BBB: Rating Leasing Companies

Companies, who are a division of a larger company, such as LEAF Specialty-Finance or Bank of the West Leasing or US Bank Manifest, often do not have a separate Better Business Bureau listing, or if a company has moved from one BBB area to another, there may not be a listing. Most ratings work by complaint, and if no complaint, and the leasing company has not registered, there will not be a BBB rating.

In addition, ratings are based on 36 months, but they do rate the last six months for the category.

Many BBB reports also show if the leasing company is licensed, as well as who to contact.

Here are some examples:

A+

21st Century Leasing, San Diego, California
http://www.bbb.org/san-diego/business-reviews/leasing-service/21st-century-leasing-in-san-diego-ca-10011418/

Allegiant Partners, San Rafael, California
http://www.bbb.org/greater-san-francisco/business-reviews/leasing-service/allegiant-partners-incorporated-in-san-rafael-ca-46794

Axis Capital, Grand Island, Nebraska
http://www.bbb.org/nebraska/business-reviews/office-furniture-and-equipment-rental-and-leasing/axis-capital-in-grand-island-ne-104008575

CharterCapital, Scottsdale, Arizona
http://www.bbb.org/central-northern-western-arizona/business-reviews/leasing-service/charter-capital-in-scottsdale-az-89000861/

Five Point Capital, San Diego, California
http://www.bbb.org/san-diego/business-reviews/financing/five-point-capital-inc-in-san-diego-ca-20001011/

Lease Corporation of America, Troy, Michigan
http://www.bbb.org/eastern-michigan/business-reviews/computers-software-and-services/lease-corporation-of-america-in-troy-mi-45000151/

A

American Capital Group, Inc., Irvine, California
http://www.la.bbb.org/Business-Report/American-Capital-Group-13035961

CSI Leasing, St. Louis, Missouri
http://www.bbb.org/stlouis/business-reviews/computers-dealers/cs-i-leasing-in-saint-louis-mo-110207320

Financial Pacific, Federal Way, Washington
http://www.bbb.org/western-washington/business-reviews/consumer-finance-and-loan/financial-pacific-leasing-in-federal-way-wa-22025327

Northland Capital Financial Services, St. Cloud, Minnesota
http://www.bbb.org/minnesota/business-reviews/credit-services/northland-capital-financial-services-in-st-cloud-mn-96060783

United Leasing, Evansville, Indiana

http://www.bbb.org/evansville/business-reviews/auto-leasing-and-rental-companies/united-leasing-in-evansville-in-99475

A-

Ability Capital Solutions, Long Beach, California
http://www.la.bbb.org/Business-Report/Ability-Capital-Solutions-100046803

Alliance Funding Group, Orange, California
http://www.la.bbb.org/Business-Report/Alliance-Funding-Group-Inc-13096486

Jules & Associates, Los Angeles, California
http://www.la.bbb.org/Business-Report/Jules-and-Associates-Inc-92003291

Matrix Business Capital, Long Beach, California
http://www.bbb.org/boston/business-reviews/not-elsewhere-classified/timepayment-corporation-in-woburn-ma-117288/

Matsco Financial, Emeryville, California
http://www.bbb.org/greater-san-francisco/business-reviews/financing/matsco-financial-in-emeryville-ca-15573

Tristar Capital, Santa Ana, California
http://www.la.bbb.org/Business-Report/Tri-Star-Capital-LLC-13137212

Southern California Leasing Inc., Tustin, California
http://www.la.bbb.org/Business-Report/Southern-California-Leasing-Incorporated-13135867

B+

Alliance Funding Group, Orange, California
http://www.la.bbb.org/Business-Report/Alliance-Funding-Group-Inc-13096486

Great America Leasing, Cedar Rapid, Iowa
http://www.bbb.org/iowa/business-reviews/financing/great-america-leasing-in-cedar-rapids-ia-20000104

Providence Capital Funding, Brea, California
http://www.la.bbb.org/Business-Report/Providence-Capital-Funding-Inc-100085193

