Los Angeles Lawyer Articles

High Rates of Binge Drinking among College Students Increases DUI Risks

2012-01-18T11:07:00.000-08:00

Approximately one in every 4 American adults between the age of 18 and 34 has drunk excessive amounts of alcohol or binged on at least one occasion over the previous month. In the general population, the rate is approximately 1 in 6 adults. Further, college-age drinkers who drink excessively are likely to consume as many as 9 drinks at a shot.

In the general population, binge drinking is the consumption of around 5 alcoholic beverages over a 2-hour period. However, among college drinkers, the average number of drinks consumed in a binge drinking session seems to touch 9 drinks. The national average number of drinks consumed per episode of binge drinking is about 8.

A study by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention also provided other indications that the problem of binge drinking is much more widespread than we know. For instance, according to the agency, approximately half of the alcohol that is consumed in the United States is consumed during episodes of binge drinking. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says that there's a mismatch between alcohol sales figures, and the amount that people say they're consuming. In short, people are actually buying more alcohol than they're admitting to drinking, based on sales figures.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention conducted a telephone survey of more than 450,000 adults, and questioned them about their binge drinking practices over the past month.

Binge drinking is also surprisingly prevalent among persons above 65 although the average number of drinks consumed in this age group is less than 6. However, Los Angeles DUI lawyers are especially concerned about high rates of binge drinking among college students, because these drinkers may not be able to safely determine their own ability to drive safely after.

Half of All Americans Want License Suspensions for Texting Offenses

2012-01-08T12:36:00.000-08:00

Approximately half of all Americans surveyed in a recent poll believe that persons who are found texting while driving must lose their license for a little while.

The cell phone survey consisted of 1,094 registered voters. The persons were asked whether they believed that a person caught texting while driving should lose their license privileges at least for some time. Approximately 50% of the Americans in the survey answered with a ‘Yes’. However, there were differences in the responses based on age, race and other factors.

No San Fernando Valley car accident lawyer would be surprised to find that older drivers were more likely to answer ‘yes’ to this question than younger drivers. Younger motorists were less likely to recommend losing of license privileges for texting offenses. Only 39% of drivers between 18 and 29 believed that it was advisable to suspend licenses of persons who are caught violating these laws. In contrast, among older drivers above 65, close to 67% believed that drivers who are found texting while driving should have their driving privileges suspended.

Women also seem to be more in favor of suspension of license privileges for texting offenses, compared to men. Approximately 52% of women were in favor of a law like this. Approximately 50% of whites and Hispanics believed that a law like this was recommended, while only 42% of African Americans believed that drivers caught texting while driving should lose their license privileges for a little while.

San Fernando Valley car accident lawyers believe that the practice of texting while driving in California could be reduced substantially if the current penalties also include license suspensions, like in the case of drunk motorists. The limited success that California's texting-while-driving ban has had could be traced partly due to the unintimidating penalties attached.

California AG Demands Response to Foreclosure Questions from Fannie Mae, Freddie Mac

2011-12-31T11:06:00.000-08:00

California's attorney general has filed a lawsuit against Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac, demanding that the 2 companies respond to questions as part of a state investigation.

The office of Attorney General Kamala Harris, has filed the lawsuit, which demands that, the 2 mortgage firms, which own 60% of the mortgages in California, respond to questions on the companies’ contribution to the mortgage crisis. The California Attorney General wants Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac to respond to 51 investigative subpoenas, asking them to identify all the homes in California that they have foreclosed.

The lawsuit is also asking the 2 mortgage companies to disclose whether they have any information about the reduced value of those residential properties due to criminal activity, including drug dealing and prostitution or the location of weapons on those properties. The mortgage firms are also being asked to disclose whether they are in full compliance with civil rights laws that protect certain groups of people, like members of the Armed Forces and minority communities from unlawful convictions and foreclosures.

California personal bankruptcy lawyers will definitely monitor the proceedings in this lawsuit. At the crux of the lawsuit is a question about whether states have the right to question mortgage firms which are governed by federal law. However, the California Attorney General says that since Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac owned properties in California, they are subject to California laws.

Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac were taken over by the federal government in an attempt to save them from collapse in 2008. The 2 companies were placed in a conservatorship under the Federal Housing Finance Agency. The agency’s attorneys say that the subpoenas presented by the California Attorney General's office are vague and ambiguous. The companies also claim that the state attorney general does not have the power to issue subpoenas against the federal agency.

American Airlines Files for Bankruptcy Protection

2011-11-30T18:43:00.000-08:00

One of the last major airline companies in the United States to avoid Chapter 11 has finally decided to restructure to begin anew. AMR Corp., the parent company of American Airlines announced that it has filed for bankruptcy protection.

According to the company, the reason for the bankruptcy filing is high labor costs as well as the unstable economy. One of the main goals that the company is aiming for out of its bankruptcy proceedings is lowered labor costs. The company has recently been in talks with labor unions, but those talks were stopped earlier this month.

Until last Tuesday when it filed for bankruptcy protection, the airline was the last major carrier network in the United States to avoid bankruptcy since the September 11 attacks. Many of American Airlines’ competitors have dealt with their financial difficulties by dealing directly with labor problems. They have renegotiated labor contracts, and restructured debt by consulting with California bankruptcy attorneys. Some of these airlines have been able to turn their balance sheets around since then, reporting solid profit margins.

AMR Corp. declared a net loss of $804 million in the first 9 months of 2011. That was more than double the company's losses during the same time last year. Another factor in the company’s financial troubles has been increased competition in the airline industry. In recent years, competitors like Southwest Airlines have grabbed a major slice of market share. In order to meet competition, the company was forced to increase its borrowing, pledging all assets, leaving it heavily in debt.

According to the company, the airline will function as normal throughout the bankruptcy and restructuring process. Passengers are not expected to be affected by the bankruptcy proceedings. All flights will operate as scheduled, and all frequent flyer programs will be honored.

Increase in California Foreclosures as Talks between State and Federal Officials Stall

2011-10-24T12:47:00.000-07:00

Banks increased foreclosure activity in August, contributing to an increasing number of foreclosures in the third quarter of 2011. This brings to a close a nearly year-long let-up in foreclosure activity across the state.

According to DataQuick, the number of notices of default filed increased by close to 26% over the second quarter. During the second quarter, the number of notices of default filed had dropped to a three-year low. During the quarter that ended September 30, an estimated 71,275 notices of default were filed against California homes. For any homeowner or California foreclosure alternative lawyer, filing of a notice of default denotes the first step in the foreclosure process.

Most of the homes that are now going into foreclosure were purchased with loans that were made between 2005 and 2007, the peak of the housing bubble. During that time, many loans were made to people who did not have the means to repay them, resulting in numerous foreclosures.

Investigations found that banks had used faulty documentation and shoddy practices in order to speed up loan approvals. Additionally, there were numerous investigations into foreclosure and mortgage practices that led to a backlog of distressed properties. Now, banks have accelerated foreclosure activity again.

The increase in foreclosures also comes as talks between California and federal officials over a broad foreclosure settlement have stalled. The talks involve the five largest national mortgage service providers, and state attorney generals. California recently decided to drop out of the talks, and resolve the foreclosure crisis in the state on its own. California Atty. Gen, Kamala Harris has been unhappy with the negotiations with mortgage service providers because she believes that the banks are being offered broad relief from legal liability in these foreclosures.

California Democrats Call on Federal Administration to Take Action on Foreclosures

2011-10-19T13:31:00.000-07:00

Frustration over the state’s continually high number of foreclosures is causing concern among California foreclosure lawyers and lawmakers too. California House Democrats last week criticized the Obama administration for not doing enough to resolve the foreclosure crisis.

The Democratic delegation has sent a letter to the president, asking him to take measures that housing groups have been pushing for ever since the financial crisis began. These measures include refinancing all mortgages owned or guaranteed by Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac, and allowing principal write-downs of certain mortgages through bankruptcy protection in order to avoid foreclosures. The measures also include establishing a Homeowners’ Bill of Rights that would require the review of documents in a timely manner and include other changes that benefit homeowners.

Much of this criticism of the administration’s handling of the foreclosure crisis has to do with the fact that next year is an election year, and many of California's lawmakers are bound to face disgruntled voters. Some lawmakers, like those in the Central Valley district, may find this to be an especially difficult election, because these areas have been hit especially hard by foreclosures.

While the Obama administration has called on regulators who are currently overseeing Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac to allow more refinancing, it has rejected mandatory refinancing of all mortgages. Measures like this would add to the federal administration's already huge bailout bill.

The federal administration has responded to California lawmakers’ concerns by assuring them that the president is already taking measures to help struggling homeowners, especially those in states like California with a massive foreclosure crisis. The Hardest Hit Fund will be diverging funds to states that have the most foreclosures, including $2 billion to California.

Toyota’s Auto Safety Efforts Focus on Prevention of Teen, Senior-Related Accidents

2011-09-27T14:56:00.000-07:00

With some of the worst years in its history just behind it, Toyota Motor Co. is battling to regain some of its reputation for safety by backing high-end research and developing partnerships with leading universities around the country. In January, the automaker announced that it would spend $50 million on its Collaborative Safety Research Center over the next five years.

The center, located in Ann Arbor, Michigan, will focus on technologies to prevent accidents involving children, teenagers and seniors. Further, the company will invest heavily in research into accident prevention technologies and accident reconstruction.

Toyota continues to face hundreds of personal injury and wrongful death lawsuits filed by San Fernando Valley car accident lawyers and involving sudden and unintended acceleration in its vehicles. Unintended acceleration was the primary factor in several Toyota recalls since 2009. However, the company has also announced a number of other recalls for a variety of safety issues. These recalls have severely damaged Toyota’s credibility and reputation. Toyota hopes that its new investments in auto safety efforts will diminish the damaging impact of its recent recalls.

The company has announced partnerships with some of the brightest minds in the engineering industry, including the Massachusetts Institute of Technology's AgeLab, the Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, Indiana University-Purdue University Indianapolis Transportation Safety Institute, Wayne State University School of Medicine and the Washtenaw Area Transportation Study. Additionally, Toyota researchers will also work together with researchers from the University of Michigan, the Children's Hospital Philadelphia as well as the Virginia Tech Transportation Institute.

One of the company’s major focuses as part of its auto safety efforts is researching the effectiveness of voice-activated communication systems in automobiles. In this effort, the company is partnering with the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. The company also wants to probe technologies to prevent accidents involving seniors and teen motorists, and ways to keep children safer in traffic accidents.

California Company Announces Recall of Off-Road Motorcycles Due to Injury Risks

2011-09-13T14:01:00.000-07:00

A company based in Murrieta, California has announced a recall of more than 6,000 off-road motorcycles because of the risks of fall accident hazards. The Consumer Product Safety Commission and KTM North America Inc. announced the recall.

The recall includes 6,117 off-road motorcycles because of the risk that the handlebar clamp can develop cracks while in use. This can cause the handlebars to move from position, posing a serious fall and accident hazard to a motorcyclist. The recall involves all 2011 KTM and Husaberg off-road motorcycles.

According to KTM North America, it has received at least one report of an accident caused because of this defect. In this incident, the handlebar clamps cracked, and handlebars were left unsecured. The motorcyclist was thrown off his vehicle, and received injuries that were serious enough for him to be hospitalized.

KTM bikes that are included in the recall come with the model name and the KTM logo on the right and left shrouds. The Husaberg motorcycles that are included in the recall include models FE and FX. These bikes were blue, yellow and white in color. These motorcycles were sold between April 2010 and May 2011. The motorcycles were manufactured in Austria.

The Consumer Product Safety Commission wants consumers to stop using the recalled motorcycles immediately, and contact KTM or Husaberg dealers immediately for free repairs.

Not all accidents that Los Angeles motorcycle accident lawyers come across are caused by the negligence of motorists. Many accidents every year are caused because of a defective component in the motorcycle. Besides defective handlebar clamps, there may be defects in the motorcycle tires and wheels. Motorcycle defects are even more dangerous than auto defects, because motorcyclists already have minimal protection preventing injuries in a motorcycle accident. Even a minor mechanical malfunction can cause the motorcyclist to be thrown off, resulting in a severe personal injuries or even wrongful death.

What Can I Use My Probate Cash Advance for?

2011-08-31T21:42:00.000-07:00

When a probate cash company offers you an advance on your inheritance, there are no restrictions on what you can use the money for. There are a number of reasons why a person might need a probate cash advance. For instance, there may be debts to clear, and mortgages to pay off. Sometimes, a person may be in line for a large inheritance, and might need cash to meet his daily expenses while he waits for the probate process to be completed.

California probate cash lawyers would not encourage persons to grab an inheritance cash advance without thinking about what exactly they need this money for. Your inheritance is a gift for you from the deceased, who likely spent much time and effort in determining that you were the best person to receive it. The last thing you want to do is run through it, and find that you have spent more of your inheritance than you're comfortable with, a few months down the line.

