It is saddening and truly unfortunate to hear that such extraordinary measures are being taken to stop the ongoing abuse and neglect in a Jacksonville nursing home.  As a community, we need to work harder to immediately hold nursing homes responsible when there has been abuse or neglect.  It is often, sadly, the most vulnerable, that need our protection.  If you feel a loved one has been the victim of abuse or neglect in this or any other nursing home, please contact us…

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The Treasury Department announced that Social Security will stop issuing paper checks on March 1, 2013, at which point all payments will be made electronically.  New enrollees to Social Security programs, including Social Security Disability and Supplemental Security Income, will no longer be able to receive benefits via paper checks beginning March 1 2011.  Existing beneficiaries will have until March 1, 2013 to switch.  After March 1, 2013, all Social Security payments will be deposited electronically to a person’s bank account or to a beneficiary’s government issued debit card. 

It is estimated that this switch will save the Federal Government $300 million over the first five years and $125 million each following year.  It now costs $1 overall to cut and mail a check and only 10 cents for a direct deposit.  The Treasury Department issues more than 135 million benefit checks annually.

If you have any questions please contact Attorney Mark Papa in our Jacksonville,  FL office.

Apparently the steering column support assembly can crack and fail potentially causing serious personal injury to riders. There have been 19 incidents so far.

ATV owners should immediately stop using the vehicle and contact their local Yamaha dealer for a free repair.

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Drive safe, David Black, Esquire

Here’s a link to the newspaper story

The bad news is Jacksonville still had the highest crime rate in the state per 100,000 population and the highest per-capita murder rate of all metropolitan areas in the state. The murder rate has been the highest for 11 years running.  For more information on the crime in Jacksonville, go to the Times Union news story.

The residents of Jacksonville need to be aware of the high crime rate in Jacksonville and take steps to keep themselves and their families safe.  Harrell and Harrell is doing their best to make sure owners and managers of malls, hotels, businesses and apartment complexes are keeping their premises safe for Jacksonville families.  However, if you’ve been the victim of a crime outside your home, please call Harrell and Harrell or visit us on the web.

DO NOT ATTEMPT TO REPAIR THESE CRIBS!

One death and 13 other incidents have been reported to CPSC. Infants can become entrapped, wedged or fall out of these cribs because the tubular support frame can bend or detach from the rest of the crib’s frame.

This recall link gives more onfo on the affected models and examples of the mattress support failures. You can also visit the Crib Information Center for more crib safety.

Please share this with anyone who may have infants sleeping in cribs.

 A common scenario in my practice goes like this:  Client applies for Social Security Disability benefits and is turned down and knowing that there is a high likelihood of another turn down and a long wait (over a year) before a hearing and with no income, the client applies for and begins receiving unemployment benefits.  How does the application and receipt of unemployment benefits affect the Social Security Disability claim? 

    The most significant impact goes to the credibility of the claimant.  On the one hand, when applying for Social Security Disability, the statement being made is “I am disabled and unable to work.”  On the other hand, when applying for unemployment benefits, the statement being made is “I am able to work and am available to work, I just have not been able to find a job.”  Which statement will the social security judge believe? 

    The social security judge is not bound by the decisions of another governmental agency, however, that decision must be considered.  On the one hand, if an application for unemployment benefits is denied because of inability to work, it can be used to show the inability to work.  If the unemployment claim is approved, then that may be used as evidence of the ability to work.  There is nothing, however, that prevents the receipt of Social Security Disability benefits due to receipt of unemployment benefits.  

    The bottom line is, having a claim for Social Security Disability benefits while receiving unemployment benefits (and vice versa) raises a red flag and, more likely than not, will have to be explained.

Please call Harrell and Harrell or visit us on the web to discuss your Social Security Disability denial.

800-251-1111

Automotive experts advise that consumers shouldn’t hit the panic pedal. Vehicles are safer than ever based on crash tests and fatality data, and even Toyotas statistically remain very safe vehicles. And though the Toyota recall of more than 8 million vehicles is unusual in its size, recalls are common among manufacturers.

A recall doesn’t always mean a car is unsafe.  A recall occurs typically when a problem is identified and the manufacturer or industry comes up with a solution or fix to the problem. Usually it’s a good thing. Unfortunately or fortunately, depending on your point of view, the Toyota recall lingered and remained a hot news item in our 24/7 news world. Most come and go like ships passing in the night.

Here is a resource to help you determine how safe your car is:

SaferCar.gov  offers one-stop-shopping for information on government crash tests, recalls and defects, safety tips and how to file a complaint about a vehicle.

The government uses a five-star system to rate the safety of vehicles based on the likelihood of serious injury in head-on and side collisions, as well as roll-overs. The more stars the better, and many vehicles are top-rated with four or five stars.

Be sure to check out our product recall page for pertinent information.

www.harrellandharrell.com – Don’t settle for less than you deserve!

Obviously, you should immediately stop use of these baby slings. The recall uses 4 months of age and younger wording but I would err on the side of caution and stop using it altogether. Over a million slings are being recalled in the United States and fifteen thousand in Canada.

Here’s the link to the CPSC / Infantino recall .

Sounds like there were only a few hundred sold so hopefully this will help spread the word before any serious injuries occur.

www.harrellandharrell.com