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Tanya Hobson-Williams Says Federal Court’s Decision to Vacate CDC’s Eviction Moratorium Will Mean More Lawsuits

Decision Takes Place the Same Day Governor Cuomo Signs New York State’s Eviction Moratorium Extension into Law

JAMAICA ESTATES, NEW YORK — Tanya Hobson-Williams, attorney at law at Hobson-Williams, P.C., says a federal court’s decision to vacate a moratorium on tenant evictions should be a wake-up call for renters to seek legal protections as landlords and property owners rush to take legal action against them.

On May 5, U.S. District Court Judge Dabney Friedrich vacated the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s (CDC) eviction moratorium that was implemented under the agency’s Public Health Service Act. The judge ruled that the CDC does not have the authority to prevent landlords and property owners from removing tenants from their residences due to nonpayment of rent.

“Because of the judge’s decision, courts will be flooded with lawsuits filed by landlords and property owners looking to recoup their losses during the pandemic and collect from tenants who might not have the money to pay back rent,” Ms. Hobson-Williams says. “Whether it’s fair or unfair, landlords now hold the power.”

The decision came down the same day New York Governor Andrew Cuomo signed into law a bill that extends the state’s moratorium on residential evictions until August 31. (It was initially set to expire on May 1.) The extended hold on evictions applies to those who have already submitted a hardship declaration form. As a result, tenants who no longer have to face displacement can apply for financial assistance from the state’s $2.4 billion rent relief program, which is scheduled to begin next month.

“This New York State law will give tenants another chance to stay home and not have to be forced to live somewhere else,” Ms. Hobson-Williams says.

The Department of Justice has announced that it plans to appeal the federal court’s order. Ms. Hobson-Williams says that, even if the decision is reversed, it may come too late. “This decision comes before renters were seeking to obtain federal rent relief,” she says. “If the appeal gets tied up in court for a long time, the tenants might be removed before ever seeing a penny from the federal government. If you are in danger of being evicted, please contact a landlord-tenant attorney immediately.”

For more information, call 1 (866) 825-1529 or visit www.thobsonwilliamslaw.com.

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About Hobson-Williams, P.C.

With offices located in Queens, Brooklyn and the Bronx, the law firm of Hobson-Williams P.C. is comprised of a highly knowledgeable and diligent staff. With over 20 years of experience, the skilled attorneys at Hobson-Williams, P.C. are dedicated to protecting and serving their clients’ needs and legal interests, and are committed providing unparalleled client service. Her practice areas include elder law, business law, real estate closings, landlord-tenant disputes, Medicaid fraud defense, guardianships, reverse mortgage foreclosure defense and debt collections. Tanya Hobson-Williams has an active elder law practice assisting senior citizens in obtaining Medicaid for Home Care and Nursing Home Care. She routinely lectures at senior citizen centers, assisted living facilities, law schools and counsels families on a variety of topics of concern to families caring for the elderly. She is also contracted by the State of New York Employee Assistance Program to provide training to state employees on legal issues that affect state employees. For more information, call 1 (866) 825-1529 or visit www.thobsonwilliamslaw.com.

Lauren P. Raysor Files Lawsuit over Controversial Policy of “No Knock” Warrants

Officers Executed “No-Knock” Warrant upon Entering Residence

On April 20, 2021, Attorney Lauren P. Raysor announced that she is filing a lawsuit against the New York Police Department (NYPD) on behalf of her client, Andre Brown. Ms. Raysor claimed officers executed a “no-knock” warrant upon entering the premises and unlawfully arresting Mr. Brown.

