NewsWire

Lawyer Says Embattled Appeals Judge Has Proven Herself Unworthy Of Bench
Whatever the outcome of the unprecedented disciplinary trial of Judge Sharon Keller currently under way in San Antonio, at least one Dallas litigator says it is clear that she has "no business being a judge and certainly not the presiding judge of the Texas Court of Criminal Appeals." Dan Boyd, who has written and spoken extensively on legal ethics, notes that Judge Keller's actions in regard to the execution case for which she is being tried were "inexcusable, but they are only the most notorious of a pattern of biased judicial conduct on her part," he says. "In the Richard case, the most damning testimony has been that of her colleague, Judge Cheryl Johnson, who said Keller should have directed the lawyers to her because she was designated to accept late filings that night." To interview Mr. Boyd about legal ethics, contact Rhonda Reddick at 800-559-4534 or rhonda@androvett.com. 

Tax Crackdown Not Just For The Super Rich
It is not just millionaires who could get caught in the Obama administration's tax crackdown on offshore accounts. "People with $10,000 or more in a foreign account who fail to check the right boxes and don't file the proper disclosures are at risk," says tax litigation attorney Charles Meadows of Meadows, Collier, Reed, Cousins & Blau. A voluntary disclosure program set to end Sept. 23 allows non-compliant taxpayers a way to avoid jail time as long as they agree to pay back taxes, interest and penalties. However, says Meadows, there's a catch to the program. "If they already have your name, you may be ineligible for the amnesty. In these cases the IRS reserves the right to move forward with criminal prosecution." To interview Mr. Meadows, contact Scott Holcomb at 800-559-4534 or scott@androvett.com. 

When Businesses Declare Bankruptcy, Everyone Feels the Pinch
A sign of the struggles of businesses in a down economy, corporate bankruptcy filings have increased more than 60 percent in the last 12 months. Even well-positioned companies are touched by the high bankruptcy rates as they may be faced with the prospect of working with suppliers that may be on the way to bankruptcy or that have already sought court protection. "We're seeing this from worldwide industries like the auto manufacturing sector down to smaller, more contained industries," says Rhett Campbell, who leads Thompson & Knight's Corporate Reorganization and Creditors' Rights Practice. "It can be an enormous challenge to maintain business relationships with companies as they're trying to restructure, and that can really impact businesses all along the supply chain." To interview Mr. Campbell about commercial bankruptcy trends, contact Barry Pound at 800-559-4534 or barry@androvett.com. 

Retailers Seeing Value In Paycards
Retailers might get a slight bump from back-to-school shoppers taking advantage of the upcoming tax-free weekend, but the economic challenges still ahead have many businesses looking for innovative ways to cut expenses without sacrificing service or personnel. Some are turning to the use of paycards and electronic pay stubs over the traditional paycheck, says employment attorney Carrie Hoffman of Gardere Wynne Sewell. Paycard systems can operate as specialized debit cards or an account where wages are credited electronically. "Because it is all electronic, these systems can dramatically lower payroll processing costs and in an industry such as retail that is operating on an increasingly thin profit margin, the savings can help keep a business operating," she says. To interview Ms. Hoffman about the increasing use of paycards, contact Rhonda Reddick at 800-559-4534 or rhonda@androvett.com. 

Slide In Commercial Real Estate No Surprise
Experts in the commercial real estate field say reports that the commercial market will worsen before it improves are not surprising. Attorney Pat Sargent at Andrews Kurth in Dallas, who also is president of the Commercial Mortgage Securities Association, says that's how it works. "Commercial always lags behind the consumer," he says. "When someone loses a job, that's the rock being thrown into a pond. The ripples traveling outward will impact the retail and commercial sectors much later." Even though he expects near-term challenges, Sargent also sees positive movement in financial markets. "Federal programs, including TALF and PPIP, have had the desired effect of bringing a bit more liquidity to the capital markets, and financing is beginning to be a little more available." To interview Mr. Sargent about commercial real estate issues, contact Mark Annick at 800-559-4534 or mark@androvett.com. 

‘Green Buildings' Increasing Value in Commercial Real Estate 
The use of green construction designs, materials and techniques is transforming the commercial construction and architectural industries, as more U.S. companies appreciate how a LEED certification can improve a project's value. Real estate attorney Andrew Ingrum of Thompson & Knight's Dallas office says that interest in obtaining this certification is one of the hottest areas in commercial real estate. "Everyone from developers to property owners and tenants are increasingly understanding that a building with LEED certification stands out in this market," says Ingrum, a LEED-accredited attorney who coordinated the application process and finish-out of Thompson & Knight's 180,000-square-foot downtown Dallas office, the first law firm in Texas to achieve LEED Silver certification for interior design. To interview Mr. Ingrum, contact Barry Pound at 800-559-4534 or barry@androvett.com.