Attend or sponsor:
"The Chronic Pain Series" July 19th, 2009 Educational Workshop, Berkeley, CA
The event is designed to educate and to benefit "The Chronic Pain Educational
Documentary Series."
For tickets please got to: http://ChronicPainEducation.EventBrite.com
A limited amount of tickets will be available at the door.
Host: The Chronic Pain Educational Documentary Series
Type: Educational
Date: Sunday, July 19, 2009, 2:00P.M - 7:00P.M. followed by a
reception at 8:00P.M.
Location: http://www.fourthstreetstudio.com
1717D 4th Street
Berkeley, CA View Map
Event Phone: 415-738-8784
Email: ChronicPainEducation@...
Description:
Chronic pain is the 21st century's invisible handicap, a humanitarian crisis of
epidemic proportions.
Chronic pain holds back individuals, families often whole communities from their
full potential.
We believe effective chronic pain prevention and treatment is possible; it comes
through education and our goal is just to do that: to raise awareness and
educate on the issues related to chronic pain. That way individuals and their
families can make educated decisions on how to manage their chronic pain,
reclaim their lives and be able to participate and contribute to their families
and communities not longer being devastated by daily burden of chronic pain.
During the event there will be informational booths with educational material
available to attendees, informational sessions and a silent action. Food and
beverages will be available.
Massage therapists will be available during the event for chair massages.
For more information or press releases please inquire via e-mail at:
ChronicPainEducation@... info at: www.head2toe.tv
Companies and individuals are welcome to sponsor and/or attend the event.
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Speakers / Participants
D.O, AQPM, Darien Behravan
Pain Management / Anesthesiologist
Bay Area Pain & Spine Institute
Founder of the Bay Area Pain and Spine Institute in San Francisco, a practicing
anesthesiologist and Stanford University fellowship trained pain management
specialist.
Very early on in my career I came to appreciate the tremendous value that a well
informed patient contributes to their own chronic pain management and recovery.
Education is one of the most important components of good pain management and
unfortunately often absent.
In this informational session I will talk about a well educated individual on
the subject of chronic pain can develop the tools necessary to make the informed
decisions that will achieve results and accelerate recovery. Chronic pain
management understood and managed by both the patient and the health care
professional as a team will achieve better results.
Lecture:
New Approaches in Pain Management
Beyond the definition of chronic pain
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Jerry N Rand, M.D.
Chemical Dependency and Chronic Pain
Bay Recovery Centers
Dr. Rand specializes in the treatment of Chronic Pain and Addictive Disorders.
Dr. Jerry Rand has treated numerous pain conditions to include but not limited
to; fibromyalgia, migraine and other chronic headache conditions, low back
syndrome, RSD, rheumatoid arthritis, traumatic skeletal injuries, ulcerative
colitis.
Dr Rand is the medical director for a treatment center that provides residential
care for chronic pain and addictive disorders. In this capacity he also directs
and over-sees other providers who are working within the multi-disciplinary
team. These providers include PhD, MD, MFT, Acupuncturist, Massage Therapist,
Anesthesiologist and CAADAC counselors. In this setting Dr Rand, in conjunction
with the multidisciplinary team, is able to address pain and addiction treatment
through a variety of treatment modalities to include addressing physical health,
psychological health, family relations, social supports and cultural factors for
the person struggling with Chronic Pain and Addiction.
Dr Rand has been treating patients with Chronic Pain and Addiction for over 15
years. His education includes completion of medical school in 1972. Since that
time he has worked in numerous treatment settings, initially within medical
hospitals and emergency rooms. Since 1994 he has directed and developed many
treatment programs for the patient suffering from pain and addictive disorders.
He founded his own center in 1992, and has successfully treated hundreds of
chronic pain patients through this center and busy medical practice.
Lecture:
Chemical Dependency and Chronic Pain
Defining the Problem
The Challenge of Opioid Addiction
Alterations in physiology and behavior
Allostasis
The Psychiatric and American Pain Society's Definition of Addiction
Acquired Prescription Drug Behaviors
A Rational Approach to Categorizing and Interpreting the Challenge of Opioid
Addiction
The Evolution of Acquired Prescription Drug Behaviors (APDB's)
Chemical Coping
Prescription Drug Seeking Behaviors
Psuedo Addiction
Coping skills
Negative Self Talk
Negative Coping Skills
Addiction Vs. Dependency
Alternatives to drug therapies
Aberrant Drug Behaviors
Discussion and Q&A
Conclusions
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Sung Kim
Chinese Medicine and Chronic Pain
Sequoyah Acupuncture
After completing a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration from USC I
became interested in Chinese Medicine soon after I was diagnosed with severe
bilateral tendonitis and tenosynovitis, by 3 different doctors; a complete
permanent disability in both arms. After several anti-inflammatory and other
medication regiments, wrist splints and debating the much dreaded possibility of
surgical intervention with no warranties attached, I turned to acupuncture and
Chinese herbs. Upon treatment I realized gradual pain relief and overall health
improvement. Free from "permanent disabilities" chronic fatigue, insomnia and
dysthymia my path became clear. I decided to obtain my Master of Science in
Traditional Chinese Medicine from the American College of Traditional Chinese
Medicine in San Francisco, California and help others as a professional.
Currently I am completely pain free and and committed to educate, treat and help
others recover and stop suffering from chronic pain transitioning into a healthy
lifestyle.
Lecture:
Chinese Medicine and Chronic Pain
Eastern Medicine and chronic pain
Herbs
The Symbiotic relationship between Eastern and Western Medicine
Lifestyle
Acupuncture
Demonstration & Q&A Session:
A volunteer from the audience will be asked to participate in an acupuncture
demonstration in front of the audience during a Q&A session
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Jacob Teitelbaum, M.D.,
Author of best selling book "From Fatigued to Fantastic! "
Board certified internist Jacob Teitelbaum, MD is Medical Director of the
national Fibromyalgia and Fatigue Centers, Inc. He is the author of the
best-selling From Fatigued to Fantastic! (3rd edition, Avery/Penguin Group USA);
Pain Free 1-2-3: A Proven Program for Eliminating Chronic Pain Now
(McGraw-Hill); and Three Steps to Happiness! Healing through Joy (Deva Press).
Having suffered with and overcome Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (CFS) and
fibromyalgia in 1975, he spent the next 30 years creating, researching, and
teaching about effective therapies for fatigue and pain, and is a highly
sought-after medical source. He appears regularly in the national media and has
been a guest on CNN, Fox News Channel, and is a frequent guest on Oprah and
Friends with Mehmet Oz, MD.
Dr. Teitelbaum's groundbreaking research on effective treatment for Chronic
Fatigue Syndrome and Fibromyalgia was published in the Journal of Chronic
Fatigue Syndrome (8:2, 2001). His SHINE treatment protocol was found to improve
the quality of life an average of 75 percent at 3 months and 90 percent at 2
years, with 90 percent of the study patients improving. His recent study
published in the Journal of Alternative and Complementary Medicine (12:9, 2006)
showed a 5-carbon sugar, D-ribose, increased energy among Fibromyalgia patients
by an average of 45 percent in two weeks. www.Vitality101.com. His new iPhone
app, "Natural Cures," launched in February and puts a virtual doc in your pocket
24/7.
Lecture:
Reflecting all the latest research and treatments for CFIDS/FMS!
Introduction
Your Body's Energy Crisis
What Are Chronic Fatigue Syndrome and Fibromyalgia?
Create your individual treatment protocol
Restore Energy Production with the SHIN Protocol
Sleep, the Foundation of Getting Well
Hormonal Support, Optimizing Adrenal, Thyroid, and Reproductive Gland Function
Infections, Destroy your Body's Hidden Invaders
Nutritional Support, the Building Blocks of Good Health
Treating Pain Relief and Other Health Issues
Natural and Prescription Pain Relief for Fibromyalgia
More Natural Remedies
Other Areas to Explore
Am I Crazy? The Mind/Body Effect
Losing Weight with CFS and FMS
Finding a Physician
Conclusion
Q&A
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Mardy Ross, OTR
Founder and Executive Director, Lumigrate
Occupational therapy is a discipline within medicine typically teamed with
physical therapists and focusing on functional activities which `occupy' time.

While in OT school in my mid 30s, I developed fatigue and pain issues
which initially baffled medical specialists. Through proactive investigation and
progressive team-building, the issues were diagnosed, treated and managed.

For a long while, I experienced the too-frequent gaps of missed diagnoses
and the cascade of chronic illness, and later saw the rapid growth of people who
were not able to obtain professional services. 
My `webucation' business,
Lumigrate.com, is intended to fill the gaps and suggests that patients select
their health care team members as health partners and allow themselves the
responsibility and tools for the central position of empowerment.

Lumigrate provides complete and progressive medical seminars via internet
video and DVD with related information and services.
Lecture:
Proactivity vs. Passivity in Patients: Occupational Therapy Paradigms
In today's medical world, including the area of chronic pain, patients and
medical providers alike are frequently expressing frustration with the other.
Patients feel the doctors are not providing care as they would like, and
providers feel patients are not taking enough responsibility in their own health
care. Everyone is trying their best, yet a gap exists.
As an occupational therapist, Mardy Ross, OTR, specializes in providing tools to
help people with what `occupies' their time, and medical care is therefore an
`occupation' for medical consumers. For people with chronic pain, the occupation
of health care management can be a daunting task.
Presentation
Review of patients' frustrations
Review of medical providers' frustrations
Tools for medical providers and patients to increase effectiveness of medical
interventions by encouraging patients to feel more capable of educating
themselves and being a proactive partner with their chosen health care
providers.
