Month: April 2019

San Francisco, CA (Law Firm Newswire) May 1, 2019 Gilfix & La Poll Associates is thrilled to invite the public to attend the firm’s 15th Annual Special Needs Trust Seminar in Palo Alto, California.

Attorneys Michael Gilfix and Mark R. Gilfix will be presenting the free seminar on Wednesday, May 1, 2019. Several of the Bay Area’s best special needs-oriented nonprofits, including NAMI, The Pacific Autism Center for Education, Guide Dogs for the Blind, Pragnya and many others will also be in attendance.

Gilfix & La Poll’s signature annual event aims to help families navigate the complexities of special needs planning. The two-hour seminar will be offered twice — at an afternoon session that begins at 2 p.m. and an evening session that starts at 6 p.m. Michael Gilfix and Mark R. Gilfix will share up-to-date, reliable information about special needs trusts and how to use them.

A special needs trust is a crucial legal tool that provides lifelong financial security to a child or family member who is disabled without harming their eligibility for government benefits. Seminar attendees can learn about how to create and manage a trust, as well as the various considerations involved with planning for the future of a special needs individual.

“It’s important to realize that special needs trusts and public benefits are not mutually exclusive,” explained attorney Michael Gilfix, a nationally recognized leader in special needs planning and author of the book “Special Needs Trust Creation and Management Guide.” “In fact, these trusts actually complement government programs like Medi-Cal and Supplemental Security Income as the assets held within them are not counted toward eligibility.”

“Each family faces unique challenges when addressing the long-term requirements and comfort of a loved one with special needs,” commented special needs planning attorney Mark Gilfix. “There are a lot of misconceptions circulating out there. We want to make sure families are equipped with the right information so that they can make decisions that are in their best interests. A special needs trust is often the most important planning tool a family will ever create. We are excited to educate the community about this.”

Register for the seminar online at https://www.gilfix.com/event-registration-special-needs-trust-seminar/.

15th Annual Special Needs Trust Seminar
Wednesday, May 1; 2-4 p.m. & 6-8 p.m.
Presented by Michael Gilfix, Esq. and Mark R. Gilfix, Esq.
Elks Lodge Palo Alto
4249 El Camino Real,
Palo Alto, CA 94306

Gilfix & La Poll Associates LLP
2300 Geng Rd., Suite 200
Palo Alto, CA 94303
Telephone: (650) 493-8070
http://www.gilfix.com/

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• Attorney Michael Gilfix featured as Great Giver in PACE newsletter
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Silver Spring, MD (Law Firm Newswire) April 30, 2019 - Asher Weinberg is pleased to announce the launch of his solo criminal defense practice.

Conveniently located in Silver Spring, the Law Office of Asher Weinberg provides powerful legal representation to the accused when their future and their freedom is on the line. Well-versed in the Maryland Criminal Code, Mr. Weinberg routinely handles a wide range of misdemeanor and felony offenses -- drug crimes, violent crimes, theft crimes, traffic violations and DUI. In fact, he is one of the few attorneys in the state who can defend a client against DUI charges and avoid a plea that could result in fines, license suspensions and other penalties.

For 10 years prior to hanging out his own shingle, Mr. Weinberg has provided his clients with innovative defense strategies and superior personal service, knowing that it is crucial for his clients to express their concerns in confidence. Committed to the underlying principle of the U.S. criminal justice system -- the presumption of innocence -- Asher Weinberg works tirelessly to balance the scales of justice and to protect the rights of his clients.

To learn more about the Law Office of Asher Weinberg, please contact his office today by visiting his website: https://asherweinberglaw.com/

Contact:
Law Office of Asher Weinberg
8720 Georgia Ave STE 505
Silver Spring, Md 20910
Phone: 410.316.6499
E-mail: asher@asherweinberglaw.com

Philadelphia, PA (Law Firm Newswire) April 29, 2019 - Babies in an inclined cradle with a much-loved blanket, about to drift off to sleep, make for a powerful picture and a successful Mattel Fisher-Price marketing campaign. That campaign took a deadly turn when babies started to die when the product, the Rock’n Play sleeper was put on the market.

Although the item promised a peaceful slumber, it came with risks that safety groups and doctors were concerned about and commented on, saying that Mattel should have fixed the problems that caused 30 infant deaths. The deaths were noted by the Consumer Product Safety Commission, who said the product should not be used once children reached 3 months or showed signs of being able to roll over, and are now the focus of several defective product/wrongful death lawsuits across the nation.

Mattel Fisher-Price did “just” recall the 4.7 million sleepers but denied that the deaths were the fault of the company, saying instead the sleeper deaths were the result of the product being used “contrary to safety warnings and instructions” to buckle the child in with the harness and not put any other items in the sleeper. Inclined cradles are known to be dangerous and can result in strangulation, suffocation, falls and entrapment. Most parents thought that the product was from a reliable company, one that could be trusted to make items that were safe for their children.

