Fibromyalgia Sufferers Warned About Sharing Christmas Excess

Brian Barr Solicitors are warning fibromyalgia sufferers to be careful what they share online this Christmas.

Found on www.prlog.org/ and brought to you by Lawyer Salinas

Dec 22, 2011 -
People who suffer from the chronic pain condition Fibromyalgia (or FM) are being advised to take care when they celebrate over Christmas and be especially careful about what they post on social media sites like Twitter.

This is because the information they share could be perceived negatively as part of any legal claim they may be making linked to the cause of their Fibromyalgia.

The advice comes from Brian Barr Solicitors who are the leading specialist lawyers for Fibromyalgia (FM) sufferers throughout England and Wales.

Fibromyalgia is a condition characterised by pain, non-restorative sleep and a host of other symptoms. It may develop spontaneously but, in many cases, it is triggered by an accident or trauma such as a sudden forceful injury to the muscles such as in a whiplash injury, injury from a fall, being struck by an object or a back sprain from sudden lifting of a heavy object.  

Brian Barr solicitors are advising Fibromyalgia sufferers that they shouldn’t stop celebrating Christmas but they should remember that if they have an ongoing legal case regarding their fibromyalgia they must be extremely careful about any video, pictures and information about their activities that they share online as this could be harmful to their case.

This is because social networks and video sharing sites like YouTube make it easier and cheaper for the DWP and insurers to research potential claims. They just have to look up the claimant and see what an active and lively social life he or she says that they are leading.

The solicitors raise an example covered by The Daily Mirror in August 2010. A claimant was seeking massive damages after an incomplete spinal cord injury but photographs posted of the claimant enjoying a lively social scene on holiday combined with a tip off from a nasty neighbour resulted in literally millions of pounds being wiped off the value of the claim.

The principal of Brian Barr Solicitors summarised the advice by saying “you must remember that any case where the symptoms appear disproportionate to the initial injury attracts attention - chronic pain cases are the perfect example. Sceptical insurers and those protecting DWP purses just cannot believe that people are suffering as badly as they say they are. If those same people then boast of a busy social life and post photographs or films to prove it,  attitudes will inevitably harden, perhaps to the extent of criminal prosecutions.”

Bad economy means poor auto maintenance

By Herb Weisbaum, The ConsumerMan

Found on www.bottomline.msnbc.msn.com/ and brought to you by Car Repair Salinas

 

A new survey by Consumer Reports shows that the poor economy has forced many Americans to skip needed servicing of their car or truck. And the long-term results of this neglect could be both costly and dangerous. 

Forty percent of those responding said they had deliberately delayed repairs or maintenance on their primary vehicle in the past year. These drivers had put off work on the brakes, tires, exterior light bulbs or mechanical parts – even though they knew it was needed. 

“This is of great concern because many of these items impact safety and reliability,” says Jeff Bartlett, deputy online automotive editor at ConsumerReports.org.  

Cash-strapped consumers are also holding on to their cars longer. Vehicles require more costly maintenance as they get older. 

“There is a real risk that if you put off a small maintenance or repair item today that it could snowball into a bigger and more costly problem down the road,” Bartlett warns. “You've got to keep in mind that breaking down along the side of the road is never convenient, it's often costly and may ultimately lead to missing a day or two at work." 

The typical person responding to Consumer Reports in this random survey drives a 2003 vehicle (often bought used) which they’ve owned for five years. And they said they planned to keep it for another five years.

Their vehicle has already gone about 78,000 miles and is quickly approaching a major service interval. Bartlett worries that people who’ve delayed small repairs are more likely to skip this major maintenance which can cost $500 to $1,000 or more. 

One of the most interesting findings of this survey is that people know the consequences of putting off needed repairs or maintenance.  Overall, 44 percent said it reduces the reliability, safety and value of their vehicle. Almost two in 10 said they are hesitant to take long-distance trips because of those safety and reliability concerns.  Eight percent said they are becoming “embarrassed” by their car. 

Consumer Reports just launched a new car repair information service for its online subscribers. The Car Repair Estimator shows you what various repairs cost in your area. There’s also a free section on this page, the Car Repair Encyclopedia, that’s available to anyone.

 

Husbands of Medical Mesh Victims Finding Hope in New Website VaginalMeshHelpline.com

Found on www.prlog.org/ and brought to you by Lawyer Salinas

Hundreds of thousands of families affected my defective vaginal mesh surgeries. American Husbands find a new resource to help their wives, families and relationships.

 

Dec 23, 2011 - VaginalMeshHelpline.com announces new program for husbands and fathers of victims of destructive vaginal mesh surgeries to find resources to help with their personal, psychological and legal issues regarding Trans Vaginal Mesh disasters.

The Vaginal Mesh Helpline has become  a major resource for thousands of women suffering from faulty vaginal mesh implants." We are beginning to get calls from more and husbands and sons and male family members concerned about their loved ones who are in pain and finding it difficult  to locate a Physician.""They see the T.V. lawyer ads which alert them to the problem their spouse is having. "They call us for help and an explanation of what is going on and what their next step should be". Many Husbands are very concerned and have become victims as well. The mesh has made the intimacies of a marriage relationship impossible. This has put stress on the marriage. The psychological effects are far reaching." Says Lisa Spitzer MSW who manages the Vaginal Mesh Helpline.
"We had one husband calling in tears not knowing if this was real or his wife was "just making excuses". Lawyers are accepting cases form men for lack of consortium.
"In Many situations the husbands are taking the lead role as the protector"'IN some cases they are asking for divorce". Husbands need the information and support as well.""We handled hundreds of calls from women and have helped them find the resources they need.  As we educate families and friends about the horrific problems associated with Trans Vaginal Mesh surgeries, we're working more and more with Men.  Fathers and Husbands who are faced with their own struggles and pain associated with the side effects this  medical process."" Husbands want to understand,help and get a lawyer"
The Vaginal Mesh Helpline is open 24 hours seven days and receives calls form thru-out the United States from women as young as 33 and as old as 86. "We have had Husbands call for wives,sons call for mothers, grandchildren call for suffering Grandma and even brother -in-laws for the family in pain." This has become a family matter" according the Spitzer as one of our callers said" she is the center of my life and I want to know how to help her and I want to get justice for her"  The Vaginal Mesh Helpline has been a complete resource and only works with lawyers who take the cases on an individual basis and keep them in house. "Our lawyers keep these cases and work these cases""They offer support and TLC" The Vaginal Mesh Helpline phone number is 1 888-529-7222 the website is vaginalmeshhelpline.com.  Lisa Spitzer who manages the Helpline is a medical Social  She speaks to many of the callers personally. The website has a response form as well

Quotation - "We handled hundreds of calls from women and have helped them find the resources they need.  As we educate families and friends about the horrific problems associated with Trans Vaginal Mesh surgeires, we're working more and more with Men.  Fathers and Husbands who are faced with their own struggles and pain associated with this terrible medical process."
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The Vaginal Mesh Helpline, Vaginalmeshhelpline.com is a support resource for women with vaginal mesh complications and their husbands. They can be reached at 1 888 522-2123

Survey Finds Vehicle Owners Trust Their Car Repair Shop

Found on www.autoguide,com/index.html/ and brought to you by Car Repair Salinas

22/12/2011 | By: Amy Tokic

 

When drivers find a car repair shop they like, they stick with it… and that’s because they trust the mechanics will do a good job. A recent study finds that about 50 percent of people completely trust their garage to fix their cars.

