Denise J. Blevins, Retired Resource Family Development Specialist for the Youth Services Department of Latah County, Idaho, has been named a Worldwide Branding Professional of the Year in Family Development Services. While inclusion in Worldwide Branding is an honor, only a small selection of members in each discipline are chosen for this distinction. These special honorees are distinguished based on their professional accomplishments, academic achievements, leadership abilities, years of service, and the credentials they have provided in association with their Worldwide ...

Eva Jo Sparks, Owner and Consultant of Oklahoma Expert Witness, has been recognized by Worldwide Who's Who for showing dedication, leadership and excellence in fraud investigation. Mrs. Sparks has 16 years of experience as the owner and consultant of Oklahoma Expert Witness. Over the years, she has established herself as an expert in the detection of health care fraud, predatory lending, and mortgage fraud. On a daily basis, she is responsible for investigating white collar crimes, including financial and Medicare fraud through forensic accounting and investigations. ...

Judith Lynn Plotz Brannigan, CEO, Specialty Consulting International, Inc., Chief Executive Officer of Specialty Consulting International, Inc., has been recognized by Worldwide Who's Who for showing dedication, leadership and excellence in Employee Healthcare Benefit Consulting Industry. Ms. Plotz Brannigan has 33 years of professional experience, with 28 years as the CEO of Specialty Consulting International, Inc. On a daily basis, she focuses on consulting, corporate benefits, employee education, medical cost increases and plan design. Ms. Plotz Brannigan is responsible ...

A recent report by the Los Angeles Times addressed a study finding the divorce rate across the country is on the rise. According to the study, the current spike in the divorce rate is directly connected to the economic recovery. This finding was also supported in a piece recently published through Johns Hopkins University. According to a sociologist at the prestigious university, the divorce uptick is similar to a "Depression-era pattern." Although the rate of divorce decreased approximately 25 percent during the Great Depression, the depression did not reduce ...

For many teenagers across the U.S., getting a driver's license is an exciting rite of passage. It may come as a surprise that a recent study by AAA has shown that more and more teenagers are delaying this important milestone, instead waiting to get their licenses after they are young adults. According to AAA, only about 44 percent of teenagers got their licenses within a year of turning 16; by 18, barely over half were licensed drivers. Reasons Teens Are Delaying Their Licenses The cost of paying for and maintaining a vehicle is a major reason many teenagers have ...

Bankruptcy can be lifesaver for so many people drowning under debt they know they can't pay back. It can erase credit card debt, medical bills, and many other types of unsecured debt and give people the opportunity to start on a fresh financial footing. However, discharging debt in bankruptcy has its limitations; not all debt can be erased. Amid the upcoming tax season, many people have questioned whether back taxes can be discharged in a bankruptcy as well. The answer is: it depends. Discharging taxes in Chapter 7 bankruptcy Taxes can be discharged in a Chapter ...

A recent study has shown that primary care doctors are seemingly at a higher frequency of missing the proper diagnosis when it comes to heart disease in women. According to a recent study, primary care physicians are sued for medical malpractice more often than physicians practicing in other fields--specifically in situations involving misdiagnosis of coronary heart disease in females. The study The research was conducted by The Doctors Company, a medical malpractice insurance carrier based in California. Company researchers examined 41 medical malpractice lawsuits ...

An attempt to increase the safety of the nation's roadways is receiving criticism from the commercial trucking industry. Forbes and The Wall Street Journal recently ran articles addressing the issue, with interviews of a number of leaders in the commercial truck driving business as well as those who operate the vehicles. Both claim new regulations put in place by the Department of Transportation's Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) are not reducing truck driver fatigue. Instead, the truckers argue the new regulations have cut down on their productivity. ...

Surgical mesh has been around for decades. In the 1950s, it was solely used to repair hernias. However, in the mid 1990s, the Food and Drug Administration approved the product to treat weak pelvic floor muscles--mainly in females. Manufactures then began manufacturing transvaginal mesh. What is transvaginal mesh? Transvaginal mesh is essentially a synthetic surgical mesh sling. The mesh device is utilized to treat Pelvic Organ Prolapse--a condition that occurs when the pelvic muscles become too weak to support the body's internal organs. The mesh device is also used ...

As the economy improves from the recession of 2008, more and more people who were previously unemployed are returning to work. Although this is mainly a good thing, many are suffering from the problem of underemployment. This problem often manifests itself when a person takes a job that pays significantly less than their previous position. It can also occur in minimum wage jobs that simply do not pay enough to cover basic living expenses or do not offer benefits like health insurance. Unfortunately a new job may do little to relieve financial burdens. Some individuals ...

Getting a driver's license at age 16 is an exciting time for many teenagers. In order to earn their licenses, most will undergo months of supervised driving and safety education to gain experience and learn how to drive in dangerous conditions. Laws exist in Nevada and every other U.S. state that require teenage drivers to obtain a learner's permit while learning how to drive. This is an important safeguard; car accidents are the leading cause of death of teenagers in the U.S., say the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. In 2010, 20 drivers between the ages of ...

The occasional escapade or questionable decision is practically an inevitable part of the college experience, as many students in Washington County, Oregon, know firsthand. Unfortunately, occasionally situations get out of hand and students find themselves facing charges of college student crimes. A seemingly innocent snowball fight that recently led to the suspension of one University of Oregon student and talks of criminal charges against others underscored the fact that college crimes can happen and have unexpected consequences. Snowball fight seen as assault The ...

Over the past several years, there have been a number of studies that have discussed the dangers of using cellphones while behind the wheel. However, a recent study has found that the most dangerous aspect of using a cellphone while driving is dialing a number, rather than talking on the phone itself. The study, which was recently published in the New England Journal of Medicine, tracked the driving habits of 109 experienced drivers (average of 20 years driving experience) and 42 young drivers that had just been issued their licenses. To keep tabs on the participants ...