One such lawsuit, being handled by MyPhillyLawyer, points out that Fisher-Price’s marketing campaign, despite the corporate culpability denial, has and does include statements such as “baby can sleep at a comfy incline all night long,” a phrase that is at distinct odds with pediatric advice to make sure infants sleep on firm, flat, bare surfaces, without any restraints or bedding. Says Nancy Cowles, the executive director of Kids In Danger, “This is just not a safe way for babies to sleep.”

MyPhillyLawyer, representing one of the bereaved families, intends to prove that Fisher-Price has not always met all applicable U.S. regulations and safety standards and that despite having known for years about the problem of babies suffocating in their sleep in the Rock’n Play sleeper not enough was done to warn consumers of the potential hazards. Instead of warning consumers, Mattel Fisher-Price highlighted some of the most dangerous features of the sleeper as selling points and since 2009, when the product was created, did not appear to meet any of the safety guidelines.

Fisher-Price has had several recalls for safety concerns over the years and MyPhillyLawyer intends to fully visit those instances to outline a history of product negligence and other deaths.

For further information or an interview contact:

MyPhillyLawyer
Dean Weitzman
Two Penn Center Plaza
1500 John F Kennedy Blvd #1410
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19102
Phone: 215.227.2727
Fax: 215.563.6617
Toll Free: 866.907.2231
E-mail: dweitzman@myphillylawyer.com

San Francisco, CA (Law Firm Newswire) April 29, 2019 - Supermarket chain Raley’s was recently sued in Sacramento County Superior Court for the termination of three security personnel who complained of racial profiling at its grocery stores in Sacramento, California. One security officer, Candace Alston, appeared with her attorney Bryan McCormack on Fox40 on April 10 to comment on the case, which alleges racial discrimination, harassment, retaliation and wrongful termination.

According to Alston, Raley’s managers told loss prevention officers to follow customers of a specific race. “They would want us to watch black people specifically,” she said. “One manager told me when I first starting to work in his store, ‘Oh, we really have a problem with n------ over here. So, just watch them, just watch them.’”

McCormack, of the San Francisco-based employment law firm McCormack and Erlich, is representing the three African American loss prevention security officers formerly employed by Raley’s and Camden Security Services, which contracts with grocery stores for security services.

Raley’s managers were accused of making frequent racist and discriminatory comments to and about McCormack’s clients, as well as other African American employees and store customers. All three plaintiffs were eventually fired in retaliation for complaining to their employers about the workplace discrimination and harassment, as well as the racial profiling policy that Raley’s managers enforced.

The lawsuit also alleged that Raley’s failed to take any action when the security officers expressed concerns about their safety after being threatened and attacked at several grocery stores. They were forced to work alone in dangerous situations despite police suggesting that it was unsafe to do so in certain stores in the Sacramento area. One officer that McCormack is representing even had a gun pulled on her by a customer.

A Raley’s spokesperson said in a statement to Fox40, “Raley’s contracts with Camden Security Services for security services at our stores. The individuals suing are not current or former Raley’s employees.”

McCormack disagrees. “They [Raley’s] are putting together the schedules. They discipline the security officers,” he told Fox40. “They, in every way, act like an employer and under the law, they share the responsibility. They are considered the employer as well.”

The lawsuit is seeking punitive damages, as well as damages for physical suffering, emotional distress and lost earnings. It is also calling for Raley’s to improve training in order to eliminate discriminatory managerial practices.

Media Contact: Bryan J. McCormack of McCormack & Erlich, 150 Post Street, Suite 742, San Francisco, CA 94108; telephone (415) 296-8420; email: bryan@mcelawfirm.com

Learn more at http://mcelawfirm.com/.

McCormack & Erlich
150 Post Street
Suite 742
San Francisco, CA 94108
Phone: (415) 296-8420

McCormack & Erlich Blog

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Monticello, NY (Law Firm Newswire) April 23, 2019 - On February 28, 2019, Sobo & Sobo continued its growth and expansion throughout the Hudson Valley Region by opening the law firm’s eighth regional office at 553 West Broadway, Monticello, NY. Although Sobo & Sobo Monticello attorneys will focus on the firm’s core area of law, personal injury litigation, the firm’s full legal services will also be available through this office.

The Monticello office is in the renovated former home of prominent judge Lawrence H. Cooke. Judge Cooke was one of the most celebrated politicians and judges in Sullivan County history. He served on New York’s highest court and rendered several judicial opinions that helped shape New York law.

