Disclaimer: Blick Blog discusses topics regarding general legal information for the purposes of educating readers only and should not be construed to be formal legal advice nor the formation of a lawyer or attorney client relationship. Submitting a legal question or receipt of information on this forum does not create an attorney client relationship with attorney Michael C. Blickensderfer or Blick Law Firm. Attorney Michael C. Blickensderfer cannot guarantee a specific result in any legal matter. Also, this website and blog is not intended to solicit clients outside the State of Florida.

Blick Law Firm Works Closely with Tampa’s Chiropractic and Acupuncture Clinic

BLICK-LAW-FIRM, LAW, FLORIDA-LAW, TAMPA, FLORIDA, LAWYER, ATTORNEY, 10Blick Law Firm has become a staple of the Tampa community and strives to work with area businesses and medical professionals to provide their clients with the best local care and services.

The law firm, under direction of owner and principal attorney Michael C. Blickensderfer, provides a wide range of personal injury services, bankruptcy, criminal and DUI services, wills, simple divorces, real estate law, foreclosure defense, short sale, as well as title insurance services. After 28 years in the legal field and a long-time focus on personal injury litigation and claims, Mr. Blickensderfer and his staff have created strong relationships with Tampa’s medical community, to provide their clients with excellent and convenient care during a personal injury matter.

Dr. Mang’s Chiropractic and Acupuncture Clinic was established in Tampa in 1999, and has been providing preventative care, pain management, chiropractic, acupuncture, manual therapy, rehabilitation, physical therapy, personalized screening, and risk assessment services to Tampa and Central Florida patients ever since. The Chiropractic and Acupuncture Clinic is equipped with low level laser therapy, digital x-ray, decompression traction table, hydrotherapy, and full spinal rehabilitation facilities to help patients recover from the damaging effects of automobile accident injuries, personal injuries, or sports-related injuries.

Blick Law Firm recognizes and respects Dr. Mang’s mission to focus on patients’ health and well being above all else. In addition to dedication to patients’ recovery, Dr. Mang’s knowledgeable staff and state-of-the-art equipment create the perfect atmosphere for patients suffering from injury to recuperate and heal—all in the Tampa area!

Whether your personal injury is caused from a slip or fall, an auto accident, slip or fall, or other circumstance, Blick Law Firm and Dr. Mang’s Chiropractic and Acupuncture Clinic understand that your legal counsel and representation and medical assistance are of the utmost importance. Acting quickly in the case of accident-related, life-altering injuries improves your chances of healing and receiving the compensation you deserve.

If you have not taken action on your personal injury due to the fault of another or in an accident, call Blick Law Firm at 888-973-2776 or visit www.blicklawfirm.com for a free consultation today!

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Blick Law Firm Brings Legal Expertise and Christian Values to Tampa

BLICK-LAW-FIRM, LAW, FLORIDA-LAW, TAMPA, FLORIDA, LAWYER, ATTORNEY, 10Specializing in immigration, personal injury, criminal, and real estate law, Blick Law Firm proudly serves clients in the Bay area and across the entire state of Florida with their legal expertise.

Owner and principal lawyer Michael C. Blickensderfer has over 25 years of experience in Florida, New York, and New Jersey in a broad range of legal practice areas, including: criminal law, DUI/traffic law, real estate transactions, loan modifications, short sales, foreclosure defense, bankruptcy, title insurance, real estate litigation and personal injury. The law firm’s personal injury services cover auto accidents, motorcycle accidents, slips and falls, premises liability, dog bites, marine and aviation accidents, and wrongful death.

“We really go beyond being just a law firm, and try helping people in many areas of their lives,” Michael Blickensderfer said.

Though the legal and administrative teams at Blick Law Firm have years of experience serving clients with their professional experience, they also take great pride in their creating meaningful relationships with clients, providing Christian guidance, and giving advice to anyone in need. As a Christian attorney, Michael Blickensderfer and his team constantly work to uphold their motto—“Helping the hurting.”

“We truly feel that we are blessed to be positioned to help clients and people in various areas of need and trouble, servicing them not only with our legal services, but to provide them Christian counseling and guidance,” he said.

In addition to providing legal advice and Christian guidance, Blick Law Firm has created a reputation for providing exceptional service to its clients and visitors. The staff remains up-to-date on legal news and reform in their respective areas of practice to ensure clients receive the most accurate advice and informed service in the industry.

Known for being accommodating and understanding, Blick Law Firm invites clients to call the office or visit the firm’s Gunn Highway (Tampa) location anytime to speak one-on-one with a legal expert. If a client is unable to come into the office, due to injury or other limitation, the Blick Law Firm staff happily accommodates clients to serve them in the way that is most convenient for them.

“We welcome you here. If you have any questions or concerns, or need prayer, we’d love for you to visit our office,” said Viviane Blickensderfer, office manager. “Come in, have a cup of coffee with me, visit the office, and we’ll answer any of your questions.”

To learn more about Blick Law Firm, their services, and history, visit Blick Law Firm, and remain up-to-date with the firm’s news by following their social media accounts.

