Thursday, June 26, 2008

The Known Advantages of A Living Trust

A living trust is an arrangement by which you as the grantor place property in trust and name yourself or some other person as Trustee or Co-Trustee, but reserve the right to revoke the trust so that the property can be returned to you. Generally, the trust agreement provides that upon your death the property will go to the named beneficiaries. Why set up A Living Trust? The Advantages of the living trust include the following: 1. Provides for Property Management or disbursement; 2. Avoid all legal fees and Expenses Associated with probate; 3. Automatically avoids all probate of the property; 4. Assures uninterrupted income and Access To Principal for family beneficiaries; 5. Eliminates time delays in settling the estate - the successor trustee Immediately Distribute the funds as indicated in the can revocable living trust agreement; 6. Maintains privacy - nothing is printed in the newspaper as is the case When a Person Dies either in testate (no will) or with only a last will; 7. Avoid the emotional trauma, aggravation and frustration of a complicated probate court procedure; 8. Protects up to $1,500,000 from federal estate taxes for a single person and up to $3,000,000 for a married couple. This rule works for US citizens only! And, what about the children? How mature and ready will they be to inherit my estate? It’s true that age 18 is the legal minimum age for inheriting an estate, but is your 18-year old wise enough to manage substantial wealth? Maybe he should receive assets in stages (say, one-third at age 25, another third at age 30, and the remainder at age 35)? Shall he receive a big allowance, or should he be encouraged to get a job? A great advantage of the living trust is that you can decide and control how to distribute your estate to your children.

Wednesday, June 25, 2008

The Intricacies of Personal Injury Cases

The laws on personal injury are truly comprehensive and complicated. Many lawyers might be focusing on personal injury cases but you have to find the one who really specializes on the claim that is similar to yours. Compared to any other fields of employment, there are also specializations in the legal genre. It is therefore important for you to identify first the type of personal injury that you have experienced and suffered before getting the services of a personal injury lawyer.

When you’ve been a victim of personal injury at work or in the street, you can be entitled to large amounts of compensation. For you to be able to win your personal injury case and get the compensation that you deserve, you’ll certainly need the assistance of reputable personal injury lawyers. However, choosing one is definitely critical and you’ll surely wonder if how you can best eliminate all the confusion and ambiguity in hiring an attorney. When we speak of personal injury claims, settlements can range from hundreds to thousands of dollars.

Legal matching services can help you locate the right personal injury lawyer for your personal injury case. With it, you don’t have to worry much about the legal process and just expect for good things to come your way through these competent lawyers. You will always want to get the highest possible claims so you need a competent legal counsel for this. Take note that the payment of these claims depends not only on the facts of the lawsuit but the lawyer’s capacity as well.

Say, you have been involved in an accident of a bus line in a certain state. Remember that there are complexities of city liability and state law that your lawyer need to know before taking on your case. When involved on a medical malpractice case, on the other hand, you have to consider an attorney who has previous experiences in taking on doctors and their lawyers. Why is this important? Well, you have to know if the lawyer is knowledgeable enough to help you gain full advantage of the laws on personal injury.

Based from reliable sources, many people who have been injured in accidents and personal injury cases don’t really know that they can be compensated for their injuries, pain and suffering. They only get to realize this with the help of proper legal help. With legal assistance, their innocence will just make them face medical expenses on their own shoulders. See, this is how important these personal injury lawyers are.

Tuesday, June 24, 2008

The Initial Step: Seek Legal Advice

Seeking for legal advice is the first step that one must take if he’s been involved in personal injury cases such as car accident, auto accident, slip fall injury, and many others. This has been also the case when you have questions on any fields of the law. You have to remember that there are certainly lots of resources for legal advice and there are also lots of lawyers or attorneys that are always ready to assist you by providing such guidance. But no matter what you’re concern is, you also need to know everything about the rules of law and how it’ll affect your case.

Finding a reputable and experienced legal specialist is a great way to get accurate advice and information regarding your legal concerns. In choosing one, you have to keep in mind that every attorney has his own skills and a distinct professional background. Therefore, you have to examine rightfully every lawyer that you come across before actually getting his services. This is important because he will not only give you legal advice or represent you in court but he will also do a comprehensive research on your lawsuit.

If you have been involved in a personal injury case where you think that you are the one who’s at fault or unsure if where the fault lies, your legal specialist can help you track if who’s the guilty party. This can only happen after he has thoroughly evaluated the evidences or information that you have prepared or presented to him. With this, seeking legal advice is really important especially if you’ll get to know a trustworthy attorney.

There are various ways on how to find the best lawyer that can provide the best legal advice, too. The most efficient way is through the Internet. It has been a good source for those people who seek legal advice. With the vast information that the Internet can offer you, you’ll definitely be amazed by it. There are lots of articles and personal disclosures regarding delicate court procedures that can give you an overview of what might also happen to your own lawsuit.

When you’re finally set to acquire your personal attorney, you can still utilize the web by using online referral services. There exist lawyer locators too that can search vast databases of lawyer information to match your lawyer requirements. Hopefully, you’ll find the best attorney who can give you proper advice. Remember that there are still various resources online that provide necessary information about the basics of any types of cases which can then serve as legal advice to individuals who are being bothered by legal matters and concerns.

Monday, June 23, 2008

The Ideal Auto Accident Lawyers

After an auto accident, putting the pieces of your life back together is possible. Financial relief is obtainable, too. You just need to make sure you have the right one to make it happen for you. Now, the big question is – What must the seriously injured auto accident victim look for in a lawyer? Below are some important issues to think about when choosing the ideal auto accident lawyers to fight for you.

Knowledge and experience are the central qualities of any good auto accident lawyer. First, you must know your potential auto accident lawyer’s legal ability rating and general ethical standards rating that he has obtained for all of the past year/s of his career. These lawyers must have served as prosecuting counsel in litigation involving substantial injuries, and then obtained substantial settlements and jury verdicts.

In addition, knowing if the auto accident lawyers have obtained positive recognition in and outside the legal profession is also important. Also, an auto accident lawyer must have been recognized by his peers as established, superior trial lawyers. He must also verify that he is an effective legal advocate, by citation to important published appellate victories he has achieved. A lawyer's appellate success matters because it is a good measure of the attorney's vitally important general ability to argue and persuade on legal issues, and this is important for any auto accident case.

