Posts written by buteralaw
Philadelphia Tax Assessment Appeals -10-1-11 Deadline
In February, the ex-judge, from Luzern County, Mark A. Ciavarella, Jr., 61, was found guilty on twelve counts of racketeering, conspiracy, fraud and filing false tax returns in connection with his part in the “Cash for Kids” scheme that shocked Pennsylvania’s legal community. On August… Continue reading
Luzerne County’s “Justice” Runs Amok: A Follow-Up
In February, the ex-judge, from Luzerne County, Mark A. Ciavarella, Jr., 61, was found guilty on twelve counts of racketeering, conspiracy, fraud and filing false tax returns in connection with his part in the “Cash for Kids” scheme that shocked Pennsylvania’s legal community. On August… Continue reading
The Queen’s English – Redundancies
We, as lawyers, are hardly ones to talk; we have laden our language with redundancies and anachronisms from the beginning. There are, however, those among us who try to use language that non-lawyers, as well as lawyers, can understand. In my first class in freshman… Continue reading
What is Jurisdiction?
The best way to understand the legal concept of jurisdiction is by way of example. Suppose a Pennsylvania resident is injured in a car accident on Route 202 literally 100 yards across the Pennsylvania-Delaware border within the State of Delaware. And suppose the driver causing… Continue reading
Choosing the Right Auto Insurance Coverage
Accidents happen, so you need adequate protection. That is why you must be smart about the type of auto insurance coverage you purchase. The trend we see in our personal injury practice is that more and more people are either eliminating or drastically lowering key… Continue reading
Supreme Court Agrees to Hear Municipal Official’s Appeal from Bribery Conviction
In a case of interest and importance to municipal officials in Pennsylvania (Commonwealth v. Moran), the Pennsylvania Supreme Court has agreed to hear an appeal from a township official’s bribery conviction in connection with a sale of township-owned real estate. According to the trial judge,… Continue reading
Medical Malpractice Cases Decline Steeply
Lawyers have been accustomed to being blamed for many of our culture’s ills, and we’ve all heard the endless series of lawyers’ jokes. In fairness, often the damage has been self-inflicted. In one area in particular over the past decade the criticism has been… Continue reading
Estate Planning for Pets
In the 1970 Disney Movie The Aristocats, Madame Adelaide Bonfamille wishes for her fortune to be left to her cats, which will retain it until their deaths, at which time the fortune is to pass to Edgar, her long-time, yet unscrupulous butler. Life then imitated… Continue reading
Mortgages in Bankruptcy
Individuals who file for bankruptcy are generally seeking a “fresh start,” with the ultimate goal being a discharge of the individual’s debts. At the end of the bankruptcy, those debts simply disappear, or so the debtor thinks. However, the bankruptcy discharge may not be nearly… Continue reading
Queen’s English June Musings
Cliché Alert. English will always evolve, and clichés are a part of the process. When first used (invented) a phrase which is to become a cliché may sound colorful and clever; it may be a perfectly useful but obscure word that suddenly “catches on”. Angst is a… Continue reading