How Spending Affects Chapter 7 Bankruptcy Filing There’s a lot of great things you can do to prepare for a Chapter 7 bankruptcy. However, the opposite can also be true. Certain behavior can hurt your bankruptcy case. In particular, shopping before Chapter 7 can cause some serious issues. As a Memphis bankruptcy attorney, I’ve seen a number of ways over-spending in advance can hurt a person’s bankruptcy plans. Fortunately, there’s a lot you can do to prevent this problem. Potential Fraud or Just an Accident? To understand how spending before Chapter 7 affects your case, first you have to understand how this type of bankruptcy works. Chapter 7 is a debt forgiveness plan that gives you a clean slate and
How Artificial Intelligence Impacts Your SSDI Application As a Memphis Social Security disability attorney, I know firsthand how much people rely on the Social Security Administration (SSA) for their futures. And as technology evolves, the process for getting disability will evolve with it. As one example, the question of “Do you get disability and, if so, when?” has in recent years depended, in part, on AI. Artificial intelligence (AI) can be an extremely powerful tool for sifting through information quickly. And as a result, the SSA uses it in increasing ways to help them figure out who qualifies for disability as quickly as they can. So how does AI impact your disability claim? And how can you make sure your
How AI Is Impacting Product Liability Lawsuits With today’s ever-evolving technology, it can be hard to know exactly what caused the problem in any given machine that malfunctions. And a lot of companies that depend on artificial intelligence (AI) want the new guys to take responsibility. So were you injured by AI? Or by the company that made the product in the first place? The legal answer might be complicated, but fortunately the path forward is easy for you. When You Should Blame the AI There are some situations where AI is very clearly to blame, although rarely. To help you visualize situations like this, it will help to give some examples. Let’s say a person asks an AI chat
Creditor Harassment and the Rise of AI Debt collector tactics are bad enough as it is. But now with the rise of new technology, they might have more access to you than ever. So is AI making creditor harassment worse or better? And how do new algorithms change creditor behavior? Recent reports show a number of ways debt collection agencies are using artificial intelligence (AI) to collect on debts more efficiently. These tactics do seem to help the debt collectors’ bottom line. But as a Memphis bankruptcy attorney, I’m most concerned with how they impact the everyday debtor struggling to get by. The Rise of AI in Debt Collection Debt collection agencies are praising new systems that help them collect
Can I Increase My Benefits if My Disability Worsens? It’s a frequently asked question from a lot of SSDI applicants: Will my SSDI benefits increase if my condition worsens? As a Memphis Social Security Disability lawyer, I’ve come across this question, or some version of it, a lot. And underneath, the real fear is often what to do if SSDI isn’t enough. So if you’re applying for SSDI, here’s what you need to know about your SSDI benefits. What Determines the Amount of SSDI Benefits I Get? To qualify for disability, you have to prove a number of things to the SSA. We’ve outlined all of those items here, but for the sake of this discussion, you’ll need to have
Extreme Ice and Snow in Memphis – Who Is Responsible if You Slip? Slip and fall laws in Memphis can be complicated, but extreme weather complicates everything even more. When Memphis gets heavy snowfall, flooding, tornadoes, or one of its famously awful ice storms, what should property owners do? In those situations, injuries come more often and can be more severe. Slip and fall accidents become a real risk for property owners, businesses, and anyone who needs to shop or take part in the local economy. Should Property Owners Keep Their Property Safe in Extreme Weather? In Tennessee, the answer to this question is complicated. The law protects property owners more than it does in many other states. After an
Chapter 13 in Memphis: A Good Thing or a Threat? There’s a question that’s arisen a lot in Memphis over recent years: is Chapter 13 worse than Chapter 7 bankruptcy? In large part, the question came up because of a study produced by MLK50 in 2023. It asks a lot of good questions about Chapter 13 in Memphis and Shelby County. And as a Memphis bankruptcy lawyer who has been helping people file for decades, there are parts of the study I would love to clarify. What We Know About Chapter 13 Bankruptcy in Memphis Memphis has one of the highest bankruptcy rates in the country, including Chapter 13 bankruptcy. A lot of people have wondered if there’s anything in
Are SSDI Wait Times So Bad That I Shouldn’t Even Try? Getting SSDI in Memphis can be a challenging process; and as a result, some people don’t even try. In fact, our Memphis disability attorneys have heard from some people who get this advice from other lawyers. They say to give up before you’ve even started. And we couldn’t disagree more. If you qualify for SSDI and need it because of a health problem, you have every right to claim what is yours – and every reason to fight for it. You just need to know what to expect and follow the rules when you apply. And we can help. The Real SSDI Wait Time Problem The wait for SSDI
When Medical Malpractice Causes Spinal Cord and Back Injuries As one of the highest-stakes medical procedures, spinal surgery can go wrong even for surgeons with enormous talent, training, and care. Not every mistake constitutes malpractice; but when medical malpractice and spinal surgery do overlap, the results are tragic. The question after this happens becomes: who pays? When spinal surgery goes wrong, how can families even begin to recover? For forty years, our Memphis medical malpractice firm has helped people through some of the hardest times of their lives. Here’s what to know about medical malpractice and spinal surgery, including what to do if you have a case. Spinal Surgery Malpractice a Well-Known Problem in Memphis The risks of spinal surgery
Facing the looming threat of foreclosure can be an overwhelming and stressful experience for homeowners. However, amidst the challenges, understanding the legal concepts that govern the process can empower individuals to take informed actions. You may be able to rectify the default and avoid losing your home, although we recommend seeking advice from a foreclosure lawyer to guide you through this legal process. Defining The Right To Cure The right to cure is a legal avenue to allow homeowners to remedy a default on their mortgage before foreclosure proceedings reach a court action. Essentially, it provides a window of opportunity for homeowners to catch up on missed payments, rectify the default, and bring the mortgage current. Timeframes And Deadlines One