Automakers are packing automobiles with all kinds of new generation auto safety technologies, but federal agencies have been unable to keep pace with this growing use of technology. As a result, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration finds itself at a loss when it is faced with any safety issues or problems arising from these technologies.
The National Research Council's Transportation Research Board last week released a report into the role of electronic safety systems in incidents involving sudden acceleration of Toyota vehicles. The report finds that in the Toyota case, the electronic technologies had no role to play in the unintended acceleration incidents that were linked to these vehicles.
However, the report does have strong criticism for the National Highway Traffic Safety Administrations failure to equip itself with the kind of technical expertise needed in an age when almost every automaker is investing in electronic accident prevention technologies. Automakers have developed forward collision warning systems, lane departure alarm systems, and a number of other devices that are aimed at preventing accidents.
Many of these systems can interact with each other, and cause possible malfunctions or other problems that could increase a motorist’s risk of an accident. Many of these systems are based heavily on electronics, which, to Los Angeles car accident lawyers, does raise the possibility of interference and malfunctioning. In fact, many experts have tied Toyota's unintended acceleration problem to malfunctioning of the electronic safety systems in the cars. However, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration knows too little about these safety technologies to monitor them effectively.
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration has recently begun to show some signs that it is taking auto safety technologies more seriously. The agency chief recently mentioned that his agency would look at including crash avoidance technologies in its rating system.
Monday, 23 January 2012
Romney's Tax Troubles Dog Campaign Trail
Mitt Romney's presidential campaign, which was going full steam ahead just a few days ago, has found itself running into troubled tax waters. The candidate has doggedly avoided the question of releasing his tax forms, coyly stating that he follows all tax laws. New reports about the existence of millions of dollars of his wealth in offshore tax havens are not likely to make those niggling tax questions go away.
Romney has elected to maintain a shroud of secrecy around his tax affairs, but questions are being asked about his ability to pay a much lower tax rate of 15% than many Americans. However, he may have an even bigger reason to keep his tax affairs private. According to several news reports, he has millions of dollars in offshore tax havens, like the Cayman Islands. He has made use of the tax saving benefits of investing in offshore havens, in order to protect taxes on his $250 million fortune. He's believed to have $8 million funds listed on the Cayman Islands registry, and another investment of between $7 million and $25 million also in the Cayman Islands.
The Romney campaign denies that the money was parked in these offshore tax havens in order to deny the Internal Revenue Service its due share of his wealth. They also deny that these tax havens have provided any great tax benefits to the presidential candidate.
The federal administration estimates that $100 billion in taxes every year are lost when money is parked in funds offshore. As any California tax lawyer knows, offshore investments in jurisdictions like the Cayman Islands or Bermuda, provide some Americans the means to avoid tax-related problems.
Romney has elected to maintain a shroud of secrecy around his tax affairs, but questions are being asked about his ability to pay a much lower tax rate of 15% than many Americans. However, he may have an even bigger reason to keep his tax affairs private. According to several news reports, he has millions of dollars in offshore tax havens, like the Cayman Islands. He has made use of the tax saving benefits of investing in offshore havens, in order to protect taxes on his $250 million fortune. He's believed to have $8 million funds listed on the Cayman Islands registry, and another investment of between $7 million and $25 million also in the Cayman Islands.
The Romney campaign denies that the money was parked in these offshore tax havens in order to deny the Internal Revenue Service its due share of his wealth. They also deny that these tax havens have provided any great tax benefits to the presidential candidate.
The federal administration estimates that $100 billion in taxes every year are lost when money is parked in funds offshore. As any California tax lawyer knows, offshore investments in jurisdictions like the Cayman Islands or Bermuda, provide some Americans the means to avoid tax-related problems.
Thursday, 19 January 2012
California Ranked Well on Highway Safety Measures
From tougher drunk driving measures to more restrictions on teen drivers, there is much that could be done to keep California motorists safer. However, the state has been ranked well overall in highway safety by an auto safety group.
The rating was compiled by Advocates for Highway and Auto Safety, and compared states based on whether their highway safety laws include at least 15 laws that are recommended by the group. These laws include everything from seatbelt laws to laws against distracted driving.
California was given a Green ranking, which is the highest rating by the group. The ranking indicates that the state has performed well in implementing laws aimed at speeding motorists safer. San Francisco car accident lawyers agree with this. After all, California was one of the first states in the country to enact laws against the use of hand-held cell phones and texting while driving. The state has also implemented all -occupant seatbelt laws aimed at keeping all occupants of a vehicle safer during an accident. Thanks to pressure by San Francisco car accident attorneys, auto safety groups and citizens groups, California lawmakers for the most part, have been quite enthusiastic about implementing safety laws.