The survey, which was conducted by the Consumer Reports National Research Center, sheds some interesting light on car owners, who are now keeping their vehicles for an average of nine years. That means that if drivers want to keep their cars on the road longer, they need to find a trustworthy garage to carry out repairs. Of those questioned for this sutdy, 77 percent said they take their car to a garage to keep it maintained. Of those shops, 37 percent of respondent prefer small, independent shop, 30 percent go to dealerships and 11 percent take their car to get serviced at a brand-name repair chain.

Women, older drivers and more affluent households are much more trusting when it comes to a garage fixing their car, with 91 percent saying they trust their repair shop. When it came to authorizing whatever work the shop recommended to repair their vehicle, 73 percent of those polled had no worries giving mechanics the go ahead. And to finish off this feel-good survey, 83 percent of said they are confident they’ll get the right repair work done for the right price.

Do you have a preferred car repair shop you visit on a regular basis? Do you trust them with your car or do you go to them because you haven’t found any garage more trustworthy? Let us know in the comments section below.

[Source: Consumer Reports]

Understanding Your Rights to Workers’ Compensation

Found on www.prlog.org/ and brought to you by Lawyer Salinas

Thousands of Americans receive injuries while on the job each and every year. In the majority of injury cases, serious injuries or even wrongful deaths allow for the worker or their family to pursue workers’ compensation benefits.

 

Dec 08, 2011 -
The American worker is in a unique situation compared to some workers in other countries due to the great number of hours they work and the lack of vacation time taken away from their jobs. The truth is Americans work long hours with little time off for recreation. Due to the vast number of hours Americans spend working every day, accidents are bound to occur during the course of one’s work.

The Federal Government recognized the need for establishing a workers’ compensation program which would cover civilian employees in the event that they were injured enough that they could not return to work, whether it is on a temporary or permanent basis. In 1908 an act was passed to provide benefits for workers who were involved in hazardous work. By 1921, laws were passed in all states with the exception of 6 states and the District of Columbia.

Today, all 50 states, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, and the U.S. Virgin Islands abide by workers’ compensation laws. What’s more, in 1927 the Longshore and Harbor Workers’ Compensation Act was enacted to cover longshore and harbor workers throughout the United States and this program is administered by the Federal Government.

By 2008, more than 130 million employees were covered by state and federal workers’ compensation laws, amounting to $5.2 trillion dollars in wages paid out to covered workers. Benefits may be temporary or permanent and they can be paid to the injured worker or to his or her surviving family members in the event of a wrongful death. Typical benefits covered include: temporary total disability, temporary partial disability, permanent total disability, permanent partial disability, medical benefits, and death benefits.

Although most employers are required to carry workers’ compensation insurance, there are exceptions to the rule. Exceptions would include those that are employed as domestic servants such as a nanny or housekeeper, casual labor such as when one hires a handyman to make a small repair in their home, agricultural workers, smaller businesses, religious groups, nonprofit employees and charitable organizations.
According to the U.S. Social Security Administration, in 2008, medical benefits accounted for $29 billion dollars, and wage loss compensation accounted for $28.5 billion, this figure includes the $526.2 million in benefits for the Black Lung program.

If you have been injured during the course of your work, it is crucial that you understand your rights to compensation. There is a specific protocol that you are supposed to follow in order to receive the benefits that you are entitled to. At Busch Law Offices, we represent the injured workers of Colorado as well as the surviving family members who have lost their loved ones in a wrongful death accident or to occupational disease. We invite you to contact a member of our legal team where you can learn more about your legal rights as well as your rights to compensation.

Visit the firm's website at http://www.lovelandworkerscompensation.com.
# # #

At the Busch Law Offices, we are a Loveland, CO workers’ compensation and social security law firm. Over the years we have represented countless injured workers throughout the state of Colorado obtain the workers compensation and social security benefits that they were entitled to. We understand how stressful it is to be injured and still trying to care for your family. When employers make an attempt to dispute the merits of a workers’ compensation case, or when an insurance company denies a claim, we are fully prepared to represent our client through the appeals process. In every case we take on, we fight aggressively on behalf of our clients so they can get the compensation that they truly deserve. To learn more, contact a Loveland workers’ compensation attorney at our firm by calling (877) 435-1514 or visit the firm's website at http://www.lovelandworkerscompensation.com.

Electric vehicles carry unfamiliar challenges for drivers and mechanics

Found on www.sacbee.com/ and brought to you by Car Repair Salinas

By Mark Glover
mglover@sacbee.com

Published: Sunday, Dec. 11, 2011 - 12:00 am | Page 1D

Last Modified: Sunday, Dec. 11, 2011 - 3:08 pm

Those electric vehicles popping up in driveways all over California look a lot like their gas-powered cousins. But under the hood, they're different machines, and their potential problems are foreign to many drivers and mechanics alike.

Any suggestion that they might be more dangerous – true or not – could stop sales cold, analysts say. That's why the industry shuddered last month when the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration opened an investigation into the Chevrolet Volt's lithium-ion battery pack.

NHTSA said two Volt batteries caught fire after crash simulations – one three weeks after the crash, the other a week later.

A nationwide survey by Bandon, Ore.-based CNW Research showed a sharp decline in consumer consideration of the Volt in the aftermath of the NHTSA investigation, even though Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood said the Volt is safe to drive.

General Motors took the unusual step of offering free loaner cars to concerned Volt owners during the probe. It was characterized as a goodwill gesture, not an admission of safety concerns. GM says it has had few takers.

GM insists that the Volt – which the automaker spent millions of dollars and years to develop – is solid, wave-of-the-future technology … not unlike early internal combustion engine-powered cars that went through some growing pains.

"This technology should inspire confidence and pride, not raise any concern or doubt," said Mark Reuss, president of GM North America.

Auto industry analysts say the attention given the Volt – which can be charged via a plug in a standard electrical outlet, then driven longer distances with a gas engine replenishing the battery – is indicative of the high stakes in the evolving electric vehicle, or EV, industry.

Billions of development dollars are on the line, not to mention the jobs that go with building and servicing EV systems.

In California, the nation's No. 1 market for sales of hybrids and EVs, the stakes are potentially huge.

Jesse Toprak, an analyst for the Santa Monica-based TrueCar.com, noted California's "sheer numbers" of people, along with its "concentration of early adopters in terms of technology and environmentally friendly purchasers."

A report released last week by San Francisco-based nonprofit Next 10 said California attracted global investments totaling $467 million in electric vehicle-related sectors in the first half of this year. In all of 2010, investments totaled $840 million.

From 1995 to 2010, Next 10 said, electric vehicle industry jobs in California went from 740 to 1,800. That growth is expected to continue. Next 10's study showed California and Michigan in a tie for EV technology patents, both generating 300 from 2008-10.

The report flatly states: "California is leading the nation in the growing electric vehicle industry."

Sacramento is singled out for this statistic: With 65 EV charging stations, the area tops all California regions in the ratio of charging stations, 27.9 per 1 million people.

Little wonder that post-crash test fires in the Volt have created waves.

TrueCar analyst Toprak noted that GM took a long time to bring the Volt to market, working to perfect the complex battery, a primary source of heat generation. He said perception sometimes trumps reality in new technology, and the spotlight on the Volt could upset future GM plans.

If GM "can replicate the (Volt) technology into different categories of vehicles, including SUVs and trucks, that will be a game-changer," he said.

Mechanics needed

Dave Barthmuss, a GM spokesman who specializes in California environment/energy issues, believes the public ultimately will sort out and understand EV technology, just as it did for decades with gas-fueled cars.

