Blogs

Why State Agencies Must Disclose "Working Law" and Why It Matters

By Heather Abraham posted 2 days ago
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This week, the  Civil Rights and Transparency Clinic  filed an  amicus brief  in  Appellate Advocates v. New York State Department of Corrections and Community Supervision  on behalf of  Reinvent Albany  and the  New York Coalition for Open Government . The Clinic urges the Third Department to require the release of documents that represent an agency's "working law," meaning the agency's own policies or its interpretation of the law it administers, even if the documents are drafted by attorneys working for the agency. An agency develops "working law" whenever it binds itself to interpretations of the law, which is done through interpreting regulations, making ...
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Fourth Amendment - What is a seizure?

By Hubert Plummer posted 17 days ago
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The Supreme Court issued and new decision on Fourth Amendment unreasonable search and seizure law. Respondents Janice Madrid and Richard Williamson, officers with the New Mexico State Police, arrived at an Albuquerque apartment complex to execute an arrest warrant and approached petitioner Roxanne Torres, then standing near a Toyota FJ Cruiser. The officers attempted to speak with her as she got into the driver’s seat. Believing the officers to be carjackers, Torres hit the gas to escape. The officers fired their service pistols 13 times to stop Torres, striking her twice. Torres managed to escape and drove to a hospital 75 miles away, only to be airlifted ...
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Managing Multiple Clients Efficiently Without Compromising the Service Level

By Luke Worli posted 20 days ago
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Clients have simple expectations of you as a consultant. They want you to be knowledgeable, be available when necessary, and always deliver quality work on time. Keeping these principles at the forefront of your mind and decision-making will ensure that your consultancy is a resounding success. However, once this business starts growing, you will face challenges juggling multiple clients and delivering on your promises. Unfriendly timeframes and competing priorities have been the downfall of many consultants. Here is how you can avoid a similar fate: Track time spent to eliminate waste You would be surprised how much of a consultant’s day can be spent ...
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More On The Attacks On Trans Kids

By Hubert Plummer posted 22 days ago
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I’ve received some comments on my most recent post regarding attacks on transgender children who want to play sports at school.  Some have questioned the science and some were unhappy that I was too direct in my criticism of Republicans.  Well, you can all rest a little easier, I have found a Democrat to criticize as well.  Apparently South Carolina Democratic Representative Cezar McKnight was the architect of a South Carolina bill that would make it a felony for doctors to treat anyone under the age of 18 with life-saving hormone therapy or other gender affirming therapies.  The other 23 sponsors of the bill are all Republicans. [i] I won’t apologize for ...
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Suing the Taxi and Ride-Sharing App Company in Case of an Accident

By Luke Worli posted 28 days ago
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Ride-sharing taxis are mostly in a rush to get more rides and make more money without realizing the risk their activities have on other drivers. Some people have been involved in accidents with ride-sharing app taxis and did not know what legal steps can be taken against the company collectively.  The companies are liable for the actions of their drivers when they are on the line of duty. With that in mind, how can you sue a taxi and ride-sharing app company and get fair compensation?  Get good legal representation The first step you should take after the accident has happened is getting solid and proper legal representation. Lawyers skilled in tackling ...
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Repubs: Let's Pick On Trans Kids

By Hubert Plummer posted 30 days ago
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So, the Republicans lost the Presidency and Congress.  I guess they feel the need to take their frustration out on some helpless children.  Republicans in South Dakota and Mississippi have passed laws prohibiting transgender children from participating in school sports in the gender they identify as. [i]   In fact 35 states have introduced legislation to restrict trans youth from participating in school sports. Why do they feel the need to target this small group of children who aren’t hurting anyone?  They say that boys who transition have an advantage over cisgender girls. [ii]   Studies don’t back this up.  The International Olympic Committee allows ...
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Climate Change Blog 38

By Carl Howard posted 03-10-2021
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Climate Change Blog 38 As noted in Blog 37, NYC’s Central Park had 16” wet inches of snow when I skied it Feb 1 and another 1.2” fell after that making it one of the heaviest snowfalls in the city’s history. Six of the 10 deepest snowstorms in the region since officials began recording them in 1869 have occurred since 2000. The City’s above ground rail lines were closed for the subway as well as the two essential commuter rail lines, the Long Island Railroad and Metro-North Railroad. The City’s airports were shut, and travel was disrupted for millions of people along the I-95 corridor. At least one person died because of the storm. The storm also caused the ...
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High-Interest Payday Lenders Targeting Pandemic-Stricken Population