The bottom line is that any frivolous or irresponsible spending can be harmful for your future financial health. This is especially true if your inheritance isn't a very large-sized one to begin with. This may not be the right time to decide that you want an LED TV or some other equally unnecessary purchase.

While your California probate cash advance company will not stop you from spending your cash on whatever you like, it's highly advisable that you spend it on something that either makes money for you in the long run, or reduces your debt. For instance, you could use your probate cash advance to pay off your credit card debt. Another good idea would be to use your cash advance to fatten your retirement account.

What You Can Expect after Bankruptcy

2011-08-31T12:50:00.000-07:00

There are several advantages you can expect if you make the decision to apply for Chapter 7 bankruptcy protection. However, filing for bankruptcy does have at least a few unpleasant consequences.

The biggest impact that a bankruptcy can have is on your credit record. You can expect the bankruptcy to remain on your credit record for a period of 10 years. During this time, you may find it difficult to purchase a home, buy a car, or purchase life insurance.

When you file for bankruptcy protection, you can expect to lose at least some of your luxuries. You will also automatically lose your credit cards. Once you file for bankruptcy protection, you may not be able to obtain a mortgage in the short term. However, you may be eligible for a mortgage again after five years.

Additionally, filing for bankruptcy does not mean all of your debts are completely eliminated. Some kinds of debt like student loans may still remain on your record.
Besides, there's the emotional impact of filing for bankruptcy. For most people who put off a declaration of bankruptcy, the reason is very often simply a reluctance to admit defeat.

The above reasons are not meant to discourage you if you are considering filing for bankruptcy. There are several benefits to filing for bankruptcy protection, including the elimination of harassment by creditors. Los Angeles bankruptcy lawyers would however recommend that a person filing for bankruptcy is well aware of all possible consequences of these actions.

The good news is that almost none of these consequences will actually last over the long-term. After a few years, you may be able to get your life back on track, and eliminate the bankruptcy from your record.

Study on Motorcycle Safety Promises New Observations about Preventing Accidents

2011-08-31T10:08:00.000-07:00

When the Motorcycle Safety Foundation announced that it would be initiating its own study into motorcycle accident causation relying on naturalistic methods, Los Angeles motorcycle accident lawyers were intrigued. That study has now begun.

The Motorcycle Safety Foundation's study emerged out of the group’s disapproval of another study commissioned by the federal government. That study was to have been conducted by the Oklahoma State University's Oklahoma Transportation Center, and initially was designed to analyze 900 motorcycle accidents. However, due to funding concerns, the number of motorcycle accidents that would be included in the study was soon reduced to 300. At this point, the Motorcycle Safety Foundation withdrew its pledge of funding approximately $3 million for that study.

The Motorcycle Safety Foundation study is being assisted by the Virginia Tech Transportation Institute and the National Highway Traffic Administration.

The naturalistic study uses strategically positioned, unobtrusive video cameras on motorcycles. The cameras will record motorcyclists’ riding behavior, especially the events that surround an accident. This is real-time data which doesn't get any more authentic. Through these cameras, researchers will be able to pinpoint the causes surrounding the crash, and determine the kind of motorcyclist behavior that contributed to, or prevented a crash. This is the world's first naturalistic study into motorcycle crash causation.

A total of 100 motorcycle riders will be recruited for the MSF 100 Motorcyclist Naturalistic Study. Anonymous motorcyclists have been recruited on the basis of the age and model of the motorcycle. The motorcycles will be equipped with extensive recording equipment, including five video cameras, a GPS receiver, gyro, accelerometers, sensors and trackers. With this equipment, the researchers hope to capture data that is comprehensive and accurate, providing results that could help develop stronger and updated motorcycle accident prevention policies.

CHP Urges Caution after String of Motorcycle Accidents in San Diego

2011-08-02T07:55:00.000-07:00

San Diego County recorded some of the highest numbers of motorcycle accidents in California in 2009. The California Highway Patrol is now urging motorists to exercise greater caution while driving.

In 2009, they were 1,100 motorcycle accidents in San Diego County. Out of these, twenty-six occurred at a particularly dangerous intersection. In 2010, there had been seven fatal motorcycle accidents, and during the first six months of 2011 alone, there have been five fatal motorcycle accidents here. In San Diego, motorcycle accident fatalities account for a large percentage of the total accident fatality toll every year. They account for less than 5% of vehicles, but comprise more than 30% of the total number of accident fatalities annually.

The California Highway Patrol and California motorcycle accident lawyers have been sufficiently concerned to urge motorists to look out especially closely for motorcyclists this summer. According to the CHP, the worst intersection for motorcyclists in San Diego County is a particular intersection in the East County where there have been more than twenty-six motorcycle accidents. Out of these, more than 50% of the accidents involved motorcycles and cars.

The California Highway Patrol is urging motorists to slow down while driving, especially when they're near intersections. In fact, according to the agency, approximately 90% of motorcycle accidents would not even occur if motorists were driving at safe speeds.

Drivers must look out for motorcyclists near intersections, and also in their blind spots. A motorcyclist can easily be hidden in the driver's blind spot, emerging suddenly out of seemingly nowhere, with dangerous consequences. Motorcyclists can also do their part by learning about the blind spots in a motorist’s field of vision, like right behind the car, and avoiding staying in these fields for long.

Decline in Auto Accident Deaths in California Last Year

2011-07-25T14:06:00.000-07:00

For the fifth consecutive year, there has been a drop in car accident fatalities in the state of California. According to statistics by the California Office of Traffic Safety, auto accident fatalities in 2010 dropped to 2,715 from 3,081 deaths in 2009. That was an 11.9% drop, and is the biggest drop recorded in California since 1944. For some more perspective, it is a drop of 37% from 2005.

The California Office of Traffic Safety attributes this decline to a number of factors, including increased and high visibility enforcement, expanded use of sobriety checkpoints across California, as well as the use of public awareness campaigns. However, Los Angeles car accident attorneys believe that the drop has much more to do with the fact that people are driving safer cars and that there are now fewer accidents involving people who think it is safe to drive after they have had a few drinks. The fact that drunk driving accidents have been down over the past five years, has contributed to a substantial decline in auto accident deaths.

The California Office of Traffic Safety also believes that safer highway design and easier access to emergency and trauma care services is helping save more lives in accidents.

More than 2,700 accident deaths in a year in spite of safer vehicles, fewer drunk drivers and greater adherence to traffic safety laws, is no reason for celebration. Fortunately the California Office of Traffic Safety does not plan to let up on accident prevention efforts. The agency plans to give out millions of dollars in grants to local agencies around the state to be used for highway safety initiatives.

However, most of the grants will fund prevention of drunk driving accidents, with little attention paid to other growing accident factors, like the increasing number of drivers driving under the influence of prescription medications, or distracted drivers.

Spiritual Health Can Help Brain Injury Patients Heal Better

2011-07-09T12:36:00.000-07:00

A strong spiritual relationship may help patients with a brain injury heal faster. According to researchers from Wayne State University's College of Liberal Arts and Sciences, belief in a higher power or a supreme being can help a brain injury patient’s process of rehabilitation. The research is published in the journal, Rehabilitation Psychology.

According to the researchers, they were aware that religion and spirituality is typically associated with better physical and mental health outcomes. However, they had little information about what kind of effect a strong religious foundation would have on recovery after a brain injury.

To establish a link between spiritual health and brain injury recovery, the researchers interviewed 88 persons with traumatic brain injury. Most of the subjects were male African-American Christians. The participants were also put through a neuropsychological study of their cognitive abilities. The partners of these participants were also involved, and gave their input about the individual's cognitive abilities.

The researchers found that a majority of the participants who had a belief in a supreme being, reported higher rates of success in emotional and physical rehabilitation. Intriguingly enough, the study did not find that participation in religious activities, like going to church, speeds up a person's recovery after a brain injury. In fact, such religious activities seemed to have no effect at all on the results of the rehabilitation.

According to the researchers, this is likely because patients who suffer from a traumatic brain injury do not have the ability to attend religious activities on their own. These people may be dependent on others to take them to church, or to participate in socio-religious activities. This may be why these activities don't dramatically impact recovery after a brain injury.

California brain injury lawyers would explain this effect of spirituality on rehabilitation through the widely-accepted fact that faith helps individuals through difficult times. These people may feel less stressed about their condition. A sense of calm and lowered stress levels can only be conducive to any kind of rehabilitation.

Calls for Safety Technology to Prevent Table Saw-Related Accidents

2011-06-17T14:23:00.000-07:00

According to the National Consumers’ League, every year more than 4,000 people suffer horrific amputation injuries involving the use of table saws. Most of table saw injuries occur at home. The average medical bill for a person who suffers a finger amputation from a table saw-related accident is about $30,000. The total cost of these injuries is more than $2 billion a year.

The worst part of it all is that these injuries are preventable. The technology to prevent amputations from the use of table saws and bench saws has been around for years now, but manufacturers of table saws have failed to adopt this technology in their tools.

Now, the National Consumers’ League is asking the Consumer Product Safety Commission to pressure the industry to install amputation-prevention technology in their tools. The technology to prevent these injuries is Saw Stop. It has been around for a while, and has been widely proven to prevent amputation injuries from the use of table saws. Saw Stop works by detecting a finger in the path of the blade. When the finger is detected, the machine automatically switches off.

However, the company that manufactures Saw Stop has already begun its own line of tools incorporating the technology. Other manufacturers don't want the Consumer Product Safety Commission to mandate Saw Stop technology because it would give that company an unfair edge over their tools.

While manufacturers continue to delay, thousands of innocent people suffer serious injuries from dangerous products every year that can leave them incapacitated. Amputations can be life altering injuries. According to the industry, these tools are currently equipped with plastic guarding systems that protect them from injuries. However, Los Angeles personal injury attorneys believe that the guarding technology is hardly useful, because it discourages easy use of the tool, and therefore, consumers are simply likely to remove the guard.

High Incidence of Traumatic Brain Injury in Prison Population

2011-06-07T11:06:00.000-07:00

A new report indicates a substantially increased risk of traumatic brain injury in prison inmates compared to the general, non-incarcerated population. Brain injury among prisoners is a much neglected and underestimated health and safety issue facing these people.

According to the study Traumatic Brain Injury among Prisoners, brain injuries are believed to affect an estimated 25% to 87% of the prison population in the country. In comparison, about 8.5% of the non-incarcerated population of the country suffers from traumatic brain injury. The incidence of traumatic brain injury in the prison population therefore, may be as much as 10 times as in the non-incarcerated population.

There have been other studies and surveys that have pointed to the causes of such injuries. In a study conducted among male prisoners in Minnesota, the survey found that of the 998 inmates, an approximate 82% reported having suffered from one or more head injuries during their lives. Most of these injuries were caused by assault, auto accidents and sports accidents. However, the Minnesota study seems to indicate that prisoners may also be at risk of suffering brain injury because of certain unique prison factors. For instance in Minnesota, incarcerated gang members are sometimes initiated through a procedure called “pumpkinhead,” in which a person is severely beaten until his head swells like a pumpkin.

Another study showed that traumatic brain injury occurs among prisoners who knock their heads against the cell walls or bars until they are unconscious. This is very often seen in persons who are restrained in isolated cells.

The report makes for fascinating reading. California brain injury attorneys suspect that the problem is even greater in California with its overcrowded and congested prisons that have recently been criticized by the Supreme Court because of the lack of medical care.

Why You Need a Business Lawyer Even for a Startup

2011-05-25T12:00:00.000-07:00

Every business needs a strong legal foundation. If the legal fine print of the partnership agreement, shareholder matters and other issues are not defined properly, you could find yourself in a position where you're involved in ugly litigation, needing the services of an attorney. Unfortunately California business litigation lawyers often come across people who rush into startups or small businesses without bothering to have an attorney involved. A business lawyer can help you get it right at the very outset.

A business of almost any size can benefit from having a business attorney at the start. However, having a lawyer on board is absolutely imperative when you are starting a partnership. Often, people enter into partnership agreements without really thinking through partnership issues. As a result, a few years down the line, they get entangled in nasty disputes that can quickly get ugly. Having a business lawyer on board right at the outset can help prevent such disputes, and outline the steps to be taken to resolve a dispute when it does arise.

You also need a Los Angeles business attorney on board if you have ambitious plans for the future and expect your company to grow rapidly. With rapid growth can come rapid challenges and friction within a company. A business lawyer has experience setting up all kinds of businesses, and has seen firsthand the challenges that can arise in the future. He can help you avoid these challenges, or prepare you adequately for dealing with them. A business lawyer is also absolutely necessary when you're signing a shareholder agreement.

Needless to mention, an attorney will cost you less if you hire one at the time of setting up the business than if you go looking for one to resolve the dispute.

Survey Indicates Americans Want More Government Rules to Prevent Accidents

2011-05-23T10:45:00.000-07:00

Less government is not necessarily better government, at least when it comes to traffic accident prevention. That's the message Americans are sending to the federal government. A new survey by the AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety finds that a majority of Americans want the federal administration to enact more laws to prevent motor vehicle accidents and keep Americans safer while traveling.

