Month: March 2019

St. Louis, MO (Law Firm Newswire) March 30, 2019 - Car Accidents are already complex lawsuits. Determining fault, the amount of the medical expenses that relate to the accident, and the amounts of recovery that can be obtained from the insurance policy versus the number of medical expenses that have to be covered add additional layers. But what happens when you add in poorly tied down playground equipment, a median wall, and two additional vehicles?

A case like this might seem impossibly complex, but Gary Burger of Burger Law was able to use what has been labeled "creative lawyering" to make sure that his client, Concetta Wills, received the full amount of recovery that she was owed. How much was her settlement? Court documents state that she recovered nearly $2,000,000, and a large portion of it was awarded from a Homeowners' Insurance policy. One may be thinking, "but it was a car accident, how can homeowners insurance be involved?"

In 2010, Wills was involved in a multi-vehicle accident that happened on I-270 in St. Louis, one of the main thoroughfares in the city. The accident was allegedly caused by improperly tied-down playground equipment falling from the back of a truck. Wills swerved to avoid the equipment that fell out of the truck but unfortunately still hit it. This impact caused her to collide with the median wall where she was then subsequently hit by two additional vehicles that were behind her. Wills was seriously injured in the accident and she suffered several different abdominal injuries as well as broken ankles.

Gary pursued Concetta Wills' case and held 4 defendants liable for their actions and insurance policies. Gary was able to collect the maximum allowable amount for the auto insurance policy of the driver of the truck, as well as the maximum allowable through the homeowners' insurance. But how is that possible in a car accident claim?

The playground equipment in the back of the truck was covered under the homeowner's insurance policy. This means that when the equipment fell out of the vehicle and struck Wills' car, the homeowner's insurance policy then also became liable for the damages caused to Wills. Gary was able to establish this coverage and the homeowners insurance company was required to cover the damages.

Court documents allege that the driver's daughter was responsible for tying down the playground equipment but failed to properly do so, which subsequently resulted in the equipment falling out of the back of the truck and causing the accident that injured Wills. Gary pursued a recovery against the daughter as well for this alleged action.

Gary was able to collect a $1 million homeowners insurance settlement and $250,000 auto insurance settlement from the mother, another $600,000 from the daughter, and a combined $75,000 from the final two defendants who drove the two additional vehicles that struck Wills.

Here is a direct link to the article on Burger Law, as well as a related article from the Missouri Lawyer's Weekly with the case number 11SL-CC00410/June 1, 2012.

Gary Burger of Burger Law is a car accident lawyer in St. Louis who prides himself on fighting for the rights and recoveries of those who are injured by reckless and negligent acts. If you have any questions about this case call or contact Burger Law now at 314-542-2222 or 618-272-2222.

Contact:
Gary Burger
500 N. Broadway
Suite 1860
St. Louis, MO 63102
(314) 542-2222
(618) 272-2222

Los Angeles, CA (Law Firm Newswire) March 29, 2019 - As a premier personal injury practice serving clients in California, J&Y Law routinely collaborates with a network of credentialed law firms to maximize our clients’ recovery. Most recently, we co-counseled with Panish Shea & Boyle LLP (PSB) on a case in which our client was awarded $1,957,500 after sustaining injuries in a distracted driving accident in San Diego.

The Backdrop

In November 2014, our client was driving his white 1999 Dodge Ram pick-up truck, headed southbound on 30th Street in San Diego. While traveling through a green traffic signal at the intersection of 30th and Broadway, he was struck by another driver traveling westbound on Broadway who failed to stop for a red traffic signal. As a result of the collision, our client sustained two injuries to his lower back.

After 7 months of conservative chiropractic treatments, he received two spinal injections and resumed work as a tile setter. When the pain persisted, he sought additional treatment including a lumbar discogram in 2017, a single level lumbar fusion in 2018, followed by physical therapy and is expected to have another fusion surgery in the future.

Although the defendant admitted prior to trial she was solely liable for causing the accident, her attorneys argued that our client’s damages did not exceed an estimated $40,000. A San Diego County Superior Court jury disagreed, however, and awarded him $1,957,500 for past and future medical expenses as well as past and future non-economic loss.

This case highlights why it is crucial for anyone who has been injured in a car accident to be represented by an experienced personal injury attorney. J&Y Law would like to thank attorneys Robert Glassman and Nathan Werksman of PSB for their efforts in winning this substantial jury verdict.

About the Firm

J&Y Law serves every community in Northern and Southern California from over 20 offices conveniently located throughout the state. Through the years we have helped injury victims recover tens of millions of dollars in settlement awards and jury verdicts. We provide each client with knowledge, compassion and a superior level of personal service. To learn more about the legal services provided by J&Y Law, please reach out by calling our office today.

