Saturday, June 30, 2007

Bextra Lawyer: Recall for Dangerous Drug

By now you have probably heard about a little drug known as BEXTRA. Just in case you have been out of the loop, it is a medicine that treats the pain and inflammation of arthritis. On April 7, the Food and Drug Administration requested that Pfizer suspend sales of BEXTRA in the United States in light of the FDA's position that there is an increased cardiovascular risk for all prescription non-steroidal anti-inflammatory arthritis medicines, as well as the increased rate of rare, serious skin reactions.

The Bad news.

The bad news is this. If you have been taking Bextra, you have been unknowingly increasing your risk of having cardiovascular complications.

The Good News.

The good news is, not only can you get a refund, in most cases, from your local pharmacy, but you may also have a strong case if you decide to contact a lawyer that specializes in Dangerous Drugs.

If you have taken any kind of dangourous drug, you should never feel guilty about finding out more about your legal options. Research not only the medicine in question, but also alternative medicines so you don’t end up in a similar situation. When you feel comfortable talking about the situation, find a Lawyer specialized in the drug in question. Which in this case would be a Bextra Lawyer.


http://www.hugesettlements.com/articles/Bextra-Lawyer-Recall-Drug.htm



Baycol Lawsuit: Baycol Lawyer Advice

The German pharmaceutical company Bayer AG announced in August of 2001 a voluntary withdrawal of its drug Baycol (cerivastatin) from the US and European markets. Over 31 people have died while taking the drug. They perish of severe muscle breakdown, a rare condition that has been associated with cholesterol-lowering drugs like Baycol. Many of the people to die while using Baycol were also using gemfibrozil, despite warnings about the danger of mixing the two.

Drug recalls are relatively rare, representing less than 3% of drugs that are released into the market. The FDA supported this voluntary recall. Baycol has been used worldwide by over 6 million people, and it will remain on the market in Japan where gemfibrozil is unavailable.

Since statins (cholesteral-lowering drugs) were introduced in the marketplace many physicians noted that patients experienced muscle spasms and pain. In this case of the Baycol tragedies, this muscle soreness progressed to a full-scale breakdown, a condition called rhabdomyolysis. As this muscle tissue breaks down it releases toxic proteins into the bloodstream. When this tainted blood reaches the internal organs it causes kidney failure. Nearly all of the Baycol deaths were caused by kidney failure.

There have been lawsuits filed against Bayer, and rightfully so, for introducing this dangerous and deadly drug into the marketplace. Many of the adverse reactions took place with high dose pills used in conjunction with gemfibrozil, but many people also died while taking small doses of Baycol alone. If you or a loved one has suffered from the use of Baycol, contact an attorney right away.

http://www.hugesettlements.com/articles/baycol-lawyer.htm



Avandia Lawyer: Rezulin-like Symptoms

Avandia, a compound of rosiglitazone maleate, is an oral antidiabetic agent. Avandia pills increase insulin sensitivity for patients with type 2 diabetes, or non-insulin-dependent diabetes. Avandia also improves glycemic control as it reduces the circulation of insulin levels. If diet, exercise, and a single drug are not enough to control blood sugar levels, Avandia can be used in conjunction with another drug.

Avandia is not to be used for type 1 diabetes (juvenile onset diabetes) or diabetic ketoacidosis. It is questionable whether people with heart failure, fluid retention, or active liver disease should take Avandia at all. Since Avandia became available there have been reports of the development of hepatitis (the inflammation of the liver) due to elevated liver enzymes. Patients taking Avandia should have their liver enzymes monitored regularly.

Additionally, Avandia is in the same class of drugs as Rezulin, a very dangerous drug that has been associated with devastating liver injury including liver failure that can only be cured with transplant. Without immediate transplant, many Rezulin liver failures have resulted in death. Because of this close association with a dangerous drug, users of Avandia should be in close contact with a doctor if they notice any symptoms of liver problems such as nausea, vomiting, stomach pain, fatigue, dark urine, or jaundice. Avandia is also very dangerous for pregnant women and their unborn children.

It is also advised, should you suffer adversely from the use of Avandia, to consult a lawyer. The recent proliferation of dangerous drugs into the marketplace is a disturbing trend, and should a drug threaten your health you should be repaid for damages and the drug should be taken off the market.

http://www.hugesettlements.com/articles/avandia-lawyer.htm



Ativan Side Effects: Lorazepan Is Dangerous!

The drug Lorazepan is marketed under the names Alzapam, Ativan, Loraz, Lorazepam, Intensol. Ativan is the safest form of this type of drug because it has less of an effect on the liver than other benzodiazepines, which means that a patient can take it in conjunction with other liver affecting medications like birth control pills, anti-abuse drugs, propranolol, and ulcer medications. However, Ativan also has dangerous side effects. If you or a loved one suffer from any of these harmful side effects, stop taking the drug immediately and contact both a doctor and a lawyer. Drugs are meant to improve your health and wellbeing and if Ativan threatens you or makes you sicker you have a right to take your injuries to court.

Ativan is a mild tranquilizer with many different applications, and depending on how it is used it can cause different side effects. Ativan is commonly used to relieve anxiety, to calm manic schizophrenics, and as an intravenous pre-surgery relaxant. Ativan may also be used to cure such diverse maladies as alcohol withdrawal symptoms, to treat serial seizures in children, to promote amnesia, and to relax the severe vomiting of patients after chemotherapy.

The dangerous side effects of Ativan, however, are just as diverse. Many patients suffer from allergic reactions that manifest in difficulty breathing, closing of the throat, and swollen lips, face, and tongue. Some people develop open sores in the mouth and throat or yellowed skin and eyes or a widespread rash. Some patients even suffer from hallucinations, severe confusion, and changes in vision. As you can imagine, these side effects seriously threaten the quality of life of patients using Ativan. In addition, it has negative reactions with many ordinary drugs like antacids.


http://www.hugesettlements.com/articles/ativan-side-effects.htm


Accutane Lawyer: Devastating Side Effects

You probably know the drug isotretinoin by its trade name, accutane. Accutane is a powerful drug often used to treat acne. Unlike other acne treatments, which are simply antibacterial agents, accutane actually changes the composition of the skin. Accutane causes skin to produce less oil, which almost always results in a reduction of acne. Accutane is very powerful and effective, but this comes with some very dangerous side effects that everybody should be aware of. If used or administered improperly, accutane can do more harm than good.

Almost everybody who uses accutane suffers from mild side effects like itchy skin, chapped lips, and nosebleeds. These are very minor compared with some of the more dramatic side effects. Accutane causes horrible birth defects if used while a mother is pregnant, and women taking accutane have to sign a contract that they are willing to undertake an abortion if they become pregnant during or directly after their use of accutane. Other problems include decreased night vision, joint pain, and disorders of the intestinal and urinary systems.

Some patients develop terrible headaches that can lead to brain aneurisms. Some patients taking accutane fall into severe depression and many have committed suicide. The actual numbers are hard to come by because the majority of accutane users are young adolescents, an age group that is always plagued by raging hormones and emotional swings. When these young people take their lives while using accutane their families do not always realize that the depression, and resulting death, was actually caused by the drug. Some people feel that drug companies should be held responsible for distributing a drug with side effects as life-threatening as the disease of depression.

If you or someone you love is using accutane and is suffering from any of these terrible side effects, please talk to a trained drug lawyer. Victims across the country are filing suit with Roche Pharmaceuticals, the makers of accutane, to gain justice for the terrible side effects accutane has unleashed. Accutane can produce pleasing aesthetic results, but at a potentially devastating cost in health risks.

http://www.hugesettlements.com/articles/accutane-lawyer.htm



Lawyer Complaints

Attorneys are licensed to practice law by the Highest Court of the state. When they are sworn-in, all lawyers take an oath to uphold the laws of the United States, the laws of their state and to be governed by the Rules of Professional Conduct promulgated by their state's Highest Court.

Most lawyers are reputable. They are trained to utilize every available legal avenue to resolve a client's case. Most lawyers value their good reputation.

The American legal system and the attorney-client relationship are founded on trust. Only a few attorneys ever betray that trust. When a breach occurs, not only are the individual clients hurt by the attorney's misconduct, but the entire legal system is damaged.

Every state has a set of Rules of Professional Conduct that govern the conduct of attorneys. These rules establish a very high standard for lawyers. When you file a complaint against your lawyer, ask your state's disciplinary body will to provide you with a copy of the Rules of Professional Conduct and for information explaining the complaint process in your state. Read the ethical and disciplinary rules adopted by the judicial system in your state carefully and completely. (Click here for your state's disciplinary body).

