Dram Shop Act: “Overservice” of Alcohol. The Legal Reality

A number of years ago when I was in a larger law firm we tried a Dram Shop Act case in front of a jury. This is when someone is served alcohol to excess and then he or she gets on the road causing a collision, usually with horrific results. The theory is that if the drunk wasn’t overserved alcohol by the bar or restaurant this incident would not have happened. It is an attempt to sue both the driver and the establishment that served Read More +

Do I Need Insurance on my Street Worthy Golf Cart?

As we all know golf carts are not just for golf courses anymore.  As people try to conserve gas and move about their communities a little easier, golf carts have become an alternate method of transport. More than just efficient, they’re fun!  My parents had one in their golf community and my friends have one in Safety Harbor for tooting around town. In some communities like the Villages, they’re almost essential. In this self-contained little city in the middle of nowhere, carts are the most Read More + Read More +

Harassing an Internet Scammer

Believe it or not, there are a whole host of internet scammers who specialize in attempting to scam lawyers. This is particularly offensive since lawyers are trained to question, to investigate to research and to search for the truth. These morons think they can pull one over on us? As a group, we’re not feeble minded simpletons ready to believe we just won the Scottish Lottery when told without ever having played it. Flash forward to this past Monday: I received an e-mail inquiry through Read More + Read More +

Lawyers and Attitude

Recently a colleague related a story: A friend of his asked him to refer him to “the meanest, most aggressive attorney” he knew. He really wanted his lawyer to “rip to shreds” the other party to the dispute. The result? The friend and his lawyer argued all the time and he fired the “aggressive jerk”. This is a case of be careful what you wish for. Now the client is out a good amount of money after giving him a non-refundable retainer and must start Read More + Read More +

The Fundamental Unfairness of “Second Parent Adoptions”

What’s a “second parent adoption”? If you’ve got the stomach for a legal subject that is truly nauseating and unjust, read on. More and more same sex couples are having children of their own through surrogacy and otherwise. Second parent adoptions are a way the non-biological parent can be legally recognized as the “second parent” of their own child. The Issue: In a same sex relationship that opts to have a child through a surrogate who actually carries the child, only one parent can be Read More + Read More +

My Car Crash Was Out of State: Can I Hire A Florida Lawyer To Represent Me?

Surprisingly, yes! You can hire a Florida lawyer for your personal injury claim even if your car accident was in a different state. Typically someone who is involved in an accident in some distant jurisdiction returns home and resumes their life here. So, his or her family physician is here, as is a treating doctor. They go back to work but may have lost some time due to recuperation. It makes sense to hire someone locally to navigate your care and your insurance claim, locally.  Read More + Read More +