However, the state could be doing more to keep motorists safer on highways. According to the rating, the state has implemented 9.5 laws required by the group. The laws that the state should now take up include a law requiring a minimum age of 16 for a person to obtain a learner's permit, nighttime and passenger restrictions in graduated driver’s licensing programs for teenage drivers, a requirement of 18 for teenage drivers who wish to get an unrestricted license and an ignition interlock law.
Having an ignition interlock law could reduce the number of drunk driving accidents that take place in the state every year. Laws aimed at keeping teen drivers safer are important in a state where single-user vehicles are the norm.
The rating was compiled by Advocates for Highway and Auto Safety, and compared states based on whether their highway safety laws include at least 15 laws that are recommended by the group. These laws include everything from seatbelt laws to laws against distracted driving.
California was given a Green ranking, which is the highest rating by the group. The ranking indicates that the state has performed well in implementing laws aimed at speeding motorists safer. San Francisco car accident lawyers agree with this. After all, California was one of the first states in the country to enact laws against the use of hand-held cell phones and texting while driving. The state has also implemented all -occupant seatbelt laws aimed at keeping all occupants of a vehicle safer during an accident. Thanks to pressure by San Francisco car accident attorneys, auto safety groups and citizens groups, California lawmakers for the most part, have been quite enthusiastic about implementing safety laws.
However, the state could be doing more to keep motorists safer on highways. According to the rating, the state has implemented 9.5 laws required by the group. The laws that the state should now take up include a law requiring a minimum age of 16 for a person to obtain a learner's permit, nighttime and passenger restrictions in graduated driver’s licensing programs for teenage drivers, a requirement of 18 for teenage drivers who wish to get an unrestricted license and an ignition interlock law.
Having an ignition interlock law could reduce the number of drunk driving accidents that take place in the state every year. Laws aimed at keeping teen drivers safer are important in a state where single-user vehicles are the norm.
Wednesday, 18 January 2012
Baseball Writer Bill Conlin Accused of Sexual Abuse
Four persons have come forward with allegations of sexual abuse against Baseball Hall Of Fame writer Bill Conlin. However, their legal options against Conlin, who was a columnist for the Philadelphia Daily News, are limited because the statute of limitations has already run out.
The 4 persons include 3 women and a man who say that they were sexually abused by Conlin when they were children. The abuse occurred back in the 70s, when these persons were between 7 and 12. One of the accusers is Conlin’s niece, who says that he molested her when she was a child. Last week, Conlin retired from the Daily News after working there for decades. He has not commented on these allegations.
The accusers say that they're only now speaking up about the abuse because of all the attention that has been focused on the Pennsylvania State sexual abuse scandal involving assistant coach Jerry Sandusky. The amount of media attention that has been devoted to that case has reminded them of their own struggles since the abuse, and has inspired them to speak up.
Unfortunately, for the 4 persons, options for legal action are very limited, because the abuse occurred outside the statute of limitations. Their parents did not inform police when they became aware of the abuse all those years ago, and now the time to file a lawsuit against Conlin has run out. Prosecutors say that they are helpless because any cases that occurred before 1996 are beyond the statute of limitations.
The victims allege that they informed their parents about the abuse when it did occur. However, nobody contacted law enforcement. Instead, Conlin was given a warning to stay away from the children, and a decision was made to protect children from direct contact with him. Fortunately, Los Angeles sexual abuse lawyers now see more people willing to come forward to report sexual abuse. Early reporting of abuses is essential for legal action be taken against a perpetrator.
The 4 persons include 3 women and a man who say that they were sexually abused by Conlin when they were children. The abuse occurred back in the 70s, when these persons were between 7 and 12. One of the accusers is Conlin’s niece, who says that he molested her when she was a child. Last week, Conlin retired from the Daily News after working there for decades. He has not commented on these allegations.
The accusers say that they're only now speaking up about the abuse because of all the attention that has been focused on the Pennsylvania State sexual abuse scandal involving assistant coach Jerry Sandusky. The amount of media attention that has been devoted to that case has reminded them of their own struggles since the abuse, and has inspired them to speak up.
Unfortunately, for the 4 persons, options for legal action are very limited, because the abuse occurred outside the statute of limitations. Their parents did not inform police when they became aware of the abuse all those years ago, and now the time to file a lawsuit against Conlin has run out. Prosecutors say that they are helpless because any cases that occurred before 1996 are beyond the statute of limitations.
