Juries are being picked via Facebook?

What this could mean in your legal case and what you need to know A new trend in courtrooms across the nation includes searches being done by prosecutors and attorneys on Facebook and other social media sites of prospective jurors who are being polled for possible selection for juries in a wide range of civil and criminal cases. Think about that for a moment. Social media such as Facebook, Twitter and others are certainly everywhere...

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Protecting yourself from insurance “bad faith”

We've been trained as consumers to believe that if we're injured in a vehicle accident, our insurance company – the one that's been collecting all of our costly premiums for coverage – will be there to help us in our hour of need. Sadly, though, it doesn't always work out that way. Sometimes, it turns out that a driver's biggest nightmare after an accident begins when they have to sue their own insurance company to...

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Stop the bans on cameras and video in hospital birth rooms

Last month, a Maryland family was surprised when they weren't allowed to take photographs or video images of the birth of their newborn daughter in a hospital delivery room until the baby had been delivered safely and permission was granted by the medical team. Unknown to the family, the hospital had adopted rules banning all photos and videos from being taken during the birth process and even mandating that cellphones are turned off. So why...

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What to do if you are injured in a workplace accident

Every day, people across the U.S. are injured in workplace accidents, in factories, in retail stores, in construction sites and a myriad of other locations. They're injured by defective equipment, unsafe procedures, faulty building designs, vehicle accidents and in many other ways. And when they are hurt, the most critical steps they can take are getting proper and rapid medical diagnosis and treatment, adequate long-term care and competent legal advice that protects their rights. [caption...

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Philadelphia gas main explosion that killed a utility worker highlights a string of recent incidents across the nation

Just two weeks ago, a 19-year-old Philadelphia Gas Works employee was killed in the Tacony section of the city when a 12-inch gas main exploded as he and other PGW workers were investigating a reported gas leak in the neighborhood. In December, two people were killed in Wayne, Mich., when leaking natural gas from a gas main apparently ignited an explosion, leveling a long-established furniture store. And last September, eight residents of San Bruno, Calif.,...

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Power line dangers: Life and death decisions and their legal issues

There are always dangers lurking around us, even in our own backyards. Many of those dangers are around us all the time, such as high-power electrical lines that fill our neighborhoods. A recent case in San Bernardino, Calif., underscores the dangers of power lines and the amount of caution we all need to maintain around them. The case is tragic and the lessons from it are very real. [caption id="attachment_1076" align="alignleft" width="300" caption="Image credit: ©...

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Facebook, your insurance company and social media – your insurance company may be watching what you post online

Do you think that what you say on Facebook can't hurt you legally? Think again Here's a scary little scenario: You've been in an accident and you are home recuperating and undergoing physical therapy. You are working hard to rebuild your health and life while suffering through the pain and anguish of your injuries. Then you post some comments on Facebook or some other social media Web site, maybe telling your friends that you left...

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MyPhillyLawyer Attorney Profiles: Dean I. Weitzman talks about being a legal advocate and about his dedication to his clients

Attorney Dean Weitzman is the public face of MyPhillyLawyer's lively, catchy, full-color advertisements on billboards, buses and on TV in the Philadelphia area. He's also out in the public eye as the host of an hour-long Court Radio show on legal issues every Sunday morning on WRNB-FM 107.9, helping local residents by talking with them about their rights in everything from car accidents to wills, trusts and real estate matters. As the managing partner of...

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Legal matters: “I (heart) boobies!” bracelets, school students and free speech

As Americans, our right to individual free speech is so important that it's listed first in our U.S. Bill of Rights and as part of the First Amendment in our U.S. Constitution. It is sweeping – it covers even violent or angry speech. But it does have its limits – you don't have the legal right to scream "fire" in a crowded public space and cause a panic. There are other gray areas – school...

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