Examples of cost-effectiveness and patient/provider satisfaction
Questions/feedback in order to illuminate the concept of `provider as student'
and `patient as teacher.'
Q&A Session
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Joseph Carter
Director, The Acupressure Institute
L. Ac. (Licensed Acupuncturist, California & Hawaii)
Joseph began his studies of Asian hands-on healing arts in 1978, and has been a
Licensed Acupuncturist since 1987.
In 1997 he was selected as an expert (one of ten) in the field of Acupuncture
for the San Francisco Bay Area (SF Focus Magazine, 11/97), noted in particular
for his combining Acupressure (hands-on work) with Acupuncture.
Joseph is a gifted teacher and speaker who is able to share Asian medical theory
in entertaining ways that help diverse audiences grasp the power of natural
medicine for their own benefit. Along with leading the Acupressure Institute
(Berkeley), Joseph maintains private practices in Marin County and the East Bay,
specializing in the treatment of chronic pain along with empowering his
patient's self-care.
Demonstration/Discussion/Instruction/Inspiration:
Points for Pain Relief
Brief Overview – Key Theories of Pain in Chinese Medicine
Awakening the Healing in Your Hands"
Empowering Hands-On Health Care
Self Care
Share Care
Professional Care
Key Acupressure Points for Pain Relief: Locate & Use!
Q & A
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Tiffany C. Millerbis, CMT
The Acupressure Institute
Since the age of 6, Tiffany has been delving into the healing arts. In her mid
20's she discovered that her childhood "hobby" was actually a blend of ancient
and modern styles of energy/bodywork. Her studies of the physical, mental,
emotional and spiritual realms have become a life path. Using the tools of
compassion and deep listening, she assists people in exploring the roots of
their "pain" and "dis-ease". Her passion and goal is to remind people of their
own healing capabilities, that allows a fuller more meaningful life.
She is part of the Acupressure Institute's (Berkeley) team and is a strong
advocate of Global Healing.
Relaxation Meditation
It has been noted that when we experience "pain" we draw our breath in and hold
it.
This 15 minute relaxation meditation will show the individual how to use their
breath to relax the body in moments of stress and pain. Learn how to control
your breathing patterns and direct the breath to facilitate deep cellular
healing and relaxation.
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Frank Lucido, M.D
Medical Cannabis and Chronic Pain
Frank H. Lucido MD has been practicing Family and General Medicine in Berkeley,
California since 1979. He graduated from University of Michigan Medical School
in 1974, and completed his Family Practice Residency through University of
California at Davis in 1977.
Since the passage of the California Compassionate Use Act of 1996, he has been
performing Medical Cannabis evaluations, and has written and lectured on the
subject.
In 2004, he co-authored the widely read article "Implementation of the
Compassionate Use Act in a Family Medical Practice, Seven Years' Clinical
Experience" with Mariavittoria Mangini, PhD, FNP, published in O'Shaughnessy's,
the Journal of the Society of Cannabis Clinicians. This article is designed to
be a blueprint for physicians in making safe and appropriate recommendations.
In 2004, he founded MedicalBoardWatch.com to keep watch on Medical Board of
California actions against physicians who make medical cannabis recommendations.
He is also founder of Lucido Medical-Legal Consulting, to give expert medical
testimony for legitimate patients who use cannabis medicinally, and for
responsible physicians who recommend it appropriately, both in California, as
well as in other states.
He lectures on medical cannabis, and practice standards, and is particularly
interested in speaking to physician groups to increase the number of responsible
physicians willing to make appropriate recommendations for this safe and
effective medicine.
Dr. Lucido is a member of Society of Cannabis Clinicians, and Physicians for
Social Responsibility.
Lecture:
Medical Cannabis and Chronic Pain
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Christopher Zdenek III
Ergonomics Specialist -Soma Ergonomics, Inc.
Posture, ergonomics and their role in pain management
Christopher Zdenek has over 20 years of experience in ergonomics and
biomechanics. He began studying Human factors, biomechanics and chair design in
1984 and as a practicing architect designed his first ergonomic chair in 1989.
He is the principal designer for Soma Ergonomics a manufacturer of real
ergonomic products and has worked in conjunction with physical therapists,
neurologists, radiologists and other medical professionals as well on special
projects concerning chronic pain symptom prevention and control with
organizations such as The Repetitive Strain Institute, The California Institute
of Public Health, The UCLA School of Epidemiology, and the UC Berkeley
Ergonomics Department as well as other leading ergonomists and health and safety
professionals.
Lecture:
CORRECT ANATOMICAL POSTURE AND SUPPORT: ERGONOMICS AND ITS ROLE IN CREATION AND
PREVENTION OF CHRONIC PAIN
Sciatica
Repetitive Strain Injuries
Vertebral disc degeneration and nerve impingement
Stress and fatigue
Cardiovascular and respiratory system dysfunction and effects on stress and pain
Defining correct product specifications for specific anatomical and pain needs
Real Ergonomics versus popular "ergonomics"
Q&A
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Event or speaker schedule or appearances might change without prior notice.
Ticket sales are final and no refunds will be issued
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7:00P.M. - 8:00P.M. Wine and hor d'oeuvres Social: Participants can meet the
speakers, sponsors, exhibitors and each other exchange information and network.
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Chronic Pain is Preventable and Manageable
Help raise awareness and educate on chronic pain prevention and management.
Invite your friends, family and co-workers to join the effort through the
emerging
"Chronic Pain Educational Documentary Series" Global Support Network at:
Facebook causes: http://causes.com/NoMorePain
Facebook Pages http://tinyurl.com/cjzyv2
Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/nomorepain/
Soon at MySpace Causes: http://tinyurl.com/coyfc6
Visit our always developing web site at: http://www.head2toe.tv
PARTICIPATE OR SPONSOR OUR JULY 19TH FUNDRAISER IN BERKELEY CA BUY YOUR TICKET
AT:
http://chronicpaineducation.eventbrite.com/
Connect with others in chronic pain through our discussion groups at:
http://tinyurl.com/c69sk8
My name is Kesta and I just joined the group. I am a filmmaker and have been in
chronic
pain for the past 12 years. One of the hardest challenges faced with chronic
pain was having
no available resources to turn to and I am happy to see individuals in chronic
pain found
ways to support each other and not having to re-invent the wheel. To contribute
back
to the community I decided to start filming a series of self contained
documentaries each
covering a different aspect of chronic pain important to the chronic pain
community
including the legal aspects of chronic pain.
I am looking for law professionals to collaborate with ASAP.
The web site is at it's very preliminary stages of development and far from
completion,
however feel free to browse and to get in touch.
http://artvdo.wordpress.com
Best Wishes
C. Kesta
I am looking for a contributing writer, preferably a lawyer that specializes in
disability
preferably with lots of experience in chronic pain, one who can contribute
articles on a
chronic pain educational video documentary series and web site.
The site is in development not ready to go live yet at:
http://artvideo.wordpress.com
Best Wishes
C. Kesta
A potential client just called with the following situation: In 2005, he was diagnosed with a very rare form of cancer of the jaw. The mandible was removed, bone was taken from his hip and grafted into his jaw in order to hold the titanium Mandibular Reconstruction Plate manufactured by KLS Martin. This first surgery failed because the flap was not insufficient and the graft did not take.
A second surgery was performed in November 2006. Again, a titanium Mandibular Reconstruction Plate manufactured by KLS Martin was implanted. In July 2007, the titanium Mandibular Reconstruction Plate literally broke in half. Client will be undergoing a third surgery within the next two weeks.
The question is whether there may be a med mal and/or product liability case here.
Thank you in advance for your input.
Lowell
Lowell Steiger, Attorney at Law 8383 Wilshire Blvd. #830 Beverly Hills, California 90211 (323) 852-1100 (323) 852-1033 fax
WARNING THIS DOCUMENT IS AN ATTORNEY CLIENT COMMUNICATION WHICH CANNOT BE REVEALED TO OR READ BY ANYONE OTHER THAN THE CLIENT AND/OR THE ATTORNEY WITHOUT THE WRITTEN CONSENT OF BOTH THE CLIENT AND ATTORNEY AND/OR COURT ORDER
2. Motorcycle Books, Safety Equipment and More link
3. California Statutes: Link to ALL California Statutes (complete text)
4. Virtual Hip Replacement link where you are interact and become the surgeon
5. Share the Road with Motorcycles Public Service Announcement video: (just click, watch and listen)
6. Bicycle Safety Film from 1963 entitled "One Got Fat": fascinating, vintage (just click, watch and listen)
7. Bicycle Safety Film from 1950s: Like the old elementary school instructional films (just click, watch and listen)
8. PowerPoint Presentation on Road Safety
and much, much more including Pedestrian Safety Videos, Lawyer Jokes, Teen Driving Safety Videos, Child Safety Videos, Motorcycle Safety Videos (from perspective of motorcycle rider and automobile driver), car crash videos.
I've posted some very interesting videos to my blog this week. In particular:
1. When Your Teen Starts to Drive Video (just click, watch and listen)
2. Keeping Kids Healthy: Fire Safety Video (just click, watch and listen)
3. Protecting Drivers From The Dark Video: (just click, watch and listen)
4. Physical Therapist's Assistant: What The Can Do For You Video (just click, watch and listen)
5. Car Crash Video - What Happens When You DON'T Wear Your Seatbelt (just click, watch and listen)
6. Be Vigilant: Watch Out For Motorcycles, Shocking Video (just click, watch and listen)
7. Child Passenger Safety Video, Save A Child's Life (just click, watch
and listen)
8. Child Booster Seat Education Public Service Announcement Video (just click, watch and listen)
9. Bicycle Safety Public Service Announcement: The Deadly Right Turn Video (just click, watch and listen)
10. Bicycle Safety Public Service Announcement: Stop in the Name of Love Video (just click, watch and listen)
Please check out my blog this week (link below).
