Obese workers were more likely to seek disability benefits but workers with heavy physical workloads were even more likely to wind up on disability, a recent study has found. Researchers looked at nearly four decades of health data on more than 320,000 Swedish construction workers. They found that obese workers were more than one-and-a-half times more …
Unusual Driving Situations (Part 1)
When you’re behind the wheel, you must be vigilant and prepare for the unexpected. There are hundreds (thousands?) of odd hazards that you might only face once in your life. In this post and a subsequent one, we’ll explore how to stay safe if you confront an eccentric situation. Debris on the Road Per the AAA …
Minnesota Case Shows ERISA Can Be Shield And Sword
Big insurance companies have sometimes used the Employee Retirement and Income Security Act (ERISA) as a shield to prevent paying out disability claims, but a pending case from Minnesota shows that insurers can use ERISA as a sword, too. It’s complicated, but as first reported by Minnesota Lawyer, the trustees of the South Central Minnesota Electrical Workers’ Family …
Risks and Consequences of McKinney’s Master Thoroughfare Plan
Traffic congestion causes more accidents and therefore more injuries. Clutter on the road also means delays-more vehicles on the roads for longer due to gridlock and slow traffic.
Adopting in West Virginia: A Quickstart Guide
There are few things nobler than being willing to adopt a child. If you’re considering adoption, consider these questions to help you on your way. Who Can Adopt? Under West Virginia law, anyone 21 years or older can adopt as long as they can show that they can afford to raise a child, are in …
Caught Driving Under the Influence of Prescription Drugs in WV?
One of the side effects of the crisis is a law enforcement crackdown on driving under the influence. If you’ve been charged with driving under the influence of prescription drugs, here are some key facts to know.
ERISA Advisory Council Shakeup!
A key federal advisory committee is looking for a few good public servants; they may help shape ERISA disability benefits policy for years to come. The Employee Retirement Income Security Act (ERISA) requires the Department of Labor to appoint 15 members to an advisory council. Five members’ terms will expire by the year’s end and …
Fun Things to Do With Kids During Christmas Visitation
The best thing about Christmas vacation is that it can allow some treasured time with your kids. But you don’t have to bankrupt yourself to have a valuable time. There are plenty of opportunities for good, clean family fun right in your own backyard-things that are little off-the-beaten track, but reasonably priced and in the McKinney vicinity.
Federal Sentencing Guidelines: The Good, The Bad and The OMG
If you’ve been convicted of violating a federal criminal law, it may not be a jury of your peers, but a committee of strangers who really decide your fate-through sentencing. Indeed, even if you’re charged in a state court, that same committee of strangers may have a lot to say about how you’re sentenced. Intended …
McKinney’s Traffic Creates McKinney Car Accidents?
McKinney’s Master Thoroughfare Plan poses challenges that at first glance are not obvious. The plan’s layout seems to encourage an influx of traffic and more people-a seemingly benign goal. The problem is that many key roads are not going to be widened.
ERISA: Where Bad Faith is Good Business?
There’s no such thing as easy litigation. But ERISA litigation over employee-sponsored disability plans can be especially difficult: First, because people who’ve suffered from short- or long-term disability are already likely to feel vulnerable and overwhelmed, but also because their legal options can be limited. Nearly every state has laws requiring insurance companies to act …
McKinney’s Master Thoroughfare Plan: What is it?
Increased car wrecks can be a serious downside to the rapid urban growth that McKinney is experiencing..
Deep In The (Broken) Heart of Texas: Five Podcasts To Get You Through Your Divorce
“Divorce court is so awful,” someone once said, “I wouldn’t even wish it on my ex-wife.” There’s no way to put a happy face on divorce. It’s stressful, painful and often tempts us to show our ugliest faces. If you’re lucky, you won’t have to go through it alone. You’ll have families and friends, or …
Texas Has No Obligation To Provide Insurance To Same-Sex Spouses
If you thought federal same-sex marriage rights gave all same-sex couples the same rights as heterosexual couples– think again. In June the Texas Supreme Court decided to hear a case challenging the city of Houston’s decision to grant same-sex spouses of city employees the same insurance benefits it allowed heterosexual couples.
Jailhouse Blues: How To Fight Depression After An Arrest
“Hey, Mister Jailer, will you please, sir, bring me the key?” Lightnin’ Hopkins so memorably asks. “I just want you to open the door, cause this ain’t no place for me.” In addition to the other damage an arrest causes-jail time, fines, lost jobs-it also takes a horrible toll on mental health. There’s an emerging scholarly literature on the …