By Luke Worli posted 03-04-2021
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Millions of Americans are facing unemployment and financial hardship due to the COVID-19 pandemic. As people struggle to make ends meet and cover medical bills, payday lenders started aggressively targeting the most vulnerable communities.  Their strategies work too. Borrowers are taking out high-interest loans, choosing a fast financial fix while ignoring the adverse side effects.  A Bad Deal The primary reason to   get a payday loan   is a need for fast cash. People turn to creditors for help due to a lack of stable income or an account in a reputable financial institution. Poor credit history is another frequent reason for seeking alternatives.  ...
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Payday Lending: Financial Implications & Potential Issues

By Luke Worli posted 03-04-2021
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If you're in a tight spot financially, a payday loan might sound like an attractive prospect. It's certainly an easy way out of debt, temporarily. This tends to backfire though.  So, let's examine this lending type and explain what you can expect after getting a payday loan.  How Do Payday Loans Work? Similar to personal and installment loans, you can borrow money through the 'payday' model online or by visiting a lender in person. However, they function a bit differently.  States tend to limit the borrowing amounts and how much your creditor can charge in fees and interest rates. The reason for these laws is that payday lenders tend to be predatory, ...
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Voting Rights Act of 1965 before the Supreme Court

By Hubert Plummer posted 03-01-2021
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As I recently wrote, Republicans in many states are trying to enact more restrictive voting laws with the intent of disenfranchising Democratic voters.  The Voting Rights Act of 1965 had been the guarantor of voting rights for fifty years, until the Supreme Court gutted it in 2013. You may recall that in Shelby County, Alabama v. Holder, Attorney General, et al. , 570 U.S. 2 (2013) the Court declared sections 4(b) and 5 unconstitutional. [i]   This ruling allows states to make radical changes to their voting laws without fear of being stopped.  The court states that section 2 of the act provides a framework to contest bad laws, but that method is via lawsuits ...
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Continued Attacks on Voting Rights

By Hubert Plummer posted 02-16-2021
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Well, Republicans are still at the voter suppression game.  Thirty-three states have introduced over 165 bills to restrict voting access.  The are generally in 4 areas: limiting voting by mail, stricter ID requirements, reducing opportunities to register to vote, and have more aggressive voter roll purges. [i] Arizona has been the most aggressive with 19 restrictive bills, followed by Pennsylvania, Georgia, and New Hampshire. The most popular target of the bills is voting by mail.  These bills would require an “excuse” to be allowed to vote by mail.  They are trying to make it harder to obtain a mail in ballot.  Some states have a permanent mail in voting ...
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4 common mistakes to avoid to secure your rights in the aftermath of a car accident

By Luke Worli posted 02-15-2021
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Being involved in a collision can be overwhelming, especially if you’re not prepared. Knowing what to do can save lives, reduce injuries, and simplify the claims process. Innocent errors can have a big impact on the auto accident lawsuit. To be more precise, making the wrong moves can ruin your chances of getting compensation and recovering financially from medical bills and other expenses. The steps you take in the hours and days following the accident will impact your odds of success. Keep on reading to discover what mistakes you should avoid at all costs if you want to secure your rights in the aftermath of a car crash.   Admitting fault  You believe ...
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All You Need to Know About Medical Malpractices

By Luke Worli posted 02-04-2021
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Medical practice is a very tough job. Sometimes, we see doctors slipping into medical practices due to multiple reasons. These practices usually are proven to be a malpractice episode when there is a breach from the doctor or medical student’s end.  But there are other pieces of information as a medical student, doctor, or a patient you must know about these medical malpractices. Reading the info below, you would know whether you need a malpractice lawyer as of now or not. Is medical malpractice quite common in the USA? Unfortunately, yes, it is. As per multiple medical stats, it’s the 3rd common reason for deaths in the USA.  Can you blame every ...
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What Is Personal Injury Law And How Does It Work?