Somerset Capital Group, Milford, Connecticut
http://www.bbb.org/connecticut/business-reviews/leasing-service/somerset-capital-group-in-bridgeport-ct-1001573

B

Balboa Capital, Irvine, California
http://www.la.bbb.org/Business-Report/Balboa-Capital-Corporation-13126386

Enterprise Capital Partners dba Enterprise Leasing, Spokane, Washington
http://www.bbb.org/eastern-washington/business-reviews/investment-advisory-service/enterprising-capital-partners-in-spokane-wa-64002656/

Pawnee Leasing, Fort Collins, Colorado
http://www.bbb.org/wyoming-and-northern-colorado/business-reviews/leasing-companies/pawnee-leasing-corporation-in-fort-collins-co-46006417

TimePayment, Woburn, Massachusetts
http://www.la.bbb.org/Business-Report/Matrix-Business-Capital-100041782

B-

Celtic Leasing, Irvine, California
http://www.la.bbb.org/Business-Report/Celtic-Leasing-Corp-78000620

TCF Equipment Finance, Minnetonka, Minnesota
http://www.bbb.org/minnesota/business-reviews/consumer-finance-and-loan-companies/tcf-equipment-finance-in-minnetonka-mn-96072521

C

Direct Capital, Portsmouth, New Hampshire
http://www.bbb.org/concord/business-reviews/financial-services/direct-capital-corporation-in-portsmouth-nh-3004519#

D-

Marlin Leasing, Mount Laurel, New Jersey
http://www.bbb.org/new-jersey/business-reviews/business-consultants/marlin-leasing-in-mt-laurel-nj-80012102

F

Benchmark Financial Group, Aliso Viejo, California (69 reports)
http://www.la.bbb.org/Business-Report/Benchmark-Financial-Groups-LLC-100045720

GCR Capital, Safety Harbor, Florida (27 complaints, Florida AG story)
http://www.bbb.org/west-florida/business-reviews/finance-companies/gcr-capital-in-safety-harbor-fl-48000920

Find your company's BBB listing by going to www.bbb.org and using your zip code first for the right division

True Story on Documentation Errors:
What Might Seem “Good Enough” Probably Isn’t

We’re all guilty of it, in both our personal and professional lives. We find what seems like a small, trivial mistake in a document we’re asked to sign or accept, and rather than taking the time to ask the other party to correct it, we simply accept the mistake and move on to something that seems more important. “The document seems good enough,” we say dismissively. “There’s almost no chance this tiny error could ever mean anything bad to me.”

Well consider the following real-life war story. I’ll use fictitious names to protect those who might otherwise be embarrassed:

Sloppy Assignor Corporation (SACORP) is a very small, one-man corporation who originates small-ticket leases and sells them almost immediately out of the gate. The owner of SACORP has another corporation it uses for various (unknown) other reasons. This second corporation has a very similar name: Sloppy Assignor Company (SACO).

SACORP writes a number of leases over time and sells them to a larger leasing company, which I’ll call Hasty Assignee Corporation (HAC). The leases name SACORP as the lessor, but by mistake (made in good faith), the documents of assignment use the name SACO as the seller. There is no question that HAC, sooner or later, noticed this error in the assignment documents, but it kept on buying the leases anyway, never asking for a correction. Apparently, to HAC, the assignment documents were “good enough.” The two different corporate names were “close enough.” The error was merely “technical.”

But eventually SACORP and SACO go out of business. Therefore HAC has no recourse back to SACO. Some of the lessees stop making payments, and HAC files simple collection lawsuits against them. Two of the lessees retain attorneys who catch the error in the assignment documentation. They claim that the assignments were defective and therefore that HAC has no interest in the leases and, thus, no right to sue.

The trial court ruled, essentially, that the assignment documents were “good enough.” But the intermediate appellate court disagreed. Chain-of-title in document is important, said the appellate court. This is not merely a “technicality,” said the appellate court in so many words. And just this past week, the state Supreme Court agreed. Too bad for HAC.