Each state's disciplinary body knows that even if only a few lawyers engage in misconduct, it is the responsibility of the state's disciplinary body to resolve it in a manner that maintains the public's trust and confidence in the judicial system. Each state's disciplinary body wants to do all it can to resolve every dispute that may arise between an attorney and his or her client.

Invariably, in any business enterprise, consumer problems can arise. It is no different for lawyers and their clients.

Nearly all lawyers are competent and respectable people who uphold their legal and professional obligations. However, lawyers sometimes make mistakes, and some lawyers are more competent than others.

In some cases, the problem between an attorney and his or her client does not constitute a violation of ethical rules. A lawyer may be disciplined only if the provisions of the Rules of Professional Conduct have been violated. A lawyer who violates these standards of conduct may be disciplined and given penalties ranging from a private reprimand to permanent loss of the privilege to practice law.

Some problems between lawyers and clients are the result of misunderstandings or a lack of communication. If you have a problem with your lawyer, it is very important to discuss your concerns with your lawyer. As soon as you discover that a problem exists, call your lawyer and tell him or her that you believe something is wrong with your attorney-client relationship or with the work that being done is being done in your case. Your lawyer may not be aware that you have a problem with his or her handling of your case. Insist on a face-to-face meeting. Often, after an open discussion, you may be able to reach a mutually acceptable solution.

If your lawyer is unwilling to talk to you, write a letter explaining the problem and ask for a response from your lawyer. If your lawyer does not respond, consider hiring another lawyer. You have a right to expect competent representation from your attorney. If you are dissatisfied, you may fire the attorney. Ask that your files be sent to your new lawyer. Remember that the reason you terminated your attorney's services may not be grounds for disciplining your attorney.

There are situations that you may find very annoying which do not constitute misconduct. For example, your lawyer's failure to fully explain what is going to happen in your case, or your lawyer's failure to respond to your telephone calls inquiring about the progress of your case. While such actions usually do not constitute misconduct, your state's disciplinary body is anxious to see such conduct corrected, and will generally suggest steps to your lawyer which he or she must take to correct that conduct and to prevent its recurrence.

A lawyer may lose the trust and confidence of a client for various reasons. Your case's outcome does not mean your lawyer violated the ethical standards. Since litigation is adversarial, by definition, many legal matters will not be resolved in a manner favorable to the losing party. Although you may be dissatisfied with the outcome of your case, your complaint may not constitute grounds for disciplinary action. While your lawyer assists you in presenting your case in its best light, the final decision rests with the jury or judge and is not controlled by your lawyer. If you do not agree with the decision, an appeal to a higher court will more likely be able to protect your interests than filing a complaint against your lawyer.

A mistake or an error in judgment is not unethical conduct. An honest disagreement about how a case should be handled or should have been handled does not constitute misconduct. Neither does a mistake. Lawyers are human. Sometimes they make mistakes just like everyone else. If the mistake causes a loss, you may be able to recover the loss by filing a civil claim against your lawyer.

The Highest Court of each state and its disciplinary body recognize that action should be taken to prevent unethical conduct and to restore confidence and trust when misconduct occurs. The purpose of lawyer discipline is to protect the public from future acts of professional misconduct and to establish and maintain high ethical standards in the legal profession. The lawyer discipline system is designed to protect the public by disciplining a lawyer if he or she violated the Rules of Professional Conduct. The purpose of the disciplinary procedure is to determine whether an ethical violation has occurred and, if so, what discipline should be imposed upon the lawyer. The disciplinary process is not designed to recover funds from lawyers or to settle fee disputes.

The procedures established by the Highest Court of each state and its disciplinary body are designed to provide a thorough review of your allegations of misconduct and to resolve the matter in a way that is fair to you and to the lawyer involved.

A formal complaint of unprofessional conduct against a lawyer is a serious matter. A lawyer accused of misconduct is adversely impacted whether or not he or she is ultimately found to have violated the Rules of Professional Conduct. More than a mere claim of alleged misconduct is needed to justify disciplinary penalties. It takes evidence--legal proof. The same legal proof that is required before any member of our society is punished for wrongdoing.

The complaint procedure for reporting and reviewing the misconduct of an attorney varies in each state. After your complaint is received and docketed by the disciplinary body, your complaint will be reviewed by staff personnel to determine whether or not your complaint alleges a matter that is appropriate for the disciplinary body to handle. The disciplinary body reviewing your complaint will read all of the documents you submit with your complaint and decide whether it is appropriate for the disciplinary process to continue. If so, your complaint will be sent to your attorney with a request that he or she respond to your complaint in writing. Your attorney's written response will be sent to you for your written reply. Many states have a statutory provision protecting people who file a disciplinary complaint in "good faith" from a lawsuit by the attorney against whom the complaint is filed.

A complaint of professional misconduct against a lawyer immediately puts into action the investigative and adjudicative processes of the state's disciplinary body. Once a complaint has been filed, it cannot be withdrawn. The decision to close the file is then in the hands of the disciplinary body.

Filing an ethics complaint with the disciplinary body that monitors the conduct of your lawyer is the least known and most powerful remedy you have to correct and prevent lawyer misconduct. The disciplinary body in your state can ultimately have your lawyer's license taken away if your complaint is serious enough, or if there is a history of other complaints about unethical conduct by your attorney.

However, after an initial review, only certain specific allegations of lawyer misconduct are likely to be prosecuted by the disciplinary body in your state. For example, theft of client funds and allegations of sexual contact by an attorney are appropriate allegations for the disciplinary process. While problems such as fee disputes, claims of negligence, and lawyer deceit, are not suitable for the grievance process.

Lawyer discipline may take one of several forms, depending on the circumstances and severity of the offense. Discipline may range from a private reprimand by the disciplinary body, public censure, suspension from practice for a specified time, probation, or disbarment by the Highest Court. Lawyers who are found guilty of serious misconduct, such as theft of client funds, may be suspended or disbarred from practicing law. Other types of misconduct, such as not communicating with clients or failing to diligently pursue a case, may result in a censure or reprimand.

The most frequent discipline handed out to an attorney is a private letter of reprimand. Even though the letter of reprimand is confidential, it is placed in your attorney's permanent record with the disciplinary body. The letter of reprimand and your complaint remain in his or her file as long as your attorney continues to practice law. Suspension or disbarment are reserved for very serious charges and would only be imposed after a hearing in the matter in which you were required to testify.

The state's disciplinary body cannot investigate complaints of malpractice, decide legal questions or give legal advice. Usually the disciplinary body has no jurisdiction over issues pending in court or situations occurring in a lawyer's personal life, such as disagreements with neighbors, creditors or spouses.

Malpractice and attorney misconduct are not necessarily the same. An attorney can commit legal malpractice and not be in violation of the disciplinary rules, or an attorney can be in violation of the disciplinary rules without having committed legal malpractice. You should consult with a reputable attorney to help you decide if there are remedies other than filing a grievance.

The disciplinary process is very serious business for your attorney. However, your state's disciplinary body does not have authority to return money taken by your attorney or obtain compensation for your damages.

You should also be aware that lawyers are reviewing the conduct of lawyers. They can be very protective of other lawyers, especially if they think your complaint is vindictive, or frivolous. In an effort to monitor attorney conduct from the perspective of the general public, many states are now utilizing laypeople to review the conduct of lawyers.

In most states, lawyer discipline is a confidential process, which is designed to protect the reputation of attorneys. A number of states now permit public disclosure of an attorney complaint at the hearing stage. However, some states (for example, Oregon) are beginning to allow the pubic to have notice of a complaint against an attorney prior to a public hearing in the matter, at times, as soon as the matter is filed with the disciplinary body.

Do not file a complaint to force an attorney to take action on a case or to gain an advantage in dealing with an attorney. There are rules that prohibit attorneys from reporting other attorneys solely for these reasons. A grievance is not an action to take in place of talking with your attorney. The grievance system is adversarial and is not a forum for attorney-client communication. Problems of this nature should be handled outside of the attorney grievance system.

Creating a paper trail is important. If you are having problems talking with your attorney, bring your concerns to your attorney in writing. It is extremely important to document your efforts to contact a lawyer who does not keep you informed of the progress of your case and will not return phone calls. If your lawyer is not handling your case in the manner you desire, send your lawyer letters confirming your discussions about your case. In your letters state clearly your attorney's promises and commitments regarding further action on your behalf. Lawyers understand that paper records are hard to dispute. You will get more attention and respect if you create a written record of your dealings with your lawyer.

