Safe Passing

Frisco Needs Safe Passing for Vulnerable Road Users.  In June 2009 SB 488, the “Safe Passing” bill that would have created a safe zone of three feet around vulnerable road users (including pedestrians, runners, motorcyclists, cyclists, workers and more), was passed in the state of Texas. Similar laws have been passed in many other states including Arizona, Utah, Oklahoma, Colorado and Florida. 

 

 

“However, the Frisco Cycling Club received an alert concerning the bill on the day that it was to have been signed into law by Governor Perry that he was going to veto it. We immediately went on the offensive and alerted our members and friends to email or call his office and let him know how important this bill was to many Texans,” said Geoffrey Davis, president of Frisco Cycling Club. Click here to continue with this article.

How Dog Owners Can Avoid Being Bitten by a Lawsuit

My Attorney has gone to the dogs this month.  Read below for part of the newsletter Scott Seifert with Hiersche, Hayward, Drakeley & Urbach, P.C. and his firm produce monthly:

If you’ve got a dog, take some simple steps to prevent injuries — and legal headaches.

 

The numbers are up, and it’s not good news: Dogs bite 4.7 million people every year.

 
The explanations are nearly as numerous as the pet dogs, now counted at more than 62 million. Some speculate that Americans, frightened of crime, are favoring fiercer breeds. And busy owners too often leave their pets home alone, untrained and unsocialized. Dogs that spend a lot of time by themselves (especially if they’re tied up), aren’t used to being around strangers and haven’t received basic obedience training, are prime candidates to bite.

Who’s Liable?

 

Those injured usually have the law on their side. In the old days, the law gave dog owners what was called “one free bite.” Put simply, an owner wasn’t liable for injuries unless the dog had already shown it was likely to hurt someone. The dog didn’t actually have to have bitten someone — for example, if your dog lunged at the neighbor, teeth bared, you were considered to be on notice that the dog might bite.
But most states now make owners liable for any harm their dog causes, whether or not the owner had reason to suspect that the dog was dangerous. Dog owners can find themselves on the hook for an injured person’s medical expenses and lost wages, or even the therapy bills of a traumatized child. The dog owner may not be liable if the dog was provoked, or if the injured person was trespassing, but claims like these are often very hard to prove after the fact.
It’s far better, of course, to avoid injuries rather than fight about legal liability after they happen. And the truth is that dog owners could prevent most bites.

Click here to continue with this article:

The Six Stages of Mediation

In mediation, two or more people come together to try to work out a solution to their problem. A neutral third person, called the mediator, is there to help them along. Most mediators have some training in conflict resolution, although the extent of their training varies greatly. Unlike a judge or an arbitrator, the mediator does not take sides or make decisions. The mediator’s job is to help the disputants evaluate their goals and options and find their own mutually satisfactory solution.

 

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New Term For A Foreclosure:

The new term that is used to describe a person claiming foreclosure is “the walkaway.”   Fannie and Freddie are looking to make folks rethink walking out on their mortgages.  Both are releasing new guideline changes for how Lenders can approve a file after a foreclosure appears on the clients credit history.  You will need to bring at least 10% down, have a 680 or better FICO score and have to write a letter explaining the foreclosure.  Fannie now says 5 years must pass before you can get a loan and Freddy says 7 years.  I can’t say I agree with this change,  as it will have folks turn to other sources of lending that might not be optimum. In few years, we could get ourselves back in this sub-prime mess again.  The only true answer is to be patient, rent and rebuild your credit score while you wait it out.

Focus on the Solution, Not on Blame

(I found this article in a newsletter and thought I would share- you can read more here)

Angry tirades often reduce your chance of getting assistance. Instead, keep your cool and try to calmly explain exactly what went wrong and how you propose that it be fixed. The adage “You’ll get more bees with honey than with vinegar” should be your mantra.

Many people become obsessed with assigning blame for the problem rather than focusing on possible solutions. Worrying about who was at fault is generally a waste of energy, and it derails the discussion away from the ultimate goal of finding a solution. Rather than making a hotel manager defensive by accusing him or her of losing your reservation, try to get the manager on your side so that you can work toward a solution together. If you apologize for your travel agent’s apparent mistake, and let the manager save face, you’ll almost certainly get a more cooperative and prompt response.