Also, please note that you can actually subscribe for free to my blog and you will get notified, via e-mail, each time a new posting is entered. Simply type your e-mail address in the Feedblitz box on the right side of the blog.
I’ve posted some very interesting items to my blog this week. In particular:
1. Motorcycle Safety Training Video (just click, watch and listen)
2. Tire Pressure Warnings Video (just click, watch and listen)
3. Lawyer Jokes (and please feel free to add your own under the comments section)
4. Los Angeles Firefighter Served Dog Food, Settles for $2.7 Million
5. Client Comment (unsolicited – and very nice)
6. Scenes from the courtroom drama "12 Angry Men" (just click, watch and listen -- 51 minutes)
Please check out my blog this week (link below).
Also, please note that you can actually subscribe for free to my blog and you will get notified, via e-mail, each time a new posting is entered. Simply type your e-mail address in the Feedblitz box on the right side of the blog.
Lowell Steiger, Attorney at Law 8383 Wilshire Boulevard, Suite 830 Beverly Hills, California 90211 (323) 852-1100 (323) 852-1033 (fax) www.steigerlaw.com
The following articles are included in my Personal Injury Law Blog this week (with more to come daily). Please check them out and, of course, post comments or contact me should you wish to personally discuss any issues raised in the posts.
Just wanted to let you know that I am inviting you to visit my Los Angeles Personal Injury Law Blog (just created). Please feel free to comment on my comments, suggest other areas that may be of interest. The blog will be updated frequently.
Also, if you have a post that you think would be of interest to my readers, feel free to contact me to possibly include it on the blog.
Click here (or cut and paste into your browser address window) to view and, hopefully, participate:
I look forward to your readership and participation.
Lowell
Lowell Steiger, Attorney at Law 8383 Wilshire Boulevard, Suite 830 Beverly Hills, California 90211 (323) 852-1100 (323) 852-1033 (fax) www.steigerlaw.com
Just wanted to let you know that I am inviting you to visit my Los Angeles Personal Injury Law Blog (just created). Please feel free to comment on my comments, suggest other areas that may be of interest. The blog will be updated frequently.
Also, if you have a post that you think would be of interest to my readers, feel free to contact me to possibly include it on the blog.
Click here (or cut and paste into your browser address window) to view and, hopefully, participate:
I look forward to your readership and participation.
Lowell
Lowell Steiger, Attorney at Law 8383 Wilshire Boulevard, Suite 830 Beverly Hills, California 90211 (323) 852-1100 (323) 852-1033 (fax) www.steigerlaw.com
I would like your thoughts on some of the strategy issues in this case.
Thanks,
amy
Plaintiff atty can ask about permanent injury
Plaintiff has soft tissue injuries with radicular pain by his doctors and normal examination, full rom by defendant’s dr – just alleged complaints of occasional pain on excess movements so no impairment which defense dr translates to no permanent injury
Law
Judge gives no definition of permanent injury – it is whatever the jurors want to believe
The instruction is just does the Plaintiff have a permanent injury within with a reasonable degree of medical probability
The reason it is difficult for the plaintiff to win these cases is because without additional instructions most jurors believe that by their own definition of what a permanent injury means – they equate the words with being permanently disabled and certainly expect to see someone with objective findings or visible injuries
The defense contentions are :
Plaintiffis a 30 yr old manager at macy’s involved in a rear end collision with a good impact
Plaintiff said he was ok at the scene but later felt pain – (he was shaken up and started to feel it several hours later)
Plaintiff went to an attorney who gave him some names of doctors in the area – he chose one
He has prior accidents – records are not available because it was a long time ago
Major injury with grafting when he was 6.
-------------------------------------
Plaintiff attorney's strategy:
I would have the treating doctor explain that there is difference between impairment and permanent injury – though he the doctor gives an impairment rating that is more significant and different than just a permanent injury
The doctor would say that permanent injury in his mind is – did the plaintiff sustain an injury in the accident – if yes does he have any residual complaints or problems in which he did not recover 100% even if it is ½% than by definition he would have a permanent injury
Normally on voir dire plaintiff's atty asks jurors what they think about pain and suffering, what their definition of permanent injury is etc
Trying to accomplish two things : one is to actually challenge for cause a juror
who believes that unless someone has objective signs of injury they would lean not to find permanent injury
The problem is that since there is no legal definition of permanent injury – Pl. atty can’t get the juror to say he won’t follow the law because there is no instruction on the definition
Eg:if the law said – apermanent injury can be considered pain or subjective complaints and a juror said I can not follow it – however there is no definition of permanent injury
Second the majority of jurors would probably say they need objective evidence
And the judge is not going to go through several panels of jurors on a soft tissue case
Third the defense attorney would likely say pl. atty was pre trying the case trying to get a favorable response
The fairness question is this-if a juror tells me before hearing any evidence that
If there are no objective signs of injury or a permanent injury means someone is physically disabled- the case is lost with that juror – and it will not make a difference what plaintiff's doctors say because of his belief system
Any thoughts of what I can ask to remove jurors for cause who in voir dire admit they lean to finding no permanency unless the person is physically disabled or there are objective signs of injury?
I posted the question "Lawyers - Why Do You Hate Them?" to several random Google groups. The links are below. Please read the 100s of incredibly fascinating responses -- both pro and con. Further, PLEASE feel free to add to the threads. Many of the responses and arguments give us insight into the thought processes of the general public.
Lowell Steiger, Attorney at Law 8383 Wilshire Boulevard, Suite 830 Beverly Hills, California 90211 (323) 852-1100 (323) 852-1033 (fax)
I posted the question "Lawyers - Why Do You Hate Them?" to several random Google groups. The links are below. Please read the 100s of incredibly fascinating responses -- both pro and con. Further, PLEASE feel free to add to the threads. Many of the responses and arguments give us insight into the thought processes of the general public.
Lowell Steiger, Attorney at Law 8383 Wilshire Boulevard, Suite 830 Beverly Hills, California 90211 (323) 852-1100 (323) 852-1033 (fax)
:Here is another exciting case. Need your input. $5 for each opinion goes to the Schiff Liver Institute (which by the way, thanks to you and a few others, building begins Jan 2006!! in Miami) Thanks, amy
17 year old Jack and 15 year old Jill were driving home from school in their friend's (Humpty) parents vehicle. Humpty claims he gave Jack permission to drive, but there is a dispute as to who was driving prior to the car rolling over. the driver lost control, the car rolled over several times and Jill was found in the driver's side with her legs on the passenger side. Jack held her head up because there was water in the culvert where the car came to rest. Jack's breath smelled of alcohol according to some wiotnesses but no breathanalyzer was taken.
Jill's BAL was .064. she sustained a brain injury, namely a hemorrage in the frontal lobe. (personality and memory center) Her IQ has dropped from 90 (normal) to 70 (borderline retarded).
Jill has managed to make a fairly nice recovery, but does act inappropriately at times (on her depo, she said. "my dad calls me a bad liar cause he wants to get lots of money from this lawsuit"
Her personality tests show that she is exaggerating her symptoms and is a malingerer.
Nevertheless, her school work is not as good as it onece was and she will not be able to go to college. Plaintiff's claim that this will effect her earning capacity in the future to over a million dollars. Obviously, this will effect her ability to find a mate, mother appropriately etc.
Issues: 1.who was driving? 2.Was Jill wearing a seatbelt? (this matters because lawyers are disputing whether the brain injury was due to blunt trauma or hypoxia from her head being submerged for a while. 3. How much would you award Jill? 4. would you award punitive damages against Jack?/ Humpty's parents? 5.What are your overall impressions?
and again warm congratulations on Persons with Pain International (inclusive of all pain-related groups receiving this invitation) now being accredited to these convenings, for which our appreciation is great.
The esteemed Communications Coordination Committee for the United Nations is also accredited to the Convention convenings,
and each of these groups can submit pre-registrations.
Here is some pertinent information on applications to participate in the Seventh Session, upcoming, showing the full working title of this Convention, toward an International, human-rights based Treaty.
Please note: The following Application, which I shall submit for Persons With Pain International (includes the groups which receive this email notice) and as the Secretary / Board Member of the CCC/UN requires specific identification of persons who wish to attend. Please also send your specific affiliation, address, email, phone, and fax - and of course any questions.
I hope to see you there, in full or on a particular day (early days recommended) but the winter weather does preclude many from participating. There is expected to be an August meeting, but more news on that later. In addition to those who have already responded, please respond presently here or to ldmf@... as the Pre-Registration end-date is set for December 23, 2005. And thank you for your continuing contributions and participation.
Linda D. Misek-Falkoff, Ph.D., J.D.. Online communications systems ARPANet (early 1960's) forward.
Individual Email. For Identification here: *Respectful Interfaces* Programme / Communications Coordination Committee for the United Nations. ACM ABA. President, The National Disability Party. Now Forming: INDP. Member and Steering Committee Member, The International Disability Caucus for the Disability Convention (toward U.N. Treaty). CCC/UN Secretary and Member of the Board. Founder: Persons With Pain International (PWPI) accredited to the U.N. Disability Convention. Legal Briefs and Related Authorship/Publishing up to and Including U.S. Supreme Court on Rights Bases. Presenter "the RESPECT Matrix" at the Global Disability Forum-II, Hiroshi Karawura, Convener, WSIS-2-Tunis November 2005.
