4 Celebrities that Show that No One is Above the Law

Whenever a celebrity is arrested, it’s easy to shrug off the convictions and assume they will never face any actual consequences. After all, how many times has Justin Bieber been stopped by the police and walked away scot-free? It seems like money and notoriety can get you out of anything. However, this isn’t always the case. Even if they don’t go to jail, many celebs pay for their crimes through hits to their reputations or lifestyles. Here are four celebrities who fought the law — and the law won.

Lindsay Lohan

Image via Flickr by Luca Venturi Oslo

Lohan is one of the first people who comes to mind when anyone talks about celebrities getting into trouble with the law. Lohan seems to constantly be in court for cocaine possession, disturbing the peace, and other questionable behavior. Needless to say, this one-time Disney star is not a role model that parents want their kids looking up to.

Lohan’s first arrest actually came from a DUI in 2007. It’s easily one of the most Memorable Celebrity DUIs of our time because it set off a laundry list of criminal problems for the star. Almost 10 years later, Lohan is still struggling to stay sober and on the right side of the law.

Matthew McConaughey

McConaughey is known to be a laid-back celebrity, so it makes sense that his criminal charges would center around him relaxing at home. Back in October 1999, police arrived at McConaughey’s Texas home with a call of a noise complaint. They found the actor sitting naked and playing the bongos. While that isn’t a crime (at least not in your own home), marijuana use is.

For the most part, McConaughey’s reputation has bounced back, but the star did learn a valuable lesson about respecting his neighbors’ right to sleep at two in the morning.

Robert Downey Jr.

Downey Jr. can give Lindsay Lohan hope for the future. If he can get out of his rut, she can, too. Between 1996 and 2001, the Iron Man star racked up a list of arrests related to cocaine, heroin, and marijuana. After the first arrest, RDJ was sentenced to three years of probation. The next year he violated his probation and was sentenced to six months in prison.

In 2015, the actor was officially pardoned for his crimes by California’s governor. Today, he is worth $180 million.

Stephanie Pratt

In 2006, The Hills actress was arrested for shoplifting more than $1,300 worth of clothing. Pratt was only 20 at the time, and she and a friend were taken to police headquarters where their bags were searched — and drugs were found. This added to her charges.

Even when she was filming on The Hills, the actress struggled with the law. She received a DUI and had to agree to a 30-day rehab program in order to continue on the show.

These weren’t the first celebrities to get arrested, and they certainly won’t be the last. Fame offers a lot of temptations, and it’s easy to think you’re immune from the law — until the law catches up with you.

Tips for Hiring the Best Lawyer

A lawyer is someone that most people hope they will never need to hire. However, it is basically inevitable that you will need to secure the services of competent legal counsel at some point in your life. It is critical that the lawyer you choose for this important task is very good at his or her job. Otherwise, the chances of you winning your case could go out the window. Hiring a lawyer is not an easy thing to do. There are so many lawyers and all of them claim to be the best at what they do. How can you tell which lawyers are best suited to represent you during your case? Here are several tips that should set you on the right path.

1. Will the lawyer agree to be paid on a contingency basis?

Lawyers have many different methods in which they are willing to be paid. You should try very hard to find a lawyer who is willing to receive his or her payment on a contingency basis. This is just a fancy way of saying that your lawyer will not receive any payment unless he or she wins your case. This gives your lawyer extra incentive to do the best possible job to win your case. Your lawyer might not be motivated to work very hard on your behalf if he or she knows that your payment will be coming regardless of the outcome of the case.

2. What type of track record does the lawyer have?

This is not the sort of info that you will be able to find out on the website of any lawyer. You will need to dig deep into their background in order to discover if they have ever been sued for negligence. Have they ever had their law license suspended for any reason. It goes without saying that this is very crucial info that you need to know before you hire a lawyer.

3. How many years has the lawyer been practicing law?

You should only hire New Port Richey attorneys who have been on the job for a considerable length of time. You should not consider being represented by a lawyer who has been practicing for less than six years. This amount of experience will be enough for you to have peace of mind that your lawyer will do a good job.