What your write and how you write it are also important. If the effort to resolve the problem with the lawyer is not successful, judges and jurors may read what your correspondence. Every letter has two goals. First, to inform your attorney of your intention to change the manner in which your case is being handled. Second, to make yourself look reasonable to judges and jurors who may read your letters in the future.

PREVENTING PROBLEMS:

Many problems can be prevented if you know what to expect from your lawyer and how to deal with your lawyer.

SUGGESTIONS FOR AVOIDING PROBLEMS INCLUDE:

Have Realistic Expectations:

You may become dissatisfied with your lawyer because you have an unrealistic expectation about the outcome of your case. Ask your lawyer what you should expect. How long will the matter take? About how much will it cost? What are the unpredictable factors?

Fee Agreements

Often disputes occur because you and your lawyer have a different understanding about what the attorney fees will be in your case. GET A WRITTEN FEE AGREEMENT AND ASK FOR PROMPT BILLINGS.

Cooperation

Provide documentation and supporting information to your lawyer promptly. You have a right to expect that your lawyer will keep you informed and give you copies of important documents.

Keep Current

If your address or phone number change, let your lawyer know promptly. If you change your mind about pursuing your legal matter, tell your lawyer immediately.

Communication

Expect your lawyer to keep you informed of all developments in your case. If you are dissatisfied, let the lawyer know why. Write to confirm important understandings. Keep track of your telephone calls to your lawyer.

VIOLATIONS OF PROFESSIONAL RESPONSIBILITY:

Lawyers are expected to meet high standards. The standards for lawyers' professional responsibility established by the Highest Court in your state are contained in the Rules of Professional Conduct. These rules can be found in most libraries. If a lawyer violates these rules, the lawyer may be disciplined.

The following are examples of complaints handled by the disciplinary body:

Neglect and Delay

Lawyers are required to be reasonably prompt and to keep clients reasonably informed. Do you think your lawyer has been taking far too long with your legal matter? Write to the lawyer and ask for a written explanation. If you do not get a satisfactory reply, file a complaint.

Getting Your File Back

A client may switch lawyers for any reason. Changing lawyers may increase expense or delay, but it is the client's choice to make. If you want your file from your lawyer, call and ask for it. If you do not receive it, send a certified letter repeating the request. If you still do not receive your file, or the lawyer insists that you pay copying costs before you get it, file a complaint.

Money and Accounting

Lawyers handle money for clients, including receiving settlements or awards for their clients. When a lawyer handles client money, the lawyer must promptly and completely account for it. If there is any significant delay in receiving your money from your lawyer or in getting a complete accounting, file a complaint.

Conflicts of Interest

Sometimes lawyers represent more than one client in a matter. In other situations a lawyer may represent a client and at a later time be opposed to the former client. Sometimes the client may agree to the lawyer's work even though there is a conflict. If you believe that your lawyer is acting improperly in representing conflicting interests, file a complaint.

Dishonesty

Lawyers are forbidden to make intentionally false statements, however, lawyers may represent their clients' interests aggressively. This may involve relying on the client's version of the facts. In lawsuits, most disputes about the facts are resolved by courts.

OTHER COMPLAINTS:

Fees

Disputes regarding legal fees are usually not investigated by the disciplinary body. The cost of legal services is generally left to an agreement between the lawyer and the client. Written fee agreements are strongly encouraged to avoid misunderstandings. Most routine fee disputes are best resolved outside of the disciplinary procedure. Fee arbitration is a relatively fast and simple way of resolving fee disputes. You and your lawyer may be able to reach an understanding. In a few instances, if a lawyer charges a clearly illegal or grossly excessive fee, discipline may be appropriate.

Malpractice

Lawyers, like any other professional, like anyone, at times make mistakes. A lawyer might handle a matter in a way that is inadequate but not unethical. If a client was damaged by a lawyer's negligence, you may have a malpractice claim against your lawyer. Most malpractice and inadequate performance matters are not appropriate for the disciplinary process.

Dissatisfaction with the quality of a lawyer9s advice or strategy

The disciplinary body in your state cannot regulate the quality of a lawyer9s advice or strategy in either civil or criminal cases, except for certain situations, such as missing filing deadlines, failing to file required documents or totally abandoning the case. If you believe your lawyer represented you poorly, in a civil case, you must file a civil malpractice action against your lawyer, or, in a criminal case, you need to file a petition for a writ of habeas corpus, to deal with your claims of ineffective assistance of counsel. These cases must be filed in the appropriate court of law. These are complex legal issues. To improve your chances of success in these cases, it is strongly recommended that you seek adequate legal counsel.

Personal Behavior

Generally, complaints that involve behavior of an attorney outside the practice of law, such as use of profanity, landlord-tenant disputes and debtor-creditor matters, are not appropriate for the disciplinary process. Serious matters, such as fraud and criminal offenses, are subject to discipline.

The Opponent's Lawyer

You can file a complaint against the other person's lawyer. However, it is important to understand our adversarial system of justice. Many complaints are filed against lawyers who are representing other people. This is especially common in the area of family law, where one spouse files a complaint against the lawyer of the other spouse. A lawyer must represent his or her client aggressively. Before filing a complaint against your opponent's lawyer, remember that it is an attorney's duty to represent his or her client vigorously and well. In the adversarial system each side presents a different version of the facts in the lawsuit, which can create hard feelings and ill will. You may not like what the lawyer is doing, particularly if it has a negative impact on you, but that does not necessarily make the conduct unethical. Only flagrant abuses will be disciplined, usually only after the court has ruled on the matter.

Complaints by Creditors

Your State's disciplinary body is not a collection agency. Complaints about a lawyer not paying his or her bills should be resolved in the civil courts. In extreme cases, disciplinary action may be taken, if a pattern of willfully unsatisfied and practice-related judgments, issuing checks on a closed account, or fraud can be proved.

Conclusion:

Although some states are beginning to open the process of lawyer discipline to the public at an earlier stage, the fact remains that you will have a tough battle to prove a grievance against your lawyer. As with all professionals, attorneys protect other attorneys. Unless your lawyer has committed a serious breach of the Rules of Professional Conduct, an attorney's reputation is likely to be protected. A lawyer's statements about the facts will generally be given more credibility than yours.

More reform of the disciplinary review system is needed. All states need to open the secret disciplinary process to the public. All review systems need to involve a greater number of non-lawyers in the process. Until there is additional reform in the disciplinary process, you will probably not be satisfied with the outcome of your grievance. Nevertheless, file your complaint about all unethical conduct by any attorney. Even though the current system is inadequate, the attorney disciplinary system does maintain a record of all grievances that are filed. The mere fact of potential disciplinary action acts as a deterrent to future misconduct by questionable attorneys with other clients, which benefits the reputable attorneys and the public as a whole.


http://library.findlaw.com/2000/May/1/128528.html


Firm Lawyer Articles - JayShepherd

Towards a New Concept of Fiduciary Relationships", (1981) 97 Law Quarterly Review 51.

"Racially-Motivated Wills: Dynna v. Grant", (1981) 5 Estates and Trusts Quarterly 233.

"Investing in R & D", The Enterpriser, July 1982.

"Basic Personal Tax Planning", in Wills, Trusts and the General Practitioner, 1982, Law Society of Upper Canada.

"R & D Tax Incentive Financing", Renewable Energy News, January, 1984.

"R & D Tax Incentive and Financing Arrangements", in New Tax Incentives and Financing Arrangements, 1984, Ontario Ministry of Energy.

"Using Tax Incentives to Finance Wind Energy Installations", in Proceedings of the Seventh Annual Wind Energy Symposium, 1985.

"Tax Enhanced Funding" in Proceedings of the New Energy Conference, January 1986.

"Financing Canadian Windfarms" in Proceedings of the 1986 CanWEA Conference, October 1986

"The Tax Perspective", in Proceedings of the 1987 CanWEA Conference, September 1987.

"Barriers to Financing Wind Generation Facilities", in Proceedings of the AQME Energy Conference, October, 1988.

"Shark Infested Waters: Financing New Energy Sources", in Proceedings of the Second New Energy Sources Conference, October, 1988.

"Alternative Financing Techniques for Small Hydro Projects", in Proceedings of the International Small Hydro '88 Conference, 1988.

"The Government's Role in Private Financing", in Proceedings of the 1988 CanWEA Conference, 1988.

"Life Without Class 34 Leasing", The Money Column, IPPSO Facto, May, 1989.

"When the Common Law Fails", [1989] Estates and Trusts Journal 117.

