The Texas bad faith insurance claim Article provided by Kustoff & Phipps, L.L.P. Visit us at http://www.kplegal.com Insurance permeates many aspects of our lives. At a minimum, most Texans have health, house or renter, car and life insurance. Long-term care insurance pays for nursing home and similar care. Malpractice or professional liability insurance protects professionals against claims of negligent or reckless professional conduct. Most business owners need liability, property, business interruption coverage, and more depending on the unique needs of their ...

Texas Attorney General challenges court's overturning sex crime law Article provided by Law Office of Larry P. McDougal Visit us at http://www.larrymcdougal.com Courts in Texas recently decided to strike down a law that addressed online chatting in certain situations. The law banned online chatting between adults and minors that was deemed sexually explicit. Those opposed to the law argued it was a violation of free-speech rights, and the court unanimously agreed. The state's attorney general is challenging this ruling, leading to a type of "legal turf war" ...

Landlord may be liable for trampoline and swimming pool accident Article provided by Law Offices of Aleixo and Murray, P.C. Visit us at http://www.aleixoandmurray.com Under "premises liability" law, the owner of land may be held liable under certain circumstances for injuries that are caused by dangerous conditions on the property. While this liability generally does not extend to open and obvious dangers, a property owner may still be found liable where the landowner should have anticipated that the dangerous condition could cause physical harm, even ...

Dealing with creditors in Florida after the death of a loved one Article provided by The Law Office of Silverman, Vorhis & Mack Visit us at http://www.flstatewideprobate.com When you and your family are still reeling from the loss of a family member, the last issue you want to deal with is outstanding debts of the decedent. Unfortunately, creditors may engage in unethical and, sometimes, illegal tactics in attempts to collect from unsuspecting family members. When a loved one dies, it is very difficult to know what to do. During the overwhelming mourning ...

Trooper's stop of vehicle for speeding using pace method was invalid Article provided by Edward R. La Rue Visit us at http://www.edwardrlarue.com In State v. Jarosz, the Eleventh District Court of Appeals of Ohio upheld the trial court's ruling suppressing evidence in a case involving speeding and drunk-driving charges. The appellate court agreed that the evidence did not adequately prove that the officer had reasonable suspicion to stop the defendant's vehicle for speeding, and therefore the stop was invalid, where the officer failed to keep a uniform distance ...

With economic recovery comes a new wave of divorces, study shows Article provided by Dobrowski Law Firm, PLLC Visit us at http://www.gwdlaw.com It is often said that money problems are a leading cause of marital distress and divorce in the United States. One may think, therefore, that the national divorce rate would have shot through the roof in recent years as families across the country grappled with the fallout of the Great Recession -- but, in fact, the opposite is true. Divorce rates plummeted after the financial crisis struck the nation in 2008, a recent ...

Report: Missouri highway safety laws could be better Article provided by Hullverson Law Firm Visit us at http://www.hullverson.com Recently, the Advocates for Highway and Auto Safety issued its annual report on highway safety laws throughout the nation, and for Missouri, the news was not all good. Specifically, the recent report gave Missouri an overall rating of "yellow," meaning the organization believes Missouri has "numerous gaps" in the state's highway safety laws. For instance, while Missouri scored well in certain areas, such as child ...

Moving away--How far is too far? Article provided by Beth M. Terry, P.A. Visit us at http://www.bethmterrypa.com It happens quite often--two parents, a divorce, sharing custody in the same geographic area. Then, for might be very good reasons, one of the parents moves from the area--sometimes moving hundreds of miles away. The battles of divorce, thought to be over, are reborn. The case of Halbert v. Morico decided by the Florida Court of Appeals is instructive as to the legal impact of a parent's relocation on child custody and visitation under Florida law. ...

How to bring an end to calls from creditors Article provided by Jeffrey P. White and Associates, P.C. Visit us at http://www.whitelawoffices.com Many people would say that they try to put aside some money into a savings account each month. They want to have something to fall back on should they experience any financial problems. Unfortunately, many of those individuals are living paycheck to paycheck, and will experience significant challenges making ends meet should they experience any unplanned major expenses. When debt problems arise, it can be a very stressful ...

Florida advocates of alimony reform double their efforts in early 2014 Article provided by Lasky, Hendrix & Davis Visit us at http://www.jacksonvillemilitarydivorce.com In some Florida divorces, one former spouse must make periodic payments and/or a lump sum payment to the other. These payments are known as alimony. Alimony, also sometimes referred to as spousal support, has been an issue of contention in Florida's family law system for quite some time now. Supporters of alimony reform laws say that in many cases, alimony awards have become inconsistent and ...

Splitting retirement accounts during divorce: what you need to know Article provided by Michael D. Schmitt, Attorney at Law Visit us at http://www.michaelschmittlaw.com A divorce is more than just the split of a romantic relationship; it also symbolizes the end of a financial partnership. As such, property and assets are split during the divorce proceeding. This includes real, tangible propertylike the family home, various possessions, cars and savings accounts as well as debts in addition to the less tangible, like retirement accounts. Those going through a ...

Bigger Michigan property tax rebates, but assessors move to increase tax Article provided by Hoffert & Associates, P.C. Visit us at http://www.hoffertlaw.com During the first week of February, Governor Rick Snyder called for $103 million in property tax refund checks, primarily for low- and middle-income renters and homeowners. The Michigan governor's proposal to expand the Homestead Property Tax Credit would be retroactive to the 2013 tax year. As the Michigan legislature convenes to put together a budget for fiscal year 2015, many state lawmakers are coming ...

