NY Accident Lawyer recommends CiteGenie– A GREAT, free, Firefox Add-on

Posted on October 31, 2008 by Jim Reed

NEW YORK - MARCH 05: (FILE PHOTO) Comedian St...

For our lawyer readers of this blog, a recommendation for a VERY useful tool– CiteGenie.

For those of you who are using FireFox as your browser, I recently discovered an awesome free Add-On called CiteGenie. It lets you cut and paste from Westlaw directly in to a Word document and it automatically pulls over all the citation info in Blue Book perfect form!!

This saves tons of time when you are researching because you can just cut and paste the good quotes and the citations are all there for you to use.

CiteGenie not only works for legal citations but also for other information that you cut and paste from the web—it brings over the website information and also lists that information in the proper Blue Book format.

I highly recommend CiteGenie. Here’s a recent review: http://www.llrx.com/features/citegenie.htm

You can find this Add-on at: http://www.citegenie.com/download_stable.html

Jim

_________________________________________

James B. Reed, Esq.

Personal Injury & Malpractice Attorney

Ziff Law Firm, LLP

303 William St., Elmira, NY 14902

Tel: (607) 733-8866

Fax: (607) 732-6062

Toll Free: 1-800-943-3529

Email: jreed@zifflaw.com

Web: http://www.zifflaw.com

Visit the New York Injury Law Blog at: http://www.NYInjuryLawBlog.com

Email me at FreeReports@zifflaw.com for two free books concerning NY

Car Accidents and NY Car Insurance Secrets YOU Need to Know.

Pennsylvania Accident Lawyer Explains That Many PA Car Insurance Policies Do NOT Provide Death Benefits

Posted on October 23, 2008 by Jim Reed

Own a car in Pennsylvania? Pay a lot of money every year for insurance coverage? Think your auto insurance policy provides coverage for your funeral expenses should you be killed in an accident? Better think again…..

WETM-TV covered a story (copied below) that is relevant to all of our friends in Pennsylvania– You REALLY need to carefully review your auto insurance to make sure it provides the insurance coverage that you think it does.

Most of us like dealing with our auto insurance about as much as we like getting a tooth pulled but the bottom line is that you are paying a lot of money every year for car insurance so better make darn sure you are getting what you paid for.

Reviewing your insurance policy isn’t nearly as hard as you might think. Most of the important information is contained on 1-2 pages of your policy called the Declaration Sheet– this is the page that tells the types of coverage you have and how much of an insurance premium you are paying for each coverage. Go down through that sheet (preferably with your insurance agent’s help) and make sure you know exactly what each of the coverages pays for. If you are not sure you understand the coverage, don’t be shy about asking your agent to explain it to you. Most good agents are happy to explain the policy and they understand that is part of their job if they want to sell you your insurance. If your agent is unwilling to or gives you a hard time about explaining your policy, then it’s time to go get a new agent…..

You owe it to yourself and your family to make sure your hard-earned money is buying the protection you need.

Good luck!

Jim Reed
Pennsylvania Car Accident Lawyer
jreed@zifflaw.com

Death Benefits Not Mandatory for PA Car Insurance
Reported by: Naveen Dhaliwal
Email: ndhaliwal@wetmtv.com

ATHENS, PA – All of you who own a car and have full insurance coverage assume you’re covered for the worst possible scenario.

When we get into our car and get ready to drive away, you don’t really think if your car insurance covers you if you get into a fatal accident.

The Mullen family in Athens found out the hard way. Missy Mullen’s daughter Stephanie Mullen was killed in a car accident on State Route 4014 in Smithfield Township a month ago.

Missy Mullen says Stephanie’s car insurance policy did not have death benefits.

“I just want people to be more aware of their insurance coverage so maybe they don’t have to go through something like this,” says Mullen.

“Everybody we have talked to has looked into their policies and there were several who found out they didn’t have that coverage so they have changed their policies to cover that,” says Clarissa Galasso.

The $5,000 cost for Stephanie’s funeral was paid for by family and friends. Stephanie was cremated and right now her ashes lay in a box on her bed at home. Her family still needs another $2,500 for the burial.

A benefit this is being held to help the Mullen family with burial costs. It will be this Saturday at the East Smithfield Fire Hall from 4pm to 8pm. If you aren’t able to make and would like to help, you can send donations to Clarissa Galasso P.O. Box 92, East Smithfield, PA, 18817.

