#rockville md business attorney

[mystlnewsonline]

Denish Shadevan a.k.a. Danny Devan Pleads Guilty

Denish Shadevan, a.k.a.  Danny Devan, Pleads Guilty to wire fraud, aggravated identity theft, and money laundering. Greenbelt, MD (STL.News) Denish Sahadevan, a/k/a “Danny Devan,” age 31, of Potomac, Maryland, pleaded guilty today to wire fraud, aggravated identity theft, and money laundering, relating to his scheme to defraud lenders and the Small Business Administration (“SBA”) of more than $1.2 million in Paycheck Protection Program (“PPP”) loans and Economic Injury Disaster Loans (“EIDL”). The guilty plea was announced by United States Attorney for the District of Maryland Erek L. Barron; Special Agent in Charge Thomas J. Sobocinski of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Baltimore Field Office; and John T. Perez, Special Agent in Charge, Headquarters Operations, Office of Inspector General for the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System and the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau. The Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (“CARES”) Act was a federal law enacted in March 2020 to provide emergency financial assistance to Americans suffering from the economic effects caused by the COVID-19 pandemic.  Financial assistance offered through the CARES Act included forgivable loans to small businesses for job retention and certain other expenses, through the PPP, as well as EIDLs to help small businesses meet their financial obligations, both administered through the SBA. According to the plea agreement, beginning in about March 2020, Sahadevan submitted EIDL and PPP applications on behalf of four Maryland entities that he controlled, often creating fraudulent and fabricated documents, such as tax forms and bank statements, to be used in the applications.  In addition, Sahadevan used the identifying information belonging to a tax preparer that he knew, without that person’s knowledge or agreement, to legitimize the fabricated tax forms he created and submitted. Specifically, Sahadevan admitted that he used his home in Rockville, Maryland, to create the fabricated documents and electronically apply for EIDL and PPP loans.  Sahadevan applied for approximately 71 PPP loans totaling approximately $941,794.75 and successfully obtained approximately $146,000 in PPP benefits.  Sahadevan applied for and received eight EIDLs totaling $283,900.  On the EIDL loans, Sahadevan induced his father into becoming a co-signer for the loan, then forged his father’s signature on the loan application.  Sahadevan’s father would not have agreed to sponsor the loan had he known of its fraudulent nature and contents. As detailed in the plea agreement, Sahadevan caused the fraud proceeds to be deposited into bank accounts he opened specifically for that purpose, then laundered the funds by engaging in several monetary transactions, including purchasing and trading securities and cryptocurrency, settling personal debts, and making payments to his girlfriend. In addition, between December 16, 2021, and January 10, 2022, Sahadevan applied to a financial institution for a $1,336,000 loan to purchase a property in Potomac, Maryland.  In the loan application, Sahadevan failed to disclose the $283,900 he owed to the United States for the EIDL benefits he fraudulently received.  Relying on Sahedevan’s representations, the financial institution approved the loan, which was used to purchase the Potomac property. On February 24, 2023, law enforcement executed a search warrant at Sahadevan’s Potomac residence and recovered multiple electronic devices, a can containing approximately 18 driver’s licenses belonging to other individuals, what appeared to be a gold physical Bitcoin in a black case, and approximately $17,043 in cash found in a suitcase in a bedroom closet.  Cash and Bitcoin constitute proceeds of the fraud scheme. As part of his plea agreement, Sahadevan will forfeit the cash and Bitcoin seized during the search on February 24, 2023, and will be required to pay restitution and a forfeiture money judgment of at least $429,906. Sahadevan faces a maximum sentence of 20 years in federal prison for wire fraud; a maximum of 10 years in federal prison for money laundering; and a mandatory sentence of two years in federal prison, consecutive to any other sentence imposed for aggravated identity theft.  U.S. District Judge Deborah L. Boardman has scheduled sentencing for September 21, 2023, at 2:00 p.m. The District of Maryland Strike Force is one of three strike forces established throughout the United States by the U.S. Department of Justice to investigate and prosecute COVID-19 fraud, including fraud relating to the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (“CARES”) Act.  The CARES Act was designed to provide emergency financial assistance to Americans suffering the economic effects caused by the COVID-19 pandemic.  The strike forces focus on large-scale, multi-state pandemic relief fraud perpetrated by criminal organizations and transnational actors.  The strike forces are interagency law enforcement efforts, using prosecutor-led and data analyst-driven teams designed to identify and bring to justice those who stole pandemic relief funds. SOURCE: U.S. Department of Justice Read the full article

[danielwrightlaw-blog]

Can a Creditor Force a Business into Involuntary Bankruptcy?

Financially distressed companies may reach a point where bankruptcy is the best path forward. When most business owners and managers think about filing for bankruptcy protection, they think about making a long, hard choice after carefully considering the needs of their company. However, in some cases, aggressive creditors can actually force a business, involuntarily, into filing for bankruptcy.

Involuntary Bankruptcy: Chapter 7 and Chapter 11

When certain conditions are met, the United States bankruptcy code allows creditors to file an involuntary bankruptcy petition on behalf of a business. In these cases, creditors can only push a company into either Chapter 7 bankruptcy or Chapter 11 bankruptcy. For companies that have less than 12 creditors, one creditor can petition to do this alone. On the other hand, when a company has at least 12 total creditors, then a minimum of three of the creditors must agree to join the involuntary bankruptcy petition.

Why Would a Creditor File for Involuntary Bankruptcy?  

Involuntary bankruptcy is a potential debt collection tool. When a bankruptcy petition is successfully filed, it triggers an automatic stay. The automatic stay puts an immediate stop to almost all collection efforts. Certain creditors may want an automatic stay to be put in place to keep a company from transferring away all of its remaining assets, either to another creditor or to a related firm.