"It is evolving," he said. "You can have a gasoline vehicle that can pose just as many challenges if faced with the right circumstances. The Volt is safe. I wouldn't hesitate to put my children in it. …

"Because (EVs) are an evolving technology, we have to be as responsive as we can be to all problems and public concerns. … Public education is a process that's likely going to take multiple years."

A generation ago, onboard battery packs were not on consumers' radar. That began to change in 2000, with the introduction of the Toyota Prius gas-electric hybrid sedan.

Now, a host of hybrids are on the U.S. market. The next wave in the evolutionary process is all-electric drive systems.

Current electric models include the Nissan Leaf, a five-door hatchback that can go about 100 miles per charge; the Tesla Roadster, a high-performance luxury electric convertible; and the Fisker Karma, a plug-in hybrid capable of 125 miles per hour.

More electric vehicles are in the pipeline as public and government pressure grows to ease foreign oil dependence, decrease household gasoline bills and reduce greenhouse gas emissions.

Rising EV numbers have created challenges in the vehicle repair/service industry.

"It's a huge challenge," said Doug Brauner, the "Car Czar" TV/radio host who's also a certified mechanic and runs auto shops in Sacramento and Citrus Heights. "We're just now after all of these years seeing an acceptable number of techs that have the appropriate amount of hybrid training."

When it comes to fully electric vehicles, he said, "I have yet to see anybody in this marketplace who has received appropriate and reasonable training."

Brauner said the auto service industry was "slow to react to hybrid training. I hope our industry is a little more proactive" with EVs.

Don't do it yourself

Analysts said consumers pondering the purchase of an electric vehicle will need to be more proactive in asking questions at dealerships. Kicking tires and raising the hood won't cut it.

A buyers' checklist should include: What is the warranty on the battery? How much does it cost to replace key electric system components? Are all or some of those components under warranty? Do I need a 240-volt charger? Do you have a number to call if the car just stops on the roadway? What happens if I accidentally detach the plug from the vehicle? Should the vehicle be moved if something like that happens?

Brauner recommends that prospective electric vehicle buyers get online and tap into the ocean of information available on the latest EVs.

The Sacramento Municipal Utility District, a pioneer in electric vehicle use locally, recently launched an online link to help EV buyers. At www.smud.org, clicking the "environment" tab brings up information on battery charging, vehicle range and rebates.

Brauner and other local mechanics agreed on one other break with the past: EV owners should never grab a wrench and start tinkering with the electronic components of their car.

"I don't want to scare anybody, but you could kill yourself doing the wrong thing," Brauner said. "Yes, that's unlikely, but I can tell you I'm careful when I get under the hood of an electric.

"If you wouldn't take the back off your TV, then don't delve into your electric car."

 

Read more: http://www.sacbee.com/2011/12/11/4112839/electric-vehicles-carry-unfamiliar.html#ixzz1gL1dIvSi

Learn from the Misfortunes of Copper Mining Heiress’s Fortune

Found on www.prlog.org/ and brought to you by Lawyer Salinas

Huguette Clark, the daughter of William Andrews Clark, Sr. an American politician and entrepreneur of New York’s Gilded Age, died with an estate of $400 million. Two wills executed within six weeks have appeared.

Nov 29, 2011 - Six years ago Ms. Clark prepared her Will and distributed her fortune to 21 relatives. Six weeks later Ms. Clark executed a second will. This Will gave $34 million to Ms. Clark’s nurse, $500,000 to her attorney, $500,000 to her accountant and the remainder of her estate going to charity.

Not surprisingly, the first Will has recently came to surface by her disinherited relatives who are crying foul. Years of litigation most likely lie ahead between the beneficiaries of the first Will and the beneficiaries of the second Will.

Another situation has surfaced, during the last 15 years of her life Ms. Clark was cared by her nurse, attorney and accountant. During this period her living expenses were $1 million dollars per month. Again not surprisingly, these expenditures are being questioned and an accounting has been ordered by the court and an investigation started by the local district attorney’s office.

Two lessons are to be learned from Huguette Clark’s estate plan. First, freeze your will and estate plan while still of sound mind. Second, protect your person for when you are not of sound mind or body.

First lesson: freeze your estate plan
Incapacity does not happen overnight unless there has been a serious injury. Forgetfulness, mood swings and irrational decision making happen on occasion throughout one’s lifetime. But when it becomes standard behavior it becomes incapacity.

Unfortunately, just when one is of unsound mind is not always clear or it is identified too late. Assets disappear and conflicting documents are prepared. Many times these changes are not the intent of the elder but the intent of someone else. In California this most often is called undue influence. Undue influence requires three events at the time of the Will or Trust execution.

The first requirement is the existence of a confidential or fiduciary relationship between the testator and the person alleged to have exerted undue influence. In Ms. Clark’s case, her nurse, attorney and accountant were primary care givers. Each had a confidential or fiduciary relationship.

The second requirement is an undue benefit to the confident, fiduciary or another person under the Will or Trust. $34 million to the nurse, $500,000 to the attorney, and $500,000 to the accountant would meet the undue benefit requirement.

The last requirement is active participation by the confident or fiduciary in preparation or execution of the Will or Trust. Did the nurse urge Ms. Clark to make the change?  What was the involvement of the attorney and accountant?

It is not unusual for a person to want to give more money to the person who provided love and care in the elder years. The attorney most certainly had to be aware of the risk. It is not unreasonable to assume he went through great steps to guard against charges of undue influence such as retaining independent counsel to prepare the documents and engaging a doctor to test Ms. Clark’s capacity.

But the situation immediately completes two of the three prongs of undue influence, that of a confidential or fiduciary relationship and an unequal benefit. As a result litigation turns on the element of active participation.

This is why it is important to freeze the estate plan while one is of sound mind, usually around retirement age. Then the active participation is not an issue and the Will remains valid.

Second Lesson: protect your person for when you are not of sound mind or body

One million dollars each month was spent for Ms. Clark’s care. Hopefully she received quality care and most likely did. But it is also likely not all that money was used for the benefit of Ms. Clark and was diverted for someone else’s benefit. When a person has $400 million having enough money for care is not an issue. But for the vast majority of Americans any diversion of funds can leave the elder in poverty.

While in sound mind take action.  Identify at least two individuals who are one generation younger.  Do not select brothers, sisters or friends of the same age. Most likely they will have sound mind and body problems around the same time as you.
Name these younger individuals as attorneys-in-

fact in a springing power of attorney. The springing part comes from the fact the power of attorney only becomes effective upon incapacity. The incapacity is proven by a doctor declaration.

The power of attorney authorizes the named individuals to act on your behalf in all financial matters. Naturally you want to select trust worthy individuals. So during the holiday season when family and friends get together begin to assess and engage your younger friends and family members for their help in the future.

The two lessons to be learned from Ms. Clark are freeze your estate plan while of sound mind and protect your person for when you are not of sound mind.

http://www.bidwelllaw.com

# # #

Legal representation in probate courts in Southern California, the preparation of living trust and estate plans and corporate counsel to small business owners

When Your Parked Car is at Fault

Found on www.foxbusiness.com/ and brought to to you by Car Reapair Salinas

Written by Karen Aho

Published December 02, 2011 

CarInsurance.com

Bad drivers usually get what's coming to them: tickets, fender-benders, higher car insurance rates.

But what about bad parkers?

The driver who scrapes an inconsiderately or illegally parked car usually curses it, then takes the blame because he was moving and the parked car wasn't.

So it may come as a surprise to you--and even to some police officers--that a poorly parked car can be held liable, either by an auto insurance company or in a court of law.