So lease purchasers remember: The name “John Doe Corp.” can’t pass for “John Doe Company” or “John Doe, Inc.” or any other string of alphabet

Michael Witt was Managing Counsel at Wells Fargo & Co and Senior Vice President and General Counsel of Advanta Leasing Corporation. He is now in private practice in Iowa.

witt-law@live.com
Michael J. Witt Law Offices
4342 Oakwood Lane
2nd Floor
West Des Moines, IA 50265
Tel: (515) 868-1067
Web: http://www.witt-law.com

Previous Columns:
http://www.leasingnews.org/Conscious-Top%20Stories/witt_desk.html

(This ad is a “trade” for the writing of this column. Opinions
contained in the column are those of Mr. Michael Witt, Esq.)

The Chuck Brazier-Gordon Roberts Connection
by Christopher Menkin

Brazier/Roberts

When the Brican America, Miami, Florida advertising payments stopped, many of the dentists and optometrist attempted to cancel their leasing contracts as per the arrangement made with Brican where allegedly the lessors were aware of the arrangement.

Many things happened when this occurred. While this alleged Ponzi Scheme, as charged by Attorney Ron Gossett, representing at this time perhaps 300 dentists in a class action case, and it is growing, stopped cold to as many as 2,500 doctors, most of this happened in January, there were doctors who stopped making payments in November and December because to them the advertising payments stopped first. These were lessees with Brican Financial, an arm of Brican America with Chuck Brazier serving as president.

It was reported earlier that Brazier was the one attempting to sell a portfolio of leases. To fully understand how this was working and the involvement of M&R Leasing, Colorado, operated by Pat and Gordon Roberts, it goes back to in April when PFSC Financial, an arm of Professional Solutions, a major vendor of medical products in Clive, Iowa cut off Brican Financial with 1782 leases.

According to three ex-salesmen interviewed separately, they had gone from 200 to 300 leasing sales a month to 100 and then much less as Brazier could not find a home as news of a lawsuit between PFSC and Brican became public knowledge.

During this time, the salesmen guessed there were at least 40 leases not placed (a salesman who left in December gave this number.)

If 2,500 units were leases, the gross profit was $50 million, which perhaps some went to the spa’s and laser surgery centers that were being built and advertised on the monitors in the doctor’s office, and supposedly were paying the monthly lease payments.

Another salesman said it was about $1500 for the monitor and computer. The CD was already made, so very little cost, then there was the salesman’s commission as well as employee and officer overhead, as there were four IT technicians supporting the software and computer operation.

The problem was that there was only then $20,000 a month in lease payments coming in after the leases could not be sold off. As expressed by several doctors, instead of payments going to Brican America, they went to M&R Leasing. It appears some doctors reported not receiving advertising payments as early as September of last year. In February and March of this year, the doctors began hiring attorneys, starting a blog,sought and joined class action suits, and not only stopped payments to other leasing companies, but now also to Brican Financial.

Doctors reported on the blog they were recently then told by Gordon Roberts they can make monthly payments to M&R Leasing or Brican Financial; that Gordon Roberts basically told one doctor he was a "collection agency" for Brican America, although also a leasing company.

Brazier worked for Gordon Roberts at Centerpoint Leasing, Colorado, and the company was closed for several reasons, but mainly after Gordon Roberts was convicted for theft from the company. He now is offering discounts on the Brican Financial leases.

Stephen G. Blank, DDS, Port St. Lucie, Florida who started the BricanViso Blog on Google, reported on the blog, March 22, 2010:

"I just got a call from Mr. Brazier, very nice conversation. Verbally he told me they could offer to reduce the payment by the amount of the Viso lease to $258 a month for 58 months.

 "I advised him that I was concerned signing a lease with a company that may not be there very soon and then I would have a $14,964 TV set.

"The retainer check is in the mail."

The latest has a filing against Brican Financial by Ronald Gossett, Hollywood, Florida, who also has retained Michael Witt, Des Moines, Iowa as his co-counsel. (1).