Finally, any good auto accident lawyer must see the logic of your wanting to assure that you will be properly represented in your auto accident case. He must also be willing and happy to answer any questions you may have about his legal qualifications.

The auto accident lawyers’ excellent legal ability and general ethical standard ratings, the recognition from their peers, their local and national reputation, their trial successes, and their appellate successes are all matters that you must inquire about in selecting the right auto accident lawyers for your serious injury case.

After all, choosing a lawyer is the most significant step of becoming involved in the legal process. Most people become very faithful to one lawyer with whom they have had success with in the past – and past success is a very good criterion in choosing a lawyer. But, if you are new to the legal arena, and are faced with the critical task of choosing a lawyer for the first time, it can’t hurt to look for some qualities that everybody looks for in a lawyer.

Sunday, June 22, 2008

The Abortion Debate

One of today’s most controversial topics, the abortion debate pits the rights of a mother against the rights of a fetus. The most common, clear-cut stances on the issue are “pro-choice” and “pro-life,” which hinge on legal and moral considerations. Another common viewpoint is a more blended pragmatist view, which states that abortion should be prohibited except for specific cases.

"Pro-choice" advocates stress a woman's right to choose whether and when to terminate her pregnancy. In their view, a woman should have absolute control over her own body and, by extension, over the survival of the fetus within her. The "pro-life" camp argues that life begins at conception and any termination of pregnancy after the formation of the embryo is equivalent to murder.

One may deem abortion immoral, but does that necessarily mean it should be illegal? As with many moral debates, there is an underlying and perhaps more significant legal debate raging, especially in the United States. Roe v. Wade was a landmark 1973 Supreme Court ruling that is still relevant today. The Court voted 7-2 to overturn all state laws banning abortion. The Justices concluded that such laws violate a woman's constitutional right to privacy. Since then, the moral debate has taken on political significance.

Alternatively, if abortion is morally permissible, does that mean it should be legal in all cases? In response to this question, there exist other viewpoints in addition to the clear cut “pro choice” and “pro life” positions. Indeed, proponents of each argument vary by degree.

For example, some pro-choice advocates believe abortion is no longer morally permissible after the second trimester. Similarly, some pro-lifers allow abortion in extreme cases, such as rape or incest. Roughly two percent of pregnancies occur under these conditions.

The abortion debate lends itself to a larger, overriding question: when must the government intervene in citizens' personal lives, and when must it avoid doing so?

Saturday, June 21, 2008

Small Business Debt Collection Laws

In your will eventually become important, as your debt grows and some clients do not pay. To collect small business debts legally, you must send a written notice that collections have begun, within five days of first contacting the debtor for collections. The letter must include dispute instructions.

Small Business Debt Collection Laws Forbidden Practices…

-Collect any amount beyond the actual debt, unless you really can do so legally.

-Continue collections on a debt if the debtor has disputed the debt, unless you provide the debtor with written proof.
Continue contacting the debtor if within 30 days of first contact, the debtor disputes the debt.

-Credit a payment the debtor has made to a non-disputed debt to a debt the debtor has disputed.

-Deposit a post-dated check before the post-date.

Small Business Debt Collections Laws: What You Can't Say

- Give a false name.
- You are an attorney or government representative, if you are not.
-You have an attorney working for you or that you are going to assign the case to an attorney, if you really do not.
-The debtor has committed a crime, unless you are 100 ure they have.
-You work for a credit bureau, if you really do not.
-The debt is more or less money than it actually is.
-You are sending or have sent legal forms when you really did not.
-You are sending or have sent papers that are not legal forms, if they really are legal forms.
-The debtor will be arrested--no one is arrested for nonpayment of debts anymore.
-You will seize, garnish, attach, or sell the debtor's property or wages, if you do not really intend to or cannot legally do so (and unless the debt is secured with collateral, you probably cannot).
-You will sue or take other legal action, if you do not really intend to, or are not legally able to do so.

Small Business Debt Collection Laws Forbidden Third-Party Disclosures

Never:

1) Give any credit-related information that is not 100
ccurate.
2) Tell anyone other than the debtor that you are collecting a debt.
3) Telephone any number other than debtor's more than once.

Small Business Debt Collection Phone Calls

Never:

-Call after 9 pm or before 8 am.
-Forget to give your name and your company's name.
-Call repeatedly or in a way intended to annoy.
-Make a collect call.
-Make any threats.
-Use profane or obscene language.
-Leave a message that reveals this is a debt collection.

Small Business Debt Collection Mailing

Never send:

-Postcards.
-Envelopes or mailings with any reference to debt collection on the exterior.
-Anything that looks like an official, legal, or government document, if it is not.

These simple small business debt collection laws guidelines should help stay with the collection laws.

Friday, June 20, 2008

Same Gender Marriages

In 1999, the Vermont Supreme Court issued a landmark decision in the case of Baker v. State, 744 A.2d 864 (Vt. 1999), ruling that prohibiting same-sex marriage violated the Vermont constitution because it denied same-sex couples the rights granted to heterosexual couples. However, rather than order the government to issue marriage licenses to gay and lesbian couples, the court left it up to the state legislature to remedy the situation. In response to the court's order in Baker v. State, the Vermont legislature passed a law creating a "civil union registration system," under which same-sex couples can register their partnership and receive all the benefits of state laws that apply to married couples. Although the U.S. Constitution requires each state to give "full faith and credit" to the laws of other states - for example, by recognizing marriages and divorces made across state lines - the federal Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA), passed in 1996, expressly undercuts the full faith and credit requirement in the case of same-sex marriages. That said, because the DOMA abridges the rights guaranteed by the U.S. Constitution, it may be challenged legally in the near future. Furthermore, Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court clarified its ruling late last year that denying marriage licenses to same-sex couples violates the Massachusetts Constitution's guarantee that all citizens be treated equally under the law. Lambda Legal predicts that within a few months, same-sex couples in Massachusetts will begin getting married. They will be able to visit their spouses in the hospital, make decisions about each other’s health care and be fully recognized as parents of their children. Anti-gay groups may proceed ahead in efforts to amend the state’s Constitution to carve out an exception to the time-honored guarantee of equality. As that debate moves forward, people will see same-sex couples who are legally married - and they will see that in seeking to protect their families, these married couples pose no threat to society. Benefits for Same-Sex Couples in California, Hawaii and Vermont. If you're a member of a same-sex couple living in one of these three states, you can take advantage of laws that allow you to register your partnership and receive many of the benefits granted to married couples. California. To register a domestic partnership in California, visit the California Secretary of State website at www.ss.ca.gov. (Look under "Special Programs Information.") Hawaii. To learn about registering your partnership in Hawaii (where it's called a "reciprocal beneficiary relationship"), visit the website of Hawaii’s Vital Records office at www.state.hi.us/doh/records/rbrfaq.htm. Vermont. To read the official guide to Vermont's civil union law, go to www.sec.state.vt.us and click on "Publications."
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Thursday, June 19, 2008