"Absolutely," says Glenn Greenberg, a spokesman for Liberty Mutual. "Just because the vehicle is parked doesn't absolve it in 100% of cases from any liability in the accident."

Situations vary so widely that it's difficult to provide blanket at-fault rules, particularly given the added variability of state and local laws. But to get a general idea of when, or if, the driver of a parked car may have to pony up some responsibility, consider these two scenarios:

• A public parking lot is full, and a large van has pulled to the side of the lot's exit lane to park. A driver leaving the lot - his eyes tuned to cross traffic - scrapes the side of the van as he turns onto the street. Clearly, the van should not have been parked there. So is the van's driver partly to blame for the accident?
• A driver pulls to the side of a rural roadway to make a phone call. The speed limit is 50 mph, and the road lacks a wide shoulder. The car extends slightly into the driving lane just past a curve. Another car comes around the bend and, unable to stop or veer into oncoming traffic, hits the parked car from behind. Should the parked driver pay?

Is this parked car an inconvenience, or a hazard?

George P. Patterson, a lawyer with Sasscer, Clagett & Bucher in Maryland, has fielded his share of calls from drivers who believe they've been wronged by bad parkers.

One simple way to assess blame, he says, is to ask, "Was this parking violation creating an inconvenience or a safety hazard?"

If it's the former, as with the van in the parking lot, the driver certainly may be cited for illegal parking, but likely won't be held accountable for the accident. It is the responsibility of other drivers to make their way around the car, no matter how annoyed or distracted they may be.

"When you're driving your car and you can see it, it's really on you to avoid it," says Patterson.

The car parked along the bending highway, though, is clearly violating a no-parking rule that exists for safety reasons. In that situation, the parked driver's car insurance company may end up paying all or part of the damages.

Patterson currently represents a client involved in just such a case. His client was rounding a bend in the left lane of the Washington Beltway, a divided highway, and hit a tow truck parked partially in the lane of travel. His client was unable to swerve due to traffic in the neighboring lane.

"That's a situation where you have clear negligence on the part of the tow truck, and a situation where the driver couldn't have done anything," Patterson says.

Drivers have a duty to move their cars off the road to the best of their ability, particularly where other drivers would not expect to encounter a parked vehicle.

There's always an exception

Of course, in between the aforementioned scenarios lie many shades of gray.

What if a driver turns a corner in a residential neighborhood and strikes a construction worker's trailer? Is the trailer's owner to blame for parking at the corner and not putting up warning cones?

"It's always going to be very fact-specific," says Patterson.

It's also always worth a call to an auto insurance specialist, says Greenberg.

"If the facts reveal that the owner (of the parked car) did not exercise reasonable care and give drivers the ability to avoid it, we might consider pursuing some level of liability," Greenberg says.

And here's another scenario that should haunt any illegal, inconsiderate or other types of bad parkers: Say you've parked your SUV on a city block lined with parked cars, but pulled into an illegal spot that blocks the visibility of the car behind yours. That car then pulls out and into oncoming traffic, causing a crash.

Your car was parked, and it wasn't even hit. But you're not necessarily off the hook.

The person "can certainly collect from the person who pulled out in front of them, but they might also be able to collect from the driver of the parked car," Greenberg says.

How to file a parking-lot car insurance claim

Most car insurance companies won't require a police report for a minor parking lot accident, says CarInsurance.com consumer analyst Penny Gusner. She suggests calling anyway. "Many times the police will tell you to exchange information on your own. But you can tell the insurance company that you did call, but that the police didn't respond."

And if the cops do show up, you've got a police report that lays out the facts.

If police don't respond, Gusner says you should exchange names, contact information, license numbers and insurance companies and policy numbers. If there are witnesses, get their names and phone numbers as well. Take pictures, she says, even if you believe you were at fault. You don't want to be asked to repair damage you didn't cause.

If you hit an unoccupied car, most states require that you find the owner or leave a note so that he or she can contact you. Tell your own insurance company exactly what happened. Your car insurance liability coverage--the coverage you're required to buy--will pay for the other driver's car if you're determined to be at fault.

If another car hits yours but the driver fails to leave a note, your own collision coverage (assuming you carry it) would pay any auto insurance claims.

If another car hits yours and the other driver is at fault, his property damage liability coverage would repair your car.

If the facts are in dispute, exchange information and tell your own insurer your side rather than hashing it out in a parking lot. Let the adjusters settle it.

The original article can be found at CarInsurance.com:
The Parking-Lot Car Insurance Claim

Read more: http://www.foxbusiness.com/personal-finance/2011/12/01/when-your-parked-car-is-at-fault/#ixzz1fUhgx8K7

Debt Free Bankruptcy Attorney gives latest news on debt crisis

Found on www.prlog.org/ and brought to you by Lawyer Salinas

 

Nov 16, 2011 -
Orange County, California, November 16, 2011 – As the world watches in wonder if the Euro is going to collapse, the US economy continues to walk on eggshells. Recent unemployment numbers came out flat at 9.1% and foreclosure rates nationwide are back on the rise. Because of the economic calamity, DebtFreeBankruptcyAttorney.Com believes that now is the time to take a serious look at individual's personal financial problems. Credit card debt continues at all-time highs even though a recent report for the month of September showed a drop in credit card charges, but an increase in student loan and automobile loan debt. In today's economy, where jobs are scarce and interest rates are through the roof people are trying to cut down on charging. In a recent article on DebtFreeBankruptcyAttorney.Com, the topic of bankruptcy filing numbers was discussed and it showed that 2011 has gone flat or even dropped a little bit with the number of Americans filing for bankruptcy. As many other experts predict, DebtFreeBankruptcyAttorney agrees that this drop is the calm before the storm. Many other economists that have discussed this matter believe that many people aren't filing bankruptcy because they're just too broke to file. This is why DBFA thinks it's important to be proactive when it comes to financial matters and take the time to consult a bankruptcy attorney before the situation gets dire.

Today, DebtFreeBankruptcyAttorney.Com proudly announced the addition of a frequently asked bankruptcy question section on their website to help provide people interested in filing bankruptcy answers prior to making the decision to file. DebtFreeBankruptcyAttorney prides itself on keeping the latest and up-to-date information on the website. A few months back DBFA added a blog section to be interactive with the general public to discuss hot topics regarding bankruptcy filing. The blog section is updated daily including articles on current events impacting the financial world. Recently the folks at DebtFreeBankruptcyAttorney.Com have been monitoring the European debt crisis and how it will impact Americans if the Euro falls. This new feature on their website has gotten a lot of attention nationwide. The reason DebtFreeBankruptcyAttorney added this feature was to give average Americans an opportunity to hear about other people in financial distress. This is good for hurting people to hear the opinions and some important tips to help them make their decision about filing bankruptcy.

The goal of DBFA is to put as many people as possible on the road to becoming debt-free after filing bankruptcy by connecting them with a bankruptcy attorney. The employees of DebtFreeBankruptcyAttorney understand that Filing bankruptcy seems like it could be a stressful process. Many individuals feel that it is a last resort when they are facing debilitating financial circumstances. In many cases, if the individual can discuss their financial matters with a bankruptcy attorney sooner they could have prevented a lot of unnecessary damage. This is why the goal of DebtFreeBankruptcyAttorney.Com is to educate Americans while putting them in touch with an experienced bankruptcy attorney to evaluate their situation. They feel this is the key to empowering the individual for their future success. DebtFreeBankruptcyAttorney.Com has committed themselves to helping Americans regain their vision of the American dream and peace of mind for a debt free future.

