tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-49143621785783984802024-02-08T12:19:26.894-08:00Workers Compensation AttorneyAnonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13933190226117538406noreply@blogger.comBlogger6125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4914362178578398480.post-11221328755789970252014-09-18T08:40:00.001-07:002014-09-18T08:40:44.703-07:00PA is trying to tax legal services! We need to stop this!
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">There is a bill currently in the Senate that would impose a tax on legal services. If passed, this could impact your access to legal help when you really need it and cost you more!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Let’s face it, people generally only need legal help when they have a big problems that seriously impact their financial situation and ability to provide food, shelter and education for their families. Taxing legal services in these instances will place a further financial strain on those who can least afford it. It will also serve to stifle access to legal services. </span></div>
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<li class="MsoNormal" style="color: #002c4b; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; tab-stops: list .5in;"><span style="color: white;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 10.5pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">For
many, hiring a lawyer is a necessity and not a luxury item, as effective
legal representation requires counsel.</span><span style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; font-size: 9pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">
<o:p></o:p></span></span></li>
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<li class="MsoNormal" style="color: #002c4b; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; tab-stops: list .5in;"><span style="color: white;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 10.5pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Access
to justice is a basic constitutional right and justice should not be
treated as a commodity.</span><span style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; font-size: 9pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> <o:p></o:p></span></span></li>
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<li class="MsoNormal" style="color: #002c4b; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; tab-stops: list .5in;"><span style="color: white;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 10.5pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Legal
representation is needed most by those with lower and moderate incomes,
including seniors on fixed incomes. For instance, representation is often
necessary to:</span><span style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; font-size: 9pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> </span><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 10.5pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">obtain
workers' compensation or Social Security benefits wrongly denied</span><span style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; font-size: 9pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">, </span><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 10.5pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">fight a
property assessment by local government</span><span style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; font-size: 9pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">,
</span><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 10.5pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">deal with a hostile landlord or
tenant,</span><span style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; font-size: 9pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> </span><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 10.5pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">have
a simple will written or probate a will,</span><span style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; font-size: 9pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">
</span><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 10.5pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">avoid a home foreclosure</span><span style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; font-size: 9pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> <o:p></o:p></span></span></li>
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</span><span style="color: #002c4b; font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 10.5pt;"><span style="color: yellow;">I am writing to you asking you to oppose Senate Bill 76 which would impose a sales tax on legal services.</span></span><br />
<span style="color: #002c4b; font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 10.5pt;"></span><span style="color: white;"> </span><br />
<span style="color: #002c4b; font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 10.5pt;"><span style="color: #002c4b; font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 10.5pt;"><span style="color: white;">Everyone should call and write to their state senator and representatives! Tell them to oppose this bill!</span></span></span><br />
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<span style="color: #002c4b; font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 10.5pt;"><span style="color: white;">Bellow is a sample of the letter you could send. Please take action!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 10.5pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="color: white;">Dear Senator <span style="color: red;">[Last Name]</span>:<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 10.5pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="color: white;">I am writing as an
attorney from <span style="color: red;">[town and county] </span>and a member of
the Pennsylvania Bar Association (PBA) to ask that you vote against Senate Bill
76. This bill would impose a sales tax on most legal services and create a
major financial barrier for individuals with lower and moderate incomes who
need legal representation the most. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 10.5pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="color: white;">For many
Pennsylvanians, hiring a lawyer is a necessity and not a luxury item. Access to
justice is a basic constitutional right that should not be taxed and treated as
a commodity. Increasing the cost of effective legal representation by imposing
a sales tax would impact persons of limited means who often need a lawyer to:<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="color: white;"><span style="font-family: Symbol; font-size: 10pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-size: 9.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 10.5pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">obtain
workers’ compensation or social security benefits that have been wrongly denied</span><span style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; font-size: 9pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="color: white;"><span style="font-family: Symbol; font-size: 10pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-size: 9.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 10.5pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">fight
