5 Golf Gadgets That Will Improve Your Game

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After hours and hours on the golf course, you sometimes hit a plateau that you can’t easily overcome. No matter what you do, your skill stays stagnant despite your greatest efforts. In these frustrating cases, it can be particularly useful to use the latest technology to your advantage. Some of the following golf gadgets will improve your footing and balance while others will better your swing and power. But they all have one thing in common — they’re bound to help improve your game.

Check out these 5 popular golf gadgets:

GolfSense: If you’ve ever wanted advanced analytics to improve your golf game, then the GolfSense is the gadget for you. This sensor clip attaches to your glove and sends precise swing renderings to your smartphone or tablet. You’ll be able to analyze critical segments of your swing and get an in-depth analysis of where you can best improve.

SwingTip: Whereas the GolfSense clips to your glove, the SwingTip clips onto your golf club to automatically record your swing movement when your club moves. The SwingTip offers amazing club path analysis without any extra gear or equipment so you can pinpoint flaws and quickly improve your game.

Nike TW’14: You’ve undoubtedly heard plenty about golf shoes, but this Tiger Woods Nike pair is different. Not only will the spiky soles give you the surest footing on the market, they’ll also give you a unique springiness and flex that you won’t find in the competition. That’s because the Nike TW’14 conforms to your foot, allowing you to stay on the ground longer, thereby improving your swing and bolstering your power.

Laser Rangefinder: Laser rangefinders are great for automatically calculating accurate measurements up to 500 yards on the golf course. Use the rangefinder’s infrared laser to scan the fairway, see how far away a hole is, or to better gauge a tricky angle.

SKLZ Gold Flex Swing Trainer: This training tool will get your swing ready before you take that first hit on the course. The Gold Flex Swing Trainer is designed with extra flexibility to help you improve your strength, flexibility, and swing tempo. Best of all, it encourages a lengthening of your swing by forcing your hands and arms to extend all the way through every time.. Like a warm-up bat in baseball, the Gold Flex will improve your form, balance, and power before you hit your first ball.

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How the Tech Revolution is Helping Charity and Fundraising

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Unless you’ve been hiding under a rock, you no doubt have seen countless videos of people dumping buckets of ice-cold water on their heads in the name of a motor neurone disease called ALS. This ice bucket challenge was the biggest social media event of its kind, raising over $115 million for ALS, and proving that consumers take positive action in a very different way from decades ago.

How does a small charity even begin on this path to using digital mediums to help their cause? That’s where Irish Charity Lab comes in, a company that helps charities in Ireland figure out where they can best put their resources. Jean O’Brien, social entrepreneur and founder of Irish Charity Lab, offers workshops on her website that teach charity leaders how to maximize their online traffic, efficiently communicate their target audiences, and use digital communications to spark big opportunities.

Irish Charity Lab is in the process of trying out various tactics to see which efforts best help the charities support their causes. For instance, O’Brien is currently testing out a mentoring program where she or another colleague works personally with a charity to give hands-on training so the management can use the digital space strategically and knowledgeably.

It’s not necessarily about becoming a digital guru though. There are a lot of free social media resources out there and the important part is realizing which platforms are effective for which projects. It’s also important to recognize the different audiences that populate each one and how they interact with each other and consume information on the site.

Even implementing just a few of these digital tactics can give charities a wider reach and a stronger authority in the sector. O’Brien is trying to keep her prices as low as possible to accommodate the humble budgets of many charities but is in the talks with different funders who are looking to help subsidize her services and make them more affordable.

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Settlement Reached in Nissan Defective Infiniti Brake Class Action Suit

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(source: wikipedia.org)

According to BigClassAction.com, a settlement has been reached in the defective brake class action lawsuit against Nissan North America Inc. The terms of the settlement will require Nissan to pay each vehicle owner up to $800.

Brandon and Erin Banks originally filed the lawsuit back in April 2011. “It alleged the defective sensor posed a serious safety threat to consumers because it controls critical safety aspects of braking and was prone to failure”. The article states that the defect put drivers into very critical situations – being unable to stop suddenly, or within a safe amount of time and distance, or even worse, not at all.

