Published February 8th, 2010
Patrick Malone, a leading medical malpractice attorney and patient safety advocate has authored a book titled The Life You Save: Nine Steps to Finding the Best Medical Care and Avoiding the Worst. Malone writes, “Before I became a lawyer, I spent a decade as a journalist covering both the best and the worst of the American medical system. In both careers, I’ve learned how to find the best medical care and avoid the worst. I’ve learned that you don’t have to have a degree in medicine to understand enough to make smart medical choices. I’ve learned that you do need common sense, curiosity, and persistence.”
The Life You Save has earned five star ratings on Amazon and is available for purchase at $15.95 per copy at most book retailers. To read an excerpt visit: http://liveyousave.com/excerpt.html
Posted in Helpful Articles
Published December 21st, 2009
On December 8, 2009, the Pensacola Police Department (PPD) announced that it had changed its “police chase” policy as a result of the death of 17 year old Victor Steen. The change prohibits officers, in a police car, from chasing vehicles, bicycles and pedestrians through heavily populated areas like apartment complexes and parking lots . This change in policy comes after the PPD’s October revision to its taser policy, also a result of Steen’s death. Officer Jerald Ard fatally injured Victor Steen on October 3, 2009 when Steen, on bicycle, fell into the path of Ard’s cruiser. Officer Ard also fired a Taser from the window of his car while in pursuit of Steen. The Florida Department of Law Enforcement continues to investigate Steen’s death and Officer Ard’s professional conduct.
Tags: police abuse, police brutality, police death, Police Misconduct, Victor Steen
Posted in Police Misconduct
Published November 18th, 2009
The majority of law enforcement officers in this country perform their difficult occupations with a respect for the law and the community. However, there are some officers who believe that the power of their job elevates them to a different position then you and me…above the law. When an officer acts in a manner contrary to the law, he or she is engaging in police misconduct.
It is a violation of your rights for an officer acting under the “color of law” to deprive you of any right protected by the Constitution or laws of the United States. Police misconduct prohibited by these laws includes excessive force, sexual assault, intentional false arrest, and the intentional creation of evidence resulting in a loss of liberty to another.
Most of us think that we could never be a victim of police misconduct because we obey the law. In my practice, I commonly encounter the mentality that only criminals have run-ins with law enforcement officers. Bad things only happen to bad people right? The scary truth is that we are all potential victims.
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Tags: civil rights, Keith Weidner, police abuse, police brutality, Police Misconduct
Posted in Helpful Articles, Police Misconduct
Published November 4th, 2009
Sophisticated seniors are finding strategies to optimize retirees’ Social Security benefits reports Linda Stern in Newsweek. Whether sharing spousal benefits and then refunding and restarting their benefits or claiming and deferring their monthly checks, seniors are “winning” the Social Security Game. Before you decide to take early benefits or defer benefits until you reach full retirement, read about the loopholes of opportunity in the current system.
http://www.newsweek.com/id/219715
Tags: retirees, Social Security benefits, spousal benefits
Posted in Helpful Articles
Published November 4th, 2009
Tresa Bladas reports in the National Law Journal on this class action suit against Wal-Mart which reached settlement this week. The suit, filed in 2004, alleged that employees were not compensated for off-the-clock work and overtime. In addition, employees claimed that they were denied breaks and that time records were falsified. U.S. District Court Judge Phillip Pro commended the attorneys diligence in bringing this suit, long before such wage claims were popular in litigation. In his ruling, he awarded more than 135 plaintiffs attorneys one third of the payout amount as negotiated in the settlement with Wal-Mart.
http://www.law.com/jsp/article.jsp?id=1202435164216
Tags: labor law, wage law
Posted in Helpful Articles
Published October 20th, 2009
Most clients have a limited understanding about the insurance products they purchase until they need to make a claim. Since the majority of my legal practice is litigating insurance claims, I spend a lot of time educating clients about the insurance they have or should have obtained. Unfortunately, many clients discover after a claim is made that their insurance is not sufficient to protect them or simply does not provide protection at all. I am devoting several of my blogs to helping you understand more about insurance products. These blogs are aimed at advising you about how various insurance products may or may not cover you and your loved ones. Continue Reading
Posted in Insurance Law, Personal Injury
