On Sept. 9, 2007 in New Jersey, I was a passenger on my husband’s motorcycle when very abruptly the car in front of us slammed on its brakes causing us to slide. My right lower leg hit the rear rubber inlayed bumper of the car and that caused a severe 3rd degree friction burn. At first it looked like it might be a bruise so I didn’t go immediately to the ER. The car in front of us that my leg hit drove away. The next day my husband called his motorcycle insurance only to find I was not covered. He called his auto insurance (he had added me on to it several months earlier) and was told that I was covered. Then, was told at the ER that my husband’s insurance would not cover me. I was frantic to find a doctor who could care for my wound. I located a plastic surgeon who debrided the wound. It had to be done twice because it was infected with pseudomonas bacteria. The infection worsened & the plastic surgeon was getting frustrated. The infection went through my bloodstream. I underwent several surgeries due to necrotic ulcerations popping up on my lower body from the infection. My knees locked up and I am permanently in a wheelchair & have been since March 2008. I continue to have health problems, which seem to be snowballing. One thing right after the other has gone wrong with my health since that accident. I hired a law firm to handle my case. I also had to file bankruptcy because my medical bills had reached $183,000. I was told by the head of the law firm when I first hired them that they would see to it I get paid for my pain and suffering. The automobile insurance company was liable under the under-insured motorists. My case went through several hands at this law firm since 2008. They don’t seem very concerned about my case, at least that is my impression. The motorcycle insurance company paid $15,000 towards the medical bills that are in bankruptcy. That is their limit. I was very surprised that they paid anything. The automobile insurance company has a UIM limit of $100,000. I was told that they got credit for the $15,000 that the motorcycle insurance paid. Why? I’m told that the $85,000 left from the automobile insurance company may have to go on the rest of the medical bills unless they are dismissed in bankruptcy. Anyway, HEY. I no longer can walk. I no longer can do any of the many things I used to enjoy before the accident. My whole life has turned into a nightmare. If the automobile company had covered me in the beginning when I needed ER treatment I would still be walking. I would, more than likely, still be in good health. I have suffered unbelievable excruciating pain for years now from the burn and the things that the infection caused. I thought I was going to “be paid for my pain and suffering”…. Should I seek another attorney??? I feel like I’ve gotten the short end of the stick here. After all I’ve gone through because of the automobile insurance dragging their feet in the beginning, I feel I should also be awarded personal injury restitution. Thank you for listening and for your advice.

Does mold in your business that significantly affects your health constitute a casualty in a business lease?

I am currently an employee at the veterans hospital in Palo Alto and have been for the past 17 years. During my length of employment they have me listed as a part time employee even though I have been working full time for the past 10+ years. As a result I am having to pay $1200 a month in premiums for my health insurance because I only receive part time benefits. I have been told that there are no provisions to hire another full time employee so I must be listed as part time. Is this legal? What can I do?

I should add that it is union

I have been employed in a non-patient contact area of a NYC hospital for more than 20 years. Within the last year the facility was “taken over” by another hospital (financial reasons). I am being forced to take a tetanus vaccination under threat of suspension / termination. I don’t want to subject myself to the contents of this vaccine. Apparently, there are health exemptions to this requirement but I have to tell them what condition I have, they will not tell me what the exemptions are. At the age of 64, I am considering applying for early retirement even though it is not economically beneficial. In short, can I be forced to take this vaccine even though I have no contact with patients. Over the years I have become severely sensitive to several drugs and there is no way to know, in advance, when or how I will react so I struggle to keep my exposures to a minimum. I need help. What are my options?

