Explore our legal content, spanning diverse legal topics, court decisions, legislative changes, and expert analysis, as we bring you the pulse of the legal world in a succinct and informative format.
EV Batteries: A Heavy Topic
Electric vehicles (EVs) are beginning to make a dent in the new-vehicle marketplace, having reached nearly 6% of purchases in 2022 (a 65% increase over 2021). The current administration has set a goal of 50% by 2030 in order to aid the environment. (But it’s not all unicorns and rainbows. Read about the environmental impact of lithium mining to supply the batteries.) But one major, often overlooked EV issue concerns the weight of EV batteries. Depending on the type of...Read More
Christmas is a Decorated Holiday
Decorations create holiday ambience. Unfortunately, the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) estimates they prompt 18,000 ER visits each holiday season. Falls account for about half of them. Ladders are often used for indoor and outdoor decorating. A ladder’s stability should be tested before using it. Inspect for loose screws, bolts, and hinges; damaged rungs, steps, and siderails; and grease, dirt, and paint. A ladder needs to be anchored on a flat, firm surface. Furniture is not a safe ladder substitute!...Read More
Three Things to Know if You are Considering a Divorce After 50
One of the most significant issues in a divorce later in life is the squeezed time frame to recover financially. A divorce means dividing assets with your spouse. Current market value is not the exclusive consideration of an asset. Some assets will become more valuable farther down the road. Deciding who gets the house is a primary example. Age triggers eligibility for tax exemptions and waivers for real estate tax. A reverse mortgage, which can offer a potential stream of...Read More
DWI Investigations
If you get pulled over and an officer wishes to conduct an investigation regarding a possible DWI (DUI) you are not required to do field sobriety tests prior to arrest. Any pre-arrest tests you may be asked to take are not mandatory. You will not lose your license for refusing any such tests. The requirement to take a field sobriety or blood alcohol test only applies after you are arrested. If you refuse at that time, the State will seek...Read More
What To Do If You Are Pulled Over For A DWI
If you are pulled over and an officer suspects that you are under the influence of alcohol or drugs you are likely to be asked a series of questions. The manner in which you respond to those questions may determine what steps the officer takes. Typically the first thing you will be asked is if you know why the officer pulled you over. The officer asks the question in part to see if you will admit to certain behavior. Be...Read More
Coming to an Agreement in a Parenting Plan
In order to formalize parenting time involving minor children, the parents must have a Parenting Plan signed by a judge. Contrary to what many people may think, parents sometimes come to an agreement on parenting time and then submit the Parenting Plan to the judge for approval without having to go to court. The parties often engage in these negotiations through their attorneys, a mediator, or both. Parenting Plans are arrived at more smoothly in circumstances in which the parents...Read More
Thanksgiving
Thanksgiving is a national Holiday, celebrated on various dates in the United States, Canada, Grenada, Saint Lucia, and Liberia. It began as a day of giving thanks and sacrifice for the blessing of the harvest and of the preceding year. Thanksgiving is celebrated on the on the 4th Thursday of November each year in the United States and around the same part of the year in other places. Although Thanksgiving has historical roots in religious and cultural traditions. It is...Read More
The Enduring Spirit of Freedom
Our World Trade Center (OWTC) in New York City, which opened in 2014, is no ordinary building. After the devastating terrorist attacks of 2001, this area of Lower Manhattan became sacred ground. Today, it’s a hub of commerce but also seeks to honor those who perished on that fateful day. Two large, square memorial pools occupy the bases of the original two towers. The continuously flowing waterfalls and lighting provide a tranquil setting to pay tribute to those who lost...Read More
Guardianship and Adoption are Not the Same
A guardianship establishes a legal relationship between a child and an adult who is not the child’s biological parent. The guardian is responsible for all the basic day-to-day needs of the child, such as food, shelter, emotional support, education, consent for medical treatment, and so forth. There are various forms of guardianship; most of them do not nullify certain privileges or obligations of the biological parents, such as visitation, child-support payments, and inheritance when there is no will. In basic...Read More
Surgical Errors
All surgeries carry inherent risks to patients who undergo them, but doctor/nurse negligence can further complicate this situation. Negligence can occur in “major” or “minor” surgeries, as well as tests/screenings/diagnosis, worsening patients’ health outcome and sometimes resulting in death. Following is a list of some surgical errors that are more common than they should be: • Surgery on the wrong patient. Miscommunication between health-care professionals, lack of preoperative verification, and inadequate hospital protocol can lead to the loss of healthy...Read More