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Using video to prepare for a possible insurance claim
March 28, 2009 (Original publish date) • By Dennis Beaver "Several months ago our house was destroyed in a fire. Before this, we had no idea of the emotional damage a fire can cause, not to mention the monumental task of putting together an insurance claim," Wendy, a...
Valuing assets in divorce
January 07, 2010 (Original publish date) • By Dennis Beaver Part 1 "I am in the middle of a horrible divorce where we are spending huge amounts of time on trying to come to agreement on the value of all the things acquired over a 20-year marriage," Mary Anne wrote....
Verbal agreements to sell a house usually unenforceable
June 30, 2008 (Original publish date) • By Dennis Beaver "Get it in WRITING" is a term we hear so often and with good reason. Today's story is a good example of a "Happy Ever After" that never will be, only because my readers failed to convert verbal promises into a...
Veterinarians have no obligation of providing free care
October 13, 2017 • By Dennis Beaver Everett Washington high school senior “Shelly” has a real issue with veterinarians. Her email and tone of voice during our telephone chat Sept. 15, revealed a young lady furious with the vets who refused to provide free emergency...
Wake Up, Jerry: Your Wife Wants You to Stop Snoring and Read This Before Launching Your Landscaping Biz
An insurance expert explains that Jerry skipping essential business insurance is a "false economy" for new small-business owners, and a labor attorney outlines how Jerry can avoid being accused of unfair competition when setting up shop. April 14, 2026 • By Dennis...
Walkie talkies with a 35-mile range?
January 18, 2014 • By Dennis Beaver Have you been thinking about buying a pair of walkie talkies, perhaps for use while camping, car-to-car communications or keeping in touch with your kids while they’re out bicycling in the neighborhood? Consumer two-way radios are...
Want a bank loan? How much info are you prepared to reveal
April 25, 2009 (Original publish date) • By Dennis Beaver These days the term due diligence is all over the news. Basically, it means looking into someone's background before handing them your hard-earned money as an investment. Due diligence also takes place when we...
Want to Advance on the Job? Showing Some Courtesy and Appreciation Could Help
September 8, 2025 • By Dennis Beaver Today's article was prompted by the chief human resources officer (CHRO) at a Texas-based agricultural sales company wanting to discuss a topic that she feels would be valuable for college students, recent graduates and new hires....
Want to hire a disaster restoration company? Read this first!
May 19, 2012 (Original publish date) • By Dennis Beaver “Mr. Beaver, I am the president of a disaster restoration company in Central California where two of your recent columns really got applause from all of us here in management. You zeroed in on something that...
Want to produce a podcast? Tips to get it done right
September 27, 2024 • By Dennis Beaver “Mr. Beaver, I was told to make a podcast and describe kitchen and food preparation equipment our restaurant supply company sells. I’ve never made a podcast before and told Beth, my boss that, but she said, ‘You’ve seen them...
Want to quit drinking? Dump your friends
May 31, 2014 • By Dennis Beaver “Dennis, I’ve read your column since it first appeared in my town’s newspaper, over 20 years ago. In one of your articles, the person interviewed made so much sense about why alcoholics must get away from their drinking friends. “My...
Want to sue a client for unpaid fees? That can backfire on you
February 28, 2025 • By Dennis Beaver In some cases, it’ll work out better if you let it go instead of trying to force a deadbeat client, patient or customer to pay your bill. We’ve all heard the saying “happy wife, happy life.” Of course, today, we might update the...
Want to write a book? Here’s what you need to consider
February 2, 2024 • By Dennis Beaver “I am the fourth-generation CEO of our family’s agricultural services business. I want to write a book about our history, the people who have been at the helm for over 100 years, and show our business community just how dedicated to...
Warning for dog and cat owners about so-called hygienists
October 27, 2012(Original publish date) • By Dennis Beaver Most of us who own pets consider them to be members of the family, and today’s story will be of special interest to pet owners everywhere. But consider this: Chances are that many of our pet-owner readers are...
