I used to get made fun of as a kid.  I was the one who came to school with a backpack as big as I was, filled to its capacity with school supplies.  From pencils to gauze pads (just in case my pencil slipped when writing notes and I cut my hand, of course), I had it all tucked nicely into my scoliosis maker.

I blamed it on my mom.  I told my snickering peers that she was overprotective and I had to lug around my “just in case” bag to keep her off my back.  But really, it was all me.  I was the epitome of a boy scout – always prepared no matter what situation I was in.  It was in my blood, and still is. Click here to read more »

In medicine, we hear a lot about preventative care.   In matters of asset protection, doctors would do well to follow their own advice.  Physicians should prevent their assets from becoming vulnerable to a frivolous lawsuit.  Being sued leaves much more at risk than a medical practice. Injured parties are seeking compensation for injuries received and in many cases a civil action against the physician to prevent further malpractice by the medical professional. Personal assets of the physicians are always looked at as a possible means of receiving compensation.

Personal assets come into play in one of two ways:

• If a judgment exceeds your medical policy limit
• If the action in question falls under one of the policy exclusions Click here to read more »

In a prior job, I used to share a cubicle with a guy who hated everything. I wish that this were an exaggeration.

This guy, who we’ll call Steve (because his name was Steve) was quicker to express a negative sentiment than the Grinch (and he was also slightly hairier). Steve was very unpleasant to be around, and was always pushing the limits of the company rules.

And then, one day, he pushed too hard, and he was fired. He stormed out of the office, threatening to sue everyone he saw, and then he was gone.

We’ve all got that co-worker. You know whom I’m talking about. Click here to read more »

For even the most controlled persons, times may come when self-defense, or the defense of someone unable to protect themselves, may arise.  In these cases, the assumption is often that litigation for any violence would naturally not apply.

However, you would be surprised how often assault and battery litigation could still stick.  Assault and battery is the combination of two violent crimes: assault, or the threat of violence; and battery, or the actual physical violence.

The intention behind the actions is important.  Generally, it is only necessary for the defendant to have intent to do the harmful act (as opposed to an intention to actually do harm). Essentially, the act must be done voluntarily.  Even in cases of self-defense, an intention to do harm or to do a harmful act can result in assault and battery charges. Click here to read more »

In a recent Washington Post article, it was cited that winning the $640M jackpot was so remote (1 in 176 million chance), that you had a better chance at the following:

• You have a 1 in 1 million chance of getting hit by lightning, according to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.
• There’s a 1-in-a-few-million chance of the Earth getting wiped out by a large asteroid, a NASA spokesperson said.
• You have a greater chance of having identical quadruplets than winning the Mega Millions jackpot. Odds are 1 in 13 million, according to an NBC report.
• Scared of dying from a bee sting? Well, you have a 1 in 6.1 million chance of dying from one, according to the Harvard Center for Risk Analysis. Click here to read more »

Most people recognize that Pit Bulls or Rottweilers are dangerous dog breeds. In fact there are many breeds considered dangerous. According to the CDC, the ten breeds that seem to bite the most frequently are:

• 1 Pit Bull
• 2 Rottweiler
• 3 German Shepherd
• 4 Husky
• 5 Alaskan Malamute
• 6 Doberman Pinscher
• 7 Chow Chow
• 8 Presa Canario
• 9 Boxer
• 10 Dalmatian

Some of the above breeds are named bully breeds.  The term “bully breed” will put you in the doghouse with owners of those beloved pets. People believe that bully breeds have earned the term because they pose a threat to society. Actually, the term stems from their origin and history.  The Molosser, a large, strong dog that originated in ancient Greece mixed with local dogs throughout Europe such as the Old English Bulldog or Mastiff breeds. Originally used to protect livestock, they began to be used by some breeders to fight and many believe this is where the term bully stems from. Early immigration brought the breeds to America. American culture further defined the bully breed. In the 1980’s many gangs used specific breeds as status symbols. The media many times has misidentified the breeds involved in dog attacks and the end result is a strong bias in the media and society against bully breeds.

Anyone who has felt threatened by even a small dog will agree that any dog that can bite is dangerous. Dog bites account for approximately 360,000 emergency room visits per year. Children between the ages of 5-9 are the most vulnerable. Victims more often than not file lawsuits seeking for payment of medical bills, loss of income, and compensation for pain and suffering.  Dog bites are the biggest cause of homeowner’s insurance claims.  Insurance companies are limiting dog bite insurance or in some cases eliminating it altogether. If you are the loving owner of a dog that is not covered by your homeowner’s insurance, you might want to invest in a policy that will protect you and your beloved pet from liability situations. Even a nip could leave you vulnerable to a lawsuit.  XINSURANCE will provide coverage no matter what the dog breed.

Owning a pet can be an extremely rewarding experience but it also brings a certain amount of risk no matter the breed or the temperament of your dog. Becoming informed on your homeowner’s policy and what additional coverage you may need is a good way to ensure peace of mind and stay out of the doghouse for good.

In this day and age some people are what I like to call “sue-happy.”  Meaning that they will sue for just about anything.  Last year was no exception and 2011 brought 10 of the most ridiculous lawsuits to date.  These suits included a convict suing the couple he kidnapped for not helping him evade police, a woman sued because the “Drive” movie trailer did not contain enough actual driving, and another woman sued a store for $5 million because of a disagreement about an 80-cent refund.

Yes, these are all for real, and you can check them out more at the link above.  These lawsuits conjure up all kinds of feelings of ridiculousness and absurdity, yet frivolous lawsuits occur all the time, and the worst part is that some of them actually come out victorious in court. Click here to read more »