Northville, MI (Law Firm Newswire) March 27, 2019 - A new law signed by President Trump earlier this year will help veteran entrepreneurs start and build their businesses.

The Veterans Small Business Enhancement Act adds veterans to the list of people eligible to receive federal surplus personal property, such as office furnishings, scientific equipment and heavy machinery. Other beneficiaries of this unclaimed surplus property are female and minority business owners, as well as Veteran Service Organizations (VSOs) like the American Legion and VFW.

The legislation was introduced by Senators Tammy Duckworth, D-IL, John Kennedy, R-LA, and Dick Durbin, D-IL. It has widespread support from both parties and VSOs nationwide. According to Senator Duckworth, there are over two and a half million veteran owned businesses with more to come in the future as many of the men and women who served during the conflicts in Iraq and Afghanistan are ending their military careers and entering the private sector.

The General Services Administration distributes federal surplus personal property in partnership with the Small Business Administration and other agencies. When the federal government no longer needs the extra items it passes them along to entrepreneurs. This saves the government the cost of disposing of or keeping up the items, which can be in the millions of dollars. By using it to help small business owners instead, it stimulates the economy and creates jobs.

Lead Attorney for Legal Help for Veterans and military veteran, James G. Fausone, says “We need to do everything we can as a country to help our military service men and women succeed in their civilian lives. Allowing them to benefit from federal surplus property could really help a veteran start a business.”

Fausone himself may have been able to benefit from this new law at one point in his career. He is an experienced attorney who works with veterans to solve a variety of legal issues at Legal Help for Veterans, his firm in Northville, Michigan.

Learn more at http://www.legalhelpforveterans.com

Legal Help for Veterans, PLLC
41700 West Six Mile Road, Suite 101
Northville, MI 48168
Toll Free Phone: 800.693.4800

• VA will pay Army vet $40,000 in back benefits
  A disabled Army vet from New Jersey will soon be paid $40,000 in back benefits from the Veterans Administration. Ronald Choplinski, 71, was awarded the money after the VA Board of Veterans’ Appeals decided in January 2018 to upgrade the severity of his disability and that he should have been compensated for it earlier than […]
• Study finds brain changes for veterans with TBI and PTSD
  A new study recently published by the Journal of Head Trauma Rehabilitation found that veterans and active duty military personnel with combat-related post-traumatic stress disorder and mild traumatic brain injuries have larger amygdalae than others who only have brain injuries. The amygdala is the area of the brain associated with emotions, especially fear, anxiety, anger […]
• Wilkie pledges increased government focus on veteran suicide prevention
  Early April, Secretary of Veterans Affairs Robert Wilkie said that the entire government was focused on reducing the rate of suicide among veterans. This statement comes in the wake of several suicides committed outside VA clinics and much turmoil within the agency. Instead of seeing suicide as a stand-alone issue, Wilkie said that the government […]
• New tool seeks to help caregivers of vets with TBI
  Traumatic brain injury (TBI) is one of the most common injuries sustained by veterans and it can have a profound effect on their daily lives. Around 384,000 service members and veterans have suffered a TBI and a third of them are left with a disability. Some require regular care from a loved one. A new […]

Harrisburg, PA (Law Firm Newswire) March 26, 2019 - Hazen Law Group will host a free informational session at the Cumberland Crossings Alzheimer’s Support Group on September 17, 2019.

Marielle F. Hazen, Esq., will lead an advice-packed discussion on Elder Law & Estate Planning for Alzheimer’s patients, their families, and anyone wishing to know more about elder law, asset protection and effective estate planning.

Marielle is a Certified Elder Law Attorney (CELA) and founder of Hazen Law Group, a firm dedicated to the practice of elder and special needs planning law, estate planning, tax planning and estate administration.

The support group will meet from 6:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. at Cumberland Crossings retirement and assisted living facility at 1 Longsdorf Way, Carlisle, Pennsylvania.

The Cumberland Crossings Alzheimer’s Support Group meets on the third Tuesday of each month. For more information on the support group, contact Jill Lindenberger at (717) 243-0113.

Marielle Hazen is a past president and founding member of the Pennsylvania Association of Elder Law Attorneys (PAELA) and a past president of the Special Needs Alliance.

Hazen Law Group provides expert legal representation in elder law, special needs law and estate planning in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania and surrounding communities. For more information or to schedule a consultation, call Hazen Law Group at (717) 540-4332.

Learn more at http://www.hazenlawgroup.com.

