Bailey & Galyen Blogs - Texas Attorneys

Mask Mandate Update from Firm Managing Attorney James Bridge

1 Jul

Hi, my name is James Bridge and I am the Chief Operating Officer and firm managing attorney at Bailey & Galyen.

As you may already know Dallas, Tarrant and Harris County have put orders in place requiring that face masks be worn inside of all businesses. Pursuant to these orders you will be required to wear a mask or face covering when visiting any our Dallas-Fort Worth or Houston offices. If you do not have a mask we will have them available at our front desk as well as antibacterial hand sanitizer. The firm has also implemented social distancing procedures, daily cleaning in our offices and other measures to mitigate the spread of any potential exposure to our employees and our clients. We have also been testing for our employees to make sure they are healthy and can see clients in their time of need.

We hope this will promote safety and consistency across all of our offices and be of comfort to our clients. Bailey & Galyen will continue to monitor developments with COVID-19 and will continue to follow the guidance provided by the CDC as well as other local and state authorities. So be safe, wear your mask and wash your hands. We remain committed to our employees and the people in the communities we serve and thank you for being a valued client.

Discrimination Against Employees for Being Homosexual or Transgender

Jamie Gilmore, ESQ. Employment Law

1 Jul

I’m Jamie Gilmore, an employment attorney with Bailey & Galyen. Most Texans are familiar with the employment concept that Texas is a “right to work” or “at will” state. This basically means that an employer can terminate or demote you for any reason or not reason at all so long as that reason is not an illegal one. This is where most employees become confused. What exactly is an illegal reason for termination?

There are several anti-discrimination laws in both state and federal laws. There are even some anti-discrimination laws at the city level in Texas. Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and Texas Labor Code Chapter 21 protects employees against employment discrimination on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, and national origin. There are other laws that protect employees against discrimination on the basis of disability and age.

However, today I want to talk to you about a specific kind of discrimination and the United States Supreme Court’s most recent decision on Title VII. On Monday, June 15, 2020, the United States Supreme Court held that an employer violates Title VII when it discriminates against an employee simply for being homosexual or transgender. “An employer who fires an individual for being homosexual or transgender fires that person for traits or actions it would not have questioned in members of a different sex. Sex plays a necessary and undisguisable role in the decision, exactly what Title VII forbids.”

Prior to this decision, the appellate courts were split on whether Title VII included homosexual and transgender employees. Because of this split, many employment attorneys were holding off filing Charges of Discrimination with the EEOC. Now we know the law regarding Title VII, and I am excited to continue representing LGBTQIA employees who are victims of illegal discrimination in the workplace.

I recognize that this narrow side of sex or gender discrimination does not affect most of my clients, but for many employees who have been discriminated against in the workplace because of the sexual orientation or identity, this case is huge.

The labor and employment section of Bailey & Galyen is eager to help you navigate through any discrimination occurring at the workplace. At Bailey & Galyen, we offer a free consultation with experienced employment attorneys and staff to give you a legal assessment and offer a path forward. Call me to discuss your employment situation today.

Bankruptcy During COVID-19

Joseph Vacek, ESQ. Bankruptcy

1 Jul

Hello, my name is Joseph Vacek and I am a Bankruptcy attorney here at Bailey & Galyen.

Bankruptcy can offer you a fresh start to your life by wiping out the debt you might have accumulated over the last months to years. It will stop the harassment by these creditors, it will stop the phone calls, it will stop the letters, it will stop any judgements they may have already obtained, it’ll stop any lawsuits they may have filed against you to collect this debt.

If you have creditors harassing you or if you just have questions about how bankruptcy may be able to help you please give us a call at Bailey & Galyen. It’s a free consultation and we look forward to helping you resolve your financial matters.

Immigration Law Updates

Andres Martinez, ESQ. Immigration

2 Jun

Hello, my name is Andrés Martínez. Immigration attorney here at Bailey & Galyen.

Today I want to talk to you about 2 things. First are the upcoming increases in filing fees for the USCIS and the upcoming decision with DACA in the Supreme Court. US Citizenship and Immigration Services has suffered financially due to COVID-19. As a result they are seeking funds from the Federal Government to sustain the agency. Consequently they are seeking to increase their filing fees for every single immigration filing in order to pay back this loan. We urge you to call us so we can visit with you and your individual case to see what immigration benefit you are eligible for. Immigration fee increases will happen, and will happen soon.

I also want to talk to you about the upcoming DACA decision in the Supreme Court. Earlier this year the Supreme Court heard the arguments pro and against the termination of the DACA Program by the Trump Administration. Currently initial DACA applications are not being accepted by USCIS. Only DACA renewals are being processed. The Supreme Court will issue it’s decision as early as this summer regarding whether it will terminate the DACA Program or whether it will keep it active. Anyone with DACA should seek immediate counsel from an attorney in order to evaluate their process to see if they are eligible for a green card away from the DACA Program. We urge you to call us in order to schedule a consultation with one of our immigration attorneys so we can evaluate your case.

