Author Archives: Blogger

Nearly everyone has some sort of social media account, and the majority of users post after big life moments, from exciting to startling. In the digital age, your social media posts, even the seemingly innocent, can be used as evidence in court. This is true in a case of any nature, but especially for personal injury cases.

Avoid posting anything about your case. This may seem to go without saying, but in an emotional moment, it is important to control your impulses, and your fingers, regarding leaking any information pertaining to your case on the internet. Information that could be potentially harmful to your case, and that you should not post on your social media accounts, include:
• Conversations with your lawyer
• Information about your medical treatment or diagnosis
• Disgruntles with the opposing party or your insurance company
• The exchange of contact with anyone involved in the case

Limit your location “check-ins,” photos posted, and photos friends tag you in. In a personal injury case, you and your attorney are working to convince the court that you are 1) injured and 2) experiencing a lesser quality of life because of it. Frequent posts about extreme sports or other physical activities, social events and parties, and regular trips out of the house could make it seem that you are living your life normally following an accident, not in a situation of pain, stress, and suffering.

While social media information is quite easy to obtain, even if your account is listed as private, in some cases insurance companies and other parties involved in the case may request to follow you or add you as a friend to obtain easier access to your posts and information. During your case, it is best to accept social media connections only from people you personally know well, and would want to see all your information. For more information contact a legal representative today to set up your 15 minute free consultation at 813-931-0840!

The current Flint water crisis has many Floridians thinking about their own water situations. It’s no new opinion that Florida’s water should be regulated, but the recent Florida SB 552, signed by Gov. Rick Scott, will likely stand in the way of those desired regulations.

The bill’s original intention was to clean up Florida’s water sources and protect aquifers. The legislative process mangled the bill to advance special interests, tie the hands of local water management districts, and potentially, leave the costs of pollution clean ups to taxpayers.

Former Florida senator and governor Bob Graham personally contacted Gov. Scott, urging him not to sign the bill. Graham said, “This bill leaves the people and businesses of Florida unprepared to meet the water challenges of the 21st century.”

Graham feels the bill does very little in the way of restricting water usage for the more than 19 million Florida residents and will not be effective in controlling the amount of pollutants that enter Florida water sources. Instead, the bill loosens pollution enforcement standards and gives large water users decades to meet their cleanup goals.

The bill will not only affect Florida’s people, but could have detrimental effects on the wildlife by interfering with clean up of the Everglades and Lake Okeechobee. Both of which have elevated phosphorus levels from many years of farming and urban runoff.

The flawed water policy, meant to “modernize” Florida’s water standards, will leave Florida citizens wanting more from their state legislators. For more information contact a legal representative today to set up your 15 minute free consultation at 813-931-0840!

Automobile accidents — They are one of the most critical issues that our country faces today, and to the surprise of many, distracted driving (which is preventable) is one of the leading causes in automobile accidents. In this new age of information, many people cannot rest from their phones or technology for the amount of time required for a morning commute, or refuse to pick up the call from their best friend that they haven’t spoken to in forever while on the road. These completely preventable causes contribute to many of the auto accidents on the road today, however they are not the only reason.

Here are 5 ways to help prevent auto accidents from occurring on the road:

1. Never operate a motor vehicle under the influence of drugs or alcohol. While this is a given, many people assume that simply because they “feel” fine, that they are okay to drive. If you have had any form of alcohol or drugs, not matter how much, DO NOT DRIVE.

2. Always follow the laws of the road. Do not drive over the speed limit, make illegal U-turns, or drive at speeds unsafe due to the weather or current conditions of the road. Yield and be a defensive driver while on the road.

3. Be rested. It is important to have had a night’s rest and plenty of sleep before you get on the road. You do not want to fall asleep at the wheel, ever.

4. Do not drive distracted. Children, grandparents, blasting music, your phone, GPS, anything can be a distraction if you let it. Your job is to focus on the road. Do not forget what your job as the driver is; to drive.

5. Check up on your car’s basic functions frequently. Try your brakes, test tire pressure, windshield wipers, check the oil, anything that potentially could endanger you on the road.

Remember, when you are driving, you are not just responsible for yourself. You are responsible for every passenger in your car. You are responsible for everyone on the road who’s lives you might endanger because of reckless driving. You are in a critical position when you get behind the wheel; one that could change lives in a matter of seconds. Never forget that fact.

The road is a dangerous place, but by practicing defensive driving techniques and being prepared, you can be better prepared for what you might face. Lives are always at stake, but you, the driver, is the only person who can help prevent automobile accidents.

By: Moneer Kheireddine

Hadopi is the national anti-piracy law for France, and this week in trending legal news we are covering the French Senate’s enhanced policies for the law. The senate is hoping to do away with ‘educational’ reprimands and is instead hoping to strike down piracy by enforcing a much stricter law. Since 2012 when elected president Francois Hollande swore to amend the law, nothing much has happened with Hadopi. However, in 2014 the government stripped Hadopi of its only real sanction which allowed them to suspended offender internet subscriptions after three offenses.

Since the stripping of the sanction, piracy within France has been on a huge rise and several reports are saying that it is at an all time high. But now, the Senate is bringing Hadopi back with twelve proposed measures to overhaul the law. Of the proposed measures, one includes systematically fining offenders only after two offenses while also skipping a court ruling. The fines would average at around one hundred euros.

The Senate is also attempting to launch an independent sanction commission who would be in charge of fines for offenders, and would also give 800,000 euros to Hadpoi. They would also handle the task of tracking IP-addresses, which is where most of the funding would go to. On top of this, they hope to create a blacklist of illicit websites within France.

Many are in favor of the changes to Hadpoi and are all for implementing stronger anti-piracy policies. Some groups, however, have voiced concern, stating that these laws would be infringing upon the citizens digital rights and give rise to more control for the government in the digital world. The country is now waiting to see how France’s culture minister Fleur Pellerin will respond and whether or not she is willing to follow the senate’s proposals.