In New York State most policies carry death benefits. However, in Pennsylvania only liability and medical is required.

First Graders Attend Lesbian Wedding As A School Field Trip?

Posted on October 22, 2008 by Adam Gee

SAN FRANCISCO - JUNE 17: Same-sex couple Ambe...

Image by Getty Images via Daylife

As the parent of a first grader, this story grabbed my attention immediately. A class of first graders was taken on a school-sponsored, school-sanctioned, school-funded field trip to San Francisco City Hall to attend the wedding of their female teacher. To another female. At taxpayer expense.

A number of thoughts went through my head initially. How could the school do this? Did their parents know? Is this a proper use of taxpayer money? Isn’t there something more educational these first graders could be doing? Were these kids being used as political pawns?

So I did some research. I discovered that that this public elementary school did indeed schedule a school funded field trip for this teacher’s first grade class to attend the wedding. I also discovered that the children’s parents were indeed advised of this field trip, and given the opportunity to opt out of the trip. Apparently the parents of two children did exactly that. I also discovered that there is a proposition on California’s November ballot seeking to ban gay marriage, and that a reporter (who just happened to be at city hall for this gay wedding) noted one of the first graders was wearing a button opposing the proposition to ban gay marriage. Unfortuantely I was not able to determine whether that child was supplied with that button by the school or by his or her parents.

These children are certainly being used as pawns, but the difficult part is telling who is moving them around the chess board. No matter whether it is their parents, the school district or this particular teacher, using children to advance a political cause is reprehensible. If the proposed action doesn’t have enough attraction on its own, proponents should resist the urge to involve children in something they can’t understand.

As I stated, I am the parent of a first grader. He has had a couple field trips already this year. One was to Bradley Farms on Maple Avenue in Elmira, NY to pet the farm animals and look at pumpkins. The other was to the West Elmira Volunteer Fire Department, where he learned about fire safety and developed a plan for exiting our house in the event of a fire. Both resulted in some wonderful family discussions around the dinner table. That should be the intent of field trips; to provide age appropriate learning opportunities which can be followed up at home with further discussion and learning. I don’t know that first graders attending a gay wedding would fall into the category of age appropriate learning opportunities. I would feel the same way if these kids were dragged off to a straight wedding.

I would probably be considered a traditional parent. My two sons know nothing of the birds and bees. They spend their free time engaged in sports and playing outside whenever possible. They still think girls are “icky” and I intend to keep it that way as long as possible. When, if, and how I decide to discuss human sexuality with my children is a decision that my wife and I will make. Whether and how same sex relationships will be addressed will also be our decision. I do not need or want the school district imposing its morality on my family. That is and always has been the responsibility and prerogative of the parents. Schools need to butt out of traditional parental roles, and concentrate on teaching. They have a hard enough time with math and science. I can’t imagine the mess they would make in attempting to teach the legality and morality of same sex marriages in contemporary America.

Now to get back to the legalities of it all. Could the parents of these kids sue? Probably not, as long as they were advised of what the field trip would entail. If they weren’t advised they could sue, but might have a hard time establishing damages.

Could the taxpayers of this school district sue for mis-use of school funds? That is an interesting question. Taking first graders to same sex weddigs, even if it is their teacher’s wedding, seems a bit outside of the school district’s mission. With test results of american school children lagging far behind other industrialized nations, it would seem that there are other, better uses of the schools limited resources and time. While I doubt any lawsuit would be effective, if may provoke the school board and administration to take action against the officials responsible for this field trip.

First grade is an important time in a child’s development. They are making sure their letters point the right direction, continuing to build on their reading skills and vocabulary, and trying to perfect their monkey bar technique during recreation. The last thing they need to worry about is whether our constitution guarantees the right to same sex marriage.

In summation, I have three thoughts on this issue. 1. Schools should teach children reading, writing and arithmetic. 2. Parents should teach their children morality. 3. Kids should be allowed to be kids as long as humanly possible. They will have the rest of their lives to decide these issues for themselves.

Thanks for reading, and I welcome your comments!