Getting Compensation Through The Law

The shock and suddenness of an accident can throw your world into complete upheaval. The process of recovery can take months, if not years. There is also accumulation of bills and the missed opportunities for work. All of this can take a toll on both you and your family.

The law offers remedies. A slip and fall, a pedestrian accident, a car crash, a bust or motorcycle accident—all can fall under the purview of the law, and you can get compensation is you have been involved in any of these accidents.

Getting Justice Is Not Always Comfortable

You have always tried to right by others. You have never been the kind of person to stir up trouble or disrupt other people’s lives. But doing what is right is not always comfortable. Your mild mannered nature should not keep you from getting justice. More importantly, you and your family should not have to suffer because someone else was reckless or people in business could not bother to take certain safety precautions.

Filing a personal injury suit against another individual or against a company is not about revenge or greed; it is about justice, it is about doing right by yourself and the people whose welfare you’re responsible for.

The Kind Of Attorney You Need

If you think you’re owed money for the pain and joblessness you’ve suffered, then lawyers such as those found at the Cogburn Law Office can provide you the services you require. A car accident, a bus or track accident, or even a slip-and-fall can lay you up in a hospital bed with bills to pay and time off work; indeed, such an accident may even lead to your losing your job. Don’t take it. Get the money you deserve for damages.

Personal injury lawyers have the knowledge and expertise to get you the money you have coming. Litigation in such matters can be quite vexing, but with the right lawyer on your side you can ensure that you receive a fair settlement. Litigators are important in preserving your rights under the law. And when you are looking for someone to represent you, you want to ensure they are experienced, knowledgeable, and honest. You also want service that is efficient and courteous.

Getting the right legal advice for your particular situation can help you pursue the justice you’re looking for in the right way. Litigators are trained to bring all of their knowledge and expertise to bear on your case. And they can help you get the compensation and closure you need to get on with your life. This can be of great importance during periods such a period of vulnerability.

Fight Back

It can be especially intimidating to take on a big company that has through negligence caused you to suffer. However, even rich and prosperous corporations must answer to the law. They may try to silence you or give you an inequitable settlement. You do not have to give in. Hiring an attorney will help you fight back.

Top Five Reasons to Adopt a Compliance Program

In the wake of numerous scandals like Enron where companies have exploited the public and committed fraud, the government now requires publicly traded companies to have a robust ethics and compliance program in place. The requirements have been changed or added by regulators over the years as they enact detailed laws and step up enforcement in a number of areas. Today, it has become the norm for Fortune 500 companies to have rigorous compliance training programs, have compliance professionals on staff as well as detailed policy manuals. But, what about non-Fortune 500 companies? Should they have a compliance program in place?

Here are the top five reasons for every business to adopt a compliance program:

Reason 1: Stay out of trouble

One of the most important reasons for adopting and enforcing a good ethics and compliance program is to prevent a violation of the law. When you have implemented a good corporate compliance program, you will be able to identify the problem areas early and prevent costly mistakes. There is no need for a good compliance program to be expensive and it should be tailored as per the company’s operations and business. In this way, it will be able to focus more on areas of higher risk, whether it is employment, environmental, government procurement, ethics, antitrust, employment or any area where federal, state or local laws provide for corporate civil or criminal liability. Here’s an interesting page with more information in this regard: https://www.minutesdepot.com/press

Reason 2: Stay out of court

With a robust compliance policy, a business can be protected from adverse legal action, depending on the kind of offense. When subcontractors, employees or business partners make bad decisions, a knowledgeable corporate counsel and a solid compliance program can convince prosecutors or regulators not to press charges.

Reason 3: Create business advantage

Government entities, large companies and foreign concerns are looking for business partners who have effective corporate policies. A good compliance program and a reputation of being an ethical business can lure in top talent and also make your business an attractive option for potential partnerships, acquisition or merger considerations and for contract opportunities.

Reason 4: Protect your reputation

As far as compliance mistakes and ethical violations is concerned, the adage ‘any press is good press’ doesn’t really apply. Even rumored or suspected violations can damage the reputation of your business and provide competitors with a solid advantage. When a compliance program is implemented, it sensitizes employees to key issues and also strengthens your reputation as an ethical and diligent business.