Member, Fall DPI/NGO Conference at the U.N. Headquarters in New York
FINANCIAL BLESSING PRAYER
This was sent to me, and I just had to send it on, because I and
everyone else needs money.
May you have $0.00 balances on all your bills FINANCIAL SALVATION FOR
2005. We can all use this. Here is your financial salvation! It's a
simple prayer, you got 30 seconds? Don't sleep on this....Someone
recently read this for the first time and received exactly enough for a
$0 balance on all bills. If you need a financial blessing, continue
reading this email.
The Prayer:
Heavenly Father, Most Gracious and Loving God, I ask that You will
abundantly bless my family and me. I know that You recognize that a
family is more than just a mother and father, sister and brother,
husband and wife, but all who believe and trust in You. Father, I send
up a prayer request for financial blessing for not only the person who
sent this to me, but for me and all that I have forwarded this message
to. And that the power of joined prayer by those who believe and trust
in you is more powerful than anything. I thank you in advance for your
blessings. Father GOD, deliver the person reading this right now from
debt and debt burdens. Release your Godly Wisdom that they may be good
stewards over all that YOU have called them to be in their financial
handling. Father, I know how Wonderful and Mighty You are and how if we
just obey You and walk in Your Word and have the faith of a mustard
seed, that you will pour out Your blessings. I thank you now Lord for
all the blessings I have received and for the blessings yet to come
because I know You are not done with me yet.
In Jesus Name, I pray, Amen.
TAKE 60 SECONDS and Send it on quickly and within hours, you will have
caused a multitude of people to pray to God for each other. Then sit
back and watch the power of God work in your life for doing the thing
that you know He loves, which is talking to him and sharing his word.
God bless you all.
I may not be of the christain faith,but I do believe in alot of same
things. And I do practice alot of same beliefs.
Have a Safe and Happy Holidays.
Dan in Cal
I have a case wherein my client, an 84 year old functional Alzheimer's patient, was taking the trash out. Plumbers were working in his yard the day beforehand. They dug a large hole and covered it with a very flimsy piece of wood. Client, on his way to the trash can, walked across the wood and fell into the grave-sized hole. His 82 year old wife was walking behind him and saw the entire incident. She actually had to pull him out of the trench.
Client was taken to the hospital. Up to that day, he was able to ambulate on his own. He never returned from the hospital because he could no longer walk or care for himself in any of the ways that he could prior to this incident.
He died about 6 months later while in the convalescent home. A colleague of mine spoke to a geriatric doctor who opined that physical trauma can exacerbate Alzheimer's and actually hasten death in such a patient.
Opinions? Literature?
Thanks in advance!
Lowell Steiger, Attorney at Law 8383 Wilshire Boulevard, Suite 830 Beverly Hills, California 90211 (323) 852-1100 (323) 852-1033 fax
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As always we fature the action links first
http://www.nocrony.com/no_conservative.htm (Supreme Court)
http://www.nocrony.com/no_torture.htm (McCain Amendment)
ATROCITY THREATENS TO BECOME OFFICIAL U.S. FOREIGN POLICY
The Senate amendment to the new Defense Appropriations Act would
explicitly prohibit the U.S. government from subjecting those in
its custody to cruel, inhumane, or degrading treatment or
punishment. It's pretty straightforward stuff. Yet despite a
rousing 90-9 vote for its passage, there are still dark forces at
work trying to subvert the intent of this measure, the language of
which must survive the conference committee in the House of
Representatives.
If the morality perverters have their way, there will be a
carve-out to exempt the CIA from this prohibition. They are
seeking this with the express knowledge that sadists (acting under
the color of CIA authority) have been responsible for the horrific
abuses which made necessary further action and clarification of
existing law. This exemption would in fact turn the measure on
its head to AUTHORIZE torture by a particular agency,
diametrically contrary to the amendment's intent. They might as
well appoint a "Torture Czar" and make it a cabinet level
position.
Actually, for all practical purposes we already have a torture
czar . . . it's the Vice President of the United States, Dick
Cheney. Yes, it is Cheney himself who is PERSONALLY pressuring
the conference committee to rescind the McCain amendment in this
way (just as he was pressuring CIA analysts in the cooking of the
justification for war with Iraq). It has been Cheney himself who
has taken a lead role from the beginning, talking in 2002 about
the need to revive the "dark arts." Since they could no longer
keep the abuses at Guantanamo and Abu Ghraib and elsewhere
classified, they have prosecuted a couple of selected patsies for
these crimes, while their agency handlers right up through the
chain of command have continued in their unconscionable ways.
This is not to let the president himself off the hook. In the
first place there is Bush's own overreaching lust for absolute
dictatorial power. Indeed, his longtime attorney and ally,
Alberto Gonzales, put his name on the infamous Jan 25, 2002 memo,
referring to the Geneva convention as "quaint." But what many
people do not realize is that the heart of that reprehensible
legal pretzel job was drafted by David Addington, the staff
attorney closely associated with Dick Cheney. And would anybody
like to guess Mr. Addington's current title in the White House?
That's right. He just replaced the indicted "Scooter" Libby as
Cheney's Chief of Staff.
There isn't a "talking head" out there not drinking their own
"talking points Kool-Aid" who believes the Fitzgerald
investigation is remotely close to being finished. If anything,
the allegations in the Libby indictment, which identify Cheney as
the one who specifically advised Libby that Valerie (Plame) Wilson
worked under the covert wing of the CIA, suggest that the Vice
President is at least one of the big game that the Special Counsel
is still pursuing. The tight-lipped Fifth Amendment-type
reactions given by Cheney in the aftermath of the indictment to
explain his own role in the leak scandal do nothing to dispel the
intrigue. Instead the administration is circling the torture-
advocate wagons even tighter with the promotion of Addington,
while the shadow of Traitorgate continues to darken over their
heads.
Especially now, with the chickens of treason coming home to roost
in the nest of the chicken hawks themselves, this is the last time
in history for the authors of torture as official American policy
to be allowed to push for largesse for even wider atrocities. We
must all immediately contact our senators and members of the House
of Representatives who might have influence on the conference
committee to demand that the overwhelmingly approved language of
the McCain amendment remain intact in the final Defense
Appropriations Bill.
ACTION FORM: http://www.nocrony.com/no_torture.htm (McCain
Amendment)
We must also recognize that this is profoundly related to the
selection of a replacement for Harriet Miers as Supreme Court
nominee. Remember -- one of the talking points of the neocons
(before they turned on her for not being sufficiently and
demonstrably loyal to their causes) was that she would support the
president's policies in the deceptively dubbed "war on terror."
But the universal common denominator of all Bush appointees is
their submissive endorsement of the unlimited expansion of the
president's power to do whatever he likes in defiance of Congress
and even the people themselves.
In his own confirmation hearing Roberts refused to say (among
other things) whether the Congress would have the power to stop a
war if the president ignored their authority. That case might
come before him, he argued, as if he knew something we didn't.
And it most certainly will if Bush is not stopped from making any
more such appointments. Roberts and his ilk will not legislate
from the bench (as if that were the boogie man to be feared). No,
instead they will UN-legislate from the bench, perhaps even to
remove the McCain language from American law by court order on the
grounds that it would interfere with the power of the president to
play God. Remember also that in his first day on the bench of the
high court Roberts left the sheep's clothing in his chambers to
ask aggressively why they should not overturn the TWICE-expressed
will of the people in the Oregon "Right to Die" case.
For all of these reasons we must demand that the next nominee to
the Supreme Court be a true moderate and a true nonpartisan. One
of the truly beautiful things about Special Counsel Patrick
Fitzgerald is that the American people can look at his work and
agree that it will be based entirely on the facts and the law.
Even opposing attorneys of those he has indicted must concede that
he is unwavering in his fairness and his integrity, favoring
neither side by any inherent bias. We can demand no less from the
next justice to be appointed to the Supreme Court.
ACTION FORM: http://www.nocrony.com/no_conservative.htm (Supreme
Court)
If we all speak out, we can remove the Vice President from his
position as the torture czar. It's not as if he doesn't have
enough other black hats to wear; he's already serving in the
capacity of treason czar as it is. Sheriff Fitzgerald is working
on that last one. The rest is up to we the people.
Forward this email to everyone you know, and encourage its
posting on blogs and websites.
originally posted by The Pen to pain-in-the-law
IMPEACH BUSH AND ENTER THE "GUESS HOW MANY INDICTMENTS" POOL
As always we feature the action link first, this one to call for
impeachment of George Bush
http://www.millionphonemarch.com/impeach.htm
There is a storm of historic proportions headed for the United
States, one that will make Hurricane Wilma (also en route) look
like a small splash in the pond by comparison. It's been building
and gathering strength in the increasingly hot waters of the
Special Counsel's office for almost two years, and in a matter of
days it may lay waste to the entire political infrastructure of
Washington, D.C., from one end to the other.
We start with the understanding that the crime of the century (so
far) has taken place in Iraq. Lies and forged evidence duped the
American people into waging preemptive war against a country that
posed no threat to us -- all for the cynical and greedy purpose of
enriching a handful of the Bush administration's closest cronies.
In the process, over 100,000 people have been senselessly murdered
and maimed, including many thousands of our own service people.
Hundreds of billions of dollars have been looted from the
treasuries of two countries, mostly our own. Even worse, many
believe that the attack of 9/11 was not only foreseen by the inner
circle of our government, but that orders for a deliberate "stand-
down" allowed it to occur. Why? So that the horrific resulting
tragedy would justify all that followed.
