Articles Posted in Legal

It is an unfortunate fact that the number one cause of death for teens is car accidents. This week brings teen driver safety into the national spotlight, increasing awareness of the dangers for teen drivers and their passengers, as well as other motorists who may be victims in accidents involving teenage drivers.

According to TeenDriverSource.org, the riskiest period for teen drivers in regards to becoming involved in a crash occurs in the six months immediately after a teen gets his or her driver’s license.

The theme for this year’s NTDSW is ‘Support Older Novice Drivers: Build Awareness of the Trend in Delayed Licensure.’ Many teenagers today are not getting their driver’s licenses until the age of 18 or even older, partly due to economic reasons. In lower income families, teens are often 19, 20, or even older before they obtain a license.

We have all witnessed the tragic endings bullying can cause in the past several years through media reports. Some children have been abused at the schools they attend for education, while others, particularly teens, have been bullied online. Some have committed suicide. Bullying has become a real and growing problem in our country, and we must all work together to put an end to this sad epidemic. October is National Bullying Prevention Month; at Grabel & Associates, we wanted to do our part to further educated you on bullying in our nation’s school, and online (cyberbullying).

First of all, what is bullying? It is any aggressive behavior that occurs repeatedly and is unwanted by the child being bullied, and involves a power imbalance that is real or perceived. A verbal or physical attack, threats, purposely excluding the victim from a group, spreading vicious or ugly rumors – these are all examples of bullying. Notice that we said the “child being bullied” above. It is important that children who are bullied are not labeled as “victims,” as labels can result in other undesirable consequences. At Stopbullying.gov, it is recommended that society not focus on labels for who did the bullying, who assisted, or who the victim is, but instead on the behavior.

It’s also important to note that there may be many children involved in bullying other than the primary perpetrator, and the child being bullied. These include children who assist or reinforce, outsiders who stand by the sidelines and may want to help but don’t know how, and children who defend, attempting to give the child who is being bullied comfort.

Are you following Grabel & Associates on Facebook? If not, now is the time to “like” us! Starting this month, we are giving $1 to the Capital Area Humane Society for every “like” we receive up to $1,000.00.

The Capital Area Humane Society has been serving the greater Lansing area since 1936 by protecting animals and education the public about proper animal care and safety. As animal lovers ourselves, we very happy to be able to donate to this amazing organization. Click here to learn about more ways you can support the Capital Area Humane Society.

While fewer teens smoke cigarettes than two decades ago, smoking is still a very real problem – and a deadly one. March 19th is National Kick Butts Day, a day designed to encourage young people to stand up and speak out on the dangers of Big Tobacco. Smoking is one of the deadliest habits, costing the United States more than $96 billion in health care costs and $97 billion in lost productivity every year!

Every day, more than 3,000 children (mostly teens) light up their first cigarette. While kids are influenced by their parents, friends, and even celebrities/media, Kick Butts Day is an opportunity to fight back, and educate/raise awareness of the dangers of smoking. Most importantly, Kick Butts Day is a day that teens, teachers, and health advocates will encourage kids to not only abstain from smoking cigarettes themselves, but to increase efforts to protect teens and even younger children from the potentially fatal and addictive habit.

Certainly lung cancer is widely recognized as one of the biggest risks associated with smoking, but there are many other dangers which can be attributed to tobacco use. These include other types of cancer, lung diseases such as emphysema and COPD, heart and cardiovascular disease, gum disease, the development of hypertension (high blood pressure), and an increased risk of heart attack.

February is one of the most anticipated months of all, particularly for football enthusiasts who have waited for yet one more Super Bowl Sunday. Unfortunately, the Super Bowl seems to correlate to a sharp rise in crime, particularly DUI, scalping tickets, assault, rowdy behavior, and yes, even sex trafficking.

Here’s a quick overview of past crimes which occurred on Super Bowl Sunday, and what authorities are on the lookout for in 2014:

In 2011, dozens of people were arrested for driving under the influence; in fact, Maryland troopers arrested 42 individuals suspected of drunk driving and issued more than 1,600 warnings. Every year law enforcement in the cities surrounding where the Super Bowl will be played are on the lookout, watching for those leaving house parties, bars, and even the stadium itself.

