Texas Landlord-Tenant Law

January 5, 2016

Robert B. Goss Designated “Master Advocate” by the National Institute for Trial Advocacy

by Eleanor K. Meltzer for the Law Office of Robert B. Goss

The National Institute for Trial Advocacy (NITA) has designated Bob Goss (pictured at right) as an NITA “Master Advocate.” The Master Advocate award represents serious commitment to trial advocacy and requires completion of at least five intensive NITA trial-advocacy programs.

Why You Need a Trial Advocate

As a landlord or a tenant, you want an advocate who understands your rights. As a consumer in Texas, you want justice if you’ve been the subject of a deceptive trade practice. No matter what your legal issue, you want an advocate who will represent you zealously. You need an advocate who is both your counselor and your ally. Experience is important, of course. But also look for indications that your trial advocate keeps up with the latest advances in the law, art, and science of trial advocacy. Intensive training, such as that leading to NITA’s “Master Advocate” award, is one indicator that your advocate has the latest skills necessary to represent you when it matters most. Continue reading

December 19, 2015

Bob Goss Recognized By Avvo With The “Avvo 2015 Clients’ Choice Award”!

by Eleanor K. Meltzer for the Law Office of Robert B. Goss

We at the Law Office of Robert B. Goss, P.C. are delighted to announce that our principal and founder, Bob Goss, has been recognized by Avvo, the well-known attorney rating and review site, with Avvo’s “Clients’ Choice 2015.”

Avvo’s attorney rating system identifies rankings of 10.0 – 9.0 as “Superb.” Based on Avvo’s mathematical model, which includes input from hundreds of attorneys, thousands of consumers, and legal professionals who understand the work attorneys perform, Bob received a perfect Avvo “10.0” score.

This is the second year in a row that Bob (pictured at right) has been recognized by Avvo as a “Clients’ Choice” attorney. Continue reading

November 15, 2015

What If My Texas Landlord Retaliates Against Me?

by Eleanor K. Meltzer for the Law Office of Robert B. Goss

With many people moving to Texas, it’s a good idea to review some common Texas landlord-tenant scenarios. As a renter, what are your rights if the landlord retaliates in response to your reasonable request to have something fixed?

Renters’ Rights in Texas

The Texas Property Code, at Title 8, Chapter 92, Subchapter H, discusses retaliation by a landlord against a tenant. Tenants (also referred to in this article as “renters”) are entitled to notify landlords of problems with the rented space and to request repairs, to submit good-faith complaints to relevant government entities about the rented property, and to make good-faith attempts to pursue rights and remedies against a landlord. Continue reading

November 9, 2015

Protection for VA Benefits – Know Your Rights!

by Eleanor K. Meltzer for the Law Office of Robert B. Goss

With the extremely long delay in obtaining benefits from the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA), many Veterans face tremendous and crippling medical bills. These bills impact ability to pay for necessities, including rent, utilities, transportation, and even food.

KNOW YOUR RIGHTS: VA BENEFITS ARE PROTECTED!

Threats and constant calls from creditors and even advice from attorneys not familiar with Veterans benefits matters may push Veterans to make unwise decisions regarding their VA benefits. It’s very simple: VA benefits are protected from creditors, taxation, and other legal processes. No one is entitled to just take your benefits away to pay off debts. Continue reading

October 21, 2015

Texas – Benefits for Veterans, Military Personnel, and Spouses

by Eleanor K. Meltzer for the Law Office of Robert B. Goss

As we have mentioned in previous blogs, the State of Texas is grateful to Veterans and their families. Texas is notable for its numerous programs designed to assist Veterans and their families through discounts on various licenses, financial assistance, educational benefits, and more.

The following summary is intended as a gateway to some of the Texas agencies responsible for the many Veteran programs offered by the State of Texas.

CEMETERY – The Veterans Land Board (VLB) maintains four Texas State Cemeteries for Veterans. The cemeteries are located in Abilene, Corpus Christi, Killeen, and Mission. Continue reading

October 20, 2015

How to avoid a costly common post-service mistake. Part II of an interview with Bob Goss

by Eleanor K. Meltzer for the Law Office of Robert B. Goss

Bob Goss, founder of the Law Office of Robert B. Goss, P.C.

