NOT SO FAST!

Well, I jumped the gun. When the publisher said the book was done, she meant that the "PROOF" copy is done. It's in completed form with the cover on it. Now I have to go over everything and make note of any changes or corrections that are still needed before it gets to the finishing stage. I must admit, it looks good, and everyone around me will get a chance to look at it over the holidays and provide feedback. Hope everyone has a Merry Christmas, and is looking forward to a bright and happy New Year. I know I am!

"UNDER COLOR OF LAW" HAS BEEN PUBLISHED!

The wait is over! The publisher called today to let me know the book is done. I will be picking up the books that were part of the award on Thursday, December 17. If you want one, be sure to let me know. I will have a limited number to start with. The publisher has voiced the opinion that the price should be somewhere in the $17 to $20 range. I am leaning toward $12.95, but will make a final determination once I see the finished copy.  An announcement will be put on Facebook, as well. Media releases and letters to potential promoters and interested persons are already to go. I will order more books as the need arises. I will autograph copies upon request.

Editing Complete - Almost Ready

Good news! The book is done being edited. The cover is being designed, and I should have everything in my hands for review within the next week. Thanks, everyone for being so patient. This has been a long process, from waiting for me to finish it, to waiting for the process of editing and publishing. It won't be long now. Happy Thanksgiving to all. I'll post when the next step is complete.

Excerpt from "Under Color of Law"

It's hard to believe it's been a month since I posted something. Haven't heard from the publisher yet, so the book is still at the editor's as far as I know. On October 24, I attended the Women2Women Michigan Expo at the Birch Run Expo Center and handed out my first media kit at their booth. I hope to get the opportunity to be one of their featured authors in an upcoming publication. Besides that, I have made a listing of public policy groups in Michigan, including some student run groups that might be interested in researching and addressing the unanswered questions and questionable issues regarding the passage of P.A. 495. Below is an excerpt from "Under Color of Law" pertaining to these:

"We began making trips to our state capitol, an hour’s drive away to observe legislative sessions and attend committee meetings to become educated in how business is conducted. We researched procedural rules and the State constitution to try to understand how 495 could have been passed without any fiscal impact studies to determine the impact it would have on the businesses being regulated, or how an amendment could have been made to it at the last minute that so totally changed it without any roadblocks.

I began asking questions of the legislators, themselves and their staffs. One Senator told me that impact studies are required when rules are changed because rules can be changed in a short period of time, whereas it takes a long time for statutes to be changed. It seemed illogical that they would not want to know the impact of what they were doing, whether it took a short period of time or a long period of time to do. Just because something took a long time to accomplish would not lessen the impact that it would have. I poured over the House and Senate procedural rules, joint rules, and the legislative manual. I read over every rule I could find, and found none that even remotely through any stretch of the imagination referred to anything which would directly or indirectly affect small businesses. I asked staffers to identify what rules, which if changed, would require impact studies to be done, and none seemed to be able to provide any answers.

I asked what is meant by the term, “on its passage” since the Michigan Constitution says that no bill can be changed on its passage so as to change its original purpose as determined by its total content. What were the parameters of a bill’s passage, and if 495 had not been changed on its passage, then what did that mean? And how would one determine a bill’s original purpose if not by a stated government purpose or by its subject matter? We requested any and all documents, including a tape of testimony given on Bill 4231 from the committees it went through during its development. All documentation dealt with the process of dealing with abandoned cars by the public. Nothing, not one word, was uttered regarding businesses or licensing of dealers. It certainly appeared as though 4231 had been changed on its passage from its original purpose, although, in light of the evidence we had indicating a different purpose, we questioned whether the abandoned car issue had simply been a ruse, and put in place to appear to the uninformed to be the perceived original purpose. Though possibly unknown but to only a few, it certainly seemed that we had been victims of a very intentional, calculated, and well-planned attack with the sole purpose of eliminating the competition right from the start."

If anyone has any input into these issues, we sure would like to hear it. Feel free to post a comment, and thanks. 