What Can a Business Do to Prevent an Involuntary Bankruptcy?

If a creditor or group of creditors files an involuntary bankruptcy petition on behalf of your business, you have two options.

Accept the filing: This means the bankruptcy case will move forward.

Object to the filing: This sets up a legal fight over the bankruptcy.

Should your company object to an involuntary bankruptcy filing, you need to get an experienced business attorney by your side as soon as possible.

At this point, your case will be set to go before a bankruptcy judge who will hear both sides and determine whether or not your business is legally required to file for bankruptcy protection. Your business attorney will be able to review the specific circumstances of your case and determine the best way to protect the rights and interests of your firm.

Let a Business Attorney Help

An experienced business lawyer in Rockville, MD can protect the rights of businesses just like yours. If your business is in need of legal assistance, please contact a law firm today to schedule a confidential case evaluation.

Thank you to our friends and contributors at The Law Office of Daniel J. Wright for their insight into business law and bankruptcy.

[bethesdatrademarksattorney-blog]

Berschler IP Law - Trademarks & Copyrights Bethesda

Attorney Barbara Berschler is dedicated to serving her clients in Bethesda, MD with a full range of legal services focusing on business matters such as contracts and entity formation and intellectual property, copyrights, and trademark.

Berschler IP Law

1700 Rockville Pike, Suite 400, Rockville, MD 20852

(301) 946-0474

https://berschlerlaw.com/ Facebook Linkedin Avvo Pview Findlaw Lawyer

[thespencerfirmllc]

If you're looking for the top employment attorneys near you, Contact Ms. Deyka Spencer, an employment lawyer Rockville, MD at Spencer Firm. By choosing our experienced Rockville employment law attorneys, you choose a firm that truly cares about helping clients cultivate and maintain their business without the hurdles that can decimate future growth. We’ve done so for many businesses, and have succeeded in taking the worry away. Address: 2275 Research Blvd, Suite 500B, Rockville, MD 20850

[colemanaarohan1996]

driving without insurance in md

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driving without insurance in md

driving without insurance in md will be on our top car theft. So I was wondering just in the case that car owner had insurance because I don t have the proper insurance or the car owner can take me for a ride to get out if a driver without the car then what insurance is this? It s all I ve got now for all my problems that the insurance is a better auto insurance company than the car owner or insurance company, I also do NOT have any business insurance? I was wondering. I wasn t wondering how a driver who s car I ve had insurance for 3 years has a $5k car to take me to a different country, if I know a great insurance company where does it, it is not as cheap as my previous insurance company ? i know I can get car insurance policy to car insurance for my driver. Can I get car insurance for a guy that is 26? the best car insurance company. The best car insurance is like if I was to get him a cheaper insurance and he get s. driving without insurance in md: The cost of auto insurance for a 30 yr old driver living in FL can vary based on several factors, including: The amount you pay for auto insurance depends on many factors. One of many factors are where you live and the amount you’re likely to pay. For example, the used as the most common rate in the city. That said, the average auto insurance rates can vary significantly, and it will be important to understand everything that has to do with where you live when comparing rates. In order for a driver to accurately find the cheapest car insurance for his specific driving situation, many drivers will have to start at the lowest amount of financial risk they can reasonably assume it. It may make sense to go with more affordable coverage though if you can. It may also help them have an idea of their future rates and how their cars can improve their insurance coverage later in life. For instance, the more expensive your car is, the higher your premiums are likely to be to make. driving without insurance in md has me paying $900 for 2 years now. Insurance company is very strict with their regulations. You cannot drive without car insurance! Is there car insurance for 1 year, but 5 years? This is by no means a spoiler for a young driver. Yes, but a young driver must have a valid drivers license and be at least 18. It is highly unlikely. There is simply too much risk involved in each driver to assume they will be involved in a car accident with another driver. But, again, a young driver with poor credit is likely to be involved in an accident rather than a young driver with a clean driving record. That said, if a teenage driver is a legal youth driver at all, there are other options. It is often best to get insurance for the vehicle listed as the primary driver. This is the best way to make sure you are in a position to claim. If the primary driver is not covered, ask the teen to take the parent�.

Penalties For Not Having Insurance

Penalties For Not Having Insurance: $50,000-$500,000 or $75,000-$1,000,000 or more $1000-$2,300,000 or more $2500-$5,700,000 or more A conviction for driving without insurance results in a minimum $75,000-$1,000,000 fine (or both). The most recent conviction involves a 2014 Chevy Malibu that he had after going through state police. The officer who pulled the trigger triggered the stop and contacted us. What did we find out? That the police officer that pulled the trigger was a felon who had been convicted of DUI and had been required to show proof of insurance. The driver had been stopped by a stop sign. Now the police officer we pulled the car from the street to the side of the road and found the driver’s car was in the middle when it had the most serious impact. In addition to insurance, liability protection is a major priority for.

Filing a Third Party Car Insurance Claim

Filing a Third Party Car Insurance Claim, Third Party Car Insurance Claims, and Third Party Claims  can cost you. First party insurance is sometimes called third party or third party coverage (Jolla), but more commonly it’s third party vehicle (Dana, Baja, etc.). The policy can be paid out upfront, or can be funded with the cash of the car you are driving on the road. If you cannot afford to pay the premiums, then you might consider purchasing a third party or third party car insurance policy, but the costs might be higher. First party insurance coverage is also known by the term “third party” or “third party non-owner” but also to refer to another vehicle used for business purposes. This car is generally owned by the driver. With its high-powered styling, sporty paint, and high-top engines, it’s hard to imagine a vehicle designed to drive the world. What this car is and isn’t designed to drive is.

