Legal Ranks

Bad Investments And Securities Fraud

When an investor is advised on the purchase or sale of stocks, bonds or securities, the registered agent is required to make fair and unbiased suggestions. If the investor finds that unscrupulous methods such as insider trading were used so that the broker was in a position to profit from said transactions an attorney that specializes in securities should be retained. It is also important to consult with an attorney prior to purchasing bonds from a company or a governmental agency. Because bonds are only valid for as long as the corporation or governmental agency is in business, the sale of bonds is closely regulated by way of federal and state level laws.

Securities fraud occurs when a company purposefully sells stock shares or bonds that are known to be toxic by those that are facilitating the sale. This can happen when an executive knows that an upcoming a news story or negative financial report will cause the value of a company's stocks to depreciate greatly. Also known as inside trading, entities that would financially gain from the distribution of false information can be prosecuted under the law and sued in civil court. Investors that have been persuaded into purchasing worthless stocks, bonds and securities have a few different courses of action that can be taken.

If you choose to open a case with the Federal Trade Commission there is a possibility that you may be able to recoup your losses without filing suit. Sometimes FTC investigations can take just as long, if not longer to be settled than civil lawsuits. In the event that more than one person has been defrauded, consumers have the option of filing a class action lawsuit.

Often, when a corporation engages in securities fraud it is shortly before the company files for bankruptcy. In these types of situations it can be difficult to get your investment back, however, highly skilled lawyers that practice in this area of law will know exactly what paperwork must be filed in order to prevent the corporation from being absolved of all financial responsibilities. Currently, several different governmental agencies are proposing new laws that will make it more difficult for corporations to get away with securities fraud.

14.10.2010. 01:04

Employment Discrimination

Employment discrimination can occur when a job applicant or an existing employee is denied opportunities based on his or her gender, race, age, sexual orientation or disabilities. Legally, employers are permitted to screen job applicants based on many different factors, however, they must not engage in any form of legally recognized discrimination. Currently, there are few laws in effect that protect against other forms of discrimination against fringe groups such as the obese or members of some political groups but several landmark cases have started to set a precedent.

Usually, employers will review the applications and resumes of prospects, and then decide to conduct interviews based on their credentials. Some applicants have been able to successfully file lawsuits when they found that they were denied job opportunities because they have ethnic names or lived in certain areas. In other cases, employers have been able to access information about their applicants' medical conditions from their pre-employment drug screening results. It is not legal to deny a pregnant woman a job based solely on the fact that she will eventually need to go out on maternity leave, but drug screen tests have been used unethically to deny these persons job opportunities.

Existing employees have also sued there employers after being repeatedly turned down for promotions. Usually, these employers were able to provide their attorneys with written evidence that supported their claims, including email correspondences and notarized affidavits from co-workers. Employers that have shown a pattern of employment discrimination have also been sued by the federal government.

Many employers have developed clear equal opportunity guidelines that help to protect them from being accused of employment discrimination. While some former employees are not able to win their cases against their former employers for discrimination, they are usually able to build a solid case for permanent disability if they have suffered psychologically. Some employers would rather settle out of court rather than to risk receiving negative publicity.

Ultimately, the perceived victims of employment discrimination must find attorneys that are willing to take on their cases in order to proceed. If a lawyer does not believe that a particular employment discrimination has any merit, there is a good chance that a judge or jury would come to the same conclusion.

25.02.2010. 19:05

Fighting Deportation

While the majority of immigrants come to the United States on valid visas, there are a number of circumstances that could cause them to be deported. Issues ranging from paperwork to criminal charges can cause immigrants that have been granted full citizenship to be arrested or detained indefinitely. In these cases, it is imperative to consult with an immigration law attorney as soon as possible. As deportation cases are extremely time sensitive you will need to have an attorney representing you that can gather all of the facts and attempt to have the charges dropped.

Sometimes a simple oversight can cause the federal government to associate you with another immigrant that has broken the law. After you have been deported it is veritably impossible to legally return to the United States, so those that have the means to retain an attorney should do so. In most cases, your immigration law attorney will request a postponement. Immigrants that are able to prove that they are productive members of society that have been employed continuously, played active roles in their communities and started families will be looked upon more kindly by the courts. Even if you have only been in the United States for a short period of time, you may be able to ask for character references in order to show that you are not a threat to the government.

In some cases, immigrants that have come to the US illegally can file for asylum. You will need to be able to show that your life would have been at risk if you had stayed in your home country, however, if your native country was involved in genocide or the persecution of members of your religious group getting your request granted will not be difficult. The longer that you have been in the US, the better your chances of have your deportation case dismissed. This type of defense strategy will only prove problematic if you have been accused or convicted of a large number of crimes, namely felony offenses. Before you decide on a course of action you should get the advice of an immigration law attorney.

21.08.2009. 14:16