Warning signs of a dishonest lawyer
November 28, 2015 • By Dennis Beaver Last week we answered this question: “If my lawyer rips me off, is there any official organization that can help me be reimbursed?” As we learned, fortunately California and all state bar Associations have a Client Security Fund....
Warning signs that your contractor is a crook
December 7, 2013 • By Dennis Beaver Over the years, this column has helped our readers save great deal of money, especially when we are contacted before they get into trouble. At times, our advice isn't followed, and the results are as we warned, but we take no...
Warning: Friends can open your eyes to reality
September 09, 2006 (Original publish date) • By Dennis Beaver In law school, third year students are cautioned about the dangers of representing friends or family. "If they have a weak case, or are clearly in the wrong, it will be difficult for you to tell them the...
Was this fee unconscionable?
August 4, 2007 (Original publish date) • By Dennis Beaver Law school final exams are tough, and to help students understand what the test is testing, prior years' written exams are often available. You would get the original from a binder in the law library, take it...
Watch out for improper/illegal attorney billing practices
December 11, 2020 • By Dennis Beaver Today’s story looks at billing practices that may violate ethical rules that apply to lawyers across the country. Before reading further, if you have hired an attorney recently or in the past few years and still have the paperwork,...
Ways to be a better client
February 27, 2016 • By Dennis Beaver Today’s story will be of special interest to readers who already have or will soon retain an attorney and wish to develop and maintain a good professional relationship. It is based on our discussions with Denver, Colorado...
We all hear voices and talk to ourselves – but what does it mean?
February 18, 2022 • By Dennis Beaver “Would you like to try something interesting? Asks University of Michigan Psychology Professor Ethan Kross. “Imagine what it would be like to not be able to silently repeat a phone number in your head, or remind yourself what’s...
We are afraid of our neighbor’s dog
June 29, 2013 • By Dennis Beaver “Our neighbors have a pit bull, and we really are afraid of it. A chain-link fence separates our homes, and when we walk to get the mail or newspaper, it follows us, growling. When their gate is left open, the dog runs around the...
We Took Them in After the Fire, and Now They Won’t Leave
May 13, 2025 • By Dennis Beaver It is human nature to help someone in distress, or at least want to help. That’s how most of us felt night after night while watching the evening news earlier this year when wildfires tore through Southern California, Texas and...
We’ve Survived Bladder Cancer, But Live With the Effects of Surgery. Tough Love Isn’t What We Need
Bladder cancer survivors and a therapist share the realities of living with a stoma, why well-intentioned words can be hurtful, and how to be there for loved ones as they rebuild their identity. April 21, 2026 • By Dennis Beaver There is a time when "tough love"...
We’re splitting up — who keeps Kitty?
December 03, 2009 (Original publish date) • By Dennis Beaver One of the strangest "family law" cases I have ever dealt with involved the custody of 13 cats, owned by a high school teacher and her pharmacist husband. They were a childless couple with an almost parental...
Weaponized divorce
August 7, 2020 • By Dennis Beaver “Mr. Beaver, several years ago you wrote a story about a family going through a divorce where the mother and her lawyer did all they could to destroy the children’s relationship with their father. I kept it, fearful that something...
Wedding venue blues
April 13, 2018 • By Dennis Beaver In their 1969 album, The Age of Aquarius, The Fifth Dimension achieved a major hit with songwriter Laura Nyro’s "Wedding Bell Blues." It tells the story of a woman whose boyfriend has not yet proposed to her, and wonders, "Am I ever...
What auto and radar detector manufacturers don’t want you to know
September 10, 2011 (Original publish date) • By Dennis Beaver Over the past two years, according to the California Highway Patrol, more of its 7,000 officers have been placed on overlapping, 12-hour shifts than ever before. According to one Highway Patrol officer...
What Can You Do When Your Neighbor’s Tree Is a Danger to the Neighborhood?
