The Social Security Administration (SSA) announced that it is extending the selection of cases for two alternative Social Security Disability benefits (SSD, SSDI) determination models. The models affected are the "single decisionmaker test" and the "prototype." Testing will be extended from September 28, 2012 until no later than September 27, 2013 for both models. Current disability application and appeal process The current disability determination procedures create a seven-step application and appeal process. The first four steps are before the ...

According to the president of the Florida Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers, the concept of criminal intent, also known as "mens rea," is a bedrock principle of criminal law in the United States. Generally, to be convicted of a criminal charge, a person must have a criminal or wrongful purpose to commit a crime. However, this year, the Florida Supreme Court upheld the state's controversial drug possession law, ruling that defendants must prove that they did not know they were carrying an illicit substance. This law is in disagreement with approximately ...

Unfortunately, even seasoned drivers all too often operate their vehicles on a sort of mental autopilot. Most every driver has had the experience of having been deep in thought or daydreaming, and suddenly realizing he or she has driven a significant distance without concentrating on the roadway. Lack of concentration can be particularly dangerous, however, when trying to orchestrate safe passage through a complex, busy intersection, especially when a red light commands a stop. Even worse, some drivers are so caught up in getting to their destinations as fast as possible, ...

In a recently issued safety report, the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) expressed its recommendation that ignition interlock devices (IID) be installed on all cars belonging to motorists convicted of drunk driving - even if it is their first offense. An IID is a piece of equipment that requires a driver to provide a breath sample proving they are not under the influence of alcohol before the car's engine will start. According to the NTSB, only 17 states currently mandate IID use for first-time drunk driving convictions. The hope is that drunk driving accidents ...

A conviction for driving under the influence (DUI) in Maryland can have legal, personal and financial consequences that can gravely impact a person's daily life. For example, due to mounting pressure by the federal government and safety groups such as Mothers Against Drunk Driving (MADD), many states - including Maryland - may require some drivers convicted of DUI to install Ignition Interlock devices in their vehicles. What Is an Ignition Interlock Device? An Ignition Interlock device is a piece of equipment that connects to a car's ignition system. The device requires ...

Workers' compensation provides medical benefits as well as partial wage replacement benefits for those who have fallen victim to a work-related injury or illness. Medical benefits should cover the costs of all necessary medical care needed to treat the work-related injury or illness. But what about the wage replacement benefits you will need to pay day-to-day living expenses while you are recovering? Workers' comp temporary disability payments based on two-thirds of average weekly wage In South Carolina, when you miss seven consecutive days of work because of an occupational ...

In the state of Florida, as in many other states, there are different degrees of murder that a person can be charged with. The different degrees correspond to a more or less harsh penalty, depending on the facts of each case. The degree of murder that a person is charged with depends on the level of culpability with which the person committed the crime. A local case involving a fatal confrontation Recently in Jacksonville, a white man shot a black teenager after the two had an argument about rap music. The teenager was standing at a gas station when he was shot, and ...

How many times have you gotten behind the wheel of a car after staying out late with friends? Or climbed in your vehicle to head to work, even though you hardly got any sleep at all the night before? A lot of us think of scenarios like this as facts of life. After all, we're busy, and sometimes that means burning the candle at both ends. In reality, though, drowsy driving is very dangerous -- just as dangerous as drunk driving. Drowsiness impairs reaction time, decreases a driver's ability to perceive hazards, limits judgment and greatly increases the chances of being ...

A media outlet that reports of a story about a man who had the wrong arm amputated or a woman who had a surgical tool left inside her after surgery may seem like astonishing news stories that hardly ever occur. However a new study conducted at Johns Hopkins hospital says these types of "never events," as they are called, actually happen more frequently than most people think. What is a never event? "Never events" are events that occur in hospital settings that are inexcusable and should simply never occur. A list of 28 never events were compiled ...

Even before the December 14, 2012, mass shooting at Sandy Hook Elementary in Newtown, Connecticut, the number of New Yorkers in favor of stricter gun laws was on the rise. In a Quinnipiac University survey conducted from September 4-9, 2012, and in the wake of the mass shootings at a movie theater in Colorado and a Sikh temple outside of Milwaukee, 61 percent of respondents said stricter gun laws were necessary and 68 percent said they supported legislation to limit firearm purchases to one per month. With a majority of New Yorkers in favor of further gun regulation ...

Nursing homes and hospitals are supposed to keep our frail and elderly loved ones safe from harm. Unfortunately, this doesn't always happen. The risk of injury is omnipresent when vulnerable populations are being cared for, and some caregivers don't do enough to prevent their patients from being involved in an accident. Falls are one of the biggest threats affecting elderly and infirm patients. According to data from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, about 1,800 elderly nursing home residents die from injuries sustained in falls each year. Thousands ...

In recent years New York State has made important changes to the laws regarding Driving While Intoxicated (DWI). Perhaps some of the most drastic of these changes have come about in just the past two years. In 2010 the interlock requirement was implemented which places a restriction on the license of anyone convicted of a felony or misdemeanor DWI prohibiting the person from driving any vehicle without an interlock breathalyzer device for at least six months. In September 2012, Governor Andrew Cuomo announced new regulations for those convicted of multiple DWI's over ...

After a collective effort of 16 law-enforcement agencies, Seminole County authorities began releasing details about their week-long investigation that was named "Operation Cardea" and targeted individuals attempting to engage in activities that illegally involved minors. Cardea is the Roman Goddess of the hinge, eventually over history being identified as a protector of the home. The sting was conducted at a home located in Seminole County. Detectives posing as teens between the ages of 11 and 15 landed 50 men ages 19 to 50 in jail. Though many of the suspects ...

