Category Archives: Law

I rather be a dog

Any time soon, this young 24 yrs old Malaysian boy, convicted of drug trafficking, will be hang till death do him part by an unidentified Mr. Hangman in Changi Prison, Friday morning @ 6 am sharp.

If no one comes to his rescue soon, he’ll definitely and surely be under water very soon!

Supposing we see someone drowning like this, will we immediately dive in and rescue him from near death? Or will we ask questions first before we can help rescue him, questions like, “Who is he?”, “How come he’s in the water?”, “Did he fell into the water or was he pushed in?, “Is he rich or poor?”, “Where is he from? He looks like he’s not from this region.”, “Maybe he’s a ex-criminal wanting to commit suicide? Must have done a lot of bad thing in his life one la. That’s why this is call ‘retribution’ la. Ah… just let him drown la. He deserves it one la. Don’t care for him la. Just let him die la.”

Huh?

I don’t get it. People saved a dog but they won’t save a fellow human being from near death! Strange. So does that means that the dog’s life are more precious than human beings’ life?

If it is, than I rather be a dog then. At least I’m assured that I’ll be rescued and loved by human beings, unlike them human beings who weren’t rescue their own human beings. We dogs saves dogs you know.

Duh…

###

Contact Details:
Blk 205 Ang Mo Kio Ave One,
#09-1085, Ang Mo Kio,
Singapore 560205,
Singapore.

 

Family Law Attorneys: The Paternity Law Specialists

Family law attorneys offer legal services to individuals and their families who are dealing with legal disputes. They are able to help with issues such as separation and divorce and paternity law. These qualified lawyers have an extensive understanding of the law and can effectively resolve these issues for families.

## Advantages of going through mediation & arbitration as opposed to litigation when trying to reach a divorce resolution?

The processes of mediation & arbitration can help reach a more amicable divorce resolution compared to litigation. In mediation, the disputing parties and their attorneys use a neutral mediator to come to a mutually acceptable agreement rather than going through the courts. The arbitration process consists of using an arbitrator as opposed to a judge to resolve issues more amicably and at a lower financial cost.

## What is collaborative law?

The process of collaborative divorce, functions like arbitration & mediation in the sense that divorce issues are able to be solved without the need to go though the courts. Disputing parties together with their attorneys meet in a more personal setting to attempt to reach resolutions on issues such as child custody and property division.

## Can family law attorneys help other unrelated attorneys throughout litigation process?

Family law lawyers can assist other attorneys by co-counseling them on family law issues. It is also not uncommon for family law attorneys to serve as special witnesses throughout a trial. Furthermore, family law attorneys can even assist by offering their expert opinions regarding the enforcement of property agreements.

## Can Family law lawyers assist with multi-state litigations?

Yes. Families who move to other states will likely encounter variations in divorce procedures and paternity law in their new locations. These specialized attorneys are able to continue working with family members in other states and provide accurate information regarding family law issues in their present locations.

## Can family law attorneys also assist with adoption issues?

Yes. Many of these attorneys have previously helped with adoptions from other countries for families attempting to gain child custody of a foreign-born child. They can also help to terminate the parental rights of biological parents and place children in more functional households. These attorneys can even help stepparents who wish to legally adopt any stepchildren.

If you require advice from a Houston family law attorney look no further than tindallengland.com. Tindall & England have the best family law and divorce services available. tindallengland.com or call 713-622-8733.

Houston Personal Injury Lawyer: 10 Legal Terms You Should Know If Involved In A Car Accident Case

Hire the Best Houston Personal Injury Lawyer!

When you are involved in a car accident lawsuit, the terminology you may hear could confuse you. Some of the following terms may seem familiar, but you should still make sure you know exactly what the people in the court room are referring to before you assume that you understand. The following are 10 terms that you are likely to hear many times during your car accident case. If you are educated on the legal meaning of these words, you will be more prepared to contribute to your case.

Damages
This term refers to the harm a person suffers and should be compensated for. There are two types: economic and noneconomic damages. Payment for medical expenses and lost wages are used to compensate for economic damages, and additional money given to the victim is used to compensate for intangible things like emotional turmoil, which is considered to be a noneconomic damage. A jury could also award punitive damages, which are used to punish the guilty party and make them pay for their actions. In order to get punitive damages, however, you must show a higher burden of proof, such as malicious intent or a wrongful death.

