Council Bluffs Personal Injury Lawyer - Rants and Raves

Discussing Medical Malpractice Reform In California

Staff Writer — Fri, 13 Jul 2007 10:41:41 GMT

Walter Olson over at Point of Law questions fellow InjuryBoard blogger Randy Udelman's post about medical malpractice reform in California affecting the quality of healthcare in the state's medical facilities. I think Walter misses Randy's point that medical malpractice caps could potentially lead to worse healthcare when doctors and hospitals know they will not be held accountable.

For more information on this subject, please refer to our section on Medical Malpractice and Negligent Care.

Originally posted at InjuryBoard by Staff Writer

Nebraska Will Now FINALLY Require Continuing Legal Education for its Attorneys

Craig Kelley — Wed, 23 Aug 2006 11:10:28 GMT

SEE THE PRESS RELEASE BELOW FOLLOWED BY MY OPINIONS:

SUPREME COURT ADOPTS THE CONCEPT OF MANDATORY CONTINUING LEGAL EDUCATION FOR ACTIVE LAWYERS IN NEBRASKA

The NSBA House of Delegates passed a resolution in 2004 that requested the Nebraska Supreme Court to adopt the concept of mandatory continuing education for lawyers. A copy of the resolution is attached. After this resolution was adopted, law schools, law-related associations, law firms, bar association sections and other legal employers were asked to indicate their support for the concept of mandatory CLE.

This information was provided to the Nebraska Supreme Court by way of a petition in March of 2006. In mid-June, the officers of the NSBA met with the Supreme Court to make a presentation on the value and importance of MCLE to the professionalism of the practicing bar, as well as the public's trust and confidence in the legal profession.

On June 21, the Supreme Court adopted the NSBA's petition and approved the concept of mandatory continuing legal education for active Nebraska lawyers. It also ordered the NSBA to provide it with proposed rules for the implementation of MCLE. The NSBA is in the process of forming such a committee. The committee will be as broadly based as possible to assure that the plan will take into account the need for accessibility and affordability in meeting any MCLE requirement.

The proposed rules will be sent to the NSBA House of Delegates, before submission to the Supreme Court. The House will have the opportunity to vote on the proposed rules. Those proposed rules will then be sent to the Supreme Court for further consideration.

WHY do I feel so strongly about MANDATORY Continuing Legal Education (CLE) for Attorneys in my OTHER state of Practice?

The second state where I practice, Iowa, has CLE requirements, and while I grump and moan about attending the required 17 hours of CLE each year, I always learn a great deal and make myself a better Trial AND Accident attorney each time I attend a Seminar.

These new requirements will make ALL attorneys do a better job for you, our clients, just like continuing education requirements make doctors, dentists, accoutants and ALL other professions that require continuing education better!

Originally posted at InjuryBoard by Craig Kelley

Proud To Be A Trial Attorney - No Matter What They Call Me!

Craig Kelley — Thu, 10 Aug 2006 01:04:42 GMT

On July 19, 2006, members of the Association of Trial Lawyers of America (ATLA) voted at their annual membership meeting in Seattle, Washington to change the organization's name to the American Association for Justice. I , as well as ALL members of my Firm, voted to leave the anme as it was and has been.

The reason for the new name, the American Association for Justice, is supposedly to better reflect the group's mission of promoting justice and accountability in the courtroom. In representing their clients fairly and honestly, the A.A.J. attorneys work hard each and every day to ensure that justice prevails.

Through the new name, the American Association for Justice hopes to communicate its larger role in protecting and strengthening the civil justice system. It is hoped the new name goes beyond who the group of lawyers is, bringing to light what they do for their clients. We at Inserra & Kelley feel that the name change buckles to the constant smearing of our valuable profession by Tort reformers!

Tort reform proponents continue to blame trial lawyers for the country's malpractice crisis and many other ills caused by politicians and govermnment, conducting many massive campaigns to slander their image of trial lawyers. Through websites such as People Over Profits, however, it is easy to see how dedicated these attorneys are to helping victims. Trial lawyers have, and will continue to, take the fight to Congress to ensure that every American's civil rights are protected, and every accident victim is guaranteed the highest quality legal representation without recovery limits.

The name change will go into effect following the November 2006 elections, and the American Association for Justice will release further information on its purpose.

What a sad statement on the power of the media to misplace blame and promote a pullback in the rights offered by our 200+ year-old Justice System that has served us so well.

Originally posted at InjuryBoard by Craig Kelley

I WANT TO BE IN STURGIS!!

Craig Kelley — Mon, 07 Aug 2006 09:38:10 GMT

In spite of the fact that there is too many people, too much traffic, too many accidents, and too many inexperienced riders that have not taken the proper motorcycle safety courses:

I really wish I was up in the Black Hills riding Needles Highway, Iron Mountain Road, and checking out Mount Rushmore under the lights after an afternoon of tranquility at Sylvan Lake.

So, all of you who did get to attend the Rally this year, remember how lucky you are to be IN THE WIND, and BE SAFE!!

Originally posted at InjuryBoard by Craig Kelley