Donyk

funny accidents

2010-09-08T09:14:00.000+07:00

In Depth: World's Most Expensive Cars

2010-02-16T10:33:00.001+07:00

To compile our list of the most expensive cars this year, we reviewed price lists from all the ultra-luxe automakers who might have produced a contender this year for the top spot, including Bentley, Bugatti, Ferrari, Koenigsegg, Lamborghini, Leblanc, Maserati, Maybach, Mercedes-Benz, Pagani, Porsche, Rolls-Royce, Saleen, Spyker and others. We narrowed our terms for the list by choosing only cars that are currently in production and street legal, which eliminated the discontinued $653,000 Enzo Ferrari, as well as the $500,000 Mercedes-Benz SLR McLaren Roadster. Prices do not include taxes; some prices have been converted from euros to dollars. Not all of the vehicles on our list are sold in the U.S. ## http://www.forbes.com

most expensive street legal car

2010-02-16T10:27:00.001+07:00

1. Bugatti Veyron $1,700,000. This is by far the most expensive street legal car available on the market today. It is the fastest accelerating car reaching 0-60 in 2.6 seconds. It claims to be the fastest car with a top speed of 253 mph+. However, the title for the fastest car goes to the SSC Ultimate Aero which exceed 253 mph pushing this car to 2nd place for the fastest car.

2. Lamborghini Reventon $1,600,000. The most powerful and the most expensive Lamborghini ever built is the second on the list. It takes 3.3 seconds to reach 60 mph and it has a top speed of 211 mph. Its rarity (limited to 20) and slick design are the reasons why it is so expensive and costly to own.

3. McLaren F1 $970,000. In 1994, the McLaren F1 was the fastest and most expensive car. Even though it was built 15 years ago, it has an unbelievable top speed of 240 mph and reaching 60 mph in 3.2 seconds. Even as of today, the McLaren F1 is still top on the list and it outperformed many other supercars.

4. Ferrari Enzo $670,000. The most known supercar ever built. The Enzo has a top speed of 217 mph and reaching 60 mph in 3.4 seconds. Only 400 units were produced and it is currently being sold for over $1,000,000 at auctions.

5. Pagani Zonda C12 F $667,321. Produced by a small independent company in Italy, the Pagani Zonda C12 F is the 5th fastest car in the world. It promises to delivery a top speed of 215 mph+ and it can reach 0-60 in 3.5 seconds.

6. SSC Ultimate Aero $654,400. Don't let the price tag fool you, the 6th most expensive car is actually the fastest street legal car in the world with a top speed of 257 mph+ and reaching 0-60 in 2.7 seconds. This baby cost nearly half as much as the Bugatti Veyron, yet has enough power to top the most expensive car in a speed race. It is estimated that only 25 of this exact model will ever be produced.

7. Saleen S7 Twin Turbo $555,000. The first true American production certified supercar, this cowboy is also rank 3rd for the fastest car in the world. It has a top speed of 248 mph+ and it can reach 0-60 in 3.2 seconds. If you are a true American patriot, you can be proud to show off this car.

8. Koenigsegg CCX $545,568. Swedish made, the Koenigsegg is fighting hard to become the fastest car in the world. Currently, it is the 4th fastest car in the world with a top speed of 245 mph+, the car manufacture Koenigsegg is not giving up and will continue to try and produce the fastest car. Good luck with that!

9. Mercedes Benz SLR McLaren Roadster $495,000. A GT supercar, the SLR McLaren is the fastest automatic transmission car in the world with a top speed of 206 mph+ and reaching 60 mph in 3.8 seconds. It is a luxurious convertible with a really powerful engine, which results in outstanding performances and style.

10. Porsche Carrera GT $440,000. A supercar with dynamic stability control and a top speed of 205 mph+ and it can reach 0-60 in 3.9 seconds. The Porsche Carrera GT applies the absolute calibers of a true racing car to offer an unprecedented driving feeling on the road.

funny picture n nasty

2009-08-21T09:31:00.000+07:00

UNIQUE BAGS

2009-05-07T08:04:00.001+07:00

UNIQUE BAGS,RARE ITEMS,LIMITED!!
FOR U WHO DARE TO BE DIFFERENT!!

unique home stay

2009-03-31T10:17:00.000+07:00

how about this ???