He stated on the BriconViso Blog:

“ALL victims share most of the facts as alleged in my complaint. The only differences between the Brican/Brican lessees and the Brican/PSFS lessees are: (1) the complicity of PSFS in the fraud (which is immaterial in the Brican/Brican leases); and, (2) whether the PSFS leases were actually sales with security interests, thereby exposing PSFS to the Little FTC Act claims (again, immaterial to Brican/Brican leases).

“I have included all lessees in my group. As we get to the point for a summary judgment on the Brican/Brican leases, if the court grants a summary judgment, then the Brican/Brican clients will be through, and out of the group. In the meantime, all of the motion practice (motions to dismiss the complaint, etc.) and discovery will benefit both groups, and the cost of litigation will be spread over a larger group (with the Brican/Brican group you have compiled consisting of only 65 people benefiting from spreading the cost over many more).

“In my opinion, there is no need for a separate suit (which will be ultimately more expensive for the Brican/Brican lessees).”

Gossett’s main group already has over 300 professionals who have signed agreements, including presenting a $1,000 retainer fee. He is reportedly preparing another addendum for the next group of professionals.

As the BriconViso blog grows to 1,000, these are attorneys who also are filing cases representing their area of expertise, such as

David H. Charlip
1930 Harrison Street,  Suite  208
Hollywood, FL  33020
 1-800-773-1955     or    954-921-2131
www.charliplawgroup.com

There are also two attorneys out of California, one from New Jersey and one from Illinois. The number who have signed up is not known at this time.

In the meantime, the group has assigned calls to other blogs, dental associations, and is dividing up telephone lists to contact those lessees who have joined the legal action.

Calls and/or emals to attorneys and spokesman for Brican America and Professional Solutions have not been returned.

1. Brican Financial Complaint:
   http://leasingnews.org/PDF/brican_1stcomplaint.pdf

Gordon R. Roberts Convicted of Theft
http://www.leasingnews.org/archives/August%202005/8-10-05.htm#theft

Brican America articles
http://www.leasingnews.org/Conscious-Top%20Stories/brican_america.htm

Classified Ads---Help Wanted

Leasing Industry Help Wanted

Sales

Please see our Job Wanted section for possible new employees.

View on the Economy
by Brad Harmon, CLP – President, First Star Capital

(This originally appeared in a First Star Capital Newsletter and with permission is printed here)

The first quarter of the New Year is nearly complete and the proverbial green shoots continue to show themselves. Although the economy is showing clear signs of recovery, the banking sector may not fully recover to pre-recessionary levels anytime soon. It’s possible that the continued problems in the banking industry will substantially outlast the recession, resulting in a significantly suppressed availability of credit in a recovering economy.

I recently attended an Economic Forecast featuring Dr. Robert T. Parry, the previous President and CEO of the San Francisco Federal Reserve Bank. Here are a few highlights from Dr. Parry’s presentation:

• The US Economy technically ended the great recession in July or August of 2009

• The GDP increased by an impressive rate of 5.7% in the 4th quarter of 2009

• Dr. Parry is expecting the US economy to continue to improve at the rate of 2% - 3% during 2010

• Unemployment will remain stubbornly high through 2010

• Business conditions will continue to improve, but at a much slower pace than we would like to see
  

Many of us in attendance commented on the recession obsession that seems to be prevalent in the media and the need to divorce ourselves from this mentality in order to collectively increase our economic forward momentum. Most people agree that history offers valuable lessons and nobody should discount the validity or relevance of our recent experiences. However, if our thoughts are focused on the past and what has already happened then we are invariably handicapping our ability to look forward and focus on opportunities that are taking shape and going to become available.

Over the last several months, First Star has been very encouraged by the trends in our portfolio of outstanding leases and loans as well as the amount of application activity in terms of new requests for equipment financing. Small and medium sized businesses have largely stabilized and have clearly begun to enter the next phase of the economic cycle – an upward phase. We have been continually approving and funding equipment financing requests that are thorough and compelling.

In last month's Newsletter we touched on the stricter credit granting guidelines that are in place and what it takes to receive an approval in today’s lending environment. This message was well received and can be accessed in our newsletter archives.