By Luke Worli posted 02-04-2021
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Personal injury law allows an injured person to file a case in court and get a legal remedy for all losses incurred due to the accident. The sole purpose of this system is to provide the injured person with adequate financial compensation.  This article will: Cover the basics of personal injury law Explain how a personal injury case works Discuss where personal injury law comes from There are several situations where personal injury rules apply:  Accidents : Personal injury rules are applicable in cases where someone is negligent and his/her carelessness causes harm to the other person. Such instances include slip ...
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Climate Change Blog 37

By Carl Howard posted 02-03-2021
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Climate Change Blog 37 Facts on the Ground: Publication of this Blog was temporarily delayed by a major snow-storm in NYC forcing me to go to Central Park and ski in over 16” of fresh snow. But, alas, it was too warm (34F) and the snow was thick and slow (but still great). I’ll have more to say about this huge storm in Blog 38. Earlier in 2021, two unusually severe and deadly storms of note: one, a tornado, tore through Fultondale, a suburb of Birmingham, Ala., late on Jan 25, killing at least one person, collapsing buildings, downing trees and power lines and trapping people in their homes. It was part of a band of severe weather systems that extended ...
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Climate Change Blog 37

By Carl Howard posted 02-03-2021
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Climate Change Blog 37 Facts on the Ground: Publication of this Blog was temporarily delayed by a major snow-storm in NYC forcing me to go to Central Park and ski in over 16” of fresh snow. But, alas, it was too warm (34F) and the snow was thick and slow (but still great). I’ll have more to say about this huge storm in Blog 38. Earlier in 2021, two unusually severe and deadly storms of note: one, a tornado, tore through Fultondale, a suburb of Birmingham, Ala., late on Jan 25, killing at least one person, collapsing buildings, downing trees and power lines and trapping people in their homes. It was part of a band of severe weather systems that extended ...
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Climate Change Blog 37

By Carl Howard posted 02-03-2021
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Climate Change Blog 37 Facts on the Ground: Publication of this Blog was temporarily delayed by a major snow-storm in NYC forcing me to go to Central Park and ski in over 16” of fresh snow. But, alas, it was too warm (34F) and the snow was thick and slow (but still great). I’ll have more to say about this huge storm in Blog 38. Earlier in 2021, two unusually severe and deadly storms of note: one, a tornado, tore through Fultondale, a suburb of Birmingham, Ala., late on Jan 25, killing at least one person, collapsing buildings, downing trees and power lines and trapping people in their homes. It was part of a band of severe weather systems that extended ...
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Climate Change Blog 37

By Carl Howard posted 02-03-2021
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Climate Change Blog 37 Facts on the Ground: Publication of this Blog was temporarily delayed by a major snow-storm in NYC forcing me to go to Central Park and ski in over 16” of fresh snow. But, alas, it was too warm (34F) and the snow was thick and slow (but still great). I’ll have more to say about this huge storm in Blog 38. Earlier in 2021, two unusually severe and deadly storms of note: one, a tornado, tore through Fultondale, a suburb of Birmingham, Ala., late on Jan 25, killing at least one person, collapsing buildings, downing trees and power lines and trapping people in their homes. It was part of a band of severe weather systems that extended ...
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Climate Change Blog 37

By Carl Howard posted 02-03-2021
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Climate Change Blog 37 Facts on the Ground: Publication of this Blog was temporarily delayed by a major snow-storm in NYC forcing me to go to Central Park and ski in over 16” of fresh snow. But, alas, it was too warm (34F) and the snow was thick and slow (but still great). I’ll have more to say about this huge storm in Blog 38. Earlier in 2021, two unusually severe and deadly storms of note: one, a tornado, tore through Fultondale, a suburb of Birmingham, Ala., late on Jan 25, killing at least one person, collapsing buildings, downing trees and power lines and trapping people in their homes. It was part of a band of severe weather systems that extended ...
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Biden's Executive Order on Private Prisons

By Hubert Plummer posted 01-31-2021
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I wrote about prison reform recently. [i]   I discussed the affliction that are private prisons.  The whole concept is just wrong.  It creates a perverse incentive.    As noted by the Community Oriented Policing Services (COPS) office of the Department of Justice. “One of the most perverse incentives in a privately run prison system is that the more prisoners a company houses, the more it gets paid. This leads to a conflict of interest on the part of privately run prisons where they, in theory, are incentivized to not rehabilitate prisoners. If private prisons worked to reduce the number of repeat offenders, they would be in effect reducing the supply of ...
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