Hazen Law Group
2000 Linglestown Road
Suite 202
Harrisburg, PA 17110
Phone: (717) 540-4332

Hazen Law Group Blog

• New VA Pension Benefit Rules Mean Careful Veterans Planning is Required
• How to Prevent Tax Fraud and Identity Theft
• Equifax Security Breach – What to do now to protect your identity and credit.
• The Pennsylvania ABLE Savings Program
• What does the Special Needs Trust Fairness Act do for Pennsylvania families?
• Members of the military can designate special needs trusts as beneficiaries of Survivor Benefit Plans
• The Medicaid ineligibility trap
• The costs associated with long-term care
• Guardianship laws in Pennsylvania
• Top Ten Reasons to Get Your Estate Plan in Order

Tampa, FL (Law Firm Newswire) March 21, 2019 - All things considered, Randy Willoughby has a good life. Every day he spends time with his wife, Kayliegh, and their beautiful two-year-old daughter. When he’s not playing with his daughter, Randy can be found feeding his horses, playing video games, or enjoying his passion for cooking. But through it all, Mr. Willoughby suffers from a severe traumatic brain injury caused by a 2012 car wreck.

On November 2, 2012, Mr. Willoughby, 20 at the time, and his girlfriend, Kayliegh Lewis, were on their way to dinner when an elderly driver ran a four-way stop sign and T-boned Ms. Lewis’ vehicle on the passenger side where Mr. Willoughby was sitting. His injuries were severe, including a Grade III diffuse axonal brain injury.

In 2013, he filed a lawsuit to recover the damages caused by the wreck against the driver of the vehicle that hit him, as well as the driver’s wife as a co-owner of the vehicle. (Under Florida law, a co-owner of a vehicle is vicariously liable for damages caused by the negligent use of that vehicle.) Both defendants were insured by GEICO.

Mr. Willoughby eventually settled with the driver, thus leaving the driver’s wife the only defendant responsible for Mr. Willoughby’s damages. Before trial, GEICO prevented the driver’s wife and Mr. Willoughby from settling the case for $4.8 million. GEICO even refused to let the parties agree to any amount of damages more than $147k in past medical expenses. As a result, Mr. Willoughby and the driver’s wife proceeded to trial to obtain a determination of the full amount of Mr. Willoughby’s damages.

On Friday, March 15, 2019, a Florida jury returned a verdict for $30.1 million in Mr. Willoughby’s favor, which included $7.2 million in economic and over $22.9 million in non-economic damages.

Mr. Willoughby was represented by Swope, Rodante P.A. attorneys Brandon Cathey, Brent Steinberg and Daniel Greene. At trial, the defendant co-owner was represented by attorneys Jim Thompson and Troy Holland of the defense firm Goodis Thompson & Miller, P.A.

About Swope, Rodante P.A.

As advocates of justice, Swope, Rodante P.A. is dedicated to fighting for the underdog, protecting our clients’ rights, and recovering compensation for clients to help rebuild their lives. Founded in 1979, Swope, Rodante P.A. has grown to meet the unique needs of our clients and the challenges of today’s legal environment. The firm’s focus is complex litigation, insurance bad faith and catastrophic injury cases, including brain and spinal cord injuries. With a Tampa office located in the historic Florida Brewery building, Swope, Rodante P.A. handles cases across the Southeast and Nationwide.

Houston, TX (Law Firm Newswire) March 21, 2019 - The government shutdown affected many areas of government, including the shuttering of immigration courts. Roughly 400 immigration judges were furloughed. The 35-day shutdown threw the status of thousands of immigrants into limbo because the courts had yet to decide whether they can stay in the country or be deported.

As a result of the judges being furloughed, there are over 80,000 cases to be rescheduled to attempt to alleviate the backlog, according to the Transactional Records Access Clearinghouse at Syracuse University. Furloughed immigration judges are only able to hear cases for immigrants held in detention centers. In other words, they are only able to hear those cases that are deemed to be the most urgent. They cannot hear other cases, which does not help the system backlog.

There are about 385 judges across the United States, including about 15 in the Houston, Texas area, attempting to handle an ever-increasing caseload. An average immigration judge could oversee more than 2,000 cases.

There were approximately over 827,000 open cases prior to the shutdown, including over 51,000 in Houston, and as a result of the shutdown, there are now thousands of new cases adding to the backlog. Hearings scheduled during the shutdown were set on the docket years ago and now hundreds of immigrants that were to appear are facing years of waiting for their turn to come around again.

“It’s not just immigrants [in detention centers] that have been waiting for a hearing,” said respected Huston immigration attorney, Annie Banerjee, “the shutdown has affected those attempting to renew work permits, get a driver’s license or apply for asylum.” The delays, once thought to be tediously long, are now worse. “Texas had the third-most postponed hearings in the United States behind California and New York.”

