Friday, July 31, 2009

Castle Rock Law Firm Robinson & Henry, P.C., Inaugurates "Knowledge is Power" Seminars

The Castle Rock law firm of Robinson & Henry, P.C., Attorneys At Law, announced today that it will host free "Knowledge is Power" seminars throughout the Denver and Colorado Springs metro areas.

Castle Rock, CO (PRWEB) July 31, 2009 -- Robinson & Henry, P.C., Attorneys At Law, announced today that it will host free "Knowledge is Power" seminars throughout the Denver and Colorado Springs metro areas. The seminars will take place onsite at those companies interested in hosting a seminar as well as in Robinson & Henry's offices in Castle Rock, Lakewood, and Colorado Springs. The seminars will cover the vital areas of estate planning, family law, bankruptcy, foreclosure, short sales, tax problems, and real estate matters.

"Legal woes can affect an employee's focus and efficiency, which affect performance and morale," according to Bill Henry, a partner at Robinson & Henry, P.C. "One of the greatest compliments our firm receives is when our clients tell us 'what a relief' they feel after speaking with us and learning about solutions to their legal problems. Through these seminars, we hope to provide information and relief to more Coloradoans in a convenient environment." Bill said.

Seminars are forming weekly in Robinson & Henry's offices and in employer workplaces throughout the Front Range. To schedule a seminar at your worksite or to learn more contact Julie Robinson at (303) 688-0944.

About Robinson & Henry, P.C.:

Robinson & Henry is a full service Colorado law firm with offices in Castle Rock, Colorado Springs, and Lakewood. The firm's attorneys have been quoted by newspapers, radio stations, and legal publications throughout the country.

For information, please contact William L. Henry IV at (303) 688-0944, or by mail at 757 Maleta Lane, Castle Rock, CO 80108.

www.robinsonandhenry.com.

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Kansas City Lawyer Addresses Helicopter Crash Litigation at National Lawyers' Convention

Mr. Robb's address included detailed and graphic accounts of various helicopter cases he has handled, as well as tips on successful strategies.

Kansas City, MO (PRWEB) July 31, 2009 -- Missouri personal injury lawyer Gary C. Robb of Kansas City's Robb & Robb, LLC delivered an address on Monday, July 27, 2009 on "Litigating a Helicopter Crash Case" to the Aviation Law Section at the Annual Convention of the American Association for Justice (AAJ), held in San Francisco, California. AAJ is the world's largest trial bar. With a worldwide membership, the organization is dedicated to protecting the democratic values inherent in the civil justice system. Mr. Robb's address included detailed and graphic accounts of various helicopter cases he has handled, as well as tips on successful strategies.

The Kansas City law firm of Robb & Robb, LLC has long been recognized as the leading helicopter crash law firm in the United States. In March of 2009, Forbes Magazine recognized aviation lawyer Gary C. Robb as "by far the most successful helicopter crash lawyer in the country."

In 1995, Robb & Robb obtained the two highest jury verdicts in helicopter crash cases in U.S .history, a $350 million jury verdict on behalf of a helicopter pilot who experienced an in-flight engine failure (Barnett v. La Societe Anonyme Turbomecca France, 963 S.W. 2d 939, Western District of Missouri Court of Appeals), and a $70 million jury verdict on behalf of a 20 year old woman who was a passenger on board that same helicopter (Letz v. Turbomecca, 975 S. W. 2d 155, Western District Missouri Court of Appeals).

The firm also has the highest settlement in any helicopter crash litigation, a $38 million cash settlement in 2007 involving a young woman who was severely burned when her tour helicopter crashed in the Grand Canyon (Daskal, et. al. v. Aerospetiale, Case No. A471961 Clark Co. Dist. Court, Las Vegas, Nevada).

About Robb & Robb
Robb & Robb, LLC was founded in 1984 by Kansas City attorneys Gary C. Robb and Anita Porte Robb. The firm has handled many precedent-setting, high-profile and complex cases in the fields of aviation law, hazardous product liability, personal injury, medical malpractice, wrongful death, premises liability and trucking and transportation liability.

Robb & Robb, LLC has been recognized by national media and a number of professional organizations as the leading aviation attorneys in the United States. They have received both local Missouri and national media attention, including featured spots on the CBS Evening News, Good Morning America, NBC's Today Show, CBS This Morning, Larry King Live, CNN.com, AOL Online, USA Today, The Wall Street Journal, The National Law Journal, Lawyers Weekly USA, BNA Reporter, The Missouri Lawyers Weekly and The Kansas City Star.

For more information on Robb & Robb, LLC, please visit www.robbrobb.com.