About DebtFreeBankruptcyAttorney.Com
DebtFreeBankruptcyAttorney.Com believes that filing bankruptcy should not be a last resort when an individual is faced with debilitating debt. When facing unpayable debt an individual should immediately seek the advice of a bankruptcy attorney before the creditors take legal action. When it comes to financial matters, being proactive can save the debtor a lot of unnecessary stress. DebtFreeBankruptcyAttorney.Com was created using technology to help the debtor make an informed decision by educating them and putting them in touch with a bankruptcy attorney in their area. http://www.DebtFreeBankruptcyAttorney.Com has committed themselves to help consumers regain financial freedom and peace of mind for a debt-free future.

3-On Your Side: Best And Worst Auto Repair Shops

November 18, 2011 11:30 PM

Found on www.philadelphia.cbslocal.com/ and brought to you by Car Repair Salinas

 

PHILADELPHIA (CBS) – Do you wonder if you’re being taken for a ride every time you have your car serviced by a mechanic? After all, it’s not always easy determine the best auto repair shops from the worst. So 3 On Your Side Consumer Reporter Jim Donovan teamed up with the researchers at Consumers’ Checkbook Magazine so you can find quality help for under your hood.

When it comes to auto repairs, most mechanics aren’t created equal. “We rated 451 shops at Checkbook.org and found dramatic differences in these shops in terms of how good a job they do on these people’s cars,” says Robert Krughoff, President of Delaware Valley Consumers’ Checkbook, a nonprofit magazine dedicated to helping consumers find high quality, reasonably priced services.

Recently Consumers’ Checkbook asked their subscribers to evaluate their local auto repair shops. Among the questions asked of them says Krughoff, “Did they get it right on the first try so that the car was working right as soon as you got it back? Did they let you know what the cost would be in advance? Did they tell you what your options are?

Common complaints about auto mechanics include incorrect estimates, work not being done right, and shops performing unauthorized work. Checkbook also compared prices for some common repairs and found they could vary widely. For example the cost to replace the front brake pads and rotors on a 2004 Dodge Stratus ranged from $252 to $610.

Krughoff says, “It is strikingly true in the auto repair field that price has nothing to do with the quality of work to be done.” About ten percent of the shops surveyed received top ratings for quality and price. “Checkbook found and has consistently found that independent repair shops score better than dealers in terms of doing the job properly,” says Krughoff.

“We are confident in our pricing and our repair abilities, says Scott McKittrick. He’s the owner and operator of Bob Adams Auto Service in Lansdale, a shop that received Checkbooks’ top rating for quality and price. “We’re an old-style neighborhood shop, we have upgraded and updated obviously but we’re still part of the neighborhood and the community,” says McKittrick.

Checkbook suggests that you speak directly to the repair technician who will be working on your car and that you get either a written estimate in advance or write on the repair ticket that no work is to be done without your approval.

If you’ve been looking for a quality auto mechanic in your neighborhood and haven’t been successful, or if you want to see how your auto repair shop scored, 3 On Your Side wants to help. For the next week you can look at the full results of Checkbook’s survey online for free, that’s 451 auto repairs shops, organized by county. Just visit this link: http://www.checkbook.org/cbs3/autorepair/ and click “Go to Ratings of 451 Delaware Valley Area Auto Repair Shops”

Reported by Jim Donovan, CBS 3

Peter Senese and Carolyn Vlk Provide Tools To Parents At Risk Of International Child Abduction

Found on www.prlog.org/ and brought to you by Lawyer Salinas

 

Oct 28, 2011 -
Peter Thomas Senese and Carolyn Ann Vlk are child abduction prevention advocates who have spent endless resources researching issues related to international parental child abduction (IPCA). Recently, the child advocates published the historic THE WORLD TURNED UPSIDE DOWN, a 330 page resource guide containing groundbreaking research and landmark findings on a diverse number of issues surrounding IPCA. At the core of the manifesto, the authors ask the questions, "How are our children being internationally abducted, and, what can we do to prevent this from happening?"

Reviewers, critics, and more importantly, the intended audience of "THE WORLD TURNED UPSIDE DOWN" - targeted parents of at-risk children and professionals and advocates who actively act to prevent abduction from occurring have praised Mr. Senese and Ms. Vlk's publication as a resource tool that has had a significant impact on the safety of many children.

Peter Thomas Senese commented, "THE WORLD TURNED UPSIDE DOWN" is the product of years of research and study into various issues of child abduction. Both Carolyn Vlk and I volunteer our time and resources to this important issue because it is our hope to stop as many child abductions as possible from occurring. Unfortunately, too many targeted children and many family law practitioners are not fully aware of the complex issues of international child abduction. So we decided to publish this extensive resource guide and make it free for everyone who needs it, while also using our finding to push for new state and federal laws and policy that will prevent international child abduction."

Written reviews of "THE WORLD TURNED UPSIDE DOWN" tell a story of two child advocates making a positive difference in the lives of many. For insight on the high-impact work of Mr. Senese and Ms. Vlk, please read the following reviews:

Written By: Joel S. Walter (Esquire and Renown Child Advocate)
The World Turned Upside Down is a must read for all parents! The authors, Peter Thomas Senese and Carolyn Vlk are leading advocates in the world of International Parental Child Abduction. Mr. Senese's work in this area is exemplary and impactful, and he and Ms. Vlk, author of Florida's Child Abduction Law, have both been successful 'chasing' parents, and they offer a detailed manual providing that which one needs to know if one's child is at risk ...The WORLD provides one with strategies by explaining the different laws and treaties that come into play regarding child abduction. Also, the authors provide the reader with those "risk factors" to watch for and methods to protect against a child's abduction with steps to take should the abduction actually occur.It is critical that any partner in a cross-cultural relationship pay attention to the risk factors which are detailed by the authors ...This clearly written resource guide will either help prevent an abduction or assist in the recovery of your child ... The authors have demonstrated their activism by uploading a full free copy of The World Turned Upside Down which is a HOME RUN! Kudos!

Written By:  Jill Jones-Soderman (Executive Director:'The Foundation For The Child Victims Of The Family Court')
We wish to note that Peter Thomas Senese and Carolyn Ann Vlk's THE WORLD TURNED UPSIDE DOWN  is filled with accurate, usable, effective information  dealing with that which is certainly one of the most horrifying experiences of a parent's life, the abduction of their child by a co-parent.In fact, it is in the authors' clear and thoughtful research on various issues concerning international parental child abduction that new and important light is shed on critical topics that ask the questions 'How are our children internationally kidnapped?' and 'What can we do to prevent this?' In answering these questions in various ways, Mr. Senese and Ms. Vlk continue to assess previously published statistics, research, and data, and analyze how this information was derived. What has become clear and certain is that the general public, the court's, lawmakers, and attorneys  know very little about international parental child abduction, and the widespread impact it has on society. Concrete material which galvanizes the strength of a stricken parent includes such material as the research report titled 'Crisis In America: International Parental Child Abduction Today' ...Truly, for the first time has there been a thorough analysis that provides the full view of abduction, while also dissecting and discarding previously inaccurate information based on faulty past studies ... Another brilliant component of THE WORLD TURNED UPSIDE DOWN is a section titled 'International Parental Child Abduction and Human Trafficking In The Western Hemisphere'. Here, the authors hit pay-dirt. In asking the question, 'How are our children abducted?', the authors are led toward studying the Western Hemisphere Travel Initiative (WHTI).  Under the WHTI, it has become clear how children are abducted. Specifically, the WHTI allows for children under the age of 16 traveling by land or by sea from the United States to present a photocopy of their citizenship papers such as a birth certificate!