Ok I am looking fo advice for my friend. She has custody of her twin grandsons for the last 11 1/2 months (Since boys were born). Dcfs had removed the babies from the hospital to neglect of the mother’s previous children and had given to the grandmother and grandfather. Well within the past two weeks DCFS camein and removed the twins from the home saying that the grandfather had a slight hint of drug use in a pee sample. The person who took the urine sample took a medical leave right after the twins got removed from the home. Now he has a new counselor has been assigned to the possible drug case and they said that there was not enough of a trace to consider it anything. She told the grandparents that he could have gotten it from walking in a place or home as he is a maintenane worker for a mobile home park. The grandparents have said that they would do anything to get the twins back as they were getting ready to adopt the boys within the next couple months as the parents were ready to sign direct rights over to the grandparents. Now DCFS is telling the grandparents that the only way they can get the twins back is if the grandfaterh moves out of the house. If he does this, it means that he will have to move away from his wife and young daughter he loves very much. But last week the dcfs caseworker told them that if they both took a urine test and it came back negative they would get twins back and then grand father would have to complete any reccommended treatment that was ordered. What can they do about getting the twins back as they are the only ones the boys have been around except the last couple weeks. The foster home they are in right now does not know anything about their health problems or anything. My husband and I even tried to step and take the boys till everything got straighhtened out as I have been approved by DCFS to keep the twins at my house and plus I babysit them everyday. So they also know me very well. But DCFS won’t let us have them because we are close friends with grandparents.

I have been divorced from the mother of my 2 children, 11 & 13, since 2005. She has been and still is the classic ‘Despotic Ex’ from Hell. This issue i bring up is just one of many.
What are the requirements in law for a parent if he/she decides to take the kids across state lines? I had been texting and calling my kids for over a week with not one response until now. My son texted me to say that they are in Tennessee and now on their way to Florida. That would be fine with me except that the mother NEVER informed me of travel or asked in advance what my plans may be with our kids for this Spring break period. If the situation were reversed she would cause Hell for me. She has no respect for me as their father and i am tired of it. Im held to standards that she herself doesnt adhere to. I do not prefer to talk to the mother because she is a very arrogant person. She has no problems with yelling and arguing in view of our kids (to this day). I have my health (high BP) to be concerned about and so i requested only communication in letter form between she and I (she refuses to text). Doesn’t a parent have to at least INFORM the other of travel across the country????? thanks all. PS (I believe that our court order states the necessity to inform of travel)

Hi, I have signed a one year lease agreement with my apartments (LaPacifica) I told them I would like to move out by the end of the month. This is what I wrote them: (I am writing you to inform you that I wish to terminate my lease early due to the ongoing dissatisfaction with the quality of life provided to me by La Pacifica apartments. I am unhappy with the environment in my apartment, it is substandard, specifically with regard to the noises generated by neighboring units. A few days ago I was out for a walk around the units and found a bullet shells. I do not feel safe here. Going through a divorce I feel I need to be around family and not in the middle of no where, where I hardly know anyone. It is my desire to be released from my lease without fault on April 7, 2011. I hope that my immediate rental payment history and good-standing account sufficiently indicates my continued accountability and sincerity. Again, I appreciate all the attempts that you have done as property manager to alleviate my dissatisfaction but have decided that it is in my best interests for me to vacate the unit. Please let myself know the feasibility of our request and if I can do anything to make the process proceed smoothly and to your satisfaction. Also, please let me know if you would like myself to speak directly with any other management parties about my request. “Thank you, again, for the consideration.”)

I forgot to mention in my notice I want to move out due to habitability, based upon Civil Code 1941.1 and Health and Safety Code 17920.3.. Reasons are Crime: “Drug trafficking” and “gang activity” are nuisances and Noise: from construction, neighbors, roof-mounted AC system is arguably a nuisance

They told me I would have to pay 1951.00 Plus I might have to pay the remaining rent since I am leaving 4 month before my lease is up. My rent is 895 a month that would be 3580.00 . I read somewhere that they can’t charge you both a early termination fee and the loss of months rent. I also read that if you feel unsafe you can legally break your lease. I feel at danger almost every day here. LaPacifica also informed me I never told them about feeling unsafe (didn’t know I needed to call the office each and every time.) Please help unsure what to do.