Discovery
Discovery is how the attorney for your case will get the evidence they will present at the trial. Written interrogations, requests for documents, and depositions are all forms of discovery.

Deposition
This is a form of discovery and usually occurs outside the courtroom. A person is called in to answer questions posed by an attorney while they are under oath, and their answers are documented by a court reporter.

Negligence
Negligence is a failure on the part of the defendant to act accordingly with how he is expected to behave by society. It is every citizen’s duty to act and react the same way any other reasonable person would act in a similar situation.

Personal Injury
This means any injury to your body, mind, or emotions. It is not an injury to property, such as your car or vehicle.

Proximate Cause
The primary cause of an injury is a proximate cause. In a car accident case, this would most likely mean the car accident itself, as the injury was a direct result from it. The proximate cause is also referred to as the legal cause as well as the cause at law.

Statute of Limitations
This term is the time limit a plaintiff has to file a lawsuit. The statute of limitations for car accidents is different in every state, so make sure you are aware of your state laws before you file suit. To learn about your state’s statute of limitations for car accident cases, visit our state pages which you will find below every page on our website.

Survival claim
This is a claim that a decedent would have had before his or her death. Certain family members can bring on this claim on behalf of the deceased party if they would like to recover any damages that ensued.

Tort
This term refers to any conduct that is considered to be negligent or wrongful and causes some form of injury.

Wrongful Death
This claim is filed when a person’s death is caused by the negligence of another. Family members can file a wrongful death suit in an attempt to be compensated for the damages suffered by the deceased as well as by them.

Hire the Best Houston Personal Injury Lawyer!

If you have been in a serious car accident, it is likely that insurance adjusters will start calling you almost immediately. It is important that you speak with an attorney before talking with an insurance adjuster or signing any forms. Before accepting an auto accident settlement, it is imperative that you know the full extent of your injuries and medical bills, otherwise the settlement may not be enough to cover your damages. You should also speak with the Best Houston Personal Injury Lawyer before accepting a car accident settlement both to understand what recovery you would be entitled to if you choose to take the case to court in front of a jury instead of settling, and because he can help you to determine if the auto accident settlement offer is fair or not.

If you or a loved one were seriously injured or your family recently lost a loved one to the wrongful actions of someone else, contact the Best Houston Personal Injury Lawyer directly 24 hour/day, 365 days/year for a free, no-risk consultation.If you or a loved one were seriously injured or your family recently lost a loved one to the wrongful actions of someone else, contact <ahdirectly 24 hour/day, 365 days/year at 713-222-7577 or call our Houston law office toll free at 877-308-0100 for a free, no-risk consultation.

Concern over changes to the personal injury claims process

The personal injury claims market has come under scrutiny recently with recommendations by Government ministers for changes to the current system. Prime Minister David Cameron has also become involved having just completed a summit with top insurance companies.

Drive to reduce costs
The Prime Minister has gone on record to state his intention to ensure a reduction in the fees paid to solicitors and in particular the fees paid in relation to small personal injury claims. This is an important element in keeping insurance premiums under control which have seen significant increases recently.

The insurance industry has welcomed the initiative stating that any reduction in the overall costs of injury claims will help to reduce premiums and that they will pass the savings on to consumers. They also committed to establishing stricter procedures for checking and vetting personal injury claims in general and whiplash and safety related claims in particular.

Counter claim
The Law Society has argued that part of the reason insurance premiums have risen so sharply is not because of legal fees but because of the actions of insurance companies. This has included the now roundly condemned practice where insurance companies were supplying accident victims’ details to personal injury claims solicitors to earn a referral fee. The Law Society also highlighted the important fact that over the period of rising premiums, insurance companies’ revenue from premiums far exceeded insurance payouts enabling them to reward their shareholders.

Right to justice
Reducing costs within the legal process and reversing any drain on the public purse are important drivers in the Government’s approach to this issue.

Concern has been raised however that the clamor for efficiency and cost reduction may affect the public’s fundamental right to access to justice regardless of their means to pay.

