Absolute Legal Services, LLC

Prepare for the invasion

Jeffrey — Tue, 27 Jul 2010 19:17:25 +0000

Oklahoma City is receiving a lot of attention, and is quickly becoming an intriguing tourist destination. The New York Times recently highlighted the City as a fantastic travel destination.

Having grown up in California, I had many misconceptions about this burgeoning land I love. We’d heard about the tragities faced by the early dust-bowl trekkers, but never really removed ourselves from the “California coccoon.” Since our arrival though, we have nothing but praise for this beautiful city, and it’s growing potential.

This article will introduce many people to the splendor of this great city. Now, even more, with the NBA’s official arrival, people will visit from all over. Watch out though, when people see what a great place this is, they just might not leave!

Prepare for the invasion is a post from Absolute Legal Services, LLC. We are a law firm in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma that handles personal injury matters, consumer disputes, business issues, social security problems, and immigration concerns. Please visit our homepage to learn more about our firm, and contact us for legal assistance.
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I've Seen This Episode

Jeffrey — Sat, 24 Jul 2010 15:19:59 +0000

I was reading various news stories this morning, when I ran across this article on FoxNews. Apparently, the President is considering a "radical" approach to global warming. His thoughts seem eerily familiar to an old Simpsons episode where Mr. Burns builds a giant sun blocker to take over the world and make more money.

All joking aside, we need to do something about the environment. Too much is happening to ignore these issues. I won’t ever tell you to go and purchase a hybrid, but we need to reconsider our habits. I was talking with a friend about this issue, and he noted it’s just going to get worse (BTW, he’s an anti-environment type). He noted that cities like OKC aren’t willing to make the changes necessary to do it.

Quite simply, we love our cars. The sad fact is that it’s probably true. Cities implement rail, bus, and other mass-transit systems that rarely get used. Honestly, when was the last time you rode the bus here in OKC? Me, NEVER. The transit systems are so heavily subsidized by local, state, and federal governments that they can’t sustain themselves without the support. Moreover, if rate hikes occur, there’s angst from everyone that it’s cheaper to drive. I think the 2 years I spent driving a bus in California gave me some knowledge.

If you think I’m wrong, show me. I’ll exclude cities like New York, Chicago, Boston and San Francisco for obvious reasons. Those are cities with massive congestion problems and fairly decent transit system. Note though, they’re still heavily subsidized, and a large majority of people still prefer taxis as a quick and reliable solution.

I like what a lot of cities, including OKC, are doing by trying to move some of the residential areas downtown and creating "walkable cities." I think this will be a strong move into the future, but we’re still going to have to deal with some of the basic issues.

I've Seen This Episode is a post from Absolute Legal Services, LLC. We are a law firm in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma that handles personal injury matters, consumer disputes, business issues, social security problems, and immigration concerns. Please visit our homepage to learn more about our firm, and contact us for legal assistance.
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Random Posts

Oklahoma's Tort Reform Issue

Jeffrey — Wed, 21 Jul 2010 08:23:56 +0000

Here’s a great blog post by San Diego attorney, Ross Jurewitz, on the tort reform issues that are brewing here in Oklahoma. I agree emphatically with his arguments.

You can read my opinions here.

Oklahoma's Tort Reform Issue is a post from Absolute Legal Services, LLC. We are a law firm in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma that handles personal injury matters, consumer disputes, business issues, social security problems, and immigration concerns. Please visit our homepage to learn more about our firm, and contact us for legal assistance.
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Your Court Appearance

Jeffrey — Tue, 20 Jul 2010 07:50:14 +0000

Unfortunately, we're still a society very much obsessed with looks. The same goes for the courtroom. How you look, speak, and act inside the courtroom will say a lot about your mental attitude and your personality. People, including "impartial" judges and attorney, will judge you. Some, like the attorneys and judges, will dismiss your appearance. Others, such as members of the jury, may linger on your appearance.

When you appear for your hearing or trial, the first rule is respect the court. You should dress appropriately for the type of environment you're in. While you don't have to wear a suit and tie, you should find a nice button-down shirt, and some slacks. It's important to show that you respect the court and you respect the parties involved. Also, while it's not particularly necessary to remind most people, good hygiene is extremely important. Please, for the sake of everyone, brush your teeth, comb your hair, and take a shower.

