Category: Attorney

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Attorney, Auto Defense, James S. Sifers, Used-Car Dealerships

Dealer Bond vs. Cash Deposit

In order to operate as a dealer in California, the California Department of Motor Vehicles (“DMV”) requires dealers to provide a $50,000 dealer bond to protect purchasers, sellers, financing agencies, and governmental agencies against monetary loss resulting from the dealer committing fraud and/or making fraudulent misrepresentations. (Cal. Veh. Code § 11710.)  In response to this requirement, there are a number of third-party surety companies that will provide this bond in […]

Graphic of article titled "Judgment entered in Akkawi, et al. v. Sadr, et al.” by James S. Sifers, Esq., from Madison Law
Attorney, Taxes

Reduce Taxes By Investing In Qualified Opportunity Zones And Like Kind Exchanges

The Commodore Hotel Revitalizes New York City’s Grand Central Neighborhood In 1976, New York City (“City”) was bankrupt and crime-ridden.  While City residents and businesses fled to avoid the City’s crisis, The Trump Organization and the Hyatt Corporation (collectively the “Partners”) bought the 25-story, 60-year old Commodore Hotel (“Hotel”) on 42nd Street near Grand Central Railroad Station in a run down and dangerous neighborhood. To induce the Partners to invest […]

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Attorney, Business

THE PURPOSE & BENEFITS OF MEDIATION

Mediation, in one form or another, has been around since the dawn of civilization and is widely used for dispute resolution in many cultures.  However, mediation was not a part of the common law process and, until recently, was utilized only for certain types of disputes (notably, labor-management grievances).  Today, mediation is used in all types of disputes.  This is attributable both to court congestion and to dissatisfaction with the […]

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Attorney, Defense, James S. Sifers, Plaintiff

Neighbor Disputes: Shared Fencing

One of the most common disputes arising among landowners in California is, when a shared fence needs to be repaired or replaced, which neighbor pays?  The short answer is that California law says that both share equally in the cost.  However, with most issues at law, the complete answer is never that simple. Cal. Civ. Code § 841 is California’s attempt to resolve this all too common dispute between neighbors.  […]

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Attorney, Auto Defense, Defense, James S. Sifers, Used-Car Dealerships

Electronic Signatures in Vehicle Sales

Electronic transactions have vastly simplified the way many industries document deals.  Several of my automobile dealership clients have inquired as to whether vehicle transactions can be documented electronically.  Currently, the answer to that question is no.  Despite the aging equipment used to memorialize deals found in many automobile dealerships, including dot matrix printers with cutting edge 1980s technology, California has exempted new and used vehicle leases and sales from its […]

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Attorney, Business, Intellectual Property, Paige Counsman

How To Effectively Protect Your Intellectual Property: Trademark, Patent, or Copyright?

Have a symbol? Trademark it. Have an invention? Patent it. Have an idea? Copyright it. Many individuals lump these three property right protections into one category. However, in order to effectively protect your intellectual property, you need to know which of the three you will use to protect your work. Below each will be discussed individually, explaining what they are, when you need them, and how they work. Trademark What […]