Jones Brown Law Blog

A Houston physician and the owner of a pain management clinic were each sentenced to 420 months in prison today for their roles in running a pill mill that provided tens of thousands of unlawful prescriptions for millions of doses of opioids and other controlled substances. Assistant Attorney General Brian A. Benczkowski of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division, U.S. Attorney Ryan Patrick of the Southern District of Texas and Special Agent in Charge Will R. Glaspy of the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration’s (DEA) Houston Field Office made the announcement. Gazelle Craig D.O., 42,... Read More →

Reliant Rehabilitation Holdings to Pay $6.1M Settlement in Qui Tam Lawsuit Reliant Rehabilitation Holdings Inc. has recently agreed to pay $6.1million to settle a qui tam lawsuit that alleged the healthcare company had an illegal kickback arranged with certain nursing homes. According to the qui tam lawsuit, the company paid significant kickbacks to nursing homes in exchange for referring their residents to the company’s rehabilitation therapy services. Reliant is a nationwide rehabilitation therapy provider based in Plano Texas. The company agrees to pay the multi-million dollar... Read More →

Safeway Sued by EEOC for Disability Discrimination SEATTLE – Grocery store giant Safeway, Inc. violated federal law by refusing to accommodate and hire a qualified deaf applicant for various store jobs in Seattle, Wash., the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) charged in a lawsuit filed today. The EEOC said that Joel Sibert applied online in July 2017 for food, courtesy, produce and Starbucks clerk jobs at Safeway Store #1551 in Seattle’s Capitol Hill neighborhood. Based on his qualifications and experience working similar jobs, Sibert was selected for an... Read More →

Arlington TX. Police Release Body-cam Footage From Fatal Shooting of Oshae Terry Arlington, Texas police released body-camera footage from the fatal shooting of a man who drove away while an officer had his arm inside the window. Two officers had stopped an SUV to ask about an expired registration about 1:45 p.m. in the 2200 block of Califonia lane. According to police, one of the officers smelled marijuana and went back to the patrol car to run some checks while the other officer stayed near the passenger side of the vehicle. The officer by the SUV asked the driver, 24-year-old Oshae... Read More →

The crisis in the U.S. has shifted from opioids to the potent painkiller Fentanyl. As the White House and Congress continue to “investigate” the issue, the death toll is on the rise reaching more than 49,000 in 2017. That is an increase of nearly 7,000 over the previous year, itself a record-breaking year. It seems that the agent of death is no longer ordinary prescription painkillers. It is Fentanyl, a prescription drug that is being mixed with heroin and other street drugs. What does this new information mean? This new information calls for an equally drastic shift in the... Read More →

AUGUSTA, Ga. – A Golden Corral restaurant franchisee located in Augusta, Ga., violated federal law when it unlawfully fired a server with epilepsy, the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) charged in a lawsuit it filed today. According to the EEOC’s suit, B. Fehr, LLC, doing business as Golden Corral, terminated Alicea Cruce in May 2016 because it accused her of being unwilling or unable to control her disability. Discriminating against an employee due to a disability or perceived disability violates the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), which protects... Read More →

There are over 2 million Ford F-150 trucks in North America that have been recalled by the auto titan because of seat belt mechanisms that have the potential to start fires. Ford Motor Company said that it was aware of 17 reports in the United States where smoke or fires broke out, and another six in Canada, but said it didn’t know of any accidents or injuries that resulted. Ford blames the issue on the vehicle’s seat belt pretensioners, equipment designed to secure passengers in the event of an accident or crash by reducing the slack in seat belts. The equipment uses ... Read More →

Houston Psychiatrist Sentenced to More Than 12 Years in Prison for Role in $155 Million Medicare Fraud Scheme A Houston psychiatrist was sentenced to 150 months in prison for his role in a $155 million Medicare fraud scheme involving false and fraudulent claims for psychiatric services. Assistant Attorney General Brian A. Benczkowiski of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division, U.S. Attorney Ryan K. Patrick of the Southern District of Texas, Special Agent in Charge Perrye K. Turner of the FBI’s Houston Field Office, Special Agent in Charge C.J. Porter of the U.S. Department... Read More →

