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 “Bad Landlords,” followed by “Tenants from Hell.” Should you also be on blood pressure meds, be sure that you’ve taken your daily dose. “If anyone thinks that becoming a landlord is a no-brainer — just buy a single-family home or apartment house, find tenants and begin to rake in the money — then you are headed for real trouble,”...

“Mr. Beaver, I suffer from a bad case of procrastination in filing and paying my income taxes. I have not filed for over two years out of pure laziness. Recently, I heard a radio ad for a tax resolution company that talked about the IRS ramping up its efforts to collect from people in this COVID-19 era. “The ad stated, ‘The IRS will use every trick in the book to drain your bank account while there is still money in it.” I called the ‘800′ number and spoke with one of their ‘specialists’ who...

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 — sitting in front of a computer monitor, listening to an instructor lecture, has worked out well as there still is value being received for tuition paid. But what if you are a music, dance or acting major? “Angie” attends New York University’s Tisch School of the...

Not long ago I told you about “Mario,” an exceptional handyman hired by attorney, “Danny” to remove a concrete shuffleboard court in his back yard. Mario quoted a reasonable price, only to discover that the concrete was reinforced with so much re-bar that it could survive nuclear war. The cost to remove it would be more than he quoted Danny. The story dealt with the concept of contractual mistake. Mario is an ethical, honest man, living proof of his religion and told Danny, “I made a deal and...

The coronavirus has become a sneak attack in slow motion on the American workforce. Fear has become the operative word, not only of falling ill, but the impact this virus is having on our economy, on jobs. Employment law attorneys are swamped by calls from business owner clients, wondering what they are allowed to do in an effort to keep their employees safe and their doors open. I ran the following questions by two attorneys in Bakersfield, Calif., who specialize in employment law: Dan...