According to the Miami Herald, five of the nation's biggest banks have provided $3.6 billion in mortgage relief to burdened Florida homeowners as a part of the National Mortgage Settlement Agreement. Ally Financial, Bank of America, Citicorp, JP Morgan Chase and Wells Fargo collectively agreed to the settlement earlier this year with the federal government and attorney generals in 49 states. These financial institutions were major players in the robo-signing of foreclosure documents. This is when banks process foreclosures without verifying documents. The banks allegedly ...

In an ever-more digital world, information is everywhere. It is at our fingertips with smart phones, tablets and laptops. We can surf the web while getting groceries, having fast food or sipping a latte in a coffeehouse. The upside of that much information is that we have more knowledge than ever before. The downside - in some ways - is that we have more knowledge than ever before. One area in which technological advances have definitely made life easier is the free access to information about nursing homes, residential care facilities, assisted living and in-home health ...

As advanced as many forms of medical treatment have become, personal injury victims still face challenges with full diagnosis and adequate long-term treatment for many conditions. Perhaps the foremost problematic type of injury is head trauma, due largely to the unpredictable nature of harm to the human brain and the possibility that symptoms are not always immediately recognizable. Every American sports fan has become acutely aware of the persistent problems that can result from concussions, which are the most common form of traumatic brain injury. As governing bodies ...

Ongoing efforts to improve airline safety to reduce plane crashes and other accidents that harm or kill passengers must come from all sectors of the industry. Federal regulators, company managers and employees all have exclusive areas of insight that can lead to safer operations. A recent announcement by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), airlines and unions is based on the benefits of sharing more information about mishaps and perceived risks. These key groups have all agreed to expand disclosures to the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) to help that ...

Motorists need to be particularly aware of large trucks when traversing the nation's roadways, especially along busy commercial routes such as I-40, I-24 and I-65 in Tennessee. After all, a negligent or inattentive truck driver operating a several ton vehicle at such high speeds can easily cause serious, or even deadly, trucking accidents. Fortunately for other motorists, the Department of Transportation (DOT) requires those with commercial drivers' licenses to get medical physicals every two years in order to keep their licenses. Given the physical demands of driving ...

After the legalization of recreational marijuana use in Colorado and Washington in the 2012 election, Florida residents may be wondering about similar laws passing in Florida. Florida's legislature has considered the legalization of marijuana for medicinal purposes in the past but those bills have never made it very far in either the state's house or senate. After the 2012 election, the Florida Cannabis Action Network made plans to meet with Florida's attorney general to advocate for the reclassification of marijuana -- changing it so that is recognized as having medicinal ...

Last year, Louisiana adopted a law that allows judges to reduce the prison sentences of inmates who provide information that helps resolve unsolved crimes. In November, Jefferson Parish officials released information about a former Angola inmate who was the first to be released under the new law. The law creates the potential for reduced sentences for inmates who provide "substantial assistance" to prosecutors. A similar program has been available for years to people incarcerated for federal crimes. The man who was released had been serving a life sentence ...

According to Hand-free Info's website, 96 percent of Michigan drivers acknowledge that texting and driving is dangerous behavior; however, approximately 17 percent of these motorists say that they read texts while behind the wheel. Unfortunately, the desire to be connected often seems to outweigh traffic safety. Distraction.gov reports that in 2010, more than 3,000 people were killed in distracted driving crashes, which included texting, talking on a cellphone, eating and other similar activities. According to the Department of Transportation, the problem appears to ...

A recent study out of the Center for Health Outcomes and Policy Research at the University of Pennsylvania School of Nursing casts light on a serious problem in American healthcare. Thousands of nurses studied showed high levels of burnout or fatigue, which can lead to otherwise preventable medical errors with potentially life-threatening consequences. The study's researchers surveyed more than 7,000 registered nurses in 161 Pennsylvania hospitals. They combined that data with information about those facilities' rates of hospital-acquired infections from the Pennsylvania ...

Caps on medical malpractice awards were part of an aggressive tort reform platform in the mid-2000's. One rationale behind the damage cap legislation was to lower insurance premiums in an effort to attract and keep physicians. Unfortunately, even after states passed damage caps, liability insurance premiums did not decrease and the caps have harsh unintended consequences for some injured by the negligence of medical professionals. In 2005, Missouri passed legislation capping non-economic damages at $350,000. Non-economic damage awards compensate victims for pain and ...

Construction work zones on highways and surface streets are necessary to maintain our infrastructure, but provide increased dangers for motorists and workers alike. When driving by or working in such an area, it is imperative for everyone to take certain safety precautions, to prevent serious injuries or even fatalities. In 2009, there were a total of 667 accidents in work zones that resulted in at least one fatality, according to the Federal Highway Administration. In 2010, 72 percent of the fatal injuries for workers on the job occurred in road construction zones caused ...

In mid-November 2012, an automobile hit two 20-year-old engineering students on the urban campus of Marquette University in Milwaukee while they walked on a sidewalk early on a Monday morning. The women were hospitalized with serious, but nonfatal, injuries. Reportedly, the driver proceeded to strike another car, a hydrant and a pole in an apparent hit-and-run, before being stopped by law enforcement. State statistics According to the Wisconsin Department of Transportation, which defines a pedestrian as anyone walking or using a mobility device like a wheelchair, ...

While the media has focused on the so-called "fiscal cliff" since the presidential election, estate planning attorneys have been advising clients all year about pending changes to estate and gift taxes if Congress fails to act before the end of the year. Significant increases could have serious implications for those with existing estate plans that are based on expiring tax provisions. The exemption level on federal estate taxes and lifetime gifts has been at $5 million for years, but will revert to $1 million if the sunset provision in the bill that authorized ...

