Legal

The Legal section covers court rulings, statutory changes, liability trends, and key developments in Alabama and federal law that shape personal-injury claims. We explain how case law and regulation affect claims strategy, statutes of limitations, damages, and the rights of injured people pursuing justice.

Do We Even Know What Tort Reform Is?

It is rare that I discuss tort reform with someone without getting a reaction and an opinion – either pro or con. What I recently realized is that in raising the issue, I have defined it in that…

By Pete Mackey

/ 7 Mar 2010

What is Car Repair Insurance?

That was the question I asked myself after watching the third commercial for car repair insurance in less than an hour. Don’t get me wrong, I understood the premise: Pay us money and if your car…

By Troy Schwant

/ 1 Mar 2010

Think you have Life Insurance? Think again.

More and more Americans are trying to protect their family’s financial future by purchasing term life insurance. As a new husband and father, one of the first things I did was purchase term life…

By Troy Schwant

/ 28 Feb 2010

What is happening to Toyota is a lesson for any business…

I have owned two cars in my life, and both are Toyotas. I still drive a 2000 Toyota Camry. I planned that my next car would be a Toyota. Then the recalls happened. Now there are reports of more…

By Troy Schwant

/ 22 Feb 2010

Chamber of Commerce – Tell Us Who You Back In This Lawsuit

I read about an interesting lawsuit the other day – DirecTV is suing Dish Network over an ad Dish has been airing. The complaint – Dish’s ad is not true. Stop the presses – an advertisement…

By Pete Mackey

/ 15 Feb 2010

Kickback Schemes or Legitimate Marketing?

The Washington Post a few weeks ago reported that Johnson & Johnson paid tens of millions of dollars in kickbacks to boost sales of its drugs in nursing homes, including an antipsychotic that…

By Billy Cunningham

/ 6 Feb 2010

We Don't Need Tort Reform For Idiots Like These Guys

Whenever I get an email pressing the need for more tort reform, that need is demonstrated by some preposterous lawsuit – the armed robber who sues the convenience store for slipping on a spilled…

By Pete Mackey

/ 2 Feb 2010

Don't Wait When You Feel the Warnings

Last week we got word that a colleague had a heart attack. He got to the ER right away and turns out he had several symptoms but, luckily, no attack. Scary thing is he’s only 37. I decided to…

By Pete Burns

/ 1 Feb 2010

Intractable Pain – What Is It Worth?

I have never suffered a life changing injury. I have represented a lot of folks who have. When I meet with a new client, I let them know that I can feel their pain – not because I have been there…

By Pete Mackey

/ 28 Jan 2010

Sex and Betrayal: What To Do If You Contract an STD

Spring Break is upon us, that annual rite mixing unsupervised youth, fluxing hormones, exotic locales, and proximity to countless potential sexual partners. Fueled by drinking and the abundance of…

By Pete Burns

/ 26 Jan 2010

Speeding – The Numbers Do Not Add Up

Everyone is in a hurry these days. I am one of those everyone. Recently, I missed a flight home and had to spend the night in Houston. There was the sliver of a chance that I could have pulled an OJ…

By Pete Mackey

/ 18 Jan 2010

Harassing Phone Calls

Harrassing phone calls by collection agencies have become a constant problem for many people. Originally these calls were coming only to land lines, but no there appears to be no hiding from…

By Legal Examiner Staffer

/ 13 Jan 2010