Computerization of medical records, barcoding for medications, evidence-based medicine and other approaches have been shown to limit injuries and illnesses caused by medical providers and hospitals. Although medical literature frequently reports on techniques that can reduce medical errors, practitioners and institutions have not embraced them very speedily. Hospitals in particular have been reluctant to implement these error-reduction strategies because many are either expensive, time-consuming or both. But numerous studies have shown that even slight adjustments in ...

The New Year is a great time to start home repairs and long-awaited renovations. Now that the holidays are over, take some time to make updates to your home that you haven't had the time to complete. Kitchens are the heart and focal point of many houses, serving as the hub of family activity as well as entertaining guests. Remodeling your kitchen with elegant Atlanta granite countertops is a valuable home improvement that the whole family will use and enjoy for years to come. Granite has long been the first choice for countertops, and with good reason. There are several ...

Pinnacle Pool Services, a premier Atlanta pool service company, would like to announce the promotional offers it provides to new customers. From products to services, these discounts are only available to first time clients. According to Greg Stephens, owner of the Atlanta pool maintenance business, "Our existing clients have expressed great gratitude for the services we offer, so we decided to continue the promotions." Saving money is always a good thing, especially in this economy. Some of the offers Pinnacle Pool Services offers are quite significant. The ...

Stainless steel steam pans can make a difference when preparing and serving food to guests, and Kitchen Inspire has the perfect steam pans that can make your party heated and delicious. If you are setting up a buffet for your party or a party you are catering, you need steam pans, and the professional catering supplies company, Kitchen Inspire, has the equipment you need. Stainless steel steam pans are designed to help keep food warm on buffet lines, by placing steel pans into a heated steam bath, so while it sits on the table, it can remain warm. Steam pans are important ...

It is that time of year again in the world of baseball. Teams are analyzing their needs and looking to add new players to their rosters. The Braves are well known for giving young startups fresh opportunities, as well as for playing their top picks. Express Oil, a leading Atlanta auto repair shop and partner of the team, is discussing the individuals currently under watch. Many of the players this year possess a great deal of potential. This is good news for anyone that drives a car in Atlanta. Throughout the season the Atlanta car repair experts at Express Oil will once ...

Millions of Americans greeted 2013 with the same resolution: to lose weight in the new year. Sadly, by this point, many of them have given in to bad habits and fallen off the weight loss train. Healthe Trim, a natural weight loss supplement, wishes to encourage anyone who is having difficulties with fulfilling their New Year's weight loss resolution to get back on track. It can be difficult to lose weight, and many people grow discouraged when they don't see the quick weight loss results they desire. Sometimes people even have difficulties seeing weight loss results ...

If you have a residential or commercial plumbing issue that needs to be resolved in a flash, Plumb Xpress is your go-to plumbing company. Offering Atlanta plumbing services for many years, Plumb Xpress also covers the Vinings area. If you have a plumbing emergency in the Vinings area, Plumb Xpress is the one to call. Plumb Xpress offers all Atlanta plumbing services to the metro area including Vinings. From sewers to drains and everything in-between, Plumb Xpress can quickly diagnosis the problem and have it resolved in no time at all. "We want the residences ...

The Knoxville bankruptcy experts at Clark & Washington know that almost anyone can fall victim to financial problems that eventually lead to bankruptcy. We only have to look to some of the most loved celebrities to see that it only takes one mistake to lose control of our finances. The Cost of Fame As Knoxville bankruptcy lawyers, Clark & Washington, acknowledge, Dorothy Dandridge was for many years one of America's most promising and popular singers and actresses. From her early days as a touring performer performing at such venues as the Cotton Club and Harlem's ...

No matter how successful a person is, problems can still arise. Lynne Spears, Britney Spears' mother, is one example of someone who has had tremendous success, yet endured the difficulty of having to declare bankruptcy. She came out of it on the other end, and her family is doing better than ever. The causes of Spears' financial difficulties are very common and can happen to people of all walks of life and income levels. The Tampa bankruptcy experts at Clark & Washington take a look at her situation a little closer. Personal Turmoil Many families face issues ...

Clark & Washington, the premier Atlanta bankruptcy lawyers, would like to remind residents that bankruptcy is often a viable option. Substantial debt can quickly ruin one's life, and it does not take long for financial burden to spiral out of control. Making mistakes is something we all do, and sometimes these mistakes require making a hard choice in regards to resolving them. The Atlanta bankruptcy attorneys discuss the case of celebrity Kim Basinger. Celebrities and non-celebrities alike are in the same boat when it comes to financial responsibility. The amount of ...

Despite what many may think, there are innumerable cases of people being well off before a turn of fortune occurs. The singer Meat Loaf is just one well-known example. Nashville bankruptcy attorneys, Clark & Washington, address his misfortune and how he found himself in that position. Meat Loaf's Success In 1977, Meat Loaf released the album Bat Out of Hell, which was his first big success. Bat Out of Hell sold more around 43 million copies around the world. It was one of the best-selling records of all time. It has spent more than 470 weeks on the best-selling ...

Even with the holidays behind us, you can still decorate the trees and bushes in your back or front yards with white lights to give them a sophisticated feel year round. However, while the trees may appear to look healthy, the fact is that they may already be damaged and even more susceptible to branches breaking off. You don't want to have all your body weight resting on the tree in standing on the branches to reach if the tree could break and harm you. Atlanta tree experts, Yellow Ribbon Tree Experts, note that proper care is essential in order to be able to not only ...