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.

Immigration Reform 2015

By: Moneer Kheireddine

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The Affordable Care Act has been one of the most highly debated topics of the Obama administration, and has been constantly under surveillance by members of every coalition of men and women within America. The promise of free healthcare has sparked both parties into action, and it doesn’t seem to be dwindling any time soon. In recent news, this week President Barack Obama decided to touch upon immigration reform while speaking about the Affordable Care Act. A multitude of questions were asked about illegal immigrant healthcare rights under the act and what is available to them.

President Obama clearly stated, when asked about citizenship for undocumented immigrants, the president stated once more that the healthcare law does not make coverage available for people who are in the U.S. illegally. Under the law undocumented immigrants are not eligible for federal coverage, which also includes medicare and non-emergency medication. However, under federal law they could still access emergency care if needed.

These statements bring both concern and security to many within the United States. For the families of illegal immigrants, it gives a sense of security and safety in knowing that if they truly require emergency aid, they will be taken care of. However, by allowing illegal immigrants the safety of free emergency care, many feel as though this will incline immigrants to remain in America illegally and to not become official U.S. citizens. It will also cause taxpayers dollars to go towards paying for the healthcare of citizens who are not tax-paying employed legal citizens of the United States.

Thanks to the Supreme Court’s ruling last week, which solidified the President’s Affordable Care Act, the President has been continuously spreading awareness of his healthcare law, stating that it will benefit anywhere from one hundred to one hundred and fifty million American citizens. Thanks to the law you are now able to receive free preventive care, as well as reap many other benefits from the new law.

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Fireworks Safety | July 4th

Screen Shot 2015-07-03 at 11.30.27 PMBlick Law Firm wants to wish everyone a safe and blessed July 4th weekend!

Many Americans are excited to once again celebrate such a significant holiday, the signing of the Declaration of Independence, with their friends and family.

However, celebrations may be a bit dangerous and when dealing with fireworks, especially, may be more prone to personal injury.

Here are a few safety measures to take this weekend:

Keep Children/Pets Away. Keep everyone in your family who is not a responsible adult as far away from the extremely volatile explosives at all times. Children should be no where near fireworks during any time of the year, especially during the Fourth of July.

Purchase New Fireworks. Do not purchase any fireworks that is being sold as “used” or if anywhere within your purchasing location you see the word “used”. Used fireworks may have a high risk of volatility.

Always Be Prepared, in case of fire. Be ready at all times for a fire, because the chances of one occurring are much higher during Fourth of July weekend more so than any other weekend.

Monitor Drink Intake. Do not, for any reason, consume alcohol and handle explosives. This is a combination that you do not want to ever see happen, and if you see it occur make sure to disarm the intoxicated person as soon as possible before they may cause harm.

Watch Your Surroundings. Never light any fireworks indoors or in a closed environment. Always light them outside, preferably on a hard surface for the best results.

Abide By The Law. There are laws in relation to fireworks for a reason. They are dangerous and can seriously injure people. If an officer warns you about your behavior or your fireworks, it is in your best interest to listen to him.

Behave responsibly, handle fireworks carefully, and be sure that you and your loved ones have a fun, yet safe, holiday weekend as we celebrate our country and its independence. God Bless the USA!

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Personal Injury Attorney | Tampa Bay Lawyer

2015-06-29_01h16_34Personal injury is a legal issue and frequent occurrence that could happen to anyone at any given moment. This is why it is imperative that everyone remain informed and knowledgeable on various aspects of personal injury defense and how it works. Every day, more and more people are injured who are not at fault, and aren’t exactly sure what to do. That is why we here at Blick Law Firm are going through some of the basics on our website covering topics such as: personal injury, what it means, and how it may or may not impact your life.

In the simplest of terms, Personal Injury cases are legal disputes that occur when one person suffers an injury or harm, and another person may be legally responsible for it. In order for a case to become formalized, it must go through a civil court proceeding that essentially attempts to find others legally at fault through the court. However, before a lawsuit is filed, it is very common for disputes such as this to be handled through informal “settlements”. These settlements typically involve negotiations and a written agreement signed by both sides that agrees on resolving the issue through a monetary amount.

While most forms of law use statues as governing rules, most of personal injury law isn’t actually within statutes. Most of its development occurs through court decisions. However, another important aspect of personal law not set forth by court decisions is the statute of limitations. Statutes of limitations are set by state laws and they determine how long you have after the original incident or discovery of the injury to file your lawsuit.

Now, while there are various aspects to Personal Injury law, if you or someone you know ever have any questions, or would like a free consultation in regards to a Personal Injury case, we highly encourage you to reach us at 813-931-0840.

