Could Be Your Battle Plan
September 30, 2025 • By Dennis Beaver If you live in a neighborhood that is governed by homeowners association (HOA) rules, or are considering buying into such a neighborhood, then I've got a book recommendation for you. The recently published Bad HOA: The Homeowner's...
Dealing with competitors’ false statements about your business
February 19, 2021 • By Dennis Beaver “Mr. Beaver, your article on how to start a law practice really got my attention. I am also a recent law graduate and was just sworn in as a member of our state’s bar association,” “Nancy” emailed. “As a few law firms are hiring to...
Dealing with neighbors from hell
November 27, 2010 (Original publish date) • By Dennis Beaver There's an old saying: You can't pick your family or your neighbors. Most of us have a family member who is a bit strange and perhaps neighbors who once in a while are a bother, with barking dogs, loud...
Dealing With People Who Say Yes but Mean No
March 8, 2019 • By Dennis Beaver Short of immediately firing your lawyer, just what should you do when promised a return call, or that your matter “Will be taken care of,” but it doesn’t ever happen? Or, stated differently, when is “yes” really a “no?” Julie wrote,...
Dealing with storm damage insurance claims
March 17, 2023 • By Dennis Beaver The ferocious storms that continue to pummel California and much of the nation have resulted in massive insurance claims by thousands of business and property owners. Often, this is the first time they have ever been faced with filing...
Dealing with the fraud division of your bank
June 26, 2018 • By Dennis Beaver For anyone who does online banking–especially from a cell phone--then today’s story has relevant, important information. Now, imagine logging in to see if a check deposited earlier that day had cleared, only to discover that your...