One of the Greatest Threats to the American Dream

Read my post from Facebook. You heard of Blackrock and how they are sucking up houses. Here is another player who is threatening the American dream.

https://www.facebook.com/102550107834626/posts/537762544313378/?app=fbl

Fortunately, Americans have a way to fight back against these house monsters - legislation. Make the rental property market for large landlords so untenable that they are forced to sell. That would include large fines and property sales to buyers who are going to reside in the houses for repeat offenses. There is a way to do it legally.

This type of advocacy is more important to me than the practice of law. You don't need to be a lawyer to be a policy advocate. In fact, I can see how a license may be an impediment. Once you finish law school, a person can use those skills for almost anything without taking a state bar.

Be Careful of Overbilling & Teams

As noted on my most recent Facebook and Twitter posts, it appears overbilling and teams are becoming the norm to maximize profits for firms.

Now, large corporate cases and large car accident cases require resources and eyes of two or more lawyers, two or more paralegals, and a team of legal assistants. 

Most cases don't fall under this umbrella. Indeed, I hear complaints that people who hire these firms who run up costs at the beginning have no other choice but to stay with them because of the money expended.  Sometime people have to take out loans for thousands or tens of thousands of dollars to fund a lawsuit. 

For small or solo firms think there also. Before I started on the path to shut down the Firm, I cared more about the work and charged a flat fee. So, and hour estimate may indeed be off by three or four hours. The pipeline clogged, but the work was better with those extra hours. 

Read more about teams, padding, and why the litigation swamp is no longer for me.

https://www.facebook.com/100038501584824/posts/513043173322398/?app=fbl

Shutting Off Utilities Can Cost You

I understand landlords' frustration with the CDC and it's refusal to take small landlords' dire situations into consideration. However, don't make a bad situation worse by shutting off your tenants' utilities.

GEORGIA CODE

Georgia code 44-7-14.1 makes it unlawful to suspend utilities until the dispossessory process is over.  Additionally, if convicted, the court can fine you up to $500.  However, that is just the state's penalty.

WRONGFUL EVICTION

The tenant can also sue you for wrongful eviction, which would include actual damages for loss of power, emotional damages, and punitive damages. It's not worth the hundreds of dollars you may save by shutting down the power if it costs you tens of thousands of dollars for being impatient and frustrated.

STEPS TO TAKE ONCE YOUR 

UTILITIES ARE SHUT OFF

1. Email the landlord and demand restoration.

2. Document any food loss from electricity loss.

3. Document extra expenses and time off from work.

4. If the a/c or heat are inoperable, document the temperature.

5. Every 24 hours, email your landlord until service is restored.

6. Call a lawyer to determine if immediate intervention is required.

7. Once service is restored contact a lawyer to discuss claims against your landlord.