Attorney Lauren P. Raysor (standing behind podium) held a press conference on April 20 to announce she is filing a lawsuit against the New York Police Department on behalf of her client, Andre Brown. Ms. Raysor claims in the lawsuit that NYPD officers executed a “no-knock” warrant when they entered Mr. Brown’s residence and unlawfully arrested and detained him. Ms. Raysor is joined by members of Mr. Brown’s family. (Photo by Jacene Thomas)

On the morning of March 5, 2021, Mr. Brown, who was living in the basement apartment of his family’s house in Jamaica, Queens with his girlfriend, Deidre Covington, saw a group of NYPD officers — their faces and badges covered with dark cloth — pointing their guns at him. The officers broke down the front door and trashed the basement apartment. They made him and his girlfriend get dressed, cuffed Mr. Brown and pulled them into a police van without explanation. Meanwhile, another group of officers told Mr. Brown’s family, who were upstairs, not to move. None of the officers produced a warrant before entering the residence.

Mr. Brown spent 25 minutes in the van. A short while later, Ms. Covington was released. Mr. Brown was taken to the precinct, where he was ticketed for possession of marijuana. He spent 90 minutes in a jail cell after being fingerprinted and photographed. Five days later, the District Attorney’s Office determined the NYPD did not have a case against Mr. Brown and dropped the charge.

“I can’t understand, in light of Breonna Taylor’s murder, that the police are allowed to execute ‘no-knock’ warrants,” Ms. Raysor said. “Suspending our constitutional rights under the guise of fighting crime is morally wrong. What is worse is that a majority of these ‘no-knock’ warrants are executed in communities of color. We can’t wait until someone is killed to change the law. We have a chance to make changes now.”

For more information, call (914) 733-8080 or visit www.laurenpraysor.com.

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About Lauren P. Raysor

Lauren P. Raysor is an attorney concentrating in personal injury, civil rights, bankruptcy, matrimonial and family law. She has litigated numerous cases over the years, taking more than 35 cases to verdict and has argued before the Appellate Division in the case of Makeda Barnes Joseph v. Universal Music Group. She served as Corporation Counsel for the City of Mount Vernon, where she was in charge of the city’s Law Department. Ms. Raysor is currently outside counsel for the New York State Dormitory Authority, and served as the Assistant Attorney General in charge of the Upper Manhattan Region, outside counsel to the Upper Manhattan Empowerment Zone and counsel at a Wall Street law firm.

Lauren P. Raysor Comments on Jury Conviction of Former Minneapolis Police Officer Derek Chauvin in George Floyd’s Death

Attorney Lauren P. Raysor said that the guilty verdict handed to former Minneapolis police officer Derek Chauvin is long overdue, since too many communities of color have been victimized by questionable and, at times, unlawful tactics used by police in making an arrest.

On May 25, 2020, Mr. Chauvin, who was on the force at the time, tried to handcuff George Floyd by placing his knee on the back of Mr. Floyd’s neck for nine-and-a-half minutes. Although Mr. Floyd told him he couldn’t breathe, Mr. Chauvin continued to press his knee behind Mr. Floyd’s neck. Mr. Floyd was later transported to a hospital, where he was pronounced dead.

The next day, Mr. Chauvin was fired from the force. On May 29, 2020, he was arrested in the death of Mr. Floyd and charged with murder and manslaughter. On April 20, 2021, a jury found Mr. Chauvin guilty on three charges: second-degree murder, third-degree murder and second-degree manslaughter. The charges carry a combined maximum sentence of 75 years.

“I am relieved that some semblance of justice can be found in this verdict,” Ms. Raysor said. “Every time a police officer is on trial for the death of an African-American citizen, they are usually found not guilty for one reason or the other. Now that this verdict has been rendered, I hope that the police departments across the U.S. will clean house and reform their practices so that they can no longer demonstrate any forms of hostility on persons of color.”

Ms. Raysor concentrates her practice in civil rights, representing those who are arrested during a traffic stop for no reason or as a result of racial profiling, experience negligence while in jail or prison, or use of excessive force. She also founded the Mount Vernon Coalition for Police Reform, which is comprised of former police officers, civil rights attorneys, former city officials and other concerned individuals seeking ways to improve the practices of the Mount Vernon Police Department.

For more information, call (914) 733-8080 or visit www.laurenpraysor.com.