The magnitude of these crimes is so monumental that their
perpetrators were obsessed with suppressing any evidence of it.
They ruthlessly smeared all critics, purging and intimidating any
dissenting voices. For them the treasonous acts of exposing (and
thereby destroying) one of our most critical intelligence assets
(a front company secretly working to prevent the spread of WMDs),
were just another day's collateral damage. Having lied
successfully for so long, having corrupted their mainstream
corporate media lap dogs, and having made eunuchs of many in the
"opposition" party, they considered themselves unassailable.
Such arrogance has seldom been equaled.
What they did not count on was Patrick Fitzgerald. The letter
which appointed him as Special Counsel granted to him the
"authority of the Attorney General . . . independent of the
supervision or control of any officer of the Department."
Careful to confirm the extent of his mandate, he further inquired
and was advised that
"[It] is plenary and includes the authority to investigate and
prosecute violations of any federal criminal laws related to the
underlying alleged unauthorized disclosure, as well as federal
crimes committed in the course of, and with intent to interfere
with, your investigation, such as perjury, obstruction of justice,
destruction of evidence, and intimidation of witnesses; to conduct
appeals arising out of the matter being investigated and/or
prosecuted . . ."
"Plenary" means "absolute and unqualified." In a word,
Fitzgerald has all the power of the attorney general, the top law
enforcement officer of the federal government himself, to pursue
the facts wherever they may lead. It therefore appears he now
possesses his own authority, and cannot be legally removed from
his position, even by Bush. He has his own operating budget too,
direct from the GAO.
For the criminal purposes of the Bush administration, Patrick
Fitzgerald is their worst nightmare come true. He is a career
prosecutor with a reputation for being not only "frighteningly"
brilliant but fearless, and with a driving passion for determining
the truth, their most mortal enemy. Indeed, the fastest way to
get Fitzgerald's fur up is to try to lie to him as a witness.
See, he's a workaholic already, and liars just make him work
harder. And if you've committed a federal crime like maybe . . .
oh gee, maybe like perjury . . . says an old attorney friend,
"Pat Fitzgerald's gonna get ya." Oh, and did we mention that
he always goes for the person at the top of the conspiracy?
For those who are still trying to get their minds around the
possible indictment of Rove and Libby, now a near certainty,
consider that no one in the Bush camp is capable of telling the
truth under any circumstances. As for Bush himself, one of his
Harvard Business School professors said that Dubya was "famous"
in his class for being a "pathological" liar. Bush has known
all along who the leakers were, and he's been lying all along.
Fitzgerald interviewed Bush for over an hour, and it's unlikely
that he told the truth in any respect. Bad move, George. Fitzie
don't play that.
But wait, you say; that interview wasn't under oath. Try telling
that to Martha Stewart who just got out of prison from her
conviction for deceiving an investigator. Likewise with Dick
Cheney. Even if two of his bag men had not cut deals with
Fitzgerald already. And as for those who did testify untruthfully
to the grand jury under oath, ask Li'l Kim what heinous lie she
told to keep her in federal prison for a year. All she did was
deny that she knew somebody that she did, in fact, know.
So let's put it together. We have a president who seems unable to
tell the truth. We have an independent prosecutor of immaculate
integrity who will not tolerate a lie. The INESCAPABLE conclusion
is that Bush will be indicted, along with each and every member of
his administration who participated in this. There has been talk
on the web of 22 indictments. Rove and Libby -- (that's two), add
two for Hannah and Wurmser (already cooperating but not given
immunity), plus Bush and Cheney -- that gets us up to six . . .
why don't we just say conservatively for the purposes of the pool
that 12 people will be indicted.
Besides perjury (and false statements), Fitzgerald has conspiracy
and obstruction of justice to pick from as well, and those are
just a couple of the technical crimes. Remember that he has the
authority to pursue this investigation wherever it leads, and he
is driven to do just that. He was born for this. Among other
things, he requested from the Italian authorities the files on the
forging of the Niger documents themselves. That was what Joe
Wilson's trip was all about. And why they were so compelled to
"out" his wife in the first place in their clumsy attempt to
discredit him. What do you think the chances are that the most
zealous prosecutor they could have appointed won't get to the
bottom of that one, too? He may even expose what really happened
on 9/11. Wouldn't that be the "coup de grace"?
So what happens next? What happens if Bush tries to preemptively
pardon everyone, INCLUDING himself? Even Nixon wasn't that
shameless. But don't put it past Bush to trigger the greatest
constitutional crisis of all time. There are a couple of wrinkles
involved here, beyond even the public outroar that would result.
The constitution states that the president has the power to pardon
"except in Cases of Impeachment." That's why it is important
that you act now to demand the impeachment of Bush for all the
high crimes and misdemeanors that he has committed already. In
the end it may be the only way to restrain him.
TAKE ACTION NOW AT http://www.millionphonemarch.com/impeach.htm
If Bush tries to pardon himself AND cling to power, expect winds
of historic intensity for change. And in the center of it all
there will be a vacuum of power. For those politicians who have
shown no courage so far, this will be their last chance! Don't be
surprised to see the conspirators running to Roberts, their latest
crony appointment, to try to find a way out. And eternal shame on
any member of the senate who lets that one slide without demanding
each and every document that could help reveal the truth.
Forward this email to everyone you know, and encourage its
posting on blogs and websites.
originally posted by The Pen to pain-in-the-law
Official complaint to Yahoo,Inc.
To Yahoo,Incorporated,
The knowingly unauthorized entrance into both the accounts of Mr. Daniel
Harraden and theft of the entire contains of both.
This is completely and totally uncalled for!!!!! I am in FULL COMPLIENCE of
the aggreement I signed. I want everything that was in my accounts returned!!!!
There is absolutely NO REASON for the acts and actions commited against my
accounts.
What type/kind of explanation can Yahoo possibly have to invade the privacy
of any of your account holders account and steal private property????
Yahoo had absolutely "NO JUSTIFICATION" for what YAHOO
has commited against both of my accounts. The information and data that was
stoling can not be replaced.
Mr. Daniel Harraden
You are part of CSOD (Coordination of Singular Organizations) in the International Disability Caucus, and Persons with Pain International is now (we state with deep appreciation), accredited to the United Nations meetings toward a Treaty. This present discussion invites your input, as well as your being invited to the convenings at the U.N.. All input so very valuable,
We send our warm regards and hopes that these are good days for you and the networking lifting the burden of suffering to all extents possible, and wanting to hear from you. Knowing how you are doing, and what you are doing. "All ears,"
Subject: [AdHoc_IDC] Chair's Article 25 on Health: Requesting your Views, and providing key texts. Long, with Texts In-Line.
Dear AdHoc Discussion List:
We enthusiastically invite your input into discussing the Article on Health.After this short message, you will find three texts in case you wish to refer to them here:the Chair’s present Health Article (Number 25) Draft, The Original Working Group (Article 21) Draft, and the IDC Draft.
I especially invite your preliminary attention to Chair’s Draft section (d) – see below.As you may recall, in our International Disability Caucus discussions we have often noted at least three main topics respective to enjoyment of Rights by Persons with Disabilities equally with others. These are, briefly:
- services,
- information access (both to receive and create, in networks with others),
- and education (emphasizing that ’providers’ have appropriate training, including by pwd).
I am wondering if colleagues here feel that services, the first of the above topics, have pre-dominance here, overall, and there is a bit of bunching up attempted in (d) as an omnibus clause to cover other (vital) bases. And whether here pwd are somewhat cast into recipient and not planning mode? Perhaps yes, perhaps not...
Acknowledging all good intentions to draft a Chair's Text inclusive of participation by pwd (us) in all aspects and phases involved with Health and Healthcare RIghts, what do we feel we should make as a proposal? For instance, would you like to see Section (d) broken up into separate sections, and each more elaborated, for instance? And what are some ideas for proposing the least number and types of changes, if changes there should be, in the spirit of 'the light touch' we have agreed to?
I will hold my particularized notes and comments for a bit, looking forward to discussion with the group.
P.S. If you would like to discuss this in a separate sub-group, just wave.
And sending very best wishes, LDMF.
Dr. Linda D. Misek-Falkoff
IDC CSOD PWD PWP NDP CCCUN
TEXTS follow.
- - - - - - Heading Number One:The Chair’s October, 2005 Draft – Text for Discussion. (Please share if you should notice any data errors inadvertently copied into the following texts).
Article 25
HEALTH
States Parties recognise that persons with disabilities have the right to the enjoyment of the highest attainable standard of physical and mental health without discrimination on the basis of disability. States Parties shall take all appropriate measures to ensure access for persons with disabilities to health services, including health-related rehabilitation.In particular, States Parties shall:
(a)provide persons with disabilities with the same range and standard of affordable health services as provided other persons, [including sexual and reproductive health services] and population-based public health programmes;
(b)provide those health services needed by persons with disabilities specifically because of their disabilities including early identification and intervention as appropriate, and services designed to minimise and prevent further disabilities including amongst children and the elderly;
(c)provide these health services as close as possible to people's own communities, including in rural areas;
(d)require health professionals to provide care of the same quality to persons with disabilities as to others and on the basis of free and informed consent by, where necessary, raising awareness of the human rights, dignity, autonomy and needs of persons with disabilities through training and the promulgation of ethical standards for public and private healthcare;
(e)prohibit discrimination against persons with disabilities in the provision of health insurance, and life insurance where permitted by national law, which shall be provided in a fair and reasonable manner.