Recording industry starts legal actions against illegal file-sharing internationally

IFPI and the recording industry associations in Denmark, Germany, Italy and Canada today announced the first wave of international lawsuits charging individuals with illegally file-sharing copyrighted music.

A total of 247 alleged illegal file-sharers face legal action in a move that steps up the industry's international campaign against online copyright theft. Further waves of lawsuits against major offenders will be launched in different countries in the coming months.

The legal actions, following similar successful actions in United States, charge the individuals with illegally making available hundreds of music tracks for copying, transmission and distribution via file-sharing services.

IFPI, representing the recording industry worldwide, made it clear that the legal actions come only after a sustained educational effort by the music industry and as record companies are making available the bulk of their music for downloading legally.

A recent independent five-country survey commissioned by IFPI shows more than 65% of people know that file-sharing copyrighted music is illegal.

More than 600,000 consumers in Europe alone are now accessing a large catalogue of 300,000 tracks that are available from 50 legal online sites.

Jay Berman, Chairman and CEO of IFPI. said: "Today's announcement should come as no surprise. Over the past year the record industry has been extremely active internationally and locally, educating the public about the huge damage being done by illegal file-sharing, explaining the laws and promoting all the sites where large catalogues of copyrighted music are available for consumers to access legitimately. "

"We have made it clear that file-sharing without the permission of the copyright holder is illegal, that it amounts to "file-stealing", and that it affect jobs and livelihoods across the whole industry. Ultimately, though, we have learned that education alone is not sufficient, and that some people persist because, like shop-lifters, they think they can 'get away with it'. So we have decided that only the prospect of legal action is going to make those people rethink what they are doing."

"Today we are making it clear that we are totally prepared to enforce the law, and we will start actions against those people who are breaking it by uploading hundreds of music files on to the internet. We will not stand by while thousands of people involved in the creation of music see their careers and livelihoods destroyed. The message is that people are at a real risk of being sued or prosecuted if they continue to rip off those who make music. "

Illegal file-sharing has been a major cause of the decline in global music sales in the last five years. This in turn has caused widespread cuts and job losses across the industry, affecting retailers, record companies and their artist rosters, recording studios, song writers, management companies, publishers and many others sectors, all of them economically dependent on copyrighted music.

Global sales of recorded music fell 7% in value in 2002. IFPI's global figures for 2003 have not yet been released, but it estimated that sales for the year will have been down by over 7%. A number of third party surveys in major music markets have confirmed that illegal file-sharing directly depresses music purchases by consumers.

Other countries have stepped up their 'warning' campaigns to put illegal file-sharers of music on notice that if they continue with their activities they risk court action. Sweden is announcing today the launch of their instant messaging campaign to users of peer-to-peer networks, following a similar announcement by the UK on 25 March.

Wednesday, June 18, 2008

Quadriplegia: Victims Seeking Legal Help

Don’t stay forever pitying a relative, friend or acquaintance who suffers from quadriplegia, a form of spinal cord injury. They are one of the 10,000 Americans who suffer from spinal cord injuries and permanent paralysis in their arms or legs, every year.

When an injury occurs to the spinal cord is occurs, the cord is not typically cut but the thin fibrous extensions of nerve cells surrounded by the vertebrae are crushed and damaged. Pathways of the nerve cells, called axons, in the cord are disrupted once an injury to the cord occurs and a person loses sensation and control over critical body functions.

Quadriplegia (also called Tetraplegia) is a person with a spinal cord injury near the top of the spine (between C1 to T1). It refers to the loss of sensation and mobility in both the upper and lower body. Spastic quadriplegia arises when all four limbs are affected with increased tone, decreased movements and brisk reflexes. It often is associated with mental retardation, visual problems and hearing impairment. Either this is the result of illness or intentional wrong, or negligent act by some other liable person that inflicted the spinal cord injury.

You can stop feeling sorry for sufferers you know and start helping them out in taking legal action for their condition. Persons who suffered spinal cord injury, particularly quadriplegia should get legal evaluation immediately after the accident. Legal consultation from attorneys is critical because victims need to find out the help that they are entitled to. Even accidents that result to quadriplegia that appears to be no one’s fault could still result in a recovery since the injuries are so severe. Damage claims will often exceed the amount of available insurance coverage.

Negligent acts that result to quadriplegia have the right to seek legal assistance to help defray medical bills, compensate for pain and suffering and provide for future lost income. You can assist them into finding an experienced personal injury lawyer practicing spinal cord injury lawsuits. Quadriplegia victims need intelligent and investigative attorneys who will find all coverage are able to devise theories to involve other parties potentially at fault for the injury.

In many of these cases, insurance companies and negligent parties can provide substantial compensation to the victims of these injuries. On the other hand, if the available insurance coverage is adequate enough, say like a million dollar policy is involved the company will have reason to fight the claims. This they will do to avoid paying large sums to the injured person and in this instance, victim’s attorney need to be an experienced trial lawyer, too.

Like other personal injury cases, time is critical, as time goes on, victims may lose some of their rights. Thus, it will greatly help the success of a spinal cord injury lawsuit to begin evidence collection and take information immediately after the accident.

Tuesday, June 17, 2008

Protecting Unmarried Couples Relationships

A power of attorney is a legal document that allows you to dictate who you would like to make decisions on your behalf. While there are many useful purposes for a power of attorney, they are especially important to unmarried couples, which live together, when a partner becomes incapacitated and unable to make decisions. In such situations, the law usually designates the incapacitated person's next of kin as the decision maker. With a power of attorney, unmarried couples can give their partners the power to make such decisions.