Additionally, the suit claims that Nissan was aware of this defect but intentionally hid it from consumers “to [Nissan’s] significant financial gain”.

Under the proposed settlement terms, affected owners (former and current) of either 2004-2008 Nissan Titans, Armadas and Infiniti QX56 vehicles are entitled to file claims to seek reimbursement for out-of-pocket expenses incurred through the necessity of replacing faulty braking equipment.

Reimbursements will begin at $20 for plaintiffs “who had in excess of 120,000 miles at the time of repair” and will go up to $800 “for vehicles that had less than 48,000 miles at the time of repair.

According to the article, Nissan will be reaching out to class members via mail; they have obtained addresses through a combination of public records and through Nissan itself. The class members will be directed to a website as well as a toll-free number in order to receive information regarding the settlement and next steps.

To read the entire article on BigClassAcion.com, click here.

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Major Retailers Asked To Stop Sales Of Store Brand Herbal Supplements

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Early last week, GNC, Target, Walmart, and Walgreens each received letters, from Attorney General Eric T. Schneiderman’s office “regarding the alleged selling of store brand herbal supplement products in New York that either could not be verified to contain the labeled substance, or were found to contain ingredients not listed on the labels”.

According to LawyersAndSettlements.com, The Attorney General’s office is calling for retailers to stop selling an array of well-known and popular products immediately, such as Echinacea, Ginseng, St. John’s Wort, and others. According to the letters, only 21% of the tested store brand herbal supplements in fact showed DNA from the listed plans on the products’ labels, “with 79% coming up empty for DNA related to the labeled content or verifying contamination with other plant material”. Walmart had the poorest rating of the four retailers, with only 4% of the tested products showing DNA from the plants listed on the products’ labels.

As of right now, the investigation has uncovered what seems to be a “practice of substituting contaminants and fillers in the place of authentic product”. Additionally, testing revealed that the retailers were all selling a major percentage of supplements for which modern DNA barcoding technology could not detect the botanical substance that was actually labeled.

21% of the product tests have confirmed DNA barcodes from the plant species listed on the labels; however, 35% of the tests identified DNA barcodes from plant species not listed on their respective labels, thus making it a case of consumer fraud. In fact, many of the tests didn’t reveal DNA from any type of botanical substance at all. “Some of the contaminants identified include rice, beans, pine, citrus, asparagus, primrose, wheat, houseplant, wild carrot, and others”.

The retailers involved in this investigation have been asked to provide very detailed information relating to the “production, processing and testing of herbal supplements sold at their stores”.

To read the entire article, published on Lawyersandsettlements.com, click here.

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Class Action Lawsuit filed Against Anthem After Major Security Breach

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A class-action lawsuit has been filed against Anthem following a major security breach that impacted roughly 80 million Americans.

According to 10news.com, the lawsuit, filed Tuesday in San Diego, “claims breach of contract, negligence and invasion of privacy”. At this point it is one of multiple lawsuits filed against the insurance company.

Attorney Katrina Carroll said “the lawsuit is to send a message to companies that this is a very serious issue and they need to take every step possible to protect this highly critical information”. Additionally, Tom Hargrove, National Correspondent for Scripps, said that once you go to a doctor, you immediately become vulnerable, as your records are electronic and thus available to cyber thieves. Hargrove also stated that “the FBI warned about a cyber attack nearly a year ago.”

The article continues to state that due to the fact that the medical industry’s security measures are lagging, specifically when compared to those of the financial and retail sectors, this type of a cyber intrusion was very likely and does not come as a surprise.

Following this security breach, Anthem is now warning customers of additional phishing scams. Some customers have received legitimate looking emails sent from Anthem itself; however, they are a scam. The emails inform recipients of the breach and encourage them to click a link to get “a free year of credit card protection”. In reality these emails are designed for the mere purpose of stealing your personal information.

