Renaissance Lighting to Debut World's Highest-Quality, Commercially Produced Solid-State Led Downlight at Lightfair International in Las Vegas (May 28-30)

LIGHTFAIR International 2008 will become center stage when Renaissance Lighting, a pioneering innovator of solid-state LED architectural lighting, introduces the world’s highest-quality commercially available solid-state LED downlight at the Renaissance Lighting booth (#1121) from May 28-30 at the Las Vegas Convention Center.

Herndon, VA (Vocus/PRWEB ) April 30, 2008 –- LIGHTFAIR International 2008 will become center stage when Renaissance Lighting, a pioneering innovator of solid-state LED architectural lighting, introduces the world’s highest-quality commercially available solid-state LED downlight at the Renaissance Lighting booth (#1121) from May 28-30 at the Las Vegas Convention Center.

As the newest arrival on the general illumination scene, solid-state LED lighting has yet to make a major market impact commensurate with its potential for outperforming and even replacing other types of lighting – at least not until now.

“After unveiling a lower-lumen prototype at LIGHTFAIR International in 2007, we now have the world’s most versatile, highest-lumen solid-state LED downlight,” said Renaissance Lighting CEO, Barry Weinbaum. “Our fixtures are brighter than ever before, yet require less energy to operate, whether it’s one of our RGB downlights which are capable of 16 million colors, or our 3000k or 4100k white LED products. We believe that industry specifiers will design our fixtures into general illumination applications that solid-state lighting dared not previously address.

“All of Renaissance Lighting’s products are noted for their extremely long and essentially maintenance-free lives, utilizing green technology to make them environmentally friendly. Our customers will discover that Renaissance Lighting’s new initial pricing makes the decision to use our solid-state products an easier one, especially when considering the total cost of ownership.

“Our goal is to be the solid-state downlight of choice, and we have commercial, industrial and high-end residential products to do that now,” Weinbaum continued. “Our solid-state lighting systems support sustainable design while allowing precise control over color and intensity, taking full advantage of what LEDs can do for lighting in today’s dynamic environments.”

Renaissance Lighting’s unique downlight design begins with a circular array of LEDs at the perimeter of an integrating dome inside each fixture. The company’s unique optic design combines light uniformly before exiting the luminaire in glare-free fashion. The result is consistent color production and concealed sources that create smooth, uniform illumination patterns.

A light-sensing feedback system continually monitors and adjusts each luminaire to factory-calibrated color standards to ensure fixture-to-fixture consistency and light quality throughout the 50,000- to 70,000-hour life of the product. The entire combination of innovative features produces the industry’s purest single light source at attractively lower energy consumption levels.

During LIGHTFAIR, visitors to the Renaissance Lighting booth will be able to see the company’s RGB and white LED downlights in both 4-inch and 6-inch aperture formats. Weinbaum, Renaissance Lighting President Jack Rains and Vice President of Sales Rob McCulley will be on hand to demonstrate and discuss product features and benefits.

To schedule a meeting or interview with a member of the Renaissance Lighting management team, please contact Joe Arimond at 847-381-1205 or at joseph.k.arimond@ecicommunications.com.

About Renaissance Lighting

Renaissance Lighting, headquartered in Herndon, VA, produces highly creative lighting products delivering exceptional appearance, superior efficiency, and glare-free illumination for all architectural applications. The company’s innovative approach to product engineering and design is supported by 27 patents including its optical and feedback control technologies.

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Source: PRWeb: Legal / Law

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CenterPoint Corporate Services' New Small Business Web Community Offers Comprehensive Asset Protection for LLCs and Corporations

CenterPoint Corporate Services' new small business web community addresses a growing problem. Forming LLCs and Corporations online may open business owners to personal liability and loss of personal assets. Many online services offer incomplete business formations that may not provide the protection business owners seek when forming an LLC, C-Corp, or S-Corp.

Incline Village, Nevada (PRWEB) April 29, 2008 - Thousands of business owners looking to save on the cost of forming their corporation or LLC turn to online services. Many services offer simple, inexpensive but often incomplete packages to form an LLC or corporation that may create potential exposure to loss of the new business owner's personal assets.

As an active response to demand for comprehensive organizational services, CenterPoint Corporate Services, Inc. launched its new small business web community. The CenterPoint website can be used to create LLCs and corporations. It combines the ease and affordability of online formation with the completeness one expects from a corporate law firm.

Frequently, entrepreneurs utilize online services to form a corporation or LLC. Businesses can save thousands of dollars by choosing the online alternative. However, a review of online site offerings reveals that many business owners form a corporation or LLC and may not get the protections that they want and need.

"Filing the Articles is just the first step in a comprehensive asset protection strategy," says E. Alan Tiras, Esq., a Nevada corporate attorney. "A court will look closely at whether a corporation or LLC is undertaking all the necessary and customary formalities of running a business to establish the strength of what is called the "corporate shield".

Areas of concern include: bylaws or operating agreements, a separate bank account so that business funds are not comingled with the owners' personal funds, a business license in the state where they are organized and where they have a physical presence, annual filings, and a physical location in the state of formation. If these formalities aren't followed, business owners may leave their assets unprotected and risk losing their home, savings, and cars in a lawsuit.

"We want to make sure that our clients are educated and understand what they need to secure the protections that they are looking for," says Alex Cole, VP of Marketing and Sales for CenterPoint. "We include all the critical documents that every corporation or LLC needs at competitive prices, no hidden fees and nothing left out, basically a turnkey solution."

CenterPoint Corporate Services, founded by a Nevada corporate attorney, is headquartered in Incline Village, Nevada and currently offers online business formations in Nevada.    

For more information about this topic, or to schedule an interview with Alex Cole, please call Linda Pfotenhauer at 877.901.5800 or e-mail Linda at lpfotenhauer(at)centerpointservices.com

Source: PRWeb: Legal / Law

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Patent Infringement Legal Case Number 4:2008cv00583 Lawsuit Filed By St. Louis-Based Manufacturer, US Ring Binder, Against Retailer Staples

A patent infringement lawsuit has been filed in a St. Louis federal court on behalf of St. Louis-based manufacturer US Ring Binder against the Framingham, Mass.-based retailer Staples.

St. Louis (PRWEB) April 29, 2008 -- A patent infringement lawsuit has been filed in a St. Louis federal court on behalf of St. Louis-based manufacturer US Ring Binder against the Framingham, Mass.-based retailer Staples.

Filed on April 25 in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Missouri, as detailed in the complaint, US Ring alleges that Staples in its product line of Binders called collectively "Better Binders ™" infringes on a patent developed and owned by US Ring.

The plaintiff seeks the enjoinment of further patent infringement, treble damages and the impounding and destruction of all infringing products.

The suit was filed by Anthony G. Simon and Timothy E. Grochocinski with the Simon Passanante law firm.

Simon noted that US Ring, headquartered in the St. Louis area, has been in business for more than 100 years. "US Ring and its predecessor have a long history of designing and developing innovative products and are leaders in securing United States patents in the Ring Binder industry with some patents dating back to 1907. It invests heavily in its intellectual property and will take appropriate action when it feels its rights have been violated".

St. Louis-based Simon Passanante PC handles intellectual property and commercial litigation cases nationwide. For more information, contact Anthony G. Simon at 314-241-2929.

Media contact: Geri L. Dreiling
Legal Media Matters LLC
314.743.3851 or 314.520.3897

Source: PRWeb: Legal / Law

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New Legal Network and Community for Attorneys Launches at ESQChat.com

An online community allowing attorneys to network and maximize their career potential has recently launched. ESQChat.com features a legal forum, chat rooms, legal news and a social networking platform to engage attorneys with like-minded legal professionals.

Encino, CA (PRWEB) April 29, 2008 -- ESQChat.com, a private legal community committed to providing an online meeting place for attorneys to ask questions, learn more about law, and make new acquaintances, announces its recent launch. The site is designed to help attorneys maximize their career potential and become more successful in their practice by networking with other attorneys across the nation.

