Hollywood and Structured Settlements
March 22nd, 2011 by Fairlane Raymundo. No Comments »
In honour of America’s obsession with Hollywood evident via the Oscar Awards that takes longer to show than the movie they are recognizing, let’s talk about the large majority of lawsuits, investment inquiries, and others that involves individuals from the entertainment industry. It wasn’t long ago when factoring companies and insurance companies didn’t get a lot of calls from these people because earning millions make them think they will never run out of money.
If you are one of these people who work in the entertainment industry, you must recognize that your job is nothing like the traditional job. Those 8-5 or 9-6 jobs will have money that will go in their bank account twice a month. They can expert their earnings to increase steadily or when to seek out a better opportunity based on the experience they gained.
In the entertainment industry, you will never get a guarantee that you are going to get another project and work again. Competition comes from all over the world and hundreds of thousands of people are ready to jump in to take your position at any given moment. Even taking a sick leave can take away opportunities or decrease your value.
Your primary concern should then be how to stretch your present income to as long as possible. One way to ensure that you will be able to maximize it is by asking your employer to pay you via a structured settlement. This would allow you to control your spending and not fall into the trap of spending more than what you need to survive in its barest minimum.
Setting up your money in a structured settlement will also allow your money to steadily earn interest, slowly but surely. There are kinds of investment that would protect your money from the volatility of the market which would make the earning of the interest slow but guaranteed. There are also other kinds that would give you a chance to earn more but also expose you money to the volatility of the market.
Using a structured settlement is a win-win situation for you. If the time comes when you earn more and get more projects, your structured settlement may be sold to get a lump some money or leave it be and still enjoy the full value of your money.
What You Need to Know About Insurance Fraud
February 7th, 2011 by Rosanne Lim. No Comments »
You’ve probably heard of a friend, a relative, or a co-worker having a hard time processing their insurance claims. This is not as uncommon as you think. Insurance fraud occurs when an insurance firm commits acts in bad faith; it encompasses everything from delayed payment to the denial of legitimate right. There are no federal laws that exist to regulate the industry but there are a variety of state laws that can be used if you need to fight for your right.
However, it is also an unfortunate fact that some state insurance commissions are ineffective and provide inadequate service. The result is that insurance fraud is prevalent in many parts of the United States. With nowhere to turn, policy holders seek lawyers for help.
Understanding Insurance Fraud
Insurance fraud is not limited to the denial of legitimate claims. The companies are required to act in good faith – by responding quickly, efficiency, and in a reasonable manner. Since they are basically selling assurance to clients, these companies should not put their financial interest above that of their customers. As you probably know, however, certain firms are prone to do just that. Here are some common examples of insurance firms acting in bad faith:
- Failing to investigate a claim
- Insufficient payment
- Delayed payment
- Failing to pay approved claims
- Denial of benefits specified in the contract
- Denial of valid claims
- Unreasonable interpretation of the contract
If you suspect that your insurance company is acting in bad faith, it might be a good idea to contact an attorney to get the help you need.
There is no doubt that much more can be done with insurance fraud laws. Some people blame lobbyists who guard their own interest at the expense of the public. Meanwhile, others blame politicians for this appalling lack of regulation. Unlike the banking and pharmaceutical industries, insurance is not regulated at the federal level. Whatever the case, states are forced to set their own laws and there is no set standard on what that should be.
New Standard Set for Baseball Bats
February 5th, 2011 by Rosanne Lim. 1 Comment »
High school baseball teams in California will now be required to use safety-tested metal bats. This development comes after a 16 yr old Californian pitcher suffered a major head injury when he was hit by a line drive last spring. The bat in use was made of metal and the pitcher was in a coma for several weeks. Despite the accident, he plans to return to baseball.
Jared Huffman who is a member of the California Assembly has proposed a two-year moratorium non-wooden bats for baseball teams. However, Mr. Huffman postponed the bill since he is working on safety changes with the California Interscholastic Federation (CIF).
The CIF, which sets the rules for high school sports in California, announched that new rules will be implemented for baseball bats. In essence, these bats will have to be tested to limit the ball speed. The bats may include a decal that changes color when the bat is tampered with. As of right now though, this technology is not yet available to manufacture the decals. National standards for metal bats will take effect in 2012.