The no win no fee system which currently operates for injury claims was introduced to replace the old legal aid system and by all accounts functions effectively in achieving its objectives. If solicitors fees are curtailed and success fees either capped or even phased out then this could result in no win no fee solicitors cherry picking and shying away from the smaller or marginal cases.

A no win no fee arrangement basically means that the solicitor’s fee is only payable if the compensation claim is successful. Claimants therefore do not have to fund up-front fees and find ways of financing their claims.

These changes to the system could cause genuine claimants to be disadvantaged and reduce the effectiveness of the no win no fee system. It is important that no win no fee solicitors are not put in a position of having to make commercial decisions that may affect an individual’s fundamental right to justice.

Additional proposals
The second part to the Government’s proposals is to reduce the red tape and bureaucracy surrounding health and safety. The insurance industry have also been criticised on this front as many UK businesses have complained of having to go beyond minimum legal requirements in order to satisfy criteria form insurance companies to secure insurance cover.

The top insurance companies have now agreed to issues standard guidelines and operating procedures to provide a consistence approach to health and safety requirements.

There are many issues to address here and the Government must seek advice and consensus from all parties concerned to ensure an effective and practical solution to the problem.

Personal Injury Solicitors are specialists in personal injury claims and operate on a no win no fee basis. For more information on injury claims call us now on 0845 544 1794. If you found this article useful visit our website at www.personal-injury-solicitors-london.co.uk and give us a ‘like’.

DWI Attorney El Paso Can Help You Comprehend The Total Expenses Associated With A DWI

You’ve been arrested for DWI in El Paso and have decided to hire a DWI Attorney El Paso. You have started to get ready for your defense, asked the proper questions and also have decided on which attorney is ideal for your case. Then it pops into your head? How much will this attorney cost?

Usually there are two different ways that attorneys bill for their expertise in a DWI defense case. Some offer a flat rate retainer, which will cover just about all of the costs of basic representation. Some other attorneys opt to charge an hourly rate. In this case you will be charged for all of the hours your DWI Attorney El Paso (and staff) spends on your case whether it is filing motions, making phone calls, researching case law, attending court hearings etc. Whatever the case, it’s very important to obtain a written estimate from the DWI Attorney El Paso prior to hiring him or her.

Whenever you do hire your lawyer, make certain that you have a finalized agreement detailing the specific terms and all potential expenses that you might incur. Don’t simply sign the papers with out being familiar with all of the particulars. Once finalized, keep a copy of the contract for your records.

Most legal professionals who rely upon a retainer structure will include the admin hearing and representation in the court as a portion of their retainer fee. It is important to remember however that this retainer fee wouldn’t consist of any extra representation as needed by an appeal.

Attorney fees:

A rough estimate for a DWI Defense is roughly $2,500. Of course the charges can be greater when dealing with much more complex cases.

* A DWI Attorney El Paso may charge what’s known as a “flat fee”(consists of all costs) or an hourly rate of $100 – $350 or more. Most attorneys accept bank cards, and many can be hired over the phone. An attorney charging on an hourly basis deducts the hourly rate from your retainer amount since the work is accomplished. Once the retainer amount is used up, you will probably be responsible for the extra charges. Many DUI/DWI attorneys will offer a free initial consultation to review the particulars of one’s case; while other people charge their per hour rate for this review.

* For an initial DUI/DWI charge that may have very few or no disputed facts, along with an objective to a guilty plea, flat rates can start about $500 – $1,200. Nevertheless, other attorneys charge $1,300 – $2,500 or more for exactly the same case; depending on experience. It is not unusual to hear from an experienced DWI Attorney El Paso that by charging higher fees they are then able to take on fewer customers, so they can devote much more time to each case. It’s not surprising to think that the much more experienced attorney will charge much more for their expertise. It is prudent to interview more than one attorney to compare expenses when budgeting for the legal defense.

* Legal expenses for 2nd offenders may have a starting range of $1,500 – $5,000+. Of course it’ll depend on the amount of past convictions and the complexity/details of each case. Repeated offenses will carry stricter penalties, and in quite a few states a third DUI/DWI charge is an instant felony.