Consequences for Driving Without a License or Insurance in Maryland

Consequences for Driving Without a License or Insurance in Maryland The penalties for driving without insurance or driving a car with suspended plates in Maryland include: Maryland SR-22 insurance documents are required for drivers who have been convicted of driving without auto insurance. An SR-22 form may need to be filed for three years with the DMV, showing proof of financial responsibility. This filing is usually required after the suspension of your driving privileges has been lifted. Your insurer can electronically file SR-22 insurance documents to the state of Maryland for drivers that are required to keep and show valid auto liability insurance. If you are looking for affordable car insurance in Maryland, Good2Go Auto Insurance may be able to help. We help you find low down payments and easy monthly payment options to get you on the road for less¹. ¹Consult with an attorney that specializes in this complicated state insurance law, address your rights, limitations, and benefits. Consult with a for help getting cheap car insurance in Maryland. It only takes a few minutes and you.

Driving Without Insurance in Maryland

Driving Without Insurance in Maryland You’ll likely get involved in an at-fault accident and will have to pay for any damage caused to other parties, their property and belongings. A person may have to file a claim with their own insurance and the at-fault driver’s insurer in order to pay for the injuries or damages. The at-fault driver will then have to present proof of insurance to the insurance company. A person driving without insurance in Maryland can face a wide array of fines, including jail time, license suspension and fines up to $2,500. A driver’s policy has multiple policies, meaning they get to select a different one. Many insurance policies provide drivers with a maximum limit of $1,000 per accident, or 30% of their property damage coverage. The first number, however, is the maximum amount that the policy will cover per accident. In other words, there is no limit to what you can do to increase your limits for other liabilities.

Contact A Rockville Driving Without Insurance Defense Attorney

Contact A Rockville Driving Without Insurance Defense Attorney on the phone when they give you a call. You can choose to be at home with a tow truck, while your car was parked or in storage, and you can also get your car back after being arrested. It can be easy to get multiple parking tickets, have your car towed, or have it towed in several states when driving without insurance. At Good2Go Auto Insurance,®we are a non-profit, neutral licensed insurance company offering a friendly customer service line to help families and individuals cope with financial stress.  We take the time to find out what is and isn’t covered by car insurance.  Many individuals have a problem with what they have to deal with when it comes to their car insurance policy. For example, you may have a claim with the driver of your car you are driving and you have insurance and the claim was successful.  If you have , insurance companies often may choose to not cover you.  If you do have a claim but you do have.

Auto Insurance Requirements for Maryland Drivers

Auto Insurance Requirements for Maryland Drivers California law requires all car owners to be able to pay for damages caused by physical and/or emotional injuries suffered by other parties in a car accident. The following minimum liability car insurance requirements will help keep you on the road financially for as little hassle as possible: $25,000 per person/ $50,000 per accident for Bodily Injury (BI) Bodily injury liability coverage protects you by paying for the injuries of anyone you harm in a car accident. The minimum limits required under Maryland are $25,000 per person/$50,000 per accident for Bodily Injury (BI). Note: The below list does not include damages caused by collisions. If you are , you will need to file an  (SB2) with the state to get your license back. Note: The above list does not include damages caused by collisions. If you are , you will need to file an  (.

[chriswilliams44444]

What Do Notaries Do?

A notary of the general public is an official public official constituted by statute to perform public acts normally concerned with transfers of property, debts, wills, powers of attorney, and other similar matters. Notaries public are appointed by the courts or can be elected as a special office by the state government. In addition to the duties performed by notaries public, there are a few additional duties required by law. These include the preparation of signatures, certifications, oaths, and the signature of agents.

One of the most important duties that a notary of this public office must perform is the preparation of legal documents. Notaries prepare legal documents on behalf of clients who have the required expertise. Some examples of legal documents prepared by a notary include power of attorney forms, real estate deeds, wills, and title insurance policies. This particular function is known as "special duty". Most of the states require that notaries provide these specialized services on a regular basis. know more about notary and apostille in Rockville and Takoma Park MD here.

Many individuals who are not legally represented have special public obligations to appear in court if requested to do so. This duty is commonly referred to as "duty of candor." When a notary witnesses a court proceeding it is known as the "duty of service." These special duties are typically performed only by qualified notaries public.

The notary who prepares legal documents is also known as a "public officer". This is the only notary who can prepare contracts, mortgage and deed documentation, birth certificates, marriage certificates, divorce certificates, probate documents, birth certificates, death records, marriage licenses, and other vital public records. The public officers who are appointed by the courts may include a clerk, register of deeds, tax appraisers, probate appraisers, land surveyors, and others. Some states allow an individual who is not a resident of that state to qualify as a public officer if he has been practicing law in the state for a certain number of years.

Another responsibility of a notary is his obligation to execute the powers of attorney of his client. This involves preparing a legal document called a trust that authorizes the notary to act on behalf of his client, including executing legal contracts and financial statements, making funeral arrangements, purchasing real estate, giving instructions to creditors, and other similar tasks. The public officers responsible for executing the powers of attorney are known as "powers of attorney executors." Most states require that notaries deliver a copy of this document to their client at the time of signing a contract or a financial statement.

There are many responsibilities of public officers. Although notaries are expected to fulfill these duties, it is not their responsibility to prepare legal documents or perform other duties. The responsibility for these duties is typically delegated to licensed notary solicitors who are paid a commission on all transactions they execute.

Notaries are required to meet special requirements for special duties in many states. An example of these duties is obtaining the consent of the client's home owner's association before notarizing mortgage transfers, taking certified copies of deeds or mortgages, and obtaining a certificate of occupancy before notarizing business contracts, among other things. To become a notary public, the notary has to complete a comprehensive training program and pass a written exam.