Unique hotel in Sao Paulo

2009-03-31T10:09:00.001+07:00

This place just looks nuts
The pool is on the top of the building

GoldVish Piece Unique

2009-03-26T08:04:00.000+07:00

GoldVish Piece Unique - The most expensive phone in the world

The phone GoldVish Piece Unique is recorded in the Gines book as the most expensive mobile phone in the world - its price is about 1 million euro.

The cost is so high mainly because of the high quality diamonds WS1 introduced in the corpus of the phone GoldVish Piece Unique.

ponari man !!!

2009-03-11T20:09:00.001+07:00

what

2009-03-11T20:04:00.000+07:00

How about some famous and not-so-famous quotes about lawyers and the law?

2009-02-13T21:21:00.001+07:00

How about some famous and not-so-famous quotes about lawyers and the law?

"Nobody has a more sacred obligation to obey the law than those who make the law." ~ Sophocles
"A jury consists of twelve persons chosen to decide who has the better lawyer." ~ Robert Frost
"Discourage litigation. Persuade your neighbors to compromise whenever you can. As a peacemaker the lawyer has superior opportunity of being a good man. There will still be business enough." ~ Abraham Lincoln
"He who is his own lawyer has a fool for a client." ~ Anonymous
"Law is nothing unless close behind it stands a warm living public opinion." ~ Wendell Phillips
"The good lawyer is not the man who has an eye to every side and angle of contingency, and qualifies all his qualifications, but who throws himself on your part so heartily, that he can get you out of a scrape." ~ Ralph Waldo Emerson

by : http://www.bekindtolawyers.com/

2009-02-10T11:59:00.001+07:00

Time is urgent in finding a DWI Lawyer

2009-01-28T19:44:00.003+07:00

Time is urgent in finding a DWI Lawyer

DWI (Driving While Intoxicated) is a serious charge and if you have been arrested for DWI you should seek legal help immediately.

Each year, states enact tougher DWI laws and more severe penalties for suspected drunk driving. You could lose your driver's license, be placed in jail and fined substantial fees. Your auto insurance rates may rise and you could end up with a criminal arrest record that could impact your future and your employment opportunities.

Using a DWI attorney who focuses on drunk driving defense could make a difference in the outcome of your case. This is why it is important to use DWI.com to locate a qualified DWI Attorney in your area.

To locate a DWI Attorney now, use the map above and click on the state where your drunk driving case is located.

Why You Should Use DWI.com

DWI.com is a directory of only DWI Lawyers and it represents some of the most qualified and experienced DWI Attorneys in the United States. The DWI lawyers in the directory dedicate a majority of their criminal defense practice to DWI defense and understand the drunk driving laws and penalties in your state. It may be possible for a DWI Lawyer to get your case reduced or even dismissed. A Texas DWI or New York DWI can have strong penalties for first time offenders. That is why it is very important that you consult with a DWI lawyer to discuss your options on how to handle your charge of Driving While Intoxicated.

What is a DWI?

DWI (Driving While Intoxicated or Driving While Impaired), DUI (Driving Under the Influence), OVI (Operating a Vehicle Under the Influence), OVWI (Operating a Vessel While Intoxicated), OUIL (Operating Under the Influence Liquor), OUI (Operating Under the Influence), APC (Actual Physical Control), DWAI (Driving While Ability Impaired), BWI (Boating While Intoxicated) and OWI (Operating While Intoxicated) are all different definitions of drunk driving charges in the United States. For example, Texas, New York, New Jersey and North Carolina laws refer to drunk driving as Driving While Intoxicated (DWI), while Florida and California laws refer to drunk driving as Driving Under the Influence (DUI).

All states have adopted drunk driving laws setting the standard for drunk driving or legal intoxication at a BAC (Blood Alcohol Content) level of .08 or higher. Some states will charge you with being impaired even if your BAC level is less then .08. New York will charge you with DWAI if your BAC level is between .05 and .07. Most states have Zero Tolerance Laws for drivers under the age of 21.

Can you lose your Driver's License for a DWI Arrest?

Yes! In fact, most states automatically start proceedings to suspend a person's driver's license immediately after an arrest for suspected DWI. Each state has a different time frame and procedure, but you will lose your license if you do not request a special hearing within a specific number of days after an arrest. In Texas the time frame is 15 days. In Arkansas it is just 7 days. You have one opportunity to keep your driver's license from being suspended. After that, it is difficult to get your license back regardless of the need or circumstances and despite the fact that a court of law may find you innocent. This is another reason why it is important to contact a DWI Attorney immediately and get professional help.