According to a company spokesperson, Anthem currently covers 8 million Californians. They are working closely with the FBI to rectify the situation and hope to “earn back customers’ trust and confidence”.

In the meantime, Anthem is warning customers to not click any suspicious looking email links or give out personal information over the phone. Anthem has confirmed that they are not reaching out to people via phone, so if customers do receive a call from a person claiming to be an Anthem employee, it is in fact a scam artist trying to obtain personal data.

To read the full article, click here.

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Settlement Expected in Fatal Car Crash Lawsuit

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A lawsuit filed by the estate of a mother and son, who died in a fatal car crash back in March of 2013, and the two children that survived, is currently in the process of being settled.

The lawsuit was initially filed on February 25th in Montgomery County Court on behalf of the husband and father of the deceased against Amsterdam man David W. Bain.

The proposed settlement has been revealed to be $420,000. The amount is set to be paid by either Bain himself or his insurance company, State Farm Mutual Insurance Company.

According to the Leader-Herald, “Bain was charged in September with three counts of second-degree manslaughter, three counts of criminal negligent homicide, second-degree assault, reckless driving and failure to keep right.”

The accident occurred on March 10, 2013 when Bain was driving east on Route 67 and allegedly crossed the yellow line, striking the westbound Tanya Sleight. “Sleight, 33, and her friend Shyara Concepcion, 39, were pronounced dead at the scene.”

Sleight’s oldest son, Elijah Sleight, 9, passed away the following day, March 11, at the Albany Medical Center from his injuries. Sleights two other children, Naomi and Michael, were also in the car and survived the crash, although Naomi reportedly suffered severe injuries.

The suit alleges that Bain was driving in a “negligent manner” and that the Sleight family was wearing seatbelts. Additionally, the suit states that Naomi Sleight was in a “child-safety restraint at the time of the accident”.

The settlement awards the following:

$103,251.85 to Naomi Sleight in personal-injury damages as well as the wrongful-death proceeds of her mother. The money is to be placed into a special-needs trust.

$28,549.50 to Matthew Sleight, which will be placed into a trust fund until he turns 18.

$144,345 to Christopher Sleight for the wrongful deaths of his wife and son, Tanya and Elijah Sleight.

$172.65 to the Montgomery County Department of Social Services.

$3,681 to the commissioner of the Saratoga County Department of Social Services (for injury related expenses from the accident, that were covered by Medicaid).

Additionally, $140,000 in Attorney’s fees are due to be paid to DuCharme, Clark & Sovern.

For the complete article, visit the Leader-Herald.

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Settlement Proposed In NCAA Concussion Lawsuit

Frank Azar – Class Action Lawsuit Against Breyers Ice Cream Dropped

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On July 22nd, 2014, New Jersey resident Yosh Jefferson filed a class action against Conopco Inc., the maker of Breyers Ice Cream, for false advertising. The lawsuit is part of a growing trend for today’s consumers, who have statistically been seeking foods with fewer synthetic ingredients; other recent class action lawsuits having been filed against companies like Red Bull, 5-Hour Energy, and Naked Juice. Just like these other lawsuits, the class action against Conopco was on the grounds of false advertising.

Mr. Jefferson alleged that Breyers wrongly advertises that its ice cream is “All Natural”, giving the company grounds to raise prices over ice creams with artificial ingredients and leading consumers to pay a premium (38% more, Jefferson alleged). However, while Breyers packaging might say “All Natural”, it might actually contain artificial ingredients. Jefferson claims that this “All Natural” label is a mischaracterization of ice creams that contain alkalized cocoa, a non-natural processed ingredient produced from synthesized ingredients like potassium carbonate.

In this case, the essential question was: Can alkalized cocoa, a product that has been in use for around two hundred years, be considered a “natural” ingredient when it is made with an artificial ingredient like potassium carbonate?

Now, this week, a New Jersey court has dismissed the case as each party has decided to not proceed with the lawsuit, leaving an air of uncertainty over whether Conopco was guilty of false advertising.

