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Handicapped access raises a stink with restaurateur

By Robert Bruss, Tuesday, October 25, 2005.

Jerry Doran is a paraplegic who requires a wheelchair and a mobility-equipped vehicle to travel in public. He visited a Del Taco restaurant where he could not find a handicapped parking space near the entrance, and he also had difficulty using the restroom.

Doran sued the restaurant owners to force them to comply with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) handicapped access requirements. Before the trial, the parties reached a $4,000 monetary damages settlement. The restaurant owner promised to remedy the architectural barriers.  more...

Faux rock gets heave-ho in fireplace remodel

By Bill and Kevin Burnett, Tuesday, October 25, 2005.

Q: We are getting ready to remodel our fireplace. It is covered with faux-rock material – very common during the late 1960s.

This material is cemented to the front of the fireplace. We're not sure what's behind the faux rock, but it could possibly be brick. How should we go about removing this material, and is there anything we should be cautious of?

A: How well we remember. Faux rock was all the rage in the '60s. The back-to-the-land movement was in full swing; being "natural" was fashionable; and the rustic look was in vogue.  more...

Prepayment penalty rains on real estate refinance

By Robert Bruss, Tuesday, October 25, 2005.

DEAR BOB: I am about to refinance my property and pull out a lot of cash for future investments. But the property has an unused HELOC (home equity line of credit) that I will have to close since I would rather have $160,000 cash instead of having the HELOC subordinated. However, I am going to get hit with a $500 prepayment penalty for closing the HELOC before three years. It has been open about 1.5 years. Is there any way to avoid the prepayment penalty? – Chip C.  more...