Huier Lawyer

Social Workers Being Paid Below Legal Minimum Wage

A recent report by Kings College London has uncovered some shocking and legally suspect facts about wages in the social care sector. The study, that was released earlier this week, shows that there are at least 150,000 workers across Britain in the social work industry that are currently being paid below the legal minimum wage.

Continue reading 02.10.2011. 19:10

PTSD Settlement Reached For American Vets

Over 2000 veterans returned from Afghanistan and Iraq with post traumatic stress disorder and were denied benefits for disability. Recently a class action settlement was reached that will provide these veterans with lifetime coverage and benefits. The initial complaints were filed in 2008 and 2009 and with 2,161 soldiers included in the suit it was designated a class action.

Continue reading 30.07.2011. 11:40

Philadelphia Jeweler's Heirs Sue US Government For Rights To Double Eagle Coins

When the Roosevelt Administration ordered the US mint to keep all 445,500 double eagle coins in 1933, no one know that 10 coins would be inherited by Joan Langbord. The daughter of a jeweler that worked at the US Mint in the same time period the coins were struck, the US government contends that Landbord's father, the late Israel Switt, stole them. Each individual coin is valued at $7.5 million, but Assistant U.S. Attorney Jacqueline Romero believes that the 10 double eagles are owned by the US government, not Langbord.

How, when and why Israel Switt was able to get the 10 double eagles is not known. His heirs claim that the coins were found in a safe deposit box after his death. After discovering the history of the coins, one of Langbord's sons turned them in to US officials. Now, family lawyer Barry Berke is arguing their case in US District court.

In Berke's opinion, the US government cannot legally keep the coins because they have no proof that Israel Switt stole them. Claiming that the family was only able to get the coins by way of theft is impossible, considering the fact that there are many documents that indicate otherwise. For instance, there were cashiers at the US Mint that regularly traded cash for double eagle coins in the 1930s. Although no other US citizen has been able to get the fair market value for double eagle coins does not indicate that they were obtained illegally, or impossible to possess.

09.07.2011. 16:12

Students In Union City Settle Civil Rights Lawsuit Against School District

In total, 12 students in New Haven, Connecticut have been shot or killed due to gang violence. Although most of the crimes did not occur on school property, the lawyers representing the families of the students claimed that Union City school officials did not do everything within their parents to inform them of violence and protect their students from retaliatory attacks. As a result, several Union City School District students as well as innocent bystanders were beaten or shot by members of the Decoto gang.

The assaults, which occurred in 2007 and 2010 respectively, involved primarily African American students attending Union City High School. The school district opted to settle out of court, awarding each plaintiff a share of $725,000. Represented by both attorneys and the NAACP, the class action lawsuit was filed earlier this year. The chain of events began when a 14 year old student was shot and killed by gang members at the Southland Mall. Although school officials knew that dangerous gang members were involved in the shooting, they did not notify parents.

Students who mourned the death of their classmate were then targeted by Decoto gang members. School officials, who had been in talks with New Haven police, yet again did not warn parents about the connection. Although the school still has not taken responsibility for the string of violent attacks, affected students and parents are happy with the outcome of the lawsuit. Since 2010, there have been no more student shooting associated with gang violence at the school.

20.06.2011. 14:54

Wisconsin Collective Bargaining Ruling Upheld

The Wisconsin Supreme Court ruled that Gov. Scott Walker was within his rights to end collective bargaining for union workers. For months, union workers have been fighting a new law that would give the governor the power to end collective bargaining. Unions have long been able to represent workers in pay and benefits disputes. If both groups were unable to come to a decision, union leaders would tell their workers to picket.

In Wisconsin, the Supreme Court narrowly upheld Governor Walker's case. Lawyers representing Wisconsin unions had filed an injunction preventing the law to go into effect. Now, thousands of teachers, civil servants, firefighters and police officers face lay offs, pay cuts and the loss of their benefits packages. Because Wisconsin is trying to balance its budget, it is expected that state employees will be the first to lose some of their hard earned rights.

Legally, this decision will have a major effect on collective bargaining in other states. While democrats believe that unions are important, republicans think that they are essentially pollute the negotiation process. By stripping unions of their power, workers will have less incentive to pay their dues. The unions in Wisconsin can appeal the Supreme Court ruling, however, the law will still go into effect as planned. Not only will most workers lose out on their pensions, some will not be able to get the money that they have invested into their savings accounts for years. Teachers groups and other agencies that represent state workers will have to stay on the job in order to continue negotiations from now on.

14.06.2011. 06:59