Adam M. Gee, Esq.
NY and PA Personal Injury and Malpractice Attorney
The Ziff Law Firm, LLP
303 William Street
Elmira, NY 14901
Phone: (607)733-8866
Fax: (607)732-6062
Email: agee@zifflaw.com
www.zifflaw.com

Ithaca’s Workers’ Compensation Hearing Location To Close

Posted on October 16, 2008 by Jim Reed

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Ithaca’s Workers’ Compensation hearing location is slated to close January 15, 2009. The closing of hearing locations and the implementation of new forms and the so-called “rocket docket” create new hardships for claimants. The closing will leave claimants traveling to other locations for hearings.

Elmira will be the closest hearing location for many. The Elmira location is gearing up for renovations to accommodate the influx of new cases.

Route 13 between Elmira and Ithaca can be a bear in the wintertime and winter is just around the corner. Please contact your attorney and see if the hearing can be handled by telephone. If not, please drive safely.

Thanks for reading,
Eric

___________________________________________
Eric L. Johnson, Esq.
Workers’ Compensation and Social Security Disability Attorney
Ziff Law Firm, LLP
303 William St., Elmira, NY 14902
Tel: (607) 733-8866
Fax: (607) 732-6062
Toll Free: 1-800-943-3529
Email: ejohnson@zifflaw.com
Web: http://www.zifflaw.com

New York’s DMV Driver’s Manual And Study Guide Now Available On Line

Posted on October 14, 2008 by Adam Gee

Image by Jeffery Simpson via Flickr

Aaaahhh, Sweet 16! The age where extended bed times and more freedom are not just dreams but entitlements. Perhaps the greatest among them was that proud day that our parents drove us down to the DMV to sign up for our driver’s permit. What a fabulous piece of paper! We could almost smell the burning rubber and motor oil tinged air that lay ahead. Then, just as we were about to prance out the door, the oh so friendly DMV attendant plopped that big book down in front of us. What are we supposed to do with this? Study? The rules of the road?

Knowing that failing the written portion of the driver’s test meant no driver’s license no matter how good we performed on the driving portion (and what 16 year old isn’t a perfect driver) we studied. We read that book from front to back, and learned everything there was to know. We aced our written test, passed our driver’s test (hopefully the first time) and then spent the rest of our lives forgetting the rules of the road.

It’s a sad fact that most people, unless they are in the minority that takes defensive driving courses, know more about the rules of the road at the age of 16 than they do at any other point in their life. If every driver on the road was conversant with these rules, many accidents could be avoided. I see violations of these rules every day. Two of the most common examples are which vehicle has the right of way when two vehicles come to an intersection simultaneously and both have a stop sign. The second is which lane a vehicle is required to turn into when making a left (or right) hand turn onto a road which has two lanes of traffic available for the intended direction of travel.

So what can you do to bone up on those rules of the road? Well, you could review that DMV driver’s manual if you knew where it was. But if you are like me, you haven’t seen it since the day you passed your driver’s test. The answer to where to find another copy has now been answered. Thanks to New York’s DMV, the Driver’s Manual and Study Guide is now available on-line at http://www.nydmv.state.ny.us/dmanual/ . It’s a great way to see how much you remember and re-learn some of those rules of the road you may have forgotten over the years. For those of you with kids now approaching driving age, it is an easy resource for them to start studying.

As a Plaintiff’s personal injury attorney regularly dealing with car accident cases, I can’t wait to pull out a copy of the driver’s manual at my next deposition of a defendant who failed to obey one of the rules of the road. It should make for some fun questioning!

Thanks for reading,

Social Security Disability Radio Part II

Posted on October 9, 2008 by Jim Reed

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Part two of Atlanta, Georgia Attorney Jonathan Ginsberg’s interview of Colorado Springs, Colorado Attorney Tomasz Stasiuk, can be listened to at “Part Two of Jonathan’s Interview With Attorney Tomasz Stasiuk” on ssdRadio.

If you missed the first part of the interview, please see my post “Social Security Disability Radio.”

These two attorneys give some great practical information in an easy format. All you have to do is listen. If you have any interest in Social Security Disability, I would encourage you to listen to both parts of this interview.

Thanks for reading,
Eric

Does Ladies Night Violate The Constitution?