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The Importance of a Real Estate Attorney in a New Transaction

Buying or selling a home often involves a fair amount of stress, tons of decision-making, and dealing with several professionals—a real estate attorney should be one of them. The law of real property is unique and raises special issues of practice, which a real estate attorney is specially trained to handle.

Anyone entering a real estate transaction is expected to sign contracts, including but not limited to: brokerage contracts, formal sale contracts, and commitments for financing. The property title must also be searched before the property can officially be transferred from the seller to the buyer. Should anything go wrong with a contract or in the title transfer process, it would be extremely difficult for a buyer or seller without legal training to navigate the issue alone.

At the very least, a real estate attorney can help explain to the buyer or seller what the language in a contract means, and what the consequences will be if the contract is broken on either end. An attorney can then help revise any agreement that does not meet the desires of one party or the other.

Consulting a real estate attorney is especially helpful in signing the purchase agreement, which is often considered the single most important document in a real estate transaction. Though a standard form is usually presented to both parties, a lawyer can help explain the document and make changes and/or additions to reflect the needs of the buyer and seller. The standard nature of the form does not usually allow for all necessary questions to be addressed or answered, but an experienced real estate attorney will bring some of the following questions to the attention of the buyer and seller:

  • If there have been changes or additions to the property, were they made lawfully?
  • If the buyer has plans to change or add to the property, can they be made lawfully?
  • What happens if termites, asbestos, radon, lead-based paint, or other harmful elements are discovered upon a buyer-conducted property inspection?
  • What if the property is found to contain hazardous waste?
  • What are the legal consequences if the closing does not take place? What will happen to the down payment?

For the title search process, an attorney should review the title search, explain title exceptions, determine whether the legal description is accurate, and flesh out any problems with prior owners. A real estate attorney will discuss with the prospective buyer any issues that may arise with selling the property in the future, and counsel them on further action. The attorney can also provide insight on zoning violations, which are not covered in the title.

Seeking the help of a licensed, experienced real estate attorney is important in nearly every step of a real estate transaction, but the most common, and perhaps most important, reason a real estate attorney is usually hired, is to handle conflicting interests. While lenders and brokers can provide assistance, both want to see the sale go through. But, if each party has legal representation, they can rest assured that someone is looking out for their best interests throughout the buying or selling process. For more information regarding the importance of a Real Estate Attorney, [Click Here].

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Over 150 New Florida Laws Take Effect this Month

Of the 279 bills passed by Florida legislators three months ago, 161 went into effect on July 1. The laws cover a variety of issues, ranging from school choice to rape kit testing, tax cuts, and criminal punishment.

Below are some of the most important changes Florida will see from the new laws.

Budget: A new budget of $82.3 million was passed by a vote of 159-1. Important projects that will see a portion of that budget are school construction and Everglades restoration.

Tax Cuts: The two big cuts include are drop in property taxes and a three-day sales tax hiatus from August 5-7, aimed at helping back-to-school shoppers. Floridians will also see a permanent sales tax exemption for manufacturing equipment and machinery, and tax-reductions on pear cider and aviation fuel.

Bullying: Schools districts are now required to evaluate their anti-bullying and harassment policies every three years, and includes rules on dating violence and abuse in their discipline guidelines.

Crime and Punishment: The “10-20-Life” minimum sentence will no longer be required for Floridians convicted of aggravated assault or attempted aggravated assault.

Digital Assets: Guardians or trustees of estates will now have the same access to digital assets and electronic account information as they do to physical assets and financial accounts.

Festivals: Food contests or cook-offs lasting three days or less that are hosted by a school, church, religious organization, or nonprofit, will no longer be considered “public food service establishments,” and therefore will not be subject to licensing fees or government inspection.

Jury Duty: Floridians permanently incapable of caring for themselves can now provide a written statement from their healthcare provider to become permanently exempt from serving the courts.

Marriage: Clergy with religious objections are not required to marry same-sex couples.

Needle Exchange: In Miami-Dade county, home to the country’s highest rate of new HIV cases, the Miami-Dade Infectious Disease Elimination Act (IDEA) will help establish a new needle exchange program to stop the spread of HIV, AIDS, viral hepatitis, and other blood-borne diseases.

Outdoors: Fines for illegally killing, taking, or selling game or fur-bearing animals while committing burglary or trespass double to $500. It is now a third-degree felony to knowingly possess sea turtles, their eggs, or their nests.

Rape Kits: Rape kits must be delivered by law enforcement agencies to a state crime lab within 30 days of the start of an investigation. The lab must test the kits within 120 days.

BLICK-LAW-FIRM, LAW, FLORIDA-LAW, TAMPA, FLORIDA, LAWYER, ATTORNEY, 7Safety: Elevators in private residences must now comply with clearing requirements and be equipped with motion sensors.

School Choice: Students can transfer to any state school with available space; athletes are immediately eligible to play if they haven’t started practicing the same sport at their former school. Military children are immediately eligible as long as they haven’t been suspended or expelled from their previous school. For more information regarding new Florida laws, [Click Here].

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Law Change Protects Florida Patients From Balance Billing

BLICK-LAW-FIRM, LAW, FLORIDA-LAW, TAMPA, FLORIDA, LAWYER, ATTORNEY, 2Effective July 1, a change to Florida law will prohibit surprise medical bills for a larger network of consumers.