ESQChat.com

ESQChat.com features -- including the sites legal forum, chat rooms, Virtual Firm, legal blogs, legal news, calendar and more -- give members a place to meet, interact and share legal ideas with each other.

"ESQChat.com is the Webs premier site for legal professionals to gather, network and learn more about the legal profession and different aspects of practicing law," says Theod Simon, Co-Founder of ESQChat.com. "At ESQChat.com, we know who you are, what you need and how to connect you with like-minded professionals."

ESQChat.coms forum allows users to ask questions about the profession and receive feedback from colleagues. Users can search for similar questions in more than 50 categories covering all aspects of the legal field. Attorneys can also connect through ESQChat.com chat rooms. These chat rooms use innovative technologies to help users communicate more effectively and efficiently. Different chat options allow users to chat privately or join a general discussion.

With the sites news portal, users can scan the day's headlines and read updates and breaking news about current events in the legal world. But it doesn't have to stop there. ESQChat.com allows users to express personal opinions and comment on the news through the creation of an online forum. The site also features a legal blog center, where experts give daily insight on more than 40 legal topics.

Virtual Firm is ESQChat.coms legal network. Establishing connections in the Virtual Firm will enable users to make their careers more active and stimulating. Users can blog, upload photos and start adding co-counsel to their networks. Busy ESQChat.com users can utilize the sites calendar feature, making it easy to keep track of important events in one place.

"ESQChat.com provides an array of features and tools to help attorneys make the most of their careers. In just a few simple steps, users are surrounded by an established community of colleagues," Simon says.

For more information on ESQChat.com, the Webs premier community and legal network exclusively designed for attorneys, visit www.ESQChat.com.

Media Contact:
Theod Simon
Info @ ESQChat.com

Source: PRWeb: Legal / Law

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Public Successfully Participates in U.S. Patent Examination Process

For the first time in patent history, the general public has successfully used the Internet to help improve the quality of patent applications. The Peer-to-Patent project announced that expert, volunteer reviewers from the general public have cooperated with the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) to identify "prior art" that has been used in Office actions to reject at least one claim in each of five applications.

New York, NY (PRWEB) April 27, 2008 -- For the first time in patent history, the general public has successfully used the Internet to help improve the quality of patent applications.

The Peer-to-Patent project announced that expert, volunteer reviewers from the general public have cooperated with the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) to identify "prior art" that has been used in Office actions to reject at least one claim in each of five applications.

The Peer-to-Patent project is an initiative of New York Law School in cooperation with the USPTO aimed at opening the patent examination process to public participation, and improving the quality of patents. Under the Peer-to-Patent pilot program, inventors agree to have their patent applications posted for up to four months on the www.peertopatent.org Web site. Expert volunteers from the public then discuss the applications and submit prior art they think might be relevant to determining if an invention is new and non-obvious, as the law requires.

The program's first 19 patent applications--including applications from GE, Hewlett-Packard, IBM, Intel, Microsoft, Red Hat, and Sun Microsystems Inc., all companies that volunteered to be part of this pilot--have been examined. For every 500 patent applications published in 2007, the USPTO received only one third-party prior art submission. In the Peer-to-Patent pilot, volunteer reviewers supplied nearly four prior art references for each pilot application - a trend which could significantly help the USPTO if Peer-to-Patent expands beyond a pilot phase.

So far, of the first 19 first office actions sent by the USPTO, five patent applications received non-final rejections that relied specifically upon prior art submitted through Peer-to-Patent. In these instances, submissions of prior art from the public enabled the USPTO to reject claims the examiners believe fail the novelty and non-obvious requirements that prohibit patents on inventions that have already been invented or would have been obvious. The USPTO response time on these office actions is notable. Because the USPTO agreed to examine patent applications in the pilot ahead of other applications, the time between application filing and the onset of examination shrank from four to two years.

USPTO's Commissioner for Patents John Doll noted, "I hope other patent applicants look at the processing statistics from this pilot program and realize that Peer-to-Patent review might be a win-win situation for them. We are encouraged by the initial success of the pilot, and we believe it holds potential as a source of relevant prior art."

In sending the program's first non-final rejection, the USPTO examiner used prior art and commentary submitted by Steven Pearson, a senior software engineer at IBM, to reject claims of an HP application. The second non-final rejection relied upon prior art and commentary submitted by Rob Cameron, a Professor of Computer Science at Simon Fraser University, to reject claims of an IBM application. As a result, Pearson and Cameron have been awarded the title "prior artist" on the pilot Web site.

"It is a privilege to participate in this important project," Steve Pearson, IBM software engineer, said. "I'm confident these early results will help validate that this community approach can have a meaningful impact on the examination process and the quality of patents. Hopefully this will encourage the participation of more domain experts in this pilot program."

Professor Cameron believes "it is to everyone's benefit--inventor, investor and the public at large--to make the best possible effort to ensure that issued patents are properly placed in the context of related prior art. In the future, I think that an open, mediated review process following the trail blazed by Peer-to-Patent should become an integral part of best practice patent examination."

HP and IBM will now have the opportunity to respond to these first office actions and persuade the examiners their claims are new and non-obvious.

"We're very pleased with this initial outcome," Manny Schecter, Associate General Counsel for Intellectual Property at IBM said. "Patents of questionable merit are of little value to anyone. We much prefer that the best prior art be identified so that the resulting patent is truly bulletproof. This is precisely why we eagerly agreed to sponsor this project and other patent quality initiatives. We are proud of this result, which validates the concept of Peer-to-Patent, and can only improve the quality of patents produced by the patent system."

Launched in June of last year, Peer-to-Patent opens the patent examination process for the first time, enabling the public to contribute prior art and commentary relevant to the examination of pending patent applications assigned in TC 2100 technologies with the goal of improving patent quality. On average, each posted application has garnered a community of 14 reviewers who have submitted five instances of prior art per application.

Peer-to-Patent is currently seeking computer and software experts to review 13 new patent applications, on topics ranging from photographic image inversion to managing virtual collaboration systems. Christopher Wong, Project Manager, Peer-to-Patent says, "We're seeking enthusiastic and knowledgeable people to join our diverse community and ensure the integrity of our patent system." Descriptions of all applications are available at: http://dotank.nyls.edu/communitypatent/applications.html.

About Peer-to-Patent
Peer-to-Patent is an initiative of New York Law School's Institute for Information Law and Policy in cooperation with the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO). The pilot program allows for public participation in the patent examination process and will run for one year. The Peer-to-Patent software and pilot program have been developed with the sponsorship of CA, GE, HP, IBM, Intellectual Ventures, the MacArthur Foundation, Microsoft, Omidyar Network, and Red Hat. Visit www.peertopatent.org for more information.

Source: PRWeb: Legal / Law

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Haynes and Boone’s Lynne Liberato Named United Way of Greater Houston Volunteer of the Year

Houston, TX (Vocus/PRWEB ) April 25, 2008 -- Lynne Liberato, a Houston partner in the Appellate Practice Group for Haynes and Boone, LLP, has been named the Volunteer of the Year by the United Way of Greater Houston.

"The United Way and Houston are lucky to have Lynnes generous support and vision for a better community, and we are just as fortunate she is a Haynes and Boone lawyer," said Terry Conner, Haynes and Boone managing partner. "Everyone at the firm congratulates her on this much deserved honor."

Anna M. Babin, United Way of Greater Houston president and CEO said Ms. Liberato embodies the spirit of the organizations volunteers. "Lynne has made a profound impact in the Houston community," Ms. Babin said. "She has dedicated her time to various facets of the United Way organization and is a perfect example of true leadership and dedication."

