Legally Easy is a free source of legal help, news and information from Charley Moore and the legal team at RocketLawyer.com. Rocket Lawyer is the easiest way to make a legal document, find a lawyer and get free legal advice for yourself and your business.
How to Write a Letter of Intent
When you consider entering into a meaningful business transaction, a Letter of Intent is a good idea. A Letter of Intent is a legal document that outlines the important issues, people and organizations involved in the transaction. Often, negotiation of the Letter of Intent can be done primarily by the principals involved in the deal, helping clarify and define what they want sufficiently to save a lot of time and money when the time comes to create the formal contracts.
Thus, having a Letter of Intent drafted before going to the expense of creating what are called "definitive agreements" can be a very smart move.
As the rate of unemployment hits a long time high of 9.8%, will congress provide for additional benefits for 15.1 million unemployed workers heading into the holiday season? Pictured here is Labor Secretary Hilda Solis, who must help address the highest unemployment rate in 26 years.
"Some 52 percent of unemployed people have exhausted state jobless benefits, and some are reaching the end of the makeshift strands of emergency extensions. The House of Representatives has passed a bill that would provide another 13 weeks of benefits, but a similar bill has stalled in the Senate over questions of whether it should only cover people in the hardest-hit states."
Most states now have websites where the unemployed can find information about unemployment benefits and, in many cases, complete an online application for unemployment insurance claims. It typically can take two weeks for benefit payments to start. The initial "waiting week", is not compensated. The second week is usually the time difference between program eligibility and payment of benefits for the first time.
The state unemployment agency certification usually includes having the unemployed person affirm that they are "able and available for work", the amount of any part-time earnings they may be earning, and that they are currently seeking work. Such certifications can typically be completed either by online or by phone call. After processing an application, the state will notify the individual about whether he or she qualifies for an unemployment program and, if so, the amount of unemployment benefits compensation that the person will receive each week. Often, states will require the individual to continually certify that they still meet the requirements for unemployment benefits, week after week.
As healthcare reform continues to dominate the news, now is a good time to look at your legal rights under Medicare, the biggest government program that affects millions of Americans. Pictured here is Attorney Joseph S. Carp, whose practice includes Medicare legal issues.
Medicare is a health insurance program run by the U.S. government. It is a single payer health care system that covers people over the age of 65 and others who meet special status criteria. In our opinion, the websites run by the government, like medicare.gov, can be pretty confusing, so we're working on delivering the simple information and easy tools you need to exercise your healthcare legal rights. Medicare consists of four parts - Part A through Part D.
Medicare Part A (hospital insurance) covers hospital care, limited post-hospital skilled nursing facility care, part-time home health services, and hospice care. If you are 65 years old or over, you can receive Medicare Part A insurance without having to pay a premium if you are currently receiving or eligible to receive but have not yet filed for either Social Security or Railroad Retirement benefits or if you or your spouse had Medicare-covered employment by the government. If you are under 65, you can receive Medicare Part A insurance without having to pay a premium if you have received either Social Security or Railroad Retirement benefits for twenty-four (24) months or if you are a kidney transplant or kidney dialysis patient. If you have been denied a Medicare Part A claim, click here for a Medicare Part A Appeal Denial Form.
Medicare Part B (Supplemental Medical Insurance) covers physician's services, certain outpatient hospital services (including emergency room visits), ambulances, diagnostic tests, laboratory services, certain preventive care services such as mammography and pap smear screening, outpatient therapy services, durable medical equipment and supplies, and home health care services not covered by Part A.
Medicare Part B pays 80% of approved charges for most covered services. The beneficiary is responsible for paying a deductible each calendar year as well as the remaining 20% of the Medicare approved charges. The beneficiary may have to pay additional charges if the doctor providing the care does not agree to Medicare's approved charges. If you have been denied a Medicare Part B claim, click here for a Medicare Part B Appeal Denial Form.
Medicare Part C (Medicare Advantage plans) gives Medicare beneficiaries the option of receiving their Medicare benefits from private health insurance plans.
Medicare Part D (Prescription Drug plans) makes those eligible for Medicare Parts A or B, eligible for certain access to funded prescription drug benefits.
With breaking news of the largest identity theft scam in U.S. history, everyone should take a moment to learn how to protect their credit and good name from ID Theft. The Identity Theft Legal Center is here to help you learn about how to protect your identity with a credit freeze and more.
