Dear Clients & Friends,

Legal Chat:  Whether you are a staff pharmacist for a major drug store chain, a sales specialist for a computer software company, an independent service contractor, the director of a non-profit group or a meetings planner extraordinaire, Employment agreements have become a standard business requirement.  The general purpose of this contract is to protect the employer’s client list and territory while still allowing you to earn an income and retain your individual rights to further your personal, professional and financial goals.  These contracts are often one-sided and may even contain provisions that are legally unenforceable (certain limitations in a non-compete may be illegal but you may consent to them inadvertently).  When you speak with me, I explain the law and provide negotiating options based on your personal needs.  Do not limit your future choices; by understanding the law and your legal rights, you can negotiate fair and equitable terms with your employer.  FYI, I also write these contracts for several employers, so I can give you feedback from both sides of the aisle.

RECALL: Lacrosse Helmets Recalled by Easton Sports Due to Facial Injury Hazard

Saving Lives: April is National “End Distracted Driving Month” and I need your help.  I am one of over 800 trial lawyers, judges and safety professionals who will be lecturing to High School students and Civic groups in all 50 States and Canada on the dangers of distracted driving.  We have a program developed by a consortium of national safety experts that is not just educational, but a poignant and compelling examination of this national problem.  If you are in the educational field, have a teen getting ready to drive or one headed to the Prom, please help me get this message out and have your school principal call me to schedule a presentation.

Happy Easter.  Happy Passover. Kalo Pascha.

Go Orioles.

Be well.   John CM

Dear Clients & Friends,

Last month, we talked about car insurance and the need to have appropriate limits(i.e.$500k) of uninsured and underinsured motorist coverage on your own policy to protect you and your family against a negligent driver.  I received several calls asking me what happens if you cause an auto accident or if someone accidentally gets hurt at your home during a party.   How do I protect myself from a terrible situation? A personal liability policy (umbrella policy) is designed to protect YOUR assets against one of these unforseen events.

Consider if someone falls on your icy driveway and then you run over them while backing out of your garage.  If you have $1 million limits on both your home and auto policies but the victim wins a $10 million judgment, you could face financial ruin unless you have an umbrella policy.

This policy will provide a last line of defense against lawsuits and aggressive lawyers seeking the maximum damages from you (yes, this will protect you against a bulldog like John CM).  Call me if you want to know what umbrella I carry and the cost.

RECALL:
Infants’ TYLENOL Oral Suspension, 1 oz. Grape: Recall – Dosing System Complaints
Infant Tylenol Recall Information

COOL STORY OUT OF KENT COUNTY, MD:
Washington College vs Gettysburg College Basketball game. 
When there’s more to winning than winning

CONSUMER ISSUES:
Have a complaint against a home improvemnt contractor? Put the sytem to work for you free of charge – call for details.

Do you work for a business that is committing financial fraud? Have you alerted your supervisor but they refuse to do the right thing? You have choices – call me for a confidential discussion.

Be well.   John CM

Dear Clients & Friends,

You drive your car almost everyday.  If you are in an accident and the other driver is at fault, you expect his insurance company to pay for your injuries, medical bills, lost time from work and repairs.  But what happens when he carries a minimum amount of insurance which is not enough to cover your personal losses?  What if he has no insurance at all?  What if it is a hit and run? How much will you have to pay?

This month, I want you to take out your car insurance policy and check your liability protection and your uninsured/underinsured (UM/UIM) motorists coverage.  The liability amount protects you when you are at fault: this is how much you are insured for the personal injury and damage you cause.  The UM/UIM protects you and your family from the at fault driver: if he only has the minimum $15k policy (which many people do) and you have a $100k in coverage, you can reach into your own policy for an additional $85k for coverage.  Now, ask yourself, would  that be enough in a serious accident case? Are you really protected?

You have the ability to increase your insurance protection to an amount that fits your needs and the needs of your loved ones.  Know your rights and be smart about car insurance.  If you have any questions about your policy, call or e-mail me.  Finally, if you are ever involved in an auto or motorcycle accident, make your first call to the Law Office of John C.M. Angelos for a private consultation.

FAST FACT: Women driving cars are 47% more likely than male drivers to be seriously injured in a crash when both groups are wearing seat belts.  This is primarily due to a woman’s musculature and car safety design.  Women drivers can ensure that their safety systems perform optimally by maintaining a good belt fit and correct seating posture.

DID YOU KNOW: In 2008, for the first time in 30 years, more people died of poisoning than in car crashes (36,500).  Poisoning is now the leading cause of injury death in the United States.

Quote: Yesterday is gone, but you will have a better tomorrow by what you do today.  Reach across the aisle to make peace with those who you are in conflict with.  It is this kindness and respect that will sustain us through our own hard times.  Anonymous

Be well.   John CM

–  PRESS  RELEASE  –

JOHN C. M. ANGELOS, ESQ.
PRESIDENT
LAW OFFICE OF JOHN C. M. ANGELOS
GRADUATES FROM
LEADERSHIP MARYLAND CLASS OF 2010

John C.M. Angelos, Esq., President, Law Office of John C. M. Angelos, Baltimore, recently completed an eight-month long leadership development program sponsored by Leadership Maryland.

Leadership Maryland, celebrating its 18th graduating class, honored this Owings Mills resident, along with fifty statewide classmates at a black-tie reception and banquet held December 7, 2010 at the Renaissance Harborplace Hotel in Baltimore.
Leadership Maryland, an independent, educational leadership development organization, informs top level executives from the public and private sectors about the critical issues, challenges and opportunities facing the State of Maryland, and its regions. After participating in a broad range of experiences, these statewide leaders are prepared to address these issues and serve as important participants in the unified effort to shape Maryland’s future.

“To be informed about statewide and regional issues, and having the opportunity to engage and interact with leaders who put themselves on the front line everyday, has prepared these individuals to be the catalyst for positive change in Maryland,” stated Leadership Maryland Board Chairwoman Sharon R. Pinder. A 1998 graduate of the program, Ms. Pinder is president and CEO, The Pinder Group, LLC, Clarksville, Maryland.

“These are the leaders to watch, now, and in the future,” said Leadership Maryland President Nancy Minieri. “Their experience confirms that the quality of leadership affects the success of the solutions. Problems are solved when committed, dynamic leaders with vision and passion are willing to take the risk to lead.”
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact:  Nancy Minieri
410) 841-2101