Ms. Liberato has been a volunteer and activist on behalf of the United Way of Greater Houston for more than 15 years, serving in various leadership positions. She chaired the Hurricane Katrina/Rita task force in 2005, leading the social service effort to assist Gulf Coast storm evacuees.    The immediate past chair of the board of directors, Ms. Liberato currently serves as chair of the board governance and nominations committee.

Among her many contributions, the United Way is recognizing Ms. Liberato for creation of the Law Firm Initiative, which she launched in 2002. By combining her understanding of the legal community with her passion for the mission of the United Way, Ms. Liberato lead the Law Firm Initiative to enhance awareness and increase donations by Houstons law firms, lawyers and their staff members.. Since its inception, the Law Firm Initiative has raised more than $12 million for the Houston community. Nationally, the United Way of America now regards the Houston Law Firm Initiative as a model for its other chapters.

In her practice at Haynes and Boone, Ms. Liberato has led appellate teams pursuing some of the most significant appeals in Texas jurisprudence. Board Certified by the Texas Board of Legal Specialization in civil appellate law, Ms. Liberato represents individuals and companies in case evaluation, summary judgment practice, complex appeals and other related matters. Well versed on Texas summary judgment practice, she co-authored 'Summary Judgments in Texas,' a widely known law journal article and a respected reference tool.

A former president of the State Bar of Texas and the first woman president of the Houston Bar, Ms. Liberato received the Gene Cavin Award, the highest award from the State Bar of Texas for excellence in continuing legal education. Ms. Liberato was also named a Top Notch Appellate Lawyer by Texas Lawyer, recognizing her as one of the top five appellate lawyers in the state. She has been included every year on Texas Monthlys Texas Super Lawyers list of Top 100 Lawyers and Top 50 Female Lawyers. The same publication has named her a Top 100 Houston Super Lawyer and Appellate Super Lawyer every year since it began compiling the lists in 2003. She has been named to Best Lawyers in America for commercial litigation and appellate law.

Haynes and Boone, LLP is an international corporate law firm with offices in Texas, New York, Washington, D.C., Mexico City and Moscow, providing a full spectrum of legal services. With almost 500 attorneys, Haynes and Boone is ranked among the largest law firms in the nation by The National Law Journal. The firm has been recognized as one of the "Best Corporate Law Firms in America" (Corporate Board Member Magazine, 2001-2007), and as a Top 100 law firm for both diversity (MultiCultural Law Magazine, 2008), and women (Women 3.0, 2008).

Contact:
Mary Cheatham
Haynes and Boone, LLP
214.651.5467 (office)
214.929.8837 (cell)
mary.cheatham@haynesboone.com

Source: PRWeb: Legal / Law

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Court Cams Reveal the Funniest Legal Videos Ever on RealDealDocs.com

Online Legal Document Provider RealDealDocs.com releases its "Funniest Legal Videos Ever." This highly entertaining footage of real people doing unreal things shot from courtroom cameras, deposition videos and surveillance videos has been released online by RealDealDocs.com. RealDealDocs.com is home to over 1 million online legal documents.

Venice, CA (PRWEB) April 24, 2008 -- RealDealDocs.com the leading resource for online legal documents has released their list of "The Funniest Legal Videos Ever." The list was compiled from hundreds of submissions received from their members. The videos can be viewed for free on their blog by clicking here

"People usually visit our site when they need to find a specific legal document or clause or when they want to research a company. They don't usually think of us when they are looking for entertainment but some of the videos our members have sent to us were just too good to keep for ourselves." said Ryan Azevedo, V.P. of Marketing for RealDealDocs.com. "When you put people under the high pressure of a courtroom or a deposition, things can quickly go awry."

The videos feature outrageous footage of abnormal outbursts, incoherent depositions and even a music video about Law School. Visitors are encouraged to comment on their favorites and to submit their own videos for future lists.

The documents at RealDealDocs.com are drafted by top US law firms and include documents from Fortune 500 companies and small cap companies alike.
40 firms from the National Law Journal's top 250 use the RealDealDocs.com technology.

Lawyers use RealDealDocs.com to lower the amount of time needed to draft a legal agreement while business professionals often use RealDealDocs.com to research a company or see how they handle various deals.

Visitors can search nearly one million documents and 10 million clauses for free while members can edit, save and download these documents in a printer-friendly format for their own use. Visit RealDealDocs.com to learn more.

Source: PRWeb: Legal / Law

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New Partnership Expands Digital Current's Legal Services

Starting this spring Digital Current begins a new partnership with Trial Solutions out of Houston, Texas. This partnership expands Digital Current's already expansive legal services. 95% of Digital Current's clients come from the legal field. Business Manager Leland Macon has high expectations for this new alliance.

(PRWEB) April 24, 2008 -- Starting this spring Digital Current begins a new partnership with Trial Solutions out of Houston, Texas. This partnership expands Digital Current's already expansive legal services.

Digital Current: litigation support specialists

Specializing in Document Management, 95% of Digital Current's clients come from the legal field. Business Manager Leland Macon has high expectations for this new alliance "This provides us the ability to service every aspect of the litigation life cycle," Macon said. "It allows us to support more leads for our legal clientele."

Digital Current, with the help of Trial Solutions, can now provide a complete suite of services including computer forensics, trial support, web review hosting, on-demand software and attorney staffing. Macon is excited about the increased support. "With our new capabilities, this will truly position us to help more clients and provide more consultants."

Along with legal services including Electronic Discovery, Digital Current offers 24-hour service with an experienced staff, including certified software technicians and knowledgeable project managers. Utilizing state-of-art equipment and cutting-edge technology, Digital Current prides itself on finishing quality projects.

With literally millions of pages processed and scanned, meeting or exceeding the tight time constraints demanded, no project is daunting to Digital Current. With a 99.5% accuracy rate in scanning and 98% accuracy in indexing, excellence is the norm, not the exception.

Digital Current is happy to provide a free consultation. For more information on the services and benefits provided, visit www.digitalcurrent.com.

Source: PRWeb: Legal / Law

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Oakland Sues Major Financial Firms for Bid-Rigging, Conspiring to Cheat Taxpayers

OAKLAND, Calif. (Business Wire EON/PRWEB ) April 23, 2008 -- On Wednesday, April 23, the City of Oakland filed a federal antitrust lawsuit against national financial firms such as AIG Financial Products, Bank of America, Bear Stearns, JPMorgan Chase, Wachovia Bank and others.

City Attorney John Russo held a press conference to announce the lawsuit, which charges the companies with conspiring to gouge taxpayers in Oakland and other American cities through illegal price fixing and bid rigging.

The lawsuit alleges that financial companies and brokers agreed among themselves to give cities artificially low bids for Guaranteed Investment Contracts, which cities use to earn interest on municipal bond funds. By conspiring to avoid competitive bidding, financial companies were able to give cities abnormally low interest rates, thereby cheating taxpayers out of a legitimate rate of return.

This alleged collusion among competitors is a clear violation of federal and state antitrust laws, which prohibit any agreement by companies to fix prices, rig bids or allocate specific customers.

“Local governments, including Oakland, are starved for resources to hire police, to pay school teachers, to maintain roads and to fund essential programs,” City Attorney Russo said. “Financial industry executives are making obscene amounts of money while their companies conspire to gouge cities with unfair and uncompetitive bids. How much is enough?”

Oakland has purchased hundreds of millions of dollars worth of Guaranteed Investment Contracts from defendants named in the suit. Estimated damages to the City of Oakland are in the hundreds of thousands of dollars. Across the country, cities, counties, school districts and other public entities have been overcharged in the tens of millions of dollars, if not more. Similar lawsuits have been filed against financial firms by the State of Mississippi, the Charlestown County School District and other local governments in southern states.

Oakland’s lawsuit was filed as federal authorities in the Department of Justice, the Securities and Exchange Commission and the Internal Revenue Service conduct an unprecedented investigation into bid rigging in the municipal bond market.