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About Lauren P. Raysor

Lauren P. Raysor is an attorney concentrating in personal injury, civil rights, bankruptcy, matrimonial and family law. She has litigated numerous cases over the years, taking more than 35 cases to verdict and has argued before the Appellate Division in the case of Makeda Barnes Joseph v. Universal Music Group. She served as Corporation Counsel for the City of Mount Vernon, where she was in charge of the city’s Law Department. Ms. Raysor is currently outside counsel for the New York State Dormitory Authority, and served as the Assistant Attorney General in charge of the Upper Manhattan Region, outside counsel to the Upper Manhattan Empowerment Zone and counsel at a Wall Street law firm.

 

Civil Rights Attorney Frederick K. Brewington, Esq. Comments on Verdict in Derek Chauvin Case

HEMPSTEAD, NY — Frederick K. Brewington, Esq., a civil rights attorney and Principal of The Law Offices of Frederick K. Brewington, says the guilty verdict brought against former Minneapolis police officer Derek Chauvin is a welcome, albeit overdue, decision that should be an impetus to implement changes in police tactics when interacting with alleged suspects who happen to be persons of color.

On May 25, 2020, Mr. Chauvin killed George Floyd by placing his knee on the neck for nine-and-a-half minutes. Although Mr. Floyd said he was unable to breathe, Mr. Chauvin kept his knee in place. Mr. Floyd was rendered unconscious and later transported to a hospital, and was pronounced dead.

Mr. Chauvin was charged with two counts of murder and one count of manslaughter on May 29, 2020, three days after being fired from the force. On April 20, 2021, after deliberating for one day, a jury found Mr. Chauvin guilty on all three counts of second-degree murder, second-degree manslaughter and third-degree murder.

“This verdict is an important point for us as a Country,” Mr. Brewington said. “I hope that local governments and police departments nationwide will now place this matter behind them but place it before them and change the way their officers deal with people of color and change policing on all levels. This verdict provides a sense of hope that justice can be served, and that it has been long overdue. This is a step in the right direction, but there is so much more to do.”

Mr. Brewington is an Advisory Board Member of the National Police Accountability Project and a Member of the Long Island Advocates for Police Accountability, which helped launch the Police Reform Action Plan and was formed in response to Mr. Floyd’s death as the result of Mr. Chauvin’s actions. He has written numerous articles and opinion pieces for various newspapers and magazines and been interviewed by numerous publications, TV and radio stations on police accountability. In addition, he has been a guest speaker and panelist at numerous conferences.

For more information, call (516) 489-6959 or visit www.brewingtonlaw.com.

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About The Law Offices of Frederick K. Brewington

The Law Offices of Frederick K. Brewington is a well-respected litigation firm with an office in Hempstead, Long Island. Our focus is primarily in the area of civil rights, voting rights, employment discrimination, police misconduct, personal injury, medical malpractice, wrongful death and criminal law. However, the Law Offices of Frederick K. Brewington is a full-service law firm handling matters in numerous areas of law and providing a wide range of services from contract formation to litigation and trial practice. It is the largest African-American-owned law firm on Long Island and has been designated by the New York Law Journal as one of the top minority-owned firms in the state of New York. For more information, call (516) 489-6959 or visit www.brewingtonlaw.com.

Steven Mitchell Sack Named to National Law Journal’s List of Employment Law Trailblazers

NEW YORK, NEW YORK — Steven Mitchell Sack, “The Employee’s Lawyer,” has announced that he has been named to the list of Employment Law Trailblazers by the National Law Journal. This list honors those legal professionals who have made significant marks on the practice, policy and technological advancements in their sector.

Steven Mitchell Sack

Mr. Sack has been an employment attorney for more than 39 years. He is known for successfully representing a group of waiters in Samiento v. World Yacht Inc. The landmark New York Court of Appeals decision made it more difficult for restaurants and caterers to keep gratuities intended for their wait staff.