Powers of attorney can be as general or specific as you decide. You can give your partner the power to make decisions on your behalf at any time or only when you become incapacitated. You can also dictate what types of decisions you are authorizing your agent to make. A health care power of attorney (also referred to as a durable power of attorney for health care, medical power of attorney, health care proxy and appointment of health care agent of surrogate) would authorize your partner (or other agent) to make decisions about your medical treatment and dictate who you would like to be able to visit you while receiving medical treatment.

By executing a power of attorney for finances (also referred to as a durable power of attorney for finances) you could dictate whom you want to make decisions about your legal and financial matters. You can be very specific about what actions you are authorizing your partner (or other agent) to make, including which accounts he or she has access to and the types of decisions he or she can make.

Note that Legal Helpmate Corp provides an easy-to-use, quick, and economical online method for creating completed power of attorney for any occasions.

Monday, June 16, 2008

Personal Injury Lawyers

Personal injury occurs due to the recklessness and wantonness of others. Injuries like this can happen in a road accident, at the very workplace, due to medical malpractice, due to a defective product, due to a fall or a trip on a pavement, invasion of privacy and when you are a victim of a crime. The injury can be both psychological and physical. It covers physical injuries, emotional distress and mental suffering. The personal injury law includes the physical harm the individual may have and the suffering they undergo. Suffering covers emotional degradation that a person may have felt by reason of the personal injury. When it occurs, the victim is entitled to punitive and general damages. Punitive damage is a result of a jury award to punish the offender of his negligence. General damage, on the other hand, is an award to recover losses such as property damages, medical bills and loss of wages.

Personal injury claim settlement is common as only a little fraction of such actually proceeds to trial. Both the injured and the injurer may have reasons to settle. One reason is that one of the parties may be convinced that the other party has a stronger case compared to him. Another reason is financial constraint. Others think that to prolong it is to complicate the financial situation and it may remain a family burden. So the parties may opt for its early settlement.

Oftentimes, personal injury cases are won or lost early on. In cases like this, it is critical to retain a competent personal injury lawyer. Personal injury cases can be very complicated because of the conflicting circumstances attendant to it like the insurance and legal matters. A personal injury lawyer can help an individual to seek the appropriate compensation he deserves as a result of the personal injury. The more serious the personal injury suffered the more impact and weight it will probably result on the individual's life, thus making a higher compensation for him.

Experienced personal injury lawyers understand the complex legal issues. They can help their clients understand their legal rights and will vigilantly represent them. As a result the client can yield his right compensation for his personal injury.

Remember that if someone has become negligent, they can be held responsible to pay compensation for your injuries. To work this out, a competent and diligent personal injury attorney can assist you with all your legal needs.

Sunday, June 15, 2008

Pay Your Legal Fees Without Any Burden

If you are a regular worker who have been involved in a personal injury case, payment of your legal fees during an injury claim can really be a tough task. If you’ll win your claim, good for you! You will be able to pay your legal fees using the money that you’ll get from the compensation. But what if you lose, that’s certainly a big problem. Can you afford to defer the cost of your legal fees while spending money to recover from your injury too?

Luckily speaking, most of the personal injury lawyers are ready to provide you with their legal services without any charge unless you win your claim. Even though you might still have to pay some small court costs, it’s definitely good to hear that you don’t have to take on much of the financial burdens. What you need to do now is to find every means to have a successful personal injury case.

Under this type of agreement, you have to determine your legal fees in your final settlement agreement. You can talk to your legal counsel regarding this one so that you can prepare for future payments. However, you must not be too caught up in the details of your settlement because you might not be able to place the case behind you. Take note that above all else, your priority now is to recover faster and move on with your life without any feeling of pain and distress.

In addition, your knowledgeable legal counsel can turn you to other support groups. Many victims of personal injury cases consider having a loan to pay their legal fees. This is not always acceptable. Remember that your lawyer knows about these banks that offer special discounted rates to injury victims and he can actually bring you to them. He can also refer you to other sorts of support groups for the injured.

Indeed, when you are not smart enough in taking intelligent steps to get compensated reasonably, you can end up not triumphant in your claim and worst – no money will be left in your hands. Therefore, it is important for you to work hard in recovering faster and get yourself working again. Also, you legal counsel is always ready to assist you in getting the proper compensation that you deserve. You only need to gather all the necessary information before deciding to go to court trials or out-of-court settlements.

Saturday, June 14, 2008

OSDL ESTABLISHES $10 MILLION LEGAL FUND TO ADDRESS SCO'S ONGOING THREAT TO SUE LINUX CUSTOMERS

Fund to pay legal fees for litigation threatened by SCO against Linux users and will cover Linus Torvalds' legal fees

BEAVERTON, OR. January 12, 2004 - The Open Source Development Labs (OSDL), a global consortium of leading technology companies dedicated to accelerating the adoption of Linux, today announced the creation of a Linux legal defense fund. The fund will defray legal expenses of Linux users involved in litigation with The SCO Group on issues that affect the Linux community and industry. OSDL aims to raise $10 million for this fund and will accept donations from individuals, organizations and companies.

'Customers deploy Linux solutions in good faith based on its technical merits and lower cost of ownership,' said Stuart Cohen, CEO of OSDL. 'As the emerging center-of-gravity for Linux, OSDL is responding to a call for leadership on this issue. This fund sends a clear message that OSDL, in cooperation with others throughout the Linux industry, will stand firm against legal threats levied by The SCO Group.'

OSDL created the Linux Legal Defense Fund after consulting with its members, participants in its Linux User Advisory Council, and key members of the Linux development community. The fund will be wholly supported by independent contributions. To date the Lab has received more than $3 million in pledges from companies, including IBM, Intel, MontaVista Software, and others.

More information and details about the OSDL Linux legal defense fund and how to contribute can be found on the OSDL Web site at OSDL Linux Legal Defense Fund.