7 Dead In Horrible a New Mexico Head-on Semi-Truck and Greyhound Bus Crash New Mexico police officials are reporting the at least 7 people were killed in when a semi-truck crashed head-on with a nearly packed Greyhound bus. “We do expect that number to rise,” New Mexico Officer Ray Wilson said Thursday concerning the horrible accident. Witnesses say the there were dozens of passengers trying to crawl out of the windows of the bus while some bystanders walked among piles of debris carrying ladders. Most of the 49 people on the bus, including adults and children, were taken to... Read More →

Texas Police Officer Indicted of Shooting Jordan Edwards The verdict has been handed down and the former police officer who shot and killed 15-year -old Jordan Edwards has been indicted on a murder charge, a seemingly rare occurrence in a state and nation where criminal charges against police officers are almost nonexistent. Monday in Dallas, Texas County grand jury indicted a former Balch Springs officer on a murder charge in the shooting death of an unarmed black teenager. The indictment is a rarity in Texas and clearly illustrates the controversy surrounding the shooting since details... Read More →

Uber has agreed to pay 56 of it’s current and former employees about  $33,900 each, or $1.9 million, to settle their claims of gender discrimination, harassment, and hostile work environment. On Monday, lawyers for the plaintiffs filed paperwork in a Northern California district court that outlined how a $10 million settlement announced in April would be divided up. In addition to the $1.9 million, another $5.1 million will be divided among more than 480 workers, including the 56 who are receiving the other payouts. The lawsuit that was filed in April of 2017 by three Latina... Read More →

Employment Law and #MeToo Movement Lawsuits With the recent scandals and stories coming out of Hollywood, the nations eye has been pulled to the #MeToo into full focus. This focus has brought with it the empowering of assault victims to speak up publicly about their own experiences. This movement has not only made a significant impact on the lives of victims but has also led to a spike in employment law cases. Each day, more and more victims of workplace discrimination are coming forward and making their voices heard because they feel comfortable enough to do so, as well as take legal... Read More →

The US Center for Disease Control and Prevention has released preliminary data that shows that more than 72,000 Americans died due to drug overdoses in 2017, up nearly 7% from 2016. This preliminary death count from 2017 represents all 50 states and the District of Columbia and shows an increase of 2-fold in the past decade according to the CDC. The authors of the report say the 2017 numbers may be an underestimate due to states’ investigations into some overdose deaths may not be complete. Opioids, which include prescription painkillers along with heroin and other illegal synthetic... Read More →

It is that time of the year, all across the US kiddos get ready to get back in the swing of things as school is starting. For many of you, the kids are growing up fast and the morning ride on the school bus has been replaced by them driving to school on their own. Whether it be a cell phone or other passengers in the vehicle, there are many ways for your teen be distracted while driving. Jones Brown knows the impact that a deadly vehicle accident can have on a family. With that in mind here are 10 deadly mistakes teen drivers make when they are on the road. Before we begin we would like... Read More →

The U.S. Equal Opportunity Commission (EEOC) filed seven lawsuits this week against various employers across the country, charging them with harassment, and also announced a major resolution of a harassment, and also announced a major resolution of a harassment lawsuit. This multi-state action by the EEOC should reinforce to employers that the consequences of not preventing or stopping harassment, on all bases, is significant. “Workplace harassment causes serious harm to women and men in all kinds of jobs across the country,” said EEOC Acting Chair Victoria A. Lipnic. “These lawsuits... Read More →

EEOC Sues University of Wisconsin System for Age Discrimination Madison, Wisconsin – The University of Wisconsin  System violated federal law when it refused to hire a former longtime employee because of her age, the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) charged in a recently filed lawsuit. According to the EEOC’s lawsuit, Bambi Butzlaff Voss, who was 53 years old and subject to a layoff from her job as a marketing and Communications Specialist at the University of Wisconsin’s  Waukesha  campus, applied for six different positions with the University of... Read More →

Personal Injury Lawsuits and Ambulance Fee Compensation Following a major accident, it is not uncommon for an ambulance and EMTs to arrive at the scene and administer crucial, life-saving medical care. This, however, comes at a cost. Let’s take a moment to consider ambulance fees and how personal injury attorneys address these bills during a legal case. Ambulance and Emergency Response Costs: Yes, ambulance rides and emergency medical services can save lives, they can potentially break the bank. The average cost of an ambulance ride typically costs $900 to $1300. Emergency Medical... Read More →