From 1984 to 1996, he served as a commercial arbitrator in breach of contract, entertainment and employment-related disputes for the American Arbitration Association. During his career, he served as general counsel to numerous sales representatives’ associations. From 1996 to 2001, he hosted a nationally syndicated radio talk show called “Steven Sack: The Employee’s Lawyer.”

Mr. Sack is a sought-after employment attorney, having been interviewed by Newsday, The New York Daily News, The New York Post, The Wall Street Journal, Forbes, Oprah, CNN, Fox News and Good Day New York. For more than 40 years, he has represented clients in cases involving breach of contract, discrimination and sexual harassment cases. He is the author of The Employee Rights Handbook, which has been called a “first-aid kit” for current and prospective employees, giving them the information they need to understand their job rights and protect and assert themselves to collect what is due; telling his readers and clients that “every firing is negotiable.” He served as plaintiffs’ counsel on behalf of three women who were wrongfully terminated when their employer discovered they were pregnant. A Bronx Supreme Court jury awarded the plaintiffs $6.2 million.

In addition to his work as an attorney, Mr. Sack is a lecturer and conducts corporate seminars for sales representatives and companies throughout the U.S.

The list will appear in the publication’s July/August issue.

“I am pleased to be named to this prestigious list,” Mr. Sack said. “It is nice to be recognized by an important publication that is one of the top legal trade magazines in the country. This honor showcases the four decades of work I have done helping workers stand up for their rights and obtain the benefits they deserve.”

For more information, call (917) 371-8000 or visit www.theemployeeslawyer.com.

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About Steven Mitchell Sack

Steven Mitchell Sack, “The Employee’s Lawyer®,” has been enforcing workplace rights of employees, executives, and sales representatives for more than 39 years. He is a practicing attorney concentrating in employment law, as well as an author of 19 books, a lecturer and syndicated radio talk show host. Together with attorney Scott A. Lucas, they obtained a $6.2 million jury verdict in 2015 on behalf of three pregnant employees, as well as a favorable Court of Appeals decision for a group of waiters who were denied their fair share of tips that were held back by a caterer. For more information, visit www.theemployeeslawyer.com.

MEDIA ADVISORY For Tuesday, April 20, 2021: Lauren P. Raysor Files Lawsuit against NYPD for Executing a “No-Knock” Warrant in the Unlawful Arrest and Detainment of a Queens Resident

Who:            Attorney Lauren P. Raysor, Esq., Principal, Lauren P. Raysor, Attorney at Law

Andre Brown, Ms. Raysor’s client

Tijuana Brown and Susan Brown, Mr. Brown’s relatives

What:           Lauren P. Raysor, Esq., Principal, Lauren P. Raysor, Attorney at Law, will hold a press conference to announce that she is filing a lawsuit against the New York Police Department (NYPD) on behalf of Andre Brown, who was unlawfully arrested and detained by officers without being read his rights. Ms. Raysor claims NYPD officers executed a “no-knock” warrant upon entering his residence.

On the morning of March 5, 2021, Mr. Brown, who was living in the basement of his family’s house in Jamaica, Queens with his girlfriend, Deidre Covington, heard a noise coming from upstairs and went to investigate. He saw a group of NYPD officers — their faces and badges covered with dark cloth — pointing their guns at him. They made him and his girlfriend get dressed, cuffed Mr. Brown and pulled them into a police van without explanation. Meanwhile, another group of officers told Mr. Brown’s family, who were upstairs, not to move. None of the officers produced a warrant before entering the premises.

Mr. Brown spent 25 minutes in the van. A short while later, Ms. Covington was released. Mr. Brown was taken to the precinct, where he was ticketed for possession of marijuana. He spent 90 minutes in a jail cell after being fingerprinted and photographed. Five days later, the District Attorney’s Office determined the NYPD did not have a case against Mr. Brown.

Ms. Raysor says most “no-knock” warrants are executed in communities of color and this incident could have resulted in tragic consequences, similar to what happened with Breonna Taylor.