Think you may be a victim of Identity Theft or Credit Fraud? Here are critical first steps to take to recover, from the Identity Theft Recovery Center:
Follow up with creditors, banks, government, and others. Use Rocket Lawyer's easy interview process to request a Credit Freeze and create the written notices to follow up with whoever you need to resolve your situation.
Here is the news from Reuters:
Three men were indicted on Monday for allegedly stealing more than 130 million credit and debit card numbers in what U.S. authorities said they believe is the largest hacking and identity theft case ever prosecuted.
Albert Gonzalez, a former government informant already in jail in connection with hacking cases, and two unnamed Russians were indicted on charges related to five corporate data breaches from 2006 to 2008.
Card numbers were stolen in those breaches from credit-card processor Heartland Payment Systems and retail chains 7-Eleven Inc and Hannaford Brothers Co, prosecutors said.
The men targeted two other corporations, the U.S. attorney's office in New Jersey said in the statement, without naming those companies.
Heartland Payment Systems and Hannaford Brothers had previously and separately acknowledged the breaches, but the scope of the fraud had not been known.
Authorities also for the first time tied those cases to Gonzalez, who was arrested last year on suspicion of hacking into a restaurant chain's payment system.
Attorneys for Gonzalez were not available for comment.
Automobile accidents cause of millions of lawsuits, injuries, deaths and tragedy. Years ago, an organization called Mothers Against Drunk Driving (MADD) made a big difference in bringing the dangers of driving under the influence (DUI) to national attention. The resulting crack down on DUI has been credited with saving lives nationwide.
Now, the New York Times is attempting to bring greater attention to the risks of driving while multi-tasking on cell phones and PDAs. On Sunday, the Times commenced a series titled "Driven to Distraction" that chronicles the dangers of cell phone use on the road. As the article notes:
Extensive research shows the dangers of distracted driving. Studies say that drivers using phones are four times as likely to cause a crash as other drivers, and the likelihood that they will crash is equal to that of someone with a .08 percent blood alcohol level, the point at which drivers are generally considered intoxicated. Research also shows that hands-free devices do not eliminate the risks, and may worsen them by suggesting that the behavior is safe.
A 2003 Harvard study estimated that cellphone distractions caused 2,600 traffic deaths every year, and 330,000 accidents that result in moderate or severe injuries.
Further, according to Times reporter Matt Richtel, the U.S. government has even "withheld data on (the) risks of distracted driving:"
In 2003, researchers at a federal agency proposed a long-term study of 10,000 drivers to assess the safety risk posed by cellphone use behind the wheel. They sought the study based on evidence that such multitasking was a serious and growing threat on America’s roadways. But such an ambitious study never happened. And the researchers’ agency, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, decided not to make public hundreds of pages of research and warnings about the use of phones by drivers — in part, officials say, because of concerns about angering Congress.
On Tuesday, the full body of research is being made public for the first time by two consumer advocacy groups, which filed a Freedom of Information Act lawsuit for the documents. The Center for Auto Safety and Public Citizen provided a copy to The New York Times, which is publishing the documents on its Web site. In interviews, the officials who withheld the research offered their fullest explanation to date.
The former head of the highway safety agency said he was urged to withhold the research to avoid antagonizing members of Congress who had warned the agency to stick to its mission of gathering safety data but not to lobby states.
Critics say that rationale and the failure of the Transportation Department, which oversees the highway agency, to more vigorously pursue distracted driving has cost lives and allowed to blossom a culture of behind-the-wheel multitasking.
“We’re looking at a problem that could be as bad as drunk driving, and the government has covered it up,” said Clarence Ditlow, director of the Center for Auto Safety. The group petitioned for the information after The Los Angeles Times wrote about the research last year. Mother Jones later published additional details.
We are going to continue to follow the Times reporting on cell phones and automobile accidents as well as track automobile accident legal issues.
Small Business Administration Economic Recovery Update
Is the Small Business Administration, aka the SBA, doing enough to help small business owners weather the current economic storm? We're keeping track of the SBA website and news to find out. It's important, because small businesses provide the vast majority of jobs and drive a much greater part of the U.S. economy than large enterprises. SBA chief Karen Mills is pictured above.