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DUI Collision Becomes Fatal for Elderly Driver
January 28th, 2011 by Rosanne Lim. No Comments »
James Austin Withers, aged 84, was killed in a car crash in Mendocino County. The accident has been attributed to a suspected DUI driver. The Press Democrat reports that the fatal DUI collision occurred on Highway 1 near Fort Bragg the evening of January 15, 2011. Mr. Withers was fatally injured when his Volkswagen Beetle was struck by a Toyota 4Runner head on. The other driver has been identified Mary Kotila, 32.
Police officers have arrested Kotila on suspicion that she was under the influence of drugs while driving. She also faces charges of drug possession and gross vehicular manslaughter. Statistics from the California Highway Patrol’s 2008 Statewide Integrated Traffic Records System (SWITRS) reveal that 15 people were killed and 70 were injured because of DUI accidents in the unincorporated areas of Mendocino County. That same year, 16 fatalities and 83 injuries were reported in Mendocino County due to DUI.
According to the California Penal Code Section 191.5(a): “Gross vehicular manslaughter while intoxicated is the unlawful killing of a human being without malice aforethought, in the driving of a vehicle, where the driving was in violation of Section 23140, 23152, or 23153 of the Vehicle Code, and the killing was either the proximate result of the commission of an unlawful act, not amounting to a felony, and with gross negligence, or the proximate result of the commission of a lawful act that might produce death, in an unlawful manner, and with gross negligence.”
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Legal Malpractice Results to $150,000 Award
January 26th, 2011 by Rosanne Lim. No Comments »
A Texas lawyer and his firm has been ordered to pay $150,000 to a former client after a jury found them liable for bungling the woman’s case. Back in 2004, a federal court dismissed the discrimination case of Alice Grimes against her employer.
Ms. Grimes alleged her attorney, Ronald Reynolds of Brown, Brown & Reynolds, failed to respond to discovery requests and a motion for summary judgment in a timely manner. He also failed to notify her of the case’s dismissal. She sued the attorney for legal malpractice and malice after the State Bar determined that Reynolds had committed misconduct in her case
She sought $75,000 to $150,000, alleging that she would have recovered this amount from her previous employer if the defendant had handled the case properly. The defendants admitted to negligence, but denied that there was malice on their part. They also said that the plaintiff would not have prevailed in the underlying case.
The jury awarded $100,000 in actual damages and $50,000 in punitive damages to Ms. Grimes after finding that the harm resulted from malice.
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Texas Medical Board Disciplinary Action Statistics
January 25th, 2011 by Rosanne Lim. No Comments »
With a number of doctors in Texas complaining that the Texas Medical Board is too harsh and with several lawmakers agreeing that it’s time to rein in the board, you’d think that Texas would rank highly as on the Top 10 Toughest Boards in the US. But this is not the case. It is not even found on the top 25! Based on rankings provided by Public Citizen (a nonprofit that ranks boards every year based on percentage of serious disciplinary actions), Texas falls in the bottom half of the states when it comes to meting out serious discipline.
Texas was 33rd among the 50 states based on how often it has revoked a medical license, had medical practitioner surrender a license, and had suspended or restricted a license. This simply means that despite complaints to the contrary, Texas remains as a rather “forgiving” state for doctors. Some areas in Texas have significantly higher cases than others.
Minnesota had the lowest number of serious disciplinary actions against doctors, while Alaska had the most. But it is important to take note that because Alaska has a small population, it didn’t take many actions to be No. 1. There were just 11 in 2008 according to the report. The rest of the top five provides more valid data. These states are: Kentucky, Ohio, Arizona and Oklahoma.
Overall, medical boards are less aggressive than they were in 2004, when the number of serious disciplinary actions peaked.
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California Worker Gets $11.7 Million for Construction Accident
January 9th, 2011 by Rosanne Lim. No Comments »
A California jury awarded worker David Travis more than $11.7 million for injuries suffered during construction of a San Rafael, California hotel in 2007. After hitting his head multiple times while working, he was nearly paralyzed and now has lifelong neurological injuries. It was determined, by the jury, that the general contractor, Bison Builders, did not provide a safe work environment, and their negligence caused the man to suffer his injuries.
Mr. Travis was only 38-years-old at the time of his injury. In 2008, there were 1,084 workers killed who were between the ages of 35 and 44, which represented 21 percent of all worker fatalities that year. In California, there were 404 worker fatalities for that year, the second highest number of any state. Pennsylvania had 240 worker deaths in 2008.
It is not clear why the contractor Bison Builders did not take the necessary precautions to keep their workplace or their employees safe. In many cases, employers try to cut costs by reducing spending on safety and unfortunately, it is the employees who suffer for this negligence. When safety rules aren’t followed, the end result can be catastrophic, as in the case of Mr. Travis.