When:           Tuesday, April 20, 2021

4:30 p.m.

Where:         Lauren P. Raysor, Attorney at Law

Roosevelt Professional Building

                     11 West Prospect Avenue

                     Mount Vernon, NY

** PLEASE NOTE: Due to COVID-19 protocols, the press conference will be held outside in the law firm’s parking lot. **

Directions:   From I-95 N: Take Exit 9 to Hutchinson Pkwy N. Stay on Hutchinson Pkwy. N. and take Exit 12 toward East Lincoln Ave./Mount Vernon/Pelham. Turn left onto First Ave., then another left onto 84/Lincoln Ave. After 0.4 mile, take another left onto Darwood Pl. Go 0.2 mile, then go right onto E. Sidney Ave. Make a left onto Gramatan Ave., then a right onto W. Prospect Ave. Law office is on the right-hand side. 

Photo Ops:   Ms. Raysor joined by Mr. Brown and his family.

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About Lauren P. Raysor

Lauren P. Raysor is an attorney concentrating in personal injury, civil rights, bankruptcy, matrimonial and family law. She has litigated numerous cases over the years, taking more than 35 cases to verdict and has argued before the Appellate Division in the case of Makeda Barnes Joseph v. Universal Music Group. She served as Corporation Counsel for the City of Mount Vernon, where she was in charge of the city’s Law Department. Ms. Raysor is currently outside counsel for the New York State Dormitory Authority, and served as the Assistant Attorney General in charge of the Upper Manhattan Region, outside counsel to the Upper Manhattan Empowerment Zone and counsel at a Wall Street law firm.

Steven Mitchell Sack Says Virtual Workplace Portal Will Ensure Privacy of Employees, Protect Them from Retaliation

NEW YORK, NEW YORK — Steven Mitchell Sack, “The Employee’s Lawyer,” says the state’s establishment of a virtual portal to report any workplace violations will allow employees to do so privately and without retribution.

On April 7, 2021, the New York State Legislature passed the state budget. One of the highlights of the budget is the creation of a virtual portal in which employees can privately file complaints against companies that are in violation of state employment law. Some of these include wage/hour violations, racial and/or sexual discrimination and harassment and retaliation, among others.

Those who wish to file a complaint can do so by visiting ny.gov. Reports may remain anonymous.

“The virtual portal is an excellent idea,” Mr. Sack says. “Workers may not file a complaint with the human resources department out of fear of retribution. There is also the conference in which it’s your word against your supervisor’s. By filing a complaint through the virtual portal, workers don’t have to worry about being harassed or intimidated. Rather, they can submit their complaints without their supervisor’s knowledge. If you are unsure whether to file a complaint anonymously, consult an employment lawyer immediately.”

For more information, call (917) 371-8000 or visit www.theemployeeslawyer.com.

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About Steven Mitchell Sack

Steven Mitchell Sack, “The Employee’s Lawyer®,” has been enforcing workplace rights of employees, executives, and sales representatives for more than 39 years. He is a practicing attorney concentrating in employment law, as well as an author of 19 books, a lecturer and syndicated radio talk show host. Together with attorney Scott A. Lucas, they obtained a $6.2 million jury verdict in 2015 on behalf of three pregnant employees, as well as a favorable Court of Appeals decision for a group of waiters who were denied their fair share of tips that were held back by a caterer. For more information, visit www.theemployeeslawyer.com.

Twomey, Latham, Shea, Kelley, Dubin & Quartararo, LLP Welcomes MaryKate Brigham as Its New Associate

RIVERHEAD, NEW YORK — Twomey, Latham, Shea, Kelley, Dubin & Quartararo, LLP has announced that MaryKate Brigham has joined the firm as an Associate. She concentrates her practice in estate planning, trust and estate administration, elder law and real estate law.