To learn more about DWI laws in your state, use the links below or contact the DWI Lawyers at DWI.com

2009-01-22T19:02:00.000+07:00

Business Law and Banking

2009-01-22T18:20:00.000+07:00

Business Law and Banking

Essex County New Jersey Business Attorneys & Banking Lawyers

Business

At the Lum Firm, our commercial business group has assisted clients in the areas of finance, taxation, mergers and acquisitions, banking, administration, real property, zoning, international transactions, loan workouts, creditor’s rights, charter schools, and estate planning and trust related to business succession. Our commercial business group has recently handled cases for the FDIC. Additionally, we have worked in a variety of cases that relied upon our multi-discipline expertise including:

Acting as counsel to a sponsoring trade organization.
Workout activities involving loan and business restructurings.
Lease, purchase, and sale of business and major industrial properties.
Advising and implementing corporate divisions in both amicable and contested “commercial divorces.”
Assisting New Jersey based corporations in international transactions.
Effectuating an amendment to the statutes of New Jersey resulting in excluding independent certified shorthand reporters as employees for purposes of the New Jersey unemployment tax.
Devising hybrid consignment procedures to protect clients in certain circumstances against the prior lien holders of their customers.

We have extensive experience handling the needs of the business community. From representing clients in the purchase or sale of a small business, to understanding the unique aspects of closely held businesses and Family Limited Partnerships, we help clients manage their business legal concerns. Our New Jersey business attorneys handle legal matters including taxation, financings, mergers, acquisitions, stock and asset sales and other transactions.

Our business law practice includes representing small and large corporations in commercial litigation, labor and employment matters, real estate and more. Our clients include Pepsi Bottling Group, the New Jersey Devils, Clorox Company, Toshiba America Consumer Products, LLC, and many others. We are equipped to handle complex litigation for corporations operating nationwide.

Banking

The Lum Firm’s commercial business group has years of experience in providing a broad range of services to New Jersey financial institutions, including:

Structuring and closing large commercial loans, both real and non-real estate based.
Litigation to collect all types of loans.
Residential and commercial mortgage foreclosures.
Defense of direct actions and counterclaims against financial institutions.
General advice on both state and federal statutes and regulations.

Contact our New Jersey business attorneys today if you need the services of powerful and experienced business and banking lawyers.

2009-01-22T18:11:00.000+07:00

2009-01-21T09:26:00.001+07:00

DWI (Driving While Intoxicated)

2009-01-19T17:40:00.001+07:00

Time is urgent in finding a DWI Lawyer

DWI (Driving While Intoxicated) is a serious charge and if you have been arrested for DWI you should seek legal help immediately.

To locate a DWI Attorney now, use the map above and click on the state where your drunk driving case is located.

Why You Should Use DWI.com

What is a DWI?

Can you lose your Driver's License for a DWI Arrest?

Save Palestine

2009-01-18T16:23:00.002+07:00

:: gaza ::

everybody... i mean every Muslim is very furious to Israel for their attack on Gaza, Palestine... hundreds of innocent people died.... thousands others are suffering... physical wounds.. mentally and emotionally hurts... why all these have to happen to them?

i cried when i saw the news and also the pix from the newspaper.. that's why i rarely watch the news nowadays... i am really hurt to see all of them suffering... those fucking Israelis.. they kill innocents like they kill insects.....

and in parallel of that attack, millions other Muslims has taken a great deal to boycott the Israelis products.. all these while, we never realized that we use a lot of Zionist products in our life... for instance, i am a Colgate user... a Coke drinker and a Starbux lover~~! but i noe i have to stop buying those products... coz.. if we wanna defeat them totally, we must use economical strategy to demolish them..

the buying power is in our hands... being a Muslim... embrace a religion that have the most believers in the world... we can surely defeat them.. just don't buy their products doesn't mean that we have to change our lifestyle... use alternatives brand.. think properly... if we stop buying those Zionist products, we can change Palestinians lives... they don't deserved to suffer...

the boycott to Denmark-based products, due to their insults to our beloved religion had prove that we have the buying power.. think about that...

if we (Muslims) do not take the first action, who will?

by : :: sweetvanillacaramel ::

Amazing Traffic in Japan

2009-01-18T06:18:00.002+07:00

Amazing Traffic in Japan

New traffic signal in Japan. What will happen to someone that cross that red signal ?

from Yenzz

Czech qualified lawyer

2009-01-18T05:33:00.000+07:00

Exciting opportunity for a Czech qualified lawyer to join this highly professional team and bring your own vision into the development of one of the world's leading practices.