In February, Bank of America announced it would cooperate with the Department of Justice investigation in return for amnesty from antitrust prosecution. Bank of America also agreed to a $14.7 million settlement with the IRS relating to the company’s role in providing Guaranteed Investment Contracts.

Oakland has bought Guaranteed Investment Contracts from at least two companies that have received subpoenas as part of the federal investigation. Authorities also served subpoenas on at least a dozen other companies that have been involved in bidding for Guaranteed Investment Contracts with Oakland.

The San Francisco law firms of Lieff, Cabraser, Heimann & Bernstein and Moscone, Emblidge & Quadra are working on Oakland’s lawsuit at no cost to the City.

Reporters who wish to receive a copy of the complaint are welcome to contact Brandan DeCoteau of Lieff Cabraser at bdecoteau@lchb.com or (415) 956-1000.

Source: PRWeb: Legal / Law

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Noted Elder Law Attorneys Present Workshop to Address "The Future of Elder Law"

Charlotte's aro welcomes nationally recognized elder law attorney Tim Takacs to Charlotte for second year, to co-present with nc elder law attorney Nicole Vandiver.

Charlotte, NC (PRWEB) April 23, 2008 -- On May 9, 2008 Charlotte's aro will present a half-day workshop specifically for attorneys, entitled "The Future of Elder Law," at the Renaissance Charlotte Southpark Hotel. Nationally recognized Elder Law Attorney Tim Takacs returns to Charlotte for his second such workshop event, but will be joined this year by co-presenter Nicole Vandiver Bryan. Bryan is also an Elder Law Attorney with the Estate & Elder Law Firm of Vandiver & Bryan of Cornelius, NC. "Attorneys from across the nation joined us for Takacs' first workshop here last year," remarks aro President Chuck Robbins. "Clearly there is a demand for more education on Elder Law in this area."

The reference to "the graying of America" is one hitting closer and closer to home for our nation's middle-aged. As this demographic takes on the task of managing the long-term care of aging parents, they are frequently turning to the legal community for help. The result is a boom in the field of Elder Law as attorneys respond to an influx of clients seeking assistance in navigating the complex maze of public benefits and solutions for their loved ones - while protecting their own financial futures.

Nationally Recognized Elder Law Attorney and Author Tim Takacs

"The field of Elder Law is growing up alongside a generation of adults who find themselves caring for both aging parents - and their own children," comments Takacs. "The legal community simply must stay current with what assistance is available for families and how to access that assistance."

Takacs, author of "A Guide to Elder Law Practice," is nationally recognized for his pioneering work in this emerging field of Law. He is credited with being one of the first Elder Law attorneys in the nation to assemble an interdisciplinary team of experts to provide integrated client care. His innovations have "transformed the practice of Elder Law in the US" and "have set a new standard of excellence in the field."
A 1999 graduate of Campbell University with a BA in Political Science from UNC-Chapel Hill, Bryan will offer her expertise and perspective on this important topic. "We saw our participation in this event as a must-do for our community," states Bryan. "Today Elder Law Attorneys are a critical part of putting together a Life Care plan that works." The Estate & Elder Law Firm of Vandiver & Bryan is also a sponsor of a public breakfast event preceding the attorney workshop, featuring Takacs.

Attorneys currently or interested in expanding their Elder Care/Law services are encouraged to attend. Attendees may earn 3.0 CLE credits. For details on this workshop or to register click here for
registration information.

For details on the public breakfast event or for reservations, call aro at 1.888.267.1297 or visit www.consultaro.com.

Sponsors for the event will be on hand with adjunct information on services related to the issues of aging. Sponsors include: The Estate and Elder Law Firm Vandiver & Bryan; as well as The Brian Center; Sunrise Senior Living; The Estate Lady Julie Hall; Hospice and Palliative Care, Charlotte Region and the Alzheimer's Organization of Charlotte.

About aro
A marketing services and consulting boutique, aro offers research, marketing planning, branding and public relations. The firm specializes in providing these services for small businesses in a variety of industries, including real estate, emerging technology, retail, sports, entertainment, financial services and human capital companies. Visit the aro web site at consultaro.com, or contact Chuck Robbins.

Source: PRWeb: Legal / Law

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ZAHARA MOSSMAN Realtor� Internet Marketing Expert, ELECTED CHAIRMAN of the Real Estate Cyberspace Society Chapters for Latin American and Caribbean Areas

Zahara Mossman RECS CLHMS, Internet Marketing Expert and Realtor®, Owner of Zahara Properties LLC and Creator/Founder of Podcast Realty®, located in Miami Beach, Florida has been elected Chairman of the Latin American and Caribbean Chapters of The Real Estate Cyberspace Society. When most real estate agencies are closing their doors, Zahara Properties LLC is expanding and growing in record speed. Zahara Mossman is the very first Realtor® in the world to podcast real estate listing descriptions on the Internet.

Miami Beach, FL (PRWEB) April 23, 2008 -- John M. Peckham III, Executive Director of the Real Estate Cyberspace Society, announced Chairman Zahara Mossman's election and explained that the new Society Chapters bring national Cyberspace networking support to real estate professionals in Costa Rica and throughout Latin America and the Caribbean. While many Brokers and real estate agencies are closing their doors in the U.S. real estate market, Zahara Properties LLC, http://www.zaharaproperties.com, a division of Beachfront Realty, Inc., is expanding her offices into Latin America and the Caribbean, based out of Costa Rica. Zahara has known, traveled and lived throughout Latin America for over 28 years. She has now formed strategic partnerships with three major corporations, amongst them: Quiros & Asociados http://www.quiroslaw.com of Central Law http://www.central-law.com, a prestigious and well known Central American and Caribbean law firm, based out of Costa Rica unified in response to modern globalization trends. Quiros & Asociados are visionaries, creating the first Central American law firm with offices throughout Latin America and the Caribbean providing a myriad of legal services and professional expertise.

Partnering with Zahara is Carlson Wagonlit Travel & Tours of Costa Rica, http://www.cwt.co.cr, the most exclusive travel and tour company world-wide in order to provide you with all of your travel needs to Latin America and the throughout. With offices in nearly 150 countries and territories, Carlson Wagonlit Travel deploys the right people, processes, skills and technologies to consistently deliver great service and deliver bottom line results to our corporate clients.

Zahara also partnered and utilizes the expertise of BVP Engineering & Construction, INGENIEROS BVP Y ASOCIADOS S.A., specializing in construction design plans, permitting, project development, project management and construction estimate evaluation.

Zahara Properties LLC welcomes them as the preferred business partners, now working together to provide you with all of your legal, real estate, travel and construction engineering needs, with guaranteed reliability. With these three major companies now onboard, Zahara Properties LLC has a combination that can't be beat!

Zahara has maintained her relationships with friends and business associates in the U.S.A and Latin America for over 28 years. Zahara was born in Washington, D.C., attending private bilingual elementary and high schools in the U.S. and Central America. She later attended prestigious universities throughout Latin America and the U.S., including U.A.C.A. (Universidad Autonoma Centro Americana) in San Jose, Costa Rica, U.S.M.A (Universidad Santa Maria la Antigua) in Panama and F.I.U. (Florida International University) in South Florida. Her parents are retired Diplomats of the O.A.S., and are of Guatemalan and Cuban descent. Please visit her website's Bio section for more information on Zahara's background at http://www.zaharaproperties.com.

The Real Estate Cyberspace Society is headquartered in Boston, Massachusetts, with over 10,000 members in over 120 Chapters across the United States and in several other
countries. The Society provides real estate professionals with the latest up to the minute real estate Cyberspace tools and services to leverage their effectiveness, visibility and
professionalism by serving its members and the public from its worldwide Internet office at http://www.REcyber.com. By utilizing the global and wide reach of the Internet, RECS society members bring additional value to the clients they serve.