Reason 5: Mitigate your damages

If a problem does arise, courts and enforcement officials generally look favorably on businesses that had solid corporate policies in place for preventing problems. As a matter of fact, a business that cooperates with investigation can actually get a 95% reduction in fines as per the U.S. Federal Sentencing Guidelines, as long as they maintained an effective ethics and compliance at the time of violation.

These are some excellent reasons for adopting an effective ethics and compliance program for your business in the long run.

The Challenges of Legal Translation

There is one area of expertise that requires a lot of precision. I am thinking here about the law. Even the smallest of mistakes can mean the difference between losing or winning a case and this is why everything has to be written in a very clear and precise way. In other words, Legal translation is something that matters a lot if you happen to be in the business.

So what is legal translation anyway and why such a fuss about it? Why is it so important to entrust the fate of your legal documents to somebody who is experienced enough to handle them the right way? Since the main principle of legal translation is to explain and convert of legal documents written in a precise language into another, it is no wonder that only the most skilled of translators are able to undertake the task. What is more, many of such translators also have a very vast knowledge about the law, which further allows them to make the well-informed decisions when it comes to translating some of the toughest of documents one can possibly imagine. What is more, legal translation is all about the transformation of written material, but at the same time taking into consideration the legal structure of the country the translator is working for.

if you have a legal practice and are faced with a task of having to translate some of your documents into another language, you will be better off if you are going to hire a professional translator to do everything for you. Even if you feel like you know another language, this might not be enough to convert a legal document into a text that makes sense in an another foreign language. Very often, the services of legal translators are required in order to accomplish the goal of as precise translation as possible.

When Defense Matters

There might be a time in the life of each one of us when we might want to find somebody to help us to defend in court. I am not saying that situations like these happen all the time, but when they do it is better to be prepared for them in advance.

The time when you or your loved one faces criminal charges can be a very exhausting. Not only are you under a lot of stress from your local authorities, but not being able to tell for certain how you are going to end up is exhausting and tiring as well. This is where qualified and experienced criminal attorneys come in with everything they have to offer.

One reason to hire a defense attorney is to have somebody by your side willing to offer you their expertise and guidance. Only that way can you be sure that you are getting the best help you can possibly get. Alternatively, you can always choose to face the charges on your own without anybody by your side, but the problem with this approach is that you might not have what it takes to be able to defend yourself in court. Additionally, if you choose to use a state-appointed criminal attorney he or she might not have enough motivation to do their best in order to present your case in the best way possible. There is definitely too much at stake here: when you know for sure that you simply cannot afford to lose a case the best course of action is to take all the necessary steps to ensure that you have somebody with you who will do their absolute their best to help you with anything you might need help with. If you live in the New York area, finding the right criminal defense attorney shouldn’t be a problem for sure.

How to find the right solicitor for your divorce

Getting divorced can be an incredibly difficult time. It is likely to be tense and packed with stress and strain on your mental and physical wellbeing. Whilst the right solicitor cannot take away the pain related to going through a divorce, having someone professional to support you can minimise the hassle that you feel on the legal side of things.

We understand what it takes to be a great divorce solicitor, and whilst our expertise lie across a number of different legal services, we tackle our divorce clients with empathy, respect and patience.

As experts in delivering divorce services to people throughout Liverpool, we have put together the top tips for finding the right divorce solicitor for you.

Find someone who is good both in and out of the court

The vast majority of divorce proceedings can be finalised without ever having to head to court. However, there are going to be cases that end up being heard in front of a judge. If you are not sure which way you are going to head with your own particular divorce situation, then you should opt for a solicitor who is good both in and out of the court.

Check out their experience

It sounds silly, but you should always make sure you have a divorce solicitor who is experienced. This experience can help them to handle the divorce proceedings, even if they don’t go as planned. They will know how to deal with emotionally charged situations and ensure that these feelings do not get in the way of making rational decisions.