"Tax-Efficient Private Power Financing", in Proceedings of the 1989 Ontario Independent Power Conference.

"The Demand/Supply Plan: A Preliminary Analysis", IPPSO Facto, January, 1990.

"Stalking the Wild Fiduciary", (1990) Canadian Bar Review (review of Ellis, Fiduciary Duties in Canada)

"Financeable Rate Structures", The Money Column (two-part series), IPPSO Facto, April and June, 1990

"Financing Options for Small Hydro Projects", in Canadian Small Hydro Developers Manual, EMR, 1990.

"The Demand/Supply Hearings - Requirements for Consensus", in Proceedings of the 1991 Ontario Independent Power Conference

"Class 34 of the Income Tax Act", IPPSO Facto, November, 1991 (and in Exhibit Record, DSP Hearings)

"Specialized Financing Tools", in Proceedings of the 1992 Canadian Wind Conference

"Independent Power Growth in Ontario: Issues and Results", in Proceeding of the Energy '92 Conference, Canadian Institute of Energy, 1992

"Non-Cash Social Investments", SIO Forum, March, 1993

"New Directions at Ontario Hydro" in Proceedings of the Fifth Annual Canadian Independent Power Conference, November, 1993

"Proposal for an Environmental Free Market System" in Proceedings of the 1994 Canadian Wind Energy Conference, 1994

"Proposal for an Entrepreneur Investment Credit", Private Briefing document to the Minister of Finance, 1994

"The New Electricity Industry", in Proceedings of the Sixth Annual Canadian Independent Power Conference, December, 1994

An Environmental Free Market System, SIO Forum, June, 1995

"Entrepreneurial Companies: Structuring the Relationship", in Proceedings of the Environment and Energy Conference of Ontario, Toronto, 1995

"Changes to the Taxation of Renewable Electricity", in Canadian Energy Markets Monthly, June 1996

The New Renewable Energy Taxation RegimeIPPSO Facto, July, 1996

"Replacing Coal and Fossil in Canada's Largest Market", in Proceedings of the 1997 CanWEA Conference, September, 1997

"CRCE - Now That We've Got it, What Next?", in Proceedings of the Second National Renewables Conference, Ottawa, 1997


http://www.shibleyrighton.com/showarticle.asp?lawyer=24

What Does It Take To Be A Lawyer?

When you see all these handsome Lawyers in TV series like LA Law, sitting in their fancy offices, driving these flashy cars, have you ever realized what they have been through in terms of time, years of education, money, Certifications etc’.

Let me Describe to you the Lawyers course of training. Formal educational requirements for lawyers include a 4-year college degree, 3 years in law school, and the passing of a written bar examination.

Competition for admission to most law schools is intense. prospective lawyers should develop proficiency in writing and speaking, reading, researching, analyzing, and thinking logically—skills needed to succeed both in law school and in the profession.

Regardless of major, a multidisciplinary background is recommended. Courses in English, foreign languages, public speaking, government, philosophy, history, economics, mathematics, and computer science, among others, are useful. Students interested in a particular aspect of law may find related courses helpful. For example, prospective patent lawyers need a strong background in engineering or science, and future tax lawyers must have extensive knowledge of accounting.

Acceptance by most law schools depends on the applicant’s ability to demonstrate an aptitude for the study of law, usually through good undergraduate grades, the Law School Admission Test (LSAT), the quality of the applicant’s undergraduate school, any prior work experience, and, sometimes, a personal interview.

During the first year or year and a half of law school, students usually study core courses, such as constitutional law, contracts, property law, torts, civil procedure, and legal writing. In the remaining time, they may elect specialized courses in fields such as tax, labor, or corporate law. Law students often acquire practical experience by participating in school-sponsored legal clinic activities; in the school’s moot court competitions, in which students conduct appellate arguments; in practice trials under the supervision of experienced lawyers and judges; and through research and writing on legal issues for the school’s law journal.

Law school graduates receive the degree of juris doctor (J.D.) as the first professional degree. Advanced law degrees may be desirable for those planning to specialize, research, or teach. Some law students pursue joint degree programs, which usually require an additional semester or year of study. Joint degree programs are offered in a number of areas, including law and business administration or public administration.

After graduation, lawyers must keep informed about legal and nonlegal developments that affect their practice. Currently, 40 States and jurisdictions mandate continuing legal education (CLE). Many law schools and State and local bar associations provide continuing education courses that help lawyers stay abreast of recent developments.

The practice of law involves a great deal of responsibility. Individuals planning careers in law should like to work with people and be able to win the respect and confidence of their clients, associates, and the public. Perseverance, creativity, and reasoning ability also are essential to lawyers, who often analyze complex cases and handle new and unique legal problems.

Lawyers held about 695,000 jobs in 2002. About 3 out of 4 lawyers practiced privately, either in law firms or in solo practices. Most of the remaining lawyers held positions in government and with corporations and nonprofit organizations.


http://www.articlecity.com/articles/legal/article_528.shtml


Friday, June 29, 2007

Why CPA's Ask for Certain Documents in Divorce Cases

Most forensic accountants begin their assignments by preparing a list of documents needed. Attorneys sometimes respond to these requests by calling them overburdensome and excessive. This article will explain some of the reasons why those documents are being requested.

Financial Statements

An analysis of financial statements, especially over a five year period, will present a good picture of the financial condition of the company. In addition, it can show new patterns that are developing, if sales are growing steadily, if profits are growing, if assets are increasing, that tells one kind of story. If sales are going up and then down every year or so, if the company does very well and then very poorly, that tells a different story. The different stories being told will then indicate the amount of further analysis that will be needed. In addition, sometimes a business is very steady until the year of divorce, at which point sales suddenly decrease, or legal expenses suddenly increase, or the gross profit percentage becomes inconsistent, or some other type of change occurs. This change is a flag to the accountant suggesting the need for greater attention to the changes in order to determine their legitimacy.

Tax Returns

Tax returns are filed under penalty of perjury with governmental agencies and as such are significant documents. It is also of value to compare what is reported on the tax returns with that which is reported on financial statements, to see if aggressive tax positions are taken. Aggressive tax positions indicate the probability of significant perquisites, personal expenses paid by the business, which affect the business valuation as well as spousal support calculations.

Accountants' Workpapers

The workpapers of the accountant who prepares the financial statements, the business tax returns and the personal tax returns are usually very informative. They help explain the basis for certain figures and the nature of certain transactions. Sometimes, the workpapers are so skimpy that that itself indicates that the accountant has no real knowledge of the business. If he has no real knowledge, then usually the only person who does is the owner and the forensic accountant has to deepen the analysis in such a situation. Occasionally, the owner is hiding something from his/her own accountant (such as paying significant personal expenses by the business) and one must try to find out what is really going on.

General Ledgers and Journals

These are the documents from which the financial statements and tax returns are prepared, and they are therefore of great importance. They provide the details behind the broad picture presented by the financial statements and tax returns. If the financial statements stated that a certain amount was paid for purchases or some other expense, the general ledger and the journals would provide the details regarding every disbursement, showing who and what was paid, when and the amount of each transaction.

Paid Bills

Paid bills provide the basis for determining if a certain disbursement was for a business or other purpose. A review, for example, of the paid bills for legal fees shows if the payments made were for business consulting or for divorce proceedings or for estate planning, etc. The paid bills may, therefore, be very useful in determining the amount of perquisites, if any.

Payroll Tax Returns

Some business owners reduce their taxable income by paying certain people who do not provide any business services. A girlfriend, minor children, or friend might be on the payroll. It is often quite productive to review the state payroll tax returns, which itemize the names of each person being paid, or the W-2 statements issued at the end of the year, with someone such as the out-spouse, who might recognize certain names.

Bank Statements and Canceled Checks

Bank statements sometimes reveal that which the general ledger and journals would not disclose. Bank statements may show that a deposit was a wire transfer from an account that was not known to exist, perhaps even from out of the country such as Switzerland or the Cayman Islands, and that may show that other funds exist that were not known of before. Similarly, the statements may show wire transfers going out or certain other unusual transactions which may war-rant further analysis.

Canceled checks of those paid to the business operator often explain where the business owner does his personal banking. How he endorses his checks, and where he deposits his checks, may be very informative. Quite often, unknown bank accounts are discovered by simply looking at the reverse of those checks.

Accounts Receivable Records

These records are necessary to determine what amount of collectible receivables should be included in a valuation. Old accounts receivable would be examined to determine if they are of value.

