Whenever you attempt to get a payout of the benefits from an insurance policy, you’re likely to receive at least some pushback against what you’re asking for. This is because insurance agents have the job of verifying your claim and making sure that the company doesn’t award more than it should to the policyholder. At the same time, these agents… Read More

Whether you pay for flood damage coverage on your home or for business interruption insurance on your retail company, you carry insurance to protect you from financial losses and liability. When something unpredictable and damaging occurs, you should be able to make a claim against your insurance coverage. Your insurance provider has obligations to you under California law and must… Read More

Insurance companies are pretty specific about wanting their policies to be paid in full and on time – but they’re not always the best about doing the same when there’s a claim. There are many different ways that an insurance company may try to wiggle out of paying up, and one of these is through the use of anti-concurrent causation… Read More

Whether you are a seasoned or novice business owner, you know your area of expertise. Even so, you need to have your own safety net for your company in case of an unforeseen event such as a hurricane, tornado, break-in or other major disruption. Having adequate business interruption insurance can be that safety net for you. However, it’s important for… Read More

Insurance claims often do not start as well as you hoped. That does not mean they will not end well, but it does mean you will need to go to lengths you might not have planned for to ensure they do. It is often urgent when you file a claim on your business insurance. Yet, insurers may not treat it… Read More

You spent a large part of your company’s money purchasing a piece of real estate on which to build your new headquarters. With the plans finalized and the diggers ready to roll, you discover that the seller scammed you. They had no right to sell the property as it was not theirs. It seems incredible that it can happen in… Read More

Choosing a business entity is not like walking into a wine shop, grabbing a bottle you like the label of, paying the appropriate amount and walking out with it. It is much more complex, and the more you understand, the better choice you can make, as is true for wine. The first thing to remember is that what is inside… Read More

Boundary disputes can soon scale out of control. They can do so on a macro or micro scale, from two countries fighting over a borderline, to gangs defining the limits of their territory, to a robin in your garden declaring what it will do to any other bird that comes past the birdbath. Yet when it comes to a boundary… Read More

You may be realizing that trying to fight the government’s demand for eminent domain is practically impossible. The government does have the right to claim eminent domain “for public use.” The government may be planning to use your land to build a new highway. While you may not be able to stop its efforts, the government is required to compensate… Read More

There’s always an element of risk when you’re in business for yourself -- and it doesn’t take a major disaster to leave you with some massive bills.  An occasional insurance claim is best viewed as nothing more than the price of doing business. Just the same, you can help reduce your losses by understanding what causes most commercial claims and… Read More

If you own a limited liability company (LLC) you need to avoid mixing business with pleasure when it comes to money. Commingling is the term for when you mix your personal and company finances and it becomes hard to distinguish what is what. The primary reason to create your company as an LLC is to keep the business separate from… Read More

Business partnerships rely on two people getting along. Just like a personal relationship, the dream is sometimes better than the reality. Entering a business partnership is similar to entering a marriage in that you create a legal contract. As with a divorce, ending that contract is complicated, and there may be friction. To understand more, let’s imagine that you have… Read More

It has taken years of hard work to build your business. Yet, your vision proved correct, and you now have a constant flow of customers willing to travel to you. Then you receive news that the government wants to build a road through your location, and they intend to use the eminent domain law to force you to sell. What… Read More

Maybe your property flooded, causing catastrophic damage and mold growth. Perhaps you run a business and had a lengthy interruption that cost you tens of thousands of dollars in revenue. The insurance policies that you carry help protect you from such unpredictable losses. Both state and federal laws mandate that insurance providers comply with the terms of the policies that… Read More

For California business owners, the threat of business interruption is ever-present in the form of fires, power outages, theft, vandalism and other adverse events. If you have purchased business interruption insurance, you are in a much better position than business owners who have not. By following a few guidelines, you can get the most out of your policy. Mitigate your… Read More

It is not uncommon for dedicated policyholders who have made years, or even decades, of insurance premium payments to feel as if their insurance carrier is acting in bad faith. After an accident, a devastating storm or commercial building damage, individuals rely on their chosen insurance company to uphold their end of the policy. Unfortunately, many insurance companies place a… Read More

There is no telling when the unexpected will happen to your business. Whether it is an interruption of operations, storm damage, theft or even a fire, unanticipated issues can quickly throw an otherwise prosperous business into turmoil. This is why people take insurance, after all – to mitigate the effects of unexpected events.  Businesses sign up for insurance because it… Read More

When you pay for business insurance, it can be frustrating to battle to get the payout you are entitled to. Yet, when push comes to shove, insurers often fail to live up to the caring image they portray. Insurers are in it for the money. That is the bottom line, and their bottom line is the only thing that matters… Read More

If the government approaches you and says that they want to buy your land, you may be worried that the next step is eminent domain. If you do not want to sell, the government can sometimes use eminent domain to take your land.  This feels, in many ways, like it flies in the face of America’s foundational principles about who… Read More

Starting a business on your own can be a daunting prospect, but launching a company with someone else's support may not seem quite as frightening. When you are the sole proprietor, you are the only one investing money and time in the company. You don't have anyone else to help you overcome startup challenges or troubleshoot issues as they arise. … Read More