Sixty percent of the respondents in the survey wanted more laws to prevent motorists from indulging in dangerous behavior behind the wheel. Further, 57% also wants states to get more involved in passing laws to keep motorists safer. At least 70% of respondents in the survey also wanted stricter enforcement of current driving laws. There also seems to be strong support for tough graduated driver licensing standards for teen drivers. Eighty six percent of the respondents in the survey wanted teen drivers to complete a driver’s education program before they are receive a driver’s license.

Another fact that emerged from the survey that California car accident attorneys find particularly interesting, is that Americans believe carmakers could be doing more to keep motorists and passengers safe. Increasingly safer cars are one of the reasons why traffic accident deaths around the country have been declining, but at least 50% of the respondents in the survey believe that automakers could be doing more to make their cars safer.

The survey coincides with an initiative by the United Nations to reduce traffic accident deaths around the globe. The ten-year initiative aims to reduce worldwide traffic accident deaths by the year 2020. The Initiative is called Decade of Action for Road Safety, and aims to work with governments around the world to affect traffic safety change, to help reduce the number of fatal traffic accidents and save lives. According to the initiative, more than 1.3 million people die every year in traffic accidents. In the United States, motor vehicle accidents are the number one cause of death for teenagers and young children, and also one of the leading causes of accidental death for the general population.

Risk of Fractures in Elderly from Thyroid Drugs

2011-05-03T15:02:00.000-07:00

Elderly patients, who are on thyroid medications to treat hypothyroidism or an under active thyroid, may be at a higher risk of suffering fractures. According to a new study, California pharmaceutical product liability lawyers may have reason to be concerned that elderly patients who are on the drug levothyroxine, which is a synthetic form of the thyroid hormone, may be at a higher risk of such fractures.

The researchers analyzed data from 200,000 female patients aged 70 and above who were prescribed levothyroxine between April 2002 and March 2007. The researchers then tracked these patients during the follow-up period, which lasted until March 2008. They found that at least 10% of these patients who had taken levothyroxine during the study period, suffered at least one fracture during the follow-up period.

Some levothyroxine users were much more likely to suffer fractures. For instance, people who had recently started taking the drug, or were currently taking the drug were at a much higher risk of suffering fractures, compared to those people who stopped taking the drug a long time ago or had stopped taking it in the past. There is a strong link between the risk of fractures and the dosage of the levothyroxine. People who took high doses had a risk of suffering a fracture that was 3.5 times greater, compared to patients who took lower doses of levothyroxine.

The researchers have concluded that the use of levothyroxine seems to increase the risk of fractures in both men and women, even after considering other factors that could cause fractures.

The researchers are advising that older patients who are on thyroid hormone replacement therapy like levothyroxine, be monitored regularly to determine whether the dosage needs to be adjusted over a period of time. It's also important for doctors to consider that there may be a natural reduction in the thyroid hormone as a result of age, which needs to be taken into consideration while deciding dosage.

FINRA Awards California Elder Financial Abuse Victim $1.6 Million in Fraud Case

2011-04-27T14:43:00.000-07:00

Earlier this year, the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority panel awarded a senior investor $1.6 million in an elder financial fraud case involving a California company.

The company, Stock Cross Financial Services Inc. had been accused of financial misconduct. The senior citizen alleged that the company recommended unsuitable and highly risky investment opportunities. Besides, Stock Cross encouraged the plaintiff to leverage the equity in his home and invest the capital.

The fraud was continuous, and left the citizens with almost nothing left to defraud. Stock Cross and its officers managed to relieve the senior of almost all his assets, including his emergency and medical cash reserves, the equity in his home, and even the money received by the insurer to replace his car.

The Financial Industry Regulatory Authority panel has awarded the senior citizen $320,000 in compensatory damages. He has also been awarded $960,000 in elder abuse damages, $234,000 in legal fees, as well as other costs.

San Francisco elder financial fraud lawyers find that senior citizens are often victims of all kinds of fraudulent schemes. Most often these schemes involve fraudulent sales of securities. Very often, such fraud involves unsuitable recommendations or fraudulent advice made to the senior citizen, over trading, misrepresentation, and failure to diversify investments. Besides, brokers may give poor advice about employee stock options. Senior citizens may also be at risk of financial abuse through the sale of unsuitable variable and other deferred annuities. They may also be susceptible to pension fund fraud, mismanagement of funds, negligent supervision and brokerage malpractice.

In order to prevent abuse, it's important that senior citizens keep themselves updated on the state of their finances and their portfolio regularly. Keep a lookout especially closely for any loss of income or savings, or any poor investments.

California Criminal Justice Team Recommends Women's Prison Reform

2011-04-26T12:04:00.000-07:00

It’s not a secret to San Diego criminal defense attorneys that the criminal justice system in our state is seriously flawed. As a result, we have the largest prison system in the world, and are now under pressure to reduce the size of our prison population. A big part of dealing with prison reform in California has to do with rethinking our approach to the incarceration of women. According to California Atty. Gen. Kamala Harris’ transition team, not only is our current approach to the incarceration of women financially ruinous, but it also has serious social consequences because of the fact that there are women and families involved.

The transition team comprises of law enforcement and social justice leaders in California. According to the proposals that they have put forward, widespread and unnecessary incarceration of women in California's prisons has contributed to a troubling social structure. Incarcerated women who have no contact with their children are more likely to become repeat offenders. It's a vicious cycle, because the children of such women often end up becoming offenders themselves. Approximately 75% of the 9,500 women in California's prisons are mothers. Besides, the state has the dubious position of having the largest number of female prisoners in the country.

This focus on extensive and widespread incarceration has been financially devastating for the state. The state of California spends about $52,000 to keep one woman in prison for a period of one year. Besides, social services costs for children of female inmates amount to approximately $56 million annually.

For too long, the criminal justice system in California has promoted the extensive and widespread incarceration of women, even for low-level offenses. Most of the women who are currently in California's prisons were convicted of lower-level and nonviolent offenses. In fact, there are studies to indicate that these women are more often the victims of crimes, than the perpetrators of it. Four out of every 10 women in prison in California have been the victims of physical or sexual abuse.

How Do Courts in California Calculate Child Support?

2011-04-13T16:11:00.000-07:00

Under California's laws, both parents have an obligation to support children. However in the case of a divorce or legal separation, one parent can request the other party for child support payments.

Typically, child support will be calculated based on the following factors:

It will include the number of children who are involved. Children will include minor children, and child support payments will cover the children until they turn 18 and graduate from high school, or 19 if they are still in high school.
It will also depend on the amount of time that each parent takes responsibility for the child.
Obviously, it also depends on the gross income of the parent. Gross income will include not just salaries, but also commissions, royalties, bonuses, rent, wages, pensions, and annuities. If one of the parents has been awarded workers’ compensation benefits, Social Security benefits or disability insurance benefits, then child support payments will include these factors too.
The parents’ tax liabilities, including the number of dependents, exclusions, deductions and credits are factored in.
California's child support laws also take into consideration FICA, mandated retirement benefits, health insurance, child support that was paid out by the parent before the court order, and other child support or spousal support payments.
Besides, parents must also provide additional child support in cases where they will be expected to provide training for employment skills, to cover the special needs of the child, to cover travel costs for visitation or to cover the cost of uninsured healthcare.
The parent’s financial situation, including medical expenses, catastrophic financial losses, as well as the living expenses of children with another spouse who live with the parent, must also be considered.

However, in order to fully understand how these laws could impact the payments you receive, it's important to speak with an experienced Pasadena child support lawyer.

Current Retesting Procedures for Older Drivers May Not Prevent Accidents

2011-03-20T11:57:00.000-07:00

A study released last month indicated to Los Angeles car accident lawyers that in California and around the country, there's substantial public support for mandatory retesting of elderly drivers above the age of 65. However, current retesting methods that exist in some states may do an inadequate job of actually gauging an older motorist’s ability to drive safely.

According to a study by Canadian researchers, medical tests that are used to determine an older driver’s levels of fitness, have got it all wrong. According to the researchers, there's only so much that you can learn about an individual's ability to drive in a doctor's office. In a doctor’s clinical environment, there's none of the chaos and confusion that an older motorist can expect to find on a normal California freeway. Besides, a doctor’s office doesn't provide the right kind of setting to determine whether elderly motorists can make sudden emergency decisions and speedy responses to accident risks as they have to in the real world. For instance, in a doctor’s office, it can be hard to determine whether the driver is able to drive safely, and still focus on the pedestrian stepping off a curb.

One of the biggest challenges facing elderly motorists is that they may be able to see things clearly, but may have trouble processing the signals that are transmitted to the brain. For instance, an elderly motorist may take up to 250 ms to recognize something that would take a younger motorist just about 150 ms to see. This delay in recognizing what could be a potentially serious accident risk could prove deadly on the street.

However, according to the researchers, it is possible to retrain certain areas of an elderly motorist’s brain, to make up for the missed activity in other areas of the brain. For instance, using practical techniques, older drivers can also be taught to multitask, using different areas of the brain while they are driving.

Patient Safety at Risk from Ignored Monitor Alarms

2011-03-17T14:10:00.000-07:00

This is one problem that everybody from Arizona medical malpractice attorneys to doctors, hospitals and monitor manufacturers seem to agree is a serious one. However, there are no serious solutions to deal with the high numbers of patient injuries and deaths that occur every year from patient alarms that were neglected. According to estimates, between 2005 and 2010, approximately 200 people died as a result of ignored patient alarms.

A nurse on an average working day in an American hospital will have to deal with several monitor alarms. Many of these alarms are linked to the nurses’ cell phones and pagers, to make sure that they don't miss a single alarm. Ironically, the large number of alarms beeping continually desensitizes nurses to their sound, causing them to ignore the alarms, with possibly catastrophic consequences.

Everybody agrees that these incidents are preventable. The question is how to prevent them. Monitor manufacturers are working on sophisticated new technologies that can reduce the numbers of false alarms. There are efforts on to develop alarms that can more accurately gauge whether a person is in critical condition, before sounding an alert. Hospitals and doctors however, are not in favor of dependence on technology to determine whether a patient needs urgent help. Arizona hospital malpractice lawyers would agree. There seems to be only so much that medical technology can do to reduce what is known in the healthcare sector as “alarm fatigue.”

However, what hospitals can do to prevent such alarm fatigue is to employ more numbers of nurses. Many incidences where nurses ignore alarms can be traced to the fact that they're overstressed and have too many patients in their care at any given moment. If the numbers of patients assigned to a nurse can be reduced, there is a lower likelihood that a nurse will miss an alarm, due to desensitization.

Differences in Elderly Drivers’ Vision Possibly Contributes to Accidents

2011-02-03T11:17:00.000-08:00

Los Angeles car accident attorneys have always known that diminished eyesight and vision in older drivers increases the risk of an accident. However, new research indicates that it's not just diminished eyesight, but also heightened awareness of background movement that could possibly increase the risk of an accident for elderly motorists. The results of the study have been published in the January issue of The Journal of Neuroscience.

The study conducted by researchers at the University of Rochester, found that elderly drivers have an enhanced ability to perceive motion in the background, as compared to younger drivers. Younger drivers can concentrate better on objects that are in the foreground, because of increased activity in a section of the brain, called the medial temporal visual area. These drivers are therefore better able to see bicyclists, pedestrians and other objects in the foreground. In comparison, older drivers may have impaired function of the medial temporal visual area, and as a result, may not be able to concentrate as hard on objects moving in the foreground. Elderly drivers, in contrast, may be better able to focus on objects that are in the background.

The research provides fresh insight into the visual problems affecting older drivers, and how these drivers can be trained to drive safely. The researchers used a technique called Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation. They attached magnetic coils to the back of the person's head, and stimulated the medial temporal visual area of the brain with electrical signals for a period of 15 minutes to impair this portion of the brain. When the medial temporal visual area was in this state of impairment, the researchers tested how well the subjects identified movement of objects.

According to the findings, when the medial temporal visual area was less active, the persons were able to easily identify the movement of objects in the background.

The research seems to indicate some very basic neurological reasons why elderly drivers find it so difficult to spot certain objects on the road. It seems to indicate that elderly drivers are much better at detecting large-scale movement in the background, than small objects in the foreground, like bicyclists or pedestrians. Pedestrians and bicyclists can be easy to miss because of their narrow frames. This poses a serious challenge to elderly drivers, because of their impaired median temporal visual area.

Urban Roads Linked to More Accidents and Fatalities

2011-01-27T12:01:00.000-08:00

A new report out by USA Today doesn't have any surprises for Los Angeles car accident lawyers. According to the report, states with more urban roads are safer than those with a greater proportion of rural roads. The report analyzes states based on the total fatalities in 2009, as well as the accident death rate for every 100,000 population. California had 3,081 accidents in 2009, with a death rate of 8.3 for every 100,000 population.