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Law Firm Skubiak & Rivas, P.A. Offers Free Representation to Drivers Ticketed Under New Seat-Belt Law

Many Florida drivers are unaware of the hefty fine they face if caught driving without a seat belt. In response to the new state law making seat-belt violations a primary offense, an Orlando traffic ticket law firm is advocating for drivers who were uninformed. Skubiak & Rivas, P.A., is offering free representation to drivers ticketed in Orange County solely for not buckling up.

(PRWEB) July 31, 2009 -- A new Florida traffic ticket law makes driving without a seat belt a primary offense - meaning an officer can ticket a motorist solely for not buckling up.

The law took effect June 30, but many drivers don't know of its existence or consequences.

To help these uninformed motorists, Orlando traffic ticket law firm Skubiak & Rivas, P.A., has offered free representation to drivers ticketed in Orange County under the primary offense seat-belt law.

"The way Florida publicizes the law is to enforce it," said attorney Alain Rivas. "The Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles should do a better job of raising awareness."

Already, hundreds of drivers have been ticketed under the new law, signed by Gov. Charlie Crist in May.

During the Fourth of July weekend, the Florida Highway Patrol ticketed more than 300 drivers for violating the primary offense seat-belt law.

Adults who don't buckle up face a $30 fine. Then counties and local law-enforcement agencies add court and administrative fees. In Orange County, that fine becomes $96. The ticket does not add any points to the driver's license.

The law already allowed for enforcement for drivers and passengers under the age of 18.

Attorneys Robert P. Skubiak and Alain Rivas do not take issue with the seat-belt law itself.

However, considering that the law will generate significant revenue for state and local governments, it is vital that drivers have an advocate for their rights, according to Skubiak.

"We want to send a message to these agencies that if they're going to write a ticket, they should have the intentions and the resources to support it," Rivas said.

Clients of Skubiak & Rivas don't need to take off work to contest their cases in court.
    
"All they have to do is give us a call, and we'll do the paperwork and we'll go to court," Rivas said.

If the officer who wrote a ticket does not come to court or cannot recollect the circumstances of the ticket, the case is dismissed.

For more information on how to appeal a traffic ticket in court, click on http://www.trafficlawfirm.com.

Skubiak & Rivas, P.A. specializes in Orlando traffic cases. With more than 22 years of experience, the attorneys at Skubiak & Rivas are exclusively dedicated to serving Florida traffic tickets and Florida criminal defense cases, including Florida DUI and Orlando speeding tickets.

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Equivio Near-Duplicate Benchmark Processes One Million Files in Less Than Three Hours

Equivio, a provider of software for near-duplicates and email threads, today announced benchmark results on performance version 2.3.7. The benchmark results show a 100% improvement in processing throughput in Equivio version 2.3.7, relative to prior versions. The new version also contains important operational enhancements, including support of additional data sources, full Unicode encoding, additional email formats and customizable output in Equivio>Extract.

Kensington, MD (PRWEB) July 31, 2009 -- Equivio, a provider of software for near-duplicates and email threads, today announced benchmark results on performance version 2.3.7. The Generally Available (GA) version of Equivio 2.3.7 was released on May 6, 2009. As demonstrated in the benchmark, version 2.3.7 delivers the performance and operational ease required of a product that has become an integral component of the standard work flow for electronic discovery.

Key results from the benchmark include:

 
  • Case of 1,000,000 documents completed in less than 3 hours
  • Case of 7,000,000 documents completed in 30 hours

Amir Milo, CEO of Equivio, noted, "The market has transitioned near-duping and email threads from a premium service, used mainly by technologically savvy customers, to a default bundled service, applied universally in all cases. This benchmark demonstrates that Equivio can handle the massive volumes and throughput demanded of a standard service in the e-discovery arena." The benchmark results show a 100% improvement in processing throughput in Equivio version 2.3.7, relative to prior versions. The new version also contains important operational enhancements, including support of additional data sources, full Unicode encoding, additional email formats and customizable output in Equivio>Extract.

These enhancements translate into mission-critical savings in time-sensitive business environments. In e-discovery, for example, the majority of cases include up to 1 million cases. Equivio's new throughput levels, combined with the operational improvements, mean that most cases can be processed unsupervised in just a few hours.

Milo continued, "We have been focused on delivering performance, operational and business enhancements that can support the huge demand from our partners and customers for near-duplicate and email thread processing. These performance numbers show that Equivio can support the throughput requirements for even the largest cases and e-discovery operations in the industry."

The benchmark was run on standard PC's, and was designed to analyze the impact of key performance parameters including: threshold level of near-duplicate resemblance, databases, email thread processing, distributed configuration, number of threads, and use of local or remote data. Full details on the benchmark results are available in an Equivio white paper which can be downloaded from the resource center at www.equivio.com.

