Injury Law Blog : Florida Injury Lawyer & Attorney : LaBovick Law Group : Serving West Palm, Boynton, North Palm, West Palm Beach, Jupiter

From the Courtroom Podcast with Colette Meyer 

On a recent edition of the firm’s From the Courtroom podcast series, Managing Shareholder and attorney Brian LaBovick sat down to discuss estate planning, wills and trusts with fellow lawyer Colette Meyer of the Meyer Law Firm. In the interview, attorney Meyer describes the importance of helping people secure their family’s expectations and values for future generations. She also talks about the significance of planning and being prepared for life’s events, including illness and death.

Attorney Meyer began her career in Jupiter, Fla. at a well-known New York based law firm. Since that time, she has gained a wealth of experience in the field of estate planning, including many years of practicing law for large and nationally known firms in Florida and New York. She started the Meyer Law Firm in Jupiter, Fla. more than 11 years ago and continues to help clients prepare for their future through estate planning, probate and other areas.

Throughout the interview, attorney Meyer stresses the importance of treating each client with respect and on an individual basis. She also discusses how some estate planning lawyers fail to see beyond a set of legal documents into the real needs of a person or family trying to plan for future events.

“We don’t just prepare documents. I found one of the biggest failures of lawyers in the estate planning area is they look at it like a set of documents, but it’s far more than that,” attorney Meyer stated during the interview. “I don’t let a client get out the door with knowing how they own things. For example, do they own things jointly with their children or jointly with their spouse? [I determine] How they own things and make sure that whatever plan I put in place actually works by re-titling assets if necessary.”

In her spare time, attorney Meyer enjoys spending time in her pool and fulfilling her love for the arts as president of the Lighthouse Center for the Arts’ Board of Directors.

To find out more information on Attorney Colette Meyer and the Meyer Law Firm, visit the firm website at www.meyerandmcdonald.com.

From the Courtroom Podcast with Colette Meyer

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Click on the following link to hear The Brain Injury Awareness Day Podcast.

I recently attended Brain Injury Awareness Day on Capitol Hill, March 17th. The event was organized by Congressional Brain Injury Task Force and the Brain Injury Association of America. Congressman Bill Pascrell and Congressman Todd Platts are Co-Chairs of the Congressional Brain Injury Task Force. Congressman Pascrell’s office did an outstanding job in organizing this event that was attended by several nationally known physicians, athletes and politicians.

The primary focus of Brain Injury Awareness Day 2010 was sports-related brain injuries, including college and high school-level athletics. Over 1 million people suffer a sports-related concussion (a form of brain injury) every year. Once a person sustains a concussion, they are 4-6 times more likely to sustain a second concussion. There are multiple examples of athletes who have sustained a concussion during a game, appeared fine, sent back into the game only to sustain a severe brain injury as a result.

If you are a parent of a student athlete, it is important that you become aware of brain injury and its symptoms.  Events such as Brain Injury Awareness Day help to raise awareness about such injuries and the treatment options available.

Approximately 1.7 million people in the United States sustain a Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI) every year. This number includes sports-related injuries, falls, auto accidents, and other traumas. On average, 52,000 deaths related to brain injury occur each year, and over 275,000 hospitalizations and 1.3 million other emergency room visits only related to brain injuries occur per year. These numbers do not include the countless undocumented brain injuries that take place annually.
The majority of people who suffer brain injury – even a mild injury – may not even know they have the injury. My personal goal is to become more active with the Brain Injury Association of Florida and the Brain Injury Association of America to help raise awareness and to help those who have sustained brain injuries.

I encourage you to read my recent blog post "A few facts on brain injury”, which covers information on signs and symptoms of brain injury and tips for families of people who have sustained a brain injury.

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In this edition of "From the Courtroom" Podcast, Brian LaBovick, Esq., Scott Haft, Esq., and Paul Baltrun discuss the topics of Mortgage Modification and Foreclosure Defense.

• Brian F. LaBovick, Esq, Managing Shareholder of LaBovick & LaBovick, P.A.
• Scott R. Haft, Esq.,  Foreclosure Defense
• Paul Baltrun, Director Loss Mitigation (Mortgage Modification) Division

A recent report indicates that almost 15% of homeowners and mortgage holders in the State of Florida are currently more than 60 days behind on their mortgage. As a result, there is a huge demand for mortgage modifications in the state.

As part of LaBovick & LaBovick, P.A.’s community outreach program, the firm will provide free seminars to distressed homeowners on Mortgage Modification and Mortgage Foreclosure Defense.

The first seminar will take place on Wednesday, February 24 at 6:00 p.m. at our Palm Beach Gardens office located at 5220 Hood Road.

The seminars will provide a free evaluation of your financial picture and include information and advice on:

• Mortgage Modification and Foreclosure Defense
• Explanations of how homeowners can defend themselves against foreclosure
• Inform homeowners of the options available to help save their homes
• Evaluate options for people struggling with unsecured debt such as credit card debt
• Discuss the use of bankruptcy as a viable option to relieve debt

The Mortgage Modification process continues to improve, and homeowners have several options.
 