A second purpose for the review of receivable records is to verify that all income is being recorded. If a doctor's patient pays his bill and the doctor deposits the check into his personal or offshore bank account, then the deposits to his business bank account may not agree with the payments reflected on his accounts receivable records.

Sometimes, a business owner will arrange with his close business associates that he will write off their balance in the year of his divorce proceedings and they will pay him back "under the table". A review of the write-offs and adjustments for unusual activity may disclose this type of arrangement.

Corporate Minutes

The corporate minutes sometimes discuss company policy or company plans, such as new expansions or acquisitions. This information is often tailored to fit a certain need, which sometimes backfires. In a recent case in which the author was involved, the husband claimed that the large sums of profits and money left in his corporation were not available for spousal support because the funds were needed for a certain corporate expense. For years the company's corporate minutes were virtually the same, but in the year of the divorce proceedings, a new paragraph was added stating "that in order to enhance the profitability of the corporation, the corporation shall continue to retain its earnings". The case settled in every respect except for spousal support and apparently the husband assumed that that too would settle, because in the months following the property settlement, the corporation distributed all of the available funds that it had been hoarding. It became quite clear that the corporate minutes were modified in an attempt to mislead the other party.

Audits by Taxing Authorities

Audit reports issued by the IRS, Franchise Tax Board or the State Board of Equalization are important because those agencies may have discovered something of interest or relevant to the dissolution proceeding. They may disclose unreported income, deductions of personal expenses, unreported sales, business entities that were not previously known to exist, business locations that were not known to exist, etc.

Insurance Policies

Claims by a business owner that his/her business is doing poorly are often matched with business interruption insurance. If the business records reflect low income and yet high premiums are being paid for large amounts of business interruption insurance, then the business records should be reviewed much more closely. Severe insurance claims to the insurance company must be verified, so there should be records of some sort that would substantiate potential claims.

Insurance policies are also of value in determining perquisites paid by the business. They may show that personal assets are being insured and that payments for life and health insurance are for personal benefit.

Finally, the policies may disclose that assets are being insured that the spouse did not know were owned by the family.

Lease Agreements

A spouse may claim that his business is doing poorly and that he is no longer utilizing all of the business space that he is renting. If, for example, a business lease shows that the lease is ending soon, then one could try to determine, through deposition or other means, if there is any attempt to rent smaller quarters. If it is clear that there is no intention of moving, then that may be a clue that the business has expectations of significant increases in income.

Company Brochures and Advertisements

Brochures and advertisements may indicate places of business that were not known before, they may indicate the status of the company in the industry ("we are #1 in sales in Southern California") and they may disclose products being sold that were not known before. They also alert one to potential cross examination questions. A real estate developer may be having a poor year, but his ads in the paper for his homes may state that "only three homes are left". What may be happening is that the homes are selling, but at such reduced prices that there is very little profit being generated. Thus, there may be an attempt to unload the homes so that he could reduce the cost of carrying the inventory.

Personal Financial Statements

While financial statements often include values and incomes that are intended to impress a potential lender, they, nonetheless, may disclose assets and sources of income that were not known before. Cash surrender values of insurance policies and real estate investments are often discovered from the personal financial statements. They are also of value when compared to other documents. For example, in a recent case, the husband valued his medical institutions by a certain price per bed for a settlement proposal to his wife and for the bank, his value per bed was exactly twice that amount.

Consulting Agreements

Consulting agreements are often a mechanism to structure a sale so that the buyer can deduct the purchase payments. For example, Tom sells his business to Jerry and Jerry wants to deduct the purchase payments currently, rather than depreciating and amortizing the purchase costs over many years. Jerry, therefore, arranges that his business will "hire" Tom as a consultant (with the understanding that Tom does not have to do any work for the buyer) and the purchase payments are paid out as consulting fees and deducted currently as such. (This is often done, but it does not comply with tax regulations.)

One should, therefore, review consulting agreements and related documents and try to ascertain if an underlying sale is involved. The underlying sale indicates what the buyer and seller considered to be the fair market value of the business and if the business was fairly constant, that value would be important to consider in a present valuation. In addition, the payments made for consulting services should be added to reported income for valuation purposes because the payments that are being deducted as a current expense are really capital investments.

Personal and Business Calendars

Doctors and other professionals often claim that their income has dropped dramatically around the date of separation and from then forward. They may claim that they have fewer patients or expected future income looks much worse than it was during marriage. A close review of appointment calendars should be made for the period before and after separation as a means of validating that assertion. The personal calendar should be used to see if business appointments are being scheduled and to determine if efforts are being made to promote business. If the calendar shows extensive vacations instead of extensive efforts to build up the business, one could argue that there is a deliberate effort to deflate the income.

In addition, patient and business appointments could be compared to the accounts receivable records to see that all patient activity is being recorded in the internal accounting system. If a patient was treated, for example, and there is no record of that patient being billed and there is no record of any collection from that patient, that is an indication that further analysis may be warranted.

Caveat. Cost-Benefit

It is often very time-consuming to thoroughly analyze all available records, and so the cost should be considered with the potential benefit. Experience and judgment must be used to determine the intensity of a review of documents.

In conclusion, the records listed above are some of the documents frequently requested by accountants. There are, of course, many other documents that are requested and, of course, there may be valid reasons for those requests. This article should illustrate that while certain requests may appear not relevant to the dissolution action or to the attorney or client, they may serve as valuable sources of information to a forensic accountant.

http://www.divorcesource.com/CA/ARTICLES/kohn2.html

Which State Can and Should You File Your Divorce Proceeding?

Maneuvering Through Complex Rules

Jurisdiction issues in divorce are more complex than those in civil cases. The jurisdictional requirements for an order or judgment for support or attorneys' fees are entirely different from those to obtain custody. Similarly, a court may have jurisdiction to dissolve a marriage, but not be able to issue binding judgments regarding support or custody. For example, a California court could issue a child support order against a father living in California, based on the fathers contact with the state, but find that another state has custody jurisdiction because that is where the child lived in the last six months.

Furthermore, a race to the courthouse can result when more than one state has jurisdiction. Though most states say the first to serve the divorce petition has priority, some states, such as Texas, hold that filing the action gives the court jurisdiction.

Personal jurisdiction

Due service of process according to state and local rules is necessary to gain divorce jurisdiction. If the defendant is a nonresident, absent from the state, or in hiding, most state statutes provide for substituted service, service by mail, and in some cases service by publication (24 Am. Jur. 2d 310-317).
Personal jurisdiction must be established for a court to order payment of money. To exercise personal jurisdiction over a nonresident defendant, a state must have a "long-arm" statute that authorizes actions against non-residents.

Courts have recognized the following bases for establishing jurisdiction:

(1) Presence, domicile, or residence in the state;
(2) Consent of the party;
(3) General appearance in the action;
(4) Doing business or some other act in the state that meets the "minimum contacts standards" of the due process clause;
(5) Causing an effect in the state by act or omission elsewhere;
(6) Ownership of property in the state; or
(7) "Other relationships to the state" that make the exercise of jurisdiction reasonable (20 Am. Jur. 2d 118. 146. 146-2. 146-7).

It is not enough to simply meet these criteria for jurisdiction; the defendant must purposefully avail himself or herself of the benefits and protections of the state. Additionally, when a court attempts to assert jurisdiction on the grounds that the defendant caused an effect in the state, that effect must be foreseeable.
Merely visiting a child or sending child support does not in itself constitute "minimum contacts" with the state asserting jurisdiction, but failure to provide support for a needy family has been held to "cause an effect" in the state.

Personal jurisdiction until recently was automatically acquired when there was personal service of process on the defendant in the state. But there is a case on point before the U.S. Supreme Court challenging whether service alone is sufficient without minimum contacts and the person availing himself or herself of the benefits and protections of the state.

A state must have personal jurisdiction over a retirement-plan member to order the plan's division, unless the plan itself has sufficient contacts with the state to establish jurisdiction. Jurisdiction over a military pension plan cannot be based solely on the member's military assignment, but on domicile, residence, or consent (Federal Uniformed Services Former Spouses Protection Act of 1982). States differ in their treatment of military pensions; so choice of forum is critical.

Forum non conveniens

A particular state with jurisdiction may not be a convenient forum for litigation. A case may be stayed or dismissed for the following reasons:

(1) The state has no real connection with the defendant;
(2) The state cannot provide an adequate forum;
(3) The venue would oppressively inconvenience a party; or
(4) The state has no interest in fostering the litigation.

A court ordinarily will stay rather than dismiss an action, so that if the case does not proceed in the convenient forum, the original state might once an take over (20 Am. Jur. 2d 172-182).