Food Vendor Sued in Marine Lawsuit San Diego, Calif. – A lawsuit is being filed against the San Diego Marine Corps boot camp food provider after a former recruit fell ill, claiming an E. coli infection led to his discharge. Former marine recruit Vincent Grano, 19, is suing Sodexo, Inc., who provided food for the boot camp. Grano was one of 30 recruits who were hospitalized for E. coli after eating food prepared by Sodexo employees.   E. Coli Outbreak Leads to Complications As a result of the E. coli infection, Grano suffered from a complication called Hemolytic Uremic Syndrome. This... Read More →

Doggy Daycare Dust-Up Results in Death: Who is Responsible? We here at Jones Brown Law see a myriad of situations and complaints from people that need and want our help.  Unfortunately, the law rules all and we cannot help everyone that calls our office or walks through our door. Sometimes we have to be the bearers of bad news. With that in mind, here is a story that came through our doors. A prospective client reached out to us with a horrible story and asked if we could help. Apparently, the family in question had a family vacation planned and taking the entire family was not an option.... Read More →

Construction Zone Accident Attorney When Is the Department of Transportation or Construction Company Responsible? When you enter a construction zone, you likely have seen the signs to reduce speed or the orange “road work ahead” informing you that a construction zone is approaching. You, as a driver, have a responsibility to take necessary steps to keep construction workers safe. But, did you know that the workers and the companies that they work for have very strict guidelines they must follow to avoid construction zone accidents from occurring?  If you or a loved one has... Read More →

Indiana Family Sues After Duck Boat Accident A lawsuit filed on behalf of members of an Indiana family who died in the July 19th Branson Duck Boat accident seeks $100 million in damages, alleging that the tourist boat company failed to put passengers’ safety first. Branson Duck Boat Accident Lawsuit Nine members of an Indiana family drowned in the catastrophic Duck Boat accident, which had a total of 17 fatalities. The lawsuit, filed on behalf of the estates of Ervin Coleman, 76, and Maxwell Ly, 2, accuses the Duck Boat industry of “willful ignorance” and refers to the boats as “death... Read More →

What to Do After a Construction Accident Construction sites are dangerous places to work even though there are strict state and federal guidelines to prevent them. There are many things that can cause construction accident injuries such as scaffolding, welding forklifts, cranes, elevators, chemical explosions, tools, equipment trucks, tripping hazards, electricity / live wires, and more. And when an accident occurs there are many factors in construction accidents and injuries that determine who is liable for the injury. Often the cases get complicated as they involve lead contractors,... Read More →

Two IHOP Restaurants to Pay Nearly $1 Million to Settle EEOC Sexual Harassment Suit Jones Brown reports on a story out of Illinois: Two Southern Illinois International House of Pancakes (IHOP) franchises in Glen Carbon and Alton will pay $975,000 and furnish other relief to settle a systematic sexual harassment lawsuit that was filed by the United States Equal Employment Opportunity Commission  (EEOC). The EEOC sued on behalf of several female employees, some of which were teens at the time of their employment. An EEOC news release said that employees had suffered: “offensive sexual... Read More →

Police Won’t Press Charges in ‘Stand Your Ground’ Shooting Clearwater, FL – A gunman who shot and killed a man in a Florida parking lot last week will not face charges due to the state’s “stand your ground” law. The controversial Florida law states that a person has the right to shoot if they feel threatened. The victim’s girlfriend claims that the shooter provoked the situation. Victim’s Girlfriend Describes Shooting Britany Jacobs and her 5-year-old son witnessed as Michael Drejka shot Jacobs’ boyfriend, Markeis McGlockton, to death in a convenience store... Read More →

Sexual Assault on College Campuses With statistics on the rise and news stories covering incidents of sexual assault on America’s college campuses, many have concluded that rape on campus is a growing problem. Researchers have deemed the issue of sexual violence among college students an epidemic. Many universities have already taken steps to prevent sexual assault, but will it be enough? College Sexual Assault Statistics Statistics on rape are often difficult to obtain due to the sensitive nature of the subject. Just to provide an idea of what students are dealing with, here are some... Read More →