Some neighbors are just jerks, but that doesn't mean you have to be. Here's how to go about creating a paper trail when asking a neighbor to deal with a tree that's a safety hazard. March 9, 2026 • By Dennis Beaver If your travels bring you to my town, and you'd like...
What can you say to get a thief to pay you back?
May 12, 2012 (Original publish date) • By Dennis Beaver The survival of any business — from a giant corporation, to a mom and pop, family-run store — depends on being paid for the products they produce, services which they perform, or the things they sell. The boss...
What claims adjusters want you to know
May 9, 2015 • By Dennis Beaver “We are not your enemy,” Los Angeles-based Senior Claims Adjuster Kathryn tells You and the Law. In her 15 years as a bodily injury claims adjuster, she has learned, “If anything proves the old saying true — You get more flies with honey...
What Cops Want Us to Know About Traffic Tickets
December 21, 2018 • By Dennis Beaver Suddenly, in the rearview mirror the red flashing lights of a police car appear. “What did I do? Am I going to get a ticket? Please, No!” The speedometer reveals a speed significantly over the limit, or maybe not, you’re just...
What did my boss do with our profit-sharing money?
June 02, 2012(Original publish date) • By Dennis Beaver Readers Cathy and Sharon live in different cities, and while they have never met in person, during our conference call it became all too apparent that these registered nurses have much more in common than age and...
What do I think of legal insurance?
June 30, 2006 (Original publish date) • By Dennis Beaver I work at a State Prison where many of the Correctional Officers here read your column. A couple of us have been offered a kind of legal insurance plan that we can buy for about $25.00 a month. Another Officer...
What do lawyers need from their clients?
December 28, 2013 • By Dennis Beaver When you hire an attorney, it’s normal to expect that your case will be competently handled and that you will be fairly billed for the lawyer’s time. Last week, we began a look at being billed, in our Hanford reader’s words, “$150...
What does a home inspector inspect?
October 15, 2011 (Original publish date) • By Dennis Beaver Last time we told you about readers who purchased a house in February after receiving a good report from a home inspector. When warmer months arrived and the A/C was turned on, it did not work. They believed...
What every dog owner needs to know
November 3, 2017 • By Dennis Beaver When mommy and daddy bring home a puppy for the kids or a young couple starting out in married life get a dog, a new chapter of love is brought into the home. “But what happens if they divorce? Who keeps the family pet?” asks...
What every landlord and tenant needs to know about constructive eviction
June 5, 2020 • By Dennis Beaver What Every Landlord and Tenant Needs to Know About Constructive Eviction If, by chance, you’ve been thinking of buying a rental property and one afternoon are feeling a bit groggy but can’t take a nap, then I have a suggestion. Google...
What every tenant with children should know
January 2, 2016 • By Dennis Beaver “We are a family of five, three boys — 6 to 12 — my husband and myself. Last week we moved into a nice apartment here in the Kingsburg area. Prior to signing the lease and paying our deposits, we were told by the manager that this is...
What first-time buyers need to know about homeowners insurance
July 13, 2018 • By Dennis Beaver Ask any real estate agent who has been in business before the Great Recession to describe today’s home buyer, and the chances are good that you’ll hear these descriptive terms: “Down to earth. Doesn’t need to have the fanciest house on...
What I do not like about the legal profession
September 4, 2020 • By Dennis Beaver “Mr. Beaver, I am a long time reader and appreciate the fact that you do not fear pointing out bad behavior by some lawyers. I would like to know what you do not like about the legal profession. Thanks, Mark from Eureka,...
What is a cat worth?
July 12, 2010 (Original publish date) • By Dennis Beaver In a recent article, we told you about Carol, her cat, Molly, and irresponsible neighbors who allowed their pit bulls to get out of a backyard enclosure. With the doors open to let the morning breeze sweep...