In Beach v. Shanley, Judge Cooke wrote the court's opinion that the Shield Law permits a reporter who has been called before a grand jury to withhold the name of confidential sources without being subject to any sanction for criminal contempt. Judge Cooke lived in his home at 553 West Broadway until he passed away there on August 17, 2000 at the age of 86. Today, several landmarks in Sullivan County have been named after Judge Cooke, including the Lawrence H. Cooke Supreme Courthouse and a local cemetery.

Managing Partner Gregory M. Sobo announced the completion of the renovation project and the opening of the Monticello office. “Sobo & Sobo is extremely proud to open an office in Monticello to serve the people of Sullivan County with an even more convenient location where they can receive our brand of exceptional legal representation,” said Mr. Sobo. “We are honored to continue the tradition of legal excellence exemplified by Judge Cooke’s career and achievements,” he said.

About Sobo & Sobo, LLP

The Law Offices of Sobo & Sobo, one of the largest plaintiff’s personal injury firms in the country, is driven by a commitment to superior service and world-class representation. It all begins with listening to the victim’s story during a free consultation. Sobo & Sobo has offices conveniently located throughout New York in Middletown, Newburgh, Spring Valley, Warwick and Poughkeepsie as well as New York City. To explore information about their decades of Winning Together, visit www.sobolaw.com or call 1-855-GOT-SOBO.

Charleston, SC (Law Firm Newswire) April 11, 2019 - The Million Dollar Advocates Forum is pleased to announce that attorney Catherine D. Meehan of Charleston, South Carolina has been certified as a life member of both the Million Dollar Advocates Forum and the Multi-Million Dollar Advocates Forum.

The Million Dollar Advocates Forum is recognized as one of the most prestigious groups of trial lawyers in the United States. Membership is limited to attorneys who have won million and multi-million dollar verdicts, awards and settlements.

Catherine “Catie” Meehan’s dual passions for law and medicine led her to the Steinberg Law Firm, where attorneys work with individuals who have been injured at work or in their daily lives.

Catie graduated Magna Cum Laude from the Charleston School of Law in May of 2013, having already distinguished herself in the medical field. She earned numerous CALI Awards (signifying the highest grade earned in a class) for her academic performance. She also received the Founder’s Award for Professionalism in Advocacy.

Catie serves on the Charleston School of Law Alumni Association Board of Directors, and the Strategic Volunteer Engagement Committee for Reading Partners South Carolina. She also serves on the Board of Directors for Kids Chance of South Carolina. Catie is a member of the Charleston Metro Chamber of Commerce, Junior League, the South Carolina Bar Association and its Young Lawyers Division.

Steinberg Law Firm
http://www.steinberglawfirm.com/

61 Broad St
Charleston, SC 29401
Phone: (843) 720-2800

118 S Goose Creek Blvd
Goose Creek, SC 29445
Phone: (843) 572-0700

103 Grandview Drive Suite A
Summerville, SC 29483
Phone: (843) 871-6522

Steinberg Law Firm Blog

Harrisburg, PA (Law Firm Newswire) April 10, 2019 - The Hazen Law Group is proud to announce that founding attorney Marielle Hazen has been named to the Board of Directors of the National Academy of Elder Law Attorneys (NAELA.)

The NAELA is a professional organization of elder law attorneys whose mission is to educate, inspire, serve and provide community to its members.

Marielle Hazen is a Certified Elder Law Attorney by the National Elder Law Foundation, as authorized by the Pennsylvania Supreme Court. She is a past president and a founding member of the Pennsylvania Association of Elder Law Attorneys (PAELA), past chair of the Elder Law Section of the Pennsylvania Bar, and past president of the Special Needs Alliance, a national nonprofit dedicated to Disability and Public Benefits Law.

Hazen founded The Hazen Law Group in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, which focuses on elder law, estate planning and disability planning. The Hazen Law Group adheres only to the highest of standards, which is clearly shown by the many awards and honors bestowed upon Hazen, including the John J. Regan Writing Award for her article “The Fiduciary Pitfalls of Managing Special Needs Trusts That Own Real Estate,” the NAELA Powley Elder Law Award for promoting a greater understanding of the rights and needs of the elderly and people with special needs, the Excellence in Elder Law Award by the Pennsylvania Bar, and an Outstanding Achievement award from NAELA.

“I am proud to be involved with the NAELA and being named to the Board of Directors is an honor.” said Hazen. “My passion is protecting the interests of my clients, and serving on the NAELA Board will allow me to do so in even broader ways.”

You can contact Marielle Hazen of the Hazen Law Group at https://www.hazenlawgroup.com

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

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• 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
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Harrisburg, PA (Law Firm Newswire) April 3, 2019 - Hazen Law Group will present a free legal information discussion at the MHADP and CMU Spring Forum on April 29, 2019.