Half in US have more credit card debt than savings, according to study Article provided by Richard Banks & Associates Visit us at http://www.rbankslawfirm.com A survey conducted by the consumer finance information website Bankrate.com in February 2014 revealed that almost half of people in the U.S. have more credit card debt than money in savings. Those overwhelmed with credit card debt may want to consider how bankruptcy can help them reorganize their finances. Low levels of savings According to the survey, 49 percent of those in the U.S. do not have ...

Illinois struggles to improve collection of child support payments Article provided by Law Offices of Alexandra M. Goddard Visit us at http://www.goddardlaw.com Illinois does not have a stellar reputation for collecting unpaid child support amounts owed to the state's custodial parents, but it is trying to improve that record. Just less than 60 percent of the amounts owed in cases handled by the state were repaid in 2012, according to the Illinois Department of Healthcare and Family Services. Nevertheless, that percentage has risen over the past four years, and ...

Missouri debates ending mandatory helmet requirement for motorcyclists Article provided by Law Offices if Dan Moody and Paul Wacker, L.L.C. Visit us at http://www.moodywackerlaw.com Missouri legislators are currently debating a statute that would allow motorcyclists to navigate the state's roads without helmets. This is part of a national trend toward repealing this requirement. Proponents of this campaign have won a series of state victories in recent years. However, critics of this trend worry that helmetless motorcyclists will be more vulnerable when motorcycle ...

Father's visitation with sons while cohabiting not against public policy Article provided by Rice & Adams Visit us at http://www.rice-adams.com While a couple may reach agreement on child custody and visitation at the time of a divorce, the circumstances related to such an agreement may change over time, leading to fresh conflict even after the divorce is final. In such a case, one or both parents may request a modification to the agreement. Visitation, in particular, may be a source of conflict, particularly as it relates to new romantic partners and their ...

Is an audit in your future? Divorce and Taxes. Article provided by Donelson Ciancio & Grant, P.C. Visit us at http://www.colodivorceattorneys.com Divorce and taxes are two events that are difficult enough on their own. When paired together, this duo can be the thing of nightmares. A recent article in Forbes explored the issues that can arise during a divorce. Interestingly, the researchers with the report noted those going through a divorce can be at an increased risk of going through a tax audit by the Internal Revenue Service (IRS). Divorce and tax audits, ...

Dividing retirement assets in a New Jersey divorce can be complicated Article provided by Heymann & Fletcher Visit us at http://www.heymannfletcherlaw.com Retirement accounts can easily be the most highly valued assets in a divorce property division. Retirement accounts can be complex assets, however, and it is easy to make costly mistakes when dividing them. Knowing a little more about the basics of splitting up retirement assets in divorce can help you avoid some of the most common pitfalls and give you a realistic picture of what to expect in your divorce ...

Any alcohol at all increases crash risk, study shows Article provided by Young & Stein Visit us at http://www.youngstein.com "Buzzed driving is drunk driving," according to a slogan touted by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, and recent research suggests this may indeed be the case. Drivers with any amount of alcohol in their systems are significantly more likely to be found at fault for causing fatal car accidents, according to a study released in January 2014 by the University of California San Diego. The study, which was published ...

Study finds spinal cord injuries are increasing nationwide Article provided by Kelly, Symonds & Reed, LLC Visit us at http://www.mokanlegal.com The spinal cord plays one of the most important roles in the body. It is responsible for relaying messages between the brain and the muscular, urinary, gastrointestinal and other vital systems in the body. Needless to say, spinal cord injuries can cause symptoms that are life-long. Unfortunately, according to a recent study from Johns Hopkins, the number of traumatic spinal cord injuries is increasing in the United States. During ...

The probate process in Florida need not be complicated or overwhelming Article provided by The Law Office of Silverman, Vorhis & Mack Visit us at http://www.flstatewideprobate.com When a loved one dies, surviving family members are often overwhelmed with all that must be done. Not only are they mourning the loss of their loved one, they often must deal with legal documents, debt collectors, family disagreements and the probate process. Probating an estate in Florida can seem complicated to those who are unfamiliar with the process. However, with professional ...

"Portability" is good news for avoiding estate taxes Article provided by Karen Brady & Associates, P.C. Visit us at http://www.coloradoestateplanning.com There are many reasons to revisit an estate plan every few years. One reason is that federal and state legislators are continually revising estate tax and inheritance laws. As one example, in recent years Congress sought to help widows and widowers to avoid federal estate taxes through the "deceased spousal unused exclusion amount." The DSUE amount, as it is more commonly known, allows for ...

Rights of workers and potential employees in Wisconsin Article provided by Fox & Fox S.C. Visit us at http://www.fox-law.com/ The legal area of employment law and employee rights can be very confusing to the average worker and the rules seem to change constantly. Even large, nationwide companies fail to follow employment laws correctly. Just this month, drugstore giant CVS Caremark was sued in federal court in Chicago for ordering departing employees to sign illegal provisions in severance agreements. Additionally, earlier this year, Cargill was ordered to ...

Know your rights regarding issues with your employment in Wisconsin Article provided by Fox & Fox S.C. Visit us at http://www.fox-law.com/ The good news is that the economy continues to improve and the nation's unemployment rate is on a slow decline. The bad news is that, over the past few years, some court cases have made it harder for employees to bring class action employment discrimination cases against their employers. However, as a way around such complications, wronged employees are pursuing more wage and hour payment lawsuits. These types of cases often ...

Richard P. Brown, MD, and Patricia Gerbarg, MD, teach innovative Breath~Body~Mind for Transformation and Well-Being, March 14-16, 2014, from Friday evening through Sunday noon at the Kripalu Center for Yoga and Health in Stockbridge, MA. The workshop, approved for CE credits, offers mind-body healing techniques to reduce stress, recover from trauma, relieve physical discomforts, improve relationships, and enhance quality of life. Based on extensive research, this training combines movement and breathing techniques to relieve stress and improve mood, mental focus, and ...