California is not the most dangerous state in the country, but it is not the safest part of the country either. That honor goes to Washington DC and Massachusetts. Washington DC had 492 deaths in accidents in 2009, with a 7.4 death rate per 100,000 population. Massachusetts had 334 deaths in 2009, and a 5.1 death rate per 100,000 population. The conclusion to draw from the analysis is this - states that have more urban roads have lower speed limits, better designed roads, and easier access to emergency trauma care facilities. These states will have lower accident death rates compared to states that have more rural roads.

Rural roads suffer from a number of disadvantages. These tend to be poorly designed with two lanes, increasing the risk of an accident. Further, rural highways are less likely to come with dividers. A person involved in an accident on a rural street may not have easy access to trauma care facilities during the Golden Hour, or the first hour after the injury occurs. A person’s chances of surviving critical injuries increases if he is given emergency trauma care within the first hour. In rural areas, survivors wait more than an hour to reach the nearest trauma care center, and hence, the higher fatality rates. Besides, rural areas see more numbers of drunk driving accidents, and fewer sobriety checkpoints. There are also fewer crackdowns and lower seat belt use checks on rural roads.

California Couple Killed in Police Chase Accident

2011-01-04T08:34:00.000-08:00

Two people have been killed in a Los Angles auto accident caused by a drunk driver who was fleeing law enforcement personnel over the weekend. The accident occurred on Friday night in Hyde Park, when police officers noticed a vehicle being driven recklessly. They initiated a chase, which ended just a few minutes later when the alleged drunk driver crashed into another car.

In the other car was a couple in their 50’s who on their way home. The husband died at the scene, while the wife was rushed to the injuries with severe injuries, and died later. Meanwhile, the drunk driver has been booked for two counts of murder.

Investigators are still examining the crash scene. Los Angeles car accident lawyers expect questions to be raised about whether the risks of a drunk driving accident where increased because of the chase.

Over the past few years, there has been much concern about high-speed police chases and the risks to innocent bystanders. According to estimates, more than 300 innocent bystanders are killed or seriously injured every year in police chase-related accidents.

Every police department in California has rules governing the initiation of a high-speed chase. Police officers are required to weigh the benefits of initiating a chase versus the risks of an accident. Obviously, this can be a difficult decision because it is impossible to accurately predict the outcome of a chase. Any investigation of this accident will include the circumstances of the case, and whether a chase was necessary. It will also examine the traffic conditions in which this case was initiated. For instance, a high-speed chase involving a drunk motorist on a busy street is clearly dangerous.

California drunk driving injury lawyers do not want police departments to feel like their hands are tied when it comes to making the decision to chase a suspect. But the safety of innocent motorists, bystanders and pedestrians must also factor heavily in the decision to start a chase.

Judge Orders Adopted Woman to Be Deported to Mexico

2010-12-29T09:45:00.000-08:00

A 58-year-old woman, who was adopted by American parents, has been ordered to be deported to Mexico. The woman, Tara Ammona Cohen, has been in detention in Tacoma, Washington since July 2009. The deportation order from the judge relates to a drug conviction she has on her record.

Cohen was adopted from a Mexican orphanage when she was only 5 months old. She was raised and has lived as an American. She married a US citizen and has American children. Unfortunately, her parents never had her naturalized after her adoption. She began to look at the process of gaining US citizenship. However, by that time, she had already been convicted of a crime. She was arrested in 2008 on charges of drug trafficking and theft. She pleaded guilty to theft and trafficking, and served three months of a one-year-and-a-day sentence. When she was released from prison, she was taken into custody by Immigration and Customs Enforcement officials.

Because her citizenship process was not complete, and she did not have legal residency status, she was marked for deportation after her criminal conviction. Cohen has appealed. The federal Bureau of Immigration Appeals will consider her appeal.

Her immigration lawyers insist that she will be persecuted in Mexico. According to her lawyers, the fact that she does not speak the language, or have a method of earning a living in Mexico, would make life as an immigrant in Mexico simply unbearable. She also claims she would likely be subjected to abuse and violence. Further, she suffers from bipolar disorder, and has also been diagnosed with post-traumatic stress disorder. She believes that her disorders make her a candidate for persecution in Mexico. Besides, she has no friends or relatives in Mexico, having lived in the US all of her life.

Issues relating to deportation are some of the most complex that end up before a California immigration lawyer, and immigration laws can be harsh. Conviction of a crime before naturalization is just one way a potential citizen can face deportation.

Burning of George Jakubec Escondido Home Goes As Planned

2010-12-20T13:47:00.000-08:00

It took barely an hour to complete a “controlled burn” of the Escondido rental property that has been linked to an explosives-and-bomb scandal. The house had been rented by George Jakubec, who is currently under arrest on a number of charges. According to San Diego criminal defense attorney Michael Berg, who is representing George Jakubec, there was no need to rush ahead with the burning of the property, considering that Jakubec, his wife and their daughter had lived there for four years without any major explosion.

Before the controlled burn, bomb squad members went back into the house to collect personal documents, including Jakubec’s passport as well as his wife's immigration documents. However, according to Berg, when he requested that the bomb squad members also retrieve some papers that were very relevant to the case, his request was denied. These papers would have provided evidence in the case. Jakubec’s criminal defense lawyer is now preparing to file a motion because of the destroyed evidence.

Jakubec was arrested on November 18th. He was jailed on a $5.1 million bond. He was initially charged by local prosecutors, but state charges were dismissed after a federal grand jury indictment against him. He faces eight charges, including those related to bank robbery, attempted bank holdup, possessing explosive devices, brandishing a firearm during a robbery and illegal manufacture of explosives. He has entered a not guilty plea to each of the charges.

Slow Initial Response to Parenting Classes for Gang Parents

2010-12-16T14:02:00.000-08:00

A new California law that allows judges to send parents of gang members to parenting classes when their children are convicted of gang crimes for the first time, has seen a slow initial response.

The Parent Accountability Act is the first state law that allows judges to require that parents of young gang members undergo special parenting classes to help deal with the teenagers. According to the promoters of the law, the slow response has been mainly due to judges who may be ignorant of the law. Besides, it can be difficult to get parents of gang members, many of whom struggle with two jobs, to make the time to attend these classes. In other cases, it has been a result of parental apathy towards their children.

In fact, the initial response to the program has been so low, that several classes had to be canceled because of the low turnout. However, a class held last month saw six parents attending, and San Diego criminal defense lawyers believe that as parents of young gang members convicted of crimes take part in these programs and are able to gain the parenting skills necessary to prevent such behavior by their children, the program will receive a better response.

During the program, parents receive exposure to drug paraphernalia, and are also alerted to the signs of drug addiction. Parents are exposed to the images of drug addicts before and after the addiction, and signs of drug crimes in their own children. They are also exposed to possible signs of gang involvement, including sudden emergence of tattoos, changes in musical tastes and the use of secret gang hand signals.

The fee for the classes which is about $20, is currently being waived in order to coax more parents to attend. If parents continue to fail to attend, they may be held in contempt by the court.

Verdict Awaited in Concorde Plane Crash

2010-12-05T10:57:00.000-08:00

California plane crash attorneys are expecting a verdict on the devastating Concorde Air France plane crash in France in 2000 soon. Continental Airlines Inc. and five individuals have been charged with manslaughter in the crash that killed 113 people.

The crash, which occurred in July 2000, set into motion a chain of events which finally ended with the termination of Concord services in 2003. On July 21, 2000, the Air France jet was on its way from Charles De Gaulle International Airport in Paris to JFK Airport in New York. Investigators later found that a Continental Airlines plane had lost a titanium part when it took off from Charles de Gaulle airport. Later, when the Concorde made its takeoff on the same runway, this titanium piece, which was still lying on the runway, ruptured the tire of the Concord, causing it to burst. That set off a series of adverse events, and finally led to the rupture of the fuel tank which burst into flames. Soon, a large plume of fire was trailing the Concorde, even as it took off. The pilots were unable to maintain control of the plane, and it crashed into a nearby hotel.

The investigation into the crash has also been dogged by controversy. In France, a plane crash must be followed by a separate civil and criminal investigation. Patient safety experts believe that these dual investigations have caused immense delays in the Concorde investigation. The criminal trial began about 10 years after the crash. According to several plane safety experts, there is no need for two investigations, because investigators often get in each other's way. This often causes conflicts, and it does little for the speed of the investigation. Besides, there's also lots of pressure on witnesses, who may be under threat of prosecution. It's hard to get witnesses to come out and testify when they have even the slightest doubt that they will be prosecuted.

However, the legal system in France does not afford their aviation accident attorneys the means or the resources to conduct their own investigations, unlike California plane crash lawyers, who will almost certainly conduct their own probe into a crash.

Gift Giving in 2010 Can Mean Smart Estate Planning

2010-11-30T14:05:00.000-08:00

It’s the season of giving, and because the estate tax repeal is still in place in 2010, you can gift your loved ones lower estate taxes. The current tax rules mean that no estate taxes will be applied to people who die in 2010. The estate tax laws that were passed in 2001 are still in place in 2010, but those will expire at the end of this year. No one knows what the new tax rates are going to be next year. While you may not be able to predict what will happen in 2011, you can make cash gifts to your grandchildren and great-grandchildren this year to reduce the size of your estate and taxes.

For instance, you can gift your grandchildren up to $13,000. These can be gifted to a number of people, and the gift is not taxable. However, you can gift only up to $13,000 to one person.

2010 is also the right time to gift real estate. For instance, there is now an exemption of $1 million in place. You can use the exemption to gift property to your grandchildren or other heirs right now, rather than letting it pass on to them after you. The real estate gift will still be eligible for a 35% gift tax. However, consider that the gift tax rate could possibly jump to 55% in 2011. In any case, California estate planning attorneys don't expect your gift tax rate to drop below 35% next year.

Obviously, there's no way to accurately predict what the federal government will do in 2011. It's very important to consider your options, and speak to a California estate planning lawyer before you make decisions about your estate. About one thing there is no doubt - 2010 is a very good year for estate planning purposes, and you must take full advantage of this.

Jury Awards Victims Family $12 Million in Novartis Jawbone Damage Lawsuit

2010-11-29T13:22:00.000-08:00

A jury in North Carolina has found that pharmaceutical giant Novartis must pay $12.8 million to the family of a woman, who suffered jawbone damage after taking the medications Zometa and Aredia. The jury found that Novartis failed to warn users about the risks of the Zometa and Aredia bone-strengthening medications.

The woman, Rita Fussman, developed jawbone damage while she was suffering breast-cancer last year. Fussman began taking Zometa in 2001. She had to have a tooth extracted while she was taking the drug, which is when the bone damage began. According to her oncologist, who testified at the trial, he was unaware of any side effects involving jaw damage from the use of Zometa and Aredia.

This is the third jawbone damage-related lawsuit to proceed against Novartis. Last month, Novartis gained a small victory when a similar claim by a New Jersey woman was rejected by a jury in that state. Another verdict, however, went against the company. Also last October, a jury in Montana awarded $3.2 million in damages to a cancer patient, who also developed jawbone damage. Two other cases are expected to go before a jury in South Carolina by the end of 2011.

In all, Novartis faces approximately 700 lawsuits that claim that victims suffered jawbone damage from using Zometa and Aredia. Both these medications contain biphosphonates, and are prescribed for the treatment of pain in bone cancer patients. Doctors also prescribe these medications to strengthen bones during treatment.

In 2005, Novartis began the process of informing doctors, warning them the drugs could cause jawbone damage. However, attorneys have alleged that Novartis was aware of the problems involving jawbone damage since the 1980s, but failed to warn consumers. It's a tactic that California pharmaceutical liability lawyers often find drugmakers indulging in, as they try to protect their bottom line.

What Does the New Congress Mean for the Estate Tax?

2010-11-09T10:13:00.000-08:00

To put it crudely, 2010 was the most favorable year for people to die. This year, the estate tax issue continues to remain in limbo, after having been allowed to lapse by Congress. Now with a markedly different face to Congress after the midterms, Los Angeles estate planning attorneys will wonder which way this issue will turn going forward.

The estate tax was repealed at the end of 2009, and is scheduled to return in 2011. If Congress fails to change the law and the estate tax returns, it will return to the previously unfavorable rates that were in place in 2001. Among other things, persons who inherit assets will have to calculate the value of the assets at the time of purchase of the assets, and not the value at the time of the decedent’s death. This will make it exorbitantly expensive for heirs to pay estate tax.

Among all the things that Republicans and Democrats are arguing over, none are bigger than tax cuts for the wealthy. The Republicans therefore want to make the 2010 estate tax rules permanent. That would eliminate estate tax. The Obama administration however wants to make the 2009 estate rates and tax exemptions permanent. Doing nothing would result in going back to the 2001 exemption and rates, a consequence unfavorable to many taxpayers. Most estate planning attorneys however expect that Congress will go back to the system that it applied in 2009. Retroactive taxes therefore, are highly likely.

So, what does all this mean for you? It's important to remember that estate taxes tend to apply to larger high-value estates. However, with all this focus on taxes, it’s definitely a sign that you should begin taking estate planning more seriously. Check that all your documents and papers are in order and that you have made it easy for your assets to be transferred to the persons or charities that you intend to leave them too.