About Equivio

Equivio enables the management of data redundancy in content-centric business processes. Equivio's technology zooms in on unique data, allowing you to read less, think more, win big™. With products for grouping near-duplicates, capturing email threads and determining document relevance, Equivio powers a broad range of business applications, including eDiscovery, corporate investigations, records management, email archiving, data retention and intelligence. To learn more about winning with Equivio, visit www.equivio.com.

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Federal Court in Atlanta Concludes Again that the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission Failed to Establish that Merchant Capital, LLC and its Principals Should be Permanently Enjoined or that Disgorgement was Appropriate

The Law Firm of Gregory Bartko, LLC announced today that Judge Marvin H. Shoob, Senior Judge for the United States District Court, Northern District of Georgia, ruled on July 28, 2009 in a civil enforcement action pending in his court since November, 2002 as brought by the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission ("SEC"), resulted in a rare, but long overdue rebuke of the SEC's relentless pursuit of the defendants in this case.

Atlanta, Georgia (PRWEB) July 31, 2009 -- The Law Firm of Gregory Bartko, LLC announced today that a 29-page opinion and order was issued by Senior United States District Judge Marvin H. Shoob in an SEC civil enforcement action filed against Brentwood, Tennessee-based Merchant Capital, LLC and its two principals, Steven C. Wyer and Kurt V. Beasley, pending since November, 2002, in Securities and Exchange Commission v. Merchant Capital, LLC, et al., U.S. District Court--Northern District of Georgia, File No.: 1:02-cv-02984-MHS. Judge Shoob's opinion and order followed the reversal of his previous rulings on two occasions by the 11th Circuit Court of Appeals after the SEC appealed Judge Shoob's those earlier rulings.

The latest remand back to Judge Shoob by the 11th Circuit Court of Appeals decision in Securities and Exchange Commission v. Merchant Capital, LLC, et al., 11th Circuit Court of Appeals, File No.: 08-14551 (February 9, 2009) occurred following the Court of Appeal's finding that Judge Shoob was required to make certain findings of fact on whether Merchant Capital and its principals had acted in good faith, were negligent or were intentionally reckless in their management of Merchant Capital, LLC between 2000 and 2002, during which time they raised approximately $24 million dollars that was invested in the discounted purchase of credit card receivables debt.

Judge Shoob's lengthy ruling begins by pointing out that "While studiously ignoring Bernard Madoff and the largest Ponzi scheme in American history, plaintiff Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) has relentlessly pursued defendants in this case." The court's ruling goes on to say "Nevertheless, after nearly seven years of litigation and the expenditure of untold resources that could have been better spent pursuing crooks like Mr. Madoff, the SEC is back before this Court demanding a permanent injunction as well as disgorgement, penalties, and interest in excess of $10 million. For the following reasons, the Court rejects the SEC's overreaching demands and concludes that neither injunctive relief nor disgorgement is appropriate."

The ruling is clear that any violations by Merchant Capital and its principals were not intentional, but rather were unintentional violations after they consulted with various securities lawyers and received multiple opinions that affirmed the structure of the Merchant Capital enterprises, which has since been liquidated. In addressing whether or not the SEC had proven that there was a likelihood of future violations of the Federal securities laws by the defendants necessitating a permanent injunction against them, Judge Shoob clearly disagreed by remarking that "Quite frankly, after what has happened in this case, defendants would have to be crazy to risk incurring the wrath of the SEC again." The ruling concludes by dismissing two counts of the SEC's complaint and entering judgment in favor of the SEC on three other counts. Even though the SEC sought millions of dollars in disgorgement, permanent injunctions and maximum civil penalties against the defendants, in light of Judge Shoob's findings, Mr. Beasley was fined $2,000 and Mr. Wyer was fined $6,000--based upon their respective ownership percentages in Merchant Capital. A full copy of the opinion and order can be found at www.secenforcementdefense.com.

The Law Office of Gregory Bartko, LLC has a team of experienced securities lawyers (transactional and litigation) that concentrate a portion of their law practice to the representation of "Middle Market" sized companies and their management, officers or directors--in all phases and aspects of securities regulatory inquiries, investigations or civil enforcement proceedings that may be brought by the SEC Division of Enforcement or other self-regulatory organizations like FINRA (formerly the NASD).

Contact: Law Office of Gregory Bartko, LLC

404-238-0550
E-fax 866-342-4092
www.secenforcementdefense.com
www.securitieslawcounsel.com
gbartko(at)securitieslawcounsel(dot)com

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Denver Family Law Firm Gets Active in the Community

The Harris Law Firm volunteers their time to help at the 11th Annual Colorado Cares Day.

Golden, CO (PRWEB) July 31, 2009 -- To help celebrate the eleventh annual Colorado Cares Day on Saturday, July 26, 2008, the lawyers and staff of The Harris Law Firm spent the day volunteering at The Horse Protection League in Golden, Colorado.