In rem jurisdiction

Domicile by either party gives that state in rem jurisdiction to dissolve marital status, even though the other party resides out of state. "Domicile" is defined as physical presence and an intention to live permanently in a location. Intentions are determined by where a person registers to vote and files a state tax return, which state issues his or her driver's license, and where the home is. The domicile of military personnel generally is the designated "home state," not necessarily the place of permanent residence (24 Am. Jur. 2d 238-240, 254).

A residence is where a person lives for any period of time, however short. A person may have several residences, but only one domicile. A state has no jurisdiction to grant a divorce if neither party has a bona fide domicile there.

Some courts have overlooked domicile and relied solely on residency to determine jurisdiction when the place of domicile is inconvenient. Some states are signatories to the Uniform Divorce Recognition Act, which states: "If both parties are domiciled in the state when a proceeding begins, a divorce filed in another jurisdiction has no effect." The act also provides rules for proof of domicile.

Owning property in a state is no longer sufficient to obtain in rem jurisdiction there. For a court to transfer property other than money (real estate, vehicles, etc.), the property must be in the state, and the court have personal jurisdiction over both parties. If the property is located in another jurisdiction, the title can be transferred only by filing a separate action in the state where it is located.

The PKPA

Because state interpretations of the Uniform Child Custody Jurisdiction Act (UCCJA) vary, the Parental Kidnaping Prevention Act (PKPA, 28 U.S.C. § 1738A) was enacted to set forth certain basic rules for determining jurisdictional disputes; the PKPA was designated for state courts and preempts state law. The PKPA provides that the home state of the child shall have custody jurisdiction, unless one state asserts continuing jurisdiction (28 U.S.C. § 1738 A(c)(2)).

Under the PKPA, the state that rendered the original custody decree can assert jurisdiction in any modification proceeding as long as one of the parties remains a resident and that state has jurisdiction under its own laws. (Alaska, for example, does not have jurisdiction under its own law; it uses the home-state test as the only basis for jurisdiction.)

The Supreme Court has held that the PKPA does not give federal courts jurisdiction to resolve custody disputes between two states. (Thompson v. Thompson, 484 U.S. 174, 108 S. Ct. 513, 98 L. Ed. 2d 512 (1988)). Thus there is no way to resolve competing state-court interpretations of the act.

The UCCJA

The purposes of the UCCJA are:

(1) To avoid jurisdictional custody conflicts between states;
(2) To promote cooperation between different states;
(3) To provide for litigation to take place in the state with the "closest connection" to the child;
(4) To discourage continuing controversy by encouraging binding decisions; and
(5) To penalize parents for "abductions and other unilateral removals of children."

The UCCJA applies to custody and visitation, and includes juvenile dependency, guardianship, and step-parent-adoption cases. It has been adopted in every state and the District of Columbia, but not in Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands. Because it is a uniform act, state of interpretations may be cited as the authority. The provisions of the UCCJA apply in an international custody dispute, even though the foreign jurisdiction does not follow the UCCJA.

Jurisdiction becomes complex in custody cases involving American Indians. The UCCJA may apply to the case in question, but you might also need to invoke the Indian Child Welfare Act; the Indian Civil Rights Act; the Act of August 15, 1983; 67 Stat. 588; 28 U.S.C. § 1360; the appropriate tribal code; and the PKPA.
The UCCJA maintains that the child's home state or "recent home state" (the home state if not for a recent abduction) is the preferred forum to determine custody. Thus the state can assume jurisdiction if it is now, or has been within six months before proceedings began, the child's home state.

A court may exercise jurisdiction:

(1) When a child and at least one contestant have a significant connection with the state, and there is available in the state substantial evidence concerning the child's present or future care, protection, training, and personal relationships; or
(2) If it is in the best interests of the child and no other state has jurisdiction, or when another state has declined to exercise jurisdiction on the ground that the first state is a more appropriate forum; or
(3) The child is physically present in the state and has been abandoned, or the child must be protected because he or she has been subjected to or threatened with mistreatment or abuse, or is otherwise neglected.

The UCCJA also mandates that courts apply the "clean hands" doctrine to discourage parties from unilateral action or from gaining an advantage in the litigation.

Although courts will consider the parties' agreement that a custody dispute be litigated in a particular forum, they are not bound by it.

The UCCJA has not been entirely successful in preventing custody litigation over the same child in sister states that have modified the uniform act. And, a judge can interpret the statute without regard to decisions in a sister state. Some judges have ignored sister-state interpretations of key sections of the act to find a basis for exercising jurisdiction when there was no basis for it (R.E. Crouch, Interstate Custody Litigation, BNA 1981).

Federal tort jurisdiction

Federal courts have consistently held that there is no diversity jurisdiction if the primary issue is the status of parent/child or husband/wife. But in many family-related tort actions, federal district courts have asserted jurisdiction. The Ninth Circuit, for example, has held that a federal district court has diversity jurisdiction over a non-custodial parent's tort action on interference with visitation. The Sixth Circuit has held that although the PKPA does not permit a cause of action for depriving a party of custody, a cause of action may be stated under the Civil Rights Act (72 U.S.C. § 1983).

Sister-state judgment

Another state's final judgments and orders, if rendered by a court with subject-matter and personal jurisdiction over the parties, must be given recognition and enforced. For foreign and sister-state judgments to be recognized, the defendant must have been given notice and an opportunity to be heard.
The Revised Uniform Reciprocal Enforcement of Support Act (RURESA) and URESA (the original act) were passed to standardize and streamline procedures for enforcing support orders across state lines. The authority of the obligor's new state is asserted through the district of attorney's or another office or by registration of a foreign order and use of private counsel.

The RURESA provides for a two-state lawsuit: An action filed by the obligee in one state is sent to the obligor in another; the obligor's state establishes jurisdiction over the obligor, and may enter an order of support in the obligee's state. The RURESA also applies to "any foreign jurisdiction in which this or a substantially similar law is in effect."

Tactics

Personal jurisdiction can be acquired over a party if he or she makes a general appearance in an action. States and judges differ on what constitutes a general appearance; consequently, it is possible to unwittingly appear.

An opposing lawyer can trap you into making a general appearance by your signing a written stipulation for a continuance, by commencing discovery, by making motions for sanctions, or by requesting other temporary relief. These tactics place you in a catch-22: If you do not defend the proceeding, and lose on the motion to dismiss, you may be subject to sanctions, attorney's fees, and malpractice exposure. On the other hand, if you defend the action, you may have made the fatal general appearance.

Some state statutes permit ex parte hearings and continuances after the motion to dismiss is filed. But unless this protection exists, indicate in writing to opposing cousnel that you cannot respond formally, but will file the appropriate written response as soon as jurisdiction is determined. Type "special appearance" on all documents that are filed until jurisdiction is resolved. When you appear in court, state orally that you are present only for the purpose of making a special appearance to quash or dismiss the action.

In at least one state, however, losing a motion to dismiss constitutes a general appearance (5 Am. Jur. 2d 51-35). A counter tactic is to obtain an "antisuit injunction" that restrains your opponent from filing an action in a foreign jurisdiction. This can provide leverage by forcing your opponent to fight (24 Am. Jur. 2d 333-336).

Conclusion

In the jurisdiction battle, winner takes all. When both sides stand to lose everything, settlement is possible. The parties are willing to make concessions. If you can use the jurisdiction impasse to settle the case, everyone can be a winner.


http://www.moschettilaw.com/lawyer-attorney-1081082.html

Working Out a Safety Plan

A safety plan covers steps a person needs to take to keep him- or herself, and his or her children, safe from domestic violence.

Although each safety plan is different, the following are among the questions each person should consider before applying for a Domestic Violence Restraining Order:

Where will you live?

  • Should you leave your present residence, or should you ask the court to order the person you want restrained to leave?
  • If you will leave, how and when will you leave? When and where will you go? What will you take?

Where will your children live?

  • If the person you want protection from is also the parent of any of your children who are under 18 years of age, you need to get advice from an attorney, the district attorney, or a domestic violence counselor regarding the rights and responsibilities that both you and the other parent have concerning the children.

What important documents will you need?

  • You should keep certified copies of your Restraining Order with you at all times, and keep copies of other important legal or other papers such as court orders if you move or go to live in a shelter.

What emotional support or counseling will help you and your family members?