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Foreclosure Defense | Real Estate Law

By: Moneer Kheireddine

Over the past few years, the amount of homeowners losing their homes to foreclosures has being increasing exponentially. Since 2006, over 5 million citizens of the United States have lost their homes to foreclosure. This number has steadily been increasing, and more and more people are facing their banks and lenders in the courtroom. And most of the time, the banks tend to win out over the average citizen, due to having much more experience in relation to the practice of foreclosure and already having a firm grasp of the law. However, homeowners are beginning to understand how foreclosure works and, more importantly, how to fight it. This has led to a growing number of homeowners being able to halt the foreclosing of their homes or at least delay the bank.

The most basic way to prevent a foreclosure is by modifying the mortgage. When you modify the mortgage, the homeowner essentially works with the lender to make mortgage more affordable for their current situation. It can be anything from a reduction in your monthly payments to stopping your payments for a certain amount of time. However, once the foreclosure actually begins, it can seem very hopeless to the average homeowner. The basics of your defense will have to be centered around proving that the bank does not have a right to foreclose on the property. How to go about this, however, can be very difficult.

That is why Blick Law Firm is here to help. We have years of experience battling foreclosures within the court and understand the in’s and out’s of how the mortgage industry functions. We are able to properly defend you and your family from losing your property and help prevent any further incidents. We highly encourage that if you, or someone you know, needs advice and a free consultation about a foreclosure defense, that you give us a call at 813-931-0840. We are here to help, and our vast experience within foreclosure defense allows us to assist you in protecting your home.

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Legal News | Supreme Court Rulings

In world news this week, Canada’s Supreme Court has unanimously ruled that restricting the medical usage of marijuana to smoking was constitutional. Within the Controlled Drugs & Substances act, it states that while smoking the cannabis is fine, but using the plants extracts in other forms was not. The reasoning behind the court stating this issue as “unconstitutional” was due to the fact that limiting the usage of the plant to only smoking would cause unnecessary risks that could be avoided. Thus, the court found the the restriction to violate Section 7 of the country’s constitution.

The response to the ruling has been generally positive, with many medical marijuana users within Canada happy that they can now use marijuana in forms other than smoking. Some of the users, who may have already had lung issues, were especially excited to know they could now take the medication smoke-free. However, many on the opposite side are arguing against any medical marijuana usage at all, and state that using marijuana in any form should be illegal, and are outraged at this recent ruling.

For many years, and especially recently, marijuana usage for both medical & recreational purposes has been widely debated within Canada and the United States. The controversy caused by medical marijuana usage especially has caused many heated discussions and appeals to many courts, both high and low. Even Puerto Ricos governor Alejandro Garcia Padilla signed an executive order that legalized medical marijuana in May, showing just how pressing medical marijuana has become within our society. The long-lasting benefits and consequences of these choices surrounding medical marijuana are not yet clear to us, but it is certain that it will be a heavily debated topic for years to come.

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Amusement Park Safety | Summer Safety

While the summer is a great time for hitting the beaches, hanging out with friends, and dusting off your year passes and finally putting them to use at the various theme parks, it’s also a time to refresh your memory of some of the dangers that exist at these various theme parks. While these places are built so that you and your family can enjoy various rides and attractions, it’s always a smart idea to practice several of these safety tips to ensure that you and your family can enjoy your time in the summer without exposing yourself to many of the dangers that can occur.

1. Understand What You Can & Cannot Handle: Make sure to read every attractions restrictions and warning before boarding. If you are pregnant, have a heart condition, or have a history of back pains/injuries, you will not be able to ride some rides. Also, if you are too short, you also will not be able to board the rides. Take all of these factors into consideration before deciding to wait in line for a ride you may not be able to actually experience.
2. Stay Aware: Theme parks can be dangerous places both on the attractions and off. The walking around can be just as dangerous as some of the rides, so make sure to keep an eye on your children at all time to ensure they don’t get lost in the crowd, make sure you are walking at the correct pace to continue with the flow of traffic and that you are not blocking anyones way.
3. Keep Yourself Cool: Many people will return from their trips to several theme parks with severe burns and possibly even heat exhaustion. Stay hydrated with water (sugary drinks should be avoided) and make sure to spray or apply waterproof sunscreen to keep both you and your family safe.
4. Keep Your Children Educated: Before entering any ride with your children, make sure to educate them on the ride and what’s in store for them. Make sure they understand the proper safety mechanics and know how to recognize danger within the ride to minimize risk. If your children is distressed, do NOT force them onto the ride. Simply wait and calm them down while allowing other people in the line to move ahead.
5. Keep Your Head On: While theme parks can be fun, always remember that they can also be extremely stressful, especially on the one in charge. Ensuring people have fun isn’t as fun as it sounds. Children can’t keep up with an adults pace, especially in the summer heat, so if you have some with you, make sure to take breaks! Cranky children are sure to make you cranky as well, and doesn’t make for an enjoyable time. Several breaks spread out throughout the day can help your entire family remain sane and happy.

Remember, keep these tips in mind to be safe, but also remember to have a great time, as the point of these outings is to have fun. Theme park attendance can be a rollercoaster of a time, but the memories you make will outlive the headaches you earn. Stay safe, stay cool, and stay happy!

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