Divorce

R. Keith Spencer, ESQ. Family Law

24 Feb

People contemplating a divorce would be well-advised to take stock of their current circumstances and evaluate whether they are in a position to proceed. A divorce is very disruptive to your life. It will affect your living arrangements, child care, job, and finances. A meeting with an attorney can help a client decide whether they are “ready for a divorce”.

Can you afford to pay the rent or mortgage on just one salary? Can you pay your other monthly bills?

Do your work hours or travel requirements make it difficult for you to get the kids to school or care for them at night?

Do you have a day care provider or a plan that allows you to work outside the home? Can you afford day care?

The answers to these kinds of questions may indicate that you are not yet prepared to file for divorce. For example, you may decide you need to change shifts at work to be able to care for your kids in the event of a divorce. You may need to make alternative living arrangements if you can’t afford the home on just one salary.

You also need to take into account the legal fees that come with a divorce. In other words, you need to have a workable plan for life after divorce. A meeting with an attorney can help you evaluate your readiness for a divorce and the financial changes that come with it.

At Bailey & Galyen, we offer free consultations with experience family law attorneys so you can evaluate your case and your plan for life after divorce.

The Importance of Seeking Wise Estate Planning Counsel

J.C. Bailey III, ESQ. Estate Planning

14 Oct

I’m Jay Bailey with Bailey & Galyen, I’m of Counsel with the firm, and I head our Probate & Estate Planning section.

You’ve got lots of things you’re good at. You have expertise as a professional, you have expertise in the trades, you’re an excellent educator, you’ve got a lot of experience.

You’re probably not a Probate or Estate Planning lawyer. So you can go online, you can watch a video, or a TV promotion, but I wouldn’t. I’d seek wise counsel.

You see, in hand grenades and horseshoes, close actually scores points. In Probate & Estate Planning getting close means you missed the mark, and it can cost you and your family thousands, if not hundreds of thousands of dollars. Talk to somebody who knows what they’re doing. Seek wise counsel. It’ll be a relief to you and a blessing to your family.

The best advice we give is to seek wise counsel. If you need help, call me.

Bailey & Galyen COVID-19 Updates

R. Keith Spencer, ESQ. COVID-19 Updates

2 Jun

I’m attorney Keith Spencer with the law firm of Bailey & Galyen. The process of reopening after the COVID-19 shutdown leaves us with just as many uncertainties as before. Some courts are gradually reopening. Others are choosing to continue operating via video conference. Most attorneys, including Bailey & Galyen are relying upon video conferencing for client communications. This may be our new normal. Until the pandemic issues are resolved, video communications are the best way to guarantee our clients’ safety.

At Bailey & Galyen, we offer the latest in convenient video access to our out attorneys. There is no app to download. Simply touch the link and be directly connected to an attorney over a secure video link.

If you have questions about a legal issue or need to hire counsel, please give us a call at 1-800-LAW-OFFICE. Bailey and Galyen is here to help solve your legal puzzle.

Workplace Termination

Jamie Gilmore, ESQ. Employment Law

1 Jun

Hi, I’m Jamie Gilmore an employment attorney with Bailey & Galyen.

Following a workplace termination it is normal to feel betrayed, embarrassed and angry. You may be confused about what your options are or what steps to take next. These feelings are amplified if you are unjustly terminated and suffered from workplace discrimination, harassment or retaliation.

Consulting and attorney is an important first step to confronting and resolving those feelings. However, the most important thing that I do in any case is educate my client that I have been hired to take away some of the anger, embarrassment and anxiety off of your shoulders. Your life has been tossed upside down and I am here to counsel you through the turbulent times and provide you with honest legal advice and representation.

At Bailey & Galyen we offer free consultations with experienced employment attorneys and staff to give you a legal assessment and offer a path forward. Call me to discuss your employment situation today.

Problems With Creditors? Bankruptcy Could Help

Joseph Vacek, ESQ. Bankruptcy

1 Jun

Hello, my name is Joseph Vacek and I’m a bankruptcy attorney here at Bailey & Galyen.

Have you recently lost your job or had your hours cut? Are you having creditors harass you by sending you letters and calling you at all times of the day? Has there been a lawsuit filed against you or maybe a judgement entered and you’re having your wages garnished or your bank account frozen. Maybe you’ve fallen behind on your mortgage payment or on your car payments. Instead of stressing about these situations please contact us because bankruptcy may be appropriate for you.

The bankruptcy code provisions allow for a fresh start or payments over a 5 year period in order to relieve you of this financial difficulty. If you have any questions please call us.