Marielle F. Hazen, Esq., will lead a discussion and answer questions about guardianship, end of life planning for those affected by mental health issues and related special needs planning law matters.

Marielle is a Certified Elder Law Attorney and founder of Hazen Law Group, a Harrisburg firm proudly representing families in special needs planning, elder law and estate planning.

The event will take place from 1:00 p.m. to 3:00 p.m. and again from 6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. at the Giant Food Store’s Community Center at 2300 Linglestown Road, Harrisburg, Pennsylvania.

The MHADP and CMU Spring Forum is sponsored by the Dauphin County Department of Mental Health / Autism / Developmental Programs (MHADP) and Carnegie Mellon University.

Those interested in more information may contact:
● Dan Sausman, Developmental Services Director, Carnegie Mellon University: dsausman@cmu.cc / 717-441-7036.
● Bobbi Segin, Deputy Administrator for Autism/Developmental Programs, Dauphin County Department of MHADP: bsegin@dauphinc.org / 717-780-7042.

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

Hazen Law Group provides trusted legal representation in elder law, special needs law and estate planning matters in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, and surrounding areas. 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

La Jolla, CA (Law Firm Newswire) April 1, 2019 - Thermal Pipe Shields, an innovator in the pipe insulation industry, recently filed an antitrust lawsuit against the dominant supplier, Berkshire Hathaway (NYSE: BRK) company Johns Manville Corporation.

Before Thermal Pipe Shields entered the market, Johns Manville had the market to itself. In independent tests, Thermal Pipe Shields’ product met or exceeded the industry standard and outperformed Johns Manville’s product in several ways and at a lower cost. But Thermal Pipe Shields was forced to file an antitrust lawsuit because Johns Manville, which controls 98% of the market, resorted to disparagement and threats to Thermal Pipe Shields’ customers in an effort to maintain its monopoly.

Washington state-based Chase Manufacturing, Inc., which does business as Thermal Pipe Shields, sued industry behemoth Johns Manville Corporation and its subsidiary, Industrial Insulation Group, LLC, in federal district court in Denver, Colorado, where Johns Manville is headquartered. The complaint alleges claims for monopolization and tying under Sherman Act Section 2, as well as claims for violations of the federal Lanham Act false advertising law, and state law claims for trade disparagement and tortious interference with contract.

At the heart of the lawsuit is the market for an insulation product called “calsil,” which is an insulation that is used for piping, tanks, and other industrial applications involving equipment that operates at temperatures up to 1200 degrees Fahrenheit. Because of its unique physical properties and uses, calsil is a distinct product market with no close substitutes.

Johns Manville dominates the calsil market.

According to the complaint, when Thermal Pipe Shields first decided to enter the calsil market, “Johns Manville immediately tried to disrupt and destroy Thermal Pipe Shields’ potential entry and its attempt to break the Johns Manville monopoly.” First, Johns Manville threatened a Thermal Pipe Shield’s officer, falsely accusing him of stealing confidential information and demanding that Thermal Pipe Shields not solicit any Johns Manville customers. Thermal Pipe Shields rejected this illegal invitation to not compete.

With its threats rebuffed, the complaint alleges that Johns Manville moved onto a series of more malicious attempts to prevent Thermal Pipe Shields from breaking into the market: First, it disparaged Thermal Pipe Shields to its customers. Then, Johns Manville leveraged its dominance in other product markets, threatening to cut off customers that were considering the new calsil competitor. Thermal Pipe Shields alleges that Johns Manville executives told its customers that if they purchased the competing product, Johns Manville would cut them off from certain essential products. In one instance, the executives told a customer that “We know you have been buying from Thermal Pipe Shields because we track their import records” before threatening to cut them off from other Manville products.

“This case shows our commitment to breaking the calsil monopoly in North America by introducing meaningful competition into this under-serviced and under-utilized market to our customers,” said David Shong of Thermal Pipe Shields after the lawsuit was filed.

The case is Chase Manufacturing Inc. d/b/a Thermal Pipe Shields v. Johns Manville Corporation and Industrial Insulation Group, LLC, No. 19-cv-00872 in the U.S. District Court for the District of Colorado.

Thermal Pipe Shields is represented by Bona Law PC in San Diego and New York, and Klenda, Gessler & Blue, LLC in Denver.

About Bona Law PC

Bona Law PC is an antitrust boutique law firm with offices in San Diego and New York that represents clients for litigation (plaintiffs and defendants), antitrust counseling, and mergers.

Contact:
Jarod Bona
Bona Law PC
4275 Executive Square, Suite 200
La Jolla, CA 92037
858-964-4589
Jarod.bona@bonalawpc.com
www.businessjustice.com
www.TheAntitrustAttorney.com

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