What Is The Automatic Stay And How Does It Work?

By: David DiMatteo and Heather Culp The instant a bankruptcy is filed, a “stay” usually goes into effect, restraining creditors (those owed money or property) from taking certain actions against the debtor (the person or entity that filed for bankruptcy) or against “property of the …

Essex Richards Law firm attorneys North Carolina Heather Culp

Heather Culp Quoted by WSOC-TV Regarding EpiCentre Sale

Bankruptcy partner Heather Culp was recently interviewed for a WSOC-TV article covering the sale of Charlotte’s EpiCentre following foreclosure proceedings earlier this year. The property was auctioned Tuesday morning at the Mecklenburg County Courthouse and was sold to the highest bidder, Deutsche Bank Trust Company …

Essex Richards Law firm attorneys North Carolina Louis Lesesne

Retired Partner Lou Lesesne Honored by Davidson College

During Davidson College’s 2022 reunion, retired Essex Richards partner Lou Lesesne was presented with the college’s Distinguished Alumni Award. The Distinguished Alumni Award recognizes alumni who have provided leadership or attained recognition within their profession. Davidson remarked that “Lou Lesesne ’67 has passionately and energetically …

Custody Schedules Explained

By: Lauren V. Lewis Child custody has two distinct parts: legal custody and physical custody.  Legal custody relates to who has the authority to make decisions concerning the child.  Physical custody relates to the schedule of when the child will be with each parent.  Talking …

Essex Richards attorney Kristen Finlon

COVID-19 and Caregiver Discrimination in the Workplace

By: Kristen Finlon According to the Johns Hopkins Coronavirus Resource Center, the United States officially surpassed one million reported COVID-19 deaths this week.  At the same time, employers across the country continue to press forward with returning to operations that are as close as possible …

Essex Richards Law firm attorneys North Carolina Norris A Adams

The Case for Block Billing

By: Norris A. Adams, II After almost 17 years litigating ERISA cases, I say with some level of credibility – at least I hope — that there are many extraordinary and difficult aspects that employees/participants/claimants/plaintiffs face with ERISA.1 There is the absence of meaningful cross-examination, …

How Much Debt Do You Have To Be In To File Chapter 7?

By: Heather Culp The short answer is, there is no specific dollar amount of debt required to file Chapter 7. The longer answer follows.  The best way to figure out whether you are a good candidate for bankruptcy – including Chapter 7, which is just …