You Got a Speeding Ticket?

August 13th, 2010
Speeding tickets are no fun.  If you are pulled over for speeding and issued a citation legally, you do not need a lawyer unless you were also driving recklessly and are also cited for reckless driving. Speeding tickets are fairly straight forward, for the most part.  However, depending on how much over the speed limit you were driving and which state you live in, your vehicle could be impounded (typically 40 mph over the speed limit).  Additionally in some states, if you are under 18, your license may become suspended.   But, if none of these conditions apply to you, you have the right to do two things:  either pay the ticket, usually through mail, or else dispute the charge against you. After becoming aware of the law, I learned that anyone who pleads guilty on speeding tickets where they were cited for not speeding at all or cited for not going too much over the speed limit, subjects himself to unnecessary punishment from the law, since most speeding tickets of this type can be dismissed. I had a friend who was once cited for speeding when he was not and decided to fight the ticket.
So how do I fight a speeding ticket if I don’t think I was speeding?
Courts do not like to waste time and taxpayer dollars on petty crimes. To dispute a speeding ticket, you must within 10 days in most instances either sign the portion of the ticket that says “not guilty” and mail it to the place where you would send the payment for the fine or write a letter of dispute with the ticket number included in the letter, as well as your reasons for disputing the charges. In the written dispute, you must include ticket numbers, the date the ticket was received, the “act and section of the defense,” and your personal information. Thus, it depends on the state, but for the most part, states have a writing address where the dispute can be mailed. Check with your local county clerk to learn where to mail the dispute form.
After you have completed the dispute form, you will then wait to hear from the proper authorities, which will mail you a letter stating the date that your hearing will start. Make sure you attend the hearing and try to be at the courtroom at least 15 minutes prior to the start of the court hearing.
When the judge or district magistrate in some cases asks you how you plea, make sure you plead not guilty. He will then ask you to tell your story.  As in my friend’s case above, he simply told him what had happened.  He told the judge that when he saw the cop he looked at his speedometer and he was only going 35 mph in a 35 mph zone.  The cop had cited him for going over 45 mph in the 35 mph zone.  The cop was there and he conceded.  At this point the judge will decide if your case is worthy of continuance and may possibly throw out the case or in the case of a district magistrate will decide your case; otherwise, in the case of a judge, you may be summoned to appear at another hearing at which your case will be decided.

Speeding tickets are no fun.  If you are pulled over for speeding and issued a citation legally, you do not need a lawyer unless you were also driving recklessly and are also cited for reckless driving. Speeding tickets are fairly straight forward, for the most part.  However, depending on how much over the speed limit you were driving and which state you live in, your vehicle could be impounded (typically 40 mph over the speed limit).  Additionally in some states, if you are under 18, your license may become suspended.   But, if none of these conditions apply to you, you have the right to do two things:  either pay the ticket, usually through mail, or else dispute the charge against you. After becoming aware of the law, I learned that anyone who pleads guilty on speeding tickets where they were cited for not speeding at all or cited for not going too much over the speed limit, subjects himself to unnecessary punishment from the law, since most speeding tickets of this type can be dismissed. I had a friend who was once cited for speeding when he was not and decided to fight the ticket.
So how do I fight a speeding ticket if I don’t think I was speeding?
Courts do not like to waste time and taxpayer dollars on petty crimes. To dispute a speeding ticket, you must within 10 days in most instances either sign the portion of the ticket that says “not guilty” and mail it to the place where you would send the payment for the fine or write a letter of dispute with the ticket number included in the letter, as well as your reasons for disputing the charges. In the written dispute, you must include ticket numbers, the date the ticket was received, the “act and section of the defense,” and your personal information. Thus, it depends on the state, but for the most part, states have a writing address where the dispute can be mailed. Check with your local county clerk to learn where to mail the dispute form.
After you have completed the dispute form, you will then wait to hear from the proper authorities, which will mail you a letter stating the date that your hearing will start. Make sure you attend the hearing and try to be at the courtroom at least 15 minutes prior to the start of the court hearing.
When the judge or district magistrate in some cases asks you how you plea, make sure you plead not guilty. He will then ask you to tell your story.  As in my friend’s case above, he simply told him what had happened.  He told the judge that when he saw the cop he looked at his speedometer and he was only going 35 mph in a 35 mph zone.  The cop had cited him for going over 45 mph in the 35 mph zone.  The cop was there and he conceded.  At this point the judge will decide if your case is worthy of continuance and may possibly throw out the case or in the case of a district magistrate will decide your case; otherwise, in the case of a judge, you may be summoned to appear at another hearing at which your case will be decided.