  • Many domestic violence victims need extra help in handling their experiences, or in dealing with substance abuse, mental health issues, anger management, and parenting or relationship problems. Who are you going to turn to for help?

http://www.moschettilaw.com/lawyer-attorney-1081119.html

Your Day in Court

At least one trip to court is required in most dissolution cases. This might be either for an Order to Show Cause hearing or trial. Regardless of the type of hearing, it is important for you to know what to expect and what is expected of you when you go to court.

Getting Ready

The night before you go to court you should get to be early and get plenty of sleep., For obvious reasons, court can be a stressful and tiring experience. So, it is important that you come to court completely rested and ready to participate in the proceedings with a clear head.

If you have not been to court before, be sure you know how to get there If you are unsure of the location of the courthouse, parking facilities or the courtroom, please contact our office. You might also consider writing down directions to the courthouse the night before.

Determine how long it will take you to drive to court, and then increase that time by 50% to account for rush hour traffic and any other unforeseeable delays you might encounter. For example, if you estimate it will take you 30 minutes to get to court, plan on leaving home at least 45 minutes before you are to be there.

Make sure that you have completed your court preparation on the night before your court date. By doing this, you will avoid rushing around the following morning. You should assemble any documents that Mr. Rabenn has asked you to bring with you. Lay out your clothes for the next day and, in general, have everything ready to go for when you get up.

Court Reporter's Fees

Because of budgetary problems, the courts are now requiring parties to pay for the services of the Court Reporter for Order to Show Cause hearings exceeding one hour and all trials. The fees are currently $255 per half day - a cost that ordinarily must be shared by the parties.

You should be sure to have your checkbook when you come to court and you should be prepared to pay up to $255 for your share of the Court Reporter's charges for two one-half days of services. Mr. Rabenn will not advance this cost for you.

Arriving at Court

Before your court day, be sure to ask Mr. Rabenn where he wishes to meet you. This will usually be in the hallway outside the courtroom where your case is set to be heard. When you get to the courthouse, go directly to the courtroom where your matter is schedule to be heard, unless Mr. Rabenn has asked you to go somewhere else.

Most courthouses now have metal detectors at the front door. Make sure you are not carrying anything that might be considered a weapon, such as a pocket knife.

Outside the courtroom the bailiff or clerk will have posted the calendar, which is a listing of cases scheduled for that day. The cases are usually listed in alphabetical order. Make sure your case is listed on the calendar. If it is not, you might be in the wrong courtroom.

If you do not see your name on the calendar and cannot find Mr. Rabenn, go into the courtroom and talk to the bailiff or the clerk. If, after talking to the courtroom personnel, you still do not know where you are to be, go to the nearest telephone and call our office for instructions.

Court Personnel

Besides the judge, there are usually three other people in most courtroom.

The Bailiff

The bailiff is a uniformed officer who is assigned to assist in the operation of the courtroom. He or she (many bailiffs are women) is usually the first person you talk to when you enter the courtroom.

The bailiff has various functions in the courtroom. Primary among this is the job of maintain order. This applies to anything from asking people to stop taking while court is in session to physically subduing people who become violent.

The handling of forms, exhibits and miscellaneous papers is commonly assigned to the bailiff. During a hearing any attorney will often need to give a document to the judge. This is usually done by merely handing it to the bailiff, who then gives the document to the court clerk or directly to the judge.

The Court Clerk

The court clerk is the man or woman who is responsible for the management of the court. In the morning, before court starts, the clerk gets all of the files for the day from the clerk's office and gives them to the judge. When the court opens up, the attorneys and the people who are there without attorneys are usually required to "check in" with the clerk. This means that they are to advise the clerk that they are present.

When court is in session the clerk administers the oath to all witnesses, hands documents and exhibits to the judge and generally serves as the judge's clerical assistant.

The Court Reporter

As depicted in numerous theatrical courtroom scenes, the court reporter records everything that is said while court is in session, using a silent recording machine. After your hearing is completed, Mr Rabenn or the other attorney may request the court report to prepare a transcript of the proceedings. This a verbatim script of everything that was said by the judge, attorneys and witnesses in your case.

In some courthouses, court reporters are being replaced by sophisticated tape recording and video systems that are operated by court technicians. Because they are significantly less expensive than a court reporter, these systems are becoming more popular, although some people believe they are not as accurate as a court reporter.

Court Commissioners

Many family law courts are presided over by a "court commissioner" instead of a judge. There are only two differences between a commissioner and a judge:

  • A commissioner is employed by the county, while a judge is a state employee.
  • The parties must agree, usually in writing, that a commissioner may hear their case.

In Los Angeles County both parties and their attorney must sign a court form authorizing the commissioner to decide the case. In Orange County only the signatures of the attorney are required.

If you or the other party do not want a commissioner to hear your case, it will usually be transferred to the "Master Calendar" court, where it will be assigned to the next available judge.

Some people decide that they would prefer to have their case heard by a "real" judge, instead of a commissioner. For at least two reasons, this is a mistake, First, over 90% of all family law matters are heard by commissioners. As a result, most family law commissioners are more knowledgeable about family law that the average judge.

Secondly, most Master Calendar courts are extremely crowded and judges seldom any have spare time to hear family law cases. As a result, the Master Calendar judge often "trails" family law cases for days at a time, until a courtroom becomes available. This can cost the parties considerable amounts in attorneys fees.

For the balance of this discussion, the term "judge" will refer to a judge or commissioner.

Calendar Call

After taking the bench the first thing the judge does is call the calendar. The purpose of this is to enable the judge to determine how many cases are actually going to be heard and how long each one will take. With this information, the judge can plan the sequence of the hearings.

When the calendar is called the judge simply calls each case in alphabetical order and asks the attorneys or people who are representing themselves how long they estimate it will take to have the case heard. If different hearing times are given, the judge will usually take the long estimate so that each party will have as much time as possible.

During the calendar call there may be one or more cases that are not ready to be heard, either because one or the attorneys has not arrived or because the attorneys are negotiating the case in the hallway. When this happens, the case is put on "second call." This means that the judge will call the case later in the morning.

When the calendar call is completed, the judge has a list of cases that are ready to be heard. The judge will then call the cases for hearing, with the shortest time estates being called first. These are usually cases in which the attorneys are simply going to recite the terms of an agreement or where one party has defaulted and is not expected to show up.

Hearing or Trial Preliminaries

Review of Pleadings

Court rules require the attorneys to file their papers ("pleadings") before the hearing date. This gives the judge and the attorneys an opportunity to know what each side is going to as the judge to do. Before the judge comes out in the morning he or she will usually have read the court papers that have been filed and will be familiar with the "issues" that are to be decided.

If you are in court for the final trial of your case, both attorneys will have given the judge a "trial brief." This is an outline of the case and the issues which are going to be litigated.

Where there is a complex or unique legal issue, the attorneys might also give the judge a "Memorandum of Points and Authorities," which is a discuss of relevant legal precedents.

If financial issues, such as child support, spousal support or attorneys fees and costs, are to be decided, each attorney will also be required to give the judge their client's current Income and Expense Declarations.

Stating of Appearances

When your case is called by the judge, both attorneys and the clients (the "parties") step forward and take their places at the counsel table. Usually the attorneys sit on the inside chairs and the clients sit in the chairs at opposite ends of the table. The Attorneys will first state their "appearances for the record." For example, Mr. Rabenn will say, "Good morning, your honor. I am Glen Rabenn, counsel for Petitioner Jane Jones, who is present."

Administering the Oath

Before anything takes place the clerk will administer the following oath to both parties by instructing them to raise their right hands. The clerk will then ask:

"Do you solemnly swear to tell the truth, the whole truth and nothing but the truth, so help you God?"

In a clear and audible voice, both parties are required to say "I do."

If your religious convictions prevent you from swearing to God the clerk will administer another oath that does not contain a reference to God. Please advise Mr. Rabenn if you wish the alternative oath administered to you.

In either case, you should understand that your testimony is being given under penalty of perjury. This means that you can be charged with and convicted of a crime if you knowingly tell a lie when you testify.

Stipulations and Unresolved Issues

The judge will then want to determine which issues have been settled by agreement ("stipulations") and which ones remain unresolved. One of the attorneys will then recite any agreements and list the issues which remain "contested." In many courts, the judges insist that all agreement be put in writing and given to the clerk before the case is called.

After the judge reviews the written agreement or listens to the statement of the settled issues, he or she will ask the parties if they understand the agreement. Once the parties tell the judge that they understand the agreement and are willing to abide by its terms, the judge will usually make a statement confirming the agreement as a court order, such as, "The court accepts the stipulations of the parties and confirms it as an order of this court."