This type of food labeling case largely relies on the judge and whether he or she believes the lawsuit has been preempted by a ruling or regulation from the F.D.A. In this case, both parties came to an undisclosed settlement, but in other cases, judges have allowed the cases to proceed. Many other groups eventually decided to pursue their lawsuits against other companies to varying degrees of success, creating a real impetus for the United States Food and Drug Administration to provide a comprehensive ruling on what is deemed a “natural” ingredient and what is not.

For now, Breyers has replaced the “All Natural” label with “Original”.

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Frank Azar – Tracy Morgan Still Battling Severe Brain Injury After Highway Crash

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According to a recent article featured on Yahoo News, beloved American actor and comedian, Tracy Morgan, is still fighting to recuperate from a severe brain injury following a car crash earlier this year on June 7th. At this time, it has not yet been determined if he will make a full recovery and be “the Tracy Morgan he once was”.

On June 7, 2014, Morgan and several of his friends had been on their way home from a show in Delaware, when a Wal-Mart truck crashed into them. One person was killed and three were injured (two seriously). Following the accident, Morgan spent multiple weeks in a hospital, as well as in rehab.

As per Benedict Morelli, Morgan’s lawyer, the former Saturday Night Live and 30 Rock star endured a traumatic brain injury, as well as a broken leg, nose and ribs.

Attorneys have recently been in court to schedule Morgan’s lawsuit against Arkansas based Wal-Mart Stores Inc. Morgan was not present at the proceedings.

“When you have a traumatic brain injury it takes a very long time to find out how you’re going to do and how much you’re going to recover,” Morelli said. “You just don’t know. So that’s where he is. He’s still fighting and trying to live his life at the same time and trying to get better, and he’s just not better. We’re hoping and praying to get him back to where he was. But the jury’s out.”

According to the article, Morgan sued for punitive and compensatory damages in late September; however, Wal-Mart has responded, claiming that the victims’ injuries were in part caused by the fact that they weren’t wearing their seatbelts.

Kevin Roper, the Georgia truck driver named in the lawsuit, has been charged with “death by auto and four counts of assault by auto in state court.”

Back in June, a preliminary investigation by the National Transportation Safety Board released that Roper had been driving 65 mph right before crashing into the back of the van. The legal speed limit on that specific stretch of the New Jersey Turnpike is 55 mph; however, it had been lowered to 45 mph that night due to ongoing construction.

To read the entire article featured on Yahoo News, please click here.

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Youth Design

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On Thursday, November 13, 2014, Youth Design held its second annual Designer Carnival Event at the W hotel. Youth Design, which was piloted in 2003, is a Boston based non-profit organization, geared towards preparing a diverse group of urban high-schoolers to realize their full creative potential, live their dream and become the next generation of designers.

The event supports Youth Design’s powerful mission to help change the course of these student’s lives by encouraging them to pursue a higher education and fulfilling careers. Youth Design is the leading program in Boston, that “focuses on addressing the critical socioeconomic needs of urban youth”, Zoey Gulmi, a writer and founder of Style by Zoe writes, “by teaching them highly marketable design skills”. Youth Design hopes that the next generations of “Youth Designs” will develop the necessary skills to achieve financial stability and sufficiency. And how better to work towards this goal, than by getting today’s professional design community involved and utilizing them as mentors.

The arts play such a crucial role in our society. The importance, however, goes unnoticed by too many. Frankly one could say that the arts are mostly just taken for granted. As a society, the arts keeps us grounded and complete us a human beings – they allow us to be available in the moment and be vulnerable. They allow us to communicate and express our emotions in the most genuine of forms. Furthermore, they bridge cultures and bring people together. Additionally, a recent study conducted by the National Endowment for the Arts has found that “lower-income students have higher academic results, college aspirations, and civic participation when they are engaged in the arts for long periods of time”. Due to this, Youth Design has made it their purpose to give back to Boston’s future by teaming their students up with exceptional mentors each year to support their endeavors and offer their expertise.