The SBA website describes several economic recovery initiatives, including new loan programs. One example is the SBA ARC Loan Program, authorized by the 2009 Economic Recovery Act:
If your small business is stressed meeting expenses during these economic times, the U.S. Small Business Administration has a new loan program designed just for you.
SBA’s America’s Recovery Capital Loan Program can provide up to $35,000 in short-term relief for viable small businesses facing immediate financial hardship to help ride out the current uncertain economic times and return to profitability. Each small business is limited to one ARC loan.
ARC loans will be offered by some SBA lenders for as long as funding is available or until September 30, 2010, whichever comes first.
Here's how to apply and prepare for the application process via your lender:
Applying for an ARC Loan
ARC Loans are provided by commercial lenders and guaranteed by the SBA. Your next step is to contact your lender who will help you determine if you are a candidate for an ARC Loan. Questions they may ask include the following:
Does your small business have an established banking relationship?
Has your small business been in operation for a minimum of two years?
Do you have financial statements (balance sheet, income statement, and cash flow statement) which demonstrate your business had a positive cash flow in one of the past two years (or as long as your business has been operating, if less than two years)?
Does your cash flow projection for the next two years indicate sufficient cash flow to meet your current and future loan payments?
Is your business suffering an immediate financial hardship? For example:
Declining sales and revenues;
Difficulty in making loan payments on existing debt;
Difficulty in paying employees;
Difficulty in purchasing materials, supplies, or inventory; and/or
Difficulty in paying rent and/or other operating expenses
In a case that will have both practical and political reverberations, the U.S. Supreme Court has ruled against the City of New Haven Connecticut in a reverse discrimination suit. The case, known commonly as "New Haven Firefighters," has political impact as well, due to the fact that Supreme Court nominee, Judge Sonya Sotomayor, participated in the appeals court ruling that has now been overturned by the Court. What does the ruling potentially mean for you, your business or organization?
The ruling could alter employment practices nationwide, potentially limiting the circumstances in which employers can be held liable for decisions when there is no evidence of intentional discrimination against minorities.
The fact that this was a 5-4 decision indicates that even at the highest level, judges remain split on the application of employment law to the facts raised by the New Haven case. In particular, the case asked whether the city of New Haven Connecticut erred in throwing out the results of a promotion examination because minority test takers were unlikely to receive promotions based on the results of the exam.
Writing for the majority, Justice Kennedy states:
"Fear of litigation alone cannot justify an employer's reliance on race to the detriment of individuals who passed the examinations and qualified for promotions,"
Kennedy was joined by Chief Justice Roberts and Justices Scalia, Alito and Thomas.
The dissenting Justices were Ginsburg, Souter, Bryer and Stevens:
In dissent, Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg said the white firefighters "understandably attract this court's sympathy. But they had no vested right to promotion. Nor have other persons received promotions in preference to them."
Undoubtedly, labor and employment lawyers will be busy crafting new rules for employers to follow in employment testing situations. Employers will be wise to review their employment practices for compliance with the New Haven ruling and to consult with an employment lawyer to understand the issues raised by the case in application to their own organization's practices and policies.
Millions of us grew up in the Michael Jackson era of pop music. The first time I saw Michael perform, was as a pre-teen when my youngest and most fun loving aunt let me tag along with her friends to see "The Jacksons" with Randy on the bongos. I am definitely part of the "Thriller" generation. As much as any performer, Michael Jackson's body of work will always be part of the soundtrack of our lifetime.
Beyond his music, there is also, of course, a legal side to Mr. Jackson's legacy. On that front, his life diverged, especially as he aged, from the norm. He was very wealthy, but also very indebted financially. He experienced criminal legal accusation, trial and acquittal. He was the subject of lawsuits and settlements from both business partners and personal acquaintances. He was twice divorced. And now, without a doubt, there will be a protracted examination of his legal estate and perhaps that will involve more disputes.
Critical stories are already starting to appear. Here are a few links:
When the immediate tributes and remembrances and eulogies have run their course on the King of Pop, attention will likely turn to a handful of more mundane questions: what happens to Neverland, to his collection of curios; what, if anything, becomes of the rights to his musical legacy? All of these questions, of course, will involve lawyers. Dozens upon dozens of lawyers.
There will be much more to follow on the Michael Jackson estate and legal situation. He leaves three children, apparently under the care of a nanny and his mother, Katherine. We hope that Michael made arrangements for his loved ones and that he rests in peace.