What is a victim impact statement – Part 1
June 6, 2009 (Original publish date) • By Dennis Beaver Imagine that a family member was seriously injured in an accident with a drunk driver. Not just any drunk driver, but someone who, over the past 20 years picked up several DUI's, driver's license taken away, but...
What is Allstate’s stand on pets?
May 15, 2010 (Original publish date) • By Dennis Beaver Allstate Insurance television commercials command attention and admiration for their often touching themes. At the conclusion of every spot, we hear the reassuring voice of actor Dennis Hasbert telling us, as the...
What is an insurance Reservation of Rights?
September 15, 2017 • By Dennis Beaver “My father, despite being financially secure, cries poverty, and refuses to spend money for upkeep of our home. This behavior has gotten him and mom sued over their enormous tree that split apart in a storm, crashed into a...
What is cyber insurance and why might you need it?
July 24, 2020 • By Dennis Beaver For the past several years it seems that not a week goes by when we don’t hear about a major data breach resulting in personal information being stolen. The consequences of an electronic “hack” are costly to the victim-company on...
What landlords, tenants should know
July 9, 2016 • By Dennis Beaver Today’s story will be of special interest to both tenants and landlords — anyone considering the purchase of rental property — wanting to increase income, “which took off like a 4th of July skyrocket following the stock market crash of...
What lawyers often fail to tell clients about litigation
June 23, 2023 • By Dennis Beaver “We hired a law firm that handles a wide variety of legal matters and advertises heavily in our area, to deal with: (1) A former employee who violated our non-compete clause, opened his own shop, and solicited our customers. The...
What makes the right billing/collections person?
May 10, 2014 • By Dennis Beaver Last time we told you about Dr. Tom, a busy dentist in Central California with “a monumental collections tooth ache, well on the way to needing a root canal,” in the opinion of one of our nations foremost business consultants, Gary...
What Makes This Business So Successful? We Find Out From the Founder’s Kids
The children of Morgan Clayton, founder of Tel-Tec Security Systems in Bakersfield, California, share how their father's wisdom, life experience and caring nature have turned their family business into a locally respected powerhouse. December 15, 2025 • By Dennis...
What not to do if a divorce is in your future
July 31, 2020 • By Dennis Beaver “Darling, Just Sign These Papers.” “We plan on filing for divorce soon,” “Benny’s” email stated. “There are some papers my wife, “Laura” wants me to sign. Could you tell me what they are all about?” “She is financially irresponsible....
What not to do when discovering employee theft
September 21, 2018 • By Dennis Beaver You’ve just discovered that an employee has been stealing cash and you want every cent back. To recover that money, several options are available, but one could get you in big trouble. We’ll tell you what it is in a moment, but...
What One Widow’s Ordeal Teaches Us About Marriage and Money
September 22, 2025 • By Dennis Beaver "My mother was a 72-year-old widow when she met 'William' at church and was soon swept off her feet. He claimed to have lost his wife some years earlier. "She described him as her Prince Charming — he took her to nice restaurants,...
What pet owners need to know when they visit the vet
October 5, 2013 • By Dennis Beaver Last week we told you about Samantha, a 20-year-old student at College of the Sequoias in Visalia, California. She took her sick cat to an animal hospital in Fresno, paid $65 for an examination and was later informed by the doctor...
What should I do about my lemon?
January 30, 2016 • By Dennis Beaver If you been taking your car in repeatedly for warranty service on a substantial problem — such as stalling, brakes, steering — and the dealer just can’t seem to repair it, chances are it is covered by the Lemon Law. Last week we...
What should the claims adjuster do if you crash a financed car?
July 26, 2024 • By Dennis Beaver Today’s story will be of special interest to anyone who owns a vehicle that is financed, has a lien, that is in an auto accident or sustains damage due to some other cause. If insurance is involved, who should the check be made payable...
