Archive for December 20, 2011

20 Dec 2011
General Legal

Top 10 Crime Stories of the Year | Time Magazine

Time Magazine has recently released its “Top 10 of Everything” web page. This is a fun site to look over when you have some spare time. We thought today that we’d feature the top 10 crime-related stories of 2011.

  1. Norway Massacre. July 22. The world was shocked when this peaceful nation was jolted by a terrible act.
  2. Penn State Scandal. Early November. One of the greatest football coaches of all time will be marred by this incident.
  3. Casey Anthony Trial. July 5. The social world erupted in anger when the jury announced “not guilty”.
  4. Gabby Giffords Shooting. January 8. Tales of heroism and survival emerged from this awful tragedy in Arizona.
  5. Amanda Knox is Freed. October 3. The world is still torn over Knox’s release from an Italian prison.
  6. Additional Craigslist Killings. November. A strange story all around, the suspects include a 16-year-old boy and a 52-year-old preacher.
  7. Murder of Lieby Kletzky in NYC. July 11. The young Jewish boy was simply trying to walk home alone from camp for the first time – something he’d been looking forward to.
  8. Toddler Hit and Run in China. October 17. This unbelievable incident sparked outrage in China over the moral condition of the country.
  9. Philadelphia Basement Killings. Mid-October. In an alleged Social Security fraud, four mentally disabled adults were locked in a basement and tortured.
  10. M-Bone Murdered. May 15. The rapper who taught us the national phenomenon of the “Dougie” was sadly killed in California, and is yet unsolved.

What do you think was the top story? Were there any left out that surprised you? Tell us on Facebook and Twitter!

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15 Dec 2011
General Legal

Top 3 Legal Mistakes People Make

We live in a world where people sue other people for just about everything. We also live in a world where life would be a little easier if we were simply prepared for various life events. Lawyers would be needed much less if that were the case. With that in mind, here are the top 3 legal mistakes that people make:

Marriage mistakes

Whether it’s a prenuptial agreement, keeping finances and property separate or figuring out how to handle shared businesses – marriage accounts for a large chunk of legal disagreements in America. Especially in the case of a prenuptial agreement, it is often seen as something rather negative and a sign of mistrust in the relationship. That’s simply not the case, however. We must acknowledge that things happen and you just never know what is going to happen in life. If there is no prenuptial, at least have a will or a living-will in case of death.

Life Insurance

This is a biggie. Especially when/if you have kids, and/or a spouse that stays home. At times it can feel like a waste of money, but it’s also piece of mind that your family is taken care of should something happen. You can never be too careful, and if you get it soon enough, life insurance doesn’t have to break the bank.

Preparation

Ultimately this means thinking about either the catastrophic or inevitable. We all die, it’s just a reality of life. Do you want there to be squabbling in your family about what happens to your things? It’s better to have it written and spelled out exactly how you want it. It’s also good to simply have an itemized list of what you own in case of natural disaster or other accident. Simply think ahead a little bit, be prepared, and you will be okay.

How have you seen preparation help yourself or help clients? Tell us on Facebook and Twitter!

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09 Dec 2011
General Legal

To Have or Not To Have: A Holiday Party

With the holidays come a lot of talk of what is politically correct and how to handle the parties that come with the season. Do you call it a Christmas party? Do you offer alcoholic beverages? There are more than just feelings to be considered, but also potential legal pitfalls should anything go wrong or anyone be mistreated fairly because of religious standing.

A few things to keep in mind:

  • Christmas parties, legally speaking, are an extension of your workplace.
  • Make it is clear what expectations are: gifts or not, alcohol limits, attendance requirements, etc.
  • Especially when alcohol is involved, company news might come out a little too easily. Simply be extra aware of this – especially in terms of promotions, raises, firings, etc.
  • It’s a good idea to do a risk assessment of the venue where your party will be, and also to assess the handicap accessibility. Even if nobody on staff requires it, guests may.
  • Limit the free bar, and consider putting a limit on a cash bar as well.
  • If gifts are being exchanged, be sure to set clear boundaries on appropriate gifts. If anything could be construed as sexist or racist, just stay away.

Remember, it’s not all bad! Parties are a way for the company to give back to it’s employees and have some fun around a joyous time of year. You just want to make sure you are protected should something go wrong.

Have you had bad office party experiences? Tell us on Facebook and Twitter!

 

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