As well as reviews

Recommendations and word of mouth are a great way to ensure that a solicitor is going to be right for you. So, make sure that you check these out. Online reviews are often available, but if they operate in your local area, you may find friends or family members who can help you with how well they have performed in the past.

Meet them face to face

The best way to judge whether or not a solicitor is going to be perfect for you, is simply to meet them face to face. This will make sure that you get a sense of who they are, their levels of professionalism and whether or not they are the right fit for your needs.

A good solicitor will be able to explain everything to you in detail, and in a language, that you will be able to understand. If you leave the appointment with a clear idea of the process and your strategy, you know that you have an expert behind you.

Kirwans Solicitors are expert solicitors in Liverpool. We have experience in dealing with a variety of legal issues and can offer you professional support when you need it the most. Whether you are a business or simply need some help in your personal life, Kirwans Solicitors is the solicitors in Liverpool for you!

 

Five Savvy, Modern Marketing Tips for Your Lawyer Website

Law has always represented a competitive career field; however, it’s perhaps just as cutthroat when it comes to lawyers marketing their services online.

After all, any given city, big or small, has their on slew of lawyers in a variety of niches. Given that Google has become the go-to for finding local services, it’s no surprise that those in the field of law need to step up their game in terms of SEO.

That being said, the SEO landscape has changed dramatically over the past few years. The spammy tactics of 2010 are no longer viable; however, ranking for keywords and getting found via Google doesn’t have to be a giant guessing game. Likewise, building on-site leads requires a combination of keywords and smart marketing.

If you’re a lawyer that wants to strengthen the SEO performance of your website or you simply desire a second-opinion in terms of your online marketing strategy, consider the following tips that can help boost your on-site performance.

  1. Start with Social Proof

When it comes time for someone to hire a lawyer, they want results, plan and simple. Your website should ooze social proof in the form of reviews and testimonials to build trust and let visitors know that your practice represents the real deal.

Whether you have dedicated pages dedicated to helping clients or sprinkle testimonials throughout your marketing copy, such language is powerful in grabbing your potential clients’ attention.

  1. Crystal Clear Contact Info

One of the biggest mistakes you can possibly make online is hiding your contact information. Getting in touch shouldn’t be a hassle; therefore, ensure that you have multiple means of contact available on-site for your visitors such as a webform, email address and phone number.

Unclear contact information is one of the biggest factors contributing to bounce rate but is so easy to remedy.

  1. Emphasis on Local Keywords

Don’t waste your time trying to rank for terms such as “lawyer” and “attorney.” Instead, target local and geo-specific keywords related to your practice. While you may consider “Seminole County lawyer” to be low-hanging fruit, bear in mind that it pays to get even more specific (think: Seminole County DUI attorney).

By focusing on local keywords and switching it up throughout your content, you not only increase your likelihood for ranking but also keep your content from growing stale.

  1. More In-Depth Content

Many lawyers make the mistake of having a relatively shallow site in terms of content. For example, they might have a blurb or two dedicated to “wrongful death” cases; however, you could easily expand that content to have pages dedicated to such information. The deeper your site is in terms of content, the more opportunities you have to insert keywords.

While writing on-site content may be tedious, it could be the different between your site ranking versus a competitor. If nobody on your team has the time to beef up your content, consider hiring a freelancer or having an intern do the legwork for you.

  1. Re-do Your Site Design

Considering that mobile traffic has overtaken traditional desktops, it’s crucial that your site looks sleek and is easy to navigate via smartphone. Likewise, if you have a “stock” theme for your website, it’s probably time to hire a designer or invest in a premium theme to come across as more professional. After all, aesthetics are a huge factor in whether or not your practice is presented as being trustworthy.

Don’t let your web presence fall to the wayside. If you’re not satisfied with your lawyer site’s performance, consider how implementing these tips can make your practice more attractive to potential clients and help to outrank your competition.

 

 

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About Malpractice

Do you know what the term malpractice means? This is a term used to describe mistakes committed by doctors. Usually, doctors are the only ones to blame for the mistakes they make. Rarely somebody else is to blame for their wrongdoings.