Like his predecessors, Governor Ritter encourages community partners and volunteers to donate their time on Colorado Cares Day for projects such as painting, cleanup, and simple carpentry work in local non-profit community centers serving families, seniors, children, animals, and other community members. Governor Ritter has furthered this volunteer tradition in 2009 by stating that this is the day that people of all ages and abilities give back to their communities and the state by sharing their time and talents to help make Colorado an even better place to live.

On the 26th of July, from 9am to 1pm, the attorneys and at The Harris Law Firm were up their boots in "Horse Fun" by bucking hay, mucking stalls, and building fences for this non-profit organization dedicated to the welfare of horses. Solely supported and run entirely by volunteer members, this organization relies on the community to help care for abused, abandoned, and neglected horses.

About the Harris Law Firm
Established in 1993, The Harris Law Firm is one of Denver's largest family law firms and employs a team of 12 skilled attorneys.

In addition to divorce and child custody and support issues in Colorado, The Harris Law Firm also handles marital agreements, and issues regarding maintenance, paternity, grandparents' rights, and step-parent adoptions.

For more information on The Harris Law Firm, including articles written by our family law attorneys, please visit our Web site: harrisfamilylaw.com

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Cell Phone Use and Texting Increase Driving Risk, Says NY Attorney

Steven J. Schwartzapfel of Schwartzapfel Truhowsky Marcus P.C. says recent texting phenomenon poses a special danger on the highway

New York, NY (PRWEB) July 31, 2009 -- Drivers face enough distractions on the road without the added diversion of talking on a cell phone or sending a text message while behind the wheel, a New York attorney says.

"Texting while driving kills," says NY attorney Steven J. Schwartzapfel of Schwartzapfel Truhowsky Marcus, P.C. "and the recent phenomenon poses a special danger on the highway. The apparent urgency of sending or receiving text messages while driving does not out way the value of lives. Thousands of lives are being irreparably damaged every year as a result of driving distractions and texting is just one more deadly distraction. Put the phone in the trunk, pull into a rest area to text or wait until you arrive at your destination."

A new study of drivers texting inside their vehicles puts texting in a special category of risk surpassing all other driver distractions. The study, by Virginia Tech Transportation Institute, indicated the drivers' risk of a collision was 23 times greater than when the driver was not texting. In the brief interval before a crash or near crash, drivers who were texting typically took their eyes off the road for about five seconds to look at their wireless device--enough time to travel the length of one and a half football fields at typical highway speeds.

In the last three years, the popularity of texting has exploded. There has been a tenfold increase in phone users sending text messages in three years, The New York Times reported, citing data from the cellular phone industry's trade group, CTIA.

To help protect the motoring public from distracted drivers, Schwartzapfel said as a first step, legislatures across the country should ban texting while driving. To date, 14 states ban texting while driving, including New Jersey, California, Louisiana and Alaska. New York lawmakers have sent a bill to Gov. David Patterson. Thirty-six states do not ban the practice.

"The growing popularity of texting poses an increasing risk on our highways," Schwartzapfel said. "In the plainest of language texting while driving is deadly. It is like playing Russian roulette. Lawmakers should prohibit practices that take drivers eyes off the road."

The new Virginia Tech research amplifies a recently released 2003 report by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration that concluded that the use of cell phones while driving has contributed to an increasing number of crashes, injuries and fatalities. The phenomenon is known as driving distracted.

The NHTSA estimates that driver distraction contributes to about 25 percent of all police reported traffic crashes. While all distractions are a concern, there has been a dramatic growth in one distraction: cell phone use. Today, roughly 12 percent of drivers are talking on the phone at any time, the U.S. Department of Transportation estimates.

Schwartzapfel offered safety tips for use of cell phones in a car.

- Reduce your risk of an accident by resisting the temptation to talk on a cell phone while driving. If you can't help yourself, place the phone in your trunk.

- If you're behind the wheel, let a passenger receive or place a call.

- Drivers should stop their vehicle in a safe location off the road, before making or receiving a call on a cell phone.

- If you're expecting an important call, let someone else drive or use the voicemail function to take a message. Return the call when not driving.

- Never use a cell phone to send a text message while driving. Arrive safely at your destination.

About Schwartzapfel Partners

Schwartzapfel Truhowsky Marcus P.C. is one of the most prominent and well-respected plaintiff personal injury and estate litigation firms in New York. With over 150 years of combined experience and highly competent co-counsel throughout the country, Schwartzapfel Partners serves all your legal needs.

The firm concentrates in all types of personal injury litigation, including all kinds of motor vehicle accidents: auto, truck, motorcycle, taxi--medical malpractice, nursing home neglect, wrongful death, defective products and drugs, construction accidents, workplace injuries, workers' compensation and Social Security disability. To contact the law firm, call 1.800.966.4999 or go to www.fightingforyou.com for more information.