Zahara Mossman Real Estate Cyberspace Specialist, Certified Luxury Home Marketing Specialist and Internet Marketing Expert Consultant brings a wealth of professionalism to the Society. Zahara is a pioneer in the real estate industry. She is the creator and founder of Podcast Realty®. Zahara started the revolution in real estate technology by being the very first Realtor® to advertise her listings via "podcasting" and "blogging" on th World Wide Web. For those unfamiliar with the term, a podcast is an audio broadcast that can be downloaded to any computer or digital music player, such as an mp3 player or iPod, by describing real estate listings over the phone or microphone to an automated robot program and uploading them to her websites and blogs.

The momentum continues to build in Zahara Mossman's career. She has been featured in the South Florida Business Journal along with the Wall Street Journal, Associated Press, New York Times, National Realtor® Magazine, the Florida Realtor® Magazine, Planet Realtor® online, The Real Estate Cyberspace Society publications, Inman News, ReCyber radio, Univision and Telemundo, amongst many other worldwide publications, society pages and telecasts. Zahara has also been recognized by NAR, (National Association of Realtors®) and FAR (Florida Association of Realtors®) receiving an award for having one of the "Top 25 ideas in Real Estate" for the year 2005.

Zahara concluded by stating that the Zahara Properties LLC offices are dedicated to serving clients and investors with the latest technological innovations enhanced by the services it receives through its world-wide participation in the Society and now her new partners and associates.

Those interested in joining the Costa Rican, Panamanian, Guatemalan, Nicaraguan, Dominican Republic and Florida Chapters can receive information by contacting Zahara Mossman RECS CLHMS at http://www.zaharaproperties.com or by visiting http://www.REcyber.com for society and more information.

For further information please contact:
Zahara Mossman™ LLC
Zahara Properties™ LLC
dba Podcast Realty®
Managing Member/Founder

a division of Beachfront Realty, Inc.
310 Arthur Godfrey Road
Miami Beach, FL 33140

O.305 534.4242 USA
C.305 397.6977 USA
F.305 675.2882 USA
V. 1 800.859.1373 Toll Free
O.+506 355.9669 - Costa Rica

w. http://www.zaharaproperties.com
w. http://www.podcastrealty.com

Source: PRWeb: Legal / Law

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Venters Saves �3,000 per Lawyer in 12 Months Via BigHand Digital Dictation

BigHand has today announced that the London and Surrey based legal aid firm Venters Solicitors, has reported cost savings totaling £50,000 in only 12 months after installing the BigHand Digital Dictation workflow system. The savings equate to over £3,000 per fee-earner, per year, at the firm.

London (PRWEB) April 23, 2008 -- BigHand has today announced that the London and Surrey based legal aid firm Venters Solicitors, has reported cost savings totaling £50,000 in only 12 months after installing the BigHand Digital Dictation workflow system. The savings equate to over £3,000 per fee-earner, per year, at the firm. Venters has achieved a significant return on its investment through the BigHand enabled restructuring of workflow, and the subsequent improvement in fee earner to secretary numbers from 12:8 to an impressive 16:6. The firm has increased its provision for earning without any growth in support, and notably, the non-replacement of secretaries that have left the firm.

Venters' secretaries have been split into two typing pools: Crime and Family, however they all access to all dictations, facilitating a true work-share culture. Venters recently opened its Reigate office, which currently houses two fee earners and one secretary. The Reigate secretary is able to pick up dictations from the main Camberwell office and vice versa, enabling the firm to take full advantage of pockets in capacity.

June Venters QC and Managing Partner, recommended the BigHand system to Mike Chapman, Practice Manager, who oversaw the implementation. Mike comments:

''We are delighted with the results achieved by installing BigHand; the commercials speak for themselves. As a legal aid firm with our eye on the bottom line, it is important that we reduce the amount of administration our fee earners undertake.

In a move to grow further, we plan to create a paralegal pool. This will ensure that resource is available firm wide. With legal aid moving to a fixed fee structure, it is vital for us to increase our overall productivity, and BigHand enables us to do this in the most efficient way.

BigHand is the most comprehensive and reliable tool that we have ever implemented, and has achieved more goals than we could ever have imagined. As well as having never lost a dictation, the system is excellent as a task management tool, and widely being used as such.''

Contact:
Jo Beckwith, BigHand. Email: jo.beckwith@bighand.com Tel: +44 (0)20 7940 5946

About BigHand
A Microsoft Gold Partner & BlackBerry ISV Partner based out of Chicago, London, Sydney and Toronto. BigHand is the leading digital dictation vendor in the global professional services sector. BigHand3 was awarded "Best of Breed System of the Year" at the Legal Technology Awards for 2008, and nominated as 'New Product of the Year' at the LTN Awards 2008. BigHand was named as the fastest growing legal software developer in The Sunday Times Microsoft Tech Track 100 league tables for both 2006 and 2005. BigHand was also recognized by Deloitte as one of the 500 fastest growing software vendors in Europe in 2006. Additionally BigHand was voted "Best Legal Office Technology System 2004" from votes from over 14,000 lawyers and IT managers across the legal sector at the LOTIE Awards. BigHand's leading product also won the Society for Computers & Law IT Award in 2003 for "the most outstanding application of information technology to the law". Further information is available at http://www.bighand.com

Source: PRWeb: Legal / Law

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Earth Class Mail Receives Global Recognition

Nominations in two categories for the 2008 World Mail Awards spotlight innovative company

Seattle, Wash. (PRWEB) April 23, 2008 -- Earth Class Mail Corp., the global leader in delivering postal mail online, announced it has been nominated for two World Mail Awards - the Oscars of the $900 billion global postal industry - in the Innovation and E-Commerce categories. Selection of Earth Class Mail by a panel of industry experts alongside multi-billion dollar postal operators such as Royal Mail, Post Denmark and Canada Post, highlights the strength of the company's technology offering. Earth Class Mail is the only online postal-mail delivery service for individuals and businesses that scales to national deployment by postal operators so that every internet-enabled citizen and business in their country can receive their postal mail online.

"Acknowledgments of success are always welcome," said Ron Wiener, CEO and Postmaster General of Earth Class Mail. "But they also serve to emphasize the importance of what we do. We are at an inflection point in the centuries-old history of postal mail, with ecological and economic pressures on postal operators mounting while revenues are increasingly cannibalized by the internet - there simply must be a change. We may be the smallest company on the shortlist, and the only non-postal operator, but we've got the biggest idea. Posts are so ubiquitous in our daily lives that we often forget that they are typically the largest employers and one of the top energy consumers in their respective countries. Their business models must undergo dramatic changes at times like this, and the awards committee has clearly recognized the significance of our technology platform which allows posts to simultaneously improve customer service, increase revenues, lower operating costs and remain centrally relevant in the Internet Age."

Individual Earth Class Mail users - small businesses, expatriates, field workers, road warrior executives, soldiers and others with changing addresses and mobile lifestyles - enjoy the freedom of accessing their personal postal mail from anywhere. For the enterprise and government, Earth Class Mail digitizes paper mail at its entry point, injecting it directly into a corporation's electronic workflow and saving 75% of typical document lifecycle costs. Delivering postal mail online enables mobile employees and telecommuters to access all of their communications remotely and digitally, as they do their email, fax, and voicemail and cellular calls. The environmental benefits associated with Earth Class Mail's solution include reductions in carbon emissions and a 400% increase in recycling compared to the national average.

Winners of the World Mail Awards will be announced at a gala presentation ceremony held in conjunction with the World Mail and Express Europe conference in Budapest, Hungary, on May 19, 2008.

About Earth Class Mail
Earth Class Mail™ provides the only online postal-mail service designed for individuals, small businesses, enterprises, government agencies, military, and national posts. Users in more than 150 countries now receive their postal mail at one of 20 U.S. addresses, and access it online, 24x7, via www.earthclassmail.com. Internationally, the company licenses its technology platform to mail and document outsourcing partners, as well as national posts. The company is headquartered in Seattle, WA.

