2011 Holiday Season – State Holiday Closings

November 23, 2011

TUESDAY, DECEMBER 13th (Inauguration Day)
Kentucky

FRIDAY, DECEMBER 23rd (Christmas Eve Observance)
Arkansas
Georgia
Indiana
Kentucky
Maryland
Michigan
South Carolina
Tennessee
Texas
Virginia

MONDAY, DECEMBER 26th (Christmas Day Observance)
All jurisdictions (more…)

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New Bankruptcy Rules Effective 12/1/11; Are You Ready?

November 23, 2011

On April 27, 2011, the Supreme Court notified Congress that it had approved amendments to the Bankruptcy Rules. Included in the changes, which become effective December 1, 2011, are guidelines for disclosures by creditors and equity security-holders in chapter 11 cases under Rule 2019.

The Court approved new Federal Rules of Bankruptcy Procedure 1004.2 and 3002.1 and amended Rules 2003, 2019, 3001, 4004, and 6003.

A summary of the additions and changes appears below:

  • Bankruptcy Rule 1004.2 (republication of a new rule requiring entity filing a chapter 15 petition to state the country of the debtor’s main interest, filer to list each country in which a case involving debtor is pending, and setting deadline for challenging the statement asserting the country of the debtor’s main interest)
  • Bankruptcy Rule 2003 (requires the filing of a statement upon adjourning a meeting of creditors or equity security holders)
  • Bankruptcy Rule 2019 (expands the scope of the rule’s disclosure requirements by requiring disclosure in chapter 9 and chapter 11 cases by all committees or groups that consist of more than one creditor or equity security holder, as well as entities or that represent more than one creditor or equity security holder. It also authorizes the court to require disclosure by an individual party in interest when knowledge of that party’s economic stake in the debtor would assist the court in evaluating the party’s arguments) (more…)
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A Day in the Life … Presented by the Daily Report

November 18, 2011

Okay, it was really just 20 minutes – a professional photo shoot of me, working at my desk as Paralegal Extraordinaire of StarrParalegals.

<cue flash back sequence> (where are the cool squiggly lines when you need them??)

In September, the Daily Report , in cooperation with the Georgia Association of Paralegals, conducted its ‘2011 Paralegal and Support Staff Working Conditions and Compensation’ survey for the State of Georgia. Of course, I submitted my responses and comments (Danger Will Robinson, Danger … open comment boxes are better than candy stores!).

Several weeks later, a reporter from the Daily Report called to ask me some follow-up questions – it seems I am a rare breed here in metro Atlanta, an outspoken, virtual paralegal. The reporter was intrigued by the concept of ‘virtual paralegal’, so I explained my business model and told him about some of my clients. We discussed the good, bad, and the ugly of my new career – why I went solo, the challenges, my accomplishments, etc. He even asked if I would ever go back to work in a ‘real’ law firm. My response (which may or may not appear in the article) was, “There is not enough money on this planet to get me back into a law firm.”

<cue back to to present day> (more…)

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What Happened to Courtesy & Customer Service??

November 7, 2011

I’ve had it up to my pretty blue eyes with inefficient customer service, blocked incoming calls, and (shoot.me.now.) robo calls.

There are days when I miss the phones of old … Remember those big, heavy receivers that made it very easy, and audible, to hang up on someone. Back then, you knew when someone had hung up on you and there was huge satisfaction in slamming down the phone. <deep sigh>

Rant 1:

Callers from blocked or unfamiliar numbers who refuse to identify themselves.

Me: “Hello?”

Caller: “This call is for Pamela Starr.”

Me: “Who is calling?”

Caller: “Is this Pamela Starr?”

Me: ” Who is calling and what are you calling about?”

At which point the caller identifies her/himself or becomes belligerent or hangs up … REALLY?? You called me. I”m pretty sure I am within my rights to know with whom I am speaking!

Rant 2: (more…)

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