The victims allege that they informed their parents about the abuse when it did occur. However, nobody contacted law enforcement. Instead, Conlin was given a warning to stay away from the children, and a decision was made to protect children from direct contact with him. Fortunately, Los Angeles sexual abuse lawyers now see more people willing to come forward to report sexual abuse. Early reporting of abuses is essential for legal action be taken against a perpetrator.
Monday, 16 January 2012
Gulf War Veterans Now Have Extension for Undiagnosed Illness Benefits Application
The Department of Veterans Affairs has extended the application window for veterans of the Persian Gulf War who have suffered an undiagnosed illness. The extension has been granted for an additional 5 years.
For years now, the Department of Veterans Affairs has held Gulf War veterans, who want to claim compensation based on undiagnosed illnesses, to a date of December 31, 2011 for the emergence of symptoms. These symptoms of undiagnosed illnesses should have been become apparent by this date. However, that deadline has now been extended to December 31, 2016.
This change affects veterans of the Gulf War who suffer from a number of illnesses that have never been properly understood. The veterans must have suffered from symptoms of the undiagnosed illness at any time during active duty in the South West Asia Theater of Operations during the Gulf War or any time after until December 31, 2016. The Southwest Asia Theater of Operations includes Iraq, Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Bahrain, Qatar, the United Arab Emirates, the Gulf of Aden, and Oman.
Symptoms of these undiagnosed illnesses include muscle pain, neurological symptoms, fatigue, skin problems, headaches, insomnia, sleep disorders, gastrointestinal problems, neuropsychological problems, respiratory disorders, sudden and unexplainable weight loss, menstrual disorders and headaches. The symptoms have been blamed on a number of possible hazards during the Gulf War. These include environment hazards, vaccinations, and exposure to chemical weapons.
Veterans who suffer from any of these symptoms must contact the Department of Veterans Affairs. These eligibility requirements are fairly general, and there may be additional criteria that may apply. If you have questions about your eligibility for Gulf War undiagnosed illness benefits, it would help to speak with a California veterans’ benefits lawyer.
For years now, the Department of Veterans Affairs has held Gulf War veterans, who want to claim compensation based on undiagnosed illnesses, to a date of December 31, 2011 for the emergence of symptoms. These symptoms of undiagnosed illnesses should have been become apparent by this date. However, that deadline has now been extended to December 31, 2016.
This change affects veterans of the Gulf War who suffer from a number of illnesses that have never been properly understood. The veterans must have suffered from symptoms of the undiagnosed illness at any time during active duty in the South West Asia Theater of Operations during the Gulf War or any time after until December 31, 2016. The Southwest Asia Theater of Operations includes Iraq, Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Bahrain, Qatar, the United Arab Emirates, the Gulf of Aden, and Oman.
Symptoms of these undiagnosed illnesses include muscle pain, neurological symptoms, fatigue, skin problems, headaches, insomnia, sleep disorders, gastrointestinal problems, neuropsychological problems, respiratory disorders, sudden and unexplainable weight loss, menstrual disorders and headaches. The symptoms have been blamed on a number of possible hazards during the Gulf War. These include environment hazards, vaccinations, and exposure to chemical weapons.
Veterans who suffer from any of these symptoms must contact the Department of Veterans Affairs. These eligibility requirements are fairly general, and there may be additional criteria that may apply. If you have questions about your eligibility for Gulf War undiagnosed illness benefits, it would help to speak with a California veterans’ benefits lawyer.
Friday, 13 January 2012
Maker of Twinkies to File for Chapter 11 Bankruptcy
It is the 2nd try at financial restructuring for Hostess Brands Inc., maker of the iconic Twinkies snacks and other foods. The company announced that it was filing for Chapter 11 bankruptcy, its 2nd filing in less than 8 years.
Hostess Brands Inc. was established in 1930, the same year that it launched its Twinkies snack. The company also produces a number of other snack brands, including Sno Balls. Ho Hos, and Wonder Bread. Sales of these brands have slumped, contributing to the company's financial troubles. Hostess also owes billions of dollars to suppliers as well as labor unions. The company has also suffered from a non-competitive cost structure, mainly due to its pension and medical benefits payouts, and has failed to win concessions from unions.
California bankruptcy attorneys noticed the last time the company filed for bankruptcy was in 2004. It emerged from that financial restructuring process in 2009. However, the company has struggled since then to recover its market share. Last year, the company sold about 36 million packages of Twinkies. That was a drop of 2% from the previous year. The company has also suffered from changing market trends as more and more consumers have moved away from white bread to whole-grain options.