First Star is a healthy independent commercial lender and we are actively funding equipment acquisitions for small to medium sized companies in all 50 states. Because equipment leases provide some of the most flexible commercial financing terms available today many financial experts agree that equipment finance firms will spark the commercial lending turnaround in 2010 and beyond. Due to increasing demand and the positive trends that we expect to continue to experience this year we have added two more National Account Managers to our team. Tom Serio and David Allen are both established industry veterans that bring a wealth of experience and bright eyed optimism to First Star Capital.

Brad Harmon, CLP
(800) 604-4817
Brad@FirstStarCapital.com
www.FirstStarCapital.com

Previous Newsletters (archive)
http://www.firststarcapital.com/getinformed.html

ING Lease's German broker strategy on test
Brian Rogerson
assetfinance/EUROPE

ING Lease's reported plan to introduce UK-style broking into Germany has raised some eyebrows in the European leasing industry. Many observers point to the fact that locally-based finance brokers are largely a UK phenomenon - and that German lessors have traditionally preferred other routes to market.

John Howland-Jackson, chief executive of ING Wholesale Banking UK and the Middle East, has described the creation of an intermediary-led business in Germany as "a huge opportunity" which will come about as a result of "fundamental change in the German market" caused by funding constraints and "increased administrative demands due to new regulations".

Some ducked out

The decision comes after ING Lease loyally stood by its UK brokers whilst most other funders ducked out of the sector during the height of the current recession. As result of this continued support, ING Lease in the UK will be uniquely placed to source new business when the upturn comes, whilst its erstwhile competitors will struggle to regain the confidence of the broking sector.

However, in Germany broker activity has been limited by the very structure of the leasing industry. There are around 1,000 lessors in the country, mainly small in size, with the 190-member German leasing Association (BDL) contributing around 90% of all German leasing business. As a result, German lessors and lessees make little use of finance brokers although intermediation by brokers does play some role in the German middle-ticket market. One notable exception, however, is Suedleasing which customarily uses brokers as a new business source.

Experienced professionals

Historically UK finance brokers evolved from the market need to place new business proposals that initially were rejected by prime lenders. They were, and still are for that matter, staffed and invariably led by experienced ex-finance company professionals in possession of a sound entrepreneurial spirit. Once established, they became fleet of foot andere often able to out maneuver the far larger, less nimble, captives and bank-owned independents in terms of decision making and payment enabled certain volumes of prime business to be obtained - some of which was written on their own books. But at the end of the day they always depended upon the availability and support of their funding sources.

During the decade prior to the current recession, the trend was for UK lenders to reduce their branch networks in more or less direct proportion to their recruitment of locally-based brokers. As a result the broker model flourished and expanded.

A chance of success

One German lessor, however, believes that ING Lease has a fair chance of success in the broker arena. He told Asset Finance Europe: that although brokers traditionally play a small role in overall lending, and are often viewed as low-credit players (except where they have a definable specialist market niche such as in medical equipment), this could be about to change.

"The new regulations will have some impact on smaller lenders," he said, "with the result that many will struggle to comply and will possibly stop lending. At the end of 2008 there was virtually no regulation for German lenders - but by 2009 this had changed and BAFIIN (the German Regulator) had introduced many changes including the increased need for reporting and greater attention to risk management."

He added: "At the same time, funding is still a crucial issue for German lenders and the smaller ones are finding it difficult to leverage sufficient funds. These two elements, taken together, will possibly cause structural changes to German leasing. It has, however, yet to happen."

What has happened recently is that some German lessors are reported to be using broker-introduced business to augment their lending volumes. This had led to a changing, more accepting, view towards brokers. At the same time, as in the UK, many large German lessors have shed staff during the recession and some of these are likely to try their hand at starting their own broking operations.

"Although German brokers have not traditionally been particularly relevant so far as lessors have been concerned," the lessor concluded, "the time may have come for this to change and for ING Lease's strategy to succeed."

This article was reprinted with the permission of assetfinance/Europe.