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Business Contracts

August 12th, 2010
A business contract is a legal promise made between two or more parties. A contract may be drawn when the associated parties wish to enter into a transaction like buying or selling, performing services, leasing properties, collaborating in joint ventures, advertising, manufacturing, distributing or selling goods, etc. The business contract is considered a surety against cheating by any of the associated parties.
The length of a business contract depends on the number of clauses being mutually agreed upon. It may be of a single page or it may run into a dossier of several pages. Every business contract is legally binding and attracts relevant stamp duties. The general practice is to compose such business agreements in the presence of lawyers of all the parties involved.
The first page of a business contract usually contains the names and addresses of the signatories. A brief description of their jobs can be mentioned along with their names. The date of signing the contract is put up on the first page.
The next part of the contract is called the recitals. This is a very short description of the type of transaction the parties are going to enter into. It is usually no longer than a paragraph. After recitals follow the specifications, in which there is a detailed description of the job the parties are to undertake. This part may run into several pages and it contains a very succinct description of the exact job portfolio. It sometimes contains formulas, diagrams, sketches and graphs in order to better explain the nature of the job.
Payment comes in the next section. A very clear mention is made of the remuneration that one of the parties is to give to the other. Either the exact figure is mentioned, or at least the determining factors are outlined. If time is extremely relevant in the completion of the job, then the sentence “Time is of the essence” is included. Whatever the conditions regarding the payment may be, they are to be put down in the contract.
Apart from all this, there are several legal points covered. It is written in the contract which state jurisdiction will apply in case of a legal suit. Also, the tenure of validity of the contract is mentioned.
A business contract is a very delicate matter. It takes several deliberations between the associated parties along with the involvement of their lawyers to reach a final draft. There are sometimes several negotiations and amendments in the agreement, until it becomes satisfactory to all concerned. Only after mutual agreement are the signatures put down on the document. All concerned parties have to preserve a copy of the contract as long as it is valid.

A business contract is a legal promise made between two or more parties. A contract may be drawn when the associated parties wish to enter into a transaction like buying or selling, performing services, leasing properties, collaborating in joint ventures, advertising, manufacturing, distributing or selling goods, etc. The business contract is considered a surety against cheating by any of the associated parties.
The length of a business contract depends on the number of clauses being mutually agreed upon. It may be of a single page or it may run into a dossier of several pages. Every business contract is legally binding and attracts relevant stamp duties. The general practice is to compose such business agreements in the presence of lawyers of all the parties involved.
The first page of a business contract usually contains the names and addresses of the signatories. A brief description of their jobs can be mentioned along with their names. The date of signing the contract is put up on the first page.
The next part of the contract is called the recitals. This is a very short description of the type of transaction the parties are going to enter into. It is usually no longer than a paragraph. After recitals follow the specifications, in which there is a detailed description of the job the parties are to undertake. This part may run into several pages and it contains a very succinct description of the exact job portfolio. It sometimes contains formulas, diagrams, sketches and graphs in order to better explain the nature of the job.
Payment comes in the next section. A very clear mention is made of the remuneration that one of the parties is to give to the other. Either the exact figure is mentioned, or at least the determining factors are outlined. If time is extremely relevant in the completion of the job, then the sentence “Time is of the essence” is included. Whatever the conditions regarding the payment may be, they are to be put down in the contract.
Apart from all this, there are several legal points covered. It is written in the contract which state jurisdiction will apply in case of a legal suit. Also, the tenure of validity of the contract is mentioned.
A business contract is a very delicate matter. It takes several deliberations between the associated parties along with the involvement of their lawyers to reach a final draft. There are sometimes several negotiations and amendments in the agreement, until it becomes satisfactory to all concerned. Only after mutual agreement are the signatures put down on the document. All concerned parties have to preserve a copy of the contract as long as it is valid.