As the authors point out, only the use of a passport at departure provides some control over possible abduction ... Peter Thomas Senese and Carolyn Ann Vlk have created a highly valuable manifesto on international parental child abduction prevention and recovery that is clearly geared toward two objectives. The first is obvious: to help other parents and children who are targets of abduction. The second objective is to create a highly informative and accurate resource for lawmakers, members of the judiciary, and child advocates alike, as the authors focus their actions toward changing, modifying, or implementing new law and policy at either a state or federal level ... THE WORLD TURNED UPSIDE DOWN  is a unique, outstanding, generous contribution unknown to date for its desire to help a huge public that has suffered immeasurably for lack of information as to how to proceed and who to trust in their quest to find a missing/lost child.  THE WORLD TURNED UPSIDE DOWN by is a true manifesto that every parent potentially at risk, that every family court lawyer, and every lawmaker interested in protecting our nation's children should read.

Written By: Rianna Pearson (Targeted Parent of at-risk children)
Undeniably, Peter Thomas Senese and Carolyn Vlk's `The World Turned Upside Down' is so much more than a brilliant resource guide selflessly created by two highly respected child abduction prevention advocates who have had an immensely impactful influence on a large and growing global community seeking to find effective remedies to this abusive crime against children. And I know this first-hand because I am a parent at risk who was able to protect my three children from abduction due in no small way because of Mr. Senese and Ms. Vlk's intervention and the knowledge they directly shared with me which is also contained in `The World Turned Upside Down'. The reality is my children were not abducted to a foreign country because of the information contained in `The World Turned Upside Down' and the extraordinary knowledge and actions of Peter Thomas Senese and Carolyn Vlk ... There are individuals who decide to act in the face of adversity in order to help others. In creating `The World Turned Upside Down', Peter Thomas Senese and Carolyn Vlk have not only acted and acted again, but the information they share will help many others throughout the world ... `The World Turned Upside Down' is a carefully written manifesto on how to stop a growing worldwide problem. As for Peter Thomas Senese and Carolyn Vlk, what can I say? I know if it was not for them, my children would be long gone. As I shared earlier in this review, "God bless both of you, and thank you so much for all you did for me and my children." Help other customers find the most helpful reviews.

10 Most Common Car Repairs

By Jeanine Skowronski | MainStreet.com – Tue, Oct 25, 2011 3:16 PM EDT

Found on www.autos.yahoo.com/ and brought to you by Car Repair Salinas

 

Anyone who’s ever had their own set of wheels knows that car repairs aren’t cheap. According to CarMD, which manufactures an automotive diagnostic tool and software for car repair and maintenance, the total average repair cost in the U.S. is $305.56, including $202.28 for parts and $103.27 for labor.

Art Jacobsen, CarMD’s vice president, says that while car manufacturers are building vehicles to last longer, cars have also become more difficult to repair.
 

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“Many built-in diagnostics systems are designed as a barrier to entry,” he says, explaining that car manufacturers are increasingly finding ways to monopolize business generated by repairs. He also points out that many of the most common repairs can easily be avoided if owners had paid attention to the preventive maintenance requirements, something this AAA survey from earlier this year showed owners didn’t always have the cash to do.

Using the numbers from CarMD, which are based on 170,000 vehicle repairs for which vehicle owners and technicians submitted details to the company’s diagnostic system compiled from 1996 to 2010, MainStreet breaks down the 10 most common car repairs and provides some insight into which can be avoided.

10. Removing Aftermarket Alarm

Percent of Fixes in 2010: 1.96%

Average Cost: $75.85

This is a repair car owners bring on themselves when they attempt to install after-market alarms (or other hands-free devices, car stereos, etc.) on their own.

“When owners add things to their vehicles, they tap into circuits for convenience,” Jacobsen explains. “But that takes power away from something else” and can potentially lead other systems to fail.

9. Replacing Intake Manifold Gaskets

Percent of Fixes in 2010: 2.05%

Average Cost: $326.74

Leaks in the intake manifold gasket, which prevent leakage of air or the mixture of air and fuel between metal engine parts, can also contribute to larger problems with a car’s fuel economy, emissions and engine performance.

8. Replacing Ignition Coils

Percent of Fixes in 2010: 2.58%

Average Cost: $213.16

Ignition coils essentially tell the spark plugs when to do their job, and ignoring a problem with them can do serious damage to your car’s entire ignition system. Determining whether or not there is problem with the ignition coil typically involves going through a diagnostic test.

7. Replacing Engine Coolant Temperature Sensor

Robert Couse-Baker | Flickr

Percent of Fixes in 2010: 2.65%

Average Cost: $132.62

Problems with the engine coolant temperature sensor, a sensor that does exactly what its name suggests, was actually only the ninth most common repair when CarMD analyzed its data over a 14-year timespan.

6. Replacing Exhaust Gas Recirculation valve

Percent of Fixes in 2010: 2.85%

Average Cost: $288.19

Problems with the exhaust gas recirculation valve, a part of the emissions system responsible for recirculating a portion of a car’s exhaust through the engine a second time, was actually the fourth leading cause of vehicle failure in a separate list compiled by CarMD.

5. Replacing Spark Plugs

makdune | Flickr

Percent of Fixes in 2010: 3.71%

Average Cost: $311.40

Another small part that can cause big problems is the spark plug, which is responsible for igniting fuel in the cylinders. According to CarMD, replacing a spark plug on your own can cost less than $10. However, because faulty spark plugs can reduce your gas mileage or melt your car’s significantly more expensive catalytic converter, having them replaced by a certified mechanic may actually be worth the added expense.

4. Replacing Mass Air Flow Sensor

Percent of Fixes in 2010: 4.36%

Average Cost: $376.69

Jacobsen says repairs to the mass air flow sensor, which measures the amount of air supplied to the engine and determines how much fuel should be delivered to it, also typically indicates a preventive maintenance issue.

“It stems from not replacing your air filters,” he says, estimating that doing so would cost around $25 compared to the $400 you’re likely to shell out for a new sensor.

3. Replacing Catalytic Converter

Percent of Fixes in 2010: 6.40%

Average Cost: $1,001.74

According to Jacobsen, the costliest repair in the top 10 should never have made the list to begin with. This is because catalytic converters, which are responsible for controlling a vehicle’s emission system, typically only fail when a smaller, related part – such as a spark plug or fuel injector – is ignored for too long.

“It’s a case where not taking care of something small leads to a big repair with a hefty price tag,” he says.

2. Loose Fuel Caps

gj_theWhite | Flickr

Percent of Fixes in 2010: 9.28%

Average Cost: 80 cents

A leading reason the pesky “check engine” light turns on, loose or missing gas caps cost very little to fix but can cause car owners tons of money if left unattended, since the problem can result in a 0.5% decrease in gas mileage.

CarMD estimates that lost, damaged or missing gas caps cause 147 million gallons of gas to evaporate every year.

1. Replacing Oxygen Sensor

Percent of Fixes in 2010: 9.43%

Average Cost: $238.71

According to Jacobsen, the oxygen sensor, which monitors the amount of unburned oxygen in the exhaust and tells the car’s computer when there is either too much or not enough gas in the tank, should really be a do-it-yourself repair.

However, he says, manufacturers have increasingly taken to strategically placing a special cover over the sensor that requires a special tool – conveniently on hand at most dealerships – to open.

“They make it much more difficult to get at,” Jacobsen says, and cost owners a few hundred dollars in the process.