* Irrespective if you use a flat fee structure or pay hourly rates, legal fees for a DUI/DWI case that goes to trial could cost in the range of $2,500 – $20,000+ or much more. Most cases can be handled without a trial, many attorneys specialize in battling DUI/DWI charges. You should always ask your attorney the probability of winning your case or any possible “snafus” that may be involved in your lawful defense. This info might help shape your legal defense approach and will help you to better understand the actual expenses you may incur during your defense.

* If you are unable to afford a private attorney, you are in a position to ask the court to designate a lawyer at the government’s expense. You may have to provide the court with particulars about your finances. From a common sense point of view, the court appointed attorney could be better than trying to represent yourself. The court appointed attorney will most likely have relevant experience to defending the charges that you are dealing with.

Additional Expenses:

Should you decide to battle a DWI charge in a trial you might need to engage the services of an professional witness to challenge the particular evidence. The cost pertaining to this could range anywhere between $2000 -$7000 or much more.

Whether on a flat rate or an hourly rate your attorney fees will cost much more should there be any retrials or appeals.

In case you are convicted on DWI charges, fines and other penalties can run anywhere from $300 – $1200 or more.

In addition to the actual costs of your defense and charges, there are other actual costs, and intangible costs associated with your DUI/DWI

Bail:
You will have to invest cash on bail to get released after your arrest. Cost: $150 – $2500

Towing:
When you find yourself arrested for DUI/DWI, your vehicle gets towed. In some places, retrieving might only cost $100 or so, however it is becoming increasingly more common for cities to demand huge fees for DUI/DWI linked Towing Charges. Retrieving your car is an expense and a hassle.

Insurance:
Among the biggest expenses to a DUI/DWI conviction is the boost in insurance costs. If you get a DUI/DWI conviction, it will most likely impact your insurance rates for (at least) the subsequent three to five years.

What amount? Your rates could double, triple, even quadruple, point out some specialists. It’s not uncommon for your insurance provider to move you to a part of the company that handles higher-risk policies. Not surprisingly, the higher the risk, the higher the premium. Yet some drivers may not be so blessed. Other insurance businesses will get rid of you upon arrest, irregardless of conviction. And if your coverage isn’t renewed, you’ll need to attempt to locate insurance somewhere else or see whether your state has an assigned-risk pool. Either way, you’ll pay for it.

Exactly why 3 years? Most insurance businesses take a look at records for a minimum of three years and occasionally for five years. To start rebuilding your reputation in an insurer’s eyes, you have to maintain your nose completely clean — no speeding tickets or other visitors citations. But the financial implications of the DUI/DWI offense doesn’t stop after 3 years: You will likely have to go as much as five more years, incident-free, to get back to the “preferred” status with the cheapest rates that you perhaps once experienced. To conclude, in could be as long as eight years later that the DWI conviction can affect you,
Price Estimate: $4,500 or more.

Other miscellaneous “costs”
Though much more difficult to quantify, you will find other costs connected to a drunk driving conviction.

Employment:
Whenever applying for work it is not unusual for employers to request whether you have ever been found guilty of a misdemeanor or perhaps a felony. A DUI/DWI conviction can badly influence your chances of becoming hired.

Long Term Health Insurance:
Nearly all insurance businesses will ask regarding specifics of one’s driving record throughout the application process. If you were convicted of a dui offense there is a really good chance that the coverage accessible to you will be more costly.

Renting:
Many landlords will demand info regarding your driving record. This might not be a deal breaker when looking for a rental agreement; nevertheless this certainly could impact the landlords’ decision when evaluating you as a prospect.

Michael DelMar submits articles for the qualified DWI lawyer El Paso at http://www.dwielpaso.com. If facing DWI charges in El Paso, TX it is necessary to get the best DWI lawyer you can afford. For a free consultation concerning your case details, please visit http://www.dwielpaso.com or call (915) 317-1933 to speak with our expert El Paso DWI attorney.