#MeToo movement is not just about helping victims in Hollywood. Justice was served in a New York federal courtroom recently as a jury awarded $425,000 to a woman who was fired from her job managing a Subway restaurant after she complained about the relentless sexual harassment she suffered at the hands of her supervisor. “I cried,” said Sherielee Figueroa after she heard the verdict. “I cried so hard and not because I wanted the money. It was more like I found justice. It made me feel complete.” The award was unusual in that there was $275,000 awarded in punitive... Read More →

How To File a Slip and Fall Personal Injury Claim Have you recently been involved in a slip and fall accident? If your accident was due to the negligence of the property owner or occupant, then you may be able to file a personal injury case against that owner or occupant. The medical bills that could be associated with such a fall could be in the thousands of dollars. When you consider there may be rehabilitation therapy involved as well as time off from work, the numbers could get real scary, real quick. Slip and Fall Personal Injury The owner or possessor of property has a... Read More →

MGM Resorts International, owner of the Mandalay Bay is arguing that the company is not responsible for the October 1, 2017, mass shooting that took place at the Route 91 Harvest festival in Las Vegas. The entertainment juggernaut has filed lawsuits against more than 1000 shooting victims in federal courts in both Nevada and California. MGM is asking a judge to dismiss and civil lawsuits filed against the company that is connected to the mass shooting of October 1, 2017.  MGM Resorts owns Mandalay Bay, Aria, Park MGM, The New York, Excaliber, Luxor, MGM Grand, Bellagio, The Mirage and... Read More →

How to Avoid the Leading Causes of Boating Accidents The middle of July is when everyone seems to hit the lake to cool off, which means lots of boat traffic – and sadly, more accidents. We’ve compiled the statistics you need to know about boating accidents and steps you can take to prevent them. Boating Accident Statistics According to reports by the U.S. Coast Guard, 2017 saw a 3.8% decrease in boating accidents from the previous year. There were a total of 4,291 accidents, resulting in 658 deaths, 2,629 injuries, and nearly $46 million in property damage. Here are some major boat... Read More →

Oklahoma Protective Order: What are the Requirements? Whether it is referred to as an EPO (Emergency Protective Order), a VPO (Victims Protective Order), or simply a PO (Protective Order), the theme and purpose are the same: court intervention to protect on an individual from another. There are certain criteria that must be met and shown prior to getting a VPO in Oklahoma. An Oklahoma Protective Order is, in fact, a public record that can easily be accessed by anyone including current or potential employers, family, friends as well as strangers. With that in mind, it is the responsibility... Read More →

$15 Million vs. $3 Million: Why Fatal Police Shooting Payouts Vary The chances of you opening your morning paper or logging onto your favorite news website and seeing a headline involving a police officer fatally shooting a person are now more prevalent than ever.  There are usually reasons for the shooting offered: The officer was afraid for his life. The victim was reaching for his wristband or refused to show their hands or follow the officer’s instructions. A glint or glare looked like a gun and the officer reacted with deadly force. But when a Chicago police officer, Robert... Read More →

Camber Corporation to Pay $100,000 in EEOC Lawsuit Camber Corporation has announced it will pay $100,000 to settle an age and disability discrimination lawsuit filed by U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) after it fired an employee for applying to transfer closer to his disabled son. The federal defense contractor will be paying Ashok Pai $100,000 after Pai was fired after he considered transferring to move closer to his disabled son. Pai’s son was left disabled after being seriously injured in a car accident over 25 years ago. The Camber employee requested to transfer... Read More →

Will my restraining order show up on a Criminal History Records Check? Can a restraining order prevent you from finding new employment? Does a temporary restraining order appear in background checks? What can I do?   We have the answers below Yes and no. It all depends on how intensive is the employer’s background check, your state’s policies and type of restraining order. In general, each state decides how to handle the publicity and all restraining orders meaning, the rules may alter depending on where you live. After reading this article, please be sure to check on... Read More →

Prevent a Pool or Drowning Accident Summer is all about fun in the sun, and whether you’re a kid or an adult, the swimming pool can be a great place to spend it. However, pool activities can easily turn dangerous in an instant. Seconds matter in a drowning accident and it’s important for you to know how to prevent one. Not-So-Childproof Pool Ladder Recently, a video of a toddler scaling a “childproof” pool ladder went viral, causing some parents to worry whether their pools were actually kid safe. Keith Wyman of Attleboro, Massachusetts filmed his two-year-old son, Cody, climbing their... Read More →