If you are interested in how business is conducted in other countries, and what you can learn from this, or your company has offices overseas, you may want to subscribe for free:
http://www.assetfinanceeurope.com/index.php?option=com_comprofiler&task=registers&Itemid=1048

Fernando’s View
By Fernando F. Croce

Both “Greenberg” and “The Girl on the Train” offer mature, thoughtful entertainment for movie audiences, while “Sherlock Holmes,” “An Education” and “Red Cliff” give DVD watchers plenty of thrills, charm, and epic sweep.

Greenberg (Focus Pictures): Writer-director Noah Baumbach (“The Squid and the Whale”) continues his string of bittersweet comedy-dramas with this caustic story of struggling romance between Southern California neurotics. Roger Greenberg (Ben Stiller) is a fortysomething bachelor who, trying to rebuild his life after a nervous breakdown, gets a job as a housesitter and encounters old friends. Things start looking up when he meets Florence (Greta Gerwig), an aspiring singer who works as his brother’s assistant and feels attuned to Greenberg’s feelings of confusion. But can the two stick together, or will their hang-ups and emotional quirks push them further apart? Humor and heartbreak are mixed in Baumbach’s customary mordant way in this droll and humane look at lost souls looking for happiness in an uncaring world.

The Girl on the Train (Strand Releasing): With several films together, director Andre Techine and screen legend Catherine Deneuve have formed one of the most respected artistic collaborations of the past decades. In their latest drama, Deneuve plays Louise, a widow who runs a nanny business out of her Paris home. She lives with her daughter Jeanne (Emilie Dequenne), who tries to get a job with a famous lawyer. However, Jeanne’s volatile relationship with a small-time hood and a lie that snowballs into a political scandal complicate things for both mother and daughter. An elegantly updated version of the old boy-who-cried-wolf story, it’s a film of savory performances, subtle story twists, and sharp cultural insights. With subtitles.

Netflix tip: As highly acclaimed as Martin Scorsese’s numerous collaborations with Robert De Niro, Andre Techine’s exceptional films with Catherine Deneuve are worth a look. Check out their previous works together on Netflix, including “Scene of the Crime,” “My Favorite Season” and “Changing Times.”

New on DVD:

Sherlock Holmes (Warner Bros.): Director Guy Ritchie, better known for his violent and darkly comic British undercover sagas (“Snatch”), takes a change of pace with this snazzy, engaging retelling of Sir Arthur Conan Doyle’s legendary 19th-century detective. Holmes (played with twitchy inventiveness by Robert Downey Jr.), with his trusty partner Dr. Watson (Jude Law) by his side, uses his remarkable deducing skills to track down criminals plaguing London. But will this Victorian-era dynamic duo triumph when faced with their most fearsome foe yet, a calculating mastermind (Mark Strong) with unsavory connections to secret societies? Full of fast-paced showdowns and witty comic moments, this is the rare kind of period drama that will appeal to action-movie audiences (and hopefully lead a few of them to read the original novel).

An Education (Sony): Carey Mulligan delivers a Oscar-nominated turn in this nostalgic look at a girl’s coming of age. Set in suburban London during the early 1960s, it follows Jenny (Mulligan), a quick-witted teenage student who, following her father’s wishes, is bound for Oxford. Her plans get changed, however, after she meets David (Peter Sarsgaard), a charming and cultured older man who regales her with gifts and trips. The impressionable Jenny is fascinated by him, but revelations along the way place her at an awkward crossroads between old-fashioned values and the exciting new world that’s been opened to her. In addition to Mulligan’s star-making performance, director Lone Scherfig’s movie also features sharp dialogue by Nick Hornby and an exceptional cast that includes Alfred Molina, Olivia Williams and Emma Thompson.

Red Cliff (Magnolia): It’s been a while since an epic adventure like John Woo’s sweeping chronicle of Chinese history. Weaving together the narratives of a power-hungry general (Fengyi Zhang) and of alliance of the two rival warlords (Tony Leung, Takeshi Kaneshiro) in A.D. 208, the film offers a remarkably fluid procession of deals, vendettas, betrayals, and power struggles for control of a burgeoning nation. A master of cinematic action, Woo (better known for his violent Hong Kong thrillers) creates a gorgeous and exciting fresco of shifting alliances, stirring sacrifices and eye-filling battlegrounds. Long without ever becoming boring, the film has some of the sweep of “Lawrence of Arabia” but with a cultural resonance all of its own. With subtitles.

