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Hurricane Prep for Businesses
By: Charles R. Gallagher III
Having been very fortunate over the past two hurricane seasons, local business owners need to be all the more vigilant this storm season. Experts predict an active hurricane season. Your business hurricane preparedness plan should include three segments: (1) personnel, (2) facility and (3) equipment/data.
Each business should develop a notification system for closure and evacuation. Many businesses have established a hotline to alert employees of closure. Email and cell phones are also an effective means of communication.
Next, you should attempt to protect your office facility. This preparation takes place far before the hurricane season. First, ensure that your property insurance includes hurricane and windstorm as covered perils. Also, confirm that you have a separate flood insurance policy, since flood is typically an excluded peril most insurance policies. Next, consider hurricane shutters or some other temporary window covering.
Finally, perhaps the most important area of preparedness involves protection of equipment and data. Ensure that you maintain an off site hard copy of your client list, your file list, client contact information, and other sensitive data. In the event of an evacuation of the office, retain the disk/tape backup copies of data from your server and a hard copy of vital client data. Ensure that your server and workstations are away from windows above ground level.
Careful preparation can minimize the impact of a hurricane on your business. Should have any questions about preparedness or hurricane claims please feel free to contact us at Gallagher & Associates Law Firm, P.A. at 727-344-LAWS or www.attorneyoffices.org.
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The Little Pink House that Could
By: Caitlin Sirico
Up until a month ago, the little pink house of Susette Kelo stood in the shadows of Pfizer Pharmaceuticals which has now consumed the former historical Fort Trumbell area of New London, Connecticut. As a former Connecticut resident, and New London-ite, I admired the little pink house and all that it stood for. The house was one of the many taken in the eminent domain action known as Kelo v. New London. In this case, the Supreme Court ruled 5-4 in June of 2005 that local governments may seize homes and businesses, even against an owner's will, for private economic development. The pink house stood in the way of such private development, and New London's efforts to build a riverfront project. As a result, the house helped to spark a property rights movement across America and bring about massive public awareness. As a result, 42 states, including Florida, have changed their eminent domain laws either through citizen initiative or legislation. About half of these provide strong protection against the abuse of eminent domain and virtually all of them represent an improvement over the truly terrible eminent domain laws that were on the books before Kelo.
On June 21st, 2008, however, the Kelo house became more than just a symbol; it became a national monument. The home was purchased for $1 by Avner Gregory of New London. For $100,000, he had the house disassembled and relocated to a site close to the downtown area. As he dedicated the home in front of 200 onlookers, Gregory stated, "This was somebody's house and they were asked to leave. This is a house that represents a home to the everyday people of America." The Institute for Justice, a Washington law firm that helped Kelo with her legal work, participated in the dedication ceremony as well. It unveiled a plaque summarizing the significance of the house and presented an address post engraved with the message "Not for Sale".
At the end of 3 long years, Susette Kelo did eventually lose her home and the legal battle in attempting to save it. But in turn, this little pink house that could helped win the war against serious eminent domain abuse. Kelo claims that it will stand in the heart of the city as a reminder of how New London reshaped the neighborhood that she was forced to abandon. |
Airlines Increase Checked Baggage Fees
By: Lowrey Woodward
Not only are travelers feeling the pinch in their wallet when paying for summer vacation flights, now they are also being forced to shell out even more cash to ensure their baggage actually makes it to their destination. Due to increased fuel costs, many domestic airlines have changed their checked baggage policy and instituted a fee for bags checked, some even for your first bag.
Currently, Southwest and Spirit airlines are the only domestic carriers NOT charging a fee for a second bag. Whereas both American and United Airlines are charging a $15 fee each way for the FIRST checked bag and $25 for the second. Delta on the other hand has gone the route of doubling the fee to $50 for a second checked bag and $125 for a third.
Some airlines are now hiding even more additional fees by implementing policies like charging $7 for a pillow and blanket set, a new JetBlue policy, or charging for the traditionally complementary in flight nonalcoholic drink and snack. These new high-priced airline policies which are costing travelers a pretty penny might force some to opt to stay close to home for their next vacation. |
Alzheimer's Memory Walk
By: Ginny Keeter-Bodkin
Just a reminder. We are less than one month away from the September 13th Pinellas/Hillsborough Memory Walk 2008. The Alzheimer's Association Memory Walk is the nation's largest event to raise awareness and funds for Alzheimer care, support and research - and it calls on volunteers of all ages to become champions in the fight against Alzheimer's. There are walks in more than 600 communities.
Gallagher & Associates is sponsoring a team and we invite all of our friends, colleagues and clients to join us in the walk or just to donate. The walk is at 9:00 AM on Saturday, September 13th and is 3 miles from the Pier in downtown St. Pete. By teaming up with the Alzheimer's Association, you can walk with a purpose - and move us closer to a world without Alzheimer's. Together, we can MOVE a nation.
Please go to www.alz.org/memorywalk to sign up to join us, or to donate to help us reach (or exceed) our goal. Just Go to "Find a Walk" and use or Zip Code 33707, where you will see St. Petersburg, FL and search under Top Fundraisers on the right to find Gallagher & Associates Law Firm Team - Thank you for your support!!!
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G&A Featured on
Channel 10 News
On June 24, Charles Gallagher, Bobby Reynolds and Rachel Goodman appeared on Channel 10 News in the Morning to discuss toxic mold claims and tenants rights. They took email questions from viewers for two segments. |
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G&A News & Notes
-Charles Gallagher, Bobby Reynolds and Lowrey Woodward recently spoke at a Sterling Education Series seminar on Commercial Landlord
Tenant Law.
-G&A was a sponsor of the Clearwater Bar Foundation's Family Fun Night at the Clewarwater Threshers game.
-Lowrey Woodward joined the firm in August as a law clerk. She spent the first half of the summer clerking for a Pinellas Circuit Judge.
-Sheryl Clark will be attending the University of Chicago's LLM program in tax law. |
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Gallagher & Associates Law Firm, P.A. accepts cases throughout the Tampa Bay area. Our main practice areas include: insurance litigation, real estate & business litigation, accident/injury litigation, consumer law, and employment litigation. www.attorneyoffices.org |
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The hiring of a lawyer is an important decision that should not be based solely upon advertisements. Before you decide, ask us to send you free written information about our qualifications and experience. This web site is designed for general information only. The information presented at this site should not be construed to be formal legal advice nor the formation of a lawyer/client relationship. | |