- - - - - Heading Number Two:The Original Working Group Draft as discussed at the U.N. AdHoc Meetings – Text for IDC Discussion.
Draft Article 21 RIGHT TO HEALTH AND REHABILITATION74
States Parties recognise that all persons with disabilities have the right to the enjoyment of the highest attainable standard of health without discrimination on the basis of disability. States Parties shall strive to ensure no person with a disability is deprived of that right, and shall take all appropriate measures to ensure access75 for persons with disabilities to health and rehabilitation services. In particular, States Parties shall:
a.provide persons with disabilities with the same range and standard of health and rehabilitation services as provided other citizens, including sexual and reproductive health services;
b.strive to provide those health and rehabilitation services needed by persons with disabilities specifically because of their disabilities;
c.endeavour to provide these health and rehabilitation services as close as possible to people's own communities;76
d.ensure that health and rehabilitation services include the provision of safe respite places, to use on a voluntary basis, and counselling and support groups, including those provided by persons with disabilities;
e.provide programs and services to prevent and protect against secondary disabilities, including amongst children and the elderly;77
f.encourage research and the development, dissemination and application of new knowledge and technologies that benefit persons with disabilities;78
g.encourage the development of sufficient numbers of health and rehabilitation professionals, including persons who have disabilities, covering all disciplines needed to meet the health and rehabilitation needs of persons with disabilities, and ensure they have adequate specialised training;
h.provide all health and rehabilitation professionals an appropriate education and training to increase their disability-sensitive awareness and respect for the rights, dignity and needs of persons with disabilities, in line with the principles of this Convention;79
i.ensure that a code of ethics for public and private healthcare, which promotes quality care, openness and respect for the human rights, dignity and autonomy of persons with disabilities, is put in place nationally, and ensure that the services and conditions of public and private health care and rehabilitation facilities and institutions are well monitored;
j.ensure that health and rehabilitation services provided to persons with disabilities, and the sharing of their personal health or rehabilitation information,80 occur only after the person concerned has given their free and informed consent,81 and that health and rehabilitation professionals inform persons with disabilities of their relevant rights;82
k.prevent unwanted medical and related interventions and corrective surgeries from being imposed on persons with disabilities;83
l.protect the privacy of health and rehabilitation information of persons with disabilities on an equal basis;84
promote the involvement of persons with disabilities and their organizations in the formulating of health and rehabilitation legislation and policy as well as in the planning, delivery and evaluation of health and rehabilitation services
- - - - - - Heading Number Three:The International Disability Caucus Draft, August 2005 Sixth Session at the U.N. -Text for Discussion.
States Parties shall take effective legislative and other measures to ensure that persons with disabilities enjoy the right to the highest attainable standard of health and health care services without discrimination and can obtain physical, mental, and social well being.
1.To that end State Parties shall ensure that:
a.accessible and affordable health care is provided without discrimination;
b.persons with disabilities have access to the same range and standards of health services, including sexual and reproductive health service, as are provided to other citizens;
c.health services are not rationed, limited, curtailed or withheld on the basis of disability;
d.unwanted medical and related interventions and corrective surgeries are not imposed on persons with disabilities;
e.informed consent of persons with disabilities, is required prior to and during course of medicinal, surgical, therapeutic, or other interventions and modalities; informed consent requires disclosure of the experimental nature of any intervention and all other available information about the nature, adverse effects and benefits of the intervention;
f.persons with disabilities have access to their unedited health and medical records, and are entitled to give or withhold consent to disclosure of this information to third parties;
g.choices among different treatment options, are available for persons with disabilities, such as paramedic, alternative health services, second opinions, counselling, therapies, peer support, including health service provided by organizations of persons with disabilities;
h.all health facilities, goods and services provided to persons with disabilities respect medical ethics and confidentiality and each individual’s needs, and are appropriate, respectful of and sensitive to:
i)the culture of individuals, minorities, peoples and communities,
ii)gender, ageand life-cycle requirements,
iii)improve the health status of those concerned;
i.all medical equipment used for screening or other purposes is accessible and appropriate for the needs of persons with disabilities;
j.ensure that the provisions of special female health services include women with disabilities, i.e. during pregnancy, childbirth, postpartum health care, child-care and that all health service provided to other women, also is accessible for women with disabilities across the entire life span;
k.health services are provided for persons with disabilities as close as possible to local communities if so desired;
l.public and private health insurance are available for persons with disabilities on an equal basis with others;
m.all persons with disabilities can access the information and services as desired, to maximize their level of health;
n.information of all health related provisions, is provided in a timely, meaningful and accessible formats, modes, means and language, including sign language;
c)education, training and continuing development of health professionals, including staff with disabilities, incorporates instruction on the needs of persons with disabilities, including gender specific needs;
TAKE ACTION NOW TO STOP MIERS AT http://www.nocrony.com
Faced with growing opposition even from their own, the Republican
National Committee and the White House held a joint mobilizing
conference call to rally their most reactionary supporters behind
Harriet Miers, their "get out of conviction on appeal" free card.
The point was to assure them that her votes on the Supreme Court
were already predetermined. Here is a typically chilling quote
from the transcript of that sesssion:
"He and she [the president and Miers] both understand that if she
were to get on the court, and she were to rule in ways that are
contrary to the way the president would want her to approach her
role as a justice, it would be a deep personal betrayal, and would \r
be perceived as such both by him and by her."
This is absolutely nothing more than a patently crony nomination,
and is perceived by even its proponents as exactly that and being
sold as such. It is a matter of the utmost urgency that you
communicate to your senators that this nomination is not worthy of
any consideration at all on that basis alone. As if our members
of Congress had not sold the people so far down the river already,
do we really need ANOTHER hardcore administration loyalist on our
Supreme Court?
TAKE ACTION NOW TO STOP MIERS AT http://www.nocrony.com
We all know how much the reactionaries love their talking points.
Here are ours:
1) NO BUSH CRONY EVEN DESERVES A HEARING
Have we not seen the disaster wrought by installation of hardcore
administration cronies in positions of the highest responsibility?
Must our Supreme Court go the way of New Orleans? There are many
jobs in this world where you have to qualify to even GET a job
interview. Surely a seat on our Supreme Court is one of them.
Some say they need to hear what she has to say. That is just more
of the same surrender babble, and is based on two false premises,
that we don't ALREADY know where Miers stands, and that she will
disclose anything meaningful under examination. There is nothing
coming but another Roberts' style stonewall, and for all those
reasons we say NO HEARING.
2) THE MAJORITY OF THE AMERICAN PUBLIC DEMAND A MODERATE
It's time to fight for what we really want on principle. It's
time for those who would presume to represent us to take up that
fight. And the American people will tolerate NO MORE extremist
far right appointees to our Supreme Court. Every day Bush's
popularity rating sinks to a new record low. It is only his
totally corrupt party caucus, now with a temporary majority in
the House of Representatives, that has prevented the initiation of
impeachment proceedings already for his incompetence and
malfeasance. We the people demand that any further nominees be
no worse than true MODERATES. That's our position and we're
sticking to it.
AND SPEAK OUT FOR REAL ELECTION REFORM
Is there anybody who would want to be elected by cheating? Then
why should not everybody want to support real voting reform, so
we can make sure all votes are always counted accurately and
reliably. Rush Holt has introduced a bill (HR 550) which would
make sure that's what happens from now on.
TAKE ACTION NOW AT http://www.trotn.com/hr550.htm
The Voter Confidence and Increased Accessibility Act (HR 550)
(1) establishes a requirement for a voter verified paper ballot
created for every vote cast;
(2) establishes a mandatory uniform national standard that states
that the voter verified paper ballot -- the only record verified
by the voter rather than the voting machine -- is the vote of
record in the case of any inconsistency with electronic records;
(3) provides Federal funding to pay for implementation of voter
verified paper balloting;
(4) requires a percentage of mandatory random audits in every
state, and in each county, for every Federal election;
(5) prohibits use of undisclosed software, wireless communication
devices, and internet connections in voting machines;
(6) is required to be fully implemented by 2006; and
(7) protects the accessibility mandates of the Help America Vote
Act.
The one click action page above has now been fully dedicated to
the message that we will not tolerate any more funny business in
our elections. Vote now by sending a message to our members of
Congress that we need these long overdue reforms, so that we will
actually have a chance to really vote in the future.
TAKE ACTION NOW AT http://www.trotn.com/hr550.htm
Forward this email to everyone you know, and encourage its
posting on blogs and websites.
originally posted by The Pen to pain-in-the-law
(from L. D. Misek-Falkoff, Ph.D., J.D..), National Disability Party; Respectful Interfaces; recipient groups addressed).
Here for your consideration - as communication of policy and practical plans -is partial text of a United States House of Representatives Bill recently passed and now going to the Senate. Among groups said to be covered under these definitions and descriptions are persons with disabilities, but other prominant ''labeled' classes as well.
It is being discussed on the Internet and elsewhere. Some feel it is a very good step against discrimination in a very vile form; some feel it hampers free expression and brings in law enforcement agencies with daunting over-reach.
It is forwarded to you for your possible input on policy concerning communications which might be characterized as hate crimes, and how you feel about the law developing.
The entire Bill Text for this section can be found at this link:
And here is an excerpt, with description of classes said to be covered - here shown in red and italics (both added):
H.R.3132
Children's Safety Act of 2005 (Referred to Senate Committee after being Received from House)
SEC. 1001. SHORT TITLE.
This title may be cited as the `Local LawEnforcement Hate Crimes Prevention Act of 2005'.