### Press Release ############################

Federal Charges Brought Against Riverside Couple for
Filing False Claims for Refunds With the
Internal Revenue Service

Los Angeles – A federal grand jury returned a superseding indictment charging a Riverside couple with conspiracy, mail fraud, aggravated identity theft, and tax charges related to a scheme in which they filed false claims for refunds with the Internal Revenue Service.

Abelardo and Dora Argote, of Riverside, who were previously indicted in April 2009, are charged in a scheme in which they used their own names, as well as the personal identifying information obtained from others, to prepare false individual income tax returns that they filed with the IRS.

According to the indictment, beginning in early 2002 and continuing through June 2007, the returns the Argote’s filed with the IRS falsely claimed that they and the individuals whose personal identifying information they obtained were entitled to tax refunds based upon falsified income and withholding amounts. The Argote’s falsified IRS Forms W-2 and W-2G, detailing fictitious income and withholdings, in their own names and the names of those whose personal identifying information they had obtained to substantiate the refunds claimed.

Typically, the falsified Forms W-2 and W-2G’s were submitted by the Argote’s to return preparers for preparation and filing of tax returns with the IRS. In total, the Argote’s submitted claims for refunds for more than $325,000 to the IRS.

An indictment contains allegations that a defendant has committed a crime. Every defendant is presumed to be innocent until proven guilty in court.

If convicted of all the charges specified in the indictment, both Abelardo Argote and Dora Argote face a statutory maximum 100 years in federal prison and fines totaling $1,750,000.

Abelardo Argote, who has been detained since his arrest last April, and Dora Argote, are both expected to be arraigned on the charges sometime before their trial. Currently, their trial is scheduled to begin on August 10, 2010, before United States District Judge A. Howard Matz.

The investigation and prosecution for Abelardo and Dora Argote was conducted by IRS-Criminal Investigation, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, and the United States Secret Service in conjunction with the United States Attorney’s Office in Los Angeles.

#### Press Release #############################

 

Pre-Emption state/Local Menu Label Good for Franchise Restaurants

WASHINGTON, —Federal government pre-emption of state and local menu labeling regulations included in the health care reform legislation will provide more regulatory certainty to franchise chain restaurants and offer consumers consistent nutritional information from location to location, the International Franchise Association said today.

“Franchise restaurants that are part of chains with 20 or more units nationally will no longer face a patchwork of state and local menu labeling mandates under this provision,” said IFA Vice President of Government Affairs David French. “While the IFA lobbied strongly in opposition to the health care reform package, the one bright spot of the bill is that the federal government will for the first time take the lead regulatory role in how restaurants provide nutrition information to their customers.”

French said the new menu labeling law mirrors the federal regulation for packaged food and gives flexibility in the manner that information is provided. The provision, which was based on the IFA-endorsed Labeling Education and Nutrition (LEAN) Act, also offers liability protection for restaurants, recognizing the variation in the nutritional content of food that is hand prepared.

The new national structure for restaurant menu labeling applies to restaurant systems of 20 or more units throughout the country and sets requirements for various, pertinent nutritional information.

“In the face of multiple and conflicting menu labeling requirements at the state and local levels, this national solution will provide consumers with the full range of information they desire to make an informed dining decision,” French said.

About the International Franchise Association
The International Franchise Association is the world’s oldest and largest organization representing franchising worldwide. Celebrating 50 years of excellence, education and advocacy, IFA protects, enhances and promotes franchising through government relations, public relations and educational programs. Through its awareness campaign highlighting the theme, Franchising: Building Local Businesses, One Opportunity at a Time, IFA promotes the 21 million jobs and $2.3 trillion of economic activity generated by franchising. IFA members include franchise companies in over 90 different business format categories, individual franchisees and companies that support the industry in marketing, law and business development.