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First Midwest Healthcare Business Intelligence (BI) Summit October 27 in Minneapolis; International Panel to Discuss New Regulations, Recession, & BI Best Practices

First Midwest Healthcare Business Intelligence (BI) Summit October 27 announced by Lancet Software.Conference for healthcare professionals will explore using business intelligence to mitigate impact of recession, comply with new regulations and implement best practices; regional and international expert speakers announced.Healthcare today is rife with mountains of actionable data waiting to be analyzed and leveraged to find new revenue and improve operating efficiencies for significant cost savings, using a systemic analytical approach to data called Business Intelligence (BI).According to Health Leaders, a health industry publication, more than 150 Provider Organizations across the United States have gone bankrupt or closed in the past 10 years due to financial instability. With the recession predicted to last into 2010, many healthcare organizations will continue to face critical challenges unless they immediately begin to improve their financial performance and operational efficiencies by utilizing a BI solution as part of their business operations strategy. Presenting regional and international experts, The Midwest Healthcare Business Intelligence Summit October 27, 2009, in Minneapolis might be the most important business strategy conference ever dedicated to delivering return on data for healthcare organizations looking for recession survival skills and enhanced decision-making for the long term.

Minneapolis-St. Paul, MN (PRWEB) July 31, 2009 -- Healthcare professionals from across the Midwest are expected to attend the first Midwest Healthcare Business Intelligence (BI) Summit October 27, 2009, to discuss the core challenges and real-world solutions to better manage their organizations. This timely, all-day event will take place at The Depot in downtown Minneapolis from 7:30 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. The Summit organizers also announced the first slate of speakers participating in the program (See Below).

News Image

Cost of the event, which includes breakfast, lunch and reception, is $195.00. : Register online or call 952-230-9283 before August 15 to receive 25% off.

According to Summit Executive Board members, Tom Niccum, Ph.D., and Laura Madsen, M.S., this event will demonstrate the business value and strategic competitive edge BI provides to the many facets of the healthcare industry -- even in a dismal economy (Scroll down for Summit Backgrounder).

First Speakers Identified; Additional Sponsors Wanted

"The Midwest Healthcare Business Intelligence Summit will help healthcare leaders -- as well as pharmacy benefit management companies, third-party payers, medical device, and other professionals who work in peripheral healthcare industries," Madsen said. "Attendees will learn about the impact Business Intelligence can have to enhance their every day processes, including, but not limited to finance, clinical and process improvement efforts, new regulations, and other issues.

"The sessions are designed for non-technical leaders of health plans, hospital systems and others," Niccum emphasized, "who want to explore high-level topics in a meaningful way with leading healthcare management practitioners from the region and abroad. We expect to announce one or two more speakers and additional sponsors who are interested in tackling the operational challenges that healthcare faces in this unusually difficult economic environment."

Speakers to date include (click on names for more information):

 

Who Should Attend
 
  • Health Plan and Healthcare Technology CEOs
  • Health Plan, Government and Healthcare Technology CIOs
  • Hospital Directors and Administrators
  • Health informatics professionals
  • Group Medical Practice Administrators and IT Directors
  • Relevant regional and national healthcare public authorities and policymakers
  • Healthcare IT software and hardware development companies
  • Group Practice Administrators
  • Medical Records Managers
  • Medical Directors
  • Directors of Nursing & Medical Informatics
  • Consultants

For more information about the Summit, visit:

http://healthcarebisummit.com

For more information - or to interview Laura Madsen and/or Tom Niccum -- please contact Martin Keller at 612-729-8585, or via e-mail.

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TASC's Legislative Director to Speak at American Bar Association Annual Meeting

Wesley Young will serve as panelist on debt settlement

Madison, Wis. (PRWEB) July 31, 2009 -- Wesley Young, legislative director for The Association of Settlement Companies (TASC), will be a speaker at the American Bar Association Annual meeting Saturday in Chicago.

Young will serve on a panel entitled "Debt Settlement - Navigating the Legal and Ethical Minefield." The panelists will discuss the ethical aspects of the debt settlement industry from the prospective of the creditor, the regulator and the industry itself.

"TASC holds its member companies to strict guidelines, and of course those include ethics," Young said. "As such, I'm looking forward to explaining how debt settlement still is a viable option for those struggling with their debt."

The other panel speakers are Alan Kaplinsky (Ballard Spahr Andrews & Ingersoll LLP), Beth Moskow-Schnoll (Ballard Spahr Andrews & Ingersoll LLP), Ricardo Kilpatrick (Kilpatrick & Associates, P.C.), Rebecca Pruitt (Consumer Fraud Bureau of the Office of the Illinois Attorney General), James Wyman (JPMorgan Chase) and Carolyn Lee Hann (Federal Trade Commission).