Source: PRWeb: Legal / Law

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Federal Court Approves Nationwide Furnace Settlement With Carrier Corporation Involving High-Efficiency Carrier, Bryant, Day & Night and Payne Furnaces

SEATTLE (Business Wire EON/PRWEB ) April 22, 2008 -- Class counsel announced that United States District Court Judge Ronald B. Leighton today granted final approval to a nationwide settlement in a class action lawsuit filed by current and past owners of high-efficiency furnaces manufactured and sold by Carrier Corporation starting in 1989 and equipped with polypropylene-laminated condensing heat exchangers (“CHXs”).

"After several years of hard-fought litigation in four different U.S. courts, we are pleased that the Court approved the settlement,” stated plaintiffs’ counsel Jonathan D. Selbin of the New York office of Lieff Cabraser Heimann & Bernstein, LLP. “It is an outstanding outcome for consumers, and we commend Carrier for stepping forward and taking care of its customers.”

"The settlement provides an enhanced 20-year warranty for consumers whose furnaces have not yet failed that will cover parts and labor for CHX failures,” stated Kim D. Stephens, counsel for plaintiffs with the Seattle law firm of Tousley Brain Stephens PLLC. “The settlement also offers a cash payment for consumers who paid to repair or replace the CHX in their high-efficiency Carrier furnaces.”

Important Notice for Consumers

The deadline for class members to submit a claim is August 1, 2008. Claim forms are available online at www.furnaceclaims.com

Approximately three million U.S. consumers purchased the furnaces covered under the settlement. Carrier sold the furnaces under the Carrier, Bryant, Day & Night and Payne brand-names. A list of the models covered under the settlement can also be found at www.furnaceclaims.com

Background on the Litigation

The complaint, originally filed in June 2005, charged that starting in 1989, Carrier began manufacturing and selling high efficiency condensing furnaces manufactured with a secondary CHX made of inferior materials. Plaintiffs alleged that as a result, the CHXs, which Carrier warranted and consumers expected to last for 20 years, failed prematurely. Carrier denied the allegations and vigorously contested the litigation.

Under the settlement, the class consists of all individuals and entities in the United States who currently own a Carrier 90% high efficiency condensing furnace manufactured between January 1, 1989 and April 22, 2008, and equipped with a polypropylene-laminated secondary heat exchanger, and former owners of such furnaces whose furnaces experienced CHX failure.

Source/Contact (Media Inquiries Only)

Jonathan D. SelbinLieff Cabraser Heimann & Bernstein, LLP780 Third Avenue, 48th FloorNew York, New York 10017(212) 355-9500jselbin@lchb.comKim D. StephensTousley Brain Stephens PLLC1700 Seventh Avenue, Suite 2200Seattle, Washington 98101(206) 682-5600kstephens@tousley.com

Source: PRWeb: Legal / Law

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DocuLex Enhances Professional Capture to Provide Production Document Imaging, Knowledge Management and Workflow Collaboration

DocuLex, creators of electronic document management software, announces enhancements to Professional Capture, including enabling DocuLex's PC-distributed, server-based Goby Capture integration for automated paper and native format electronic file capture ability (Microsoft Word, Excel, Outlook email, etc.) fostering knowledge management and workflow collaboration.

Winter Haven, FL (PRWEB) April 22, 2008 - DocuLex (www.doculex.com), creators of electronic document management software, announces enhancements to Professional Capture, including enabling DocuLex's PC-distributed, server-based Goby Capture integration for automated paper and native format electronic file capture ability (Microsoft Word, Excel, Outlook email, etc.) fostering knowledge management and workflow collaboration.

"A component of DocuLex Archive Studio, Professional Capture solves the desire to convert large volumes of paper to searchable electronic files in corporate and service bureau environments," comments Tim Nissen, DocuLex's Director of Marketing. It is a productive software product that fulfills the demands of multiple, complex imaging projects, providing a wide variety of image processing and indexing capabilities that streamline and reduce the cost of document conversion projects, minimizing the labor component associated with document imaging, indexing, exporting and printing. Speed is enhanced, benefiting service bureaus and organizations of sizable document volumes, creating comprehensive, cost-effective production document imaging. All advantageous production tools are included, with an updated intuitive user layout, enabling both experienced and novice practitioners.

Professional Capture features zonal optical character recognition (OCR) capability. Zonal OCR provides the ability to target specific areas on a page for OCR processing, allowing simplified recognition and extraction of targeted content. Utilizing barcode technology creating customized document separator sheets, the program enables document scanning, content indexing, image quality control, full text and zonal OCR in 16 prominent international languages. Additional capabilities include image coding and endorsing, conversion to PDF Image + Text, TIFF, JPG, CSV or ASCII, with high-speed printing and export to FTP sites and to most prominent document management systems, including DocuLex WebSearch.

For additional information on DocuLex Professional Capture, and to request a convenient online program demonstration, call DocuLex at (863) 297-3691 ext. 236.

About DocuLex
Incorporated in 1996, Winter Haven, Florida-based DocuLex creates open-system document imaging and management software for use with desktop and production document scanners, as well as digital multifunctional copiers, facsimile and wide format units. Through an extensive reseller channel, the company offers network-enabled document capture and image processing software along with Web-based search and retrieval programs, bundled and offered as Archive Studio. Archive Studio is easy to use, productive electronic document management software for any business environment seeking secure 'Instant Document Access.' See www.doculex.com for program information and demonstrations.

Source: PRWeb: Legal / Law

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Law Firm Marketing Helps Small Law Firms Create Million Dollar Practices with Proven System of Nation's Largest Law Firm Marketing Company

The Rainmaker Retreat is a two day law firm marketing boot camp for small and solo law firms. At the Rainmaker Retreat, small and solo law firm members learn proven, step-by-step strategies to build successful, seven-figure practices. This event is being presented by The Rainmaker Institute, LLC, the nation's largest law firm marketing company for small law firms and is sponsored by the Los Angeles County Bar Association (LACBA). It will be held April 25-26, 2008. LACBA member discounts are available.

Los Angeles, CA (PRWEB) April 22, 2008 -- The Rainmaker Retreat is a two day law firm marketing program for small and solo law firm members to help them learn proven, step-by-step strategies to build successful, seven-figure practices. This event is being presented by The Rainmaker Institute, LLC, the nation's largest law firm marketing company for small law firms and sponsored by the Los Angeles County Bar Association (LACBA). It will be held April 25-26, 2008

A $9,338.00 value, the registration cost for this two-day law firm marketing boot camp is only $1,397. LACBA member discount are available.

Past participants have found that proven system they learn at The Rainmaker Retreat does work. "I opened my own firm 15 years ago and each year was better than the last," said Los Angeles attorney Scott Baker, practicing in small business advice and construction defense. "I think if I had taken this course 5 years ago, I wouldn't have to worry about next year."
   
Some of the strategies that make this law firm marketing seminar valuable include:

• How attorneys can create a network of referral sources in 90 days
• How to use "keep in touch" letters to generate more qualified referrals
• 5 proven strategies to get more attention, command more respect and charge higher fees
• The top 10 deadliest mistakes attorneys make with their websites and how to avoid them
• Steps for creating a personalized Marketing Action Plan (MAP)

Stephen Fairley is one of the presenters at the Rainmaker Retreat. He is CEO of the nation's largest law firm marketing company for small law firms, The Rainmaker Institute, and the international bestselling author of 10 books. Travis Greenlee is the other key presenter. He is a Master Business Coach and former financial consultant with Merrill Lynch. Greenlee has trained thousands of professionals since 1991 and specializes in helping small and solo law firms leverage the internet to attract more and better clients and increase their revenues.

Registrations are now being taken for the April 25-26th LA Rainmaker Retreat at 888-588-5891 or online at www.RainmakerRetreat.com/lacba.