Because notaries public have special duties, they are sometimes referred to as "agents of the court"agents of the crown" because they often carry a badge and carry identification cards that contain the name of the notary and their seal. Notaries may perform notarial services for private parties such as banks, lawyers, and notaries public. Some states even allow notaries public to perform notarial activities for government agencies. Although notaries are not required to be licensed or bonded, some states require them to be bonded.

[dinafbrownil]

The Startlingly High Cost Of The ‘Free’ Flu Shot

In the Byzantine world of health care pricing, most people wouldn’t expect that the ubiquitous flu shot could be a prime example of how the system’s lack of transparency can lead to disparate costs.

The Affordable Care Act requires health insurers to cover all federally recommended vaccines at no charge to patients, including flu immunizations. Although people with insurance pay nothing when they get their shot, many don’t realize that their insurers foot the bill — and that those companies will recoup their costs eventually.

In just one small sample from one insurer, Kaiser Health News found dramatic differences among the costs for its own employees. At a Sacramento, Calif., facility, the insurer paid $85, but just a little more than half that at a clinic in Long Beach. A drugstore in Washington, D.C., was paid $32.

The wide discrepancy in what insurers pay for the same flu shot illustrates what’s wrong with America’s health system, said Glenn Melnick, a health economist at the University of Southern California.

“There is always going to be some variance in prices, but $85 as a negotiated price sounds ridiculous,” he said.

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Flu shots are relatively cheap compared with most health services, but considering the tens of millions of Americans who get vaccinated each year, those prices add up.

Health plans pass those expenses to consumers through higher premiums, economists say.

“The patient is immune from the cost, but they are the losers because eventually they pay a higher premium,” said Ge Bai, an accounting and health policy professor at Johns Hopkins University’s campus in Washington, D.C.

Bai said the variation in payments for flu shots has nothing to do with the cost of the drug but is a result of negotiations between health plans and providers.

Typically, health insurers’ reimbursements to private health providers are closely guarded secrets. The insurers argue secrecy is needed for competitive business reasons.

But there’s one place those dollar figures appear for anyone to see: the “explanation of benefit” forms that insurers send to members after paying a claim.

KHN reviewed forms that one of its insurers, Cigna, paid for some colleagues to get flu shots this fall in Washington, D.C., and California.

Cigna paid $32 to CVS for a flu shot in downtown Washington and $40 to CVS less than 10 miles away in Rockville, Md.

In Southern California, Cigna paid $47.53 for a flu shot from a primary care doctor with MemorialCare in Long Beach. But it paid $85 for a shot given at a Sacramento doctors’ office affiliated with Sutter Health, one of the biggest hospital chains in the state.

Health experts were not surprised insurers paid Sutter more, though they were stunned just how much more.

“Sutter has huge clout in California, and insurers have no other option than to pay Sutter the price,” Bai said.

For years, Sutter has faced criticism that is uses its market dominance to charge higher rates. In October, it settled a lawsuit brought by the state attorney general, employers and unions that accused the hospital giant of illegally driving up prices.

The $85 was not just far more than what Cigna paid elsewhere but also more than triple the price Sutter advertises on its website for people without insurance: $25.

How does Sutter justify its higher prices as well as different prices for the same shot at the same location?

Sutter officials had no simple explanation. “Pricing can vary based on a number of factors, including the care setting, a patient’s insurance coverage and agreements with insurance providers,” Sutter said in a statement.

Cigna also said many issues are considered when determining its varied payments.

“What a plan reimburses a pharmacy/clinic/medical center for a flu vaccine depends on the plan’s contracted rate with that entity, which can be affected by a number of factors including location, number of available pharmacies/facilities in that area (a.k.a. competition), and even the size of the plan (a.k.a. potential customers),” Cigna said in a statement. “It is important to keep in mind that hospitals and pharmacies have different economics, including the cost to administer.”

It’s also noteworthy that Medicaid, the state-federal health insurance program covering more than 72 million low-income Americans, pays providers far less for a flu shot. In Washington, D.C., Medicaid pays $15. In Connecticut, $19.

Nationally, self-insured employers and insurers paid between $28 and $80 for the same type of flu shot administered in doctors’ offices in 2017, according to an analysis of more than 19 million claims of people under 65 years old by the Kaiser Family Foundation in partnership with the Peterson Center on Healthcare. (Kaiser Health News is an editorially independent program of the foundation.)

“Your health plan could end up paying more than double the cost for the same flu shot depending on where you get it,” said Cynthia Cox, a vice president at the foundation.

“We see the same pattern for more expensive services like MRIs or knee replacements,” she said. “That variation in prices is part of what’s driving insurance premiums higher in some parts of the country.”

The wide discrepancy in costs for the same service highlights a major problem in the U.S. health care system.

“We don’t have a functioning health care market because of all this lack of transparency and opportunities for price discrimination,” Melnick said.

“Prices are inconsistent and confusing for consumers,” he said. “The system is not working to provide efficient care, and the flu shot is one example of how these problems persist.”

An unintended consequence of the health law making flu shots free for insured patients is that health plans have little ability to direct patients to providers that offer the vaccine for less cost because patients have no reason to care, Bai said.

Around the country, retailers like Target and CVS offer various incentives such as gift cards and coupons to entice consumers to come in for their free flu shots in hopes they shop for other goods, too. Some hospital systems such as Baptist Health in South Florida have also started providing  free flu shots for people without insurance.

Bai said that while hospitals like Baptist should be praised for helping improve the health of their communities, there are other factors in play.