Most courtrooms are the same. The "bench" is up in front, usually in an elevated place. There's a jury box somewhere either on the left or right side of the judge, along with a place for the court's bailiff, court reporter, and witnesses to sit.

Your attorney will likely sit in front of "the bar" at either the plaintiff's or defendant's table. If you're attending a hearing, other attorneys may sit at the same table or in the audience seats.

When the judge enters the room, you should stand until you're told to sit.

If you're at court for a hearing, the judge will start calling the docket. This is a simple process where the judge reads the names of the parties from a the docket sheet, and the parties announce their presence. If you're represented by an attorney, your attorney will announce for you. If you're representing yourself, it's important that you stand up, and announce your presence in the manner that the judge tells you.

Following the docket call, the judge then calls the individual cases for hearing. In most cases, the judge calls the oldest cases (ones on file the longest) first, and works his/her way forward. Sometimes, even though you have an old case, the judge may skip you for a while because of the issues involved in your case. He/she may opt to handle "easier" cases, and return to yours. Don't get discouraged or annoyed. The judge wants to hear your case with the fewest distractions.

When it's your turn, and depending on the type of hearing, your attorney may ask you to come to the bench. You should follow your attorney's directions, approach the bench and stand next to your attorney.

At the bench, or whenever you're speaking with the judge, it's important that you speak loudly and clearly. Sometimes people, and attorneys, can get nervous, scared, or anxious when they're asked questions about the case. Don't worry, everyone wants to get the information and head home. You'll make a greater impact on the judge if you speak clearly and loud enough to hear.

Often, ~~and because attorneys like to hear themselves speak~~, because your attorney knows the case law, he/she will have some comments to make about the case. Stand or sit quietly and listen to the comments. If you need to add anything or clarify your attorney's statements, whisper the information to your attorney, and wait for his/her cue.

When the judge decides he/she has enough information, he/she will make a ruling. You should listen carefully to the judge's ruling, or ask your attorney to explain the outcome.

At the end of the events, you should thank the judge for his/her time, and follow your attorney out of the courtroom or back to your seat.

If you're in a trial, you'll have a combination of many different events or small hearings. Always be respectful to the judge and jury.

Your Court Appearance is a post from Absolute Legal Services, LLC. We are a law firm in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma that handles personal injury matters, consumer disputes, business issues, social security problems, and immigration concerns. Please visit our homepage to learn more about our firm, and contact us for legal assistance.
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The Lawsuit from Start to Finish

Your Marriage/Romantic Relationship

Jeffrey — Sun, 18 Jul 2010 07:21:01 +0000

I’m not a marriage counselor, nor do I play one on TV. Heck, most of the time I can’t, or won’t, resolve some of the screwed-up incidents in my life. No, I’m simply a 30-something father of two, happily married to the woman I met several years earlier. However, I have learned one thing in my more than 5, less than 20 years of marriage (ladies, you’ll love this), The Woman is Always Right.

That’s such a cliché of a statement, but even when the most manly-man examines his own life, he’ll find that the best, and most rational, decisions come from that feminine influence in his life.

Well, here’s 7 ways to pay that person back for their support.

Also for your enjoyment:

Your Marriage/Romantic Relationship is a post from Absolute Legal Services, LLC. We are a law firm in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma that handles personal injury matters, consumer disputes, business issues, social security problems, and immigration concerns. Please visit our homepage to learn more about our firm, and contact us for legal assistance.
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The Right to a Jury Trial

Jeffrey — Thu, 15 Jul 2010 07:57:07 +0000

One of the greatest things about our country is the right to a trial by a jury of our peers. It is also one of the worst.

Unfortunately, for many plaintiffs and defendants, the sad reality about our adversarial system is that we often leave our most important decision up to 12 people who care the least. This can have, and will, have detrimental effects for one of the parties involved. In this "one side takes all approach," only one party wins, despite the fact that both parties may share equal responsibility.