In October of 2013, a former NFL player and his mother were indicted in New Jersey for being involved in a mortgage scam. The football player played as a wide receiver played on four different NFL teams between 1984 and 2000, two of which were the New England Patriots and Philadelphia Eagles. At the time of his indictment, he was the pastor of a local church that he founded and the head football coach at a nearby school, says Fox News. The former football player and his mother reportedly submitted false information to obtain five different loans on her home within a ...

Typically, the risk of receiving a ticket is one factor that motivates people to drive safely, but for years, drivers who violated traffic laws in certain parts of Minnesota have had the opportunity to take a safety course instead of receiving a ticket. In theory, safety courses teach good habits that reduce the risk of drivers being involved in car accidents, but still, the thought of so many traffic violations going unpunished and unrecorded is troubling from a safety standpoint. Fortunately for other motorists, bicyclists and pedestrians, a Wabasha County court has ...

For everyone with a driver's license in New York, driving in snowy and icy conditions is just a part of life. No matter how many years of experience a person has with winter driving, an accident can happen; even the best of drivers can be surprised by poor road conditions, and other drivers always pose a risk. While driving can be risky at any time, it's especially dangerous during this season's bitter cold and sudden snowstorms. One of the most treacherous winter driving hazards is black ice, says the Daily Herald. This type of ice is so dangerous because it's nearly ...

In every U.S. state, including New York, strict laws regarding underage drinking and driving exist to protect people on the road, as well as teenage and young adult drivers. There are serious penalties for teens who drink and drive, including fines, community service and the loss of a driver's license. However, these consequences are not nearly as severe as the years of prison time that can result if a driver seriously injures or kills someone else while driving intoxicated. It's widely known that teenagers can make poor decisions than older, more experienced adults ...

Edward G. Bedard, Semi-Retired General Partner of Bedard Family LP, has been recognized by Worldwide Who's Who for showing dedication, leadership and excellence in real estate. Mr. Bedard has 58 years of experience as a semi-retired general partner of Bedard Family LP. On a daily basis, he is responsible for overseeing the design, development, construction, rental and maintenance of residential properties. Bedard Family LP is a Real estate holding company that provides numerous services related to residential properties, which include single and multi-family dwellings, ...

Isabelle C.H. Esser, Senior Vice President of Research, Development, and Foods for Unilever, has been recognized by Worldwide Who's Who for showing dedication, leadership and excellence in research and development. Dr. Esser has 21 years of professional experience, with three years as a senior vice president of research, development, and foods for Unilever. Over the years, she has established herself as an expert in consumer awareness. In the course of her duties, she is responsible for overseeing research and development, as well as handling strategic planning and managing ...

Alvin Downey, CBI Livestock Brokers, President, Owner of CBI Livestock Brokers has been recognized for showing dedication, leadership and excellence in cattle and livestock brokerage. Mr. Downey has 41 years of professional experience, with four years as the president and owner of CBI Livestock Brokers. Over the years, he has established himself as an expert in the areas of feeder lots, commodities and financing. Each day, he oversees the daily operations of CBI Livestock Brokers, in particular the buying and selling of feeder cattle. Looking back, Mr. Downey attributes ...

Houston personal injury attorney Brant J. Stogner of Abraham, Watkins, Nichols, Sorrels, Agosto & Friend has just filed a lawsuit against Triangle B Corp. d/b/a Triangle B Propane, on behalf of the families of two Montgomery County women who were killed and an infant who suffered serious, permanent injuries in a propane gas explosion last June. Jennifer Mock and her sister-in-law, Lena Mock Knight, were in the Mock Knight home in Dobbin, Texas last June when a sudden gas explosion engulfed the house in fire. Jennifer Mock's then-8-month-old grandson was also in ...

Drake P. Bearden, Jr., an associate attorney at the New Jersey Employment Rights law firm of Costello & Mains, was named a "2014 New Jersey Rising Star" by Super Lawyers Magazine. "We're very proud of Drake," founding partner Kevin Costello says. "He cares a great deal about the work we do, about doing it well, and with passion, and while it's nice for him to be recognized, we already knew he was a rising star when he joined us." Drake is a founding member and former Vice President of the NAACP Social Justice Law Project and is an active ...

Ian Walker, Partner of Minter Ellison, has been named a Worldwide Who's Who Professional of the Year in Bankruptcy & Insolvency Law. While inclusion in Worldwide Who's Who is an honor, only a small selection of members in each discipline are chosen for this distinction. These special honorees are distinguished based on their professional accomplishments, academic achievements, leadership abilities, years of service, and the credentials they have provided in association with their Worldwide Who's Who membership. Mr. Walker has 34 years of experience in bankruptcy ...

The Pennsylvania Supreme Court has decided the long-awaited case of Passarello v. Grumbine. The decision, announced February 7, 2014, will effectuate an important change in the law of medical liability in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, and may influence other states as well. The Passarellos were represented in the Pennsylvania Supreme Court by Clifford A. Rieders, Esquire, of Rieders, Travis, Humphrey, Harris, Waters, Waffenschmidt & Dohrmann, with Pam Shipman, Esquire, on the brief. Rieders argued the case on behalf of the Plaintiffs, which was frequently rebroadcast ...

Michele Newman, Retired Chairwoman of the Department of Modern Languages and Cultures at Pace University, has been named a Worldwide Who's Who Professional of the Year in Higher Education. While inclusion in Worldwide Who's Who is an honor, only a small selection of members in each discipline are chosen for this distinction. These special honorees are distinguished based on their professional accomplishments, academic achievements, leadership abilities, years of service, and the credentials they have provided in association with their Worldwide Who's Who membership. Dr. ...