SEC. 1002. FINDINGS.
Congress makes the following findings:
(1) The incidence of violence motivated by the actual or perceived race, color, religion, national origin, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity, or disability of the victim poses a serious national problem.
(2) Such violence disrupts the tranquility and safety of communities and is deeply divisive.
(3) State and local authorities are now and will continue to be responsible for prosecuting the overwhelming majority of violent crimes in the United States, including violent crimes motivated by bias. These authorities can carry out their responsibilities more effectively with greater Federal assistance.
(4) Existing Federal law is inadequate to address this problem.
(5) The prominent characteristic of a violent crime motivated by bias is that it devastates not just the actual victim and the family and friends of the victim, but frequently savages the community sharing the traits that caused the victim to be selected.
(6) Such violence substantially affects interstate commerce in many ways, including--
(A) by impeding the movement of members of targeted groups and forcing such members to move across State lines to escape the incidence or risk of such violence; and
(B) by preventing members of targeted groups from purchasing goods and services, obtaining or sustaining employment, or participating in other commercial activity.
(7) Perpetrators cross State lines to commit such violence.
(8) Channels, facilities, and instrumentalities of interstate commerce are used to facilitate the commission of such violence.
(9) Such violence is committed using articles that have traveled in interstate commerce.
(10) For generations, the institutions of slavery and involuntary servitude were defined by the race, color, and ancestry of those held in bondage. Slavery and involuntary servitude were enforced, both prior to and after the adoption of the 13th amendment to the Constitution of the United States, through widespread public and private violence directed at persons because of their race, color, or ancestry, or perceived race, color, or ancestry. Accordingly, eliminating racially motivated violence is an important means of eliminating, to the extent possible, the badges, incidents, and relics of slavery and involuntary servitude.
WE CAN STOP ROBERTS AND THIS IS HOW WE'RE GOING TO DO IT
The Bolton Precedent
TAKE ACTION NOW at http://www.nocrony.com
The first thing we need to understand is that we the people have
the unilateral POWER, right now by ourselves, to stop John
Roberts. All that is required is the WILL for us to do it. He CAN
be stopped.
The second thing we need to understand is that Roberts represents
game, set and match for the dismantling of EVERY progressive court
we hold so dear. He MUST be stopped.
Roberts' proponents say that the president warned us he would put
forward a judge in the mold of Scalia and Thomas. We all know
their extreme biases. And yet in his hearing Roberts has
repeatedly denied that he has any policy values of his own, just
he has denied that he was a member of the Federalist society
(where he had a leadership role). Therefore, he is not only a
reactionary ideologue, he is a LYING reactionary ideologue, a
walking Trojan Horse of right wing policy initiatives. And that
makes him all the worse.
HOW WE'RE GOING TO DO IT (a practical plan)
Let's get right to the HOW. There are 44 Democratic senators and
one independent. Let us assume we will get no Republican votes
against. It is pointless to appeal to their constituency, who are
in fact in the minority if the truth be known. All we have to do
mobilize our OWN constituency. If we just do that we can have a
filibuster and we WIN.
Mobilize means for us, ALL of us, to get serious about getting
people to talk to their members of Congress. That is how the other
side has always done it. This is what we must do:
1. WEB SITE ACTIONS
All progressive blogs must FEATURE a prominent Stop Roberts action
center. If you have a web page of any kind, the absolute bare
minimum is to have in the top fold of your main index page (if not
on every page of your site) the toll-free Capitol telephone number
(877-762-8762), plus an exhortation to call your senators
specifically to oppose Roberts, and not in teeny-tiny type, but in
large bold type that nobody could miss.
If you want to do more, we have a dedicated action page at
http://www.nocrony.com that you can link to. It will send a
personal message directly to both of your senators, and at the
same time you can automatically send a Letter to the Editor of
your nearest daily newspaper all with just one click. You can copy
the "Tell our senators NO" button at the top of this page to put
on your site and you'll have the toll-free phone number right here
too. If you have another action page somewhere you like post a
PROMINENT featured link to that instead, but for heaven's sake DO
something.
If you have a mailing list of any kind of your own opt-ins, do a
mailing emphasizing the importance of this action and provide the
toll-free number AND link to http://www.nocrony.com. Direct email
is one of the most effective tools for generating messages to
Congress.
2. RADIO ACTIONS
All progressive radio personalities must dedicate part of EVERY
show to giving out the toll-free Senate phone number
(877-762-8762) and to rally your listeners to take action on this.
Don't just assume people know it already or can find it on their
own. PROMOTE it. Talk is not enough, not even close. We must
convert advocacy into ACTION. In the same way that a single run of
an ad on your radio station will not have sufficient impact
standing alone, you must make this a recurrent theme of your show
and keep REPEATING it, at least for the next week or so.
At the same time you can give out the URL of the main action page,
http://www.nocrony.com, or any other easy to say and remember web
address you like, to get people to email or phone or fax their
members of Congress. In addition all the other things above that
apply to other web sites apply to you as well. Feature the Senate
toll-free phone number and action links and do it prominently on
your main page, your blogs, and ideally on ALL your pages at least
in one of your side columns.
And as a listener of your favorite progressive radio show, call
in. Encourage them to get on the case to give out the toll-free
number, and to give out web links and post them on their sites.
Talk about this on the air when they put you on.
We must communicate to our members of Congress in every way that
this is a deal breaker for us. This particular nominee is a threat
to absolutely anything else Congress might try to do in the
future, as he UN-legislates from the bench. Any democrat who votes
for this nominee or even for cloture must never hold public office
in any capacity again and they must be made to understand this by
our emails, our faxes, our phone calls, and our letters to the
editor. We stopped Bolton (at least in the Senate) and we can and
will stop this nominee as well. To any remaining doubting Thomas's
we say this to you, "Defeatism is the treason of our own minds."
THE ARGUMENTS:
1. CONCEALMENT OF CRITICALLY RELEVANT DOCUMENTS
Some people thought that the compromise on the filibuster would
doom any opposition to offensive nominees, and indeed, some very
offensive ones were allowed to pass to obtain that compromise. And
yet, just three days later the Senate sustained a filibuster of
John Bolton (which continued to hold), on the grounds that the
administration was refusing to disclose documents relevant to the
consideration of the nominee. That is exactly the situation here.
They have totally frustrated any meaningful opportunity to
cross-examine this nominee by stonewalling access to any of his
memos from the last 20 years, materials that previous
administrations have always disclosed as to other Supreme Court
nominees.
The senators on the other side and the nominee in particular have
repeatedly complained about being asked about 20 year old
documents. Well, guess what, because of the bad faith refusal of
the administration to cooperate that's all we have to work from.
Mr. Roberts the lawyer would never even consider trying a case
without access to ALL the documents and evidence he had a RIGHT
to review. And just like Bolton, this nominee must be rejected
until and unless all relevant documents are produced.
2. AN UNPOPULAR PRESIDENT HAS NO PREROGATIVE
The primary argument we have heard from the other side is that
he's the president's choice and that should be enough. They are
saying in essence, "Ha, ha, we won the last election, too bad."
And yet now, just 10 months later, Mr. Bush is the most UNPOPULAR
second term president in history. His bad judgment in crisis after
crisis has brought shame and destruction to our country and cost
thousands if not tens of thousands of innocent American lives.
There are now too many dead bodies for even them to hide, though
they've tried that in New Orleans too. Bush's nominee Bolton, who
he stubbornly rammed through over the objections of the good
judgment of the Senate, has done nothing but create chaos and
disruption at the UN already, to the dismay of even our closest
ally, Great Britain. His selection of partisan cronies for FEMA
management positions crippled that agency's ability to protect us.
We no LONGER trust the choices of Mr. Bush.
If there were to be an election today, with his popularity in free
fall, there is no doubt Bush would be soundly defeated. And by
calling on people to contact their members of Congress, what we
are doing is calling for a NATIONAL REFERENDUM, by email, by fax,
by phone call and by letter to the editor, not only on this
nominee, but on the Bush presidency. If the other side wants to
rest their argument on whether this president has any mandate,
then let us demonstrate just how little support Bush actually
retains. Roberts will wreck the Supreme Court just as Bush has
wrecked every other aspect of our lives, and we must speak out now
to stop the looming catastrophe.
Indeed, even the last election would certainly have gone the other
way had it not been for widespread vote fraud and suppression,
COMBINED with the corrupt collaboration of the corporate
mainstream media in suppressing or ignoring any stories negative
to Bush's election prospects, and exaggerating the importance of
any stories smearing his opponents. Just yesterday there was a
story on the AP wire service with the headline "Roberts DODGES
questions about abortion," and yet within hours the word "dodge"
had disappeared from the Yahoo site and was REPLACED with a spin
job using the word "rebuff" and the word "abortion" was gone
too. This is scary, SCARY stuff. There's a Greek chorus out there
of big media voices trying to sell the public on this nominee like
it's a foregone conclusion, but still they have NOT heard from we
the people yet. Be ye not conned, this is not over no matter what
the talking heads say.
3. ROBERTS HAS NOT BEEN CANDID ABOUT HIS TRUE AGENDA
Who are they trying to kid? We ALL know exactly how Roberts is
going to rule. He's going to vote AGAINST us, we the people, and
in favor of every corporate special interest, in favor of absolute
power for the chief executive, every single time and without
exception. They know it, we know it, and Roberts himself knows it.