An organization that is devoted to nurturing our youth in an effort to better both themselves and our society as a whole, is as inspiring as it is motivating and in the words of this year’s mentor of the year, Jay Calderin, “One should never stop learning. Being involved in a perpetual education and nurturing a boundless curiosity are the only ways you will evolve as a designer.”

To learn more Youth Design and their mission, take a look at their website.

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When You Need A Personal Injury Lawyer

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Though you may have heard successful stories of people working directly with insurance companies after a personal injury, it is often more than worth the money to hire a personal injury lawyer. Having legal guidance for the complex array of legal rules and incentives is invaluable. If you’re dealing with any of the following situations, you’ll definitely want to make sure you have professional counsel.

The amount you’re compensated for an accident is directly tied to the severity of your injuries, recover time, and the amount of your medical bills. As your potential compensation rises, so does your potential range of compensation widen. If you’re dealing with severe injuries, you’ll definitely want to spend the money to have a lawyer on your side to make sure your compensation is on the higher end. So too with long-term or permanent injuries. Assessing the worth of an injury like this requires experience in order to get the most you can, particularly if you don’t know how long you’ll be out of commission.

In the last couple decades, there has been a significant rise in claims involving toxic exposure. Contaminants are increasingly found in the environment (air, soil, water, etc) as well as in our food and other household products. The trouble is that exposure is often difficult to prove. An experienced lawyer will often be able to provide the required scientific data, which is necessary to penetrate the defense of major chemical corporations and their expensive legal counsel.

Surprisingly to many, medical malpractice suits are one of the most complex. If your injury is the result of professional carelessness or incompetence by a healthcare professional, you’ll definitely want someone on your side with specific experience. Hospitals, doctors, laboratories – the medical world will be very prepared.

If you’re working without a personal injury lawyer and the insurance company simply refuses your claim, it’s not too late to hire a lawyer yourself. Thought the lawyer fee will cut into your ultimate compensation, it’s much better than nothing. Better still, hire a lawyer from the get-go and avoid the extra time and grief of dealing with insurance companies on your own in the first place.

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Frank Azar – Injured Parties Turn to 123 Lump Sum For Fast Money

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A growing number of injured parties are looking for ways to collect money from a structured settlement resulting from personal injury lawsuit. In southern Florida, one of the companies attempting to expand this type of transaction is 123 Lump Sum, according to the Sun Sentinel.

Often the process of attempting to gain compensation due to an injury can be lengthy, and plaintiffs can see their financial needs grow exponentially during that time. Companies like 123 Lump Sum buy up settlements and provide victims with the quick infusion of cash that they may need.

According to president, Andrew Savysky, 123 Lump Sum does not simply buy out entire annuities on a whim. “We try to understand our customers current financial needs and design a transaction that fit those needs.” he says.

Many financial analysts argue that structured settlements are usually best for the injured party, and that a settlement purchase should be only a last resort to address pressing needs. The state of Florida requires a judge to approve of all structured settlement purchases in order to ensure that they are in the best interests of the consumer. 123 Lump Sum has actually been an industry leader in promoting just these sort of consumer protections, and were proponents of a 2001 law that enforced consumer protections.

123 Lump Sum has seen a jump in business in recent years. They are seeing revenues of $30 million annually and they employ 100 people. Much of their success rests on their approach of catering their transactions to the particular needs of their customer.

To read more about the purchasing of structured settlements from personal injury cases, read the original article at the Sun Sentinel.

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Frank Azar – Charity Golf Event To Assist Veterans’ Employment Programs

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Earlier in the month, Agility announced on BusinessWire that it would host the seventh annual Paralyzed Veterans Golf Open, which raises funds for Paralyzed Veterans of America’s employment assistance program, Operation PAVE (Paving Access for Veterans Employment). The unique event pairs disabled military to play golf alongside veterans, military officials, corporate sponsors and other supporters of Operation PAVE’s mission to help veterans overcome employment challenges.

(Image: National President Bill Lawson at the 2012 Paralyzed Veterans Golf Open, source PVA)

This year, the charity event will feature an adaptable Golf Clinic for veterans with disabilities, let by Anthony Netto, PGA golf pro and founder of the Stand Up and Play Foundation. In addition, the event will include a showcase of adaptive golf cart technology that lifts players into a standing position, allowing them to play even if they are paralyzed.