 

Small Businesses Decline in Michigan After P.A. 495 is Passed

In 2005, before Bill 4231 was passed and became Public Act 495, there were an estimated 822,000 small businesses in Michigan. Fifty-three percent, or 435,660 were home-based. In 2009, that number had been reduced to 805,902 according to Gaebler.com, a provider of resources for entrepreneurs. Small businesses in Michigan had a net job loss from 2005-2008, and self-employment in Michigan declined over the last decade. According to the most current federal data available as of October 4, 2015, Michigan now has 765,487 small businesses in Michigan, 209,751 of which have employees. The remaining 555,736 have no employees. That’s what happens when government allows big business and lobbyists to entice them to eliminate small business. You get decline instead of growth.

Publication Update

Just an update on projected launch. Publisher is telling me that "Under Color of Law" is expected to be ready for release in December. I'm planning to be at the Davison Pumpkinfest on Saturday, October 10th, passing out flyers and networking with organizations set up at that event. I also plan to pass out flyers at the Auto City Speedway Fall Swap Meet on October 10th. A copy of the flyer is below.

Winner of the Aspiring Writers Association of America 2015   Manuscript Critique Award

 

UNDER COLOR of LAW

Local Author, Local Story

                                                           By Larraine Stanislaw            Available soon in paperback and on Amazon.com

The Story of Public Act 495

 and the search for justice when caught in the crosshairs of money, power, and government.

 

A compelling true story about muscle cars, the dream of small business ownership, and the reality of loss and perseverance against overwhelming odds.

Go to www.undercoloroflaw.blogspot.com for information on availability.

Author Biography

Larraine Stanislaw is a married mother of three. Over a 35 year span, she partnered with her husband in several automotive entrepreneurial endeavors in the Flint, Michigan area. Through her experience she formed her own small business consulting service, assisting aspiring business owners and entrepreneurs through several agencies, including The Small Business Development Center, a collaboration of the Small Business Administration and area universities. She has written business plans and grants in conjunction with Mott Community College, Michigan Department of Career Development, and the University of Michigan-Flint; and taught a business plan writing course through the University of Michigan-Flint’s non-accredited course offerings.

She also served eight years on a state-mandated parent advisory committee for special education at the Genesee Intermediate School District, chairing the committee for three years, and serving as vice-chair for one year. During her tenure as chair person, she organized and chaired county-wide workshops for parents of special needs children, and was part of the GISD core-training team for the 1997 Reauthorization of the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act.

She now takes the reader on a true life saga detailing a courageous eight year battle she and her husband embarked on in response to unprecedented events brought about by the actions of government officials that affected hundreds of small businesses in Michigan, and changed their life in a way they never imagined possible.

When the Stanislaws’ own business was eliminated through the actions of government officials, and their efforts to obtain justice seemed impossible to attain, she decided to focus her talents on their own personal saga, and turn it into a memoir detailing their plight and that of others affected. It was awarded the Aspiring Writers Association of America 2015 Manuscript Critique Award.

Federal taking claims are based on the Fifth Amendment to the Constitution which states,
        
         "[N]or shall private property be taken for public use without just compensation."

It's on this amendment and wording that taking claims, whether property is taken for public use or through the wrongful acts of public officials acting under color of law, are based.

There are five basic kinds of inverse condemnation taking claims: (1) the per se physical occupation claim, (2) categorical claim where the deprivation of all economically beneficial use is alleged, (3) facial taking claims, (4) as applied taking claims, and (5) unconstitutional conditions/exactions taking claims.

Information obtained from: http://landuselaw.wustl.edu/takings_update.htm

If you have experienced a taking by government action, we'd like to hear from you about your experience. Please leave a comment.

WANTED! Media Publicity

In December 2004, the Michigan legislature passed Public Act 495 as part of an overhaul of the Michigan Vehicle Code. At a point when passage was imminent, and in relative secrecy, new requirements for auto dealers were added to Bill 4231, which became P.A.495. These new mandates were responsible for eliminating hundreds of small businesses throughout the state. We were one of those unable to renew our licenses because of the new mandates.