By modifying your mortgage, you can:

• Significant reduce your monthly mortgage payment, and
• Bring your mortgage current if it is past due 

Even if a house is in foreclosure, mortgage modification may still be able to work out a plan to help keep you in your home.

One of the greatest purposes of Foreclosure Defense is to give homeowners more time to pursue options such as mortgage modification to help save their homes.

Some of the benefits of avoiding foreclosure through mortgage modification include:

• Protecting your financial interests well into the future
• Protecting the bank or lender’s financial interest
• Protecting your personal interests, including keeping your family in your home

 Tips for Homeowners on home loan modification and foreclosure - From the Courtroom Podcast

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 In today's "From the Courtroom Podcast" Brian F.LaBovick, Esq. and Paul D. Baltrun, Director the Loss Mitigation Division at LaBovick & LaBovick, P.A., discuss the foreclosure crisis in Florida and across the United States and strategies for distressed homeowners.

The January 2010 U.S. Foreclosure Market Report™, indicates that foreclosure filings — default notices, scheduled auctions and bank repossessions — were reported on 315,716 U.S. properties during January 2010,  a 15 percent increase from January 2009. One in every 409 U.S. housing units received a foreclosure filing in January.

As Palm Beach Post writer, Kimberly Miller writes today in her article on foreclosures in Palm Beach and Martin County: Palm Beach County foreclosure filings spike: 

Florida ranked fourth in the nation for foreclosure filings in January with 47,069 properties receiving some type of bank takeover notice, according to RealtyTrac.

Florida's filings represented a 15 percent increase compared to the same time last year. Palm Beach County had 2,762 foreclosure filings in January, a 58 percent increase over January 2009. Martin and St. Lucie counties both saw decreases in foreclosure filings. 

To listen to the "From the Courtroom Podcast" on Mortgage Modification and Foreclosure Defense options for distressed homeowners that are behind on their payments, in default of their loan, click on the following link:

Mortgage Modification & Foreclosure Defense Clinic Podcast

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On today's edition of the Podcast  "From the Courtroom" Managing Partner Brian LaBovick discusses the importance of  Jury Service.

Juror Affadavit and Juror Service

If you have any questions or comments concering today's edition of  the "From the Courtroon Podcast, please email them to: Podcast@LaBovick.com.

Tune in next week for another edition of "From the Courtroom" a law podcast series brought to you by the law firm, LaBovick & LaBovick, P.A.

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In today's Edition of From the Courtroom, Managing Partner, Brian F. LaBovick, Esq. discusses the dangers of the Psoriasis drug Raptiva.

The drug maker, Genentech recently announced that is was suspending sales of the psoriasis drug RAPTIVA in the U.S. due to its links to brain infections. It has been associated with an increased risk of progressive multifocal leukoencephalopathy (PML).

Raptiva was approved for distribution by the FDA in 2003. Its intended use was to help those who suffered from psoriasis manage the disease more comfortably. For a time, Raptiva proved to be successful, but recent reports have shown that several serious and sometimes grave side effects followed its use.

Raptiva’s Side Effects
After a few years on the market, disturbing reports of side effects believed to have been brought about by Raptiva began to surface. Each of these problems reported are extremely serious.

• Bacterial Sepsis
• Brain Infection - Encephalopathy
• Lymphoma
• Viral Meningitis 
• Invasive Fungal Disease
• PML (Progressive Multifocal Leukoencephalopathy)

Several of the side effects allegedly linked to Raptiva may lead to a patient dying because of the drug. There have been three deaths attributed to the use of Raptiva, which  prompted the FDA to get involved. In all three deaths, they suffered from PML. The FDA required Genentech, Inc. to label of of the medication with a  “Black Box” warning, that clearly indicates the dangers associated with Raptiva.

If you or a loved one have been taking Raptiva, consult your Doctor regarding the possible side effects.

injurylaw.labovick.com/uploads/file/From the Courtroom_Raptiva_BFL(1).mp3

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LaBovick & LaBovick, P.A.  is pleased to launch the new Podcast series "From the Courtroom".  The new Podcast  "From the Courtroom" will discuss legal topics and community issues. The shows will be taped in the LaBovick & LaBovick Mock Trial Courtroom, located in the Palm Gardens Headquarters. The shows will feature attorneys from the firm and will periodically interview guests on the show that are community leaders.  

The first edition of "From the Courtroom" features Brian F. LaBovick, Esq., Managing Partner.

Listeners are encouraged to tune in weekly to check out the various  topics discussed on the LaBovick & LaBovick law blogs:

LaBovick Injury Law Blog
Whistleblower Law Blog
The Law Planet Blog

Please feel free to drop us a line if you want to hear any specific topics discussed on "From the Courtroom" Podcast.

injurylaw.labovick.com/uploads/file/Podcast 04102009-Brian-First_mp3_final_rev.mp3

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