The irony of a shutdown to ensure border security is not lost on the judges who now face staggering backlogs to keep up with and maintain the caseloads they face. Judges have now been rescheduling cases, some even to 2023. “The system, once confusing, complex and slow, is now even slower,” added Banerjee. “Recovery from the shutdown is going to take a long time. Should there be another one, the system is likely to sustain another major hit.”

Learn more at http://www.visatous.com

Law Offices of Annie Banerjee
131 Brooks Street, Suite #300
Sugar Land, Texas 77478
Phone: (281) 242-9139

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Philadelphia, PA (Law Firm Newswire) March 20, 2019 - Petrelli Previtera Schimmel, LLC is proud to announce that William Kirby has joined the firm as its newest attorney. Mr. Kirby concentrates his practice at Petrelli Previtera Schimmel in all matters of family law, including divorce, separation, child custody, support disputes, property division, and many others. He is licensed to practice law in Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Maryland, the District of Columbia, and before the U.S. District Court Eastern District of Pennsylvania.

William is a member of the Family Law Sections within the American and Pennsylvania Bar Associations. He is also a member of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Armed Forces and the U.S. Navy-Marine Corps Court of Criminal Appeals. He is a retired Major in the U. S. Marine Corps.

“Bill’s experience as an attorney in the Marine Corps and then as a business litigator has given him an impressive skill set as legal counsel,” said Petrelli Previtera Schimmel partner Thomas Petrelli. “We are glad to have him as part of our team of family law attorneys.”

Mr. Kirby earned his bachelor’s degree from the United States Naval Academy, where he was given the distinction as an Arleigh Burke Academic Scholar. He then received his law degree from Duke University School of Law.

When not practicing law, William enjoys teaching group exercise classes, cooking, and spending time with his daughter.

About Petrelli Previtera Schimmel, LLC

Petrelli Previtera Schimmel, LLC was established in 2017 when Previtera & Schimmel joined Petrelli Law, P.C. creating a larger law firm focused exclusively on family law. The firm’s experienced attorneys provide top-notch legal counsel along with advice and information clients need to make the best decisions for their future. From complex litigation to negotiated agreements, Petrelli Previtera Schimmel works tirelessly to get the best results for each client.

For more information, visit: https://www.petrellilaw.com/

CONTACT:

Thomas J. Petrelli, Jr.
1845 Walnut Street, 19th Floor
Philadelphia, PA 19103
(215) 523-6900

Philadelphia, PA (Law Firm Newswire) March 20, 2019 - Petrelli Previtera Schimmel, LLC is proud to announce that William Kirby has joined the firm as its newest attorney. Mr. Kirby concentrates his practice at Petrelli Previtera Schimmel in all matters of family law, including divorce, separation, child custody, support disputes, property division, and many others. He is licensed to practice law in Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Maryland, the District of Columbia, and before the U.S. District Court Eastern District of Pennsylvania.

William is a member of the Family Law Sections within the American and Pennsylvania Bar Associations. He is also a member of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Armed Forces and the U.S. Navy-Marine Corps Court of Criminal Appeals. He is a retired Major in the U. S. Marine Corps.

“Bill’s experience as an attorney in the Marine Corps and then as a business litigator has given him an impressive skill set as legal counsel,” said Petrelli Previtera Schimmel partner Thomas Petrelli. “We are glad to have him as part of our team of family law attorneys.”

Mr. Kirby earned his bachelor’s degree from the United States Naval Academy, where he was given the distinction as an Arleigh Burke Academic Scholar. He then received his law degree from Duke University School of Law.

When not practicing law, William enjoys teaching group exercise classes, cooking, and spending time with his daughter.

About Petrelli Previtera Schimmel, LLC

Petrelli Previtera Schimmel, LLC was established in 2017 when Previtera & Schimmel joined Petrelli Law, P.C. creating a larger law firm focused exclusively on family law. The firm’s experienced attorneys provide top-notch legal counsel along with advice and information clients need to make the best decisions for their future. From complex litigation to negotiated agreements, Petrelli Previtera Schimmel works tirelessly to get the best results for each client.

For more information, visit: https://www.petrellilaw.com/

CONTACT:

Thomas J. Petrelli, Jr.
1845 Walnut Street, 19th Floor
Philadelphia, PA 19103
(215) 523-6900

Northville, MI (Law Firm Newswire) March 20, 2019 - A federal judge in Houston, Texas recently ruled that excluding women from being required to register for the draft is unconstitutional. As the ban on females in combat was lifted in 2015 there is now no legal reason for them to not register as men do.