DePuy ASR hip replacement recalled in U.S. five years after problems first detected in Australia

Found on www.prlog.org and brought to you by Lawyer Salinas

 

Oct 20, 2011 -
Despite knowledge that the DePuy ASR hip replacement systems were failing in Australian patients, the device was not pulled from the market until three years later.

According to the Sydney Morning Herald, Senate testimonies held in Australia last month revealed that patient complications surrounding the DePuy ASR were reported to the Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA), but nothing was done to prevent others from having the faulty device implanted. Similar to the Food and Drug Administration, or FDA, the Therapeutic Goods Administration is Australia’s regulatory agency for medical drugs and devices.

The head of Australia’s National Joint Replacement Registry, Professor Stephen Graves, testified at the hearing that he was concerned about the amount of time it took for the TGA to take action, after they were told by the Joint Registry that there was 50 percent higher rate in repeat surgery involving the DePuy ASR. Click to read the full Sydney Morning Herald article on the DePuy ASR hip recall.

Professor Graves also went on to mention that roughly 5,000 DePuy ASR patients have had to undergo revision surgeries. It is estimated that one out of every eight Australian patients with an ASR will have to undergo a revision surgery within five years of their original hip replacement.

It is hard to determine how many U.S. DePuy ASR patients will have to undergo revision surgeries, since a national joint registry is not yet in place, although there are plans in the making for creating one. (Click for more information ZKB Law’s coverage of a national joint registry for the United States). But what is troublesome is the fact that the DePuy ASR was recalled in America nearly two years after the recall in Australia, which also means that the American recall happened nearly five years after problems were first detected in the ASR.

If you need more information on the recalled device, or you are having complications from a DePuy ASR hip replacement, contact us toll-free at 888.841.9623 or via email at Michelle@toledolaw.com.
# # #

ZOLL, KRANZ & BORGESS, LLC is an advocate for pharmaceutical drug/device safety and a recognized leader in nationwide litigation involving defective medical drugs and devices, as well as other types of Multidistrict (“MDL”) & Class Action Litigation. Call us toll-free at 888.841.9623 for more information or visit our website, www.ToledoLaw.com.

Right to Repair Coalition Surpasses 100,000 Signatures in Drive to Place Pro-Consumer Question on 2012 Ballot

Oct. 19, 2011, 11:07 a.m. EDT

Found om www.marketwatch.com and brought to you by Car Rapair Salinas

 

BOSTON, Oct 19, 2011 (BUSINESS WIRE) -- The Right to Repair Coalition today announced that it has collected 106,658 voter signatures after just 19 days of effort, well exceeding the 68,911 required for the pro-consumer initiative to appear on the 2012 ballot. A groundswell of support and enthusiasm from Massachusetts consumers has driven this issue forward in what could be record time for a signature gathering effort to reach 100,000-plus.

According to the Right to Repair Coalition, the Right to Repair voter initiative would, for the first time, allow consumers to access all of the non-proprietary repair information required to have their vehicles repaired where they choose, at a new car dealership or an independent shop. The proposed law would level the playing field between the big car manufacturers' dealerships and independent, neighborhood repair facilities, allowing the latter to finally be able to access the same non-proprietary automobile diagnostic and repair information that is currently only available to the manufacturers' dealers and their new car dealerships.

"It's time that car owners have the right to get our vehicles repaired wherever we choose," said Jeff McLeod of Marshfield, one of the signers of the ballot petition. "The growing support for this issue shows how important it is for consumers, especially in a difficult economy."

The proposed Right to Repair law would keep vehicle repairs affordable for consumers by ensuring competition among repair facilities. By leveling the playing field and increasing consumer choice, Right to Repair can save families an average of $300-$500 each year, according to an industry study. A recently released AAA Financial Automotive Repair Survey highlighted that many car owners can't afford to pay for their repairs, thus, often forgoing having them done. This creates a safety hazard for themselves and others on the road. Right to Repair would help alleviate their financial burden by increasing competition and allowing motorists to choose the less expensive repair.

Support for the ballot question continues to grow across the state as more car owners recognize that this law would directly benefit them by making it easier to access repair information electronically, increasing their safety and convenience in obtaining affordable repairs.

In addition to the rapid signature gathering, the Right to Repair coalition's Facebook page continues to grow daily and now has over 10,000 supporters.

The Right to Repair Coalition includes consumer advocates like AAA and more than 2,000 independent repair shops, small businesses and retailers in communities across Massachusetts.

SOURCE: Right to Repair Coalition

For Right to Repair Coalition  Art Kinsman, 781-635-6912

FALDP Releases - "Modifying Florida Child Support - Second Edition" Self-help Legal Guide

Found at www.prlog.org and brought to you by Lawyer Salinas

Oct 07, 2011

 

In these uncertain economic times many parents are struggling to pay unaffordable child support payments;. It is common that child support is based on income from years past, when a parent's income was far more than it is today. And with Florida unemployment hovering around 10%, the burden of paying unaffordable child support payments is taking its toll on people who easily met their child support obligations before the economy went sour..

No one wants the children to go without. But we also must recognize that the payment must be fairly based on current financial information. Both parents must contribute to the support of their children. Florida has specific child support guidelines codified in the Florida Statutes governing how much each parent is to pay. Unfortunately, and all too often, the child support obligation is based on outdated or erroneous information which unfairly penalizes the absent/ noncustodial parent.

The Florida Association of Legal Document Preparers, (FALDP), http://www.faldp.org , exists to assist Florida consumers and Florida legal document preparers. This most recent addition to the FALDP Self-help Legal Guide Series - "Modifying Florida Child Support - Second Edition" - is designed to help Florida parents prepare their own documents to file in their local circuit court. The legal guidebook includes up to date sample Florida Supreme Court approved forms; author's comments; general form instructions;

line instructions; a helpful appendix; and a case progression checklist..

The new release is available on FALDP's site at http://www.faldp.org/how-to-guides.html . Workbook size paperback is only $31.49; and instant download ebook is only $19.99. If navigating from the home page of www.faldp.org choose the Navigation Button - Pro Se Guides. Or any of the titles may be ordered directly from www.lulu.com. Visit the author's spotlight for more informationhttp://www.lulu.com/spotlight/FALDP.

Other titles in the FALDP Self-help Guide Series are:
Florida Family Adoptions - Second Edition
Child Support Petition Answer Book
Answer to Civil Complaint & Summons
Simplified Dissolution of Marriage (Second Edition - Coming Soon)
Fundamentals of Florida Legal Document Preparation
FALDP Benefit Calendar - 2012

# # #

We are a growing group of legal document preparers concerned about citizen’s access to the legal system. We share legal information and seek to support consumer rights by helping to provide easy access to information and the legal system.

Car Tampering Scheme Targeting Women, Repair Shop Owners Say

Found on www.firstcoastnews.com/ and brought to you by Car Repair Salinas

11:12 AM, Oct 15, 2011

 

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. -- Recently, Jessica Wright was leaving the grocery store and ran into car trouble.

"My car was running fine the day before; I went to St. Augustine and it was running fine. I get back in my car, I was in there 20-25 minutes and my car wouldn't start," said Wright.

Wright said she was approached by a persistent good Samaritan who offered to repair her vehicle for a fee. But really, she was being targeted by a scam artist.

"This guy came up to me three times and kept trying to push himself on me, 'I'll help you, I'll help you'. I said 'no, my husband is a mechanic', " she said.

ON YOUR SIDE

Wright said when her husband inspected her car he discovered wires to the fuel system were disconnected. "I was like, 'there's no way it could have come apart?' He said, 'no, it snaps in there; someone had to undone it'," said Wright.

