Recent Blog Posts
Avoiding Employment Scams in Wisconsin
Scams that prey on those who are seeking employment can be particularly cruel - and they are on the rise. Parents of young children, in particular, began seeking work-from-home opportunities more and more during COVID-related school and office closures. In the past, employment scams were a bit easier to spot. Before the pandemic, the simple fact that an employment ad offered a well-paid work-from-home opportunity was often enough to raise suspicions and trigger a deeper investigation. Now that a significant number of legitimate companies have most or all employees working remotely, spotting an employment scam can be trickier. There are, however, a few signs of a questionable position you can keep an eye out for.
What Are Some Telltale Signs of an Employment Scam?
Top 6 Crimes People Get Arrested For in Milwaukee
Watching the local news may lead you to believe that people are constantly being caught and arrested for very serious crimes, like violent felonies and even murder. However, this is not quite true. The most common offenses that people get arrested for may surprise you. While we like to think that jails exist to keep dangerous offenders out of the community where they cannot hurt anyone, the local jails are typically filled with non-violent offenders.
If you have already been arrested, you need not feel alone. Hundreds of people are arrested every day in Wisconsin. If this is the situation you are in, a qualified defense attorney may be able to help minimize the impact your arrest will have on your life.
What Are the Most Common Reasons People Get Arrested?
What You Need to Know About Non-Compete Contracts in Wisconsin
Being asked to sign a non-compete contract when you start a job may seem like standard procedure, or it could be a big risk for you, depending on your location and what line of work you are in. Non-competes may include any number of restrictions related to what type of work you can do, where, and when. While generally enforceable, in some cases these agreements may not be enforceable in whole or in part. If you feel that your non-compete clause is truly hindering your career progress and opportunities, it may be worth consulting an attorney for an evaluation. The agreement you signed may not be as ironclad as you may think.
When is a Non-Compete Clause Unenforceable in Wisconsin?
In determining whether non-compete clauses are enforceable, Wisconsin law attempts to balance the freedom to move within the labor market with the protections companies seek to obtain with these agreements. If every company was allowed to require every employee to sign a non-compete as a condition of employment, it would be quite difficult for the labor market to function. Changing jobs could become quite difficult if this were the case. Therefore, to be enforceable the terms of a non-compete clause must be reasonable and allow an employee to obtain employment, albeit with restrictions. A few things you should know about non-compete clauses include:
The Blurred Line Between Trespass and Burglary
Even the more serious forms of criminal trespassing are generally charged as a misdemeanor, carrying no more than a year in jail at the worst. Burglary, however, is at minimum a Class F felony, punishable by up to 12 years and six months in prison. The punishments for these offenses are wildly different, but these Wisconsin offenses themselves can be strikingly similar. The line between trespass and burglary is less clear than most people realize. Both involve entering or remaining in another’s property without consent. The difference may hinge on what the state thinks you were planning to do in there. If you are facing either charge, it is important to seek out a skilled defense attorney who can fight to minimize the legal jeopardy you are in
What is the Difference Between Criminal Trespass and Burglary?
Avoiding Social Security Scams in Wisconsin
Scams are growing more and more sophisticated with each passing year. Avoiding scams can be difficult, due to both how common they are and how convincing they can appear to be. The elderly are perhaps the most common targets for Social Security and Medicare scams, although people of all ages can and do fall victim to scam artists. The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) reports that victims lost millions of dollars to social security scams in 2018 alone, and that number is only increasing. Keeping yourself, your family and your elderly or more vulnerable loved ones up to date and educated about current common scams is one of the best ways to stop these predatory criminals from victimizing more individuals. Read the governmental agency links on how best to avoid scams. Contact a lawyer knowledgeable about consumer protection laws for help if you or a loved one were the victim of a scam or identity theft.
COVID Scams to Watch Out For
The pandemic has brought out the best in a lot of people. Communities have banded together to help each other out and look out for the most vulnerable. Sadly, there are those who have taken advantage of the pandemic by inventing creative new scams. Many of these scams are designed to take advantage of more vulnerable people, especially the elderly. Spotting scams can be tricky. Scammers are often adept at creating a sense of panic, forcing victims to act quickly before they have a chance to fully evaluate and think through the situation. People who are already aware of these new scams and techniques stand a better chance of avoiding falling prey to them.
If you already have been a victim, do not be too embarrassed. Scam artists are good at what they do and it happens to a lot of people. If you were harmed by a COVID scam, a lawyer may be able to assist you.
Top Reasons Wisconsin Healthcare Professionals Lose Their Licenses
Doctors, nurses, therapists, and other health care professionals work extremely hard to obtain their professional licenses. Between schooling, practical training, and undergoing background checks or even enduring questions about mental health, it is not easy to get a professional license in the health care industry. Losing a license can be devastating, and it can happen for a number of reasons. Both criminal charges, whether or not they are related to your work, and some civil issues can lead to the loss of a medical license. In many cases, successfully defending against a criminal or civil accusation will preserve your license. You may need the skill of an experienced attorney to help you protect your career.
What Criminal Issues Can Lead to the Loss of a Healthcare Professional License?
Legal Options After a Winter Slip and Fall Accident in Wisconsin
Slip and fall accidents are one of the leading causes of personal injury in the winter. Sometimes, these accidents are the unavoidable result of harsh weather conditions. Other times, it is someone’s carelessness that leads others to fall and get hurt. Many slips and falls are entirely preventable when property owners and business operators use reasonable care to keep those on their premises safe. A number of careless practices when it comes to managing winter weather conditions can make accidents more likely.
Demonstrating liability for a slip and fall can be challenging, due to a number of Wisconsin state laws. Whether you will be able to recover is highly dependent on the specific facts of your case. You will most likely need to speak with an attorney first to determine whether you may be eligible for compensation.
What Causes Winter Slip and Falls - and Could I Recover?
Who Is Liable for Truck Accidents Involving Snow or Ice?
During the winter, the roads in Wisconsin and throughout the United States can become very dangerous. Storms may cause snow to accumulate on roads and highways, and cold temperatures may cause ice to form. These conditions can make roads very slick, and drivers will be much more likely to lose control of their vehicles and become involved in collisions. These issues are especially dangerous for large trucks and commercial vehicles, and truck drivers will need to take extra care to drive safely and avoid collisions. When truck accidents occur, victims can work with an attorney to determine who was responsible and take action to recover compensation from the liable parties.
Causes of Winter Truck Accidents
Truck crashes that take place on snow or ice can be deadly. When a massive tractor-trailer truck cannot slow down or stop correctly, it may collide with other vehicles at high speeds, resulting in severe injuries or wrongful death. These accidents may occur because of:
Can Construction Litigation Address Issues Related to Winter Weather?
The winters in Wisconsin can be brutal. Extremely cold temperatures and major storms involving snow, ice, and strong winds can affect people’s lives in multiple ways, and these issues can also have an impact on construction projects. In cases where winter weather resulted in delays or other issues that caused one or more parties to experience financial losses, construction litigation may be necessary. For those who are looking to recover losses or who need to defend against claims related to cold weather, it is crucial to work with an attorney who has experience addressing these matters both inside and outside of the courtroom.
Addressing Delays or Damage Related to Winter Weather
Construction projects may encounter delays for a variety of reasons, and when delays are unreasonable, a property owner, developer, or other parties may take action to address their financial losses. If certain types of work are not completed within the expected time frame, this may affect a contractor’s or subcontractor’s ability to begin other types of work. A delay in the completion of a construction project can affect an owner or developer’s plans to use the property. If a delay results in a violation of a contract, one or more parties may pursue litigation to address the breach of contract.