That's why all the most extreme reactionaries in the country are
so hot for this guy. And the shame of it is that this nominee will
not even admit he has an opinion on PAST cases upon which we have
come to trust on and rely. Even worse, for all his theoretical
legal platitudes about stare decisis he has been breathtaking in
leaving the door open that under him it would be open season on
revisiting just about every progressive court decision of the last
100 years, if only a case were to come before him.
The Republican senators on the judiciary committee have repeatedly
encouraged the nominee to NOT answer questions on the merits, to
be evasive and call it integrity. Roberts has testified at length
and said absolutely nothing of substance, like the enormously
slick lawyer he is. But one interesting thing he did say is that
as a lawyer he could take EITHER side of a case and make a
reasonable argument. And you better believe that in ruling against
us time after time, he will always find a CLEVER way to make
extremism sound reasonable, and that is precisely why he is so
dangerous. He said it is not the job of a lawyer to have a
position on the issues, but ultimately it IS the job of a judge.
The law is not just a mechanical exercise in applying precedents
to the facts. All judges have values that they bring to every
case, which they at last must fall back on. And in not disclosing
the agenda that his entire career strongly suggests that he has,
he does NOT deserve and cannot be trusted with the job of a
Supreme Court judge, let alone chief justice.
The American people now understand that they were sold a
dishonest bill of goods in the last election and are having big
time buyer's remorse. As recently as a year ago Mr. Bush seemed
to many like a wise and capable leader, but now many more realize
the depth of his perverse bad judgment. The only reason why he has
not ALREADY been called out for impeachment for his many crimes
and catastrophes is because the Republican party cares more about
their own power than the good of the American people. He has
wrecked our economy, our budget, our military, and in the exercise
of his criminal negligence now an entire major U.S. city. But
still he will be removed eventually. It is not so easy to remove
an equally destructive Supreme Court chief justice.
And superficially Mr. Roberts may seem like a nice, reasonable
guy. That is the biggest lie of all. His hearing responses bear an
uncanny resemblance to a press conference with Scott McClellan,
only infinitely more smooth. He might as well have said over and
over, "Again, we're not going to get into playing the agenda
game." In fact, for all we know he is WORSE than the flaming
reactionary that peeks through some of his early memos, he's just
gotten a lot better at concealing it. A person who claims to stand
for nothing is the very DEFINITION of someone with an agenda. If
he would just be honest with the American people, we might
consider him on that basis. His failure to evidence any such
candor makes his rejection mandatory.
FINAL THOUGHTS
Nobody expected Roberts to beat himself. We all expected a
masterful exercise in dodging any questions about what he really
stood for. The reactionary elements who are pushing this guy were
not going to repeat the Bork mistake, who spoke freely and was
quite forthcoming about his positions on the issues, and who left
a wide paper trail of statements, writings and speeches. Instead
they have spent decades grooming a stealth candidate, with little
visible record, and are trying to hustle him into the top slot of
the Supreme Court before anybody else can get a handle on what
they are really voting for.
Never before has a judge been pushed upward with such rash haste.
The idea that a president with plummeting popularity should have
carte blanche to appoint any closet reactionary he likes is
absurd. We don't want a pig in a poke for chief justice. Give us
a nominee for the Supreme Court with a track record. Give us a
nominee with enough opinions out there so that we know who it is
that is actually going to control every aspect of all of our
lives for the rest of all of our lives. Tell your senators that
if Roberts gets the job IT WILL SURELY COST THEM THEIR OWN. They
will get the message and we will win.
We stopped Bolton and everyone thought it was a miracle. It was
not. We generated 30,000 emails opposing Bolton, each to two
senators. And we're going to stop Roberts, all we have to do is
believe. It is said that evil can only prevail when good people
do nothing.
TAKE ACTION NOW at http://www.nocrony.com
Forward this email to everyone you know, and encourage its
posting on blogs and websites.
originally posted by The Pen to pain-in-the-law
TAKE ACTION: He's been removed from the scene of the crime, but
still Bush has not fired him. Is this the ZERO accountability
administration or what? How incompetent and inept does one have
to be to lose his job as a crony of this president? Mr. Brown's
criminal inaction turned a survivable hurricane into a category 5
catastrophe for the entire Gulf Coast. And now we learn that the
ONLY previous emergency management experience on Brown's resume
was faked! We all know that Bush is not interested in playing the
indictment game, so isn't it time that we finally demand some
accountability? Demand that Bush FIRE Michael Brown immediately.
http://www.usalone.net/fema.htm
The president did actually say that "Brownie," his pet name for
the FEMA director, was doing "a heck of job" in the aftermath of
the storm. Of course he also said that nobody could have
anticipated that the levees would break. Although dire warnings
from every quarter had predicted exactly that looming danger (see
National Geographic, Oct. 2004, for example), Bush axed their
repair and maintenance budgets. And he put in charge of the
agency that would respond to a major terrorist attack a man with
no experience and no credentials except as a frat boy bootlicker.
Tell your members of Congress that Brown must go NOW, before the
next disaster in the making cripples the rest of our economy.
http://www.usalone.net/fema.htm
You can use the one-click action page above to instantly transmit
your personal message to all your members of Congress, and, at the
same time, send a Letter to the Editor of your nearest daily
newspaper. There is more information on the site about the Brown
scandal, and please check out also -- http://www.OpEdNews.com,
the best source of real news and opinion on the web. Write your
senators and representative now and tell them to take some
personal responsibility for stopping the crony corruption of
George Bush.
AND DON'T LET BUSH PUT A CATEGORY 5 CRONY ON THE SUPREME COURT
Not content with the historic damage he has already done to our
country, now Bush wants to make the destruction permanent by
appointing yet another biased partisan as chief justice of the
Supreme Court. John Roberts is the perfect storm of stealth
reactionary with a people hostile agenda. No wonder the big
corporate campaign contributors are all popping corks. With
Roberts in the captain's chair they could loot and pollute with
impunity. But the power of your voices speaking out can bust up
their swanky private party plans. Your fellow constituents need
you to add your voice now.
http://www.usalone.net/johnroberts.htm
Please take action NOW! Forward this email to everyone you know,
and encourage its posting on blogs and websites.
originally posted by The Pen to pain-in-the-law
GAS STRIKE DAY
Everyone Please read this message before you just disgard it!!!!!
IT HAS BEEN CALCULATED THAT IF EVERYONE IN THE UNITED STATES DID
NOT PURCHASE A DROP OF GASOLINE FOR ONE DAY AND ALL AT THE SAME TIME,
THE OIL COMPANIES WOULD CHOKE ON THEIR STOCKPILES. AT THE SAME TIME IT
WOULD HIT THE ENTIRE INDUSTRY WITH A NET LOSS OF OVER 4.6 BILLION
DOLLARS WHICH AFFECTS THE BOTTOM LINES OF THE OIL COMPANIES.
THEREFORE Sept 10TH HAS BEEN FORMALLY DECLARED "STICK IT TO THEM DAY"
AND THE PEOPLE OF THIS NATION SHOULD NOT BUY A SINGLE DROP OF GASOLINE
THAT DAY.
THE ONLY WAY THIS CAN BE DONE IS IF YOU FORWARD THIS E-MAIL TO AS MANY
PEOPLE A S YOU CAN AND AS QUICKLY AS YOU CAN TO GET THE WORD OUT.
WAITING ON THIS ADMINISTRATION TO STEP IN AND CONTROL THE PRICES IS NOT
GOING TO HAPPEN. WHAT HAPPENED TO THE REDUCTION AND CONTROL IN PRICES
THAT THE ARAB NATIONS PROMISED TWO WEEKS AGO? REMEMBER ONE THING, NOT
ONLY IS THE PRICE OF GASOLINE GOING UP BUT AT THE SAME TIME AIRLINES ARE
FORCED TO RAISE THEIR PRICES, TRUCKING COMPANIES ARE FORCED TO RAISE
THEIR PRICES WHICH EFFECTS PRICES ON EVERYTHING THAT IS SHIPPED. THINGS
LIKE FOOD, CLOTHING, BUILDING MATERIALS, MEDICAL SUPPLIES ETC. WHO PAYS
IN THE END? WE DO! WE CAN MAKE A DIFFERENCE. IF THEY DON'T GET THE
MESSAGE AFTER ONE DAY, WE WILL DO IT AGAIN AND AGAIN.
SO DO YOUR PART AND SPREAD THE WORD. FORWARD
A memoir of recklessness and deceit . . .
Did you ever see the Abel Ferrara movie "Bad Lieutenant," with
Harvey Keitel? It's about a NY cop on the edge of annihilating
himself, whose behavior and character have so deteriorated that it
is unclear that redemption is even possible.
One might well call this book, which purports to be an anonymous
memoir, "Bad Attorney." Only it's not fiction, and at the end of the
book no gesture of redemption seems forthcoming.
But it's a mesmerizing read. The author begins his tale by
describing a single lawsuit over a fall from a horse in which he was
never able to bring himself to file the papers necessary to go to
court. He goes on from there to recount in affecting detail his
grossly incompetent law practice, his systematic deceit of clients,
the day-trading habit that he embezzled money from clients in order
to support, and his eventual disbarment.
Woven into this narrative of self-destruction, too, is the author's
infidelity to his wife, the dissolution of two marriages (the second
to a woman twenty years his junior), his brushes with various
characters who wish him harm, and his attempts to make a living
first selling cars and then as a pop-up advertiser and salesman
for "work-at-home" scams. The tone of the narrative is neither
apologetic nor proud; if anything, it tends toward shell-shocked.
Read it as a cautionary tale about procrastination, or as a warning
to take extreme care when picking out your next lawyer.
Now in print. http://www.fallenlawyer.com