Since its start in 2008, the annual Paralyzed Veterans Golf Open has raised $2.2 million for Operation PAVE and helped open rehabilitation centers in Chicago, Tampa, and San Antonio. The vocational rehab centers address the high unemployment rates for veterans by providing free one-on-one job counseling and placement assistance for veterans, their families, and their caregivers. They also specialize in assisting disabled veterans on their path to re-enter the workforce.

The charity event will take place on June 9, 2014, and will serve as a beacon of hope for veterans seeking assistance nationwide.

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Frank Azar – GM Plans Compensation Fund For Victims of Defective Vehicles

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The long road to compensation for those injured or killed in accidents involving defective GM vehicles may be finally coming to an end. As reported in a recent blog post on the West Virginia Legal Examiner, GM has been working with the Center for Automotive Safety, as well as lawyers for the plaintiffs in drawing up the terms of the proposed plan. As it stands, there will be no monetary limit to the fund, and payments will be offered to claimants who had already settled out of court prior to the 2014 recall of the vehicles.

Claimants seeking payments from the fund would be required to prove that the air bags in the vehicle did not go off, a stipulation that is giving critics of the plan pause. How plaintiffs can be expected to prove that the air bags did not engage is anyone’s guess, but some are hoping that claimants whose vehicles powered off would benefit from presumption and be accepted.

The fund will open until the end of 2014 according to recent reports, which has some accusing GM of trying to hurry the process along before the Department of Justice and the NHTSA complete their investigations. Those findings may have relevance upon plaintiff’s claims and critics hope that GM allow victims to wait for results before having to accept payment.

The company has indicated that the fund will only exist to provide payments to parties who were injured or killed due to the defective vehicles, and will not be providing payments to individuals looking for compensation for economic matters. Claims based on complaints of the depreciation of the vehicle’s value will not be considered valid under the current plan.

In the plan as it currently exists, payments going to claimants may range from $20,000 to several million dollars.

Read more at West Virginia Legal Examiner or the Wall Street Journal.

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Frank Azar – Golf Tournaments A Boon To Charities

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Charity golf tournaments have been on rise in recent years, meaning big money for the charities they support. In a recent article, the New York Times reports that the number of these organizations has grown to such extremes that organizations have to attract affluent golfers.

According to a survey conducted in 2011 by the National Golf Foundation, 143,000 charity golf events in that year that raised approximately $3.9 billion. But these tournaments mostly serve as a way for charities to attract new supporters and to also market their message. A representative from the World Golf Foundation indicated that 60 percent of the charities reported that their golf tournaments were very important to the success of their organizations.

The likelihood that the average recreational golfer will play in an amateur tournament of some kind is very unlikely. However, according to the representative of the World Golf Foundation it is very likely that one of those golfers will play in a charity tournament. 12 million golfers played in at least one charity tournament in 2011, a significant number considering that only about 25 million golfers play the game in U.S. Recreational golfers tend to be an older and more affluent crowd which makes them very desirable for attracting financial support.

The attraction of golf as a social event and the allure of playing on golf courses one might not otherwise play on is helping to raise revenue and awareness. Even high profile cultural organizations are finding golf tournaments to be a very important part of their fund raising operations. The Lincoln Center will host its third annual golf tournament at the end of June. Each of the previous two event raised roughly a half-million each.

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Frank Azar – Google’s Impact Challenge Supports Charitable Innovation

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Google will contribute roughly £3.2m to 10 British charities that participate in the company’s Impact Challenge. The money will be given to UK nonprofits to develop and implement ideas meant change lives for the better throughout the world, ITPRO reports.

The ten charities chosen will each be given £200,000 in the Impact Challenge, an initiative from Google Giving developed to to inspire and facilitate innovation within the world of nonprofits as a way to do more good, faster. Of the ten chosen, one will be shortlisted by the public, while another three will be listed by a panel of expert judges. Each of these organizations will see their prize fund increased to £500,000.