About Open Source Development Labs (OSDL) OSDL - home to Linus Torvalds, the creator of Linux - is dedicated to accelerating the growth and adoption of Linux. Founded in 2000 and supported by a global consortium of Linux customers and IT industry leaders, OSDL is a non-profit organization that provides Linux expertise and computing and test facilities in the United States and Japan available to developers around the world. OSDL members include Alcatel, Cisco, Computer Associates, Dell, Ericsson, Force Computers, Fujitsu, HP, Hitachi, IBM, Intel, Linuxcare, Miracle Linux Corporation, Mitsubishi Electric, MontaVista Software, NEC Corporation, Network Appliance, Nokia, Novell, NTT COMWARE, NTT DATA INTELLILINK, Red Hat, Sun Microsystems, SUSE LINUX, TimeSys, Toshiba, Transmeta Corporation, Turbolinux, Ulticom, Unilever, VA Software and Wind River Systems. Visit OSDL on the Web at http://www.osdl.org/.

OSDL is a trademark of Open Source Development Labs, Inc. Linux is a trademark of Linus Torvalds. Third party marks and brands are the property of their respective holders.

FOR MORE INFORMATION:

Lonn Johnston for OSDL
Page One PR
Phone : +1 650-473-0600 x101
E-mail : lonn@pageonepr.com

Intel
Chuck Mulloy
Phone : +1 408- 765-3484
E-mail : cmulloy@intel.com

IBM
Trink Guarino
Phone : +1 914-766-4084
E-mail : guarino@us.ibm.com

MontaVista Software
Joe Samagond
Phone : +1 408-328-9234
E-mail : jsamagond@mvista.com

Friday, June 13, 2008

Mesothelioma Compensation–Claims And Counter-Claims

Legal help is now available to sufferers of mesothelioma, caused by inhalation of asbestos particles. However, mere knowledge is not enough for them to get a fair deal for mesothelioma compensation. They need to pick the right attorney to fight their case for compensation. It is possible to check the competence of the attorney through their settlement record.

Helping victims to identify the source of mesothelioma is important for successful mesothelioma compensation claims. Only an experienced mesothelioma lawyer knows how to do it. Many mesothelioma and asbestos attorneys provide a toll-free help line for mesothelioma victims. Most of the law firms respect their client’s confidentiality. Expert attorneys specializing in mesothelioma compensation lawsuits examine the financial health of the entity responsible for asbestos exposure for deciding the right legal approach. The parameters for dealing with a solvent firm are different from the ones for a legally bankrupt entity. The next step involves entering into settlement negotiations with the defaulting unit.

Many mesothelioma attorneys have websites wherein the sufferers for obtaining free evaluation of their asbestos-related mesothelioma claim. Accurate identification of the specific asbestos-linked products is important for settlement. An inaccurate assessment can damage the potential value of the claim. An experienced mesothelioma attorney or law firm does it thorough investigation and review of past cases relating to a particular facility before filing a claim.

The size of the mesothelioma claim depends on the number of asbestos products identified as the source of mesothelioma. Besides, the chances of defaulting units or entities willing to settle a huge claim increase if the mesothelioma sufferer hires an experienced attorney.

For the defaulting units a mesothelioma settlement with them amounts to cutting their own losses. An efficient attorney will file in the lawsuit in a territory that has fast-track courts. Speedy settlement is obviously in the interest of the mesothelioma victim and their family. An experienced mesothelioma lawyer usually has a nationwide network and an impressive mesothelioma compensation settlement-record. It is a highly specialized legal field and only a few attorneys and law firms have the right credentials to claim nationwide recognition.

Thursday, June 12, 2008

Looking for the best advice in relation to fathers rights legal help.

Looking for the best advice in relation to fathers rights legal help. When you are looking for superior information relating to fathers rights legal help, you'll find it hard sorting out quality information from poorly sourced fathers rights legal help submissions and help so it's astute to know ways of judging the information you are offered.

Now we'd like to offer you some advice that we believe you should think of using when you're seeking information about fathers rights legal help. Bear in mind any recommendation we present to you is only appropriate to internet information concerning fathers rights legal help. We can't offer you any direction or assistance if you are receiving information offline.

A good pointer to follow when you are presented with information and advice about a fathers rights legal help web site is to verify the ownership of the website. Doing this could reveal the owners fathers rights legal help credibility The easiest way to find out who is behind the fathers rights legal help site is to find the 'about' page.

All reputable sites providing information about fathers rights legal help, will almost always provide an 'about' or 'contact' page which will record the owner's details. The info should make known key points concerning the owner's requisite knowledge. You can then decide for yourself about the webmaster's depth of experience, to offer help regarding fathers rights legal help.

Wednesday, June 11, 2008

Law Firm Websites & Internet Scams

Many still say the Internet is like the Wild West. When it comes to the proliferation of scams, this is certainly true! As webmaster for over two dozen legal, real estate, and other business oriented websites, we receive a lot of email and phone solicitations. Often our clients ask our opinion on an Internet service or software product. We have researched and found the majority of offers directed toward law firms are what I call the half-truth variety.

It is interesting that these offers directed at small to mid-size firms are like live Internet viruses, they seem to mutate over time. The core remains, but, the exterior packaging (a.k.a. sales pitch) appears totally different.

One of the most enduring of such Internet scams is the offer to list your law practice in an Internet legal directory at what appears to be a huge savings over the legitimate legal directories. The perpetrators of such scams provide impressive ‘traffic’ figures, and in many cases, even show that their directory is listed on the first page of a major directory.

Looking at one scam in detail revealed the following facts:

A. Traffic figures can be manipulated. For about $50, anyone can purchase ‘traffic’ directed to any site. The way this ‘traffic’ is generated is the problem. The majority is machine generated overseas, or funneled through MLM /porn/music sites. In either case, your site will register visits but no business will ever be generated.

B. For placements on the first page of major search engines, there are two highly used methods. The first method, usually just makes the statement that the site has page one placement. Ask further and it is usually the name of the directory that has page one placement. The directory name might be www.lawyers-intercontinental-directory1.com and a search for lawyers international directory could appear on page one of many search engines. However, how many potential legal clients in Houston, Texas, will be likely to type in this exact directory name into their search engine? What they may use will be phrases like: Houston lawyers, Houston attorneys, Houston TX lawyers, Houston Texas lawyers, etc.

The other method used is bidding on popular legal phrases on the major pay-for-click search engine programs. The problem here is that these ‘sponsored’ ads have to be differentiated from the real or ‘organic’ results. Once spending limits on the bids are reached, or the bidding program is terminated, the standing vanishes. After all, these standings were only achieved by cash payment, not a properly designed and optimized legal website.

