Washington Injury Law Blog

I received my mail-in ballot for the August 19, 2008 primary the other day. There are many judge positions up for election. What you may not know is that each judge position can be decided in the primary vote if a candidate receives 60% of the vote in the primary. So voting for your local judges now is very important.

 

I usually send my friends and family my recommendations via private email, but last year I started my blog, www.WaInjuryLawBlog.com, and thought I should post my thoughts here as well.  First some disclosures: I am a Washington Personal Injury Attorney who fights against insurance companies and corporations on a daily basis. I’m consider myself a champion for the little guy and definitely lean towards being a democrat. If you mention “tort-reform” those are fighting words in my book.

 

On to my picks:

 

Note on Washington Supreme Court – this court is very important to you, but you may not know it. This is the court that can and does have a real effect on your daily life. The decisions of this court determine how the laws are applied and enforced in your daily life. If you vote for no other judges, please vote for the supreme court judges.

 

WASHINGTON STATE JUDGE ELECTIONS

 

Washington Supreme Court Pos. 3 – Mary Fairhurst

Justice Fairhurst has been on Supreme Court for one term (6 years) and has done an overall excellent job from my perspective. I may not like where she stands on all of her case decisions, but on most I do. 

The other guy sold his soul to the devil and worked for large corporations and insurance companies. He earned his living, at least partially, on the backs of the little guy like you. I cannot recommend someone who worked for the dark side. Okay I might be a little biased!

 

Washington Supreme Court Pos. 4 – Charles W. Johnson

Justice Johnson has been on the court for 18 years now. His experience is very valuable and needed. I highly recommend Justice Johnson as great legal mind and Justice that will do us more good than harm.  Point of disclosure – Justice Johnson did teach my Washington State Constitutional Law class I took back in 1997 while in law school and he sworn me into the bar in 1998. Although I don’t know him personally, he was a very good teacher and I enjoyed his class.

 

Washington Supreme Court Pos. 3 – Debra L. Stephens

Running without any opposition. Must be nice.

 

Court of Appeals, Division 1, District 1, Pos. 5 – Linda Lau

Running without any opposition.

 

Court of Appeals, Division 1, District 1, Pos. 6 – Ann Schindler

Running without any opposition.

 

KING COUNTY JUDGE ELECTIONS

 

These are the judges that handled nearly all of my day to day cases that are in litigation. For me and my clients these people can have great effect on my work and my client’s lives. If you hire me to handle your Washington car accident injury case, then these are the judges who will handle your case when litigation is needed because the insurance company is only offering two pennies to rub together to settle your case because they think you weren’t injured that bad despite your doctors opinions otherwise. Don’t get me started…

 

King County Superior Court, Pos. 1 -  Susan Amini

 

King County Superior Court, Pos. 10 – Regina Cahan

 

King County Superior Court, Pos. 22 – Rebeccah Graham

 

King County Superior Court, Pos. 26 – Laura Middaugh

 

King County Superior Court, Pos. 37 – Nic Corning

 

King County Superior Court, Pos. 53 – Mariane Spearman

 

OTHER ELECTIONS

 

Attorney General:   John Ladenburg

Mr. Ladenburg is more supportive of your personal rights including privacy, which is very important to me in the wake of Bush’s Patriot Act. Big brother is out there!

 

Insurance Commissioner:  Mike Kreidler

Mr. Kreidler has done great things to protect you as a consumer over the last 8 years from the greedy insurance companies that seem to do nothing but raise your rates and deny your claims should something bad happen and you need that insurance coverage you thought you had purchased. Insurance companies hate him, and I love him. Mike’s the man!

 

I hope this helps you make some decisions on the judicial elections. If you have any questions feel free to email me at max@scottmcdonaldlaw.com and I’ll be happy to explain in more detail why I like these candidates.

 

Happy voting!

 

Max Meyers, Esq.

 

 

More info can be found at: http://www.kcba.org/judicial/ratings/2008_ratings.aspx – this link has detailed questionnaires completed by all judicial candidates.

 

You think you can hide anonymously behind your computer and post false and unauthorized profiles on social networking sites like Facebook or MySpace? Think again! An English businessman in London, England was successful this week in obtaining $43,767 in damages for defamation against a former friend who posted a false Facebook page about the man.

 

The false Facebook page was up on the Web for only 16 days. The men previously worked together and had a falling out. The former friend posted a Facebook page that looked like it was posted by the businessman.  The page made false claims about the businessman’s sexuality, financial indebtedness, and political views. Facebook staff traced the pages as being posted from the former friend’s computer. End result is $43,767 for doing something stupid!

 

False and misleading information is posted on social network sites everyday. What you may not realize is that U.S. defamation laws apply to the Internet the same as they do to newspapers. If you’re thinking about seeking revenge at your ex or other “enemy” by posting a false Facebook or other social network page, don’t do it! You could find yourself defending  your actions in court.

 

Max Meyers

 

 

A story by the AP reports that Government safety advocates have announced a recall of about 320,000 Jardine cribs, after four children became trapped. The wooden slats and spindles on the crib’s frames can break. Children can get trapped in the remaining gap. The Consumer Product Safety Commission is aware of at least 42 incidents of broken slats and spindles, and four instances of children getting trapped. Two children suffered minor injuries. 

The recalled cribs were manufactured in Taiwan by Jardine Enterprises and sold by KidsWorld stores, Geoffrey stores, Toys “R” Us and Babies “R” Us. They were available nationwide between January 2002 and May 2008.

Finding AP news story here.

My friend Dave Nelson last week lost his brother, Cpl. Richard “Ricky” J. Nelson, to a roadside bomb in Iraq. People say we all know someone who has had to endure this kind of sacrifice in their family, but you don’t really believe it until it smacks you square in the face. It is scary when it hits home for you personally. I am greatly saddened that we have lost Ricky Nelson, another great young American soldier, to the war in Iraq.

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kBo1RiTEXD0&feature=related[/youtube]

I cannot imagine the pain Ricky’s young wife and the Nelson’s must endure. I know Dave was concerned for his brother before he left for a second tour in Iraq. Ricky believed it was God’s will that he was in Iraq again, and it was this strong faith that guided him in life. Ricky told his mother two days before his death ”As much as I don’t care to be here, I know God has a plan.” God has summoned Ricky to his Kingdom and Ricky has found his rest. Ricky is in a better place now, and we are all blessed to have men like Ricky who choose to serve our Country so Freedom can endure throughout the world.

My friend Dave is a pastor at my church and a man of God as was Ricky. If there’s one thing that my faith and Dave have taught me – is to love those in your life with unbridled abandon. You never know when life can change in an instant forever. Never let an opportunity go by to express the love you feel in your heart to your family and friends.

For more information about our American Hero – Cpl. Richard “Ricky” J. Nelson go to www.richardjnelson.com.