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Tips to Find the Right Personal Injury Attorney
January 6th, 2011 by Rosanne Lim. No Comments »
In cases when you or a loved one suffers from injuries due to another person’s action or inaction, it seems reasonable to expect that you will be compensated for the injuries sustained. In real life, however, that rarely happens because people do not want to take responsibility for their actions. Also, insurance companies will fight you to avoid paying. During these situations, it is important to have an excellent personal injury lawyer on your side.
A good personal injury attorney will build your case, negotiate with the insurance company, and even take your case to court if necessary. Insurance companies tend to underpay victims of personal injury. If you’re not careful, you may end up with the lowest possible settlement. The lawyer will ensure that you will get a favorable settlement; even with the lawyer’s fee, it can significantly exceed what you can get on your own.
Cost of Hiring Personal Injury Lawyers
Cost is the main concern for most personal injury victims. But most attorneys can take your case on a contingency fee basis. That is, they will receive a percentage of the award that is given. If they lose the case, they won’t get a fee. However, it is important to note that attorney’s fees are distinct from the cost of the lawsuit which may involve paying the filing fee for the lawsuit among others. Clarify these issues with the lawyer before hiring.
The contingency fee being charged by the lawyer varies from one state to another. In many cases, the lawyer takes 20% while it can go as high as 40% in rarer instances. The fee in worker’s compensation cases is better regulated. If your case can potentially lead to significant compensation, it is possible to negotiate a reduction.
Places to Find an Attorney
It shouldn’t be difficult to get several names of good personal injury attorneys. Seek advice from friends, health care professionals, and even your doctor. There is no set formula to find the most suitable lawyer for your case. It takes research, communication, and how well you get on with the lawyer. Among the common ways to find a lawyer are:
Referrals – as was mentioned earlier, getting referrals is one of the most reliable ways to find a lawyer. Ask friends, family members, and medical professionals for trusted names in the legal industry. Even if their attorney doesn’t specialize in personal injury, they can send you to a person who can.
Membership Organizations – most bar associations can help people find the right lawyer. There are online directories you can look. Some of these sites may charge a fee for access.
Internet Directories – there are commercial directories that claim to list qualified attorneys. Although they might not be completely honest, it may be a good place to do your initial research. It is up to you to check whether the attorney is legitimate or not.
Crash Tax in Sacramento
January 4th, 2011 by Rosanne Lim. No Comments »
Crash taxes are controversial wherever they are implemented, but this is especially the case in Sacramento. The crash tax charges individuals who do not live in Sacramento additional fees if they are at fault in an accident.
The fees starts from $435 if a fire crew is called; $680 if the fire is put out; and $1,875 if the jaws of life are used. It goes up to $2,275 if a helicopter is called for transporing an injured person. The fines is one way of recovering some costs for fire and police services. It is estimated that this will generate about $1 million in revenue per year.
There are critics who say that insurance firms may end up paying the fines; this will result in increased insurance premiums for everyone. There are also critics who said that the plan would discourage travelers and hurt small businesses, especially those that operate a fleet of vehicles in nearby cities.
In a personal injury cases, among the damages that can be recovered (for the victim) include funeral expenses, medical bills, and future lost wages. If negligence is involved, hiring an experienced personal injury attorney is recommended. Attorneys can help ensure that the official investigation is conducted thoroughly and the best interest of the victim’s family is looked after.
If someone in your family suffered from wrongful death due to the negligence of another, then there is a possibility that you may be struggling financially right now. This is more than what most people should be asked for. Organizations like Solid Funding can offer lawsuit cash advance which can tide you over until you receive damages from the defendant.
Lawsuit Funding for Car Crash
December 14th, 2010 by Rosanne Lim. No Comments »
For individuals who had become involved in a car accident because of the negligence of another, it is important to find out what you can do to get compensation. If the negligent driver refused to provide compensation for the damage he/she caused, getting the services of a personal injury attorney is a must. Here at Solid Funding, we understand that people who had been involved in car accidents need financial assistance.
Roadside statistics reveal that Chicago has a high number of vehicular accidents. The causes of these vehicular collisions are varied. In a recent Chicago car accident, an Illinois woman walked away at the scene of the accident after the fatal crash. According to an ABC news report, the car crash killed her husband and a more extensive police search is still underway. The 40-year-old woman was thought to the passenger during the accident. Deputies from the LaSalle County Sheriff found the vehicle on a rural road with the woman’s husband in the driver’s seat.
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