Robert B. Goss is a Veteran, attorney, and the founder of the Law Office of Robert B. Goss, P.C. Bob, as he prefers to be called, started his law firm in response to the need he saw for a level playing field between Veterans and the government system intended to provide benefits to Veterans. Recently, I had an opportunity to discuss with Bob some of his thoughts on how Veterans can be better served. The following is Part II of a two-part conversation.

Eleanor Meltzer: Bob, I know Veterans can contact you directly. What recommendations do you have for Veterans who are struggling to obtain benefits?

Robert Goss: “Don’t wait to contact me.” I hope everyone reading this interview tells their active-duty friends the following: if you are just leaving the service, make the service give you a physical. Once you leave service (and are now a Veteran), claim ALL your disabilities. For instance, a paratrooper most likely is going to have orthopedic issues, tinnitus, hearing loss. Depending on the individual, there may be other service-connected traumas such as PTSD and burn-pit related injuries. FILE WITHIN THE 1^ST YEAR after leaving the service. Why? Because then your benefits go back to the day after separation. If a Veteran has been out longer than a year, they still need to file. The sooner the better. Continue reading

September 22, 2015

Texas Tenants: Protect Your Rights When You’ve Been Wronged!

by Eleanor K. Meltzer for the Law Office of Robert B. Goss

As a tenant, everything is good until it’s not. That’s when you finally read the fine print in your rental agreement. That’s when you discover maybe you aren’t covered for things you thought you were.

What are some common landlord-tenant issues? Obvious problems include evictions, a landlord’s refusal to return your security deposit, or your landlord’s mistaken entry and removal of your property. Other challenges can include a landlord’s failure to repair conditions that materially affect your health and safety. Continue reading

March 6, 2015

179 Years ago Today, the Alamo and all of the Defenders Fell

by Bob Goss

Today, the Alamo fell to the Mexican Army under the command of General Santa Ana.

After holding off a far numerically superior army for 13 days the final assault began shortly after midnight. Using darkness and a calm the Mexican army crept close to the Alamo, and at approximately 0530 began the final assault. By 0630 all the Texican forces, defenders of liberty were dead.

The Texas defenders and Army, however, won the war 6 weeks later as Gen. Sam Houston defeated Gen. Santa Ana and his army at San Jacinto, TX.

June 6, 2013

Remember June 6, 1944, D-Day

by Bob Goss

Today is the 69th anniversary of the invasion of France to liberate Europe from the Nazis.

This week I mentioned D-Day was Thursday. One of our young secretaries stated she did not know about D-Day.

D-Day for WW II was on June 6, 1944. D-Day is the day the Allies launched the largest military operation, at the time, to free France and all of Europe from the Nazi occupation. This week the U.S. Senate lost their last World War II (WW II) veteran, Sen. Lautenberg. He served in the Army Signal Corps from 1942-46. After separating from the Army Sen. Lautenberg used the GI Bill to earn an economics degree and eventually serve New Jersey as a U.S. Senator.

March 25, 2013

Military Retiree’s are Veterans Too – – Contact Congress and OPPOSE TRICARE fee increases

by Bob Goss

For those of you who have served, you know this Fact – – Military Retirees are Veterans. But it seems with Sequestration upon the United States, the Department of Defense at the urging of the White House has a solution – – have Military Retirees pay MORE IN TRICARE FEES.

Why raise TRICARE fees because of my favorite White House word “fairness.” The whole idea pushed for Obamacare was fairness for those without health care. But the WH states Military Retiree’s Health Care costs are not fair compared to the public.

But is it fair to give free health care to those who do nothing? And then conversely argue it is fair to force Veterans who are Military Retirees (remember Military Retirees include veterans who were medically retired due to Injuries) to pay ever increasing TRICARE fees. TRICARE raised all fees in 2012. No – – The proposal to keep raising TRICARE fees on the back of veterans is not fair.