Monthly Archives: July 2006
Queen’s English — The Verb To Lie (down) and Surrounding Confusion
Of all the abused verbs in English, to lie (as in recline) is near or at the top of the list. It is improper to say “I am going to lay down” or “Yesterday he laid on the hammock.”; and yet it seems that more… Continue reading
Bruges: A Wonderful Detour
On a recent trip to Europe, as almost an after-thought we decided to visit Bruges, Belgium. It is relatively small and not much is written about it, but what we had heard was exciting: that it is the “Venice of the North”, that it has… Continue reading
The Medical Malpractice Crisis
For months, there has been much written and reported on the medical malpractice crisis in Pennsylvania and across the nation. Doctors in several states have staged temporary work stoppages to protest the high cost of medical malpractice insurance. In Pennsylvania, the Rendell administration has established… Continue reading
LCB Say “Hello” to the 21st Century
Unless you’re living under a rock (or outside of Pennsylvania), you have to be aware that some of the Pennsylvania State Liquor Stores are now open on Sundays (10% of the total). This and several other changes are the result of the adoption of two… Continue reading
Changing A Name
Think about what goes into a name for a child. Some parents search through baby name books and websites, others are guided more by their family history or by the naming customs of their cultures. Yet, despite all of their efforts, parents do not necessarily… Continue reading
Who Are We?
Within the Firm we work in various areas of the law; the effect benefits our clients doubly: the attorney who is assigned the file is familiar with the subject matter and can process a matter more quickly (which means lower fees), and the final product… Continue reading
Another “Ken” on Board
In December, Ken Butera’s son, also Ken, joined the firm as an associate, after passing last summer’s Bar Examination. The younger Ken earned his BA at the University of Washington in Seattle and his JD at Villanova Law School last June. He is married to… Continue reading
Queen’s English — Obfuscation = Mystique
Words: Rich, round, buttery, flavor length, texture fatness, attractive, generous, intense, full-fruited, some suppleness, body, silkiness, taste generosity, fresh, clean, slightly buttery, big, chewy, substantial, green, meaty, mouth-filling, long finish, aroma of oatmeal, burly, some funk, integrated, short, flamboyant, with all the stuffing, unvarnished, lingering… Continue reading
Deadlines
A deadline is defined as a time limit, especially the time by which an article, etc. scheduled for publication must be completed. As my editor called to remind me about my deadline for this piece, I began thinking about the pain and loathing that have… Continue reading
The Power of Eminent Domain
The Pennsylvania Constitution provides that private property shall not be taken or applied to public use without authority of law and without just compensation being first made or secured. So while the Commonwealth and municipalities are invested with the authority to take private property for… Continue reading