For more information and to register, contact: 888-588-5891

About The Rainmaker Institute, LLC and the Rainmaker Retreat
The Rainmaker Institute, LLC is the nation's largest strategic law firm marketing company specializing in helping small law firms. Stephen Fairley, named "America's Top Marketing Coach," is CEO of the company, a best-selling author of 10 books and a nationally recognized law firm marketing expert. For more information, call 888-588-5891 or visit www.RainmakerRetreat.com

Source: PRWeb: Legal / Law

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Texas to Collect Unconstitutional Admittance Tax

Texas Entertainment Association Warns Businesses May Close; Other Legal and Politically Unpopular Businesses at Risk for Rights Violations

Dallas, TX (PRWEB) April 21, 2008 -- The Texas Entertainment Association (TEA) announced this morning that adult cabarets across the state received notification last week from the Texas Comptroller that controversial, industry-wide $5 admittance taxes are due today. The state's surprise notification comes in the wake of the 53rd District Court's March 28 ruling that the taxes represent an invalid, unconstitutional violation of First Amendment rights.

In its judgment, an Austin judge specifically ordered that the, "Defendants are permanently enjoined from assessing or collecting the tax imposed by sections 47.051-.056."(1) The Texas Attorney General's Office filed an appeal on April 7, and in letters issued to adult cabaret businesses across the state, the Comptroller's Office states that its appeal suspends both the Court's judgment and injunction. (2)

Angelina Spencer, executive director of the Association of Club Executives, a nationwide organization of which the Texas Entertainment Association is a chapter, issued a statement on behalf of all the club owners in the TEA warning that businesses may be forced to close and that workers may lose their jobs due to this violation of the club's First Amendment rights. In addition, she noted that if the state can set aside the U.S. Constitution by filing an appeal, other businesses may soon find themselves in the same situation:

"The Texas Attorney General and Comptroller have made a poor decision, attempting to collect a tax from Texas businesses that has already been determined in court to be unconstitutional. Now, based solely on the fact that the state has filed an appeal, the Comptroller's Office has notified these businesses that the illegal tax must be paid today," she said.

"Cabaret owners may be forced to shut down. In these economically tough times, hard-working taxpayers employed by these legal businesses deserve better than being forced out of gainful employment by elected officials seeking to impose a patently unconstitutional law on an unpopular industry for the purposes of political gain.

"This is a terrible precedent for all sides and should be of concern to all business owners. The bottom line is that this is a narrowly targeted and unconstitutional tax on legal but politically unpopular businesses. The law affects approximately 165 cabarets in Texas. That means it could happen to anyone when political winds shift. The definition of what a 'deserving cause' is, and who is a good target for a narrow tax is, may change also. Our only protection is the U.S. Constitution and our courts.

"TEA attorneys testified before the legislative committee that the tax was unconstitutional. Now the court has confirmed it. All our elected leaders are sworn to uphold the Constitution. The right thing to do is obey the court's injunction until the appeal is decided and find another way to fund these worthy, but unrelated causes."

Additional information on this issue can be found at: TEA Press Room.

About the Texas Entertainment Association

The Texas Entertainment Association, Inc., is an industry trade association of Texas cabaret owners who have joined together to set and maintain high standards for clubs and their entertainers, and compliance with the regulations governing adult cabaret businesses. The TEA is a chapter of the Association of Club Executives, the trade association of America's adult nightclubs. The association's mission is to provide and share information concerning the political and legal status of the adult nightclub industry and to further provide a platform for the strategic planning of initiatives to combat negative challenges. More information can be found at: www.acenational.org.

Footnotes:

(1) Cause No. D-1-GN-07-004179 Texas Entertainment Association, Inc. and Karpod, Inc. vs. Susan Combs, Comptroller of Public Accounts of the State of Texas and Greg Abbott, Attorney General of the State of Texas. March 28, 2008. Filed in the District Court of Travis County, Texas.

(2) Copies of this letter can be found at: TEA Press Room.

Source: PRWeb: Legal / Law

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50,000 Physicians & Scientists from Global Educational Affiliates Urge Emergency Action to Cease the Criminalization of Advanced Preventive Medicine

50,000 physicians and scientists from 96 worldwide educational affiliates in anti-aging and regenerative medicine urge emergency action to counter a calculated campaign, lacking in scientific basis and brimming with political motivations, against hormone therapies (including Adult Growth Hormone Replacement Therapy and Bio-Identical Hormone Replacement Therapy), nutritional medicine, and compounding pharmacies. Misguided and potentially dangerous pending Congressional legislation aims to ban the American public's access to nutrients, drugs, and hormone therapies and retard the advancement of preventive healthcare in the United States by a decade or more. Take action now to avert the stagnation or cessation of vital life-saving research by clinicians practicing advanced preventive medicine.

Washington, DC (PRWEB) April 21, 2008 -- For the first time in the history of the United States, Congress is allowing non-physicians to dictate the indications for a drug, effectively eliminating and criminalizing the physicians' sovereign right to prescribe according to conscience. Misguided and potentially dangerous pending Congressional legislation aims to ban the American public's access to nutrients, drugs, and hormone therapies and retard the advancement of preventive healthcare in the United States by a decade or more.

ENDORSING ORGANIZATIONS:
Academy of Anti-Aging Medicine - China; Academy of Anti-Aging Medicine - Iberia; Academy of Healthy Aging; Academy of Optimal Aging; Academy of Successful Aging; American Academy of Age Management; American Academy of Anti-Aging Medicine (A4M); American Academy of Longevity Medicine; American Board of Anti-Aging & Regenerative Medicine; American Board of Anti-Aging Healthcare Professionals; American College of Anti-Aging Sports Medicine Professionals; American College of Longevity Medicine; American Society of Longevity Medicine; Anti Aging Research and Education Society, Turkey; Anti-Aging Medicine Specialisation; Argentine Academy of Anti-Aging and Aesthetic Medicine ; Asia Pacific Academy of Anti-Aging Medicine; Asian Academy of Anti-Aging Medicine; Asia-Oceania Federation of Anti-Aging Medicine (AOFAAM); Asociacion Mexicana de Medicina; Antienvejecimiento y Longevidad; Asociacion de Medicine Anti-Aging Y Estetica Argentina; Association for the Development of Orthomolecular Nutrition; Association Tunisiene de Medecine Esthetique et de Cosmetologie; Associazone Medici Italian Anti-Aging; AustralAsian Academy of Anti-Aging Medicine (A5M); Belgian Society of Anti-Aging Medicine (BELSAAM); Brazilian Society of Anti-Aging; Brazilian Society of Plastic Surgery; British Anti-Ageing Medical Association; British Longevity Society; British Society of Anti-Ageing Medicine; Center for Study of Anti-Aging Medicine - UDAYANA University, Indonesia; China World Academy of Anti-Aging Medicine; Chinese Academy of Anti-Aging Medicine/A4M China; Chinese Society of Cosmetic Surgery and Anti-Aging Medicine; Croatian Academy of Anti-Aging & Aesthetic Medicine; Dutch Society of Anti-Aging Medicine; European Academy of Anti-Aging and Aesthetic Medicine; European Academy of Quality of Life and Longevity Medicine (EAQUALL); European Organisation for Scientific Anti-Aging Medicine; European Society of Anti-Aging Medicine (ESAAM); Fellowship Academy of Anti-Aging & Regenerative Medicine; French Society of Anti-Aging Medicine; German Hormone Society; German Society of Anti-Aging Medicine (GSAAM); German Society of Hemotoxicology; Gerontological Society of the Russian Academy of Sciences; Greek Academy of Anti-Aging Medicine; Hellenic Academy of Antiaging Medicine; Hong-Kong College of Anti-Aging Medicine; Indonesian Anti-Aging Society; Indonesian Society of Anti-Aging Medicine; International Academy of Anti-Aging Medicine; International Academy of Longevity Medicine; International Association of Anti-Aging Medicine of Ukraine; International Fitness Professionals Association; International Hormone Society (IHS); Italian Society of Longevity Medicine; Japan Anti-Aging Medical Association; Japan Anti-Aging Medical Spa Association (JAMSA); Japan Society of Clinical Aesthetic Anti-Aging Medicine; Japanese Society for Aesthetico-Medical Technology; Japanese Society of Clinical Anti-Aging Medicine (JSCAM); Kazakhstani Society of Mesotherapists; Korea Anti-Aging Academy of Medicine (KA3M); Korean Anti-Aging Medical Association; LatinoAmerican Federation of Anti-aging Societies; Malaysian Menopause Society; Middle East Academy for Medicine of Ageing; Neurological Research Institute; Peruvian Society of Anti-Aging and Longevity Medicine; Polish Academy of Anti-Aging Medicine; Polish Society of Anti-Aging Medicine; Romanian Association of Anti Aging Medicine; Romanian National Institute of Gerontology and Geriatry; Russian Academy of Scientific and Longevity Medicine; Sociedad Argentina de Medicina Anti Aging; Sociedad de Medicine Antievejenimiento y Longevidad de Gran Canaria; Sociedad Espanola de Medicina Antienvejecimiento y Longevidad; Sociedad Espanola de Medicina y Cirugia Cosmmetica; Sociedad Italiana de Cirurgia Estetica; Sociedad Venezolana de Anti-Envejecimiento y Longevidad; Sociedade Brasileira de Antienvelhecimento; Societe Francaise de Chirurgie Esthetique; Society for Anti-Aging & Aesthetic Medicine Malaysia (SAAAMM); Society for Anti-Aging and Aesthetic Medicine Malaysia; Society for Anti-Aging Medicine (Singapore); South African Academy of Anti-Aging & Aesthetic Medicine (SA5M); Spanish Society of Anti-Aging; Taiwanese Academy of Anti-Aging Medicine; Thai Academy of Anti-Aging Medicine; Thai Association of Anti-Aging Medicine; World Academy of Anti-Aging Medicine (WAAAM); World Academy of Longevity Medicine; World Anti-Aging Medical Association; World Society of Anti-Aging Medicine (WOSAAM)