“There is a hidden motivation to use free flu shots as a marketing tool to improve the hospital’s reputation,” she said. “If people come to the hospital for a flu shot, they may like the facility and come again.”

from Updates By Dina https://khn.org/news/the-startlingly-high-cost-of-the-free-flu-shot/

[pharmamktnet]

GlycoMimetics Bolsters Executive Team with Appointment of Dr. Eric Feldman as Vice President, Clinical Development, and Christian Dinneen-Long as Vice President, Corporate Counsel

GlycoMimetics Bolsters Executive Team with Appointment of Dr. Eric Feldman as Vice President, Clinical Development, and Christian Dinneen-Long as Vice President, Corporate Counsel

ROCKVILLE, Md.–(BUSINESS WIRE)–GlycoMimetics, Inc. (Nasdaq: GLYC) today announced the addition of two senior executives to its executive management team. Eric Feldman, M.D., a specialist in leukemia and bone marrow disorder therapies, has been appointed Vice President of Clinical Development. Christian Dinneen-Long, an attorney with deep experience in the biotechnology industry, has been…

[sarikurlandbankruptcylaw]

Business or civil disputes in Rockville, MD? Get legal help from an experienced Rockville litigation attorney from Kurland Law Group. For more information contact us at 301-321-8394.

[thecosydragon]

My latest blog post from the cosy dragon: Interview with Timothy Jay Smith

An Interview with Timothy Jay Smith, author of The Fourth Courier

Raised crisscrossing America pulling a small green trailer behind the family car, Timothy Jay Smith developed a ceaseless wanderlust that has taken him around the world many times. Polish cops and Greek fishermen, mercenaries and arms dealers, child prostitutes and wannabe terrorists, Indian Chiefs and Indian tailors: he hung with them all in an unparalleled international career that saw him smuggle banned plays from behind the Iron Curtain, maneuver through Occupied Territories, represent the U.S. at the highest levels of foreign governments, and stowaway aboard a “devil’s barge” for a three-days crossing from Cape Verde that landed him in an African jail.

You have a new novel coming out, The Fourth Courier, set in Poland. What’s it about?

The Fourth Courier opens in the spring of 1992, only four months after the collapse of the Soviet Union. A series of grisly murders in Warsaw suddenly becomes an international concern when radiation is detected on the third victim’s hands, raising fears that all the victims might have smuggled nuclear material out of Russia.

Poland’s new Solidarity government asks for help and the FBI sends Special Agent Jay Porter to assist in the investigation. He teams up with a gay CIA agent. When they learn that a Russian physicist who designed a portable atomic bomb is missing, the race is on to find him and the bomb before it ends up in the wrong hands.

My novels have been called literary thrillers because I use an event or threat—a thriller plot—to examine what the situation means to ordinary people. In The Fourth Courier, Jay becomes intimately involved with a Polish family, giving the reader a chance to see how the Poles coped with their collective hangover from the communist era.

How did you come up with the story for The Fourth Courier?

The Fourth Courier book goes back a long way for me. In 1989, the Berlin Wall fell and Solidarity won the first free election in Poland in over sixty years. In the same year, Mikhail Gorbachev introduced new cooperative laws in the Soviet Union, which was an area of my expertise. I was invited to the Soviet Union as a consultant, which led to my consulting throughout the former Soviet bloc, eventually living for over two years in Poland.

At the time, there was a lot of smuggling across the border between Russia and Poland, giving rise to fears that nuclear material, too, might be slipping across. While on assignment in Latvia, I met with a very unhappy decommissioned Soviet general, who completely misunderstood my purpose for being there. When an official meeting concluded, he suggested we go for a walk where we could talk without being overheard.

I followed him deep into a forest. I couldn’t imagine what he wanted. Finally we stopped, and he said, “I can get you anything you want.” I must have looked puzzled because he added, “Atomic.”

Then I understood. In an earlier conversation, there had been some passing remarks about the Soviets’ nuclear arsenal in Latvia, for which he had had some responsibility, and apparently still some access. While my real purpose for being there was to design a volunteer program for business specialists, he assumed that was a front and I was really a spy. Or perhaps he thought, I really did want to buy an atomic bomb!

Have you always been a writer?

In the sense of enjoying to write, yes. I actually wrote my first stage play in fourth grade and started a novel in sixth grade, but I didn’t become a full-time fiction writer until twenty years ago. The first half of my adult life I spent working on projects to help low income people all over the world. I always enjoyed the writing aspects of my work—reports, proposals, even two credit manuals—but I reached a point where I’d accomplished my career goals, I was only forty-six years old, and I had a story I wanted to tell.

What was the story?

For over two years, I managed the U.S. Government’s first significant project to assist Palestinians following the 1993 Oslo Accords. One thing I learned was that everyone needed to be at the negotiating table to achieve an enduring peace. So I wrote a story of reconciliation—A Vision of Angels—that weaves together the lives of four characters and their families.

If anybody had ever hoped that a book might change the world, I did. Unfortunately I didn’t manage to bring about peace in the Middle East, but I’ve continued writing nevertheless.

The Fourth Courier has a strong sense of place. It’s obvious that you know Warsaw well. Other than living there, what special research did you do?

Warsaw is a city with a very distinctive character. It’s always atmospheric, verging on gloomy in winter, and the perfect location for a noir-ish thriller.

I had left Warsaw several years before I decided to write a novel set there, so I went back to refresh my memory. I looked at it entirely differently. What worked dramatically? Where would I set scenes in my story?

It was on that research trip when all the events along the Vistula River came together for me. There was a houseboat. There was Billy’s shack, and Billy himself whose “jaundiced features appeared pinched from a rotting apple.” There were sandbars reached by narrow concrete jetties and a derelict white building with a sign simply saying Nightclub. Fortunately, Billy’s dogs were tethered or I wouldn’t be here to answer your questions.