Another factor to consider here is that current webmaster opinions suggest 50 to 70% of searchers skip over such ‘sponsored’ listings in favor of the ‘organic’ listings. Almost any high school student can create a ‘legal directory’ with an impressive sounding name like www.professional-law-legal-advice-directory1.com, but do you really want to be listed there?

Believe it or not, many naive lawyers have taken the bait. I asked one such attorney what results his law firm had achieved during almost a year with the listing. The reply was NO BUSINESS, and he believed they never received any phone calls. I then asked why he chose to advertise with this firm. The reply was because they only charged $99 for a full page ad for one year.

The old adage of “You get what you pay for” really applies here. Be careful out there, very careful!

Tuesday, June 10, 2008

Intellectual Property Defined

Ignorance of the law excuses no one. If you are unaware of your law, then you are in for big trouble. To better understand what are your rights and duties, educate yourself.

Issues regarding intellectual property rights are an important topic of discussion as many things revolve around this theme. Knowing what an intellectual property is the first step in our education. The U.S. Department of State defines it as:

“Creative ideas and expressions of the human mind that possess commercial value and receive the legal protection of a property right. The major legal mechanisms for protecting intellectual property rights are copyrights, patents, and trademarks. Intellectual property rights enable owners to select who may access and use their property, and to protect it from unauthorized use.”

This definition gives emphasis on the word protect. Indeed, it is designed to extend protection to the creator of a certain creative work or a product. Legal provisions are installed to give the owner the exclusive right to control access and use of his property. The law provides for specific procedures when a violation of these rights is committed.

Copyrights and industrial property are two categories that make up intellectual property.

Copyright laws provide for the owner an exclusive right to control access of his creative work. Variations may exist with different countries but the basic idea is this.

Industrial property includes such things as patents and trademarks. A patent is defined as a legal grant issued by a government permitting an inventor to exclude others from making, using, or selling a claimed invention during the patent's term. A trademark on the other hand is a name or symbol secured by legal registration that identifies a manufacturer's or trader's product or service and distinguishes it from other products and services.

Any infringement on these rights entitles the owner to a day in court. Filing a lawsuit is a must if you want to be compensated for the damages you have received. Of course you won’t know if you are already being violated unless you know what you’re rights are. There is a great need for us to be familiar with the concepts of intellectual property laws for us to know when we are being wronged and what needs to be done to address that wrong. Like they always say, “Knowledge is Power.”

Monday, June 9, 2008

Injury Compensation Claims

Accidents do happen, but if you feel you had a slip trip or fall that was due to someone else’s negligence, you have the right to claim compensation. Personal injuries because of slipping, tripping and falling are a fact of life, but sometimes they are the result of carelessness on the part of individuals or municipal councils who are liable to pay compensation for it.

Though most public areas in the U.K. conform to the highest safety standards, occasionally a poorly maintained road, pavement, car park or shopping area can become the cause for personal injury. One could trip on a warped or pitted road, pavement, walkway or car park. One could also slip on dangerously polished floors, fall down poorly constructed or maintained stairs or trip over worn floor coverings or obstructions.

In the case of slips and trips in public areas like roads, walkways and pavements, the local authorities responsible for their upkeep can be held liable if negligence is established. The authorities are expected to carry out frequent inspection and maintenance, especially in areas of high foot traffic. Shops and occupiers of other similar public places are duty-bound to keep the premises safe for their customers. They are required to have staff locating and removing items customers might have spilled or dropped on the floor in order to prevent injury to other visitors.

If you should sustain injuries after taking a fall or slipping in another person’s home, you are entitled to compensation if it was the result of the occupier or proprietor’s negligence. It is the occupier’s responsibility to keep the house safe by picking dropped objects like toys off the floor and wiping off spilt liquids so that no one is hurt. Slips, trips and falls are also common in the workplace and liability in such cases rests with the employer.

When a slip trip fall claim is filed, the law takes into consideration whether the owner/caretaker of the premises where the accident occurred takes “reasonable” care of the property. Reasonableness here relates to a regular inspection and maintenance regime. The claimant will also be questioned about whether he/she was distracted at the time of the accident or was careless in any way that might have led to the slip, trip or fall. One is expected to watch where he/she is going. If there were warnings of hazards that went unheeded or if the claimant was careless, the claim will fail.

Legal Claim UK is a network of no win no fee accident compensation claims lawyers operating across the United Kingdom. When our personal injury specialists handle your claim, you get the damages in full if you win. At no point of the process are you required to pay. The legal fee is taken care of as part of the settlement/verdict in case of a win and you get the entire sum awarded as compensation. Our network includes experts on slip trip and fall claims. For more information on our services, visit www.legal-claim.co.uk. If you have been injured in an accident in the last three years that wasn’t your fault, you should contact Legal Claim UK.

Sunday, June 8, 2008

In Focus: Construction Accident Lawyers

Accidents happen unexpectedly in our lives. They usually occur in our homes, in the office, in the streets, and in almost all places where we go. No matter how careful we are in what we do, these incidents are actually unavoidable especially when we overlook some necessary precautions for our safety. These accidents are really disturbing and destructive. Same is the case in construction accidents.

The effects of serious construction accidents are really hard to bear. And if you’ve been bothered by intense physical pain, emotional suffering, and huge amounts of financial responsibilities, you can be entitled to compensation due to what you’ve endured. However, it will be hard for you to determine the right amount that you deserve to receive just by yourself. You need somebody to help you get through this problem by winning your construction accident settlement. I am referring to a competent construction accident lawyer.

Construction accident attorneys know how it feels to be a victim of construction accidents. As legal specialists, they will only want to support you in going through your painful experience. In choosing one, you must look for a proficient and experienced lawyer who will be at your side all throughout the legal process. You have to consider the professional background of your lawyer and his geographic region. By doing so, you’ll be able to bring your legal concerns to a top professional who basically knows everything about this area of law.

In addition, you have to keep in mind that the law is very complex. Even though it exists to serve us and protect our rights, the legal process especially for construction accident cases can be truly threatening. And because of this fact, only skilled and knowledgeable personal injury lawyers must be with you every step of the way. With them, you will be able to discover every option to pursue strength and happiness. Nevertheless, you only deserve the best legal help possible from these lawyers.