The challenge to the existing draft laws came from the National Coalition for Men, a men’s rights group. They claimed that the gender ban violated the Fourteenth Amendment’s equal protection clause.

The judge in the case, Judge Gray H. Miller of Federal District Court in the Southern District of Texas, considered a 1981 Supreme Court ruling that said a ban on females signing up for the draft was legal as they were forbidden from combat at the time. Now that they are allowed to hold any military position for which they are qualified, he reasoned that they should also be eligible for the draft.

The Military Selective Service Act requires all men to register for the draft upon turning 18. They are eligible for conscripted service until they turn 25. Failure to register can result in fines, jail time or the denial of federal programs and services like student loans. The draft has not been utilized in 40 years, since the Vietnam War.

Lead attorney at Legal Help for Veterans, a law firm in Northville, Michigan that serves military families, James G. Fausone, a veteran himself, says, “Every door is now open to women in the military, which is a wonderful thing. Everyone stands to benefit from the full talents and abilities of the population should the need arise.”

The ruling is only symbolic for now but it comes just as the National Commission on Military, National, and Public Service has been studying the draft system and contemplating its future.

Learn more at http://www.legalhelpforveterans.com

Legal Help for Veterans, PLLC
41700 West Six Mile Road, Suite 101
Northville, MI 48168
Toll Free Phone: 800.693.4800

• VA will pay Army vet $40,000 in back benefits
  A disabled Army vet from New Jersey will soon be paid $40,000 in back benefits from the Veterans Administration. Ronald Choplinski, 71, was awarded the money after the VA Board of Veterans’ Appeals decided in January 2018 to upgrade the severity of his disability and that he should have been compensated for it earlier than […]
• Study finds brain changes for veterans with TBI and PTSD
  A new study recently published by the Journal of Head Trauma Rehabilitation found that veterans and active duty military personnel with combat-related post-traumatic stress disorder and mild traumatic brain injuries have larger amygdalae than others who only have brain injuries. The amygdala is the area of the brain associated with emotions, especially fear, anxiety, anger […]
• Wilkie pledges increased government focus on veteran suicide prevention
  Early April, Secretary of Veterans Affairs Robert Wilkie said that the entire government was focused on reducing the rate of suicide among veterans. This statement comes in the wake of several suicides committed outside VA clinics and much turmoil within the agency. Instead of seeing suicide as a stand-alone issue, Wilkie said that the government […]
• New tool seeks to help caregivers of vets with TBI
  Traumatic brain injury (TBI) is one of the most common injuries sustained by veterans and it can have a profound effect on their daily lives. Around 384,000 service members and veterans have suffered a TBI and a third of them are left with a disability. Some require regular care from a loved one. A new […]

Harrisburg, PA (Law Firm Newswire) March 19, 2019 - Hazen Law Group will host a free informational session and discussion at Walden Way 55+ Community in Mount Joy, Pennsylvania on April 3, 2019.

Marielle F. Hazen, Esq., will lead an information-packed session on Elder Law & Estate Planning for senior citizens, their loved ones, and anyone who wants to learn about proper estate planning, asset protection and elder law.

Marielle Hazen is a Certified Elder Law Attorney (CELA). She is also the founder of Hazen Law Group, a firm dedicated to the practice of elder law, estate planning and administration, nursing home planning and special needs law.

The session will take place at the Walden Way Community Center from 2:00 to 3:00 p.m. on Wednesday, April 3. For more information about Walden Way, contact Jean Young at 717-928-4432.

Marielle Hazen is a founding member and past president of the Pennsylvania Association of Elder Law Attorneys (PAELA) and a past president of the Special Needs Alliance.

Hazen Law Group provides expert guidance in elder law, special needs law and estate planning in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania and surrounding communities. For more about the firm or to schedule a consultation, call Hazen Law Group at 717-540-4332.

Learn more at http://www.hazenlawgroup.com.

Hazen Law Group
2000 Linglestown Road
Suite 202
Harrisburg, PA 17110
Phone: (717) 540-4332

Hazen Law Group Blog

• New VA Pension Benefit Rules Mean Careful Veterans Planning is Required
• How to Prevent Tax Fraud and Identity Theft
• Equifax Security Breach – What to do now to protect your identity and credit.
• The Pennsylvania ABLE Savings Program
• What does the Special Needs Trust Fairness Act do for Pennsylvania families?
• Members of the military can designate special needs trusts as beneficiaries of Survivor Benefit Plans
• The Medicaid ineligibility trap
• The costs associated with long-term care
• Guardianship laws in Pennsylvania
• Top Ten Reasons to Get Your Estate Plan in Order