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Bankruptcy Attorney – St Louis

August 11th, 2010
When financial crisis is on the horizon, it’s time to find a professional qualified to help you through the trying process of financial rehabilitation. Consider the following points when making the decision to enlist a bankruptcy attorney:
1. Free Consultation
For bankruptcy legal advice, if a bankruptcy attorney requires a consultation fee, keep looking for an attorney. Any bankruptcy attorney that truly values his clients will not insist on a consultation fee.
2. Experience and Reputation
Attorneys specialize in everything from corporate bankruptcy to criminal law, so it only makes sense that you choose the correct bankruptcy attorney. This, as well as the prospective attorney’s personal experience can be verified at a consultation (see number 1 above).
An experienced bankruptcy attorney will understand local rulings and know how to work with local creditor attorneys and judges. All attorneys get their experience in large part from working their clients’ cases. Find out how much of a guinea pig you may be before deciding on an attorney.
3. Attorney-Client Interaction and Relationship
You have to be able to talk with your attorney and feel understood in order to accomplish a successful bankruptcy outcome. A prospective bankruptcy attorney should be willing to answer your questions. You should definitely feel comfortable with the attorney that you choose to work with.
4. Size of Law Firm
It can be advantageous to choose an attorney that is affiliated with a large law firm. In many situations, bigger, more reputable law firms are more likely to have just the attorney available for your particular situation. This can be important if you’re pressed for time. Also, you are more likely to receive top priority at a larger law firm.
5. Credit Restoration
After filing bankruptcy and setting up repayment plans as necessary, you will also want to rebuild your credit. It’s important to choose an attorney that will assist you in rebuilding your financial life. He or she should be willing and able to offer assistance and tools to directly rehabilitate your credit standing and preparedness.
6. Location
Last, but not least: location, location, location. I hate being the bearer of bad news, but in most legal situations, particularly something as grueling as bankruptcy, the odds are pretty good you’ll be spending more time at your attorney’s office than you may first expect. Then again, more and more legal transactions are taking place via electronic communication of various kinds. If this suits your needs, by all means, utilize the resource.
Article source: http://freeadviceabout.com/bankruptcy/Bankruptcy_Attorneys_How_Do_I_Choose.html

When financial crisis is on the horizon, it’s time to find a professional qualified to help you through the trying process of financial rehabilitation. Consider the following points when making the decision to enlist a bankruptcy attorney:
1. Free Consultation
For bankruptcy legal advice, if a bankruptcy attorney requires a consultation fee, keep looking for an attorney. Any bankruptcy attorney that truly values his clients will not insist on a consultation fee.
2. Experience and Reputation
Attorneys specialize in everything from corporate bankruptcy to criminal law, so it only makes sense that you choose the correct bankruptcy attorney. This, as well as the prospective attorney’s personal experience can be verified at a consultation (see number 1 above).
An experienced bankruptcy attorney will understand local rulings and know how to work with local creditor attorneys and judges. All attorneys get their experience in large part from working their clients’ cases. Find out how much of a guinea pig you may be before deciding on an attorney.
3. Attorney-Client Interaction and Relationship
You have to be able to talk with your attorney and feel understood in order to accomplish a successful bankruptcy outcome. A prospective bankruptcy attorney should be willing to answer your questions. You should definitely feel comfortable with the attorney that you choose to work with.
4. Size of Law Firm
It can be advantageous to choose an attorney that is affiliated with a large law firm. In many situations, bigger, more reputable law firms are more likely to have just the attorney available for your particular situation. This can be important if you’re pressed for time. Also, you are more likely to receive top priority at a larger law firm.
5. Credit Restoration
After filing bankruptcy and setting up repayment plans as necessary, you will also want to rebuild your credit. It’s important to choose an attorney that will assist you in rebuilding your financial life. He or she should be willing and able to offer assistance and tools to directly rehabilitate your credit standing and preparedness.
6. Location
Last, but not least: location, location, location. I hate being the bearer of bad news, but in most legal situations, particularly something as grueling as bankruptcy, the odds are pretty good you’ll be spending more time at your attorney’s office than you may first expect. Then again, more and more legal transactions are taking place via electronic communication of various kinds. If this suits your needs, by all means, utilize the resource.
Article source: http://freeadviceabout.com/bankruptcy/Bankruptcy_Attorneys_How_Do_I_Choose.html