Indeed, being injured in a construction accident is stressful. Basically, your construction accident lawyer knows and understands this fact, and your lawsuit will surely be treated with proper care and sensitivity. He will focus on identifying the best possible approach towards the success of your construction accident case. After all, your attorney only wants you to continue with your life peacefully after fully recovering from a construction accident.

Saturday, June 7, 2008

Legal Debt Collection Tricks

If a customer owes your local business money, it's hard not to feel angry, like you want to do anything possible to get your money back. But the days of going all out to collect on a debt over.

The Fair Debt Collection Practices Act, designed to protect consumers from harassment or intimidation, sets firm limits on what you can do to collect a debt from a consumer. The federal debt collections law even prohibits practices that were once standard, and that you might not consider harassment at all.

Besides, as a local business, you have an even more powerful reason to be especially careful about legal debt collection issues. You have something much more valuable at stake than a lawsuit: your business's reputation in the community.

Legal Debt Collection Best Practices:

There are plenty of articles on the web that lay out in plain English what the Fair Debt Collections Practices Act says you can and cannot do. Just to give you some idea of the law's requirements, here are some of the biggest:

- No telling any third party about the debt (except collection bureaus, collection agencies, or the debtor's attorney).

- No calling on the telephone 9 pm - 8 am, or calling repeatedly in a way that is annoying.

- No postcards or envelopes that mention the debt.

- No threats to take actions you cannot or will not really take, such as seizing property, in the case of an unsecured debt.

- No misrepresenting yourself (e.g., "Hi! This is the Publisher's Clearinghouse Sweepstakes. May I speak to John?").

- No paying down the debt with payments the customer has directed be applied to other debts

Tips and Tricks for Legal Debt Collections:

With all these limits on what you can do to collect a debt, what can you do legally?

- Speak with the debtor personally on the telephone

Friday, June 6, 2008

Have you been looking for the latest and accurate opinion in relation to fathers right

Have you been looking for the latest and accurate opinion in relation to fathers right When you're trying to find superior information relating to fathers rights legal help, you will find it hard sorting out quality information from ill-equiped fathers rights legal help suggestions and help so it is important to recognize how to judge the advice that is offered.

What follows next are a few tips that we think you should use when you're seeking information about fathers rights legal help. Bear in mind the guidance we give is only relevant to internet information about fathers rights legal help. We don't offer any advice or guidance for researching in 'real world' situations.

A great tip to follow when you are presented with help or advice concerning a fathers rights legal help article is to ascertain who owns the site. This may divulge who is behind the site fathers rights legal help integrity The fastest way to determine who owns the fathers rights legal help website is to look on the 'contact' page or 'about this site' information.

All highly regarded sites providing information about fathers rights legal help, will almost always provide an 'about' or 'contact' page which will list the site owner's details. The fine points should detail some specifications concerning the owner's requisite knowledge. You can then arrive at a decision about the vendor's education and practical knowledge, to advise people on the subject of fathers rights legal help.

Thursday, June 5, 2008

Greed or Love?

Prenuptial agreements, might help you and your partner is a lot happier and Prepared For Marriage, because they allow us to learn about each other, make each other feel more comfortable about issues that are of concern, clarify money concerns, and talk about how we can make our marriage work. Writing the contract is a communication process. It is not an exercise in distrust. It is good estate planning. A prenuptial agreement is what it says; it's before the marriage, and it becomes in effect once you marry. On the other hand, once you're married you can still get a legal contract called a Post-Nuptial Agreement. It's very important to note that any time you Change Jurisdictions; you must verify that your legal documents are valid in the new state where you live. Our marriage is our responsibility. Roles Are Changing, situations are changing, and the traditional marital structure is not working, as evidenced by the 50% failure rate. But does saying, "Honey, I love you, sign here," contribute to a loving relationship? It forces you not to just talk over the issues, but to come to the realization and then agreement on how you want to handle your marital life, including issues of money. If, for example, one partner makes a great deal more money than the other, how are they going to feel as equal partners in decision-making? They can decide that they'll give, for example, equal percentages into the Marriage Bank Account and there are other is-sues, too - and all this can be written up in the prenuptial agreement. What happens if one person is the primary childcare provider and because of that cannot spend as much time on career advancement? How is that person going to feel during the 10 years when he/she is spending more time with the children than the other? Resentment can build. The Prenuptial Agreement can help you reflect those kinds of concerns.

Wednesday, June 4, 2008

Get to Know Your Lawyer

When you have been involved in any personal injury cases such as car accident, motorcycle accident, workplace accident, and many more, the best thing to do is to hire a personal injury lawyer to help you understand your legal rights and options. But before doing so, it is important to gather necessary lawyer information as soon as possible. You have to carefully choose the legal specialist that will assist you all throughout your personal injury case. After all, he is the key instrument towards a successful lawsuit.

Why is it important to get to know your possible lawyer quickly? Well, it is because of the fact that the laws on personal injury have the so-called “statute of limitations” which sets a time limit during which legal action must be taken. So even if you believe that you have lots of time to find the best lawyer, you have to take the appropriate action immediately to avoid losing your legal rights and win your lawsuit in just a short time.

Basically, you want to hire a personal injury lawyer who is really an expert in representing victims in lawsuits effectively and successfully. The most convenient way to locate a reputable attorney not only in your area but anywhere in your region is to look search online. There’s a lot of online referral services that can help you find the best possible personal injury lawyer. You can also ask for recommendations from your friends, workmates or other lawyers that can refer the lawyers that they trust.

When you’ve determined that you can already start finding a personal injury lawyer, you have to think if what kind of attorney you really need. Remember that there are lots of specializations in the field of law. And a specific attorney specializes only in one type of law. However, there are also some lawyers that handle a wide range of matters. With this, online referral services can give you a better and clear idea about the perfect lawyer to handle your personal injury case even before you set an appointment with him.

On your first meeting, you have to figure out if your compatibility with each other. Being comfortable with your lawyer is important so that everything will run smoothly as you go through the legal process. Also, you have to ask him some questions for you to get to know him better before deciding to commit your case to him. Knowing the professional background of your possible attorney can make you expect for good things to happen in your personal injury lawsuit.