Young will be speaking on his third panel in two weeks.

About The Association of Settlement Companies
The Association of Settlement Companies (TASC) promotes fair business practices, consumer protection and industry standards for the debt settlement industry. TASC, founded in 2005, serves to protect consumers through an organization seal that represents best practices and standards of reputable companies. The organization also protects its member companies through lobbying efforts at the state and national levels, as well as awareness initiatives to educate consumers on debt settlement as a financial solution. All TASC member companies pledge compliance to strict association bylaws governing business practices and ethics. For more information, visit tascsite.org.   

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Thursday, July 30, 2009

ATA Associates, Inc. Congratulates The Berry Firm on Poole v. Pep Boys Outcome

The Berry Firm, a defense and commercial trial law firm, and ATA Associates, Inc., an accident reconstruction and forensic engineering company, successfully defend Pep Boys in landmark tire case. Through extensive testing, the defense was able to show there was no significant impact on wet weather handling and braking associated with improper mounting of a single directional tire.

Houston, TX (PRWEB) July 30, 2009 -- ATA Associates is pleased to offer its congratulations to The Berry Firm for a zero liability verdict in Poole v. Pep Boys (No. 06-03657-E, District Court of Dallas County, Texas 101st Judicial District). The Berry Firm, lead by firm founder D. Bowen (Bo) Berry, successfully defended client, Pep Boys, against claims that irregular mounting of a directional tire was responsible for an unfortunate motor vehicle accident. The plaintiffs asserted that an incorrectly mounted tire caused the vehicle to lose control on a damp road surface resulting in a devastating crash.

Berry aggressively defended Pep Boys actions, assembling a team of experts knowledgeable about tires, vehicle handling, and road surfaces to name a few. Berry skillfully educated the jury on the nuances of tire design- specifically directional tires; factors affecting vehicle handling and loss of control; and the science behind hydroplaning.

ATA Associates performed tests looking for quantifiable differences in braking and handling performances related to the specific orientation of directional tires. ATA also characterized the topography of the accident site through survey and contracted with a special laboratory to make careful measurement of the pavement coefficient of friction at the site and two testing locations. Using investigational data, as well as, conventional tools of accident reconstruction, such as PC Crash, ATA Associates was able to build a technical case to refute the plaintiff's claim that improper mounting of a single directional tire was responsible for the car accident.

Ultimately, the jury found no negligence on Pep Boys part.

About The Berry Firm
The Berry Firm is a defense and commercial trial firm serving clients throughout Texas and Oklahoma. The firm's innovative approach and culture of team work are the foundations of its success. The firm's aggressive, individualized motion practice produces time and cost efficient results. Its extensive trial record sends the message that The Berry Firm will run, not walk to the courthouse. This reputation coupled with its assertive representation tends for force realistic evaluations by opponents and more favorable resolutions. For additional information visit www.berryfirm.com.

About ATA Associates, Inc.
ATA Associates is a leading provider of accident reconstruction, product failure analysis and technical consulting services. ATA does it all with a level of expertise and integrity unparalleled in our field. In fact, ATA Associates has provided expert witness services to defense and plaintiff attorneys for over 30 years earning a level of credibility unsurpassed in the industry. For additional information visit www.ataassociates.com.

Bob Swint                  
CEO
ATA Associates                   
1301 Gemini                     
Houston, TX 77058                  
Phone: 281-480-9847                  
Email: swintr(at)ataassociates.com            
www.ataassociates.com      

D. Bowen Berry
The Berry Firm
1701 Market Street
Suite 320, LB 41
Dallas, TX 75202
Phone: 214-915-9800
www.berryfirm.com

Oklahoma City Office
6440 Avondale Drive
Suite 200
Oklahoma City, OK 73116
Phone: 405-418-2083

Houston Office
1200 Smith Street
Suite 1600
Houston, TX 77042
Phone: 713-353-4716

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Credit Counseling's Largest Trade Association Releases Industry Business Data

The American Association of Debt Management Organizations (AADMO), the largest trade association for the credit counseling industry, today released its "National Survey of Debt Management Organizations". The national survey was conducted by the Baumann Moreau Consulting Group of Tampa, Florida and analyzes credit counseling industry specific sales trends, client volumes by region, agency size, client volume size, portfolio valuations, client life spans, compliance expense, client acquisition and development costs and fair-share receipts.

Philadelphia (PRWEB) July 30, 2009 -- The American Association of Debt Management Organizations (AADMO), the largest trade association for the credit counseling industry, today released its "National Survey of Debt Management Organizations".