Plane Crash Traced to Croc on the Loose

2010-11-02T08:20:00.000-07:00

A plane crash in Africa last year, which was initially blamed on a shortage of fuel, might have had a completely bizarre cause. According to the sole survivor of the crash, the plane crashed after passengers aboard panicked when a crocodile that had been snuck onto the plane, managed to break free from its bag.

It's a bizarre story, and investigators have no idea what to make of it. According to the survivor of the crash, the reptile had been brought on board inside a sports bag by a person who probably intended to sell it later. The plane was a Let-410, and was on its way from Kinshasa, capital of the Democratic Republic of Congo, to an airport at Bandundu. As the plane was preparing for a descent, the crocodile escaped from the carrier bag. It managed to frighten a flight attendant who scurried off into the cockpit. She was followed by other passengers who spotted the crocodile and panicked. According to the only passenger who survived, crewmembers tried desperately to get everybody to stay in their seats, but failed.

Nineteen passengers running amok on a small plane caused a loss in balance, leading to the plane plummeting down to the ground. Everybody on board was killed, except the sole passenger who survived. The crocodile was killed later by rescuers who were sifting through the wreckage.

California plane crash lawyers and aviation investigators say they don't know whether to believe the crocodile story, but wouldn't rule it out completely either. Meanwhile, a friend of the pilot Chris Wilson, a Briton, has come out to say that his friend had been concerned about the state of the jet that crashed. According to the friend, Wilson had confided in him that the airplane had been blacklisted by the licensing authority. That should provide investigators other leads to probe.

Teenagers in Pickup Trucks More Likely to Be Involved in Accidents

2010-10-28T15:05:00.000-07:00

For decades now, the conventional wisdom has been that teenagers are safer when they're driving larger vehicles, like sports utility vehicles and pickup trucks, than smaller passenger vehicles. A new study out of the University of Texas turns that theory on its head.

The results of the study were published in the Accident Analysis and Prevention journal.

The study, conducted by a professor of transportation engineering at the University of Texas, indicates among other things, that a teenage motorist between age of 16 and 17 driving a pickup truck, is at a much higher risk of injury than someone driving a car. The reasons for this don't seem to be so hard to understand. A pickup truck has a powerful engine, and being at the helm of a vehicle with a powerful engine may increase aggressive driving behaviors among teenage motorists. Besides, pickup trucks may not come with the same kind of advanced safety features that passenger vehicles do.

The researchers also came upon several other facts of interest to Los Angeles pickup truck accident lawyers. For instance, they found that driving with one passenger placed a teen driver at a higher risk of accidents than driving with two or more passengers. That also flies in the face of other theories that have long held that a teen driver’s risk of an accident increases with the number of passengers in his car.

The study also found that teen drivers seem to be the most aggressive during the morning rush hour. Further, even a difference of one year seems to make a huge difference to the driving abilities of teen motorists. 16 and 17-year-olds are more likely to be involved in accidents than 18-year-olds.

More than half of all teen-accident related injuries occurred while the motorists were traveling to school. That is consistent with existing research indicating that teenagers’ natural body rhythms leave them sleepy in the early hours after dawn.

Lawsuit Accuses Citigroup of Purging Female Employees to Retain Less Qualified Males

2010-10-20T11:13:00.000-07:00

An employment discrimination lawsuit filed against Citigroup alleges that the company, even as it received bailout money from the federal government, continued to engage in pervasive discrimination against female employees by engaging in mass layoffs of female workers.

In November 2008, large numbers of employees were laid off by the company, and the lawsuit alleges that women bore the brunt of the layoffs, while less qualified men were spared. The lawsuit also claims that women at Citigroup are paid less than the men and are often ignored when it comes to promotions, bonuses, and good assignments.

The lawsuit alleges that the company promotes a male-dominated culture where most of the top and middle management positions are occupied by men, with little opportunities for women. The Senior Leadership Committee at Citigroup consists of one woman and 39 men, while the Executive Committee has no women at all, and a total of 19 men.

California employment lawyers will find it interesting that the lawsuit specifically mentions what it calls “recessionary discrimination,” alleging that the company failed shareholders by terminating the jobs of thousands of female employees, while continuing to retain the jobs of less qualified male employees. The lawsuit doesn't provide any numbers related to the overall layoffs at the company in 2008, but claims that it wasn't purely by chance that a large number of female employees were fired compared to males. Further, the lawsuit alleges that Citigroup allowed supervisors and managers to select the employees who would have to be terminated during the layoffs, allowing them to exercise their biases and personal preferences while doing so. Even the women who were not fired during those layoffs of 2008, still allegedly face discrimination in employment in Citigroup, including offensive comments, comparatively lower pay scale and poor assignments.

Air Safety Organizations Agree to Share Plane Crash and Safety Data

2010-10-05T09:34:00.000-07:00

Four leading international air safety organizations this week agreed to launch a global information exchange that will include sharing of safety and accident data. California plane crash lawyers believe this will help reduce the incidence of international plane crashes.

The agreement was signed in Montréal, and included the International Air Transport Association, which represents about 250 international airlines, American and European aviation safety regulators, and the International Civil Aviation Organization, the United Nation’s aviation safety wing. The agreement establishes procedures to help identify aviation safety threats. United States Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood also participated in the signing of the agreement.

The information exchange will work by requiring that these safety organizations choose some of the safety data that they collect, and share these as part of the exchange. The main aim is to learn from each other's data, identify potential aviation safety problems, and devise strategies to prevent them. The International Civil Aviation Organization will act as the coordinator for the exchange.

Much of the important data that could really impact aviation safety globally is expected to come from airlines in emerging markets and developing countries, where there has been a steady increase in the number of passengers flying. The exchange also expects expert information and valuable data to come from the major American and European airlines, as well as those countries where the aviation industry is just beginning to take off.

Sharing of airline safety data can increase safety for American passengers, because American regulators can benefit from the application of aviation safety solutions in other countries with a similar aviation environment. An exchange like this will also help international passengers, particularly those in Latin America and Asia where plane crashes have traditionally been higher than in the Western countries.

Black Motorcyclists in Las Vegas Could Be at Higher Risk of Death in an Accident

2010-09-27T16:04:00.000-07:00

A new study seems to suggest that African American motorcyclists around the country could be at a higher risk of death in an accident, even when they are helmeted. The study was conducted by researchers at John Hopkins, who compared more than 60,000 motorcycle accidents recorded by the National Trauma Data Bank.

The researchers found that black motorcyclists have a 50% higher chance of being killed in an accident than white motorcyclists. They also found that these results remained the same even though black motorcyclists had higher rates of helmet usage compared to white riders. Even when you account for individual accident factors like the severity of the accident or individual insurance status, black motorcyclists were found to have a higher risk of fatalities.

More surprisingly to Las Vegas motorcycle accident lawyers, these higher fatality rates remained consistent even among blacks who wore helmets. The conclusion of the research seems to be that even when motorcyclists are not wearing helmets, black non-helmeted motorcyclists are more likely to be killed in an accident, compared to white non-helmeted motorcyclists.

The reasons for this disparity in fatality rates could lie in socio-economic and other factors, and not so much in traffic safety issues. For instance, African Americans who live in low-income neighborhoods or meet with accidents in such areas, may not have access to emergency and trauma care facilities. Immediate and emergency trauma care can mean the difference between life and death for a motorcyclist involved in an accident. Besides, a person with inadequate health insurance may not have access to brain injury care, or other life-saving care needed after a serious motorcycle accident.

There may be genetic factors at work too. A motorcyclist who suffers from pre-existing health conditions could be at a higher risk of suffering complications after an accident. This would lower the chances of surviving a serious accident.

Las Vegas Plane Crash Underscores Residents’ Concerns

2010-09-16T13:06:00.000-07:00

Last week, a single-engine private plane went down in a Las Vegas residential neighborhood. There were no fatalities on the ground, although one person on the plane was killed. The accident has once again underscored local residents’ concerns about the wisdom of allowing planes to take off and land so close to residential areas.

The plane was carrying a group of holiday makers when it crashed, killing the pilot. There were three other passengers on the plane, and the survivors are reported to be in critical condition. Local residents say they heard a sputtering sound as the plane passed overhead at low altitude. That was followed by a loud boom a few seconds later, as the plane crashed. The Federal Aviation Administration says that the pilot took off from Henderson Executive Airport, and was unable to gain altitude. He was trying to return back to the airport, when the plane crashed.

A number of local residents rushed to help the survivors of the wreckage. The plane ended up on its roof, and survivors had suffered severe burns. It was a traumatic time for the residents who were left to their own devices to help the passengers still trapped in the plane. They had no way of knowing whether the passengers were alive or dead, and were left to douse the burning plane with water to extinguish the flames. The fact that there were no fatalities or serious injuries on the ground here was very fortunate. The plane went down very close to someone’s yard, and there could easily have been devastating consequences.

According to FAA officials, the pilot of the plane was a hero for being able to steer his plane away from houses in the area. But, it shouldn't have to be like this. Local residents say they have asked the Federal Aviation Administration for years now to enforce stricter rules on where planes can fly. Often, pilots in the area take shortcuts, which might trim two or three minutes from their flight time, but leads to planes flying in a potentially dangerous path, and over residential communities.

Unfortunately for many of the residents who purchased homes near what they believed was a small airport, it has been frightening to see that the airport has grown substantially, and volumes of aviation traffic have increased. California private plane crash lawyers don’t believe there needs to be a major disaster involving ground fatalities, for the federal agency to take this issue more seriously.

What Can We Do to Make Airplanes Safer?

2010-09-11T16:05:00.000-07:00

2010 has been one of the worst years for airplane crashes in recent memories. As of August 2010, there have been 13 passenger airline crashes, compared to just 10 for the whole of 2009. We have reached the point where it's necessary to step back and ask what's going on.

It's not as if there is any one specific pattern that can be seen in the plane crashes that have occurred across the world this year. However, it may be time to begin thinking about what we could possibly do to make aviation safety better. The problem is that almost everything that could be done to make airplanes safer has already been done. We have reached a stage where there is little digital technology we could add to a plane to make it safer. Modern airline cockpits are as high-tech as they come, and control just about every facet of the planes’ operation.

In fact, some California plane crash lawyers believe that this overreliance on technology could actually contribute to crashes. For instance, pilots who get used to too much technology and a plane that simply flies on its own like it’s on cruise control, are more likely to become complacent. The fact that so much of flying these days is done by computers could also chip away at the quality of pilots that we turn out every year. In the years ahead, we will have pilots who have never piloted a plane without all this technology at their finger tips. Technology is meant to supplement a pilot’s flying abilities, and it can be a safety issue when it threatens to completely take over a pilot’s flying. Besides, we also need to focus hard on preparing pilots to deal with all this technology and understand it. Another area of concern where there is room for improvement is the quality, professionalism and integrity of air traffic controllers.

Brain Injury Most Frequent Sledding-Related Injury

2010-09-08T09:01:00.000-07:00

The brain injury risks from skiing and snowboarding have been well-documented. In fact, there's a campaign underway in California to require helmets for skiers in the same way that bicycle and motorcycle helmets are now mandated. New research suggests that California brain injury lawyers should be just as concerned about sledding-related brain injuries as they are about injuries in other winter sports.

The study came from data between 1997 and 2007 from the Center for Injury Research and Policy of the Research Institute at Nationwide Children's Hospital in Columbus, Ohio. During the ten-year period, the researchers found a total of 229,023 sledding injuries in children below 18 years of age. These injuries were serious enough to require a visit to the hospital. That means approximately 20,000 sledding-related injuries every year.

Brain injuries were the most frequent of all sledding-related injuries. 34% of all sledding-related injuries were head injuries. According to the researchers, children in sledding accidents were more likely to suffer a traumatic brain injury if the accident occurred on the street or highway. It's not uncommon to find children sledding on the streets, and researchers highly discourage such practices because of the high risk of head injuries. The sledding area should be clear of trees and stationary objects. A child, who collides with a stationary object or person, has a higher risk of suffering brain injuries. Besides, a child sledding on the streets is at a risk of being involved in an auto or truck accident. The researchers are not only discouraging parents from allowing their children to sled on highways and roads, but they are also discouraging the use of motorized sleds drawn by ATVs, snowmobiles or trucks.

Unlike with skiers and snowboarders, there is no solid evidence to indicate that wearing helmets can prevent injuries among sledders. The researchers say they need further study before they can define a clear link between wearing helmets and preventing head injuries during sledding.

Adult Bicyclists in Los Angeles May Soon Be Required to Wear Helmets

2010-08-25T14:14:00.000-07:00

Current bicycle helmet laws in Los Angeles only apply to bicyclists below the age of 18. However, if Mayor Anthony Villaraigosa has his way, there may soon be a rule requiring that all adult bicyclists in Los Angeles wear helmets while riding.