MaryKate Brigham

Prior to joining the firm, Ms. Brigham practiced at a law firm in Cutchogue. While attending law school at the Touro College Jacob D. Fuchsberg Law Center, she was a Student Attorney with the Disaster Relief Clinic, assisting clients on Long Island in obtaining funds for repairing and rebuilding their homes following Superstorm Sandy. She also assisted with the Senior Citizens Law Program through the Suffolk County Office for the Aging, which provides legal assistance to low-income senior citizens.

Ms. Brigham is admitted to practice in the state of New York. She is a member of the New York State Bar Association and the Suffolk County Bar Association. She is also involved in the community, serving with the East End Lions Club and the Theta Phi Alpha Long Island Alumnae Association.

She earned her Bachelor of Science degree in Business Administration from Sacred Heart University and her Juris Doctor from Touro Law Center. She resides in Mattituck.

“I am pleased to join the firm and look forward to working with my new colleagues and the firm’s clients on their estate planning, real estate and elder law matters,” Ms. Brigham said.

“We welcome MaryKate to the firm,” Steven Latham, Senior Partner, Twomey, Latham, Shea, Kelley, Dubin & Quartararo, LLP, said. “We are continuing to expand our roster of experienced attorneys. Ms. Brigham’s diverse practice area experience will greatly benefit the firm in its efforts to provide the best possible legal services to its clients.”

For more information, call (631) 727-2180 or visit www.suffolklaw.com.

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About Twomey Latham

Twomey, Latham, Shea, Kelley, Dubin & Quartararo, LLP is a full-service law firm with a 65-person staff with over 25 attorneys, paralegals and legal assistants in five offices across Long Island. The firm’s practice areas include Business and Corporate Law, Labor and Employment, Insurance, Banking, Commercial Litigation, Taxation, Trademark and Copyright, Environmental Law, Real Estate Development and Transactions, Construction, Land Use and Zoning, Municipal Law, Personal Injury, Immigration, Arts and Entertainment, Wills Trusts and Estates, Estate Litigation, Elder Law, Family and Matrimonial Law, and Not-For-Profit Law.

Blodnick Fazio & Clark Says Rise in Corporate Franchise Tax Will Result in Relocations and Higher Unemployment

The recently enacted New York State budget featured a host of revenue-enhancing measures, include tax hikes on businesses and corporations. Thomas R. Fazio, Partner, Blodnick Fazio & Clark, says the increase in the corporate franchise tax — which is part of the budget — will result in more companies making their way out of the Empire State and leaving their workers behind.

On April 6, the New York State Legislature reached an agreement on its $212 billion budget with Governor Andrew Cuomo. As part of the budget, the state will raise the corporate franchise tax from 6.5% to 7.25% for the next three years. This applies to businesses with incomes above $5 million.

According to the state, between the tax increases on business income and a raise in the capital base method of liability estimation — which exempts certain manufacturers and emerging technology companies, as well as cooperative housing corporations — it is expected to take in $1.75 billion in revenue by 2023. But Mr. Fazio says the economic benefits may be wiped out if companies decide to move to states with lower corporate tax burdens.

“The government cannot collect any revenue from these companies if they move out of the state,” Mr. Fazio says. “The workers will be hurt the most. They may wind up losing their jobs because they can’t afford to relocate. Like their employers, they are saddled with heavy tax obligations. If your company is about to face these tax hikes and looking to retain its workforce, consult a business law attorney immediately.”

For more information, call (516) 280-7105, or visit www.bfclaws.com.

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About Blodnick Fazio & Clark

Blodnick Fazio & Clark is a boutique law firm specializing in handling complex litigation, corporate formations, structure and finance; construction law; medical professional licensing, corporate practice of medicine issues; real estate law; arbitration and mediation; matrimonial law; employment law; and municipal and school law. Its staff of attorneys has more than 100 years of combined experience and is admitted to practice in Courts of New York, New Jersey and Florida, including the Eastern and Southern District Courts of New York; New Jersey federal courts; the Federal Court of Claims; the First, Second, Fourth and Federal Circuit Courts; and the U.S. Supreme Court. The firm is located in Garden City, New York. For more information, call (516) 280-7105, or visit www.bfclaws.com.