In addition to funding, Google will provide mentoring for all 10 organizations in tandem with Nesta, an innovation charity. The charities run the gauntlet of charitable aims, from technological innovations, to curing social ills, and even biology research. Google and Nesta are looking to mentor charities that are looking to tackle an array of social issues but all look to, “To make a better world, faster.”

“We hope in the future to continue developing and supporting the charity and community sector to embrace digital technology and use it to create far more social impact at even greater scale,” Nesta said.

The organizations represented at the Impact Challenge cover a range of causes. Among those firms that have been shortlisted is Kew Gardens, a group looking to eliminate the threat of malaria around the world through the use of wearable acoustic sensors that detect mosquitoes. The Royal National Institute of Blind People develops smart glasses to help those with the sight impaired take advantage of what little sight the do possess. WeFarm helps geographically isolated farmers from all over the world the chance to connect with others and access crowdsourced data.

“Google’s Impact Challenge shows that innovation is crucial to success,”said panel judge Peter Jones, “You can’t stand still…These are non-profits doing great things that have a real impact on society.”

The Royal National Institute of Blind People is developing smart glasses to help those with limited vision make use of the little sight they have, the St Giles Trust has created an app that will allow for ex-offenders to be rehabilitated and WeFarm’s initiative is to help farmers in remote locations across the world connect with others via crowdsourced information.

Judge Peter Jones said: “After an inspiring process, we’ve unearthed ten exceptional projects from ten exceptional charities.

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Frank Azar – Insurer Files Climate Change Class Actions

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Farmers Insurance filed nine class action lawsuits against almost 200 communities in the Chicago area for failing to adequately prepare for flooding and damage from severe rains, Insurance Journal reports. The lawsuits could be the first of many to determine who can be held liable for the costs incurred due to the effects of climate change.

Farmers is arguing that local governments should have been aware that there would be consequences stemming from the rising of global temperatures. By their argument, municipalities should have known that climate change had the potential to increase rainfall, and that sewers and stormwater drains ought to have been fortified in preparation. These cases have potential to redefine what can reasonably defined as an “act of god.” If successful, these lawsuits could have serious consequences for how communities will have to budget for potential future emergencies.

The City of Chicago claims that it has in place a comprehensive Climate Action Plan and that it is already investing heavily on infrastructure to guard against disasters from changing weather patterns. Ironically, this foresight on the part of the city may work against them in these suits, as Farmers cites the Climate Action Plan as evidence that the government was aware of the potential risks and failed to respond properly.

Flooding occurred in Illinois in April of 2013 resulting in over 64,000 Illinois households being awarded more than $218 million in aid and loans from the federal government. Farmers has not specified how much they paid in claims due to last year’s flooding.

“It’s a long shot for the insurance companies,” said Robert Verchick, who previously served on the Obama administration’s Climate Change Adaptation Task Force, “but it’s not completely implausible, and if you have enough cases like this going forward it might build some helpful precedent.”

To read more, head over to Insurance Journal.

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Frank Azar – Two More Sue in Relation To Accident That Injured 27

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On June 25 2012, a woman named Linda Booth lost control of her vehicle while pulling into a parking space at a Rally in the Square in Lima, Ohio. The resulting accident injured 27 people which likely occurred due to mistaking the brake and the accelerator.

(Image: Downtown Lima, Ohio)

Now LimaOhio.com reports, two more entities have joined list of those suing over the accident just under the two year deadline. An insurance company who paid out on behalf of its clients and a woman who claims that injuries sustained from the accident required hip replacement surgeries.

The woman, Faye Stewart, named the city of Lima, City Engineer Kirk Niemeyr, the Lima Public Works Director, the Deputy Public Works Director, ArtSpace Century Endowment Fund who held the rally, General Motors, Anthem Blue Cross/Blue Shield, and the Ohio Department of Job and Family services, and the driver, Linda Booth as defendants in the suit. She is seeking damages in excess of $25,000.