This week, the Mayor hosted a bike safety summit in Los Angeles. Among those who participated were representatives of bicycle safety groups in Los Angeles and scores of bicyclists. The event addressed some of the concerns that Los Angeles bicyclists have about their safety. For instance, the Mayor expressed his support for a proposed California bill that would require motorists to keep a gap of at least 3 feet between their car and a bike. He also said that the Los Angeles City Council will invest in developing more than 1,600 miles of bike lanes in Los Angeles. More bike lanes in the city mean more convenience and safety for bicyclists. The mayor noted that between 1977 and 2010, Los Angeles only built 372 miles of bike lanes. That is an average of 8 to 10 miles a year. The mayor hopes to increase that to an average of 40 miles of bike lanes per year.

He also promised a series of public service announcements to educate the public about bicyclist rights in Los Angeles, and called for a mandatory bicycle helmet law that makes it mandatory for all adult bicyclists over the age of 18 to wear helmets.

The Mayor's recommendation comes from personal experience. Last month, he was the victim of a bicycle accident in Los Angeles that left him with a fractured elbow. Fortunately, there were no head injuries involved because the mayor was wearing a helmet at the time. Bicyclists involved in accidents are at a higher risk of head and brain injuries when they hit the ground

Unfortunately, to Los Angeles bicycle accident lawyers, it seems like the mayor has been overly cautious in the kind of rules he has proposed. Mandating bicycle helmets for all adult bicyclists is a good idea, but there must be more focus on getting motorists to respect bicyclists’ rights too. Education has its place and purpose, but legislation can accomplish more.

Racial Discrimination Lawsuit Filed against Southern California Edison

2010-07-28T14:31:00.000-07:00

It’s the third racial discrimination lawsuit filed by African-American employees of Southern California Edison. This week, a group of 11 current and former employees of the utility company filed a lawsuit, alleging there was a continuing policy of racial discrimination that kept black persons at low pay levels, and hindered their prospects for promotions.

The suit was filed this week in the Los Angeles Superior Court. The lawsuit alleges that Southern California Edison had a work environment that was racially hostile. Few African Americans at the company are in senior management positions. At least one of the plaintiffs in the lawsuit, alleges that she has worked for the company for over 35 years training employees who would then move on to promotions ahead of her. White persons with less experience and seniority were preferred over black persons. The lawsuit also alleges that African-Americans are not paid equally as their white counterparts, and that they receive unfair work assignments.

It's the third such lawsuit filed against Southern California Edison. Two other lawsuits were filed in 1974 and 1994. Those lawsuits also alleged racial discrimination. In fact, many of the persons named in the new lawsuit filed this week, were also named in the 1994 lawsuit. In that lawsuit, Southern California Edison was asked to comply with a consent decree, in which the company would pay $11.3 million into a settlement fund, and would then start employee training programs.

Under the consent decree, the company was ordered to enhance opportunities for African-Americans at Southern California Edison. However, Los Angeles employment law lawyers have learned from a Southern California Public Radio report that the African American population of the company has actually declined by as much as 40% since the 1994 lawsuit. The new racial discrimination class action lawsuit claims damages and an injunction that would force Southern California Edison to comply with the consent decree.

Copyright Infringement Lawsuit against Harry Potter Publisher

2010-07-20T09:43:00.000-07:00

The trustee of the estate of a British author has filed a copyright infringement lawsuit against Scholastic Inc., the publishing company behind the Harry Potter series. This is not the first time California business and commercial litigation lawyers have learned of lawsuits by the trustee against entities involved in the Harry Potter success. Similar lawsuits were filed against the British publishers of the Harry Potter series, as well as JK Rowling, the author of the series in 2009 and 2010. Those cases are still pending.

According to the trustee for the estate of the late Adrian Jacobs, JK Rowling copied the theme for the book, Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire, from a book written by Adrian Jacobs, called The Adventures of Willy the Wizard-No. 1 Livid Land. The Willy the Wizard book was published in 1987, and the Harry Potter book that the plaintiff alleges was copied from it, was published in the year 2000.

The lawsuit is based on certain similarities between the two books. The main theme of both books includes a year-long struggle as part of a contest to become a wizard which in the Harry Potter book, Potter ultimately wins. There are other similarities in the books, the lawsuit alleges. Both the protagonists, Willie and Harry, are required to understand their task that is central to winning the contest, and in both books, the protagonists uncover the task in the bathroom. In both books, according to the lawsuit, the tasks involve rescuing imprisoned communities of half human-half animal creatures. The Willie the Wizard book has not been published in the United States. Scholastic Inc. is denying that there is any merit to the case.

The copyright infringement lawsuit seeks that Scholastic Inc. stop selling all copies of Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire. It also asks that all existing copies of the book be destroyed, and that the company pay the estate of Adrian Jacobs all profits that it has received from the sale of the book.

Study Finds Reclining Car Seats Increase Risk of Injuries

2010-07-01T13:04:00.000-07:00

Most passengers on a long distance trip are guilty of this - reclining their seats partially or fully in order to enjoy a short nap. But a new study shows that these passengers may have a dramatically higher risk of injuries during an accident. In fact, regular safety features like seatbelts and airbags may not be as effective in preventing injuries in these passengers.

Researchers have found that passengers who are in reclining seats during an accident not only had a higher risk of injuries, but they also had a similar pattern of injuries. These passengers most often suffered from head injuries when their heads snapped forward from impact. They also suffered from spinal cord injuries and spinal fractures. Leg injuries occurred when the legs moved in with great force into the dashboard.

Researchers considered the pattern of these injuries around the country, and found that these were similar nationwide. Overall, passengers in partially reclining seats had their risk of death in an accident increase by 15%. Those in a fully reclined seat had their risk of death increase by almost 70%. The researchers are unanimous - passengers in the reclining seats have minimal protection from seatbelts and airbags.

The Insurance Institute of Highway Safety confirms these findings. According to the Institute, it conducts most of its safety tests only on passengers and drivers who are seated upright. No safety tests are conducted on passengers who are in an inclined position. That means there is no way of knowing whether the seatbelts and airbags have any efficacy at all when it comes to protecting passengers in a reclining position.

Las Vegas personal injury lawyers find it disconcerting how so many passengers seem to be unaware of this danger. Most of us don't think twice before reclining the seat for a nap. It's important to understand that if there is an accident, your chances of suffering serious injury or death are as low as someone who's not buckled in.

New Breathalyzer Rule Goes into Effect in Los Angeles Next Month

2010-06-21T17:42:00.000-07:00

In just a week from now, drivers in Los Angeles who been convicted of drunk driving will have to get a breathalyzer device installed in their car, to prevent them from driving drunk again. It's a law that Los Angeles personal injury lawyers have supported, although the beverage industry and the DUI attorney lobby has not been too impressed.

Los Angeles County is among four counties, including Sacramento, Alameda and Tulare, where the new law will soon go into effect. Implementation of the law begins on July 1st. All convicted drunk driving offenders are required to have breathalyzer devices installed on the dashboard. The device will detect the amount of alcohol the person has imbibed, and prevent the car from starting. It essentially shuts the engine down, and prevents the driver from driving off in an intoxicated state.

The bill has been controversial since it was signed last year by Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger. All first-time drunk driving offenders under the law will be required to have the device installed. The cost of installing the device will be borne by the offender. The pilot program is one of several measures that the state of California has taken to prevent the kind of injuries and deaths that result from alcohol-related car accidents. The program will stay in effect until 2015, after which there'll be a review of the program. If the review finds that the program has been successful in further reducing drunk driving rates, then it will be expanded throughout the state of California.

In 2008, more than 1,000 people were killed in the state of California in alcohol-related car accidents. That number was a substantial improvement from years past, and it has not been through popular laws that we have been able to make such dramatic achievements in motorist safety.

Los Angeles drunk driving accident attorneys will not have any illusions that this law will be welcomed by sections of the population and vested interests. Much of the criticism leveled against it “unfairly” targets first-time offenders. However, there is enough evidence to show that first time offenders who get off lightly are more likely to drive drunk again. This law targets precisely such drivers. 1,000 lives every year is not an insignificant number, and this law will help reduce those numbers further.

You're Fired!!! What is Wrongful Termination?

2009-11-30T19:01:00.000-08:00

California is an "At-Will" employment state. That generally means either party can terminate the contract at any time. In reality, there are still some rules that companies need to abide by before they are allowed to let a worker go. If an employee violates one of the rules written in the employee handbook, it's a pretty open and shut case. Layoffs are also legal reasons to terminate someones employment.

There are still some cases that do not fit within those neat little guidelines. One of those situations is considered retaliation against an employee. Sometimes an employee will discover that his or her company is doing something illegal. Or, in some cases, bring some harmful information to light. The company should look at this as a positive move by the employee. After all, if the company is doing something wrong, they should do everything they can to correct it. If instead, they fire that employee that blew the whistle on them, there could be a case of wrongful termination.

Mechanical Complications and Pilot Error

2009-11-18T11:44:00.000-08:00

When you think about recovering money to pay for medical expenses and other expenses after a plane crash, you likely think that the pilot or airline will need to be the cause of the accident. The truth, however, is that there are also laws governing parts and products installed on airplanes. This is true for both commercial flights and smaller chartered planes. If you have been injured in an aviation accident, an attorney can help determine the cause of the accident and can help you seek reimbursement for all present and future expenses.

While pilot error and air traffic control errors have been responsible for many accidents, part failure is another common cause of place crashes. It is important to understand that aviation accidents are rare, but that there is certainly a cause to be found when one occurs. If the crash that you were involved in stems from the direct failure of parts that cannot be attributed to the airline mechanics, your attorney will be able to help you and other passengers take action against the manufacturer.

When taking action against the maker of the plane’s parts, you will find that you can be entitled to reimbursement for medical expenses, emotional trauma and treatment, lost wages, and other damages. The judge or jury in your case will be responsible for determining if the faulty part could have benefited from an alternate design or if it was considered unreasonably dangerous. They will also decide if the pilot will be held equally responsible for the accident. In any case, your lawyer will know all of the right moves necessary to ensure that your damages are compensated and that you receive the treatment and assistance that you need to help you recover from the accident.

Aviation law is designed to help keep all passengers and crew safe while on the aircraft. These laws are rigidly designed and offer protection for all victims of airline accidents. When you contact a qualified and experienced aviation lawyer, you will learn how product liability laws can serve to help you receive the compensation that you need and deserve. Faulty equipment can be dangerous or even deadly, and the law will certainly work to not only help you receive reimbursement for expenses and injuries, but to take legal and legislative action to help keep the same situation from occurring again in the future.

Hidden Assets In a Messy Divorce

2009-11-11T10:24:00.000-08:00

A divorce is a trying time for everybody involved. There are emotional and financial stresses around every corner. If you add kids to the mix, it becomes even more traumatic. Divorce in Los Angeles has very specific rules under California guidelines. Most assets are to be distributed 50/50 amongst the two parties. But, what if some of the assets are hidden.

In some cases a husband or wife may try to hide their pension, stock, cash or other income and assets from the other party. It is possible that the party being deceived knows nothing about the assets. In these cases it takes an experienced family law attorney to follow the paper trail in order to gain access to those funds. A private detective may need to be hired if the situation calls for such measures.

If you are getting a divorce, make sure to hire a good family law attorney in Los Angeles. Hopefully you are able to come to an amicable resolution between you and your spouse. If you do have doubts make sure you have someone in your corner who understand what rocks need to be overturned to find all of the assets that you have between you and your soon to be ex.

Aviation Law, The FAA and Aviation Attorneys

2009-11-10T12:01:00.000-08:00

Aviation law is a set of rules and regulations set by the government that regulates the operation of aircraft and airports across the country. These rules are very intricate and are designed to protect pilots, passengers, and the general public from aviation accidents. There are two main agencies that are responsible for these laws.

The NTSB, or National Transportation Safety Board, is responsible for investigating all aviation accidents. This board is designed to handle suits filed against the FAA as well as to propose changes to aviation laws that will improve safety for pilots, workers, and passengers. While the NTSB does not have the power to enforce their findings, legislators have a strong history of following them, partially due to the agency’s ongoing reputation for fair and thorough investigations.

The FAA is the other agency that creates a large part of aviation law. The FAA is designed to regulate all aviation standards and safety laws. The agency has the power to enforce all regulations as well as to revise regulations in order to create a safer environment for travel. The FAA is a part of the Department of Transportation of the United States Government.

If you are involved in an aviation accident, both of these agencies will investigate the accident. Contacting an aviation attorney will help to protect your rights and will help ensure that you are kept abreast of any findings related to your crash. Your attorney will help to determine if the pilots, mechanics, airlines, or even governing agencies are responsible for your crash and can help you recover damages for physical and emotional injuries suffered as a result of your crash.

Your attorney needs to be very experienced when it comes to the rules surrounding aviation law, which means that they will be able to provide you with much assistance. Your lawyer will help to ensure that the accident is investigated thoroughly and that any responsible party is brought to light. This can prove greatly beneficial to any victim seeking to be compensated for medical expenses or lost wages.

