Intent Overrides General Guaranty Law
In Fagen’s of North Carolina, Inc. v. Rocky River Real Estate Company, et al., 451 S.E. 2d 872 (N.C. App. 1995), the Court of Appeals of North Carolina held that it is the specific terms of a contract and the intent of the parties involved, not general statements of law, that control any agreement. In Fagen, the customer failed to pay the …
Protection For Payment On Federal Projects: Precision Required For Protection
North Carolina is blessed with numerous federally-owned facilities. These facilities are frequently the sites for construction projects, some of substantial proportion. Many subcontractors and material suppliers find themselves working on projects located in or on federal facilities and know the projects are exempt from state law lien protection but are protected by payment bonds. WHEN ARE BONDS REQUIRED Congress passed …
Cashing a Customer’s Check: What Creditors Need to Know about Accord and Satisfaction
Cashing a Customer’s Check: What Creditors Need to Know about Accord and Satisfaction By James R. VannAttorney at Law We had a webinar on this topic on Tuesday, May 13, 2014 from 3:00 – 3:30 p.m. Our webinar was titled : Handling Money of Others – Sales Tax, Escheat Property & Cashing Checks. Visit our event page for details. You have …
Service Of Summons And Complaints: New And Improved Ways To Serve Debtors/Defendants With Summons And Complaint
Service Of Summons And Complaints: New And Improved Ways To Serve Debtors/Defendants With Summons And Complaint By James R. VannAttorney at Law The North Carolina General Assembly has passed new legislation which gives Creditors/Plaintiffs an alternative way to serve a Debtor/Defendant with legal documents. How many times have you or your attorney been forced to chase a Debtor/Defendant in order …
May You Contract Where To Sue And Be Sued?
The Supreme Court of North Carolina recently ruled in Perkins v. CCH Computax, Inc., 423 S.E.2d 780 (Dec. 1992) that parties may contract and bind themselves as to where they may sue and be sued. The Supreme Court held that _forum selection clauses_ (clauses which provide or dictate a particular judicial court) which purport to dictate the _venue of an action_ (the particular location of …
Receivership
For many, the concept of bankruptcy is a familiar one. Conversely, people are less accustomed to the principle of state court receivership. Therefore, it is shocking for many to realize that state court receivership is basically a state substitute for federal bankruptcy. Receivership provides an orderly scheme to preserve assets, prevent preference, and to assure the equitable distribution of an …
Possessory Liens In North Carolina: Retaining Possession of Personal Property For Nonpayment Of Labor And Materials
Suppose you have invested labor and parts in a piece of construction equipment and you have not been paid. The person with whom you contracted for the repair of this equipment is not the title owner; rather, the person who took the equipment to you and asked you to repair it leased the equipment from the owner in order to perform some …
Preference Claims In Bankruptcy: How Long Is A Creditor At Risk?
For most creditors, word that one of their credit account customers has filed for bankruptcy protection under Chapter 7 of the United States Bankruptcy Code creates a sense of apprehension. It is common knowledge that payments received from the customer within the 90-days immediately preceding the filing of the bankruptcy petition are subject to review by the trustee. All creditors, …
Enforcement of Foreign Judgments: Information For Creditors Regarding Collecting Out-Of-State Judgments
Enforcement of Foreign Judgments: Information For Creditors Regarding Collecting Out-Of-State Judgments By James R. VannAttorney at Law Suppose you have a judgment against a debtor and the debtor either leaves the state or owns property in another state. How can you collect on your judgment? The answer to this question lies in a basic understanding of how these “foreign judgments” …
North Carolina Statutory Liens on Real Property: A Timeline To Remember
The following dates and information must be known and provable in order to sustain a lien on real property in North Carolina: 1) Date of first performance – The first date on which equipment, materials, and supplies were sold for the specified project. 2) Date of last performance – The last date on which equipment, materials, and supplies were provided …
Mechanics & Materialmens Liens: Have You Not Been Paid For The Material You Sold To Improve Real Property?
The legal rights of a lien claimant in the construction industry includes a breach of contract remedy as well asthe extraordinary remedies provided by the mechanics liens laws. The legal rights of a lien claimant can include a claim of lien upon the real property improved and the funds due to the parties involved with the construction. While the contractual …
Bankruptcy, Dismissal & Statutes of Limitation: A Landmine For The Unwary
Bankruptcy, Dismissal & Statutes of Limitation: A Landmine For The Unwary By James R. VannAttorney at Law A recent opinion issued by the North Carolina Court of Appeals should serve to remind all creditors of the necessity of vigilance when a debtor is in bankruptcy. In Person Earth Movers, Inc. v. Buckland,N.C. App. , 525 S.E.2d 230 (2000), the …
Commercial Credit Application – What Information Is Really Necessary?
Commercial Credit Application – What Information Is Really Necessary? By James R. VannAttorney at Law The first step in collecting a delinquent account is obtaining information about the debtor. The credit application is usually the best source for obtaining valuable information about the debtor and the assets of the debtor. If the necessary contractual formalities are in order (i.e. date, …
Am I Liable For Giving Job References?
Am I Liable For Giving Job References? By James R. VannAttorney at Law As an employer, you have probably been asked to give a job reference for a former or current employee. If that employee had a record of unsatisfactory job performance, it is likely you agonized over the information you provided. You may have been afraid to give a …
Alternative Dispute Resolution: An Overview Of The Process And Its Prevalence In Civil Actions
In today’s credit-driven society, disputes and complaints are an almost everyday occurrence. The time and resources expended to reach a reasonable solution to even minor disputes substantially increases the cost of doing business. Attorney’s fees and litigation costs are far from rare. In facing the dilemma of backed-up court dockets and mounting public frustration at the perceived inability to quickly …
Collecting Accounts Receivable in a Difficult Economy
Most businesses may face challenges in the near future in collecting past due accounts receivable. Being persistent generally will increase your productivity in collection and remaining positive will certainly help you stay in a better frame of mind! Statistics support the idea that most customers want to pay their past due accounts. Thus, being persistent in asking for payment generally …