It's a trying time for a company that has found itself a place in American pop culture. Twinkies were mentioned in the 2009 film Zombieland, but that kind of prime product placement didn’t help boost sales of the snack either.
The bankruptcy filing has been made in a New York court, and the company lists a number of creditors, including the Bakery and Confectionery Union Pension Fund, which is its largest creditor with a debt of $994 million. The company also owes millions to suppliers like Cargill.
Hostess Brands Inc. was established in 1930, the same year that it launched its Twinkies snack. The company also produces a number of other snack brands, including Sno Balls. Ho Hos, and Wonder Bread. Sales of these brands have slumped, contributing to the company's financial troubles. Hostess also owes billions of dollars to suppliers as well as labor unions. The company has also suffered from a non-competitive cost structure, mainly due to its pension and medical benefits payouts, and has failed to win concessions from unions.
California bankruptcy attorneys noticed the last time the company filed for bankruptcy was in 2004. It emerged from that financial restructuring process in 2009. However, the company has struggled since then to recover its market share. Last year, the company sold about 36 million packages of Twinkies. That was a drop of 2% from the previous year. The company has also suffered from changing market trends as more and more consumers have moved away from white bread to whole-grain options.
It's a trying time for a company that has found itself a place in American pop culture. Twinkies were mentioned in the 2009 film Zombieland, but that kind of prime product placement didn’t help boost sales of the snack either.
The bankruptcy filing has been made in a New York court, and the company lists a number of creditors, including the Bakery and Confectionery Union Pension Fund, which is its largest creditor with a debt of $994 million. The company also owes millions to suppliers like Cargill.
Tuesday, 10 January 2012
Veteran in Utah Shooting Suffered from PTSD
A veteran, who served in the Army between 1994 and 1998, is at the center of a shooting incident in Utah that left one person dead. According to the father of the veteran, he suffered from post traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and depression.
The shooting began as part of a drug investigation by local police in Utah who entered the veteran's house, when orders to open the door were ignored. When the officers broke into the house, there was a burst of gunfire, and 5 police officers were wounded. One of the officers was killed. Investigations into why the drug bust went so horribly wrong have begun.
The veteran, Matthew David Stewart was injured in the gunfire. It has not yet been confirmed that the gunfire that killed the police officer, came from Stewart. Investigators are looking at whether the police officers in all the confusion on entering the house, might have fired on each other.
Police have not confirmed exactly what they were looking for in Stewart's home. He has suffered non-life-threatening injuries in the hospital. Stuart served as veteran between July 1994 and December 1998, and spent one year at the base in Fort Bragg, North Carolina. He was stationed in Germany for 3 years. He served as a communications equipment specialist in the Army, and received an Army Achievement Medal and a National Defense Service Medal.
According to his father, he was sleeping at the time the police barged in his home. Stewart suffers from post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and depression, and had begun using marijuana to self-medicate himself.
According to one estimate, one in every five Iraq and Afghanistan veterans suffers from PTSD. California veterans benefit lawyers have long believed that there is an urgent need for an expansion of the mental health care system in order to accommodate the needs of veterans and service members.
The shooting began as part of a drug investigation by local police in Utah who entered the veteran's house, when orders to open the door were ignored. When the officers broke into the house, there was a burst of gunfire, and 5 police officers were wounded. One of the officers was killed. Investigations into why the drug bust went so horribly wrong have begun.
The veteran, Matthew David Stewart was injured in the gunfire. It has not yet been confirmed that the gunfire that killed the police officer, came from Stewart. Investigators are looking at whether the police officers in all the confusion on entering the house, might have fired on each other.
Police have not confirmed exactly what they were looking for in Stewart's home. He has suffered non-life-threatening injuries in the hospital. Stuart served as veteran between July 1994 and December 1998, and spent one year at the base in Fort Bragg, North Carolina. He was stationed in Germany for 3 years. He served as a communications equipment specialist in the Army, and received an Army Achievement Medal and a National Defense Service Medal.
According to his father, he was sleeping at the time the police barged in his home. Stewart suffers from post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and depression, and had begun using marijuana to self-medicate himself.
According to one estimate, one in every five Iraq and Afghanistan veterans suffers from PTSD. California veterans benefit lawyers have long believed that there is an urgent need for an expansion of the mental health care system in order to accommodate the needs of veterans and service members.
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