The national survey was conducted by the Baumann Moreau Consulting Group of Tampa, Florida and analyzes credit counseling industry specific sales trends, client volumes by region, agency size, client volume size, portfolio valuations, client life spans, compliance expense, client acquisition and development costs and fair-share receipts.

The purposes of the survey are to help credit counseling agencies differentiate compliance costs based on region, differentiate client acquisition and development costs based on region, differentiate historical prices for client transfers based on region, differentiate fees generated by clients based on region and differentiate "fair-share" reimbursement rates based on region.

Mark Guimond, Executive Director of the AADMO said, "This is the first broad based analysis of the business operations of credit counseling. This information is extremely important to anyone in credit counseling that is concerned about the business realities of their agency and the industry as a whole."

"While credit counseling agencies have their important mission of helping financially distressed consumers they also have to run their agencies. Just like any other business they have to worry about revenue and expenses. Having comparative data to others in the same industry will be enormously helpful to create benchmarks and measure performance", added Guimond.

This National Survey of Debt Management Organizations was compiled by AADMO as a service to the credit counseling industry. AADMO publishes this data for informational purposes only and disclaims any attempt to directly or indirectly suggest appropriate pricing levels or amounts for industry members. AADMO complies strictly in all respects with federal and state antitrust laws in the collection, dissemination and use of this data. To this end, AADMO cautions users of this study that it is illegal under the antitrust laws for two or more industry members to agree directly or indirectly on specific prices to be paid, or other terms and conditions to be offered

ABOUT AADMO
AADMO is the largest trade association for the credit counseling and debt management industry. Nationwide, the majority of licensed and legally operating credit counseling agencies are members of AADMO.

AADMO is an industry education and advocacy organization the mission of which is to promote and ensure the continued operation and viability of credit counseling and debt management organizations.

AADMO members are consumer credit counseling agencies, debt management organizations, credit counselors, personal finance educators, credit and debt information educators, bankruptcy pre-filing counselors, bankruptcy pre-discharge educators, consumer lawyers and many others.

AADMO is the only trade association to have held state law compliance workshops with the New York State Banking Department and the California Department of Corporations upon enactment of their respective laws governing credit counseling. AADMO is also the only trade association for the industry to publish a formal summary of state laws that has been reviewed by state regulators.

ABOUT BAUMANN MOREAU CONSULTING GROUP
Baumann Moreau Consulting Group is an international valuation firm that regularly is engaged in the valuation of businesses and their securities in connection with mergers, acquisitions, corporate restructurings, negotiated underwritings, and private placements.

BMCG provides forensic analysis and expert witness testimony for litigation purposes throughout the United States for matters involving commercial damages, lost profits, fraud, and shareholder disputes. BMCG's reports are used to comply with statements issued by the Financial Accounting Standards Board (for example FAS 123, 141, 142, 157) and for presentation to the Internal Revenue Service.

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Federal Legislation to Require Mandatory Fair-Share Payments to Credit Counseling Agencies

Proposed federal legislation was unveiled today to require mandatory fair-share payments to credit counseling agencies.

Philadelphia, PA (PRWEB) July 30, 2009 -- The American Association of Debt Management Organizations (AADMO) today unveiled its proposed federal legislation to require mandatory fair-share payments to credit counseling agencies.

The purpose of the legislation is to promote and ensure the continued operation and viability of debt management organizations and for other purposes. This federal legislation would require the payment of fair-share in the amount of 15% of funds received by creditors, require the acceptance of debt management plan (DMP) proposals for certified instances of defined serious financial hardship and provide assurances for creditors that credit counseling agencies are lawfully permitted to propose and fulfill DMPs for consumers.

The legislation makes the makes the following findings:

(1) Debt management organizations are an essential part of the consumer credit system offering services necessary to relieve the distress of consumers in financial hardship, provide an orderly repayment of debt and an effective alternative to bankruptcy;

(2) Consumer debt and default levels are now at historically high levels;

(3) Debt management organizations offer proactive loss mitigation and allow creditors to recover a significant amount of consumer debt that would be otherwise uncollectible, charged-off to profit and loss or discharged in bankruptcy;

(4) Debt management organizations are dependent on creditor cooperation and contributions to provide their services; and

(5) Creditors have reduced their financial contributions to, and the support of, debt management organizations to a level that threatens the ability of many of these organizations to provide services to consumers.

ABOUT AADMO:

AADMO is the largest trade association for the credit counseling and debt management industry. Nationwide, the majority of licensed and legally operating credit counseling agencies are members of AADMO.

AADMO is an industry education and advocacy organization the mission of which is to promote and ensure the continued operation and viability of credit counseling and debt management organizations.

AADMO members are consumer credit counseling agencies, debt management organizations, credit counselors, personal finance educators, credit and debt information educators, bankruptcy pre-filing counselors, bankruptcy pre-discharge educators, consumer lawyers and many others.