The firm's Prague's office is particularly strong in communications, IT and IP, but is also provides a full range of legal services, from corporate and commercial to real estate, dispute resolution and employment law. The structure of the firm is somewhat unique, as it is working in close cooperation with its other Eastern & Central European offices, providing local expertise to the clients form different sectors across the Europe.

You will be Czech qualified lawyer, with 2-6 years' post qualification experience. You will be fluent in English and ideally will be able to communicate in other Eastern European languages, such as Polish, Hungarian or Slovakian.

You will have strong specialism in a certain area, such as employment, IP or litigation, and will also be able to cover more general work (corporate and commercial). Ideally you will have some experience with the strong local practice and would like to join international law firm with more flexible and less rigid structure compare to most of the international law firms around the Globe.

This is a unique opportunity and will not last!!

The Unique Psychological World of Lawyers

2009-01-18T05:27:00.000+07:00

The Unique Psychological World of Lawyers

By Ronda Muir, Esq.
A psychological profile of lawyers is strikingly different from that of Americans generally. That means that, in many ways, entering a law firm or law department amounts to entering into a world different from the one "outside," with different majority and minority attitudes and traits, different expectations and different ways of making decisions and dealing with conflict.

Personal Style. One of the oldest personal style assessments is the Myers Briggs Type Indicator (MBTI).* The MBTI assesses 4 different traits on a continuum that results in 16 different personality "types." While people may perform at one time or another at different points along the continua, most have a "default" setting where they are most comfortable. In the United States, over 70% of the population are Extraverts (as opposed to Introverts) and Sensors (as opposed to Intuitors), and a majority are Feelers (as opposed to Thinkers) and Judgers (as opposed to Perceivers). Of these 4 attributes, lawyers are at the other end of the spectrum as to the first three: the majority of lawyers are Introverts (57% of lawyers versus 25% of the general population), Intuitors (57% of lawyers versus 30% of the general population) and Thinkers (78% of lawyers versus 47% of the general population). Only as to the last attribute are they in the majority, being even more likely to be Judgers (63% versus 55% of the general population) than the rest of the world.

What does this mean? It means that if you're good at understanding and interacting with people in the outside world, once you enter a law firm or law department your success rate in those areas may take a nosedive. It also means that as a lawyer, basing your style strategies (either consciously or not) on you and your colleagues' preferences when dealing with clients and witnesses and others "out there" is likely to be wrong-headed. The odds are that their styles and preferences are significantly different from yours.

But in what way? Extraversion/Introversion, for example, relates to how a person derives energy and focus—by walking the halls and interacting with others or retiring to their office, for example. Extraverts are more likely to formulate their thinking in part by talking through the issues, and therefore prefer interpersonal interaction. Introverts internalize their thought process and take questions under advisement, producing a considered opinion when they express themselves. Unfortunately, while these are just two different styles of formulating opinions, the style not our own is often judged as less valid. Extraverts tend to be suspicious of people who are not as instantly forthcoming with their thinking as they are, whereas Introverts may find off-the-cuff brainstorming dangerous and unprofessional.

Each of the other three attributes similarly reveals different ways of dealing with the world. Sensing/Intuition relates to what kind of data a person pays attention to. Sensors focus on hard data, like financial information and clear facts, and are comfortable documenting and manipulating them. Intuitors focus on patterns and relationships, more than the underlying data, preferring to determine how ideas or facts interrelate. Feeling/Thinking describes a person's basis for making decisions. Feelers are most influenced by interpersonal dynamics, while Thinkers base their decisions on expertise and logic. Judging/Perceiving assesses how driven to a conclusion a person is. Judgers commit to a schedule so that they can successfully finish a project, which is what gives them satisfaction. Perceivers enjoy the fluidity and spontaneity of waiting until the right moment to immerse themselves in a project, which is what gives them the most satisfaction.