Imminent Restrictions on Access to hormone replacement THerapies and Nutritional Medicine:

There has never previously been a time when an FDA-approved drug was prohibited for off-label use. As more than 50% of all drugs are prescribed off-label, this is a dangerous and chilling precedent which only jeopardizes the integrity of physician choice and ultimately will cause harm to thousands of patients who desperately require new and innovative treatments for the degenerative diseases of aging.

Misguided and potentially dangerous pending Congressional legislation aims to ban the American public's access to nutrients, drugs, and hormone therapies and retard the advancement of preventive healthcare in the United States by a decade or more. HR 4911, introduced by Representative Stephen Lynch (D-MA), and Senate Bill 877, sponsored by Senator Charles Schumer (D-NY), seek to classify HGH as a Schedule III Controlled Substance. Senate Bill 2470, sponsored by Senator Grassley (R-IA) aims to restrict the sale of DHEA.

If passed, these new restrictions could stagnate or halt vital life-saving research by clinicians practicing advanced preventive medicine, also known as anti-aging and regenerative medicine. If put at criminal risk, doctors and scientists will abandon their commitments to innovative life-enhancing, life-extending science, with a certainty of increasing preventable disease, disability and deaths for millions of Americans.

The above Endorsing Organizations observe that a calculated campaign, lacking in scientific basis and brimming with political motivations, takes place at a critical crossroads of medicine and science when lifespans are at an all-time high and poised to jump another 5 to 10 years in the coming decade. A staged controversy has been orchestrated against hormone therapies (including Adult Growth Hormone Replacement Therapy and Bio-Identical Hormone Replacement Therapy), nutritional medicine, and compounding pharmacies, ultimately culminating in an attempt to discredit the new science of anti-aging and regenerative medicine.

Further, as noted by the World Chairman of the International Medical Commission overseeing sports drug testing in over 170 nations, a deliberate agenda to politicize anti-aging and regenerative medical therapies inaccurately suggests that anabolic steroid abuse in young athletes is equivalent to hormone replacement therapies in adults with documented hormone deficiencies. This is a wrongful and outright distortion, a lie, and this deception seeks to confuse the public in an attempt to denigrate the clinical specialty of anti-aging and regenerative medicine.

In fact, aging-related hormone deficiencies, including Adult Growth Hormone Deficiency (AGHD), are just one aspect of the multi-modal specialty of anti-aging and regenerative medicine. Physician-prescribed HGH is legal and approved by the US government. The therapeutic use of Human Growth Hormone (hGH) for AGHD is well within established international medical guidelines and is well documented both by hundreds of published studies in medical journals and textbooks, physicians' patient treatment experiences, and backed by fifty years of clinical experience. Replacement is conducted at physiological levels, administered by licensed, trained physicians, and monitored by routine laboratory testing throughout the course of therapy. To-date, in tens of thousands of patients over several decades, no deaths or permanent morbidity has been reported in the treatment of Adult Growth Hormone Deficiency.

In addition, it is important to note that customized medications prescribed by licensed physicians and are prepared by compounding pharmacies fill a void in healthcare today. Compounding pharmacies dispense Bio-Identical Hormone Replacement Therapy (BHRT) to treat deficiencies, as determined by laboratory testing and qualified medical expertise. A recent FDA ruling has stopped wholesalers from selling estriol, which will soon render compounding pharmacies unable to dispense it.

Hormone therapies (including Adult Growth Hormone Replacement Therapy and Bio-Identical Hormone Replacement Therapy), nutritional medicine, and compounding pharmacies serve an important role in improving both the quality and quantity of life in millions of Americans today.

Stop the unjust crirminalization of physician prescribed hormone replacement therapies and nutritional medicine. There are no villains or evil-doers in the community of law abiding patients and their caring and compassionate physicians and pharmacists who are dedicated to keeping American men and women healthy, vital, and in optimal physical and mental performance throughout advancing age.

CALL TO ACTION
Your future health, and the freedoms to choices in healthcare, are at-risk. Take the following four steps to halt the biased, politically driven proposed Congressional legislation.

1. LOG ON to the International Hormone Society website and:
a. REVIEW the IHS Position Statement on Growth Hormone: https://ucprx.com/images/customer/gh-ihs_letter_to_us_senate.pdf

b. CAST your Support of Hormone Replacement Therapies:
Patient Petitions: http://intlhormonesociety.org/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=31&Itemid=53
Physicians Consensus: http://intlhormonesociety.org/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=37&Itemid=71

2. JOIN the International Academy of Compounding Pharmacists' Response to the FDA's Campaign to Restrict Women's Access to Bio-Identical Hormone Replacement Therapy: http://www.iacprx.org/site/PageServer?pagename=P2C2001secBHRTatRisk

3. VIEW Previously issued White Papers and Official Statements of the American Academy of Anti-Aging Medicine (A4M): http://www.a4minfo.net/truth

4. EXERCISE your right to be heard by your government:
A. Contact your House Representative (online form at https://forms.house.gov/wyr/welcome.shtml ) with your objection to the Human Growth Hormone Restriction Act of 2007 (HR 4911), sponsored by Rep. Stephen Lynch

B. Email Your Senator (look-up at http://www.senate.gov/general/contact_information/senators_cfm.cfm ) to object to the Controlling the Abuse of Prescriptions Act of 2007 (S 877), sponsored by Senator Charles Schumer

C. Email Your Senator (look-up at http://www.senate.gov/general/contact_information/senators_cfm.cfm ) and voice your objection to the Dehydroepiandrosterone Abuse Reduction Act of 2007 (S 2470), sponsored by Senator Charles Grassley

Take action now to avert the stagnation or cessation of vital life-saving research by clinicians practicing advanced preventive medicine.

Source: PRWeb: Legal / Law

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