Testimony

Once the preliminaries are completed the actual hearing or trial begins. If the hearing is an Order to Show Cause for temporary orders or for modification of an existing orders, the party who filed the Order to Show Cause puts on his or her case first. In the case of a dissolution trial, the petitioner - the person who filed the case - goes first.

Direct Examination

The hearing usually begins with the attorney calling his or her client for "direct examination," although that is not always done. Sometimes an attorney will decide to call a witness "out of order" because that witness cannot stay long or for strategic reasons.

During direct examination the attorney will ask questions that will enable the judge to understand his or her client's position. In most cases the attorney will have previously discussed direct testimony with the client and witnesses, so the questions should not come as a surprise.

Rules of Evidence in Direct Examination

In conducting direct examination, there are certain rules of evidence that must be followed. The most common rule is that any question must be "relevant" to the subject matter. For example, if the only contested issue is child support, a question about the client's political affiliation would be irrelevant and, therefore, objectionable.

A question cannot call for "hearsay" testimony. Hearsay is anything said by another person who is not present in court. The question is objectionable if the answer to the question is being offered for its truth. An example of a question that is objectionable under the hearsay rule is the following:

Mrs. Smith, did Mr. Smith's employer tell you how much Mr. Smith is being paid?"

The only way this information can be presented to the judge is to actually subpoena the employer to come to court or to subpoena the employer's records.

Another important rule of evidence in direct examination is that the question must not "lead" the witness. A leading question is one that suggests the answer. For example, where the issue is spousal support, it would be improper for the wife's attorney to ask the wife,

"You haven't had a job for twenty years, have you, Mrs. Smith?"

Instead, the attorney should ask,

"When is the last time you had a job?"

If the attorney has properly prepared the wife for her direct testimony, she should quickly answer,

"Twenty years ago."

Cross-Examination

After direct examination is completed the other attorney is permitted to cross-examine the witness. Cross-examination gives the other attorney an opportunity to test the credibility of the witness and, on occasion, show the weaknesses in the other party's case.

In cross-examination the attorney asking the questions is limited to the scope of the questions asked on direct examination. Thus, if the direct examination was limited to question concerning child support, the attorney conducting cross-examination cannot ask questions about community property.

Rules of Evidence in Cross-Examination

The attorney asking questions on cross-examination must also follow the rules of evidence, but some flexibility is allowed. For example, leading questions, which are not allowed in direct examination, are permitted in cross-examination. However, the rules of relevance and hearsay must still be followed.

During cross-examination, the attorney is not permitted to pose questions that are "argumentative." For example, an improper question would be,

"Mr. Smith, are you seriously asking the court to believe that you can't find a job?"

These types of questions may be common in courtroom scenes on television, but they are not allowed in real hearing and trials.

Further Examinations

After the completion of cross-examination, the attorney who called the witness is permitted to conduct "re-direct examination." These questions must be limited to the subject matter of the cross-examination.

An attorney will ordinarily conduct re-direct examination if his or her witness said something inaccurate or misleading while being cross-examined. For instance, where the issue is child custody, under cross-examination the following question and answer might take place:

Question: Isn't it true that you leave your child home alone?
Answer: Yes, it is.

If the parent's attorney knows that his client does not actually leave the child home alone, he might ask the following question during re-direct examination:

Question: When you were being cross-examined, you said you leave your child home Alone. Isn't that true?
Answer: Well, not exactly.
Question: What did you intend to say?
Answer: Sometimes I leave my child home alone with her 16 year-old sister.

After re-direct examination is completed, the other attorney can ask more questions in "re-cross examination," in which the scope of questions is limited to the scope of the re-direct examination.

General Rules for Testimony

Regardless of which attorney is conducting the examination, there are several rules that you should follow when you are testifying:

  1. Listen carefully to the question that you are being asked.
  2. Do not guess at the answer to a question. Instead of guessing, simply say that you do not know or do not remember the information requested. However, you may estimate an answer, such as an approximate date or amount of money.
  3. Wait until the question has been completed before you start to give your answer. This is important for several reasons:
    * If you prematurely answer a question you might give the cross-examining attorney some information that he or she had not thought of asking.
    * The court reporter can only record one person talking at a time. So, if you start talking while the attorney is asking the question, the court reporter may not be able to keep a clear record of the proceedings.
    * If the other attorney questioning you and Mr. Rabenn wishes to object, he will not have any opportunity to make the objection if you answer immediately.
  4. State your answers clearly. If the question asks for yes or no answer say "yes" or "no," instead of "uh huh" or "uh uh."
  5. Answer only the question that is asked. Never go beyond the scope of the question.
  6. Pause a few moments after the question has been asked before you start talking. This will give you time to think about the question and formulate your answer. It will also give Mr. Rabenn time to make appropriate objections to the judge.
  7. Stop talking if the judge or either of the attorneys starts to talk.
  8. If you feel physically or emotionally unable to continue with the examination you should make that fact known to the judge immediately.

Documentary Evidence

A judge decides the case by applying the law to the facts of the case. The facts are based on the evidence that is present to the judge during the trial.

Evidence is usually presented in two forms: oral testimony and documents. When an attorney wishes to present documentary evidence there are several steps that must be followed:

Marking of Exhibits

The first this the attorney does is to request that the clerk "mark" the document as an exhibit. This involves assigning a number or letter to the document so that it can be easily identified whiled the trial is in progress. In most courts written evidence submitted by the Petitioner is assigned numbers, while the Respondent's exhibits are given letters.

When an attorney wants to have an exhibit marked, he or she says, "Your honor, I would like this [letter, contract, etc.] to be marked as Petitioner's Exhibit 1."

If there are going to be a significant number of exhibits presented, the judge will want the attorneys to have the exhibits marked before the trial starts. This avoids using court time to mark exhibits.

Foundation

Marking an exhibit does not guarantee that the judge will allow it to be "received." Before that happens, the attorney must first establish the "foundation" for the receipt of the document. "Laying a foundation" is the process by which the attorney submitting a document shows the judge that it is authentic.

In dissolution cases it is common for a spouse's payroll records to be subpoenaed to court. Before the judge can consider such records, the attorney submitting them must first have the spouse's employer testify that the document is true and correct. Once this is done, the records will be received as evidence.

Receiving Evidence

Once the foundation has been properly laid, the propounding attorney will ask,

"Your honor, I am requesting that this document be received as Petitioner's exhibit 1."

Before the judge receives an exhibit, the other attorney will be asked if there are any objections to the document. As with oral testimony, there are many grounds for objecting to the receipt of documentary evidence, such as relevancy or hearsay.

Respondent's or Responding Party's Case

After the requesting party in an Order to Show Cause hearing or the Petitioner in a trial has presented all of his or her evidence, that party's attorney will say, "Your honor, Petitioner rests." It is then time for the other party's attorney to present his or her case. The same procedures and rules discussed above are followed during the presentation of the other party's case.

Rebuttal

When the responding party or the Respondent has finished his or her case, the trial is not necessarily over. The first party's attorney now has the right to call "rebuttal" witnesses to contract the other party's evidence. The most common rebuttal witness is the other party, but any witness can be called for rebuttal purposes.

Closing Arguments

Once the testimony stage of the trial s completed it is time for the attorneys to make their "closing arguments" to the judge. In the closing argument each attorney summarizes the important points of the case and tells the judge why his or her client should win on the various issues involved in the case. In their closing arguments the attorneys will often refer to statutes or relevant appellate court decisions that are relevant to the case.

Some judges prefer to have the attorneys submit their arguments in writing. Where this is the practice, the judge will usually order the Petitioner's attorney to submit a closing argument within two weeks, followed by the Respondent's closing argument two weeks later, and then a rebuttal argument by the Petitioner one or two weeks after that.

After the arguments are completed the judge can either announce the decision orally in open court or take the matter "under submission." This means that the judge is going to think the case over and issue a written decision within a few weeks.

Completion of the Hearing or Trial

The reference in the title of this discussion to your day in court is somewhat misleading. Because of the staggering number of dissolution cases that are being filed, family law courts are becoming overburdened with cases. This means that even if your case is on calendar for a particular day, there is no guarantee that will be completed, or even started, on that day.

In fact, in many family law courts as many as one-half of the matters on calendar in a particular day have to be continued to another day for completion. In some courts, it can take many separate court days, spread out over six months to a year, to complete a lengthy trial. This can cause problems for the attorneys in the presentation of their cases, not to mention the inconvenience to the parties and witnesses. Unfortunately, it is a fact of life in the judicial system.


http://www.divorcenet.com/states/california/ca_art01