Ticket scalping is another activity which can leave someone facing criminal charges. While it isn’t a crime to buy a fake ticket, those doing the selling could be charged with fraud. In 2013, a Gainesville, FL man advertised Super Bowl tickets on Craigslist, claiming to couldn’t make it to the big game. A couple paid for the tickets, and received a piece of paper in the mail on which was written, “Go Ravens! LOL!” The man, 37-year-old Robert Pham, with obtaining money by false pretenses and grand theft.

Assault and rowdy behavior can also leave you on the inside (of a jail cell) looking out. In 2010, Warren Sapp (retired Tampa Bay Buccaneer) was arrested after allegedly assaulting his girlfriend inside the couple’s hotel room. He was charged with misdemeanor battery one day before the big game, and yanked by ESPN where he was scheduled to analyze the game.

You may not be aware of the fact, but rowdy behavior, throwing food, drinks, or other items, or picking a fight could get you arrested or kicked out of the game. Avoid harassing other people or otherwise spoiling the fun; you could be arrested for assault if things get out of hand.

It may (or may not) come as a surprise to you, but sex trafficking has been a huge concern on Super Bowl Sunday for years. This year, officials in New Jersey have scheduled training for students, airport employees, law enforcement personnel, hospitality workers, and others to help them identify potential signs of sex trafficking. Many people go to the Super Bowl not to enjoy the game, but to pick up women, or even minors who are underage and being forced into sex.

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As a lawyer, it’s my job to stay up on the latest changes in the law and on important legal news. Luckily, a number of lawyer blogs make my job a bit easier and even more fun. My favorite blogs are full of useful information for both lawyers and laypeople alike. The posts are great to read and entertaining, too. If you’re looking for the best lawyer blog on the web, read on and check out a few of my faves.

Above the Law

One of my favorite blogs, Above the Law gives you a peek behind the scenes of the legal world. The blog covers it all, from issues that concern the big players in the field of law, to concerns of law students and the owners of smaller firms. Along with regularly updated, informative posts, Above the Law also offers a job board and a career guide for lawyers at each stage in their career. Another great feature of the site is its law school rankings.

While some people deride Twitter, saying that its 140 character limit prevents real dialog and discussion, I’ve found it to be a great tool. Sure, there are some worthless tweets out there. None of us really needs to hear about people’s breakfasts or other mundane details of life; but, in the best of cases, Twitter lets you learn about current events or breaking legal issues. It also puts you in touch with experts in the legal field, whether you’re a fellow lawyer or someone who is in need of legal advice. Get the most from your Twitter feed by following some, if not all, of these lawyers.

Alexis Neely (@AlexisNeely)

Alexis Neely is a lawyer’s lawyer. She offers tips and advice on how to run a successful law business on her blog and through her tweets. Her tweets run the gamut from humorous to resourceful.

Unfortunately, the period during the Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Year’s holidays are when crime rises significantly. Many families have been victims of theft over the years, thieves breaking into their homes and stealing wrapped Christmas gifts. Even when on the road traveling you could be at risk, as purse snatchers and pickpockets will do almost anything to get their hands on your cash or credit cards. How can you stay safe this holiday season while traveling to visit friends and family?

Here are a few holiday travel safety tips to help make 2013 a safe and happy holiday season:

If you have Christmas gifts at home, don’t leave them wrapped under the tree. Store them in a safe place away from potential burglars’ view while you are away.

Leave expensive electronics and jewelry at home. Robbers often target those with lots of “bling” or who are carrying iPods, digital cameras, and other costly electronics.

If you’re taking gifts along when traveling by air, pack them in carry-on luggage to make checking by security easier.

If you must have a credit card, bring only one. Consider using travelers checks or cash in small denominations (for instance, $5 and $10 bills instead of $50 or $100 bills).

When traveling by car, know your route and be aware of weather conditions. Knowing where road construction is taking place or where icy, slick roads are during a winter storm can help you plan an alternate route, or take extra precautions.

If you are traveling by car, be sure it’s in good condition. Have the oil changed, check the wipers and fluids, check tires to ensure good tread and proper inflation.

Bring along an emergency kit. Traveling the nation’s highways and interstates can be dangerous; should you break down along the way, you want to make sure you have a few necessities including bottled water, a first aid kit, flashlight, blankets, jumper cables, maps, and snacks.

Drive safely, and buckle up. This winter season has been one with plenty of snow and ice storms, flooding, and generally bad weather overall. Leave early so that you can drive safely and compensate for any unexpected road conditions or problems. Most important of all, be sure everyone is buckled up.

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