There’s a criminal case coming out of California right now that looks to be one of the bigger medical malpractice cases in recent memory. Basically, an orthopedic surgeon named Dr. Munir Uwaydah has been charged with fraud after telling 21 patients he would perform surgeries on them. Instead, he actually had a physician’s assistant – who had never even attended medical school – do the procedures. “All 21 patients sustained lasting scars and many required additional surgeries and suffered physical and psychological trauma as a result of their experience in Uwaydah’s clinics,” prosecutors said. Prosecutors also say many of the surgeries weren’t even necessary to begin with. In addition, authorities believe Dr. Munir Uwaydah and 14 associates, including another doctor and a lawyer,
The Memphis City Council spent 7 hours yesterday cutting . . . and cutting . . . and cutting . . . its budget. Council members approved measures like layoffs and health insurance premium increases for city workers to try to balance the budget. In total, the council has put together about $24.2 million in cuts; but as in most budget decisions, the changes are very controversial. Any cuts will affect city employees and residents and could threaten some of the benefits everyone depends on. At the same time, these tough choices might be necessary to avoid having the state take over. The council will meet again on June 25 to complete the budget. As a bankruptcy attorney in Memphis,
The Bass Pro Shop-apalooza is scheduled to open in Memphis in 2013. While the megastore may not excite everyone in the area, the city did well under the circumstances. It costs Memphis several hundred thousand dollars per year just to keep the Pyramid closed, and we all know the city could use that money elsewhere. In addition, Bass Pro Shops will most likely help revitalize the neighborhood and provide jobs, even if only for the short term. If on the fence about the project, consider this editorial on the subject.
With so many changes in the economy lately, and no end in sight to the damage done by the recession, the World Health Organization (WHO) and other health groups have called on increased awareness of mental health issues. Worldwide, there is a definite link between depression and unemployment, and between economic downturn and mental health decline. Bearing this in mind, it’s very important we all stay alert and understand that many people will struggle as financial problems continue. If you know someone who seems depressed after facing job instability or unemployment, it’s important to encourage him or her to seek help. There are a number of low-cost options nationwide. In Memphis, the Church Health Center might be a good start.
Teachers and Student Loans Teachers and student loans unfortunately go hand in hand. Education degrees and certification cost a tremendous amount of money and leave many of our area teachers drowning in debt. And a relatively new Tennessee law now makes those student loans even harder to bear. If a K-12 public school teacher can’t pay their student loans, this law requires their license be denied, suspended, or revoked. The law went into effect on January 1, 2013. It’s the new normal for teachers in Memphis, where city schools would love to have experienced, well-educated teachers in the classroom. When Teachers Struggle, We All Lose This law creates a terrible cycle. If the school system struggles, it can’t pay teachers
If you’re a millennial, I want to talk to you about a cruel experiment we’ve been playing on you. The experiment is called “How much debt can millennials carry over the course of their lifetime?” We’ve run this experiment on you in the following ways: Higher education You’re constantly told higher education is the only way to advancement. And in many ways, it’s true. This was never the case for my generation. I paid my way through college relatively easily with a part-time job. It was $243/semester for law school. And there were opportunities waiting when I finished. Today, your degree is worth less but costs more. You’re told you have to take out the loan, you’re promised a great living
Can You Trust Insurance Companies’ Driving Trackers? Perhaps you’ve heard of Progressive’s Snapshot® program, which lets you attach a device to your car that tracks your driving habits. Depending on what the device reports back, Progressive might offer you savings on your rates. After the program first came out, other insurance companies like State Farm dove in as well. Some even connect the program with driver assistance programs, which require you keep the device attached long-term and allow it to store GPS information. Progressive lauds the program as a new way to save more on car insurance and even potentially help with injury claims after an accident. Indeed, a lot of struggling families could use a break. But consumer advocates
Veterans’ Social Security Disability Insurance Process Now Expedited In this video, Memphis SSDI attorney Darrell Castle explains the recent decision by the US government to expedite veterans’ Social Security Disability Insurance claims. Transcript: Hello, I’m Darrell Castle. I’m an attorney licensed to practice law in the state of Tennessee. And on this video today I’m talking about Social Security Disability Insurance, and a little bit about how to get it—especially if you’re a veteran. We have some good news from the Veterans’ Administration and Social Security Administration. If you’re a veteran and you’ve been declared by the VA to be 100% permanently disabled, the Social Security Disability Administration will expedite your applications. It’ll go faster—that doesn’t mean it’ll be
Recently The Tennessean came out with a great article about workers’ compensation in Tennessee and how it can negatively affect both employers and their employees. In general, employers in Tennessee are frustrated by high workers’ comp insurance premiums. They’re required to have the insurance, but the costs can be very high. They also feel some employees exaggerate their claims in order to get as much money as possible, which leads to a sense of distrust in the office. Employees, on the other hand, fear suing their employers. They’re concerned about retaliation in the workplace or even being fired. They worry the claim will take months or years and empty their savings. In 2004, Gov. Bredesen passed a workers’ comp overhaul
By: Darrell Castle Different people file for bankruptcy for different reasons. You may be struggling financially from factors out of your control. Or maybe you just made some bad spending decisions and now you’re — for lack of a better term — paying the price. Whatever your situation is, I can assure you that you’re not alone. American consumers owe $11.91 trillion in debt. A bankruptcy is a great option — and often times the best option — if you’re struggling with debt you just can’t pay. Here are some of the top reasons people choose to file for bankruptcy: 1. Medical bills Expensive doctors plus insufficient insurance equals a financial mess. If you or someone in your family suddenly