Victoria’s Secret is laying off about 15 percent of the
brand’s employees at its Columbus, Ohio, headquarters as the lingerie store
struggles to reshape its image and the chief executive of its parent company
remains under scrutiny for his ties to Jeffrey Epstein, NY Times reported.
The timing of the layoffs was unusual in the retail industry
just before the key holiday season and involved senior leaders to junior staff.
Victoria’s Secret has found itself facing dismal performance and it has
discounted its products.
If you have a business that is in financial trouble, contact
our law office at 816-524-4949 or visit our website at Hoorfarlaw.com.
69-year-old lawyer Christopher O’Brien of Wichita, Kansas, pleaded guilty to one count of embezzlement from a bankruptcy estate. The former lawyer in Wichita was sentenced to 36 months in custody for embezzling from clients, U.S. Attorney Stephen McAllister said. O’Brien has been ordered to pay more than $603,000 in restitution. O’Brien admitted he embezzled more than $132,000 from the bankruptcy estate of Roger L. and Maria K. Altis while he was representing the couple. O’Brien voluntarily surrendered his license to practice law in Kansas.
If you have been a victim of a scam and want to speak to an
attorney, contact our law office at 816-524-4949 or visit our website at
Hoorfarlaw.com.
Dean & DeLuca, the gourmet grocer, has shut its flagship
location in Manhattan, Bloomberg News reported.
According to a notice posted on the door, which said the store will reopen soon, the SoHo closing may be only temporary. The chain has been facing stalling sales and a competitive landscape from bigger rivals with massive capital such as Amazon, Trader Joe’s and Whole Foods. Reportedly, suppliers have gone to court over unpaid bills. In weeks leading up to the closure, shelves at the main store were bare, and other U.S. locations have been closed as well.
If you own a business that is in financial trouble, contact our law office at 816-524-4949 or visit our website at Hoorfarlaw.com
U.S. Secretary of Education Betsy DeVos faces potential contempt of court and sanctions for continuing to collect on the debt of former students at bankrupt Corinthian Colleges Inc., going so far as seizing their wages and tax refunds, Bloomberg News reported. U.S. Magistrate Judge Sallie Kim was “astounded” that Betsy and her department violated their order to cease collections of debts from the students, who were promised refund of their tuition.
In 2015, Corinthian had to file for bankruptcy protection
from creditors after facing a barrage of government investigations and lawsuits
alleging systemic fraud. As a result, the federal government declared that the
335,000 former students could erase their loans by filing out a simple form,
under penalty of perjury, would void their debt and prompt a refund on past
payments.
Charlie Merritt, a lawyer for the Education Department says the agency “takes responsibility” for the violations of Kim’s order. “We will bring ourselves into full compliance” and make sure the agency “stays that way going forward,” he added.
If you are in debt and are needing someone to speak with,
contact our law office at 816-524-4949 or visit our website at Hoorfarlaw.com.
The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau filed a lawsuit
against FCO Holding, Inc and its subsidiaries. The compliant alleges that FCO
violated the Fair Credit Reporting Act, Regulation V, and the Consumer
Financial Protection Act.
If you are in financial trouble and would like to speak to
an attorney, call our law office at 816-524-4949 or visit our website at
Hoorfarlaw.com
In August 2018, Special Agent Joseph Lorek from the U.S.
Department of Housing and Urban Development emailed Stuart Bullington, the
former assistant director of Kansas City’s Neighborhoods and Housing Services
Department, asking for an accounting of all the federal money given to the
Black Economic Union of Greater Kansas City (BEU). Bullington responded with a
2014 contract between BEU and the city to improve the Lincoln Building, the
historic building BEU used to own. The contract included $100,000 of federal
money, $75,000 of which those funds were being budgeted to upgrade the
elevator. Five years later the elevator has still not been repaired. BEU was
given two contract extensions to complete work on the Lincoln Building. In
February 2015, the city gave BEU an additional $71,500 for the first extension.
