Publications by
AARON MORRIS
Podcasts and Blogs
Blogs
Books
Recent Articles
Being an Attorney is Just Too Much Fun
Can’t a guy get a few minutes to enjoy his victory? As discussed in greater detail here, we forged an important precedent as regards the application of Penal Code § 496(c). Our client loaned the defendant $202,500 that was never repaid. Sometimes people just can’t repay their loans, and for such circumstances a breach of contract action is appropriate. But
Morris & Stone Wins $3.9 Million Defamation Judgment
First rule of defamation defense: Don’t say anything you can’t prove. I would think this concept would be so obvious and self-explanatory that it would never arise in my practice, but it comes up over and over. Because of defendant’s failure to understand this concept, we obtained a $3.9 million defamation judgment against him. I see it often in the
Think Twice Before You “Upgrade” Your Credit Card
If your credit card issuer comes along and generously offers you an “upgrade” for an old credit card you have in your wallet, think twice. They may not be doing it out of the kindness of their heart. Way back in 1985, if you can believe it, I applied for and received a card called the Citi ThankYou Preferred (no
Shove Your Financial Statistics; I Choose Not to Participate
In a prior article, I discussed what I call the “cash tax,” referring to the fact that paying cash for your purchases comes at a very high price. As a simple example, one of my credit cards issuers is currently running a six-month promotion, affording me 10% cash back on all gas and grocery purchases. If I elect instead to
The 0% Credit Card Strategy – Best Financial Hacks
A financial guy on the radio you might know (rhymes with “brave chimpanzee”) recommends certain “baby steps” to financial independence. Step 1 is to save up a $1,000 emergency fund, and then with that extremely limited financial buffer, you move onto Step 2, which is to pay off all your debts. Only after all your debts are paid off do
Why Instant Gratification can be Financially Savvy
As a general financial principle, it is important to be able to postpone gratification. You have to be able to delay getting the stuff you want today, so you can save for tomorrow. But let’s consider a scenario that might justify instant gratification. Jack is a very financially responsible person. He has six months of savings in the bank for
Game Changer — Chase Freedom Flex Credit Card Review
If you are into earning cash back or travel points on your credit card purchases (as you should be), the Chase Freedom card has always been a no-brainer. Cards with high annual fees may offer 4% on certain categories year round, but the Chase Freedom is free, and offers 5% on usually desirable rotating categories, such as grocery stores, gas stations,
Never Spend Your Points on Amazon (or Cash Them Out)
I haven’t always been the Prince of Points, the Monarch of Miles, the Count of Cards, the Guru of Globe-Trotting. Back in the day, I was but a fool, having not yet learned the lesson that you should never spend your points on Amazon. I had the sense to get credit cards with cash back or travel points, just because
The Case of the Thin-Skinned Councilman — Loving the Law
The Facts Our (future) client — we’ll call him George because that’s his name — was retired and looking for something to do. He eventually settled on politics. Not as a politician, but as a gadfly (his word, not ours). He became a fixture at local city council meetings, and would routinely take to the mic to express what a
9 Employment Myths that Will Bite You in the Butt
I spend a good part of my days at my law firm explaining basic employment law to callers, and on occasion I get a caller who tells me I obviously don’t know what I am talking about, because what I am saying is contrary to one of their most cherished employment myths. The sad thing is, I usually get that
The Importance of a Side Gig and Why You Need to Know Your “Hourly Rate”
Remember way back before the pandemic hit, when people would go to restaurants? Back then, Denny’s had a promotion where they were giving away free breakfasts. I saw on the news that at some locations people were waiting in line for hours. And they weren’t homeless or poor. When interviewed, they said they just couldn’t pass up the opportunity to
Why You Need this Credit Card – Discover It Review
I won’t bury the lead. The Discover It credit card is one that everybody should have in their wallet. You may already have this card, because Discover positions it as a starter card, for people beginning their credit journey. If you don’t yet have it, let me tell you why you should, and even if you do, I’ll tell you