March 04, 2011 (Press-News.org) A recent settlement involving the estate of the late Jacksonville financial adviser Wayne McLeod is the latest example of how legal complexities can encroach upon the timely resolution of an estate. At the time of his suicide, McLeod's financial services firm was under investigation by the Securities and Exchange Commission. This investigation revealed that McLeod's alleged financial planning prowess was actually a large "Ponzi" scheme.
A significant portion of McLeod's estate will now be used to repay the defrauded investors. McLeod's wife will keep some of her jewelry and approximately 25 percent of the life insurance proceeds. The amount she is receiving is significantly less than what a spouse would typically receive.
While McLeod's Ponzi scheme is a rare example, it serves to highlight the role an experienced estate planning attorney can play in preparing for your future. Effective estate planning requires the individual to consider the quality of their investments, not just the allocation of assets. Ponzi schemes are successful because individuals are lured by guaranteed returns. The promises of riches often cloud the investors' judgment. An experienced estate attorney can help you sort out a variety of complex decisions and be a dependable source of information. While the attorney cannot offer specific financial advice, a fresh set of eyes may be able to sniff out a clearly illegitimate investment opportunity.
An Estate Planning Attorney Can Help You Perceive Risks
While federal authorities such as the SEC or IRS are particularly powerful adversaries in estate-related litigation, a host of potential claimants can make the probate administration process contentious and time-consuming. Disgruntled family members, unsecured creditors and alienated business clients can all descend on an estate settlement and create obstacles to a smooth disposition of funds and property.
Many potential issues can arise in probate litigation, including arguments over health care directives, allegations of undue influence on the person who created the will, and concerns about the proper execution of trust documents. An attorney with demonstrated trial experience can explain the complexities of Florida probate law and help you understand the best legal strategy for protecting your interests, whether you are an executor (personal representative), a named beneficiary of a contested will, or a person who seeks to have provisions declared invalid.
It is never too early to begin planning for your estate. Affirmative steps now can prevent headaches for family and friends down the road.
Article provided by Law Office of Douglas A. Oberdorfer PA
Visit us at www.oberdorferlaw.com
Florida Will Contest Involving Ponzi Scheme Funds Settled
A high-profile Florida probate case underscores the importance of sound estate planning guidance.
2011-03-04
ELSE PRESS RELEASES FROM THIS DATE:
Student innovation at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute could lead to better breast cancer screening
2011-03-04
Troy, N.Y. – Recent research by doctoral student Sevan Goenezen holds the promise of becoming a powerful new weapon in the fight against breast cancer. His complex computational research has led to a fast, inexpensive new method for using ultrasound and advanced algorithms to differentiate between benign and malignant tumors with a high degree of accuracy.
Goenezen, a student in the Department of Mechanical, Aerospace, and Nuclear Engineering at Rensselaer, is one of three finalists for the 2011 $30,000 Lemelson-MIT Rensselaer Student Prize. A public ceremony announcing ...
Rise in Discrimination Class Action Settlements
2011-03-04
According to the Annual Workplace Class Action Litigation Report, the value of class action employment discrimination settlements has gone up substantially over the past year. The report notes that, in 2010, the value of the top ten settlements was $346 million. By comparison, the total value of the ten largest settlements in 2009 was $84.4 million.
The settlement in Velez v. Novartis Corp., a federal case from the Southern District of New York, accounts for over half of this years' total. The case was originally filed in 2004 by Amy Velez and four female coworkers who ...
Texas County Leading the Nation in DNA Exonerations
2011-03-04
Cornelius Dupree Jr. was recently released from prison after DNA testing revealed that he could not have committed the crime. After being convicted of rape and robbery, Dupree was sentenced to 75 years in prison in 1980. He spent 30 years maintaining his innocence. He would have been paroled had he admitted committing the crimes, but he refused. Finally, DNA testing of evidence cleared him of any wrongdoing.
Dupree's story is all too familiar in Texas. Dallas County leads the nation in DNA exonerations. The county has released 21 individuals who were convicted of crimes, ...
College students surveyed on guns on campus
2011-03-04
HUNTSVILLE -- Students from two university campuses in Texas and Washington recently were surveyed on allowing concealed handguns on campus.
According to research led by Dr. Jeffrey Bouffard at Sam Houston State University's College of Criminal Justice, more students were uncomfortable with concealed weapons on campus than those at ease with guns on college grounds. The study will be presented at the Academy of Criminal Justice Sciences Meeting in Toronto this month.
"To date, little effort has been made to assess students' opinions about whether concealed handgun carrying ...
For birds, the suburbs may not be an ideal place to raise a family
2011-03-04
There comes a time in life for every bird to spread its wings and leave the nest, but for gray catbirds, that might be the beginning of the end. Smithsonian scientists report fledgling catbirds in suburban habitats are at their most vulnerable stage of life, with almost 80 percent killed by predators before they reach adulthood. Almost half of the deaths were linked to domestic cats.
Urban areas cover more than 100 million acres within the continental the United States and are spreading, with an increase of 48 percent from 1982 to 2003. Although urbanization affects ...
New findings on drug tolerance in TB suggest ideas for shorter cures
2011-03-04
New findings on how tuberculosis (TB) bacteria develop multi-drug tolerance point to ways TB infections might be cured more quickly.