Posted on October 6, 2008 by Adam Gee

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You’ve all heard of Ladies Night, the practice whereby bars let women in for free and offer them reduced priced drinks in the hopes of luring in men in who are required to pay a cover charge and buy full price drinks. The practice stinks for poor college-aged guys, but the lure of women under the the influence of all that cheap booze is just too tempting, so they go anyway. Such is the life of singles trying to meet that special someone, right? Bars taking advantage of overly hormonal guys couldn’t possibly constitute a violation of our constitution, could it?

Well think again. Google “ladies night lawsuits” and you will see page after page of cases from all over the country where “Ladies Night” has been challenged as discriminatory and unconstitutional. The most recent such case occurred right here in NY, where several bars in New York City were sued in federal court over their Ladies Night promotions. Lawyers for the bars argued that the lawsuit was frivolous, that as private entities the bars had the right to charge patrons whatever they choose, that the cover charge for men wasn’t so burdensome as to deprive them of entry, and that men actually benefited from the practice because so many women attend these ladies nights.

Federal Court Judge Miriam Goldman Cedarbaum (a woman) threw out the lawsuit on the grounds that these private bars can charge their patrons whatever they wish, as they are not acting as representatives of the State. So common sense wins out, right? That’s the end of the story? Don’t be so sure. With so many cases from all over the country coming down on all sides of this issue, I wouldn’t be surprised in the least if the Supreme Court considers this issue in the not too distant future.

And now on to the part you have been dying to read: was the Court right? Here’s my take. I agree with the judge’s decision. This is a trivial issue, and the bars should be able to do what they choose. That said, the decision is probably wrong. If the general principal of this case, that bars are allowed to charge different groups different prices for drinks, is allowed the stand, it clears the way for real discrimination. Take out men and women as the two groups involved in the suit and substitute some others. Would any court allow a bar to charge blacks more than whites? How about gays more than straights? What about Muslims more than Christians? No court would allow such blatant homophobia, racism or religious intolerance to stand, but this most recent decision clears the way for just such a practice. Expect this decision to be overturned for that reason.

Don’t get me wrong, I think Ladies Night is harmless fun, and it should be allowed to continue. The problem is that a quagmire lies at the bottom of this particular slippery slope.

Thanks for reading,

NY Workers’ Comp and Labor Market Attachment Revisited

Posted on October 5, 2008 by Jim Reed

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If you’re a partially disabled Workers’ Compensation claimant, you have an obligation to make a good faith effort to look for work within your restrictions. The purpose of this post is to share some points of advise we give our clients. For background, see my post “NY Workers’ Comp and Labor Market Attachment.”

As soon as you go from totally to partially disabled, tell your employer that you’re available for light duty work within your restrictions. If your employer doesn’t have light duty for you, sign up for unemployment and look for work. See my post “NY Workers’ Comp and Unemployment Benefits,” for details on being on Workers’ Comp and receiving unemployment.

Apply for at least 2 or 3 jobs per week and keep a log of your job search. Write down the date, the name of the company, who you spoke with, and whether or not you submitted an application. It’s a good idea to make and keep a copy of the application. Apply for jobs online and print and keep a copy of the online applications.

Remember that it doesn’t matter if no one will hire you with your restrictions. The point is that you have to make a good faith effort to look for work.

Contact the rehabilitation staff of the Workers’ Comp. Board.

If you’re a union member, it’s a good idea to check in with your union representative at least once a week to see if they have any work available within your restrictions. Your contract will likely prohibit your taking other work in your trade; however, you must remember that you have an obligation to look for work within your restrictions whether or not it’s within your trade.

Do these things and you won’t have any problems with labor market attachment.

Thanks for reading,
Eric

A Tremendous Resource for Help in the Finger Lakes Area– the 2-1-1 Call Center

Posted on October 3, 2008 by Jim Reed

During my many years as an injury lawyer in the Elmira, Corning, Ithaca area, I have long been frustrated by the fact that it’s very difficult for folks in need to know HOW and WHERE to get help. While our area of the Finger Lakes boast a number of local, state and federal programs to assist people in need, it’s often tough for people to figure out where they need to go to receive help in a particular area of need. Because of this difficulty, deserving folks often fail to get the help they need causing huge problems for themselves and their families.

I am very happy to report a tremendous new resource which directly addresses this problem– now you can simply dial 2-1-1 (just like you would a 9-1-1 call) and you will be automatically connected to a live human being who has been specially trained to assist you and steer you in the right direction.