I love the movie Runaway Jury, because it embodies the good and bad aspects of our system. One of the principal characters, played by Gene Hackman, gets frustrated as he slowly realizes he's "being played." One of the climactic events is his discussion with some employees about leaving the decision up to 12 uneducated and unintelligent individuals.

The truth is, in many circumstances, this is the exact scenario all plaintiffs and defendants face when they meet in opposition for a jury trial. The people hearing the case, and ultimately making the decision, are limited in the type and amount of external information they can hear and evaluate. The members of the jury will also likely be persuaded by the other members of the jury, and those stronger opinions. The end result is a crushing decision for one side.

It's this type of experience that led to the more favorable method of "alternative dispute resolution," or ADR. ADR is an equitable way for both sides to claim victory, and have total control over the ultimate outcome. ADR comes in the form of mediation or arbitration.

This collaborative effort means that each party can weigh in on the success of their case, and have their case decided by the parties who care most about success.

Lawyers especially like this process because it usually means the sides can present their compelling arguments, facts, and circumstantial evidence, which they believe will help them become victorious. The parties then decide for themselves what is fair and reasonable.

Photo courtesy of makingit.com.

The Right to a Jury Trial is a post from Absolute Legal Services, LLC. We are a law firm in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma that handles personal injury matters, consumer disputes, business issues, social security problems, and immigration concerns. Please visit our homepage to learn more about our firm, and contact us for legal assistance.
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Your Credit Score

Jeffrey — Thu, 15 Jul 2010 04:16:11 +0000

ABC News has a great article about how credit scores are calculated. Once someone starts getting back on track with their debt, the typical first question is what’s my credit score. Many people don’t know the credit score process, and a surprisingly fewer number of people know that you can receive your credit report annually for free. No, it’s still not free if you visit "free"creditreportdotcom.

First, read the article above, then visit annualcreditreport.com to get your credit report from all three bureaus. There are some hoops (even though it’s supposed to be simple to get your report), like you’ll have to register with the bureau’s site, before you’ll be able to access it. Then, when you’re in, examine the report and print it out. It’s usually available for 30 days.

If you find a discrepancy, then dispute it. It’s important to check your report regularly (yearly) to make sure you’re on tract to success.

Your Credit Score is a post from Absolute Legal Services, LLC. We are a law firm in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma that handles personal injury matters, consumer disputes, business issues, social security problems, and immigration concerns. Please visit our homepage to learn more about our firm, and contact us for legal assistance.
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Irked off

Jeffrey — Sun, 11 Jul 2010 21:16:50 +0000

I hope you’re as frustrated by this "credit crunch" as I am. There seems to be no end to the number of folks seeking financial assistance because of their poor choices. Don’t get me wrong though, I favor providing some assistance to folks who need help, but I certainly discourage all-out freebies that reward poor management decisions. I think there are certainly many instances where lenders looked favorably upon, and actively encouraged, people "cooking" their financial application numbers. Heck, even in my own experience, we were able to purchase a vehicle we couldn’t afford, using numbers that were false.

No, what frustrates me at this time is the number of handouts we’re giving without any care for the future damage. Just look at the news about AIG’s latest blunder. Do you think they’ll be punished? Sure, we’ll see "hearings," "public outcry," and some general contempt, but overall, the company knows they can get away with these kinds of tactics, and face few, if any punishments. What’s evenmore frustrating, when the federal government does set certain restrictions on these companies, they complain because of the stricter regulations.

There’s no need to comment or send a horrendous amount of email regarding this situation. I know that the bailout measures were necessary. These measures protect thousands of jobs, industries, and millions/billions of invested dollars. However, I believe that sending $152B (roughly 21% of the total bailout package) to a company who continues mock the American taxpayer is ludicrous. This is your money that’s being stripped, and you should demand a better accounting of its use. Moreover, this is one legal issue you shouldn’t, and cannot afford to look beyond.

(Stepping off the soap box now.)

Irked off is a post from Absolute Legal Services, LLC. We are a law firm in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma that handles personal injury matters, consumer disputes, business issues, social security problems, and immigration concerns. Please visit our homepage to learn more about our firm, and contact us for legal assistance.
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Structured Settlements

Jeffrey — Thu, 08 Jul 2010 16:16:20 +0000

You’ve probably seen the commercials. You know, with the guy go asks you about your settlement and the payments you’re receiving. Perhaps you’ve wondered what he’s talking about, or if you have one, whether you should convert the payments into cash now.

