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Consumer Concerns and Advice Recent UpdatesMay 05, 2008 April 30, 2008 April 22, 2008 April 14, 2008 April 04, 2008 Web ResourcesChalat Hatten & Koupal PC
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In the lightening fast world of sound bites and propaganda-muddled "news," we can hear misinformation so often that it becomes "common knowledge." But a lot of the so-called common knowledge, such as the litigation explosion in our courthouses, is far from accurate. This misinformation can hurt you and your family. Read below for some of our observations on what you need to know to protect yourself.
Forget Your Day in Court Thanks to tort reform, arbitrations instead of courtroom hearings are becoming more common. Whether buying a car, getting a credit card, or signing up for cellphone service, consumers increasingly are asked to sign an agreement that requires them to go to arbitration rather than sue in the event of a dispute. Franchisees and vendors for large corporations, too, encounter similar agreements. Proponents say mandatory arbitration is quicker and cheaper than going to court. But critics contend the process isn't always fair.
How to make a pair pants into a $65M suit By now, most folks have heard about the administrative law judge Roy Pearson Jr. with his $65 million lawsuit against a D.C. dry cleaner for losing a pair of his pants. Not surprisingly, this isn't the first time Pearson has filed tons of documents and demanded payment in a court case. Just ask his ex-wife. In 2005, the Virginia Court of Appeals denied Pearson's appeal seeking at least $10,000 in spousal support in his divorce from Rhonda VanLowe, legal counsel for Rolls-Royce North America. Pearson wanted VanLowe to help support him because he was receiving unemployment benefits in 2003 before he was appointed as an administrative law judge in 2005.
Top Ten Verdicts Defy "Run-Away" Label Contrary to the oft repeated mantra that jury verdicts continue to escalate out of control, the nation's largest verdicts to individual plaintiffs have fallen dramatically for thesecond consecutive year. For the top ten jury verdicts awarded to individual plaintiffs, this past year's total is one third of the total for the previous year, which was half the total of the year before.
Jack vs. the Giant Most school children understand that our national concept of justice ensures that when someone hurts you, you should be able to seek justice by going to court. Even if it is the little guy who is injured by "Big Business." But in Alabama, those children may be told that, under certain circumstances, the courthouse doors are always closed to the little guy.
Caps on damages - Fair or Foul Many states, including Colorado, have recently adopted laws which limit the amount victims in personal injury lawsuits may collect. These limits are called "caps on damages" or simply "caps" because they cap the amount of money which may be awarded. For different circumstances, different caps may apply. Most frequently, these caps apply to the non-economic damages, the "pain and suffering" damages.
Legal Wives Tales and Urban Jury Myths I guess every profession has its share of “old wives tales” and “urban myths,” but the practice of personal injury law seems to be a huge magnet for nonsense. Maybe this is because there is so much nonsense in our judicial system. |
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The information you obtain at this site is not, nor is it intended to be, legal advice. You should consult an attorney for individual advice regarding your own situation. | |