What Small Business Owners–And Employees–Need To Know About Auto Insurance
February 21, 2020 • By Dennis Beaver Today’s story will be of special interest to: (1) Business owners–or anyone considering going out on their, where: (2) Their own car or an employee’s vehicle might be used for business purposes. With this in mind, how do you answer...
What the pension crisis could mean for you
August 3, 2013 • By Dennis Beaver All employees in today’s America who have been promised a pension have reason to be afraid of what happens if their employer gets into trouble or fails to properly pay into its pension fund. As we will make clear, this is the time to...
What to do after discovering embezzlement
November 19, 2016 • By Dennis Beaver Recently we told you about a Central California dentist who discovered that his office manager had been embezzling money for years. That story examined some steps that can be taken to reduce the risk, but as we learned from...
What to do if you’ve suffered a personal injury
April 9, 2016 • By Dennis Beaver Picture spending a few vacation days with friends at a Laughlin, Nevada, hotel you’ve been to often, when one person in your party is injured due to the negligence of the hotel. You’d expect the hotel staff to help out, get medical...
What to Do if You’re Concerned About Your Lawyer
April 2, 2024 • By Dennis Beaver “I run a small agricultural services business in the South and our lawyer — Emma — wears several hats. She handles not only business matters, but family law and is occasionally appointed to handle criminal defense cases. Emma has no...
What to do if you’re facing foreclosure
December 18, 2010 (Original publish date) • By Dennis Beaver “Getting the right kind of help when faced with foreclosure is like finding the right doctor for a complicated medical issue,” maintains Dick Jacques, president of the Kings County Board of Realtors. “You...
What to do when a bad review is posted about your business
June 26, 2020 • By Dennis Beaver At one time or another every business will have a negative review about them posted on social media. If that’s already happened to you, it’s no secret that this is frustrating, and highly upsetting, especially if there is no basis for...
What to do when the boss’ cologne makes you sick
July 4, 2015 • By Dennis Beaver “About 20 of us work for an alfalfa harvesting company based in California’s Central Valley. Our boss Charlie – who we all love -- recently began dating Lucy, and she is proof of the saying, ‘With perfume, less is more.’ “She just reeks...
What to know about credit reports, repairs
November 7, 2015 • By Dennis Beaver It’s a fair bet that just about anyone who has issues with their credit history/score, has thought about using one of the many “credit repair services” which advertise using glowing testimonials. “But they can cause you far more...
What to know before loaning your car to a friend
September 28, 2018 • By Dennis Beaver Who can forget the anti-drug slogan “Just Say No?” As you will see, those three words have another use, only this time having nothing to do with illegal substances. At one time or another, most of us have either been asked, or...
What visitation rights do grandparents have?
November 5, 2016 • By Dennis Beaver Today’s story attempts to answer a question that is becoming relevant to our aging population of grandparents in this era of cars with highly advanced accident avoidance technology: As a condition of being allowed to spend time...
What you don’t know about the ADA can be costly
March 1, 2019 • By Dennis Beaver “I inherited a commercial rental property recently that was built in the 1940's. I understand that the Americans with Disability Act requires accessibility, but all the doorways to these shops are too narrow to allow someone in a...
What you lose when using social networks
April 12, 2014 • By Dennis Beaver “Remember the Miracle on the Hudson photographs of U.S. Air Flight 1549 which was successfully ditched in the Hudson River by Captain Sully Sullenberger in January of 2009?” asks Loyola Law School and Thomas Jefferson School of...
What you might not know about hotels and debit cards
December 15, 2012 (Original publish date) • By Dennis Beaver During her vacation in Hawaii, Vivian, a French tourist, decided that on her way home to the south of France, she would visit Malibu. She went online in late February and booked a hotel and shuttle service...
What you need to know about assisted living
July 11, 2015 • By Dennis Beaver An American lawyer was having lunch in the French city of Lyon with Father Louis Genton, a priest who cared for the aged. Staring deeply into the America’s eyes, Genton made a prediction which, decades later, would indeed come true:...