When you decide to contact an aviation attorney, you should be prepared to answer any questions fully and honestly. Your compliance with your attorney can help your case move forward quickly and can help your lawyer work to preserve and uphold your rights. Aviation law can be confusing and complicated, but with a qualified attorney on your side, you can work to protect yourself and your rights.

Distracted Driving Is Becoming a Dangerous Practice

2009-11-04T08:23:00.000-08:00

Driving while under the influence alcohol has been demonized by everyone from MADD (Mother's Against Drunk Driving) to ex-offenders who preach the dangers that people pose when they are drunk behind the wheel.

Today's threat can walk a straight line and pass a breathalyzer test but is just as dangerous. Distracted driving is the new term given to people who are doing everything BUT driving. They may be texting, shaving, putting on make up or eating while behind the wheel of a moving vehicle.

Distracted driving takes the drivers' attention away from the road and onto what ever they are doing. This practice was always around but has really spiked significantly with the introduction of cell phones and the ability to text. Accidents are caused by texting while driving. There are thousands of cases when someone actually hits another car or person while they are "harmlessly texting" on their phone.

If you allow yourself to be distracted while you're driving you need to make a conscientious effort to stop. Even if you're a saint behind the wheel, you need to drive defensively to protect yourself from the people who are only spend half their time looking at the road.

Out of State Fathers' Rights Attorney based in Los Angeles

2009-10-28T09:34:00.000-07:00

Elena Mebtahi has made a successful practice by helping out of state fathers' who are in arrears with their child support payments. She is protecting fathers' rights so they can see their children and makes sure they are treated fairly. In many cases Elena never meets the clients she is helping since they have moved to other cities or states. Her expertise in this field has allowed her to offer a great service without the inconvenience of her clients having to come back to California.

The typical client of Elena may be in arrears for child support and need to make a modification to their payments. In some cases, a father may have lost his drivers' license or had his wages garnished. These are the exact issues that Elena can help with, without the fathers' having to pay the costs of going back and forth from the state.

Elena has a very informative website that covers subjects like:

back due child support
warrants for fathers in arrears
suspended drivers' license
visitation for fathers
paternity

These are issues that the Mebtahi Law Firm handles everyday. Her knowledge and client service are as important to her as your results are to you.

Falsely Accused of Domestic Violence in Los Angeles?

2009-10-27T08:27:00.000-07:00

Being falsely accused of anything can be frustrating but when an untrue accusation can tear your life and family apart it becomes very serious. Unfortunately accusing a spouse or significant other of spousal abuse can be used as a "power play". Since these allegations are often a he said/she said incident it is hard to prove your innocence. Even if the charges are dropped the report can be used against a father who is trying to receive more visitation rights with his children.

A spouse or girlfriend may even call the police because they have been hurt emotionally. Their partner may have cheated on them and they see this as a way to get back at them. This type of retaliation can cause great harm to the person who has been falsely accused of spousal abuse. The plaintiff, even if wrong, may not withdraw the charges to keep themselves from getting into trouble. If they admit guilt it may even affect their visitation rights with their children.

These situations are difficult because of the emotions that are involved between two people and often their kids. Fighting a false accusation requires an experienced domestic violence attorney who understands the law.

Las Vegas Car Accidents

2009-10-27T08:04:00.000-07:00

Very few cities in America have the dynamic that Las Vegas does when it comes to traffic. You have freeways that run right through the middle of the city and 10 lanes of city traffic when you get down near the strip. When you consider the fact that there are tens of thousands of pedestrians walking from casino to casino, the danger really becomes apparent. Every year visitors to and residents of Las Vegas get injured by a vehicle collision or as a pedestrian crossing the street.

Las Vegas has an inordinate amount of service vehicles ranging from taxi cabs to stretch Hummer limousines. These vehicles add an extra element of danger due to their size, maneuverability and limited vision. The passengers in a limousine are rarely buckled in which means there is a very high risk for injury even if the limousine crashes at low speed. Any motor vehicle accident is dangerous but limousines and taxis add another degree of risk.

Taxi drivers commonly rush from fare to fare with little regard for the rules of the road. Pedestrians may lose sight of the threat as they get lost in the lights of Las Vegas Blvd. It is best to avoid crossing the streets in Las Vegas if you can help it. There are many bridges that avoid crosswalks where you can be injured. The biggest part of enjoying Las Vegas is staying safe while you're there.

Suspected Carbon Monoxide Poisoning

2009-06-16T07:21:00.000-07:00

On June 12th a suspected gas leak in a church caused 22 people to collapse. The majority of the ill stricken were children but several adults also fell and were taken to the hospital by emergency crews. The symptoms ranged from nausea to dizziness even causing two students to faint. Carbon monoxide poisoning was suspected as the reason for all victims’ condition. Early stages of Carbon Monoxide poisoning can cause a person to become dizzy and pass out. Prolonged exposure will lead to brain injuries and even death.

After an investigation, no leaks were found at the Coronado church. Authorities are still looking for the cause of this mysterious incident.

Questions for a divorce lawyer

2009-05-19T21:21:00.000-07:00

If you are planning on getting divorced in Los Angeles you probably have lots of questions. Some questions can be answered by friends, online searches or attorneys. For a decision as big as this you should really consult a professional. Obtaining half truths or completely wrong information may cause you to act in ways that are even more detrimental to your situation. Contacting an attorney in many people's mind is a big step. It makes the process seem more real which can be frightening. But, like most things in life, knowing more usually helps to make you feel better in the end.

Common questions tend to be:

Who will keep the house

How will assets be divided

What if I have to move away

How often will I be able to see my kids

The answers to these questions will be some of the most important in your life. It's best to contact someone who has experience and knowledge in this area. You also want to find someone that you feel comfortable with. Family law is a combination of business deal and the most personal information in your life.

Do your research and make sure to get all of your questions answered. You'll feel better.

Divorce Attorney Thousand Oaks

2009-04-15T15:54:00.000-07:00

David Crandall is a divorce attorney in Thousan Oaks, CA. He can help people work through their divorce or mediate their separation with no court involvement.

His services can help you with a move away or child support modifications. If you are in arrreas with your support payments, David can help you. David is also a licensed real estate broker who can help divide your property.

Phoenix Bankruptcy Attorney

2009-04-06T17:39:00.000-07:00

Joseph C. McDaniel has been practicing as a bankruptcy attorney in Phoenix since 1980. He is a certified bankruptcy specialist which gives him all of the tools necessary to help you deal with your particular situation. Joseph offers lots of great information on his website and blog which he updates often.

Due to the recent economic times many attorneys have turned to the practice of bankruptcy. This is not the case with Mr. McDaniel. Helping people to overcome financial difficulties has been his passion for almost 30 years. He is able to communicate with people on a very down to earth level and gives each individual the time and focus that they deserve.

Joseph can also help if you are trying to protect your business through Bankruptcy. If you aren't sure what to do and would like some answers you can trust give him a call at 602-297-3025.

Howard Kornberg

2009-04-02T13:06:00.000-07:00

Los Angeles attorney Howard Kornberg has launched a successful personal injury website with over 50 pages of informative content. Even though this website has a large number of pages, the layout and design make it easy to find and read. There are also many internal links that make it easy to go from one page to the next especially where information overlaps.

This is actually not Howard's only website. He has another website that is full of information that is specifically focused on injuries from broken bones. Broken bones or fractures, occur in car accidents, sporting events and on unsafe premises. Often times these injuries occur due to the negligence of someone else. In these cases, Howard Kornberg is able to defend that persons rights and fight for the compensation they deserve.

What to do when your parent dies without a will

2009-03-26T15:43:00.000-07:00

Dealing with the death of a loved one is a traumatic experience. It is a time for mourning a loss and remembering the person for who they were in life. There are many matters that need to be handled shortly after a person's passing but dealing with complex legal issues is not on the top of most people's list. Unfortunately if you don't plan ahead, that is exactly what you'll be involved with at this emotional time.

Planning ahead can save you or the people you leave behind a lot of anguish, time and money. What happens if you or a parent dies without a will? Depending on the assets and many other issues it can be very complex. Without a written contract your assets and final wishes may not be carried out as you wish.

Who should have a will? The answer may surprise you. Most people should have a will. It's not just for the wealthy person who is deciding which family member is going to get the home in Florida. If you own a home you should definitely have a will. What about your savings, 401K or vintage collection of baseball cards? No one plans on dying without taking care of their estate, so do your loved ones a favor and save them a little extra "grief".

So, what do you do if your parent passes away without a will. Those questions are best left to a qualified attorney. Follow this link to a website that has lots of great information on Estate Planning. It even has several videos that will help you to understand the process.

Los Angeles Brain Injury Attorney

2009-03-24T18:13:00.000-07:00

Patrick Bailey has released a brand new website outlining the effects that traumatic events can have on the human brain. A TBI or Traumatic Brain Injury, is an event that causes a person's behavior, mood or abilities to change.

One area that Attorney Patrick Bailey knows a lot about is the area of personality changes concerning a traumatic brain injury. It takes an incredible amount of experience and knowledge to be able to research these cases to obtain a successful result.

Negligent Security Attorney in Arizona

2009-03-24T08:42:00.000-07:00

Arizona Attorneys Snyder and Wenner have dedicated an entire website to protecting Arizona citizens who have been injured due to negligent security.

Their informative website points out some of the more common places that these crimes can occur and even has a page on how to prevent violent crimes. This page gives advice to business owners about creating a safe environment for their employees and the general public.

This website is a great resource for someone who has been injured due to negligent security. But more importantly, it explains how you can prevent it from happening in the first place.

Doctors, Lawyers and Shoes.

2009-03-17T09:12:00.000-07:00

Whether you are going to a doctor, lawyer or to buy a pair of shoes, finding a specialist is becoming more common. If you broke a bone you'll likely see an orthopaedist and an upcoming race may have you talking to a representative at a local running store. But what about an attorney? Are all attorneys the same? Does an attorney who handles family law know how to defend you in a criminal case or file sexual harassment charges? The answer to that is insignificant. Just like the person who is looking for a doctor or specific type of shoe, you want the best possible resource for your particular issue.

I work with several attorneys who have carved out very specific niches for themselves due to the particular experience they have gained in one area or another. One attorney I work with has handled several small business issues with coin laundry owners and has dedicated a page to his website to the subject. Another firm with a wealth of knowledge on Avandia Injuries has done the same thing.

Both of these firms have set themselves apart from other attorneys by knowing more about one subject than the majority of their peers. As a result, you get better representation for your specific issue.

Marketing in a Down Market

2009-01-11T15:19:00.001-08:00

It's no secret that the economy has taken a hit in recent months. Many law firms are cutting back their spend in all areas, including advertising. Although cutting costs may be necessary there are some simple things you can do to make sure you don't negatively impact your practice.

Spend Wisely

In the past you may have gotten away with a shotgun approach to marketing. Trying a little TV, Yellow Pages, Internet and Radio may have made sense. With the flexibility that the internet provides, it is you best bet for getting the most bang for you buck.

A quick example. If you invest into a radio campaign that costs you several thousand dollars. As soon as your last ad goes over the airwaves, you campaign is finished. You have no chance of gaining anymore clients until you run another ad. The same goes for TV and other print media. The Yellow Pages are almost dead and once your ad is inserted, you can't change it.

Advertising online allows you to be dynamic with the information provide. You can market to consumers looking for help with loan modifications one day and people who are opening up business the next. Choosing not to market will seal your fate. So choose to market wisely instead.

2009-01-08T15:26:00.000-08:00

Mansouri and Sheeno have just released their new Immigraiton Website. It has great content and a beautiful design. www.coming2usa.com

Are your clicks costing you money?

2008-11-20T23:27:00.000-08:00

We've all done it...clicked on a Pay Per Click ad with no intention of buying the product on the other end. Maybe you wanted to check out your competition or even worse, intentionally charge them for their top listing in the Sponsored Link section. After all, there's really nothing wrong with that is there? Or is there?

Pay Per Click campaigns are bidding wars waged by the firms that want to show up for certain keyword phrases. Those prices are determined by how many people want to pay for the terms and how many clicks those terms are getting. If a Personal Injury Attorney in Los Angeles were to click on the 3 attorneys that show up for sponsored links under "Personal Injury Attorney Los Angeles" they would essentially be driving the cost of that spot up. Imagine if every PI Attorney in Los Angeles did the same thing.

If you have a great organically strong website, you're not subject to any risk. But, if you think you may want to purchase one of these spots in the future, you may be driving up the cost of your own advertising.

Pay Per Click can be a viable means for driving good traffic to your site. When used properly it can legitimately advertise a firm that is willing to pay for the space. But, when abused, the only people who really win are the ones selling the ads. Whether you're driving up the advertising budget of an iPod reseller or your competition, we all pay for it in the end.

For more information on trustworthy Internet advice, call 310-889-8777 or visit lawyer marketing.

Online Reputation Management

2008-11-11T11:10:00.000-08:00

When someone types your name into Google, do you know what will show up? Can you control what shows up. The answer to the second question is Yes, sort of. If you have a very common name, like John Smith. It may be very hard to control what is found when someone searches for that name or even if they can find you with out another descriptor. For example, John Smith attorney.