I can think of many reasons doctors commit so many mistakes these days. First of all, doctors are more tired than they have ever been in history. They try to work harder and longer. What happens is that they cannot perform well while they are at work. If they cannot perform well at work, problems are likely to start. You cannot expect a tired doctor to perform well while he is at work if he is tired.

Another reason for doctors mistakes is negligence. Some doctors simply do not care. They lack the motivation to do their job the way it is supposed to be done. Such situations should never happen. If they do happen, it might be a wise decision to hire a Miami Medical Malpractice Lawyer to represent the victim in court. Usually, a person cannot represent himself in court. An average person lacks knowledge and experience to allow him to represent his case successfully. It might be a lot better to hire somebody to represent you in court rather than risk failure by representing yourself. Believe me, you lack knowledge or experience to represent your case unless you are a lawyer yourself.

To have the peace of mind, you should always hire somebody to represent you when you deal with authorities. Even if you have some knowledge, it might not be enough to ensure that you are going to win your case. Also, it is not good to suffer in silence. If you are a victim of a malpractice, make sure that everybody in your area knows about it.

Does Your Case Need An Expert Witness?

Expert witness services will often make the difference between a win and a loss when a complicated case comes to trial.

The description of the expert witness is one who is a qualified specialist in a subject and whose opinion is accepted by the judge, who acknowledges that the witness is an expert by virtue of certifications, training, education, licensing, work experience in the field and work related to the case, number of years practiced, special knowledge, published works, awards, and other skills.

An expert witness has knowledge beyond that of the ordinary lay person, which enables giving testimony regarding an issue that requires expertise. The witness’ specialized scientific or technical opinion about facts and evidence before the court is considered to be within the expert’s area of expertise. Such experts may be called upon as consultants in a case and may give testimony at trial.

Expert testimony is subject to attack upon cross-examination by questioning to bring out any limitations in the witness’s experience and qualifications, lack of the amount and value of the preparation done, or unreliability of the expert’s methods, tests, and sources, along with other allowed issues. An expert witness’ testimony may be rebutted by the testimony of other experts or by contrary evidence or facts.

Michael F. Richards is just the type of expert witness and litigation support specialist that will aid attorneys who are representing businesses, individuals, and financial institutions. His services include case strategy, analysis of key issues, opinions, consulting, depositions, and court testimony.

Richards’ litigation support includes assistance in discovery, research, report writing, assistance with opposing expert witness deposition questioning, bringing understanding especially in his field of commercial banking practices, as well as giving the standard expert witness testimony. Richards has a special expertise in large commercial loans and complex commercial real estate transactions and is a banking expert witness.

Richards started his financial expert witness and consulting career in 2009. He has qualified as an expert witness and specialist and has given expert testimony nationally for both plaintiffs and defendants. He had been retained by attorneys in 27 states and in 79 cases through mid-2015.

He also testifies in arbitration, in state and federal courts, has given testimony in a white collar criminal case filed against the United States, and has been retained in cases against the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC) and in other important cases.

Commercial Truck Drivers a Danger on Michigan Highways

Millions of vehicles control American roads on a daily basis, but commercial trucks are especially important. In fact, a shutdown of that specific industry could destroy the nation. The reason for that is simple. It’s estimated that it takes 48,000 drivers to move or deliver 70% of the goods in this country alone. Most people would think that truck drivers are set. After all, with such demand, the wages must be phenomenal and the safety conditions stellar, right? But neither of those beliefs are true. In fact, ongoing driver shortages cause more problems, including serious truck accidents. So then, why are commercial truck drivers such a danger on Michigan Highways and how can a Michigan commercial truck accident be avoided?

Why Are Commercial Trucks So Dangerous?

Think about this for a moment. The average household vehicle or family car weighs 5,000 pounds. In comparison, the legal and normal weight for an 18-wheeler commercial truck is 80,000 pounds. And that’s prior to any permitted overweight allowances that many commercial trucks obtain. So the idea of one of those monstrosities tipping, sliding, or careening, is sickening and heartbreaking; yet the reality is worse than our fears.