My main character is an FBI agent, and I didn’t know much about it. A friend, who was an assistant to Attorney General Janet Reno, arranged a private tour of the FBI’s training facility in Quantico. That was before 9/11. I don’t think that could be done now. Maybe for James Bond himself but not for a wannabe writer.

If I was going to write a novel about smuggling a portable atomic bomb, I needed to know what a bomb entailed. Weight, seize, basic design, fuel? How would a miniature bomb be detonated? So I blindly contacted the Department of Energy. I explained what I wanted and was soon connected to an atomic expert who agreed to meet with me.

We met on the weekend at a Starbucks-like coffee shop in Rockville, MD. We met in line and were already talking about atomic bombs before we ordered our coffees. He had brought basic drawings of them. He was an expert and eager to share his knowledge.

Can you imagine having that conversation in a café today, openly looking at how-to schematics for building an atomic bomb while sipping skinny lattés?

You’ve mentioned ‘scenes’ a couple of times. I know you also write screenplays. Do you find it difficult to go between the different formats or styles?

The sense of scene is crucial to my writing. It’s how I think about a story. Before I start new work, I always have the opening and closing scenes in my head, and then I ask myself what scenes do I need to get from start to finish.

I think it comes from growing up in a house where the television was never turned off. My sisters and I were even allowed to watch TV while doing homework if we kept our grades up. Sometimes I joke that canned laughter was the soundtrack of my childhood. I haven’t owned a television for many years, but growing up with it exposed me to telling stories in scenes, and it’s why my readers often say they can see my stories as they read them.

For me, it’s not difficult to go between prose and screenplays. In fact, I use the process of adapting a novel to a screenplay as an editing tool for the novel. It helps me sharpen the dialogue and tighten the story.

In your bio, you mention traveling the world to find your characters and stories, and doing things like smuggling out plays from behind the Iron Curtain. Was it all as exciting as it sounds?

It was only one play, and yes, I confess to having an exciting life. I’ve done some crazy things, too, and occasionally managed to put myself in dangerous situations. Frankly, when I recall some of the things I’ve done, I scare myself! By comparison, smuggling a play out of Czechoslovakia in 1974 seems tame. But I’ve always had a travel bug and wanted to go almost everywhere, so I took some chances, often traveled alone, and went to places where I could have been made to disappear without a trace.

It sounds like you have a whole library full of books you could write. How do you decide what story to tell and who will be your characters?

I came of age in the 1960s during the Civil Rights Movement and the anti-Vietnam War demonstrations, so I developed a strong sense of social justice. That guided my career choice more than anything, and when I quit working to write full-time, it was natural that I wanted my books to reflect my concerns. Not in a “big message” way, but more in terms of raising awareness about things that concern me.

For example, take Cooper’s Promise, my novel about a gay deserter from the war in Iraq who ends up adrift in a fictional African country. It was 2003, and in a few days, I was headed to Antwerp to research blood diamonds for a new novel. I was running errands when NPR’s Neal Conan (Talk of the Nation) came on the radio with an interview of National Geographic photographer Jodi Cobb about a project on modern-day slavery. It was the first time I heard details about human trafficking, and was so shocked by its enormity that I pulled my car off the road to listen.

I decided on the spot that I needed to find a story that touched on both blood diamonds and trafficking. When I went to Antwerp a few days later, I visited the Diamond District as planned, but also visited a safe house for women who had been rescued from traffickers.

In The Fourth Courier, you team up a white straight FBI agent with a black gay CIA agent. Even Publishers Weekly commented that it seemed like an ideal set-up for a sequel. Do you plan to write one?

Probably not. My to-be-written list is already too long.

I’m close to finishing the final edits on a book set in Greek island village, which is more of a mystery about an arsonist than a thriller. I’ve already started a new novel set in Istanbul about a young refugee who’s recruited by the CIA to go deep undercover with ISIS. I’ve never written a novel set in the States but I have the idea for one.

To date, my books have been stand-alones with totally different settings, characters, and plots. I try to write what I like to read: smart mysteries/thrillers with strong plots and colorful characters set in interesting places. I suppose like me, I want my stories to travel around and meet new people.

You’ve had gay protagonists or important characters since your first novel over twenty years ago when gay literature had not yet become mainstream. How would you say that affected your choices as a writer, or did it?

Friends warned me that I shouldn’t become known as a gay writer because it would pigeonhole me and sideline me from consideration as a serious writer. At the time, I think the general public thought gay books were all about sex and more sex. Of course, already there were many emerging gay literary writers; it was more stigma than reality.

The world of thrillers and mysteries is still largely uninhabited by gays. Hopefully I am helping to change that. I also hope that my novels expand my readers’ understanding of homosexuality in the places where I set them. In The Fourth Courier, the gay angle is key to solving the case. In my other novels, too, the plot turns on something gay, and the way it does is always something that couldn’t have happened in the same way anywhere else because of the cultural context.

What do you want your readers to take away from The Fourth Courier?

What motivated me to write The Fourth Courier was a desire to portray what happened to ordinary Polish people at an exciting albeit unsettling moment in their country’s history. I hope my readers like my characters as much as I do—at least the good guys. The people are what made Poland such a great experience.

The Fourth Courier is my thank-you note to them.

You can find out more about Tim and his novels using these links: Web page Instagram Facebook Twitter Goodreads Amazon

Photo by Michael Honegger @ https://ift.tt/2UYNZMt

from https://ift.tt/2U32rqw

[legalinfotips-blog]

Should Your Business's Name be Trademarked?

It is important to protect your business’s name because it protects your brand and your clientele. There are many ways that your business may be affected by a competitor copying your logos and name. You will want to fully protect your brand when you begin advertising to customers and drawing in business, and a business lawyer in Rockville, MD may be a helpful resource.

