Cinderella’s Sad Story of Garnishment
Once upon a time, Cinderella had a money judgment entered against her. She thought nothing of it at the time because she could no more pay her debt than go to the ball. Then along came her Fairy Godmother and next thing you know, Cinderella had won the Prince Charming lottery. Right in the middle of happily ever after, a creditor garnished Cinderella’s newfound wealth. Her brand new great big mound of money was swept clean from her account, just like that—poof!—it was gone. “Surely you would not take my good fortune from me!” Cinderella protested. “The judgment is good for 20 years,” replied the creditor. And thus Cinderella went from rags to riches and back to rags again. A Money Judgment is just a piece of paper, EXCEPT a creditor may watch your bank account over the next 20 YEARS. If your credit score goes up, that creditor might reappear. With a Money Judgment, he may get your car, your real estate (except homestead), or garnish your bank account without prior notice to you, freezing any good fortune you come into. Everybody should pay their debts; however, certain incomes are exempt to prevent a choice between paying the […] Read More
Cinderella & the Suppression of Evidence
Prince Charming had a whole wardrobe full of fabulous ball gowns, but his father, the King, insisted on him wearing the masculine cut of a suit—black pants, black tie, black shoes…Boring, boring, boring thought the Prince. He would have preferred a warm chiffon graced with a diamond tiara. His father preferred that he give the tiara to an eligible young lady. No one of any class accepted the invitation to the Prince’s ball. The Wicked Stepmother came with the two Ugly Stepsisters and the Prince thought he would be bored all evening, for none of the town’s bachelors were on the list. Then in walked this little thing, surely dressed by a fairy godmother, right down to the delicious glass slippers. She was everything Prince Charming wanted—same waist size, shoulders, and inseam. She was his exact match in every way, and he loved her instantly, more for her attire than anything. “I must have your dress,” the Prince whispered as they were dancing, but Cinderella escaped his grasp and fled from his unwanted advances on her clothes. In her haste, however, she left behind one of her shoes. The Prince took the glass slipper and put it on his own […] Read More