A few weeks ago, I received a voicemail on my cell phone from someone who said he was with the IRS. He claimed I owed past due taxes and that I needed to call back immediately to prevent criminal prosecution for tax evasion. Fortunately, I recognized the call as a common tax collection scam.
Read MoreMany people do not pay attention to signature blocks or how a contract is signed. The signature may not match the signature block or the signature block, itself may not be correct. Sometimes, parties never assemble a fully-signed contract and are at a loss when the contract must be produced in a dispute.
Read MoreIn the 1960's, Genevieve Veder donated the Duke of Alcantra Strad to UCLA, which loaned the valuable instrument to violinist David Margetts, who lost it. When the instrument surfaced 27 years later, another violinist claimed that she was the rightful owner because UCLA did not have complete documentation showing its ownership. Documentation showing change of ownership is equally important in real estate transactions.
Read MoreFermatas and grand pauses are alternatives a composer can use slow down the pace of the music when the changes to tempowon't create the desired effect. In a real estate transaction, sometimes, the parties’ circumstances don't allow for a holdback, and the parties are forced to look for alternatives.
Read MoreThere are four music terms describing a holding back of tempo, each having its own nuanced meaning. Similarly, there are different holdback strategies in real estate transactions, which parties should tailor to the needs of their transaction.
Read MorePreparing contracts can be like using the music for a performance. Like musicians are expected to perform from memory even when it does not serve them well, contracts include boilerplate language which does not add to the contract’s purpose.
Read MoreRecently, I attended a concert given by a major symphony orchestra. During a quiet section in the music I heard an unusual sound–like air being blown through a straw–loudly. Looking at the stage, I saw the source of the sound.
Read MoreBeginning in the late 20th century, the musical world was captivated by Mamoru Samuragochi, a deaf man who, like Beethoven, composed classical music. Audiences from Japan to New York celebrated his soulful music and flamboyant style. His music was so spectacular that he was celebrated as “Japan’s Beethoven.”
Read MoreThe Lark Quartet recently announced that after 34 years, it would disband at the end of its 2018/19 season. Business owners similarly may decide to sell, transfer, or close their businesses. Business owners, also, have different goals and motivations for these decisions.
Read MoreIt’s understandable how someone might leave a shopping bag or a small item like keys or a wallet in a taxi. However, in 2008, violinist Phillip Quint left his multi-million dollar Stradivari in a New York City taxi. The taxi driver discovered the instrument and returned it. Like musicians, business owners sometimes forget important tasks relating to their business entities. Although some forgotten tasks may be correctable, others are not. By forgetting to pay attention to their business entities, an owner can lose it forever.
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