Getting Started

The Secretary of State’s office will check to see that your name is not already in use in your state when you apply for corporate or LLC status for your business. State laws vary in their decision of whether the name of your business is too similar to another business. Some states will reject your name if it is too similar and other states may allow it. Once your corporation or LLC business is approved, the name is protected under law and no other business will be able to use the name to form a business in the same state.

However, businesses in the same state may use the name if they are a sole proprietorship or partnership, they just can’t use it if they are also applying to be a LLC or corporation. Businesses in different states can also use your name if it is applying for any of the aforementioned categories.

Depending on the model for your business, you may only require a state-level protection. If you plan on expanding across the nation, overseas or if you simply want the name to remain solely yours, then you can opt to protect your brand by applying for a federal trademark.

Trademarking Your Business

Trademarks are words, phrases, logos or symbols (or a combination of two or more of these) that identifies a company as the source of the product or service advertised and makes it distinct from competition. A trademark attorney will be able to explain how trademarks work on a deeper level. Logos, names and slogans can all be trademarked.

The United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) are responsible for granting trademarks on the federal level. Whoever owns the trademark has exclusive rights and can prevent the use of the trademark by anyone else under federal and state law.

Before applying for a trademark, do a basic internet search to be sure that no one has filed for a trademark pending with the USPTO just in case. AFter you are sure, contact a trademark or intellectual property attorney to be certain the name is unique to your business and to move forward with a trademark application.

Why Do the Search?

If you apply and your business’s name is already in use, then you application is automatically denied, wasting the application fee and preparation time that you could have saved by checking. As you develop your business plan and envision where it may go, consider whether state-level protection is enough for your business and decide whether it is necessary to extend that protection on a federal level. Consult a trademark lawyer to hammer out the details and ensure your application doesn’t get denied on this basis.

Thank you to our friends and contributors at The Law Office of Daniel J. Wright for their insight into business law.

[danielwrightlaw-blog]

Corporate Litigation: What Is It?

Corporate litigation involves any legal proceeding that involves a business. This may include avoiding litigation as well as business disputes and litigation. Most business owners need to be familiar with corporate litigation. No matter your industry, there is a high chance that you will eventually have to deal with business law in one way or another. It may be due to a lawsuit between you and another business or it might be due to business disputes you have within the company.  Here is what you need to know about business litigation.

What Corporate Litigation Involves

Corporate litigation is a broad term. Often, it covers tort and contract issues. Still, there are a lot of issues that this branch of law deals with. For instance, here are some of the laws and regulations that corporate litigation addresses:

Tax compliance

Tort issues

Corporate real estate issues

Shareholder lawsuits

Wage laws

Anti-discrimination laws

Wrongful termination

When it comes to your business, many legal issues might spring up. Your safest option is to have a lawyer that can handle any legal problems that come your way. After all, with the wide range of problems that might spring up, you need someone with experience and knowledge. The more experience that a lawyer has, the more likely he or she has dealt with your problems before.

Manage Litigation Risk

Nowadays, if you want to run a successful business, you have to try to mitigate risk as much as possible. This means that you need to develop a plan to avoid any future litigation. Now, in some cases, it is unavoidable. In these cases, one way you can manage risk is to have a lawyer. If you ever feel like you’re in over your head with legal issues, a lawyer can help you work through it. Keep in mind that every business lawyer is different. If you’re dealing with tort issues, for instance, then you don’t want to hire someone who is experienced in wage laws more. You should look into the lawyer’s niche and choose the right attorney.

If you own a business, then there is a high chance you’re going to have to deal with corporate litigation in the future. This is just the nature of owning a business. If you’re worried about legal proceedings, then you should have a plan in place. Whenever you have legal questions, don’t hesitate to ask them. Contact a business attorney in Rockville, MD right away to find out more about corporate litigation.

Call the Law Office of Daniel J. Wright for their insight into business law and corporate litigation.

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Island days...

YEAR 2013

1/2-1/15  computer hacking

1/4  emailed older brother..are we moving forward to some kind of truce yet?  saw a picture of my niece on facebook.  still have these people stalking me..I believe my family is behind of these situations.

1/4  attached investigative report from private investigator I hired re:  Marvin L. Kay...is he still alivbe??

1/7  my mother’s friend evelyn sends me a picture and message (visual) on facebook

1/11 my niece deleted me from her sight after she shows me her fantastic life in NY city with her star studded celebrity friends...big fucking deal!  I am a bigger celebrity than any of them and you may never meet me spoiled brat..started to call a bunch of lawyers but don’t have the money to sue...hope mom continues paying for my health insurance.

1/12  email to older brother..did my mother get rid of my burial plot?

1/15  email from Liz Dane....’ KAREN, DON’T DO IT”

1/16 consignment of Mark Lovett painting Potomack co

1/19  looking for homes outside of DC

1/21  report concluded (private investigator)  my father is still alive...call him to discuss.

1/29  email from my older brother.  Karen, if you need help we will help you with what you need...(your a fucked up person...BRO...you tried to eat a leaf 4 times as big as your head as an infant and you put your fingers in electrical sockets to shock yourself as a child...who needs the help?  YOU!!!!

1/30  letter to my older brother asking for his help.  PLEASE HELP ME..I have these women stalking me for 5 years now.  

1/30 emailed older brother....mom abused me by not allowing me to see my dad ever again...blah blah blah

1/30 email to sister-in-law (older) if there were another suicide attempt in my family...wouldn’t you feel guilty?...you can block me now

2/18  contacted man from Italy sent by the women stalking me on facebook..told him to stop harassing me.