A similar suit was filed all of these defendants with the exception of the Department of Job and Family Services by a man who claimed to have had his leg amputated due to injuries inflicted in the accident.

Central Mutual Insurance of Van Wert also filed suit against Booth seeking $6,534 that it paid out on behalf of Richard Norton, a client injured in the accident.

Booth filed for bankruptcy in August of this past year. She filed suit to limit her liability in relation to the accident, claiming that she only has $25,000 in liability coverage.

Read more at LimaOhio.com.

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Frank Azar – Family Makes High Climb for Charity

The latest blog post from Frank Azar:

The latest blog post from Frank Azar:

Vacation has different meanings for different people. For some it means relaxing at a resort, playing shuffleboard on a cruise to Bermuda, or surf trip to Costa Rica. But for the MacDonald family, as a recent article in the Londoner reports, vacation means helping those in need.

This June, parents Jamie and wife Leslie, along with their daughters, Melanie and Diana will travel to Vacation has different meanings for different people. For some it means relaxing at a resort, playing shuffleboard on a cruise to Bermuda, or surf trip to Costa Rica. But for the MacDonald family, as a recent article in the Londoner reports, vacation means helping those in need.

This June, parents Jamie and wife Leslie, along with their daughters, Melanie and Diana will travel to Tanzania with the goal of climbing to the top of Mount Kilimanjaro. The climb will benefit Plan Canada, a development agency dedicated to improving the lives of third world children. The MacDonalds hope to raise $5,000 to benefit the organization.

The MacDonalds say that their inspiration for their humanitarian vacation comes from Jamie’s late parents, Gord and Gladis. According to Jamie, Gord would take yearly trips to Jamaica or Cuba where he would donate computers, bicycles or clothes to help the communities there. Gord and Gladis both passed away in the past two years, and MacDonalds say that this trip will largely serve to honor their memory.

As of May 9, the MacDonalds were just shy of half-way to their fundraising goal. The money will be used to purchase mosquito netting to protect families living in areas where insect borne illnesses are prevalent.

“For $10, you can give a family a chance to be safe for three years,”Diana said. “It’s a pretty good deal.”

People can make donations to the MacDonalds’ climb at their Facebook page, MacDonald Kilimanjaro Climb for Plan Canada. Jamie emphasized that the family would accept donations in any amount, and that the trip was about “the act of giving.”

To read more about the MacDonalds, read the original article over at the Londoner.

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Frank Azar-Telebrands Pocket Hose Class Action Settlement

The latest blog post from Frank Azar:

The latest blog post from Frank Azar:

The company Telebrands recently was accused of providing false and misleading information about its pocket hose product. The company has agreed to settle the class action lawsuit it was involved in by repaying those who were affected by the product. The company is providing compensation for those who purchased the Pocket Hose in the United States between November 6, 2009 and January 30, 2014.

The reward of compensation is up to $20 per Pocket Hose you purchased. Class members must provide proof of purchase through the form of a receipt in order to obtain this reward. The Pocket Hose must also be returned to the Settlement Administrator.

If a class member provides a receipt but does not return the Pocket Hose, that member will only receive a $12 reward for each Pocket Hose purchased during the Class Period. Those who fail to return the Pocket Hose and do not have a valid receipt may be eligible to receive $6. These people must substantiate their claims through a submitting the Claim Form attesting to their purchase of the product. This submission is under penalty of perjury. The claim form deadline is June 20, 2014. The case regarding the Telebrands Pocket Hose was filed by plaintiff Alex Arreguin, Jr. after he alleged some of the advertising and product labels for the Pocket Hose contained misleading statements or unsubstantiated claims. He also claimed the Pocket Hose in general is defective. Telebrands has not confirmed that these allegations are true but decided to settle the class action lawsuit in order to avoid further cost and the uncertainty of further litigation. The defense counsel through the case has been Jeffrey Richardson and the class counsel has been Gilian L. Wade and Sara D. Avila. The final hearing for the case will take place on August 14, 2014.

Original Article.

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