Looking For Assets to Collect a Judgment

In the movie Urban Cowboy, Johnny Lee sang “looking for love in all the wrong places”. The North Carolina Supreme Court in Kinlaw vs. Harris recently heard a case which could be summarized “looking for assets in all the wrong places”. The issue before the Court was whether a debtor’s property was free from execution and thereby allowing the debtor …

Enforcing Judgments From Another State

In the recent North Carolina Court of Appeals case, Gardner v. Tallmadge, the Court held that a foreign judgment (a judgment issued in another state) was not enforceable in North Carolina since the Ohio court that originally issued the judgment lacked subject matter jurisdiction to do so. In Gardner, Mr. Tallmadge entered into a demand cognovit promissory note with Mr. …

Is Arbitration Required?

Arbitration Agreements: many business people have heard of them, many businesses have signed one, and some businesses have even gone through arbitration.  Arbitration can be a good alternative in the right circumstance.  However, don’t assume arbitration is the best for you without doing sufficient homework.  Despite the familiarity or arbitration agreements, the agreements sometimes still require a basic question to …

“Sufficient Minimum Contacts”: Can’t File a Lawsuit Without It!

Suppose your company contracts with another company for the supply of materials. The company you contracted with then contracts with an out of state company to add a “powder coating” to the materials you have just ordered. Then suppose this coating flakes off right after you use the materials. So, if letters, phone calls, emails and/or attempts at negotiations don’t …

How Can We Help You? by Vann & Sheridan Attorneys at Law

We all hear from others and may say to our customers from time to time, “how can we help you?” Well, when we ask you that question, we really mean it. We enjoy helping our clients with legal challenges, developing options for you and designing creative solutions for the particular question or issue you may be facing. So often people …

Managing Your Company’s Financial Strength in a Slower Economy

Every company encounters challenging economic times due to the economy. Managing the receivables, payables and cash flow of your business are key components to the overall financial health of your business. It can be difficult but it is possible to manage the unexpected issues which arise from time to time as well as the impact from our economy. Stay Focused …

Collecting a Judgment: The Sheriff/Deputy Is Of Vital Importance

A vital benefit the legal process of obtaining a judgment affords you is the ability to utilize the services of the local Sheriff’s Office in an effort to collect the debt. Once a judgment is recorded, the appeal period has passed, and, if required, Notice of Right to Claim Exempt Property has been served, your attorney can obtain a Writ …

DAVID COCKMAN – NCBA Hall Of Fame Inductee

We are pleased to announce that our friend David Cockman, an attorney with Vann & Sheridan, recently received a well deserved honor – admission  into the North Carolina Bar  Association’s General Practice Hall of  Fame. The NCBA Hall of Fame is a  highly prestigious institution which  typically admits only six attorneys per  year statewide. David’s official induction  occurred June 24, …

Lien Waivers Can Have An Unexpected Result

In construction cases, lien waivers are generally used as requests for payment are made. Caution is the word when dealing with lien waivers. In a recent case decided by the North Carolina Business Court, (Wachovia Bank vs Superior Construction Corp.) the Court interpreted a lien wavier against the general contractor. In this case, Wachovia was the lender and Superior Construction …

Filing Annual Reports with the N.C. Secretary of States Office

The North Carolina Secretary of State’s Office recently mailed out “Notices of Grounds of Administrative Dissolution” to businesses which lacked one or more filed annual reports. As you are probably aware, business corporations and limited liability companies which are approved to conduct business in the State by the N.C. Secretary of State are required to file annual reports with the Secretary of State. Being delinquent on filing the annual reports is grounds for administrative dissolution. If a business is administratively dissolved, the business no longer has what is referred to as the “corporate shell” which could create personal liability for the owners, board of directors and officers of the business.

How To Collect Judgments: Examination Of The Debtor

As almost any credit manager knows, sometimes you may as well frame a judgment and hang it in your office if you can’t collect it. Oftentimes obtaining the judgment can be a relatively simple task; it is the collection of the judgment that requires finesse, after all, if the debtor wanted to pay the money owed, the debtor would have already paid …

Criminal Convictions Clashing with Employment

With the job market and employment rate being what it is, many potential employees are doing everything possible to clean up their records to improve their chances of employment. A recent article in the Wall Street Journal is a prime example of what is going on today. http://online.wsj.com/article/SB125789494126242343.html Employers often inquire as to whether the employment candidate has a criminal …

The North Carolina Court of Appeals Says Your Electronic Signature Is Just As Good As Your Written One

The North Carolina Court of Appeals Says Your Electronic Signature Is Just As Good As Your Written OneBy James R. VannAttorney at Law Suppose for a moment a business acquaintance of yours sends you an email proposing a specific transaction. And let’s suppose you respond that it sounds great, let’s do it. You might be thinking you haven’t really committed to …

Electronic Signatures Gain Official Approval From North Carolina Court

Digital signatures have finally  been officially approved by the North Carolina Court of Appeals. In a recent decision by the North Carolina  Court of Appeals in Powell vs. City  of Newton, the Court enforced a settlement agreement even though no settlement  agreement had actually been  signed. As far as we know, this is the first reference to this statute by …