Have I Been Defamed Online – Defamation Attorney Not Sure If You Have Been Defamed Online? Want to know if you may have a case? Well, read below! “A lie can travel halfway around the world while the truth is putting on its shoes.” Mark Twain Before we start, here is a clear definition of Defamation or Slander: “the communication of a statement that makes a claim, expressly stated or implied to be factual, that may give an individual, business, product, group, government, or nation a negative image.” Generally speaking, there are two types of Internet defamation: libel... Read More →

Personal Injury Cases and Important Information You Should Know Before Filing Accidents can happen anytime Accidents can leave you or your loved ones seriously injured. Personal injury law holds people, businesses, and organizations responsible for your injury. The National Center for Health Statistics, a department within the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, has stated that around 31 million people are injured across our country each year that require medical treatment. Of these, some 2 million are severe enough to require some form of hospitalization. Additionally, 162,000 of... Read More →

How Do I know If My FMLA Rights Have Been Violated? The Family and Medical Leave Act or FMLA is a federal law that gives eligible employees the right to take time off for caretaking responsibilities and health problems without risking possible termination by their employers. If an employer refuses to acknowledge and accept their FMLA leave and/or terminates them because of the FMLA submission, the employee may sue in violation of the FMLA Act. According to the U.S Department of Labor, “The FMLA entitles eligible employees of covered employers to take unpaid, job-protected leave for... Read More →

What To Do if Written-Up at Work -Employment Law Help! My boss just wrote me up! What are my rights? What can I do? Don’t worry, we got you covered. Here is an intensive Guide to all your Write-Ups questions and concerns. Before we start, let us review two types of disciplinary warnings: Verbal Warnings and Written Write-ups. All forms of disciplinary warnings are unpleasant for both the employee and employer. Verbal Warnings:  A verbal warning is given by employers, supervisors or upper management to an employee to show that the employee’s behavior in the office is inappropriate or that... Read More →

Victim Protective Orders As an American citizen, you deserve the right to protect yourself or your child against dangerous individuals. You should not have to live in fear of potential and former abusers and harassers. One step you can take to prevent a potentially dangerous situation is to file a protective order. A victim protective order is a court-issued document that legally prohibits your abuser or stalker from contacting you or engaging in the unwanted conduct. Types of Protective Orders There are three types of protective orders which vary in how long they take effect. A... Read More →

EEOC Enforces Harassment Laws With Seven Filings Across the Nation The Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) has filed seven lawsuits across the nation against various employers charging them with harassment. This multi-state action taken by the EEOC should send a clear signal to all employers nationwide that harassment- on all basis- is a violation of federal law. “As the nation has seen over the past nine months, harassment at work can affect individuals for years in their careers and livelihoods,” said EEOC Acting Chair Victoria A. Lipnic. “There are many consequences that... Read More →

Diagnosed Schizophrenic Garrit Vos was shot by Newport Police It was around 8:40 p.m. when the Newport police shot an agitated outside of a local 7-Eleven store. Witnesses claimed Vos shouted that he wanted to be killed and was cursing at others with a pair of scissors. Several police officers and a canine unit arrived at the scene and was informed by the witnesses that Vos did not have a gun but a pair of scissors. It appeared that Vos was either under the influence of some kind of drug or suffered from a psychiatric disorder. One of the officers had a 40-millimeter less-lethal... Read More →

Women Working in Male Prisons Settle With Federal Government for $20 Million When Taronica White first checked in to her brand new job as a correctional officer at a maximum -security federal prison in Coleman, Florida she was greeted by her supervisor, a huge oversized jacket was thrown at her and the words “in this facility, females cover-up.” Taronica soon came to understand why females were to “cover-up.” She was the recipient of catcalls, sexual threats as well as seeing the inmates exposing themselves and masturbating in front of her. Taronica wrote up ten... Read More →

Feds Confess Liability for Death of Ignored Inmate In Alabama Jail   His name is Phillip Anderson, a 49-year-old Army veteran and a father who died in agony from a perforated ulcer while incarcerated in a jail in Alabama. Why was he locked up? He was arrested for missing a child-support hearing in 2013. Anderson was driving with one of his children when he encountered a roadblock. There the local officers discovered he had a warrant because of his child support case and arrested him. When Anderson was moved to the Tuscaloosa jail, he immediately began to vomit after his meal and was... Read More →