My thanks to Steve Hughes of the United Way of the Southern Tier for bringing this great new program to my attention. And by the way, the local United Way was instrumental in bringing this program to our area so it’s just one more reason we should all support our local United Way!!

The details of the program are below.

Thanks for reading,

Jim Reed
NY Accident & Malpractice Lawyer
www.ZiffLaw.com
jreed@zifflaw.com

What is 2-1-1?

« A simple and easy-to-remember number to call when people need help or access to health and human services.

« Like 911, it easily and directly connects the caller to a local or regional call center. It is not an emergency service access point.

« The 2-1-1 call center provides direct personal assistance. After an interview with a caller to gain an understanding of specific needs, Information and Referral Specialists provide the caller with detailed information about and referral to appropriate agencies, programs and services.

« It is a 24-hour, multi-lingual service so people get help and information when they need it.

This free, confidential three digit phone number, available 24 hours a day, everyday, connects you to a local call center with specialists trained to provide you information and referrals to human services that best address your needs.

Trained call counselors help you find answers to non-emergency questions by directing you to the most appropriate service providers for your needs. 2-1-1 offers referrals for emergency food, shelter, clothing, crisis counseling, substance abuse issues, employment, financial and legal issues, physical and mental health needs, and more. If you need help, just ask! Call 2-1-1 or 1-877-FLNY2-1-1 (1-877-356-9211), accessible 24 hours a day, seven days a week, including holidays, with Spanish-speaking call counselors and Language Line Translation Services available.

2-1-1 of the Finger Lakes Region, NY, encompassing a 12 county area, is made possible through the joint efforts of the 2-1-1 Finger Lakes Collaborative. Led by United Way of the Southern Tier, additional partners of the collaborative include: the Institute for Human Services, United Way of Greater Rochester, LIFE LINE/ABVI-Goodwill, the Human Services Coalition of Tompkins County, United Way of Cayuga County, United Way of Seneca County, and others. This coordinated effort throughout the region will mean more efficient delivery of services to people who don’t know where to turn. It’s fast, confidential, multi-lingual, and comprehensive. Whether it’s mental health issues, crisis counseling, emergency food, shelter, clothing, or some other human service question, 2-1-1 has the answers.

Ziff Law Firm Attorney Jim Reed Selected For Inclusion In Super Lawyers 2008 Magazine!!!!

Posted on October 1, 2008 by Adam Gee

Superman's origin is reimagined in The Man of ...

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James B. Reed, our managing partner, is way too humble to toot his own horn, and it will mortify him to read this post. Nevertheless, I thought our loyal readers would be interested to know that we have a star among us! Every year, an organization known as Super Lawyers selects attorneys from across the country to be included in its prestigious publication. Less than 5% of attorneys meet its rigorous standards. The selection process is long and arduous, too much so to list it here. For anyone dying to know the process, it can be found on the Super Lawyers website: www.superlawyers.com.

I am very proud to congratulate Jim on his listing in New York Super Lawyers 2008, Upstate edition. Frankly, we always thought of Jim as super, but its nice to know other people think that, too! This is far from the first time Jim has been recognized for his outstanding achievements in and out of of the courtroom, though. Jim is a long standing member of the both the Million and Multi-Million Dollar Advocates Forum, and has been rated a perfect 10 by the lawyer rating website www.avvo.com. Jim is actively involved in several local, state and national bar associations, and is a prolific writer on legal topics of all kinds, a fact of which our readers are well aware.

As significant as Jim’s achievement is, he is not the first attorney from the Ziff Law Firm to earn inclusion in New York Super Lawyers Upstate edition. Senior partner Carl T. Hayden was included in the same publication last year. In addition to the Super Lawyers inclusion, Carl is also a Fellow of the even more exclusive American College of Trial Lawyers, an honor bestowed upon only the top 1% of trial lawyers in the entire nation!

The next time you see Jim or Carl around town, feel free to congratulate them on their significant achievements, and don’t forget to ask them about their cape!

Thanks for reading,

Adam M. Gee, Esq.
New York and PA Personal Injury and Malpractice Attorney

The Ziff Law Firm, LLP
303 William Street
Elmira, NY 14901
Phone: (607)733-8866
Fax: (607)732-6062
Email: agee@zifflaw.com
www.zifflaw.com