#### Press Release #############################

Berkeley, California---Adopt-a-Dog


Sparky
Poodle
Small
Adult
Male
Dog

"Sparky is a 10 pound bundle of joyful energy. He runs faster, jumps higher and plays harder than seems possible for such a little guy. He chases balls, dropping them down the stairs so he can chase them. Sparky is very smart and would be a great little guy for someone who likes a high energy and engaging dog. Sparky loves taking walks. He would be a great hiking companion."

If you are interested in Sparky, please fill out our online application here: http://www.bayareapoodlerescue.org/adoption_form.html and mention in the last question that you are applying for Sparky.

Bay Area Poodle Rescue
Berkeley, CA
510 286 7630
www.bayareapoodlerescue.org

Adopt-a-Pet by Leasing Co. State/City
http://www.leasingnews.org/Conscious-Top%20Stories/Adopt_Pet.htm

Adopt a Pet
http://www.adoptapet.com/

Mortgage rates jump up
http://www.bankrate.com/finance/mortgages/mortgage-rates-jump-up.aspx

Unemployment claims drop more than expected
http://www.usatoday.com/money/economy/2010-03-25-unemployment-claims_N.htm

U.S. Plans Big Expansion in Effort to Aid Homeowners
http://www.nytimes.com/2010/03/26/business/26housing.html?hp

Last pieces of Maui Pine sold at auction
http://www.mauinews.com/page/content.detail/id/529819.html?nav=10

CANDLE LIGHTING - March 26
(or go to http://www.aish.com/sh/c/)

Jerusalem 6:20
Guatemala 5:56 - Hong Kong 6:18 - Honolulu 6:26
J'Burg 5:57 - London 6:05 - Los Angeles 6:51
Melbourne 7:06 - Mexico City 6:31 - Miami 7:16
New York 6:56 - Singapore 6:58 - Toronto 7:18

http://www.aish.com/tp/ss/ssw/88759867.html

You May have Missed---

Help Thank the Military (2 min. 30 seconds)
http://media.causes.com/576542?p_id=92681239

 

California Nuts Briefs---

California led states in increasing taxes last year
http://www.sacbee.com/static/weblogs/capitolalertlatest/2010/03/california-led.html

Californians may have to pay tax on canceled mortgage debt
http://www.mercurynews.com/business/ci_14757847

 

“Gimme that Wine”

Governor Granholm Declares April "Michigan Wine Month"
http://www.michiganwines.com/news.php?menu_id=15&news_id=1&article_id=102

New Hampshire is selling more wine
http://www.eagletribune.com/punewsnh/local_story_082023817.html?keyword=topstory

Sold! One $42,350 bottle of wine
http://today.msnbc.msn.com/id/35998802/ns/today-today_food_and_wine/

Napa Valley Wine Tales of the Decade
http://www.insidenapavalley.com/articles/2010/03/23/wine/doc4b4266d637aa7711191044.txt

Free Mobile Wine Program
http://leasingnews.org/archives/Feb2010/2_26.htm#mobile

Wine Prices by vintage
http://www.winezap.com
http://www.wine-searcher.com/

US/International Wine Events
http://www.localwineevents.com/

Winery Atlas
http://www.carterhouse.com/atlas/\

Leasing News Wine & Spirits Page
http://two.leasingnews.org/Recommendations/wnensprts.htm

Basketball Poem

Basketball Practice
Justin G.

Basketball Practice

"AGAIN!"
I sprint to the end of the court
my legs cutting through the oppressive air,
desperately trying to reach the endline.

"AGAIN!"
I take off, this time not as fast
wondering why I bother to give up
two hours each night to be commanded
like a remote control car.

"FIFTEEN FOUL SHOTS"
I walk slowly to the line
happy for the time to catch my breath.
I pick up the ball and begin.

"BACK ON THE LINE!"
Again I sprint to the end of the court
mouth wide open
sweat dripping from my face.

"AGAIN!"
As I run up the court
for what I hope will be the last time tonight,
I glance over my shoulder
to see my coach, red-faced and grinning,
remote control
gleaming in his hand.

by J. G., Houlton, ME