Current And Former Personal Injury Lawyer both charged with Embezzlement

Thursday, November 5th, 2009

The long time 21 month investigation brought charges this Thursday against a Tulsa personal injury lawyer and another former lawyer on the allegations that they embezzled over $1.1 million from their clients.

In a stunning news release that comes out from the office of Oklahoma Attorney General Drew Edmondson, William J. Anton and Fred M. Schraeder are accused in a scheme of racketeering, conspiracy and multiple counts of embezzlement, forgery and also workers’ compensation fraud.

Schraeder who is currently 59, is also current Tulsa attorney and Anton who is 59, is ex or former lawyer who gave his law license back in 2007, but continued to practice the law. The two men are accused of embezzling $1,169,514.18 from their own clients personal injury funds and life insurance settlements and other benefits and various claims.

What is most interesting about the story is when a source said “The majority of the funds Anton and Schraeder are accused of stealing were intended to benefit Oklahomans who had been injured, whether on the job or in some type of accident”.

The detailed investigation of these personal injury lawyers conducted by the police department has uncovered that both defendants have paid their own personal expenses by using clients money. They
also point out that a discovery was made in a connection with Anton making a large number of ATM withdrawals, some ATM machines being located at casinos.

Tags: attorney charged, lawyer charged, personal injury attorney, personal injury attorneys, personal injury embezzlement, personal injury lawyer, personal injury lawyers
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Dealing with Insurance Companies

Wednesday, May 20th, 2009

Make sure that your interests and legal rights are fully protected if you’re involved in motor vehicle accidents. Typically, these auto accident claims are handled through insurance companies. Therefore, it’s wise to maintain appropriate communication with your insurance carrier after the accident and receive the maximum compensation amount you’re eligible to claim.

Here is the process of dealing with your insurance company after an auto accident:

• *Notify the police – file a police report
• *Gather evidence – take photos of your injury, damaged vehicle, and accident scene if possible
• *Know your coverage – review and understand your policy
• *Contact an insurance company representative– call your insurance agent after the accident or injury
• *Be honest – state all the facts; if not, it may invalidate your claim
• *Take notes – jot down the name and job title of the person that you’ve spoken with. Write down details of your conversation with the insurance company representatives.
• *Submit formal demand letter – determine the worth of your claim including the injuries you suffered, lost income, medical treatment needed, etc. This part is best done with the help of an experienced and qualified personal injury attorney.
• *Negotiate – don’t accept first estimate because the initial appraisal will most likely be low.
• *Get legal advice – Remember that you don’t need to sign any waivers, releases, or final payment checks until you’ve consulted a personal injury attorney who will protect your legal rights.

Tags: attorney, auto accident claims, insurance companies, personal injury attorney
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Tort Law Explained

Monday, May 18th, 2009

Civil wrongs that result in harm or personal injury constituting grounds for a lawsuit are called torts. Therefore, tort law addresses conflicts between entities (e.g. pharmaceutical company) or private individuals. It’s the type of law governing personal injury claims and it serves these purposes:

• -To ensure that the aggrieved or injured party receives compensation for damages, and
• -To deter other entities and individuals from committing the same harm.

Tort law is determined by individual states through legislative and judicial action. Although rare, a tort claim may also be made under the federal law. One example of this is a civil rights violation.

Most personal injury cases may fall under tort law. It covers a wide range of cases involving product liability, medical negligence, boating accidents, motorcycle accidents, and car accidents. Under this law, injured parties may recover damages for suffering, pain, medical expenses, and existing loss of earning or future loss of earning capacity.

Some torts are considered as punishable crimes. However, tort law is entirely different from criminal law. Torts can be remedied with monetary means while crimes are concerned with punishment in jail. So if you are searching for someone to defend you and help your claim, search for an experienced personal injury lawyer through an online directory.

Tags: federal law, law, online directory, personal injury, personal injury attorney, tort claim, tort law
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Insurance Companies may Cheat you

Tuesday, May 5th, 2009

Victims of personal injury usually don’t know how much they could claim for a back injury or car accident insurance settlement. Every case is different.

In a regular claim, the company attorney or adjuster will determine the settlement amount. However, if you deal directly with them without the presence of an attorney, the insurance company may try to convince you that your claim is really not worth too much. The common strategy is to give you a small offer and would threaten you to “take it, or otherwise, leave it.”

On the other hand, if you consult personal injury attorneys, they would naturally know how much a case is worth based on their experience. If you allow them to negotiate for you, it’s in their best interest to claim for a higher amount (they’ll earn more if they can get more settlement for you). For example, a common initial offer is $500 for your pain and suffering. However, an experienced personal injury attorney would have gotten $5,000 for the same claim.

The amount you can claim for back injury settlements would depend on many factors:

· The severity of the injury

· The length of treatment

· The amount of permanent damage done

· How much work or pay was lost

· The effect on your lifestyle

· The kind of job you could have had if there was no injury that took place.

Tags: attorney, personal injury, personal injury attorney, personal injury attorneys
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