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Wayne Brady, an Attorney?

July 12th, 2010

Attorney St Louis found this article that we thought you might find entertaining.  It points out the skills that are required by lawyers that are sometimes overlooked.

Why Wayne Brady Would Make A Great Lawyer

By Paul Nolan

Douglas Lief brings his improv skills to the courtroom

Published in Southern California Rising Stars 2008 — July 2008

Lawyers are used to facing tough audiences, but Douglas Lief apparently can’t get enough. When the 27-year-old associate at Bowman and Brooke in Gardena finishes his day job, he regularly spends his weekend nights at Ultimate Improv in Westwood, where he’s been a troupe member since his undergrad days at UCLA.

A self-confessed “theater geek” during his high school days in Laguna Beach, Lief says he did not want to major in theater in college, but he did want to “continue flexing that muscle.”

Improv was the ideal solution. He says it has proved valuable in his law career as well.

“In improv, of course, you don’t know what’s going to come out of the other person’s mouth,” he says. “You’re always dealing with the unexpected.” At the same time, he explains, you are required to take whatever your partners introduce into a skit and add to it. This ‘yes and …’ aspect of improv is a useful skill to have in the legal profession, particularly in unrehearsed situations such as depositions.

“In both improv and law, you cannot fight what the facts are,” Lief says. “You have to be able to roll with the circumstances. At the same time, you learn to use every skill at your disposal to steer the conversation in the direction that you want it to go.”

Lief doesn’t back down from tough audiences in comedy or law. Humor, he says, is a great tool for connecting with a jury or even a judge, but only when the right situation presents itself.

“If you can make a judge laugh, that’s good, but it’s a risky proposition,” he says. “It can blow up on you, and then it becomes comedy without the comedy. Suddenly, you’re cast as the guy at the party that nobody wants to hang around.”

In law, as in comedy, timing is everything.

Published in Southern California Rising Stars 2008 — July 2008

View Lawyer Profiles:

Douglas J. Lief

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Some of the Nations Top Attorneys in St Louis

July 10th, 2010
Here is an article we recently ran across in the St Louis Business Journal, regarding some of the top attorney St Louis has ever seen:

Business News - Local News

Thursday, July 3, 2008

6 St. Louis labor attorneys make top 100 list

St. Louis Business Journal – by Matt Allen

Six St. Louis-area labor attorneys were named to the Labor Relations Institute Inc.’s 2008 Top 100 list of labor attorneys, putting them in the top 1 percent of labor attorneys in the country, according to the firm.

The institute, which evaluated more than 8,600 attorneys, selected the following local attorneys:

The top 100 list was determined by the number of National Labor Relations Board-monitored elections in which each attorney provided representation and the election outcomes.

