2016

What Should You Know About Confidentiality Provisions In Personal Injury Settlements?

If you've recently been injured in an auto accident or other incident in which another party was clearly negligent and you have filed a lawsuit to recover financial damages, you may be entering the early stages of settlement negotiations with the other party or their insurance company. As a condition of settlement, many defendants and their insurance companies will require you to sign a confidentiality agreement that prevents you from openly discussing the amount of any settlement or even the fact that a settlement exists.

What Changes Were Recently Made To Oklahoma's Workers' Compensation Laws?

Even if you've never had the need to file a workers' compensation claim with your employer, you may have heard about the recent Oklahoma Supreme Court decision holding that the "opt-out" provision of the state's workers' compensation law was an unconstitutional violation of the equal protection rights and guarantees available to all state residents. This decision makes Oklahoma the 49th state to eliminate opt-out provisions in workers' compensation law, leaving only its southern neighbor – Texas – with the potential for private or self-insured workers' comp coverage.

Adult Child A First-Time Criminal Offender & Drug Addict? Pretrial Diversion May Be An Option

If your adult son or daughter is addicted to drugs and has been arrested for theft as a first-time offender, it's obvious that you are concerned about their future. They may be facing jail time as a drug addict, which obviously isn't a good scenario. Fortunately, a pretrial diversion may be an option, which is an alternative to traditional court proceedings and is offered in at least 44 states. Of course, since your adult child is in jail, he or she may ask you for help in locating and hiring an attorney for them.

4 Actions To Take Immediately After Being Notified Of A Complaint That Threatens Your Medical License

Becoming a doctor takes anywhere from 9 to 16 years of hard work, perseverance, and study, yet a single complaint about your conduct or care can threaten to end your entire career. Many doctors, nurses, and other medical professionals panic when they receive a notification of an investigation from their state's licensing board. Instead of panicking, call a trusted professional license attorney, then take these five actions to prepare for the challenges ahead.

Do You Have Few Marital Assets But Plenty of Debt? How Can You Ensure Your Divorce Settlement Remains Equitable?

Making the tough decision to file for divorce from your long-time spouse can be one of the most difficult transitions of your life— particularly if you're leaving a high-debt marriage and are concerned about your ability to rebuild your financial future on a single income. While many divorce how-tos focus on the equitable division of assets, dividing debt in a fair and efficient way is equally as important. Being saddled with marital debt can cause resentment and regret, and it may even impact your ability to remarry.

Bottoms Up! 3 Ways To Improve Your Chances Of Getting A Liquor License For A Restaurant

Getting a liquor license can really up your restaurant to a different ballgame, thanks to the fact that most adults enjoy ordering a glass of wine or a cocktail with their meal. To give you a better perspective, 70.7% of Americans ages 18 or older reported that they drank in the past year in 2013. Each state will have different requirements that need to be met before a liquor license can be issued.

What You Should Know About Presumed Speed Limits And How You Can Successfully Fight A Ticket

There are times when contesting a speeding ticket may be to your advantage; for example, if a conviction will result in the loss of your driving privileges or cancellation of insurance, then it is probably a good idea to fight a ticket in court. While there are a variety of defense strategies to use in a speeding ticket case, some individuals miss out on the big picture by not understanding their own state speeding laws.

Is Litigation Funding A Viable Option For Your Potential Lawsuit?

If you've been grievously wronged by a colleague or business associate, your first instinct may be to contact an attorney to discuss and evaluate your legal options. However, you may find a lawsuit to be a much costlier prospect than anticipated. When you're already reeling from the financial impact of a wrongful termination, stock devaluation, or other shady business decision, coming up with the funds to keep a litigator on retainer for the duration of your case could be out of the question.

3 Timing Differences With Chapter 7 Bankruptcy And Chapter 13

There are numerous reasons to file Chapter 7 bankruptcy instead of Chapter 13, and one of the key reasons is to get it over faster. Going through bankruptcy is not necessarily a fun process. It requires meeting with an attorney and going to bankruptcy court, but if you can file for Chapter 7, all of this will be over faster. Here are several things to understand about the timing differences with these two chapters of bankruptcy.