Why Everyone Needs to do Estate Planning
Published in Estate Planning on November 7, 2016
No matter who you are, what assets you own, and who you want to be the beneficiaries of your estate, you need to do some estate planning. Some people don’t need much help to accomplish their objectives, while others need a lot of assistance in accomplishing theirs. The methods that are best for you will vary depending upon who you… READ MORE
Sole v. Joint Legal Custody
Published in Family Law on October 28, 2016
Custody has two parts: physical custody and legal custody. The term “physical custody” is the party of custody that parents most easily understand. Physical custody is concerned with the period of time which the child resides with or is under the care or supervision of a parent. The term “legal custody” is concerned with who has the decision-making rights, responsibilities… READ MORE
What Are Punitive Damages in a Personal Injury Case?
Published in Personal Injury on October 21, 2016
Normally in the State of Missouri, when you are injured by someone the amount that you can recover is limited to the amount that you were hurt. To make it overly simple, if you were in a car accident that was not your fault and broke your leg, the damages would generally be limited to your “out-of-pocket” losses: the medical… READ MORE
Samsung Battery Explosion – Is Your Device Safe?
Published in Products Liability on October 7, 2016
It seems like there’s been a lot of news lately about exploding batteries. First, it was hover boards, now it’s our cell phones. Samsung’s recently-released Note 7 has been recalled for – you guessed it – exploding batteries. Just yesterday, one exploded just before a Southwest Airlines flight taxied from the gate. Why Are These Batteries Exploding? Cell phones use… READ MORE
Workers Compensation Claims are not Personal Injury Claims
Published in Workers Compensation on September 29, 2016
When the various states passed workers compensation statutes, the legislatures intended to simplify the process by which employees are compensated for workplace injuries. In the typical personal injury case, a plaintiff must prove that the defendant acted negligently (or did something wrong) and caused the plaintiff damages. Workers compensation statutes generally remove the requirement that an employee prove that the… READ MORE
IF I WIN MY CASE WILL THE DEFENDANT PAY MY ATTORNEY FEES?
Published in Personal Injury,Uncategorized on March 21, 2016
One of the most frequent questions I get from my clients is whether the defendant in their lawsuit (or the insurance company who is paying the claim) can be forced to pay my clients’attorney fees. In almost all cases, the answer to that question is “no.” Most states follow the “American Rule,” which requires parties to pay their own fees… READ MORE
The Equal Custody Law Myth
Published in Family Law on March 3, 2016
The Equal Custody Law Myth Many people have heard that Missouri has passed an “equal custody” statute. But, is that really true? We need to separate the fact from the fiction about this new legislation. What many Missourians do not realize is that the language that actually became law is not the same language that they may have heard… READ MORE