Mark Fleming, who runs BLC Automotive, said several of his customers were targets of the good Samaritan scheme; all were women. "In the last three weeks, there have been three customers that come in with the same complaint," he said.

Fleming said the incidents reported to him that all happened in public parking lots around the 103rd Street, Blanding Boulevard area.

The car tampering scheme works like this: The person slides under the vehicle, while the owner is in a store, and disables it, said Fleming.

"They just reach up and disconnect the fuel pump and your car is not going to start. They come back and talk to the customer; they obviously know what the problem is," he said.

Fleming said while they're knowledgeable and helpful, the goal of the car tampering scheme is to get you to pay them to fix a problem they created.

The message to consumers?

"Beware of anybody that approaches you if your car won't start and you haven't been having any problems," said Fleming.

"Get a license number if you can a good description and please call the police immediately."

Fleming encouraged his customers to file police reports, they have not.

There are good Samaritans, but if someone is trying to make unexpected repairs to your vehicle, that is a red flag that you may be the target of this car tampering scheme and it is time to call someone you trust.

 

 

Jail guide prison Listings makes world wide inmate search easier

Found on www.prlog.org/ and brought to you by Lawyer Salinas

 

Oct 07, 2011 - JailGuide.com announced today that they have successfully added well over 1100 worldwide prison listings. This comes after many requests for additional information to include inmate services found at most prison facilities.

Peter Maxwell of http://www.JailGuide.com describes the prison data collection process is very tedious and includes hundreds of hours of searching and cataloging from various web sites but also in the translation of that information into English.

Mr. Maxwell goes on to say "There is nothing more important than knowing where your family members are being held; and there is nothing more alarming than not knowing the basic contact information for that prison or jail. There are prisons in the world which do not provide (or barely provide) for their inmates; so the idea that an incarcerated family member may be in dire need of hygiene products, food care packs or even bedding and the "not knowing" how or where to send these items is of the utmost importance. Keeping hope alive is one of the best ways to help a person manage their time and you must keep them grounded to the community and the family they belong to."

That's what JailGuide.com does - they provide the information most people need when trying to contact a prisoner in a foreign or domestic prison. Jailguide.com received so many requests for additional countries it only made sense to go back into the database and start building new contacts. An obligation was born to help people connect with those in overseas prisons.

JailGuide.com and their sister site http://www.PrisonListing.com include over 5000 prisons world wide and more prison listings come in daily. The collected information is verified and then entered into the ever growing database.

Prison information includes the prison address, phone number, fax number, web site address (if applicable), visiting information, inmate count and information about the prison. JailGuide.com has their own researchers but also counts on family members of those incarcerated, former prisoners, guards and other prison staff to help continue to build a list of the world largest prison database so that no person is lost in the prison industrial complex.

The prisons included in this months upload include: Mexico prisons, Russia prisons, Hungary prisons, and several European countries. The JailGuide.com invite anyone to donate information about any prison which may not be in their database. They also invite prison officials the opportunity to correct any data that may need updating.

For more information or to find an inmate, visit the website at http://www.JailGuide.com

Jail guide prison Listings makes world wide inmate search easier

Found on www.prlog.org/ and broght to you by Lawyer Salinas

 

AAA Texas reminds motorists that cars need seasonal checkups to maintain safety and maximize operational efficiency. Regular maintenance can also help prevent unexpected repair costs in the future.

“No one wants to be stranded by a vehicle breakdown,” said AAA Texas Automotive Services Operations Manager, Cliff Upchurch. “Following the recommended maintenance schedule outlined in your vehicle’s owner’s manual will greatly decrease the chances of your vehicle letting you down.”

AAA recommends that motorists use a simple checklist to determine their vehicle’s fall and winter maintenance needs. Many of the items on the list can be inspected by a car owner in less than an hour, but others should be performed by a certified technician.

Motorists can identify reliable, high-quality repair facilities with certified technicians by looking for the AAA Approved Auto Repair sign. These facilities must meet and maintain high professional standards for customer service, technician training, tools, equipment, warranties and cleanliness. Nearby shops can be located at AAA.com/repair.

Car Care Checklist

Battery and Charging System – Have the battery and charging system tested by a trained technician. AAA members can request a visit from a AAA Mobile Battery Service technician who will test their battery and replace it on-site, if necessary. AAA Approved Auto Repair facilities can also test and replace weak batteries.

Battery Cables and Terminals – Make sure the battery terminals and cable ends are free from corrosion, and the connections are tight.

Drive Belts – Inspect the underside of accessory drive belts for cracks or fraying. Many newer multi-rib “serpentine” belts are made of materials that do not show obvious signs of wear; replace these belts at 60,000-mile intervals.

Engine Hoses – Inspect cooling system hoses for leaks, cracks or loose clamps. Also, squeeze the hoses and replace any that are brittle or excessively spongy feeling.

Tire Type and Tread –Replace any tire that has less than 3/32-inches of tread. Uneven tire wear can indicate alignment, wheel balance or suspension problems that must be addressed to prevent further tire damage.

Tire Pressure – Check tire inflation pressure more frequently in fall and winter. As the average temperature drops, so will tire pressures – typically by 1 PSI for every 10 degrees Fahrenheit. The proper tire pressure levels can be in the owner’s manual or on a sticker typically located on the driver’s side door jamb. Also, check the spare.

Air Filter – Check the engine air filter by holding it up to a 60-watt light bulb. If light can be seen through much of the filter, it is still clean enough to work effectively. However, if light is blocked by most of the filter, replace it.

Coolant Levels – Check the coolant level in the overflow tank when the engine is cold. If the level is low, add a 50/50 solution of coolant and water to maintain the necessary antifreeze capability. Test the antifreeze protection level with an inexpensive tester available at any auto parts store.

Lights – Check the operation of all headlights, taillights, brake lights, turn signals, emergency flashers, and back-up lights. Replace any burnt out bulbs.

Wiper Blades – The blades should completely clear the glass with each swipe. Replace any blade that leaves streaks or misses spots.

Washer Fluid – Fill the windshield washer fluid reservoir with a cleaning solution that has antifreeze components to prevent it from freezing during cold temperatures.

Brakes – If there is any indication of a brake problem, have the system inspected by a certified technician to ensure all components are in good working order.

Transmission, Brake and Power Steering Fluids – Check all fluids to ensure they are at or above the minimum safe levels.

AAA Texas also recommends motorists keep a stocked emergency kit in their vehicle. When motorists take their vehicles in for a check-up it’s a good time to double check the emergency kit for any expired items or needed replacement items.

The kit should include these items:

Flashlight with extra batteries

Window washer solvent

Cloth or roll of paper towels

Jumper cables

Extra clothing

Blankets

Warning devices (flares or triangles)

Drinking water

Non-perishable snacks for both human and pet passengers

First-aid kit

Basic toolkit (screwdrivers, pliers, adjustable wrench)

Mobile phone and car charger pre-programmed with rescue apps and important phone numbers including family and emergency services

Android and iPhone users can download AAA Roadside, a mobile smartphone app that lets motorists in roadside rescue situations to request help without making a phone call. The user simply enters the details of their situation and clicks an onscreen button. AAA Roadside then transmits the information, and the user’s location as established by the phone’s GPS technology, directly to AAA Roadside Assistance. The app also displays nearby AAA Approved Auto Repair locations so members can easily choose where to have their vehicle towed, if necessary.

AAA Membership is not required to download and use AAA apps, but is needed to take advantage of the associated member benefits such as roadside assistance and Show Your Card & Save discounts. For more information on AAA apps, visit AAA.com/Mobile.

 

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