Tuesday, June 3, 2008

Get a Prenuptial Agreement before Your Next Marriage

While signing a prenuptial agreement can be one of the all-time romantic turnoffs, for people heading into their second marriage, a prenuptial agreement can give the trade-off of a better relationship through the security of financial and life planning. A prenuptial agreement is a legal contract between two people about to marry, specifying how assets will be distributed in the event of divorce or death. A prenuptial agreement is a good idea, even if you aren’t rich or own a home. It saves future arguments and can even save you money. A prenuptial agreement requires that each partner prepare an inventory of assets owned before the marriage, and it allows you to establish your separate priorities about those assets. Even if you do nothing more than that in your prenuptial agreement, this gives children from a previous marriage a chance to have half of that property and establish what belonged to Mom or Dad before the second marriage, and it establishes what you're taking with you should you leave the marriage." Statistically, second or third marriages are more likely to result in divorce than first-time unions. Because of this, a prenuptial agreement is an especially wise idea.
• A prenup is important if one of you is wealthier than the other.
• If you have assets such as a house, stock or retirement funds, you should have a prenup.
• A prenuptial agreement is essential if you own part or all of a business.
• A prenup can discuss your wishes if you may be receiving an inheritance.
• If you have relatives who need to be taken care of, such as disabled children or elderly parents, a prenuptial agreement is very important.
• If you expect to receive a big increase in income because of a growing business, a prenuptial agreement can address this issue.
• A prenuptial agreement is essential if you have children and/or grandchildren from a previous marriage.
We recommend that each partner draw up a list of assets. Furthermore, for professional couples, prenuptial agreements can be the ultimate protection against all-too-common lawsuits or medical malpractice suits. You can't predict all of your life events, and prenuptial agreements are a means of keeping your own assets safe in the event of any financial problems that your spouse may experience.

Note that Legal Helpmate provides an easy-to-use, quick, and economical online method for creating Prenuptial Agreement (Premarital Contract).

Monday, June 2, 2008

Finding the Best Personal Injury Lawyers

If you've been injured in an accident, then you may be able to recover compensation. Remember that you must take legal advice from a quality personal injury lawyer as soon as possible after your accident to ensure that you receive the compensation you deserve. Get legal help for your injuries by finding an injury lawyer that has experience in your claim area and is confident they can help you.

If you consider asking a personal injury lawyer for legal assistance, you must not be discouraged by the sudden mesh of advertisements of various law firms and independent personal injury lawyers everywhere. For your information, there is an easier way to find the best legal counsel for your personal injury case – learn how to find a lawyer through an online directory. By this, you’ll be able to save time, money and effort, and you’ll not be searching through databases of reliable, experienced and previously-screened attorneys in your geographic region.

In searching a personal injury attorney, you won't even have to pay him unless you win a settlement for your case. Upon using a good online lawyer directory, you’ll be able to know the particulars on your legal fees, your location will then be considered, and will then weigh highly in your list of responses. What’s truly important, however, is the history of your potential attorney in handling your type of case. Since the law can be complex and complicated, you must be sure that you’ll retain the best-trained personal injury lawyer possible.

In addition, you don’t only need a personal injury lawyer who excels in personal injury law. You also need someone who completely understands the jurisdiction of your region. Also, you must ask yourself this question before hiring a personal injury lawyer – Are you comfortable with that lawyer and are you confident in his abilities? If the answer is anything other than a resounding "yes," you must keep looking. Your case is too important to entrust to someone who does not inspire your confidence.

When you start looking for personal injury lawyers in your area, don't randomly pick names from advertisements that stretch the truth. Take advantage of matching services and ensure that your needs are going to be met. When you find the best possible resource for personal injury lawyers, you will have a greater chance of turning a bad situation into one that you can cope with. Take just a little time and try using one of these services. You’ll never know, you may not have to go any further to find the most competent counsel for your legal needs!

Sunday, June 1, 2008

Filing a Law Suit for Personal Injury Victims

Did you suffer physical injuries and incurred hospital bills and other costs, that are the result of the negligence or fault of another person? Under the personal injury or tort law, you can file a lawsuit and charge the person for compensation. Indeed! So, what do you need to understand in filing for personal injury law suit?

Personal injury law is the branch of civil law referred to for a personal injury lawsuit. In personal injury law, the plaintiff is the victim of an alleged wrong or in the case of wrongful death, the loved one of the victim. The defendant is the one believed to be legally responsible for the injuries sustained. Generally, personal injury lawsuits are intended to provide compensation to the injured party and discourage the continuation or repetition of the behavior that caused the injury. Specific guidelines apply to personal injury lawsuits that may vary depending upon the state where the suit is brought and other circumstances.

To establish a successful personal injury lawsuit, liability and damages are needed elements. In proving liability, the plaintiff must establish that the person did bear legal responsibility for injuries. The extent ot the amount of injury or loss, referred to as damages incurred on account of the defendant’s action or negligence.

Three bases are referred to in determining the elements of liability and damages: intentional wrong, negligence and strict liability. Intentional wrong is when the defendant have known and/or planned the injury to be inflicted. This is least often used and on the situation this arises, can be brought in conjunction with criminal charges. Negligence means that the defendant is accused of causing the injury through a failure to prevent it. Slip and fall injuries, reckless/inattentive drivers who cause car accidents are circumstances that may be involved in a personal injury lawsuit based on negligence. Legal responsibility, like for example the making or release of defective or unsafe products are involved in lawsuits based on strict liability. As long as the product was being used as intended, the strict liability applies regardless or malice or negligence.

Most personal injury lawsuits are settled outside of court and even prior to the beginning of courtroom proceedings. Those that go to trial in court are either heard ny a judge or a jury to make a legal decision on the fault and extent of damages. In some cases, the judge determines the amount of money to be awarded to the plaintiff, in others, the jury makes the decision. A personal injury lawsuit may result in an award that numbers well into millions of dollars.

If you believed you are qualified to file for personal injury lawsuit, it is important to contact an experienced personal injury attorney immediately. Remember, that there is a limited amount of time given to file for a personal injury lawsuit – the statute of limitations that vary from state to state. Get help and consult what you’ll be needing to win your case.