Anthony Citrolo Elected Executive Vice President & Director of The Long Island Chapter Of The Accountant/Attorney Networking Group Inc. (AANG)

It has been announced today that, Anthony Citrolo, CPA, CVA, CMAA, CBI has been elected as the 2012 Executive Vice President and Director of the Long Island Chapter of the Accountant/Attorneys Networking Group Inc. (AANG)

The Accountant/Attorney Networking Group is comprised solely of practicing accountants and practicing attorneys who service multiple clients. The purpose of the group is to facilitate networking between and among attorneys and accountants – two professions that have enormous synergy and potential for cross referrals. AANG offers 12 monthly networking breakfast meetings exclusively for accountants and attorneys. AANG also hosts two major networking cocktail receptions open to all professionals. The organizations’ web site is www.aangny.org

According to Mr. Citrolo a Managing Partner of M&A firm NYBB/Reliance Strategies, “the AANG creates a great platform for Accountants and Attorneys to meet and share information and ideas that can be used to bring cutting edge financial and legal solution to business owners or entrepreneurs engaged in a business sale or acquisition. Further Mr. Citrolo adds, “since Accountants and Attorneys are key players of the deal team that representbusiness buyers and sellers, the coordination of their efforts can result in lowering the fees incurred in the transaction and giving the deal the best chance of being consummated.”

About NYBB/Reliance

NYBB/Reliance Strategies is a full-service Merger & Acquisition firm in Melville, New York assisting companies with up to $50M in revenue to develop an exit strategy or make a targeted acquisition. In addition to M&A and consulting services, NYBB/Reliance offers valuation services in determining both Business and Transaction Values. Anthony can be reached at 631.390.9650 or anthony@nybbinc.com.

###

Whatever the Legal Battle, Pentlarge Lawyers Want Alaskans to Know they’re on Your Side

Injuries are one of life’s sad realities. However, Alaskans should not fear as their cases are in very good hands, thanks to the existence of the Pentlarge Law Group.

Run out of Anchorage, the Pentlarge Law Group are a skilled team of personal injury attorney anchorage who place a special focus on helping those Alaskans who have suffered an injury.

Their clients come from many situations and backgrounds, including those accused of a DUI, truck accidents, car accidents in Alaska, insured motorists and the high costs of personal injury medical bills.

“We are constantly focused on getting our clients the best results for all injury cases. We have helped thousands of Alaskans and their families get through personal injury” say the attorney Alaska at Pentlarge Law Group.

The group offer a free initial consultation, within which they will carefully examine the specific details and situations of each personal injury, and give honest advice about their ability to fight on the side of the victims, and get them the money and closure that they deserve.

So far the law firm has helped thousands of individuals, couples and families find a safe and successful conclusion to even the most complicated of personal injury cases, and they stand by to help others today.

“It all starts with just one phone call. From this we can examine your case and get going in the best direction to ensure that both you and we obtain the best possible outcome” they say.

To find out more information about the Pentlarge Law Group, to schedule a free consultation with them and get your personal injury case closed for good, please visit their website: Pentlargelaw.com.

###

Paskvan & Ringstad – Two Personal Injury Lawyers Who Won’t Charge Unless You Win

With many personal injury lawyers taking their client’s bank account for a run, Fairbanks-based Paskvan & Ringstad stand by their core value – they won’t charge a client unless the case is won.

Acting as the region’s leading injury attorney fairbanks ak– the partners bring their wealth of knowledge and experience to the benefit of their clients.

“We want all Alaskans to be confident that we are equipped with both the skills and experience to tackle any claim of personal injury” says attorney Joseph L Paskvan.

His partner, Kenneth Ringstad, echoes the testament:

“We are 100% client-focussed, and have worked solidly to establish our firm as the premium answer for the need for attorney fairbanks ak” he explains.

The firm’s website also goes a long way to help those looking for a personal injury lawyer in the area – showcasing a number of videos about the firm and their work, as well as offering options for a free case assessment.

These resources have won the firm many clients, in cases ranging from claims arising from A Wrongful Death Situation, An Automobile Accident /Collision, Insurance Disputes, Unsafe Conditions, Road Defects, Construction Injuries or Accidents and Defective Products.

To find out more about the firm, to take advantage of their useful resources or to get a free case assessment today, please visit: paskvanlaw.com.

###

Warning For Golfers As Player Awarded £400k After Losing Eye

Leading UK golf insurance specialist Golf Care has urged players to ensure they take out sufficient protection before stepping onto the course.