What you need to know about contingent fees
November 13, 2009 (Original publish date) • By Dennis Beaver "Is there any way to get help from an attorney in handling a personal injury case without having to pay a contingent fee of one third or more? "My wife works for a personal injury law firm and tells me about...
WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT DEPOSITIONS
December 19, 2005 (Original publish date) • By Dennis Beaver I am employed by a school district in the areas where your column appears, not far from Fresno, and have been informed that I may be involved in a great deal of litigation. A supervisor told me that I needed...
What you need to know about mediation
September 2, 2006 (Original publish date) • By Dennis Beaver Mr. Beaver, we are weeks away from being involved in a potentially expensive lawsuit over a business that I sold to friends last year. The personalities involved are all very strong, and it has become almost...
What you need to know about noise-canceling headphones
November 12, 2011 (Original publish date) • By Dennis Beaver When reading airline magazines or while booking travel online, it has been impossible to miss ads for active noise cancelling headphones from Bose, Sony, Panasonic, Audio Technica, Sennheiser, JVC, Jabra and...
What you need to know about personal breathalyzers – Part 1
January 22, 2010 (Original publish date) • By Dennis Beaver Today's story will be of special interest to anyone whose life is in some way connected to alcohol. Invite friends over for a nice dinner with an excellent California wine or to watch a game, chips and beer...
What you need to know about prenups
January 28, 2022 • By Dennis Beaver Anyone who is about to say “I do” has probably heard, “With divorce rates so high, you need to protect yourself with a prenup.” But do you really need one? Today’s story began with a call from my client, Reggie, whose son Jake —...
What you need to know about run flat tires
April 5, 2014 • By Dennis Beaver “About a year ago I purchased a new 3 Series BMW. Now, I love the car but only learned last week that it has what are called Run Flat Tires. Before buying the car I had never heard of Run Flat Tires,” Darrell’s email began. “I...
What you need to know about submitting a false insurance claim
July 21, 2008 (Original publish date) • By Dennis Beaver If you know of someone who has recently had a loss that's covered by insurance, and they've talked about "padding" the claim, then today's story will be of special interest. It could also save them much more...
What you need to know about the ADA
July 20, 2018 • By Dennis Beaver No doubt you’ve heard of The Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 (the ADA) and how it has been used by lawyers to commit what amounts to legalized extortion, ripping off business owners across the country for even the smallest...
What you need to know about timeshares: Part I
April 28, 2017 • By Dennis Beaver Over 9 million people in the United States own a timeshare. At some point in time, most will regret ever hearing the word, Timeshare. “Hopefully, right after signing the contract–or years later–most will realize this was the worst...
What you need to know before blaming the home inspector
October 08, 2011 (Original publish date) • By Dennis Beaver If you’re about to hire a home inspector, or believe an earlier inspection overlooked a significant defect which is going to be expensive to repair, today’s story will be of special interest. Chad, who lives...
What you need to know before buying a personal breathalyzer
January 31, 2010 (Original publish date) • By Dennis Beaver Last week we began our look at personal breathalyzers, consumer versions of what law enforcement uses to measures a suspected drunk driver's Blood Alcohol Level (BAC) This time, here are some recommendations...
What you need to learn about the Lemon Law
January 23, 2016 • By Dennis Beaver Driving a lemon is much more than an inconvenience — constantly taking the car back to the dealer to attempt repairs because, “This time we can fix it, for sure,” as countless owners have been told. “If your car stalls for no...
What your stockbroker won’t tell you
December 25, 2010 (Original publish date) • By Dennis Beaver Today's article is in response to an inquiry from readers who believe their parents have been the victim of either a crooked or incompetent stockbroker. In either case, we are likely going to upset a number...
What your veterinarian wants you to know
September 28, 2013 • By Dennis Beaver Today’s story will be of special interest to readers with four-legged family members and began with a phone call from Samantha, a 20-year-old administration of justice major at College of the Sequoias in Visalia. “I took my little...