AADMO is the only trade association to have held state law compliance workshops with the New York State Banking Department and the California Department of Corporations upon enactment of their respective laws governing credit counseling. AADMO is also the only trade association for the industry to publish a formal summary of state laws that has been reviewed by state regulators.

Contact:

Mark Guimond
AADMO
281-361-2325
http://www.AADMO.org

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Bandwidth Music | Technology Conference 2009 Announces Conversation with Charles Caldas, CEO, Merlin

The Bandwidth Conference gathers music, technology, digital music, and media professionals to explore the ever-evolving music experience. Bandwidth 2009 takes place on August 27 and 28 in San Francisco.

San Francisco, CA (Billboard Publicity Wire/PRWEB ) July 30, 2009 -- The Bandwidth Music | Technology Conference, an annual gathering of music, technology, digital music, and media professionals takes place on August 27 and 28, 2009 in San Francisco. Bandwidth explores the evolving musical experience -- how people discover, purchase, interact with, and are exposed to new music -- with a focus on marketing, fan behavior, current trends, and future forecasts.

Featured at this year's conference will be a conversation with Charles Caldas, CEO, Merlin. With 20 years of experience within the independent music industry, Charles Caldas is particularly passionate about using his skills and knowledge to ensuring that the independent sector moves into the new world of emerging technology and distribution in the healthiest, fairest and strongest manner possible.

Charles Caldas joins previously announced keynote speakers Cory Ondrejka, Executive Vice President, Digital Marketing for EMI; Livia Tortella, GM/EVP of Marketing and Creative Media at Atlantic Records; Ian Rogers, Chief Executive Officer of Topspin, and Jeff Price, founder and CEO of TuneCore. Each speaker will provide a unique perspective on the current state of the industry and identify the key opportunities and challenges for today's music, digital music, media, and tech professionals.

More speakers will be announced shortly. The deadline for the early registration rate of $375 is August 10th. Visit the Bandwidth Conference website for registration and further details at http://www.bandwidthconference.com

See the original story at: http://billboard.prweb.com/releases/2009/07/prweb2690994.htm

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Salt Lake City Accident and Injury Attorney Releases the Utah Accident Book

Salt Lake City accident and injury lawyer Ron Kramer has recently published The Utah Accident Book. This book explains the process that an injured victim goes through when dealing with the insurance companies after an auto accident. The book also discusses the thirteen mistakes to after being in an accident. It further includes other information, such as representing yourself with the insurance company and choosing the right attorney. Ron Kramer offers the book, which is normally $15.95, free to those who have been involved in a Utah car accident.To get your own copy of The Utah Accident Book, visit http://www.MyAccidentBook.com or call 1-866-696-2129.

Salt Lake City, UT (PRWEB) July 30, 2009 -- Utah personal injury lawyer Ron Kramer has authored a new book that explains the 13 mistakes that many Utah residents make during their auto accident claim. The book offers valuable information gleaned from years of experience representing the injured. Ron synthesized the information into an easy-to-read, step-by-step book to help injured victims navigate through the sometimes long process of a Utah auto accident claim.

In Ron's book, "The Utah Accident Book" he teaches what to do immediately after the accident, the tricks the insurance company adjusters use and outlines the 13 pitfalls that can ruin a Utah auto accident case. He also devotes a chapter on whether or not a lawyer is needed and a chapter on how to get the most money for a wrecked vehicle claim.

"My goal in writing this book is to educate the public and to reduce the mistakes that are sometimes made in making an accident claim," Kramer said. "I would venture to say that most of these cases - especially when handled by those who don't have an attorney - are resolved for less than what I would consider to be fair value. I wrote this book to combat this trend."

Kramer explains that insurance companies want to keep their money just like anyone else. His book shines a light on the tactics of insurance adjusters, giving victims a better chance to receive fair value for their Utah auto accident claim.

"Even if you never get a lawyer, read my book," Ron said. "I know the information will be useful to you if you have been involved in a car accident. No one wants to be involved in an accident, but this book can help you make the correct decisions to help you resolve your claim as quickly and efficiently as possible or to prepare your case right if it has to go to trial."

This book, regularly priced at $15.95, is offered by Ron Kramer for free as a public service to those injured in a Utah car accident. You can request a copy today at http://www.MyAccidentBook.com or by calling 1-866-696-2129.

Ron Kramer is a Utah personal injury and accident lawyer and serves clients throughout Utah, including Salt Lake City, Ogden, Logan, Layton, Sandy, Provo, Orem, Price, Nephi, St. George, and all areas in between.

Ron Kramer
Kramer Law Group
801-553-8840
http://www.RonKramerLaw.com

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