 Research shows that procedural requirements were bypassed in the passage of P.A. 495, and it appears the actions of legislators violated Michigan Constitution. We were told the law was paid for by large auto dealer associations to limit competition in the marketplace. I authored a book based on our findings and experience.

“Under Color of Law” is the story of our journey as small business owners and entrepreneurs, and the devastating effects of P.A. 495 on those caught in its crosshairs. It’s a compelling true story of our search for justice and an enlightening account of what can happen when government operates without parameters or accountability, and at the behest of those with money and power.

“Under Color of Law” has won the Aspiring Writers Association of America’s 2015 Manuscript Critique Award, and is slated for publication later this year on Amazon.com, and in paperback. It exposes how legislators sidestepped critical mandates and procedural guidelines to accomplish what it appears lobbyists and big businesses desired; and highlights how devastating laws can be when legislators are allowed to conduct business in such a reckless and egregious fashion.

I am looking for media publicity to promote “Under Color of Law,” and forums in which to address these actions. It is our desire that the book and publicity surrounding it will help to open dialogue and illicit changes in the legislative process to prevent the devastating results P.A. 495 had on businesses in our state, as well as the customers who depended on them.

 

If you have any ideas, please contact me at undercoloroflaw@gmail.com, or leave a post.

UNDER COLOR of LAW

Local Author, Local Story

* About muscle cars,

* the dream of small business ownership,

* and the search for justice when government violates its own laws

The Story of Public Act 495

The Civil Rights Act of 1871 now 42 U.S.C.A Section 1983 “SECTION 242.  Deprivation of rights under color of law.”

“Whoever, under color of law, statute, ordinance, regulation, or custom, subjects or causes to be subjected, any person in any State, Territory, Commonwealth, Possession, or District to the deprivation of any rights privileges, or immunities secured or protected by the Constitution or laws of the United States…shall be liable to the party injured in an action at law, Suite in equity, or other proper proceeding for redress…

 

P.A. 495 was passed in December of 2004 by the Michigan Legislature, and signed into law on December 27, 2004 by Governor Jennifer Granholm. This law had far-reaching effects, some of which were not anticipated by the Legislators, or even those behind it. For many caught in its cross-hairs, life would never be the same. We were among those. "Under Color of Law" is our story.

Excerpt from "Under Color of Law"

Our little enterprise grew, as did Joe’s reputation as an expert in the early muscle cars and classics. He became known, not just for having rare and hard to find parts, but also for his knowledge and ability to find these desirable cars...It was not unusual to have a variety of muscle cars in our yard. I looked out one day to see two Camaro Z-28s; the distinctive white stripes emphasizing their pedigree. I snapped a picture of the twin Z’s, and wondered how many car buffs dreamed of having a driveway that looked like ours.

                                

                          A picture of our driveway at our house in Flint back in the early ’80’s

 

Manuscript Submitted!

This is a big day! The manuscript has been submitted to the publisher along with all of the supporting documents. Now the editing and cover design needs to be done. Will start contacting media outlets with a press release and looking for promo opportunities soon. Looking for others who have experienced government intrusion into their property rights or civil liberties. Tell us your story.

Contract signed! Today a contract was signed with Hatchback Publishing for publication of Under Color of Law. This is a huge step in the process, brought about by winning the 2015 AWAOA Manuscript Critique contest. All materials are slated to be delivered by August 31st. A mock up of the cover has been done, and editing of the book will be next. On schedule for a November or December book launch.

Under Color of Law

Under Color of Law is finally up and running. The book by this title is slated for publication late in 2015. It has already won the Aspiring Writers Association of America's 2015 Manuscript Critique Contest. I will be putting notices in as various milestones are accomplished in this process.

Under Color of Law is the true story of our journey as small business owners and entrepreneurs. It details our plight after a law designed to put us out of business was passed by the Michigan Legislature, and how we fought back against insurmountable odds. It’s an enlightening story of what can happen to anyone when government operates without parameters or accountability, and at the behest of those with money and power.

If you have been affected by government action, had your business affected by government interference, or had government violate your due process rights, we would like to hear from you at undercoloroflaw@gmail.com.