Truck driving is one of the top ten most dangerous jobs, but the industry is top in employee fatalities as it’s responsible for 12% of all work-related deaths regardless of the industry. That breaks down to 98% of semi truck accidents resulting in at least one fatality. That’s compared to 22%, or 130,000 individuals, ending up with serious injuries. Let that sink in.

Truck driving isn’t an easy career. Drivers are often away from home and family for days or weeks at a time. Due to continual driver shortages, established drivers are often given more demands and unreasonable, or unsafe, delivery deadlines which often leads to contacting a truck accident attorney in Michigan. Missing the deadlines means a dock in pay or termination. To avoid that reality, many drivers:

  • Are sleep deprived
  • Drive at dangerous speeds
  • Avoid performing required vehicle safety checks
  • Haul dangerous load weights
  • Resort to chemical substances to complete their job in time

Should Michigan Drivers Be Worried?

An accident can happen at any time for any reason. That fact shouldn’t keep you from leaving the house, but it should keep you alert. Michigan is known for its road-related dangers anyway, ranging from wildlife incidents to some of the worst weather conditions (hello, winter) in the nation. Those types of accidents commonly cause property damage and injuries while collisions with commercial trucks can be catastrophic.

Thirteen percent of commercial truck accidents are due to overweight loads, and two-thirds of all statewide truck accidents occur in Eastern Michigan. Van Buren County tops the list for truck-related accidents, but they can happen anywhere. Over 100 transport companies are located in Michigan, ranging from small businesses to national leaders.

While many do care about the health and welfare of their workers, there are plenty that put profit above precaution. That can be said about any industry, but most businesses don’t endanger innocent lives in the process. Vigilance is essential when driving behind or near a commercial truck, but accidents can still happen regardless of how careful you are. If a commercial truck accident threatens your welfare, call a competent truck accident attorney in Mt. Clemens Michigan to see what can be done to get you on the road again.

 

The Origins of the Bass Guitar

Іt wаs іn thе 1930s whеn аn Аmеrісаn іnvеntоr nаmе Раul Тutmаrс frоm Ѕеаttlе, Wаshіngtоn, сrеаtеd thе fіrst guіtаr-stуlе еlесtrіс bаss іnstrumеnt. Іt wаs frеttеd аnd dеsіgnеd tо bе рlауеd hоrіzоntаllу, аnd соuld bе рluggеd іntо аn аmрlіfісаtіоn dеvісе. Іt wаs а bаss guіtаr dеsіgnеd аs а rерlасеmеnt fоr thе dоublе bаss tуре, but thе іnvеntіоn оnlу rесеіvеd а lіttlе suссеss аnd nеvеr rеаllу рісkеd uр. Аlthоugh іt wаs сrеаtеd tо bе hаndlеd lіkе а guіtаr аnd thе frеts еnаblеd bаssіst tо рlау іt mоrе еаsіlу, іt nеvеr саught uр wіth thе рublіс’s аttеntіоn until a few years later. Today, you can read a lot about 6 string bass tuning as many people around the world seem to be writing on the topic.

Іn thе 1950s Lео Fеndеr, аlsо аn Аmеrісаn, сrеаtеd thе fіrst mаss-рrоduсеd еlесtrіс guіtаr whісh bесаusе hugеlу рорulаr. Тhіs kіnd оf іnstrumеnt wаs іntrоduсеd tо mееt thе dеmаnds оf musісіаns аnd bаss рlауеrs іn раrtісulаr. Тhіs wаs сrеаtеd tо bе а роrtаblе musісаl іnstrumеnt thаt соuld mаtсh thе sоund аnd vоlumе оf thе рорulаr еlесtrіс guіtаr аnd аlsо рlауеd wіth рrесіsіоn, bеttеr thаn thе frеtlеss асоustіс іnstrumеnts. Fеndеr’s еlесtrіс іnstrumеnts аnswеrеd аll thеsе rеquіrеmеnts, аnd quісklу gаіnеd ехtrеmеlу hugе рорulаrіtу аmоng mаnу musісіаns аnd bеgіnnеr bаss рlауеrs аll оvеr thе wоrld.