Semi-Truck Accident Statistics Size, speed, and stopping distance may make semi-trucks the most dangerous vehicles on the road. These factors make accidents more frequent and more serious among large trucks than in crashes between passenger vehicles. 2016 saw 3,986 fatalities caused by semi-truck accidents. Top causes of semi-truck accidents include: Defective Brakes Overloaded trucks Tire blowouts Driver fatigue Following too closely Careless lane changes Semi-Truck Injuries Injury crashes involving large trucks totaled 119,000 in 2016, with a total of 180,000 persons injured. Injuries... Read More →

Michigan Civil Rights Commission Bars LGBT Discrimination   Though same-sex marriage was legalized nationwide in 2015, it appears LGBT citizens that reside in Michigan may face legal challenges. How? Why? Well, officials claim that discrimination due to sexual orientation and gender identity is not truly covered by state law. The reality is while USA government has anti-discrimination legislation, there is no clear legal protection for all LGBT citizens nationwide which forces us to question how far do these laws actually extend? Is LGBT equally protected like any other citizen... Read More →

‘Black Lives Don’t Matter’ Says Lawyer After Jury Awards $4 in Police Killing “Heartbroken” is the feeling that a Florida family reports feeling after a  jury awards $4 in damages for funeral expenses and pain and suffering in a case that involves the fatal shooting of a father of three through his garage door by a St. Lucie County deputy, the family’s attorney said Thursday. Sheriff’s deputy Christopher Newman killed 30-year-old Gregory Hill Jr., in 2014 after a mother picking up her child at a school across the street called in a noise... Read More →

Purdue Pharma Accused of Knowingly Contributing to Opioid Epidemic A report by the Justice Department details Purdue Pharma’s awareness of the abuse of OxyContin, the company’s opioid painkiller, early on after its release on the market in 1996. The drug company had previously claimed to be unaware of OxyContin’s appeal to abusers until the early 2000s and even used the claim that the drug was less addictive than other opioid painkillers as its main selling point. The Justice Department report found: Sales representatives had referenced OxyContin’s abuse in their notes when recording... Read More →

Dollar General Settles Sexual Harassment Lawsuit for $70,000 Dolgencorp, LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of the retail chain Dollar General Corporation, will pay the amount of $70,000 as well as other relief to settle a sexual harassment lawsuit that was filed by the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC). According to the EEOC lawsuit, the store manager at the Red Banks, Mississippi location subjected a female sales associate to unwanted sexual laced comments, text messages, and gestures. Although other female sales associates had previously complained about the same manager, the... Read More →

NFL Announces Official Change in National Anthem Policy The NFL owners recently announced the adoption of a new national anthem policy that prohibits players and staff from kneeling. The 32 NFL teams are now able to fine players and personnel who refuse to stand during the anthem. The policy clearly states that all “shall stand and show respect for the flag and the Anthem”. To put it simply, the NFL now has the legal power to fine any personnel associated with any franchise no matter if on the field or sidelines, who refused to stand during the national anthem. The NFL can fine a team if... Read More →

Disability Discrimination A disability can make daily activities, let alone finding a job, difficult if not impossible. How well do you know your employment rights? After violating those of a job applicant in South Dakota, this company is paying $45,000 to settle.     M.G. Oil M.G. Oil, a South Dakota Company affiliated with Happy Jack’s Casino, will pay $45,000 to settle a disability discrimination case filed by the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC). The company was charged in 2016 of violating the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) by withdrawing an... Read More →

Tips to Help Speed Up Your Immigration Process Let’s face it: the citizenship process can take a while. However you received your green card, chances are that you will need to wait 3-5 years before becoming eligible to apply for American citizenship. Here are some important tips to ensure a smooth and quicker immigration process. Submit your complete application to USCIS and quickly do the necessarily fingerprinting and testing. If your immigration process is delayed, it may save you time to contact an immigration lawyer instead of waiting and fighting with USCIS customer support.... Read More →

