About Judy Malmon, J.D.
Judy Malmon has blended law and writing throughout her career. She got her J.D. from University of California, Davis and practiced elder and disability law in California and Minnesota. She honed her writing by drafting appellate decisions in a nationwide class action, writing blogs for law firms, and writing for Westlaw. She loves digging into everyday legal questions, deciphering the complexities of law, and telling personal stories.
Articles written by Judy Malmon, J.D.
Can My Boss Make Me Wear That?
Workers in the Mad Men era didn’t have a lot of choice. In the past, it was accepted that employers could maintain strict work dress codes without much latitude for individual expression. Female employees could be required to wear high heels and makeup or prohibited from coming to work in pants. Such rules seem outdated, but employers still can have some standards about how workers dress and groom themselves while on the job. In California, workplace appearance policies are governed by …
Protect Yourself From Auto Dealer Fraud
An elderly Haitian gentleman bought a new car from a dealership in South Florida. When he got home, he discovered that the purchase contract had been written to reflect a significantly higher price than what the man had agreed to — the sticker price in the window of the car on the showroom floor. The customer, for whom English was not his native language, was understandably upset and confused over the increase in price of the new vehicle. He returned to the dealer with a close family friend, …
I Received a Notice of Foreclosure. Now What?
Embarking on a home purchase, you never imagine it ending in foreclosure. But life happens. The mortgage crisis that began in 2008 wrought upheaval for millions of homeowners and made foreclosure something that could befall anyone. Nationwide, foreclosure numbers have decreased significantly since peaking in 2010, though they remain sizeable. Moreover, there are concerns that a crisis could recur due to banking industry practices such as subprime lending. When you finance a home purchase, you …
Should I Do a DIY Divorce?
People love to hate lawyers, and to some degree, this is earned rancor. Lawyers can be notorious for putting up hurdles where seemingly none existed, costing clients unnecessary time, expense, and distress. However, dealing with legal intricacies can be complicated, and sometimes, you need to pay for sound legal counsel to get the outcome you want. That said, you don’t have to hire a lawyer to help with a divorce case if you and your ex are amicable and can agree on the issues. Plenty of …
What Is Lien Stripping?
It sounds like the latest DIY home improvement project from HGTV, but lien stripping is a little-known strategy for reducing mortgage debt through Chapter 13 bankruptcy. Say you took out a second or third mortgage after your initial home purchase — for example, to pay for renovations. The creditors you owe on these subsequent mortgages are called junior lienholders (they're junior to the senior lienholder on the first mortgage). If your house sold for its market value and the proceeds of that …
When a Tree Falls in California
Whether urban or rural, mountainous or coastal, trees are such an essential part of our landscape. California contains a rich biodiversity of tree life, including majestic redwoods, sequoia, fragrant eucalyptus, sturdy live oak, and signature palms. And while we may think of the trees as belonging to all of us (collectively, anyway), most trees belong to the owner of the land they grow on. When a tree, or portion of it, falls and hurts someone, there is an entire body of law laying out who is …
Can I Sue When Someone's Dog Bites Me?
If you’re injured by someone else’s dog, can you have them pay your medical bills, emotional distress or other damages? Are there any criminal charges that apply to someone whose pet may be dangerous? The answers to these questions are governed by Nevada state dog bite laws, local ordinances, and a body of case law, amounting to the conclusion: It depends. An experienced lawyer can help you figure out if you have a case. How Dog Bite Liability is Determined in Nevada Nevada does not have a …
The Advantages of a Special Needs Trust
Most people with disabilities depend on government-provided medical care and assistance programs. But eligibility for those benefit programs has strict limitations on the amount of a recipient’s income and resources. So what is a family member or loved one to do, should they wish to provide them with additional funds? Or, what if they receive an award from a personal injury settlement? Both would likely result in benefits being reduced or cut off. Special Needs Trusts are a way around …
Kentucky Child Custody: Birdnesting Arrangements Explained
Kentucky courts are increasingly recognizing the importance of retaining both parents in primary parenting roles in children’s lives. Nearly all Kentucky child custody decrees now order joint legal custody, even where physical custody may reside primarily with one parent. This means that even when the parties agree (or the court decides) that it’s best for the child to live more of the time with one parent, both parents remain equally responsible for legal, medical, school, and other …
How Elder Guardianship Works
The aging of our parents can present many thorny questions, and at times, there’s a fine line between what we think is helping and what’s perceived as meddling or taking control. And yet, letting things go for too long can leave an incapacitated parent without assistance when it’s needed. When is the right time for your dad to stop driving? When does mom need someone to balance her bank account and pay her bills for her? Advance Planning Tools How you handle a loved one’s incapacity …
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