In this economy, child support payments can strain the often already tight relationships between former spouses. Sadly, children are often the ones who suffer the most. Your state probably has several resources listed on the state's web site to to help you, whether you are the spouse paying child support or the one collecting it on behalf of your children.
Attorney Elisabeth Camaur, pictured above, specializes in family law matters, including divorce and child support.
Two big whistleblower lawsuits netted the plaintiffs almost $100 Million combined in the past month. What are these David vs. Golliath lawsuits, also called qui-tam, and how might you someday be affected by them?
So called "whistleblower," or "qui-tam" suits are filed under the False Claims Act, a federal law that empowers people to file lawsuits against federal contractors claiming fraud against the government. Successful whistleblowers can receive a portion (often 15-25 percent) of the damages recovered. Thus, whistleblowers can serve to help reduce fraud against the government, ultimately saving taxpayer money. Whistleblowers with insider knowledge of false claims involving health care, military, and other government spending programs have brought suits under the Act for decades.
As reported by the Wall Street Journal's Law Blog, April 2009 has seen two of the biggest whistleblower settlements in history:
A few weeks ago, we blogged on a huge whistleblower settlement involving Northrop Grumman, one in which pocketed the plaintiff/whistleblower nearly $49 million. It was the largest whistleblower — or qui tam — settlement ever involving alleged military-procurement fraud.
Today, we open the papers to news of another whopper of a qui-tam settlement, one which will net the plaintiff/whistleblower about $45 million.
The case involved Quest Diagnostics and its Nichols Institute Diagnostics unit. The pair agreed to pay $302 million to resolve criminal and civil allegations regarding various diagnostic test kits manufactured and sold until 2006, prosecutors said Wednesday. The diagnostic tests allegedly provided inaccurate and unreliable results, prosecutors said. Under the arrangement, the duo will pay $262 million plus interest to resolve the claims. More...
If you know of instances of fraud against the government, you may be able to file and prevail in a whistleblower, or qui-tam case. Remember, in a qui-tam case, as the plaintiff (the person bringing the suit), you can receive a part of the ultimate settlement yourself. This right to share in the settlement has for centuries (qui-tam cases date back hundreds of years through both english common law and the American courts) encouraged citizens to act a watchdogs against fraud, waste and abuse in government contracting.
The first thing to do is to find a lawyer who specializes in whistleblower cases and knows what do to. In most cases, the lawyer will give you a free consultation to help you understand your rights. Thereafter, the lawyer will counsel you on how best to proceed, if at all with your whistleblower action. Many, if not most lawyers who work in whistleblower cases can also help you to understand your rights if you are retaliated against by your employer who may be involved in the subject matter of your case.
It's a fact of life that not all marriages succeed. Now, the economic downturn is putting even more stress on families that are splitting up. While celebrity divorces like Mel Gibson's attract lots of media attention, for most couples, divorce is an expense that they just can't afford, but have to deal with in order to move on with their lives.
The New York times is reporting several commentaries in its series, "Husbands, Wives and Hard Times." As Paul Amato, a professor of sociology and demography writes in the series, "research...consistently shows that economic hardship undermines marital quality and stability...Since the middle of the 20th century, declines in the economy have been linked with increases in divorce rates."
Most states now offer a no fault divorce. So, couples who can amicably work out property distribution and child custody issues can preserve family and personal resources while moving on.
What Should You Do About the Denial of a Medical Insurance Claim?
Every day, many people find themselves in one of life's most distressing situations - having a health care insurance claim denied. Sadly, it's a fact of life that our healthcare system routinely results in denied claims for medical services and care that people need and probably should be entitled to under their existing insurance policy. What should you do if a healthcare insurance claim of yours is denied?
Well, there is more and more public momentum toward cleaning up health care and claims denials. Robyn Shelton writes in the Orlando Sentinel that if you are denied a health insurance claim, "you should appeal." She goes on to write:
"First off: Don't panic. Many claims are rejected initially for glitches that can be sorted out rather easily. Do not pay a bill without making some calls." Read more...