Uber and its terms of service have come under fire during a recent CNN investigation. The rideshare company stated Tuesday that it will no longer force arbitration on passengers who allege that they have been sexually assaulted or harassed by drivers, something Uber says was previously required under its terms of service. As an alternative, Uber will now allow victims of sexual violence, including riders, employees, and drivers, to choose the venue in which they choose in order to pursue redress of their sexual harassment or assault claims, whether it be arbitration, mediation or in open... Read More →

When there is a trucking accident involving a semi-truck or tractor-trailer the end result is never a good thing.  The injuries and the loss of life for those involved in these trucking accidents are horrific but there is one type of crash that remains to be the most dangerous and potentially fatal, the side underride crash. These side underride crashes could be prevented with simply installed devices called side guards yet very few trucks in the United States have installed them. Why? Why are lawmakers and safety advocates not pushing to make these guards required thus preventing side... Read More →

In the last few years, ridesharing companies have brought innovation and change to the way that we get from here to there.  In the near future companies like Tesla may make it so A.I. will be driving us from point A to B, but for now, we have to rely on our fellow humans to do the driving, and with humans behind the wheel, you can count on there being Uber accidents and Lyft accidents. Whether you are a paying customer in an Uber or Lyft vehicle, an actual driver operating an Uber or Lyft, or even a pedestrian that has been struck by an Uber or Lfyt driver, you may be entitled t... Read More →

Dram Shop Rule Results in Jury Awarding $6.2 Million How many times have you been out for dinner or drinks and you notice that someone in the restaurant or bar has had too much alcohol? Think for a moment if that person were to leave and cause a motor vehicle accident that severely injures someone or even kills. Who is responsible? The Bartender? The restaurant? Let’s take a look at the idea of the “Dram Shop Rule”. Dram Shop Rule – n. a statute (Dram Shop Act) or case law in 38 states which makes a business which sells alcoholic drinks or a host who serves liquor... Read More →

A beautiful spring afternoon turns tragic for 16-year-old Kyle Plush when he was crushed inside his parent Honda Odyssey. Plush, a sophomore at Seven Hills School in Madisonville, Ohio was found by his father at 9:00 p.m. on April 10th. Investigators of Plush’s death noted that there were many moving parts to the circumstances leading to the death of Push, a series of events that went perfectly wrong. Hamilton County Coroner stated that Plush died of asphyxiation due to chest compression after the teen was pinned under a folding seat inside the Plush family’s Honda Odessey... Read More →

Can I Seal My Oklahoma Records? A young man called and expressed a concern he had about his Oklahoma arrest record and the possibility it could and would stop him from getting a new higher paying job that he had applied for. “Can you erase my record?”  he asked. “Do criminal records expire after a certain amount of time? Is there a statute of limitations or something?” The young man was excited to find out that yes, we could help him with his record in Oklahoma. The process is called expungement. If you have your Oklahoma record expunged, employers, landlords, and... Read More →

Raleigh, N. C. – PruittHealth – Raleigh, a Georgia corporation doing business as a nursing and rehabilitation center in Raleigh, violated federal law when it refused to accommodate the pregnancy-related work restriction of a certified nursing assistant and forced her to resign, the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission charged in a recently filed lawsuit. In the EEOC’s latest challenge, PruittHealth is accused of offering light duty or job modifications to injured CNA’s (Certified Nursing Assistant) but not to a pregnant worker limited to lifting 20 pounds. In... Read More →

Macy’s to Pay $75,000 to Settle EEOC Disability Discrimination Lawsuit CHICAGO – Macy’s will pay a former long-term employee the sum of $75,000 in order to settle a disability discrimination lawsuit filed by the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC). According to the EEOC, Letisha Moore had been working for Macy’s for nearly eight years but had to miss one day due to an asthma-related emergency.  Moore was treated in an emergency room and proceeded to call into work, then followed-up by providing Macy’s and her supervisor with proof of her ER visit.... Read More →

An issue that has been at the forefront of the national conversation is that of the LGBTQ community and all of the confusion that surrounds it. If asked, a lot of Oklahoman’s would tell you that this issue does not impact their state or the people in it when compared to people in California for instance. These people holding this belief would be wrong. The LGBTQ community is just as prevalent in Oklahoma as it is in California. People that are members of this community are being discriminated against and they are standing up and fighting for their rights under the law. In December... Read More →