As with Extraversion/Introversion, each of these attributes not only affects how you deal with your colleagues and clients, but also affects your opinion of their preferences.

Personality Attributes. Martin Seligman, a professor at the University of Pennsylvania and the founder of the school of Positive Psychology, which focuses on attributes and behaviors that produce success and happiness, has identified optimism as a critical attribute for both. In his book, Authentic Happiness (Free Press, 2002), Dr. Seligman reviewed his research as to whether any personality attributes, and particularly optimism, were consistently correlated to success in any of 104 careers he studied. Interestingly enough, the only career he found consistent correlations for was lawyering. And the attribute? Pessimism. Pessimism was so highly correlated with success in lawyers that the higher the pessimism in law students, the higher their grades. Dr. Seligman points out that while pessimism is evidently a positive attribute for the practice of law, it can have profound effects on the individuals high in that quality, affecting their resilience and personal and professional relationships, for example.

A personality assessment that has been in use for 40 years is the Caliper Personality Profile.* Over a million professionals have been profiled using this tool. Lawyers show a distinct difference from other professionals in a number of attributes. For example, skepticism is a trait that ranges from being cynical, judgmental, questioning, argumentative and self-protective on the high end to accepting, trusting and giving the benefit of the doubt on the low end. The general population has an average score of 50 on skepticism, while among lawyers it is consistently the highest scoring trait, averaging 90. This trait can be very useful in the practice of law, particularly litigation, tax and M&A. However, most people tend to use their strongest traits in every arena of their lives, so this high level of skepticism is also carried over into partnership meetings, team deliberations and committee work (as well as personal relationships) that may call for more trust and collaboration.

Other attributes that lawyers test very high in are urgency (sense of immediacy or impatience) and autonomy (prizing independence). Attributes lawyers test particularly low in are resilience (processing feedback and recovering from defeat) and sociability (interacting with others and initiating intimate connections).

Making both the firm or department and its individual lawyers aware of these scores and the behaviors they imply can be a major first step toward understanding organizational dynamics and better utilizing personal attributes.

Emotional Intelligence. While lawyers score well above the national average (115-130) in IQ, they score below the national average in emotional intelligence, as measured by the Mayer Salovey Caruso Emotional Intelligence Test (MSCEIT). Their lowest sub score in this four-part assessment is in the first branch—accurately perceiving their own and others emotions, while their highest sub score is the third branch, understanding emotions, a more cognitive ability. Unfortunately, this means that while lawyers are able to competently reason about emotions and their implications, the emotional data that they are analyzing day in and day out is likely to be incomplete or inaccurate—lawyers are likely to be misreading what they themselves or others are feeling. The result is that lawyers are more likely than non-lawyers to be caught off guard by a disgruntled client, an overwhelmed associate or an angry partner, or even by their own powerful reactions.

Conflict Resolution Strategies. As Clarence Darrow once said, “To think is to differ.” Conflict is the currency of most interaction, requiring that differences be acknowledged and addressed lest they grow to hamstring the productivity of the organization. What strategy is used to handle a conflict is often critical to the likelihood of resolving it.

The Thomas-Kilmann Conflict Mode is a tool that recognizes and assesses five conflict resolution strategies: competing, collaborating, compromising, avoiding and accommodating. These strategies involve different levels of assertiveness and cooperativeness and also require different investments of time.

Ideally, each person has access to all of these resolution methods, choosing the one best suited for the conflict. In practice, we tend to rely on one or two methods regardless of what would serve us best. The old saying that “to someone with a hammer, everything looks like a nail” is particularly apt with respect to those who have a limited repertoire of resolution strategies.

While not exhibiting a significant preference for any single method, most middle and upper-level business and government managers tend to use collaborating, compromising, competing, avoiding and accommodating, in that order, to resolve disputes. Lawyers, however, have strong preferences for competing and avoiding, the two least cooperative of the strategies. The upshot of this preference is that lawyers tend to either engage in an all-out war over divisive matters, with the intent of "winning," or they walk away. While there are several theories as to why lawyers rely on these two methods, the bottom line is that neither of these strategies is likely to work most of the time, let alone all of the time, and these strategies are guaranteed in many cases to further exacerbate the underlying divisiveness. In addition, lawyers' approaches may well turn off business clients who are usually more adept at cooperative problem-solving.