3/21  letter from me to judicial inquiry Richmond va...judge at 520 king street petition for protective order...when I showed up at court, judge haddock refused to look at my evidence...would not give me a protective order

4/2  computer hacking

4/4 email exchange with younger brother...DON’T BLAME THE MESSENGER  

4/10  FAKE EMAIL FBI  anti-terrorist and monitory crime division

4/11  letter from david curry, counsel commonwealth of va (judicial inquiry & review commission) in response to my follow up letter dated 4/2/2013 complaint does not provide valid basis for commission action

4/16  more email arguments with younger brother over the internet..no returned necklaces that I sent to my nieces as gifts..email from my brother stating that I think he is stealing, let’s go to the magistrate in Alexandria.  I feel he is stealing and he is calling my bluff.  let’s go to court...going on to tell me my thoughts are scrambled.  I told him to stop emailing me.  I made copies of our conversations.

4/16  email to younger brother..still trying to gaslight me and telling me that I am sick and left a message with the magistrate

4/16  letter to my nieces that I am sorry I hurt their dad’s feelings

4/17  continued fight with brother..NO MEETINGS ALONE WITH HIM..NEVER...I am afraid of him

4/18  email from brother younger...attempting to gaslight me..asked if I was above the plan?

4/27  email to older sister-in-law  where does my cousin live now(daryl) DC?  How is her life?

5/1  email looking for attorney

5/2 email from attorney found a probate attorney for me that I should contact

5/3  wrote a check to antonoples & associates to retain services  to try to sue my mother..gave him 5,000 check and original documents reit left office...realized on the way home he was a fake...Rockville address as well as DC...contacted him when I got home told him I want my documents back....went back to his office the next day or day after...had a big fight with him in the lobby of his fake shared office space...he gave me back copies of original documents  and my ..for 5,0000 tampering of evidence

realized for sure I was set up by my family at this point...

5/6  letter from antonoples & associates  denial of representation of me as a client...ASSHOLE..I DUMPED YOU FIRST..

5/7  office of counsel of appeals  my letter to them stating that I now have multiple lawsuits..didn’t know if my father was still alive but that he was close to death.blah blah blah

5/7  response from me to attorney representing brother (younger)  adam n helmwood  110 Washington street suite 207 Rockville md cease and desist letter

5/9  vicious fight between me and younger brother.  he involves other people in our fight...on this day my aunt, uncle his friend sister & brother-in-law emails on this day my brother was upset that I sent a letter to the friends brother ...all I did was state the truth and to warn this man that he should stay away from this garbage if he wants to lead a life with integrity.

5/9 brother cc:  mom on email-bullying me, telling me I will only get 1,000 a month until I start to behave, no blackmail attempts, mental torture, humiliation inflict on the family

5/10 Alexandria police show up at my home while I am vacuuming the rug in my living room.  we talked..i explained that my father had money and was kicked out of my birth family home for no reason and that I thought my other family members were stealing  money from the estate.  2 officers showed up and took the report Alexandria police.

5/11  brother accusing me of not working

more fighting..told brother I may get a restraining order from him...afraid of him..what my brother needs is a hospital..i am blocking him

5/10 letter from bar counsel investigating my complaint against Peter antonopolis

5/13  my brother keeps telling me that I am ill...curious..not up for debate..no financial assistance no trust or trustee until I admit myself into a mental hospital.

5/15 letter from bar counsel..answer to my complaint  downey/matthews bar doct 2013-d190 denies misconduct

note:  mother & brother trying to make me believe I am crazy..they are obsessed w/me checking myself into a mental hospital and having a judge determine that I am ill.  both are trying to direct my life...

gain meaningful employment w/someone else running the business.  ia m not capable of managing a successful business and I need a weekly paycheck..(interesting..I am 53 years old treating me like I am only 17 years old..curious..already had a business for 6-7 years with 600 clients..curious?

I will get paid by the family as long as I am employed...ha ha ha!!!!!!!

5/17  answer to my complaint against peter antonopolis office of bar counsel

5/18  vicious fight with younger brother..i was trying to muster up some empathy for him...hard to do..just wanted to diffuse the situation...I realize this is insanity...need to go no contact completely.

distance...in this letter brother admits guilt for what he has done..knows that the relationship has severed...he knows my mother & sister-in-law are pure evil but is having trouble digesting this information.

5/22 letter to dc health dept reporting my mother’s psychiatrist in treatment of my mother..

6/4 letter to Elizabeth herman deputy bar counsel dc court of appeals:  re antonopolis/matthews case

7/9  brother threatening to file protective order against me for continuing harassing behaviors and attempts to illegally extort money & continued attempts to disrupt his established business relationships through non sensible communications..blah blah blah

repulsive behavior, you leave me no option but to get the court involved so that when you harass next you will land in jail

8/16 brother emails...see you in court.  I need to throw away the computer and face the world

8/18  email from brother (younger)  am I above the law?  no one has taken dad away  my mother wants nothing to do with me...DITTO!!!!!  I sold you condo, I took you into my townhouse when I broke up w/first husband..i took care of your etopic pregnancy, I threw a bachelor party for your 1st hubby when no one knew him...your jewelry theft/ring helen monsein...stop trolling on the internet  terrorist...tell your twitter friend Prince I hate purple rain and loved it when he got booed off the stage at the stones concert....(well I would tell Prince what you said but he is DEAD NOW!)

8/21  I realize just how crazy my family is and that my life could be in danger..need to go no contact completely.  My younger brother sends me a picture on the internet of my mother looking alive and well...(he made me believe prior through the internet that she was dead)  brother wants me to sign a document that I will not pursue a lawsuit against him...ARE YOU FUCKING CRAZY???????  YOU are in la la land

9/14 govt of dc  psychiatrist letter received complaint from karen

12/2013  divorced my 2nd husband over the phone w/judge in AZ