Miscellaneous

• Judge: "Lawyers Should Go Back To School"

  Ben Glass | January 04, 2007 4:39 PM | 0 CommentsNorthern Virginia, VA

  According to an article at www.sunsentinal.com, the Chief Justice of the Florida Supreme Court wants lawyers and judges to get themselves into public elementary, middle and high schools to talk about the law.Apparently, a survey by the Florida Bar last year showed a real lack of understanding, among adults of the American legal system.At first, they laughed:Lewis said some people chuckled when...

• Peace

  Ben Glass | December 25, 2006 7:30 AM | 0 CommentsNorthern Virginia, VA

  I saw this message on a card last year... It was attributed to "unknown"Peace.it does not mean to be in a place where there is no noise, trouble or hard work, it means to be in the midst of those things and still be calm in your heart.Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays to All!

• Sleep Deprive Resident Still Hurting Patients

  Ben Glass | December 14, 2006 5:38 PM | 0 CommentsNorthern Virginia, VA

  Kathleen Fackelmann is reporting in USA TODAY that medical residents are still hurting patients because of their own sleep deprivation. Apparently the risk of injuring or killing a patient by an overworked health care provider can increase as much as 700% with some schedules."Working for more than 24 hours is hazardous," says sleep researcher Charles Czeisler at the Harvard Medical School....

• The Vanishing Trial?

  Ben Glass | December 12, 2006 6:04 AM | 0 CommentsNorthern Virginia, VA

  There is an interesting story in the November 29, 2006 edition of the Boston Globe's website. It seems that the Boston Bar Association is trying to remedy the "problem" of few trials. The article says, "because of the high cost of going to trial, fewer of unpredictable juror verdicts, and other factors, many cases instead are being resolved through settlements, mediations, and arbitration,...

• Effective, Ethical Marketing for Attorneys

  Ben Glass | December 10, 2006 3:08 PM | 0 CommentsNorthern Virginia, VA

  Attorneys struggle with trying to market themselves ethically and effectively, without busing the bank. I've got ideas on that subject so, together with my friends from ClarisLaw, I've started up the "Effective, Ethical and Outside the Box Marketing for Attorneys web site. Feel free to check it out and let me know what you think,

• THE "MARKET" FOR MEDICAL SERVICES

  Ben Glass | December 09, 2006 7:06 AM | 1 CommentNorthern Virginia, VA

  As you might imagine Northern Virginia has a great many hospitals and doctors. We also have lots of medical equipment like MRIs and CT scans but the Washington Post reported yesterday how one of the major players in the area, the Inova Medical System, is apparently trying to curtail competition.Virginia is archaic and backwards in many ways and this appears to be no different. Apparently if a...

• ALEXANDRIA JUDGE THROWS OUT FRIVOLOUS MILK LAWSUIT

  Ben Glass | December 08, 2006 5:27 AM | 0 CommentsNorthern Virginia, VA

  A big cheer for local Federal District Judge Leonie M. Brinkema who threw out a lawsuit filed by an Arlington woman who says she gained three pounds on the "milk diet" which dairy companies have been promoting. Her lawsuit was against the industry. Judge Brinkema ruled that individual people cannot take on the industry in court. An individual may file a claim for specific damages to herself...

• Hey, We Made "Blog of the Day"

  Ben Glass | December 05, 2006 2:11 PM | 0 CommentsNorthern Virginia, VA

  We are Tom Mighell's Blog of the Day for yesterday. Tom writes an Internet legal weblog which is very popular.Tom commented that we "didn't say where in Northern Virgina" we practice but that probably means that he's never heard of the battle between Northern Virginia and the rest of the state. Of course, we are "housed" in Northern Virginia but practice personal injury and medical malpractice...

• Another Bold Denial by a Disability Insurance Company

  Ben Glass | November 21, 2006 8:27 PM | 0 CommentsNorthern Virginia, VA

  Long term disability insurance claims are tough. The law is terribly weighted in favor of the insurance companies and Congress won't change the law anytime soon since none of its members fall under ERISA (Officially the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, unofficilally "the Employee Ripoff and Insurance Company Security Act). That's not enough for some insurance companies, though,...

• Please Don't Lie on That Insurance Application

  Ben Glass | November 12, 2006 7:52 PM | 0 CommentsNorthern Virginia, VA

  Every year our firm is asked to evaluate a handful of life insurance claims. Usually the life insurance company has denied a claim based on information about the decedent's health that was not disclosed when he/she made the application for the insurance.In a recent case a man left a wife and three young children. His family thought he had left them adequate insurance coverage. Instead they ended...