If you are an attorney in Los Angeles and someone refers a case to you, it is very important that information that you control ends up on the 1st page of Google when your name is typed into the search bar. If that referral doesn't find information on you they may move on to the next name on their list.

Howard Kornberg is an attorney in Los Angeles. In order to control his reputation online he has several websites and profiles that he controls. This assures him that a potential client, looking for him, finds the information that he wants.

Below are examples of online profiles that can be used to manage your reputation online:

Howard Kornberg FindLaw Attorney Profile
Howard Kornberg Ziki Profile
Howard Kornberg Hotfrog Profile
Howard Kornberg Naymz Profile
Howard Kornberg MerchantCircle Profile
Howard Kornberg Yellow Pages Profile
Howard Kornberg Attorney Website
Howard Kornberg Attorney Website
Howard Kornberg FindLaw Firm Profile

Protect yourself and manage your reputation online.

Websites are not just websites anymore

2008-10-23T22:16:00.000-07:00

It used to be that a website was used to throw up a few pictures of the family bbq or show the world that your business was on the cutting edge. Nowadays a website is a necessary and integral part of any business. Attorneys in Los Angeles are no different. 10 years ago if a lawyer had a website it was an anomaly, 5 years ago you were cutting edge and today, if you don't have one now, you are considered a dinosaur.

Now, just because you have a website doesn't mean it is effective. Since Google and Yahoo are the lords of the internet world you have to please them in order to be rewarded with a 1st page ranking. Those types of results can literally transform a solo attorney to a firm of 5 or more lawyers. Why? Because internet marketing is the least expensive type of advertising you can do, IF done right.

The power of the World Wide Web allows you to reach anyone in the world. You don't need to buy ads on the back of a bus or double truck spots in the Yellow Pages. What you do need is a good online resource with Search Engine Optimization targeted towards your practice area and geography.

Is this something you can do on your own? Sure, and I can represent myself in court but I wouldn't because I don't have the experience or time to do an effective job. The same is true for internet marketing. By choosing an expert who understands the internet and how attorneys need to market, you put yourself in position to drive clients to your firm.

For more information visit my website Internet Marketing for Attorneys or give me a call at 310-889-8777.

Los Angeles Internet Attorneys

2008-10-23T00:39:00.000-07:00

The internet has become an important resource for all of us but it can also be used as a tool to commit fraud or other types of crimes. In such a case it is important to have Los Angeles Internet Attorneys that understand the law and get you the compensation you deserve for your damages.

Pay Per Click fraud or PPC fraud are becoming more and common. PPC fraud is when a person intentionally clicks on your paid advertisement with no intention of viewing your website or using your services. Since you are charged for every click that is performed on your advertisement, a fraud is being committed against you.

Some Pay Per Click cost pennys while other advertisements can cost over $50 per click. These clicks can add up fast and cost you thousands of dollars. In such a case you need Internet Lawyers from Los Angeles that can protect you from future harm and collect on damages you've received.

Internet Marketing Los Angeles

2008-10-23T00:25:00.001-07:00

Web design for attorneys in Los Angeles is getting very competitive. In order to compete you can no longer do just the basics. Not only do you need to do everything that Google wants you to do (supposedly over 200 optimization tactics that Google tracks) but you have to do more than the next guy.

Content is really the key to a good website. After that it really comes down to quality links to your site along with the length of time that you've owned your URL, ease of navigation, correctly labeled headers and so on.

Most attorneys would rather practice law that figure out the intricacies of the internet. With all of the misinformation out there and individuals promising/guaranteeing results, it's hard to decide who to pay to get you the results you want.

Do you need:

Search Engine Optimization
Website Design
Online Marketing

I have a proven method for getting my clients results. I provide custom websites with rich, original content. That means you don't have to spend hours writing content or studying the SEO blogs. Call me for a 30 minute free consultation 310-889-8777.

Premier Los Angeles Divorce Attorney

2008-10-16T08:05:00.000-07:00

Feinberg & Waller is a high end boutique firm that practices Family Law in the Los Angeles area. Marshall Waller has written books on the subject, appeared on various News and Television shows, including Dr. Phil.

The attorneys at Feinberg & Waller pride themselves on their service and they're clientele that range from Calabasas to Beverly Hills. Their experience and training make them especially capable of handling High Net Worth and celebrity divorces.

Chatsworth Train Accident

2008-09-16T15:01:00.000-07:00

The tragic accident that took place yesterday has resulted in the wrongful death of 25 passengers on the Metrolink train as it was passing through Chatsworth.

Veolia Transportation, who is contracted through metro link to provide employees, may have some liability in this incident.

The attorneys at Lederer Nojima have handled negligent claims against Veolia in the past as legal representatives for their employees. For more information you can visit their website at Chatsworth Train Accident.

Weintraub & Selth Debt Collection

2008-09-11T10:27:00.000-07:00

Weintraub & Selth, a Los Angeles Bankruptcy Firm, has recently formed a group to help their clients solve their debt collection problems. Their experience and dedication to this issue will provide their clients with information and guidance to best handle the problems specific to them.

Los Angeles Website Designer

2008-07-27T10:00:00.000-07:00

Attorneys who are thinking of building or updating a website need to consider the technical aspects of a website as much as the aesthetic aspects. Building a website that looks "good" is one thing but building a website that gets found by the potential clients you seek is something completely different.

Most attorneys I talk with assume you need to pay to get on the first page of Google. While Pay Per Click (PPC) is one way to get your website viewed it isn't the only or even most successful way. Depending on which article you read, PPC receives about 20-30% of the clicks that an organic listing will receive. Organic listings are websites that Google or other search engines deem to be a good enough resource to list very high on their results page. The best thing about showing up well in the organic section is that you don't have to pay a dime when someone clicks on your website.

A large part of searches won't click on a PPC ad because they know it is exactly that, an ad. Being listed in the organic results is like a referral from a friend rather than a suggestion of a salesperson.

As a consultant that works only with attorneys I can show you proven, successful ways to have your website show up highly ranked on the search engine results page.

Read more information on my personal website Los Angeles Website Design

Good Website vs. Pay Per Click

2008-07-22T21:53:00.000-07:00

Building a good website that can be found by Google can save you lots of advertising dollars. Most attorneys don't think twice about purchasing pay per click ads because they think of it as a direct advertisement. They pay for the click and a certain number of those clicks will turn out to be clients. What most attorneys don't know is that they can be getting better quality traffic for 1/10 the cost with a good website.

A well optimized website will drive natural or organic traffic to a lawyers site. Organic results receive 3 times the amount of click thrus that Pay Per Click ads do and are much more reliable. What do I mean by reliable? It is no secret that click fraud exists. Click fraud is when someone who intends to charge you money clicks on one of your listings for that purpose alone. It could be a competitor or the person who guaranteed you a certain number of clicks per month.

In the end a website that does well on its own will provide a more targeted visitor with a much better chance at converting them to a client. The best part is, it doesn't cost you a dime extra, no matter how many times they click on your site.

Howard Kornberg

2008-07-22T21:43:00.000-07:00

Howard Kornberg has just released two brand new sites. Both websites are dedicated to the practice of personal injury. One of the sites has a massive amount of content that encompasses many different topics under personal injury. The other site is solely dedicated to victims who have a fracture as their injury. Both sites have a common theme and lots of great content.

Video marketing for attorneys

2008-05-23T09:36:00.000-07:00

Attorneys are just starting to use video to highlight their firm and explain to their potential clients why they should be hired over a competitor. Internet searches are now used to finding video and actually starting to expect it. If you missed a buzzer beating shot in a recent basketball game you are sure to find it on youtube.com or Google video.

When a lawyer uses a video to talk directly to a client they are able to establish credibility with that client before they even meet them. An attorney can convey their experience and personality in a matter of seconds. This process can help to lower the intimidation factor for a potential client and may be the difference between a phone call and a click back to a competitors site.

Here is a link to a video testimonial where an attorney explains how a professional shoot makes all of the difference http://www.blogger.com/Video%20Testimonial

Los Angeles Aviation Attorney wins $7.7 million dollars for client

2008-04-04T12:42:00.000-07:00

LOS ANGELES - Bailey & Partners won a $7.7 million dollar settlement for his client against Orient Global Aviation. The settlement was the result of an arbitration that took place over electrical damage that was caused by the manufacturer of the private jet. The event grounded the jet for several months and a lien was placed on the aircraft so it could not be used by the owners. In response to this action Patrick Bailey was quoted as saying "It would be like you taking your car into the shop and saying, 'Please install the upgraded stereo-on-steroids,'" Bailey said. "Two days later, the shop calls you and says, 'Some bad news:
The stereo system doesn't work, and neither does your car. It no longer runs, and we're going to place a lien on it until you pay for everything. Click.'"

For more information on this case or other cases that Bailey & Partners have taken to trial, visit their website at http://www.baileypartners.com/.

Los Angeles Employment Lawyer

2008-04-04T08:06:00.000-07:00

The offices of Wells & King have released their professional website. Samuel Wells and Michael King focus their practice on representing clients who have been wronged by an employer. They have a great deal of content on discrimination, wrongful termination and wage and hour disputes.

They have one of FindLaw's new design templates that looks very clean and professional.

Los Angeles Probate Attorney

2008-04-02T10:42:00.000-07:00

Congratulations to Robertson + Lum LLP on the release of their new website. Hugh Duff Robertson and Vivian Lum are Los Angeles attorneys handling Probate, Real Estate issues, Class Action Lawsuits and Personal Injury. Their website comes complete with over 50 pages of content and even has video that introduces you to the firm.

Family Law Attorney Thousand Oaks California

2008-01-25T10:18:00.000-08:00

There are many Thousand Oaks family law attorneys to choose from in the Thousands Oaks area. One in particular stands out due to his real estate background. In many cases, divorce or separation involves real estate properties. In those situations it is nice to have a lawyer who understands the real estate market.

Back Due Child Support Los Angeles

2008-01-25T10:04:00.000-08:00

Elena Mebtahi has been focusing on child support arrears cases in Los Angeles. Back due child support is a niche that protects fathers when their wages are garnished or they lose their drivers license. She also helps to protect father's rights throughout Los Angeles and dads who have moved out of the state.

Elena also handles Los Angeles traffic violations since they often times go hand in hand with her clients losing their license.

Los Angeles Attorney Taylor & Ring

2007-12-06T09:17:00.000-08:00

Taylor & Ring is a longstanding FindLaw client that recently upgraded their website to incorporate all of their services and experience. Their new design is a great concept to illustrate how Taylor & Ring can help you through the complicated maze that the law presents.

Within a couple of months of releasing their new site, Taylor & Ring retained several new clients who were able to gain confidence in their skills through the information posted on the website. Among the informational pages is the sexual abuse and molestation content that detail their experience and results.

Laurence R. Clarke

2007-12-05T08:39:00.000-08:00

Laurence R. Clarke has a great new website that is full of great content. Los Angeles consumers and business owners have a wealth of information that they can read.

Larry's experience and accomplishments are plentiful and well documented. He is an attorney with great experience and a convenient location in Los Angeles.

The design of Mr. Clarke's site is vibrant and easy to navigate. Whether you have a legal issue or just want to be a more informed consumer, you should visit this new website.

LNTL Civil Litigation Website

2007-10-26T22:01:00.000-07:00

LNTL has released another website full of useful information. Their latest website covers personal injury, employment law, insurance bad faith and business litigation. The home page does a great job of portraying the firms strengths through FLASH.

Although this website has only been around for a few months, it is drawing in some good traffic which shows that it is a good resource to the search engines.

www.lederernojima.com

Lederer Nojima Personal Injury Site

2007-10-26T21:48:00.000-07:00

Lederer, Nojima, Tagliaferro, LoPresti LLC has released an incredibly focused, custom website dedicated to Motor Vehicle Accidents. The website includes design options like FLASH and drop down menus to increase the aesthetics and ease of use for visitors. There website hosts dedicated pages on bus accidents, car crashes, pedestrians injuries and uninsured motorists.

http://www.lntlb.com/

This is only one of three websites that LNTL has developed to help provide valuable information to the visitors to their sites.

Los Angeles Lawyer Marketing Information

2007-09-27T10:45:00.000-07:00

Check out this new website with lots of information on attorney and lawyer marketing www.lawyermarketinglosangeles.com. It provides lots of information on how to market online and covers a lot of marketing myths concerning internet marketing.

Attorney in Camarillo

2007-09-14T08:13:00.000-07:00

Mark Pachowicz has a law practice in Camarillo, CA focusing on Criminal Law, Business Law and Family Law. His website can be found at www.pachowicz.com.

New website release

2007-09-12T22:17:00.000-07:00

Bruce Able has just released his new website specifically focused on helping injured Motorcycle riders. Bruce is located in Westlake village and handles cases throughout Los Angeles and Ventura county. Check out his brand new website www.thelawwarriors.com