The study will be published April 1 in the journal Cell. The results identify both a mechanism and a potential therapy for drug tolerance that is induced in the TB bacteria by the host cells they infect.
Currently, TB treatment requires a complex, long-term curative regimen of at least six months, explained the senior author of the study, Dr. Lalita Ramakrishnan, University of Washington (UW) professor of medicine, microbiology and immunology. ...
Global Corporate Travel Agency, Teplis Travel, Recently Attended the Concur Fusion 2011 No Limit Conference in Las Vegas
2011-03-04
Teplis Travel, a premier corporate travel agency, recently attended the Concur Fusion 2011 No Limit conference. Held February 15-18, 2011 at The Cosmopolitan Hotel Las Vegas, this event brought together Concur clients, partners, and employees to exchange ideas and knowledge on products and services available to easily manage corporate travel and expenses.
Fusion 2011 session highlights included:
- Reviewing top expense features companies should be using
- Going global with travel
- Delivering value through integration with suppliers, customers and mobile applications
- ...
Humans give prey the edge in food web
2011-03-04
A new paper by University of Calgary researchers, published today in PLoS ONE, demonstrates the edge given to prey in the "space race" by human activity.
The research was conducted by two University of Calgary students, a University of Calgary Post-Doctoral Fellow and two University of Calgary professors from the Faculty of Environmental Design, Department of Geomatics in the Schulich School of Engineering and the Faculty of Veterinary Medicine. The research looked at how predator-prey interactions and use of space were influenced by human activity.
The team deployed ...
Topshop Announces the Inspiration Behind Their Unique Collection for Autumn/Winter 2011
2011-03-04
Topshop has announced the inspiration behind their autumn/winter 2011 Unique collection
For AW11, Topshop Unique journeys back to early 1930s America. Drawing on the culture of luxury and status of the Industrial Age, prints are bold and boastful and the silhouette is overall sleek and refined.
Prints are key in the collection and the recurring motif of the dog and car reflect the importance of social status during the decade. Automobiles with headlights streaming are appliqued onto down-sized luggage bags, and printed on satin shoes. Whippets, Grey Hounds and Dalmatians ...
Mapping food deserts
2011-03-04
EAST LANSING, Mich. — Maps are great for showing where things are. They're also good for showing where things aren't.
Two Michigan State University professors have developed interactive maps that offer a visual perspective of urban food deserts. By using GIS (geographic information systems) technology, they are showing, rather than simply telling, how urban residents are losing access to fresh produce and balanced nutrition.
Phil Howard, assistant professor of community, agriculture, recreation and resource studies, and Kirk Goldsberry, assistant professor of geography, ...
LAST 30 PRESS RELEASES:
Insulin resistance is linked to over 30 diseases – and to early death in women, study of people in the UK finds
Innovative semaglutide hydrogel could reduce diabetes shots to once a month
Weight loss could reduce the risk of severe infections in people with diabetes, UK research suggests
Long-term exposure to air pollution and a lack of green space increases the risk of hospitalization for respiratory conditions
Better cardiovascular health in early pregnancy may offset high genetic risk
Artificial intelligence method transforms gene mutation prediction in lung cancer: DeepGEM data releases at IASLC 2024 World Conference on Lung Cancer
Antibody–drug conjugate I-DXd shows clinically meaningful response in patients with extensive-stage small cell lung cancer
IASLC Global Survey on biomarker testing reveals progress and persistent barriers in lung cancer biomarker testing
Research shows pathway to developing predictive biomarkers for immune checkpoint inhibitors
Just how dangerous is Great Salt Lake dust? New research looks for clues
Maroulas appointed Associate Vice Chancellor, Director of AI Tennessee
New chickadee research finds cognitive skills impact lifespan
Cognitive behavioral therapy enhances brain circuits to relieve depression
Terasaki Institute awarded $2.3 Million grant from NIH for organ transplantation research using organs-on-a-chip technology
Atoms on the edge
Postdoc takes multipronged approach to muon detection
Mathematical proof: Five satellites needed for precise navigation
Scalable, multi-functional device lays groundwork for advanced quantum applications
Falling for financial scams? It may signal early Alzheimer’s disease
Integrating MRI and OCT for new insights into brain microstructure
Designing a normative neuroimaging library to support diagnosis of traumatic brain injury
Department of Energy announces $68 million in funding for artificial intelligence for scientific research
DOE, ORNL announce opportunity to define future of high-performance computing
Molecular simulations, supercomputing lead to energy-saving biomaterials breakthrough
Low-impact yoga and exercise found to help older women manage urinary incontinence
Genetic studies reveal new insights into cognitive impairment in schizophrenia
Researcher develops technology to provide cleaner energy and cleaner water
Expect the unexpected: nanoscale silver unveils intrinsic self-healing abilities
nTIDE September 2024 Jobs Report: Gains in employment for people with disabilities appear to level off after reducing gaps with non-disabled workers
Wiley enhances NMR Spectral Library Collection with extensive new databases
[Press-News.org] Florida Will Contest Involving Ponzi Scheme Funds SettledA high-profile Florida probate case underscores the importance of sound estate planning guidance.