In her article "The Health-Care Crisis Hits Home," Karen Tumulty recounts her family's ordeal as her brother had to fight the twin battles of kidney disease and a denial of his insurance coverage. Stories like these are all too familiar to millions of people:
"The unforeseen was exactly what turned up when Pat went in for a physical on Nov. 30, 2007, his first in five years. The doctor found high levels of blood and protein in his urine, results that were confirmed in another round of tests in December. Soon after that, Pat discovered that his urine had turned brown and foamy. In the middle of all this, he was laid off from his job, and finding a new one while doing temp work was his most pressing concern...That's when Pat, who is now 54, learned that his kidneys were failing. The diagnosis was only the first shock. The second came a few weeks later, in an Aug. 5 letter from Pat's health-insurance company (denying his claim). For six years — since losing the last job he had that provided medical coverage — Pat had been faithfully paying premiums to Assurant Health, buying a series of six-month medical policies, one after the other, always hoping he would soon find a job that would include health coverage...The previous four weeks had left my brother with more than $14,000 in bills from hospitals, doctors and labs..." Read more...
If you are facing an insurance claim denial, you can follow a few simple steps to first become informed about your rights, and second, fight the claims denial yourself, with the assistance of government agencies, and, if needed, your own lawyer.
Avoid the Tax Reaper with the 2009 Tax Savings Guide - Tax Tips to Save You Time and Money
Now more than ever, many people need good tax advice due to the economic downturn. Whatever your situation, the new Rocket Lawyer Tax Savings Guide can help you understand basic tax terminology and point you in the right direction. This year, RocketLawyer.com has partnered with H&R Block to bring the latest tax savings information directly to Rocket Lawyer members.
The Tax Savings Guide can help you with the following important tax issues:
Rocket Lawyer to Preview Web Law Office 2.0 at SaaS Conference
Thanks to the support and feedback of our members, RocketLawyer.com has been selected to deliver a company Preview presentation at this year's SIIA OnDemand Software as a Service conference. SIIA OnDemand is widely viewed as the premier industry gathering for the SaaS market, with attendees from Salesforce.com, IBM, Oracle and many other companies, media and technology investors. According to SIIA's announcement, Rocket Lawyer was "chosen by the Software & Information Industry Association from among 82 candidate companies for the opportunity to present their products and services to OnDemand Conference Attendees."
The Rocket Lawyer Web Law Office(tm) is the easiest way for lawyers to produce legal documents in collaboration with new and existing clients, other counsel and other parties. Stay tuned for our official Web Law Office 2.0 announcement Tuesday morning, and thanks again for helping us make Rocket Lawyer work better for everyone!
Now that the election is over, Rocket Lawyer will work to help you understand what the transition to a new government, led by President-elect Obama and the new congress, will mean for you and your family, your business or your law practice. The election results clearly indicate that next year will be marked by change. We can certainly expect a flurry of legislation targeted toward economic recovery, potentially including sweeping action on taxation, health care, energy and education.
How can you plan for the new government? What opportunities and risks will emerge in the coming months as a result of America's new political direction? These are important questions that Rocket Lawyer will help answer. The Rocket Lawyer Free Legal Help center will continue to be a good place to find simple answers to your legal questions.
We plan to be very active on behalf of consumers, small business owners and legal professionals. We'll be asking for your opinions so that we can understand how best to serve you. We hope that you will take the time to complete our survey and tell us what you think and what legal services and information you need, in this time of change.
A Home Sale Worksheet Can Make Selling Your House Easier
In a tough real estate market like this one, being prepared and organized can help you to maximize your chances of getting the most the value of your home and avoiding problems during the home sale process. Suprisingly to many, pending home sales rose by 7.4% in the most recent monthly report, according to the Wall Street Journal. The report goes on to say that perhaps lower interest rates and lower home prices are beginning to make homes affordable enough to enable the over-all home sale market to improve.
If you are selling a home, you can use the Rocket Lawyer Home Sale Worksheet to organize your home sale process.
You can also use your Rocket Lawyer account to store all of your important home sale paperwork in the File Safekeeper. In fact, File Safekeeper is a great place to store all of your important legal documents for a lifetime.
Once your home sale and home ownership documents are securely uploaded to your Rocket Lawyer account, you can share them online with family, brokers, lawyers and anyone else that you would like to give secure access to your legal documents.
In this video, Attorney Arthur Miller discusses when a lawyer is needed when buying or selling a house.
RocketLawyer.com™ provides information and software only. This site is not
a "lawyer
referral service" and does not provide or participate in any legal representation.
Place a fraud alert on your credit history.
Complete an 
File a 
Follow up with creditors, banks, government, and others.