What’s the best and worst time to buy a new car?
June 21, 2014 • By Dennis Beaver Shopping for a new car is rarely a happy experience, even with so much information available online or in magazines such as Consumer Reports, as survey after survey reveals. “It’s as if you are playing a game of cards and suddenly...
When ‘as is’ means you’ve got a warranty
July 07, 2006 (Original publish date) • By Dennis Beaver Most people believe that if they sell something "as is," the meaning is clear - if something goes wrong, there is no guarantee of any kind, and the buyer accepts the risk of paying for repairs. However, did you...
When a broken promise can get you sued
December 08, 2012 8:30 am (Original publish date) • By Dennis Beaver Rudy was always known as a man who gave new meaning to the term “cheapskate.” He was married to Kathleen, a lovely woman, their adult children were all doing fine, and his business — which employed...
When a customer has a gun to your head
November 11, 2022 • By Dennis Beaver Over the many years writing this column, I’ve listened to thousands of reader’s complaints about customer service, believing they had not received what they had paid for. Most were acting in good faith, honestly feeling they were...
When a family member is headed to prison
May 2, 2015 • By Dennis Beaver “When a loved one is sentenced to prison, if ever there was a time when they need the support of their family, this is the moment. Their greatest fear beyond the risk of injury or death at the hands of another inmate, is feeling...
When a lawyer’s duty to a client overrules a spouse’s ‘no’
April 14, 2023 • By Dennis Beaver Lawyers have a duty to advise their clients of potholes they might not be aware of. As you will see, at times this becomes complicated, when “who is the client?” becomes a difficult question to answer. When the lawyer feels that a...
When an employee dies who gets the final paycheck?
July 03, 2009 (Original publish date) • By Dennis Beaver When Rick Adams of Lemoore was driving home close to 10 in the evening on May 14 he had no way of knowing that within a matter of weeks he would be directly responsible for an answer to an important legal issue...
When banks say no, there’s a reason
November 08, 2008 (Original publish date) • By Dennis Beaver "We wanted to get into our own business, but none of the bankers we spoke with would loan us the money. Then we saw an ad in USA Today that seemed to be an answer to our prayers," a reader's e-mail began...
When becoming your brother’s keeper can become an invitation to homicide
February 19, 2011 (Original publish date) • By Dennis Beaver "We are an old Portuguese farming family in the Hanford, California area, and I have done everything your column on Stockbrokers said that I shouldn't have," the e-mail from "John" began. "We have been too...
When being lonely can make you a sucker
October 29, 2016 • By Dennis Beaver “I would like you and your wife to meet my girlfriend, 'Donna,' this Saturday, dinner, my treat, Italian,” said “Tom,” who practices law in Southern California and has been a great resource for this column. “She is just amazing!...
When bill collectors call, be nice
May 28, 2011 (Original publish date) • By Dennis Beaver "I have been receiving calls from an unpleasant bill collector about a department store account that is almost 4 years old. What should I say? What if I do owe the money, or might owe the money - but it has been...
When buying an LED flashlight, don’t be fooled by lumens
April 14, 2012 (Original publish date) • By Dennis Beaver “Our church recently formed a disaster preparedness and safety panel. We assemble emergency kits for home, office and automobile. I was asked to look into emergency lighting — specifically flashlights — which...
When Checkout Charity Gets Uncomfortable — and Maybe Even Illegal
November 24, 2025 • By Dennis Beaver When was the last time that you were paying for your groceries or other items, and the cashier asked, "Would you like to round up your total for charity?" Perhaps they didn't tell you which charity. Or maybe they simply asked,...
When chiropractors and lawyers must say ‘no’
October 15, 2021 • By Dennis Beaver Today’s story will be of special interest to both chiropractors and personal injury lawyers who have recently started their own practice and are tempted to accept just about anyone who has been in an auto accident. “This can be a...