What Can a Lawyer Do? By using well-tested assessments, such as those mentioned in this article, that identify the distinctive personality profile of lawyers generally and of their organizations and individuals specifically, law firms and law departments can better understand the dynamics at work in their offices. In addition, there are reliable methods to affirmatively improve the quality and types of interactions that these various attributes produce. In the end, this invaluable data can help lawyers more successfully choose leaders, make myriad management decisions, foster better working relationships, develop young lawyers and ultimately improve bottom-line business results.

------------------------------

Ronda Muir, Esq., a Senior Consultant with Robin Rolfe Resources, Inc., draws from law, psychology and conflict resolution to offer business-savvy, psychologically sophisticated evaluations of, and real-world solutions to, the personal dynamics issues that are unique to law firms and law departments.

*Statistics on lawyer results on the MBTI and Caliper personality profiles are drawn from articles by Dr. Larry Richard.

Hwo I'am ?

2009-01-15T08:17:00.003+07:00

Skills To Pay The Bills

did U know ??? Who I'am beib ...

European Distribution Lawyers

2009-01-15T06:39:00.000+07:00

EDL - European Distribution Lawyers is a network of law firms and legal experts, specialised in European and National distribution and competition law, in particular related to the automobile sector.

The EDL members are located in all the principal European countries which allow them to have a global view of the distribution sector all over Europe and a full understanding of the concerns and problems individuals and companies involved in distribution can encounter.

Apart from a regular direct contact amongst each other, the members of the network meet four times a year to exchange information of relevant court judgements and competition authorities decisions as well as to discuss all matters of importance which affect the sector.

Their extensive experience in the distribution sector allows the EDL members to be in direct contact with European and national authorities providing them constant outstanding and last-minute information on the distribution sector.

The first Franchised Dealer Congress

2009-01-15T06:27:00.000+07:00

The first Franchised Dealer Congress will be held on the 23rd and 24th October 2008 in Frankfurt, Germany.

This Congress aims for creating the ideal platform so that the German franchised automobile dealers take a look at their situation and think about perspectives for the future and that the government as well as car manufacturers and importers are informed about the dealers’ requests, expectations and demands.

The Congress programme has top expert speakers, taking not only a closer look at the German car market but also beyond the borders of, for instance, the USA, Italy, Austria and, of course, Brussels, towards the EU Commission.

Prof. Dr. Christian Genzow, the German EDL member, will participate in the Panel Discussion: "Sales and Service after 2010 – Where are we heading to", together with other experts and the European Commission representative.

EDL is a network of law firms and legal experts

2009-01-13T18:56:00.000+07:00

A network of legal experts, specialised in European distribution and competition law.

EDL is a network of law firms and legal experts, specialised in European and National distribution and competition law, in particular related to the automobile sector.

Families Should Consider Legal Checkups

2009-01-13T18:51:00.000+07:00

Families Should Consider Legal Checkups

Alan Kopit, lawyers.com Legal Editor

Research from lawyers.com indicates Americans don't
know enough about legal issues

The modern American family no longer fits a traditional model. Families are changing faster than the law can sometimes keep up.

Americans point to divorce as the biggest factor hurting families today, outpacing other changes in family structure such as same-sex or dual-career couples, according to a new survey conducted by Harris Interactive for Martindale-Hubbell's lawyers.com from LexisNexis, in conjunction with REDBOOK.

The unease that many U.S. adults feel about non-traditional family arrangements could be compounded by their lack of familiarity with legal concerns that affect families. The survey shows that 85 percent say they are somewhat or not at all knowledgeable about basic family law issues.

Make an Appointment for a Legal Checkup

"It's a good idea for all adults to get a legal checkup every three to five years - or sooner if you've had a major life event like having a child - just like you'd see a doctor for a physical," said Alan Kopit, legal editor for lawyers.com. Lawyers.com is the most comprehensive and trustworthy online resource for finding lawyers and legal information.