Structured settlements are payments a person receives, usually because of a lawsuit, which are payed over a period of time. There are a number of reasons to obtain a structured settlement, but generally, a person gets one to limit tax liability (although tort payments are tax-free), or to establish a retirement scheme and manage one’s finances. Some companies force structured settlements, based on the amount of the award.

People who receive structured settlement payments often debate whether they should "cash out" and take a lump-sum payment when they get months or years into the payment program. There are several commercial vendors who will purchase these payments, much like banks and mortgage lenders sell credit obligations.

The decision to cash out your settlement payment should not be taken lightly. You should, at the least, consult your attorney (especially the one who helped you get the money), and a qualified CPA or tax attorney. These individuals will be able to give you the best information, and an assessment of potential penalties, for the cash out. There may be particular reasons that the settlement was structured in a particular way, which you are not aware of.

Finally, you should also note that most times, instead of "selling" your "bad debt," you’re actually the one "buying" the debt. Many companies will pay pennies on the dollar (sometimes as little as thirty cents) for your payments, and no company will pay you full value (i.e.: $1,000,000 = $1,000,000) for the settlement plan. You should be aware that you’re getting discounted dollars (current value) for your payments.

Again, there is nothing wrong with cashing out your structured settlement payments in lieu of cash now. You must closely evaluate your reasons, and be sure you receive full advisement and analysis.

Structured Settlements is a post from Absolute Legal Services, LLC. We are a law firm in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma that handles personal injury matters, consumer disputes, business issues, social security problems, and immigration concerns. Please visit our homepage to learn more about our firm, and contact us for legal assistance.
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Get Your Own Space – Marketing 101 For Businesses

Jeffrey — Thu, 08 Jul 2010 11:36:01 +0000

Although there are a lot of great website companies that offer free space for your business blog or website, you need to get your own space. My previous article talked about the need for your business to host its own content, and this post will only reinforce that ideal.

Hosting and maintaining your own site helps you secure your information, and preserve your intellectual property rights. While designing and maintaining your own website may require particular unique skills and specialized knowledge, there are many tools to help you. For your information, one of my favorite tools is WordPress and the Headway Theme.

I recently received a letter from an attorney whose URL or web address read like a mishmash of bleeped-out curse words, something like, http://www.somespecialsiteforpromotinganattorney.com/?#&!OAS*R@AHS/##aIFhl2w1/~dka(). Oh sure, you can bet I made a quick jump online to check out the "profile." What amazes me more is just how many professionals (i.e. attorneys) do not have their own website or email address.

Not having a dedicated site is marketing suicide these days. Everyone, yes even your grandma Ruth, knows you need to have some "www-something", and it better be something similar to your name, business, or product line. Just as a humorous side note, you may want to check out this post by the Business Pundit (credit to theoatmeal.com), on what your email address says about you.

Unfortunately, the Pundit's post is all too accurate when it comes to your business. Note the first statement is that y...@yourname.com shows that you have a "good chance of skilled and capable."

If you're interested in discussing the marketing needs of your small business, please contact our law firm and Jeffrey Taylor. I can suggest a variety of resources for getting a professional site, without paying too much. Call (405) 748-0318 or email cont...@absolutelawfirm.com to schedule an appointment and consultation.

Get Your Own Space – Marketing 101 For Businesses is a post from Absolute Legal Services, LLC. We are a law firm in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma that handles personal injury matters, consumer disputes, business issues, social security problems, and immigration concerns. Please visit our homepage to learn more about our firm, and contact us for legal assistance.
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Absolute Legal Services, LLC

Prepare for the invasion

Related Posts

I've Seen This Episode

Random Posts

Oklahoma's Tort Reform Issue

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Your Court Appearance

Related Posts

Your Marriage/Romantic Relationship

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The Right to a Jury Trial

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Your Credit Score

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Irked off

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Structured Settlements

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Get Your Own Space – Marketing 101 For Businesses

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