In an email from Bullington to Lorek, BEU spent less than $24,000 of the
$100,000 in federal money and less than $39,000 of the $71,500 in Kansas City
sales tax money fixing up the Lincoln Building. BEU sold the Lincoln
Building to Henry Service in 2017 for $750,000 after receiving roughly $387,000
in federal stimulus money, $171,500 in federal and city money, and a $400,000
loan. Tax records show that salaries and other employee benefits increased from
$7,540 in 2015 to $79,361 in 2016.
If you need to speak to an attorney about a financial matter
or fraud, call our law office at 816-524-4949 or visit our website at
Hoorfarlaw.com
Eligible educators may be able to deduct qualified expenses
they paid in 2019 when they file their 2019 tax return. Taxpayers qualify for
this deduction if they meet the following criteria:
Teach any grade from
kindergarten through twelfth grade
Work as a teacher,
instructor, counselor, principal, or aide
Work at lest 900 hours
during the school year
Work in a school that
provides elementary or secondary education
Qualified expenses include:
Books
Supplies
Professional development
courses
Computer equipment
including related software and services
Supplementary materials
Athletic supplies only
for health and physical education
Educators employed by a school may qualify to deduct up to
$250 of unreimbursed expenses. If two qualified educators are married and file
a joint return, the amount goes up to $500. Neither spouse can deduct more than
$250 of qualified expenses when they file.
If you need tax preparation assistance and would like to
speak to an attorney, call our law office at 816-524-4949 or visit our website
at Hoorfarlaw.com
A bankruptcy debtor’s counsel filed a chapter 13 petition,
which incorrectly listed the debtor as the owner of a home even though the
lawyer knew a sheriff’s sale had taken place. Bankruptcy Judge Jerrold Poslusny
imposed $1,750 in sanctions on the debtor’s counsel. The decision by Judge
Poslusny highlighted the ethical rules a lawyer must comply with when a new
client arrives at the last minute hoping the lawyer can block foreclosure or
eviction.
If you would like to speak to an attorney about bankruptcy,
call our law office at 816-524-4949 or visit our website at Hoorfarlaw.com
U.S. District Judge Carlos Murguia was publicly reprimanded
for misconduct that included sexually harassing court employees. The
Judicial Council of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Tenth Circuit, chaired by
the Circuit Chief Judge Timothy Tymkovich, held that Judge Murguia engaged in
an extramarital relationship with a felon who was on probation, sexually
harassed employees, and was constantly late for court engagements. Judge
Murguia admitted to the misconduct allegations, apologized for his behavior, and
promised he would not engage in any inappropriate conduct in the future. The
order from the Judicial Council said that the evidence and facts associated
with the allegations were “insufficient” to recommend that Judge Murguia be
impeached.
If you have been a victim of a crime and would like to speak
to an attorney, call our law office at 816-524-4949 or visit our website at
Hoorfarlaw.com.
The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) filed a complaint in federal court against Certified Forensic Loan Auditors, LLC (CFLA), Andrew Lehman and Michael Carrigan. The complaint alleges that CFLA and Lehman, President and CEO of CFLA, engaged in deceptive and abusive acts and practices. It also alleged that CFLA and Lehman charged unlawful advance fees in connection with the marketing and sale of financial advisory and mortgage assistance relief services to consumers. The CFPB alleges that CFLA and Lehman violated the Consumer Financial Protection Act of 2010 and Regulation O by making deceptive and unsubstantiated representations about the company’s mortgage assistance relief services and its abilities to help consumers avoid foreclosure or negotiate loan modifications. The complaint specifically alleges that the company made deceptive and unsubstantiated claims about the efficacy and content of its services, as well as the qualifications of the persons providing the services.
If you are a victim of fraud or are facing foreclosure and would like to speak to an attorney, call our law office at 816-524-4949 or visit our website at Hoorfarlaw.com.