Broken Arrow, Okla.-based Labor Relations Institute Inc. provides communications materials and consulting services for use in opposing unions in National Labor Relations Board election campaigns.


matthewallen@bizjournals.com

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Accident Attorney St Louis

July 8th, 2010

Finding a lawyer to help with your accident case can be a stressful experience.  Attorney St. Louis suggests you keep these tips in mind while choosing:

When finding a lawyer to beat your accident case, be mindful that it is extremely essential for you to decide on an extremely capable person for the job. You only get this chance to deal with your compensation case. Picture losing the case, not because you are in the wrong, but because the lawyer you chose didn’t have the required ability to fight your case. The attorney or the firm might have a authenticated track record in real estate or bankruptcy cases, nevertheless that experience likely will not win your accident compensation case. It is extremely important to check the qualifications and recognition of the attorney you choose.

One more thing to keep in mind is that the lawyer must be ready to take your case to the court. This is because most lawyers would favor an out of court settlement and in this case, you won’t get your truthful compensation. You also must be positive that the lawyer you choose actually fights your case for you. In many cases, you meet an attorney to talk about your case, but when the real work begins, the assistants or the paralegals take over. You do not want that.

Don’t get excited with the flamboyant campaigns that several lawyers use for advertising. Prior to settling for a lawyer, try to find out their success rate and whether he or she is personally eager to fight your case for you. This is very vital because in the end, it is the insurance companies that are definitely going to pay. If they realize that your law firm won’t compromise, they will not use any kind of pressure tactics.

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What is Attorney St Louis?

July 7th, 2010

So you might be asking yourself, what is Attorney St Louis?

Attorney St Louis is designed to help you find the right lawyer for you.

We will be gathering the best lawyer in St Louis and put them all in one place for you.  Whether you are looking for a Criminal, Civil, Divorce, Corporate, or Personal Injury lawyer, we will be able to help you out.

We are currently finishing up our research and gather the best attorneys around, and we will have that information for you very soon.

In the meantime, we will be posting a ton of valuable content that should help you in your decision.

So stay tuned to Attorney St Louis, or subscribe to our RSS feed, and we will show you the best lawyers in town.

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Attorney St Louis

July 7th, 2010

Attorney St Louis is dedicated to helping you find the perfect lawyer for you.

An perfect lawyer will not just have a chain of outstanding credentials or gold lettering on his entry. He or she will undoubtedly be caring, fascinated, and loyal to their job. You have to think thoroughly prior to placing your trust in a lawyer, after all in a few situations your time, future, money or home will be in his control.

Other than carrying out comprehensive research to short list potential lawyers, you need to make sure that there is not conflict of interest, that you understand everything the retainer agreement indicates, and that you have verified the references and specifics relating to the practice.

You can ascertain the attorney you have chosen is the ideal one if:

1.    He makes a shot to spend time to understand your case himself. He will not assign a legal assistant to take facts of the case down.

2.    From expertise and know-how he will recognize what is applicable and what is not. He will set aside and overlook irrelevant facts, opinions, and personal thoughts that hide the case on hand.

3.    He will advocate that the legwork for the case be performed cautiously. All facts must be verified for exactness and stable arguments jotted down with backing of earlier decision.

4.    He isn’t going to just concentrate on the issue at hand but inspect the obstacle from all sides. This will create a comprehensive picture highlighting all variables of relevancy and the various ways one can deal with the case.

5.    He will use his forethought and foresee actions by the opposition or opinions of the jury or judge and prepare far ahead. Like a master chess player he will set up the case not by the day but by many hearings in advance.

6.    He will not waste time beating around the bush or produce expendable phrases. He will advocate that the case and its arguments be plainly declared.

7.    He will be self-disciplined, in depth, and positive. polite at all times he will respect you and also all the personnel who are hired by him.

8.    He is advocated by not just his associates and relations, but by several other professionals of good standing and from his field.

9.    He will not just present to you his wins but be content to explain to you why and how he lost particular cases.

10.    He will lay the cards on the table and advise you clearly whether your case stands to win or lose. He will not say that winning is guaranteed. He will be sincere and candid about his beliefs and guidance.

The most important thing is that the attorney must be deserving of your trust. Use your natural instincts and don’t go by the lawyer’s good looks or fancy car or office. Ultimately, it is competence in law and in court that is of essence to you.

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