According to Attorney Eric D. Fader, of Day Pitney LLP in New York City, the law previously protected only consumers in health maintenance organizations (HMOs) from “balance billing.” The change will extend protection to members of preferred providers organizations (PPOs) and exclusive provider organizations, where a predetermined network is in place.

Balance billing refers to the bill a patient receives directly from their healthcare provider if the insurance plan does not cover the balance. The practice is common among “tag-along” providers, like anesthesiologists or radiologists, Fader said.

“This is kind of the flavor of the year for things in health care for consumers to be upset about, with some justification,” Fader said. “Someone goes into surgery—the hospital stay is covered by insurance; the surgeon is covered then you get a bill for $42,000 from the anesthesiologist or someone else.”

By enacting the change and providing protection to a greater number of consumers, Florida joins just a handful of other states with similar billing protection policies, including: New York, Connecticut, and Colorado. But, according to Fader, federal legislation regarding the issue of patient billing protection is certainly not out of the question. A legal movement in favor of patient billing protection would change how hospital and surgeons across the country use ancillary service providers.

“The hospital and surgeon are going to have to take responsibility for who they bring in, who they ask to assist,” Fader said. “For example, a surgical group may have preferred folks they like to work with. If those folks are in network, they might not have worried much if the ancillary providers were in the network.” Fader added, “Now this law will be putting pressure on everyone to be cognizant of such issues.”

In Florida, hospitals will be required to provide patients with information about service providers, if applicable. Insurance companies too will be subject to transparency requirements, making information about providers that are in- or out-of-network more readily available.

As for service providers that are not associated with an insurance network, Fader believes it will become increasingly more difficult to enter a network. “Providers were content to be out-of-network.

Now, there will be more of a push to become part of a network,” Fader explained.

BLICK-LAW-FIRM, LAW, FLORIDA-LAW, TAMPA, FLORIDA, LAWYER, ATTORNEY, 1Unlike New York’s billing protection law, Florida’s will not extend “balance billing” protection to patients without insurance. But, Fader believers a very large portion of Floridians will be protected from surprise bills. For more information regarding law changes, [Click Here].

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Fatal Alligator Attack at Disney World Orlando Could Mean Legal Trouble

Despite all the new activity at Orlando’s Walt Disney World, including the opening of a new attraction based on the popular animated film Frozen, one tragic incident has cast a dark cloud over the so-called “Happiest Place on Earth.”

After a toddler was snatched and killed by an alligator at the Orlando park, Walt Disney Co is facing a public relations crisis and a potential lawsuit.

“When people think of Disney they think of magic, the unbelievable, and everything is going to be fun. This incident flies in the face of that,” Sam Singer, a crisis communications consultant, said. Singer represented the San Francisco Zoo in 2007 when a teenage boy was killed by an escaped tiger.

The alligator attack occurred in mid-June, while Disney’s top officials were on the other side of the world for the launch of the long-awaited Shanghai theme park. Despite the distance, the company was quick to react to the Florida tragedy. Bob Iger, Disney Chief Executive, called the boy’s family as soon as he caught wind of the incident, and also made a public statement offering his condolences. George Kalogridis, Walt Disney World president, flew to Florida from Shanghai. A statement conveying Kaogridis’ sympathy was posted shortly after the accident occurred to the park’s official blog.

The toddler’s family made a public statement, saying they were “devastated” and thanking “local authorities and staff who worked tirelessly” to find the boy and the gator. Though the family has not announced that it will file a lawsuit, the very possibility complicates matters for Disney, especially in their responses to the tragedy. “The more they say, the more liability they could potentially create for themselves,” Singer said.

Jude Engelmayer, another crisis manager, said Disney is doing “all they can do at the moment.” On the company’s response, Engelmayer said, “They are low key, contrite and helpful.”

Several legal experts agree that Disney will be strongly inclined to quickly settle, should a lawsuit come about. One potential issue the company faces is the fact that no signs were posted in the beach area warning park-goers of the threat of alligators. Though Floridians know where gators most commonly lurk, Disney attracts visitors from all over the world, who aren’t familiar with that same knowledge.

“These people are from Nebraska and I can guarantee never once did they think they were in any type of danger letting their child wade in six inches of water,” Lou Pendas, an Orlando personal injury lawyer, said. Pendas has defended individuals incases against Disney in the past, but said he can only recall one other incident involving an alligator, which occurred over 30 years ago and was not fatal.

The rarity of alligator attacks at the park, Pendas emphasized, does not remove Disney’s burden of responsibility.

BLICK-LAW-FIRM, LAW-FIRM, FLORIDA, TAMPA-BAY, ATTOREY, CHRISTIAN-ATTOREY,8“This is unbelievably rare but could easily have been avoided by proper signage and perhaps building a retention wall to keep the alligators off the beach,” he said. “The law says you have to take appropriate steps to keep your invitees safe.”

A source close to the incident claimed Disney has plans to post alligator warning signs in the area of the attack. For more information regarding the Alligator Attack at Disney World, [Click Here].

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