Whether you're ready to hire a lawyer or have a long-standing relationship with one, you should discuss these three things:

Protect your kids. Even if you don't have lots of money, it's a good idea to make a will saying who you would like to take care of your kids in case anything happens to you. If you travel, consider giving someone the power to make medical decisions for your children in an emergency.
Protect your property. A will can make sure your property goes to the person you want to have it, in the case of your death. This is especially important if you're not legally married. Double-check the beneficiaries on your life insurance policies and retirement savings to make sure they agree. If you're getting married, consider a prenuptial agreement to cover any assets. If you're living together, you can make a co-habitation agreement defining your financial arrangements.
Protect your health. Designate the person you want to make health care decisions for you if you can't. This is known as a health care power of attorney. A living will states how you want end-of-life decisions made. This way you will know your wishes are understood.

The American Lawyer Awards

2009-01-13T18:07:00.001+07:00

The American Lawyer Awards

Lifetime Achievement Awards
The American Lawyer celebrates the distinguished careers of individuals whose world-class practice and commitment to public service make them an inspiration to the rest of the legal profession.

A-List Awards
Each year 20 firms are named whose economic, pro bono, workplace satisfaction and diversity performance set them above the rest.

Corporate Counsel Best Legal Department
Corporate Counsel magazine names the best in-house law department and finalists, based not only on the achievements of the general counsel, but on an in-depth look at the entire corporate legal department.

Litigation Awards
The American Lawyer The American Lawyer celebrates the Litigation Department of the Year, as named in the January 2008 issue of The American Lawyer. Am Law 200 firms were invited to compete for the overall title as well as laurels in one of three specialties: Intellectual Property, Labor and Employment, and Product Liability.

Create your Watch List
on martindale.com

As a registered user of martindale.com you can add lawyers and law firms to your watch list. Securely add comments, compare lawyers and law firms in your watch list, and access these profiles with one click from your martindale.com homepage.

Criminal Law

2009-01-13T18:03:00.000+07:00

Today's Q & A

Criminal Law
Can the Second Chance Act Help My Dying Grandfather Get Early Release?
Jeralyn Merritt

My Grandfather was convicted and has served 21 years of his sentence. He is dying of cancer and our family would like him to be able to live the rest of his life outside of prison. We were wondering if the second chance law would apply to him and how we would go about getting him clemency.

-- Anonymous

A.

In March, Congress passed the Second Chance Act. President Bush signed it into law a few weeks ago. It's purpose is to help prisoners reintegrate into society when they complete their prison sentences, and to reduce recidivism. About 700,000 state and federal prisoners are released every year.

The Act authorizes funds to be spent on programs such as education and drug treatment inside prison. Other programs will provide assistance with housing and employment after release. There are also programs aimed at strengthening family and community ties.

One portion of the bill pertains to early release of federal elderly prisoners. It is a limited pilot program called the Elderly and Family Reunification for Certain Nonviolent Offenders. It will be in place at only one federal prison. In order to qualify for it, the prisoner must be at least 65 years old and serving a sentence of less than life in prison for a nonviolent offense that also is not a sex crime. He or she has to have served more than 10 years, or 75% of their original sentence, whichever is greater.

Sound daunting? There's more. The prisoner can't have a past conviction for a state or federal violent crime or sex offense. And, the prisoner must be determined by the Bureau of Prisons not to have a history of violence or sexual misconduct even if conviction free. The prisoner must also have a record free of escape attempts.

If the prisoner meets these qualifications, the Bureau of Prisons can release him or her to home detention, provided it believes that such release is not likely to endanger any person or the community.

The program is likely to be in place around October, 2009 and last through 2010.

If your grandfather is already ill, your better bet would be to contact a post-conviction lawyer in your state who can advise you if your grandfather is eligible for release under some other law or regulation.

-- Jeralyn Merritt

Real Estate
Disclosure Of Defects In Condo Purchase
Michael T. Sawyier

My husband and I purchased our condo in May 2007. At that time, there were no scheduled special assessments on the property. However in November 2007, we learned that the building was to undergo a $1MM+ special assessment, to be divided amongst all the owners of the property. Our portion of the special assessment is to be between $12-18K.

This special assessment came about as a result of an engineering report commissioned in 2005 to evaluate the state of the building. This report was commissioned for litigation the building's owners were involved in against the developer. While the results of the report were never divulged publicly to all the owners, we learned that the person who sold us our condo was the person who commissioned the report. This, of course, means that he was fully aware that the results of the report stated the building had structural defects in it. We can prove his knowledge of the defects by obtaining a copy of the engineering report which was addressed directly to him. He never disclosed this information to us during the sale of the condo. Additionally, the owner who sold the condo to us was also previously on the condo association's board and was the listing agent of the property.