Keith Barrington Allen Says Private Debt Collectors Should Not Garnish Wages from Stimulus Checks

JAMAICA ESTATES, NEW YORK — Thanks to the passage of the $1.9 trillion COVID-19 relief package bill, many people have already received another round of stimulus, or economic impact, payments, while some still have to wait for their payments. However, some of those recipients who are falling behind on their bills may be surprised to learn that part of the checks may be garnished. Keith Barrington Allen, attorney at law at Hobson-Williams, P.C., says stimulus checks should not be subject to garnishment because those payments are targeted to those who need it most.

The recently approved American Rescue Plan provides checks of $1,400 to individuals making $75,000 or less annually. But, unlike the previous round of stimulus payments that protected debtors from garnishments, the Plan offers no such protections. The first round of payments under the CARES (Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security) Act also allowed payments to be garnished, but some states and local municipalities put laws in place to stop creditors from taking part of the money from their constituents.

“The fact that the debt collectors can garnish wages under the American Rescue Plan undermines the purpose of which this legislation was passed,” Mr. Allen says. “This stimulus payment and prior payments are being used by families struggling to pay rent and buy food for their families.”

Mr. Allen, who concentrates his practice in landlord/tenant matters, says the garnishments would have a devastating impact on the housing market, affecting renters and landlords alike. “The tenants we serve had a hard time paying rent, even before the COVID-19 pandemic,” he says.

“Now, although these eviction moratoriums are in place, tenants still have to pay rent, but with little income or no income at all,” Mr. Allen says. “Allowing creditors to seize the funds would plunge these tenants into further debt to their landlords, increasing the likelihood of eviction once the moratoriums are lifted. The landlords we serve will also be affected as they are struggling to keep their houses from going into foreclosure due to the impact of COVID-19 on their tenants.”

To help protect those in debt, U.S. Senator Ron Wyden of Oregon announced he is introducing legislation that would protect people’s stimulus checks from garnishment. The American Bankers Association likewise called on U.S. Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen to stop economic impact payments from being subject to seizure by private debt collectors.

To protect these payments from garnishments, Mr. Allen suggests that the American Rescue Plan should be reworked so that the stimulus checks should be treated as a form of government assistance that provides financial assistance to those in need.

“I believe the American Rescue Plan is overly broad in application, in that, if creditors should be allowed to seize people’s stimulus checks, our most vulnerable and poverty-stricken populations should be protected,” he says. “What I find most concerning about this legislation is the impact this would have on our elderly population, especially those who are living near the poverty line and do not have the financial resources, like an IRA or a 401(k), to live above their means. Many of them do not have family members to assist them and these stimulus checks can go a long way to pay for food and other necessities.”

For more information, call 1 (866) 825-1529 or visit www.nyguardian.com.

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About Hobson-Williams, P.C.

With offices located in Queens, Brooklyn and the Bronx, the law firm of Hobson-Williams P.C. is comprised of a highly knowledgeable and diligent staff. With over 20 years of experience, the skilled attorneys at Hobson-Williams, P.C. are dedicated to protecting and serving their clients’ needs and legal interests, and are committed providing unparalleled client service. Her practice areas include elder law, business law, real estate closings, landlord-tenant disputes, Medicaid fraud defense, guardianships, reverse mortgage foreclosure defense and debt collections. Tanya Hobson-Williams has an active elder law practice assisting senior citizens in obtaining Medicaid for Home Care and Nursing Home Care. She routinely lectures at senior citizen centers, assisted living facilities, law schools and counsels families on a variety of topics of concern to families caring for the elderly. She is also contracted by the State of New York Employee Assistance Program to provide training to state employees on legal issues that affect state employees. For more information, call 1 (866) 825-1529 or visit www.nyguardian.com.