a property assessment action by their local government</span><span style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; font-size: 9pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="color: white;"><span style="font-family: Symbol; font-size: 10pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-size: 9.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 10.5pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">deal
with a hostile landlord or tenant</span><span style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; font-size: 9pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="color: white;"><span style="font-family: Symbol; font-size: 10pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-size: 9.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 10.5pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">have
a simple will written or probate<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>the will
of a loved one</span><span style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; font-size: 9pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="color: white;"><span style="font-family: Symbol; font-size: 10pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-size: 9.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 10.5pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">avoid
a home foreclosure</span><span style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; font-size: 9pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 10.5pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="color: white;">I understand the
difficult fiscal problems that the Commonwealth is now facing, but a tax on
legal services is not the proper fix. This financial burden should not be
shifted to individuals who are truly in need of legal representation. Please
join me and the PBA in opposing this legislation. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 10.5pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p><span style="color: white;"> </span></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 10.5pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="color: white;">Respectfully,<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 10.5pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p><span style="color: white;"> </span></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: red; font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 10.5pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="color: white;">[Your name]<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
</span> </span> </span>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13933190226117538406noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4914362178578398480.post-83349061314697227302013-12-06T08:11:00.003-08:002014-09-18T08:43:57.168-07:00New Threat to Workers' Rights - Senate Bill 1195<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: white;"><span style="background-color: #990000;">Senate Bill 1195 <span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 15px;">is a new bill which will further erode the rights of injured Workers' in Pennsylvania. The legislators behind it are attempting to fast-track it. I urge all of you to contact your state representative and senator and demand that they vote against passage of this legislation. This bill will effectively eliminate any Uninsured Employer Guarantee Fund (UEGF) claims in the Commonwealth of PA. The UEGF was designed to provide benefits to those injured while working for Employers who failed to obtain legally required Workers' Compensation Insurance. You never know if this is going to be you until it is too late. Your representative may suggest that these changes are minor or will not effect many people. Don't be fooled! You may be one of those people in the future and if you are seriously injured and cannot work and have no income because your Employer failed to properly insure, you will wish this fund was available. Further, if this is allowed to pass it will only be the beginning of increased erosion to the rights of injured workers. PLEASE, call and/or email your state </span><span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 15px;">representative and senator and tell them to vote against Senate Bill 1195 today!</span></span></span></span></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13933190226117538406noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4914362178578398480.post-39328937090526375622013-11-12T10:44:00.000-08:002013-11-12T10:44:00.809-08:00WCAIS UpdateIt has been several months since the new computerized system went "on-line". The results have been mixed. There were initially severe delays in having petitions assigned, in the issuance of Decisions and in the issuance of hearing notices. Slowly, the backlog is being processed. New petitions are now getting assigned much more quickly and hearings are getting scheduled more quickly. There are still substantial issues to work out, but the new system shows promise.Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13933190226117538406noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4914362178578398480.post-65397162503251664992013-09-03T11:33:00.001-07:002013-09-03T11:33:47.126-07:00Proposed Changes to the PA WC ActAll workers throughout Pennsylvania should be aware that the there are discussions in the state legislature about amending the Workers' Compensation Act in ways that will harm injured workers. If passed, it will greatly restrict your choice of medical providers in the event you sustain a work injury. It is even possible that your employer will get to dictate who you treat with throughout your entire claim. What can you do? Contact your state representatives and tell them that injured workers should have the freedom to chose their own doctors! <br />
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Stay tuned for updates.Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13933190226117538406noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4914362178578398480.post-56480271137138674332013-09-03T11:30:00.001-07:002013-09-03T11:33:47.124-07:00Big Changes on September 9 - PA Bureau of Workers Compensation Goes PaperlessAs of September 9, 2013, the Bureau of Workers' Compensation is initiating the full use of its new WCAIS system. This online system is designed to reduce the use of paper in the Workers' Compensation system. All petitions, answers and most forms will be available on-line through this system. Hearing notices, evidence and communications will also be handled through this system. It is brand new and no one is quite sure how it will work. There may be delays while the kinks are getting worked out; however, in the end, this system promises to ease access to information in the system and to facilitate the exchange of information and correspondence between the parties and the Judge. You must be a registered user to access the system.Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13933190226117538406noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4914362178578398480.post-79138927681807576122013-09-03T11:19:00.003-07:002013-09-03T11:33:47.128-07:00Social Media in Workers' CompensationSocial Media is a great tool and can be lots of fun. However, it is important to be aware that everything you post to the internet stays there (often even if deleted) and may be obtained by an employer/Insurance Company in the event you sustain a work injury. More and more often, defense attorneys are checking social media sites and requesting access to accounts and data posted on-line. Be thoughtful about what you post on Facebook or other Social Media.Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13933190226117538406noreply@blogger.com0