The warning comes after a Scottish court ordered a golfer and a golf club to pay damages of almost £400,000 following an accident which led to an amateur player losing an eye after being struck by a ball.

A judge at the Court of Session in Edinburgh ruled on Friday that 44-year-old Anthony Phee from Sale, Greater Manchester, should receive £397,000 in damages – 30 per cent of which will be paid by Niddry Castle Golf Club at Winchburgh, in West Lothian, where the incident took place and 70 per cent by the golfer who struck the wayward shot.

The case has highlighted the importance of individual golfers having specialist golf insurance which covers them for eventualities such as this that can potentially occur on the golf course.

John Woosey, managing director of Golf Care, said: “It’s worrying that nine out of 10 golfers aren’t adequately covered when they step on the course. Mr Phee’s case proves that accidents happen and can cost golfers a fortune.”

The UK’s leading specialist golf insurance provider, Golf Care, offers policies that would have covered the liable golfer for this sort of incident which left the visiting player with only one eye after he was struck by a wayward tee-shot.

Mr Woosey added that in many cases, golfers think their home insurance will cover them for damage or personal liability, but the truth is that an inexpensive specialist golf insurance policy is the best way to ensure that individual golfers are adequately covered.

He said: “This sort of incident highlights just how dangerous a golf course can be, and a pay-out of £397,000 is a staggering amount.”

“The vast majority of golfers don’t realise how easy it is to compare golf insurance and aren’t properly covered. But whether you’re a single figure
handicapper or a golfing novice, we all hit poor shots. Why take the risk when for less than £30 a year you can be fully covered for incidents such as this – a small fee to pay for peace of mind every time you step onto the course.”

###

Attorney Karen Lundquist Offers Online Legal English Courses on Employment Law

International Students Learn Effective Negotiation & Arbitration Skills Virtually

Minneapolis, MN, October 24, 2011 – Minneapolis business attorney and tenured legal Engish professor, Karen Lundquist, announces the availability of Global E-Learning courses on employment law and negotiation techniques, as well as various other legal English topics. Areas of the law addressed include wrongful employment terminations, non-competition agreement violations, intellectual property, misappropriation of trade secrets and more. The next course is scheduled to begin in January 2012. Full details and sign-up information are available at KarenLundquist.com.

Carefully designed virtual classrooms and syllabi accommodate students and their needs to develop legal English vocabulary as well as powerful negotiation skills in areas of the law that pertain to their given careers. International students benefit from courses which are designed on real-life fact patterns. Mimicking scenarios encountered in worldwide courtrooms and conference rooms, students represent fictitious clientele and engage in:

* Mock settlement negotiations;

* Client interviews;

* Interpretation of case files;

* Dispute arbitration;

* More…

By acting as attorneys, students encounter opportunities to use the technical legal English vocabulary terms they have been studying and need for their profession. At the same time, they hone their lawyering skills that they use when practicing law in their native tongues. Karen states, “The important fact about these courses is not necessarily the topic, such as employment law or intellectual property, but that they revolve around real-life fact patterns with correspondence, affidavits and other documents that an attorney would deal with if working in a real law firm.”

To further simulate the authenticity of real life courtroom situations and negotiations, students are also able to initiate “break-out sessions”, time periods where they can have confidential discussions in private before returning to the main classroom where the negotiation or arbitration is taking place. Karen concludes, “This course is important and useful because it gives participants chances to learn in the best way possible: by doing.”

About Karen Lundquist: Karen Lundquist is a multilingual business attorney who owns the Attenza Law Firm in Minneapolis, Minnesota. She is also a veteran professor of English, serving for two decades as a cultured, caring instructor. She specializes in training professionals from various legal realms in developing specific legal-based vocabulary sets that are integral for their abilities to perform an array of spoken career duties. Catering to a global market of legal professionals that need to develop legal English vocabularies, Karen can be reached at http://karenlundquist.com.

Contact:
Karen Lundquist
Legal Language Consultant
Attenza Law, LLC
125 Main St. SE, Suite 250
Minneapolis, MN 55414
Tel: 001-612-702-1399
Fax: 001-651-379-5503
Karen.Lundquist@attenzalaw.com
http://www.attenzalaw.com/