In a prominent case, jurors found two of the three Yassine brothers guilty of the federal white collar crime of money laundering in October 2012. The Yassine family is well known for its downtown Austin, Texas, network of nightclubs that included bars Pure, Fuel, Malaia, Treasure Island Bar, Kiss & Fly, Roial, Hyde and Spill, owned and operated through its business Yassine Enterprises. Allegedly, they used their commercial venture to launder money from illegal drug deals. The convicted brothers, Mike and Hadi, should be sentenced within 60 days of the conviction, ...

During the recession and its accompanying mortgage crisis, it was discovered that many of the major lending institutions had treated their borrowers unfairly. Last winter, five of the largest banks in the United States paid $25 billion to settle state and federal claims over improper mortgage practices. As part of that settlement, the banks agreed to help out struggling borrowers. In exchange, the government said it would give the banks credits towards forgiven mortgage debt. Unfortunately, though, it appears that the bank errors have not stopped. According to a recent ...

Often when people receive traffic tickets or commit driving infractions such as speeding or reckless driving, they just pay the fine and forget about what happened. But in Virginia, the punishment can be severe in some instances and previous traffic infractions on a driving record may enhance future penalties. It is wise to seek the counsel of an experienced Virginia traffic ticket defense lawyer to understand your rights and everything that may be at stake, to help you decide whether and how to fight the charges, and to develop a defense. If your situation involves ...

The presence of domestic violence in a home takes a tremendous toll on Virginia families, no matter their level of income or other circumstances. Allegations of domestic abuse involving terroristic threats or physical assault have implications for family law matters as well as the potential for a criminal investigation. Recent efforts by the U.S. Department of Defense to draw awareness to national Domestic Violence Awareness Month brought welcome attention to an issue that affects military families like all others. Military installations around the country presented ...

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recently reported some good news for parents of teenagers in Michigan and across the country. According to the CDC, fewer high school students are driving after consuming alcohol these days. The CDC report revealed that the number of teenagers engaging in this reckless and dangerous behavior has actually decreased by about 54 percent over the past two decades. In 2011, nine out of 10 high school students reported that they did not drive after drinking alcohol. Despite these encouraging facts, the CDC reported that there ...

When a loved one is critically ill and taken to the hospital, the last thing you want to hear is that the hospital is not equipped to handle his or her condition. Nevertheless, this situation is more common than you might imagine. In those instances, it is typically necessary to transfer the patient to a different facility, to ensure he or she receives the best possible care. Transferring a critically ill patient from one hospital to another is fraught with risk, however. While it is often the best course of action to protect the patient's well-being, the chance for ...

On November 8, 2012, Business to Business magazine hosted a dinner and awards ceremony celebrating the individuals they recognize as 2012 Top 25 Entrepreneurs & Ones to Watch Honorees. In addition to paying tribute to their business efforts, the magazine is featuring them in their November/December issue. Eric Tryon, Founder and CEO of Premier Surfaces, was honored as #20 on this list. Tryon took his interest in the stone industry to launch his Atlanta granite countertops company 10 years ago. He had experience working with subcontractors in the past and decided ...

For the second year in a row, Atlanta marketing firm Cardinal Web Solutions is hosting its Toys for Tots toy drive and fundraiser. Through December 19th, Cardinal Web Solutions will be accepting donations of new, unwrapped toys, as well as monetary donations, at its office. Toys for Tots is a toy drive held by the U.S. Marine Corps Reserve each October, November, and December. The program seeks to give to less fortunate children by providing them with new toys at Christmas. The Toys for Tots program has brought hope and happiness into the lives of countless children ...

Atlanta plumbing company Plumb Xpress Plumbing and Drain would like to inform customers in Gainesville, Georgia that they are now offering emergency plumbing in Gainesville. Plumb Xpress Plumbing and Drain will take your emergency calls at any time, on any day. They are available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, which includes all holidays and weekends. After you place your call, one of Plumb Xpress Plumbing and Drain's qualified technicians will arrive at your door within 90 minutes. Once on the job, for routine issues you can expect them to finish up within the day, ...

Clark & Washington, a Tampa bankruptcy firm, finds hope in Burt Reynolds' bankruptcy. A Georgia native who was best known for his thick mustache and charming laugh, Reynolds quickly became one of the best known actors in the 1960s and 1970s. Reynolds' financial woes took a turn in 1996, when all of his extravagant spending and subsequent divorce from Loni Anderson hit, Reynolds filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy. By this time, Reynolds had steady work, but despite all of his commercial success, Reynolds made some poor business decisions, including investing in several ...

The Orlando bankruptcy law firm, Clark & Washington, reminds Orlando residents that there is hope after filing for bankruptcy. Even celebrities like Isaac Hayes file for bankruptcy and make terrific comebacks, showing their resolve to be successful again. Isaac Hayes, a popular funk and soul singer, was best known during the 70s as the voice behind the theme song to the movie "Shaft". Hayes found a great deal of success with his funky style, but with several bad investments, the folding of the record label he recorded for and his own personal loans that ...

The Atlanta orthopedic doctors at OrthoAtlanta offer sports medicine care, so you can keep safe and healthy as you stay active. If you are engaging in any intense physical activity it is wise to get into contact with a sports medicine specialist, as they can usually offer invaluable advice or treatment at any stage of your game. Sports medicine is absolutely critical to keep any athlete well, at each step of their training. While it may be the treatment of an already painful injury that our minds might jump to first when considering sports medicine, a critical part of ...