My question: Do we have any legal recourse here since we can prove that the owner did not disclose defects in the building that he had knowledge of? Keep in mind that these are defects to the overall building structure, NOT to our condo alone.

-- Anonymous

A.

Illinois' Residential Real Property Disclosure Act is designed to protect buyers of residential real property, including condominium property, by requiring that sellers disclose certain known material defects in the property. Under the Act, a material defect is defined as a condition that would have a substantial adverse effect on the value of the property or that would significantly impair the health or safety of future occupants of the residential real property, unless the seller believes the condition has been corrected. The Act does not require the seller of condominium unit to disclose defects in the common elements of a condominium.

However, in the case that you describe, the seller's failure to disclose these known defects that would lead to the special assessment may have violated a representation or warranty in the sales contract itself that the seller did not know of any such defects. In addition, a number of reported Illinois decisions have held that mere silence by a seller with knowledge of such material "latent" defects, when they are not know to or readily discoverable by a buyer, can constitute fraud and are actionable in court.

-- Michael T. Sawyier

International Lawyers

2009-01-13T17:47:00.000+07:00

International Lawyers

By WORLDLawDirect

Need help? Review common international legal problems and solutions on our site, or click "Ask Our Lawyers" above. Our international lawyers are always available for you.

We provide international law and business solutions for the U.S., Europe, China, Russia and more than 26 other countries: human rights, war, treaties, trading, globalization, tourism, outsourcing, international contracts, global finance, and general international business.

Whatever your question this week, our international lawyers have had the answer:

Global business advice, Russian law, international divorce, travel and tourism issues, legal forms, Swiss law and banking issues, Chinese business law, international immigration law, international adoption, Ukrainian law, Canadian law, globalization, law of Mexico, doing business in China, international child custody and adoption, letters of credit, Chinese manufacturers, travel visas, contracts, legal advice internationally, Chinese customs issues, European law, outsourcing issues, contracts with companies in India and China, Indian business and family law, international debt collection, international family law, international lawyers for small businesses, private detective services in the U.S. and internationally, customs, VAT issues, visas to Canada, English law and hundreds of other issues. You name it; it's here or we'll answer it!

The highest quality of a leader is integrity

2009-01-13T16:38:00.001+07:00

The highest quality of a leader is integrity

2009-01-13T16:38:00.000+07:00

The highest quality of a leader is integrity

Donyk

funny accidents

In Depth: World's Most Expensive Cars

most expensive street legal car

funny picture n nasty

UNIQUE BAGS

unique home stay

Unique hotel in Sao Paulo

GoldVish Piece Unique

ponari man !!!

what

How about some famous and not-so-famous quotes about lawyers and the law?

Time is urgent in finding a DWI Lawyer

Time is urgent in finding a DWI Lawyer

Why You Should Use DWI.com

What is a DWI?

Can you lose your Driver's License for a DWI Arrest?

Business Law and Banking

Business Law and Banking

Essex County New Jersey Business Attorneys & Banking Lawyers

Business

Banking

DWI (Driving While Intoxicated)

Time is urgent in finding a DWI Lawyer

Why You Should Use DWI.com

What is a DWI?

Can you lose your Driver's License for a DWI Arrest?

Save Palestine

:: gaza ::

Amazing Traffic in Japan

Czech qualified lawyer

The Unique Psychological World of Lawyers

Hwo I'am ?

Skills To Pay The Bills

European Distribution Lawyers

EDL - European Distribution Lawyers is a network of law firms and legal experts, specialised in European and National distribution and competition law, in particular related to the automobile sector.

The first Franchised Dealer Congress

The first Franchised Dealer Congress will be held on the 23rd and 24th October 2008 in Frankfurt, Germany.

EDL is a network of law firms and legal experts

A network of legal experts, specialised in European distribution and competition law.

Families Should Consider Legal Checkups

Families Should Consider Legal Checkups

Make an Appointment for a Legal Checkup

The American Lawyer Awards

The American Lawyer Awards

Create your Watch Liston martindale.com

Criminal Law

International Lawyers

The highest quality of a leader is integrity

The highest quality of a leader is integrity

Create your Watch List
on martindale.com