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Experienced Personal Injury Attorney Comments on Settlement with Families of Victims of Florida Condominium Collapse

NEW YORK, NY — Ronald J. Katter, of The Katter Law Firm, says the lawsuit settlement proposal announced yesterday for last year’s deadly Florida condominium collapse should be approved because it is both fair and efficient.

In the early morning hours of June 24, 2021, Champlain Towers South in Surfside, Florida, collapsed, killing 98 people and destroying 136 apartments. The surviving victims, families of those who were killed, and the unit owners filed more than 20 lawsuits against the Champlain Towers South Condominium Association and the developer of Eighty Seven Park project, the building next door. They claimed the developer’s work from that construction project caused the condominium to collapse. This past March, the defendants offered $83 million to the condominium unit owners for their property loss. Miami-Dade County Circuit Court Judge Michael Hanzman, who is overseeing the lawsuits related to the Surfside building collapse, was deciding whether to approve that settlement.

On May 11, 2022, Judge Hanzman unexpectedly announced the $997 million settlement of the class-action lawsuit brought by the survivors and the families of those who died. “The enormous size and speed of the proposed settlement benefits all parties involved,” Mr. Katter said. “As large as a $997 million settlement seems, the defendants, who did not admit responsibility, might have paid much more, had the case gone to trial. The survivors and families of those who were killed decided that, although a jury may have awarded them even more money at trial, the risks and emotional toll of a drawn-out litigation were not worth it. Ironically, a good settlement is one in which neither side gets everything they want.”

Mr. Katter is available for interviews on this matter. For more information, call (212) 809-4293 or visit www.katterlaw.com.

 

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About The Katter Law Firm

The Katter Law Firm represents clients throughout New York City in personal injury cases including those who have suffered injuries as a result of Legionnaires ’disease, motor vehicle collisions, pedestrian knockdowns, bicycle crashes, slip/trip and falls,  assaults, workplace accidents, construction accidents, professional malpractice, nursing home negligence, hospital mistreatment, police abuse, accidental death, pet attacks and cemetery and funeral negligence.  The firm aggressively represents injured victims through New York’s five boroughs, as well as the surrounding counties. For more information, call (212) 809-4293 or visit www.katterlaw.com.

Eastern Long Island-Based Trademark and Copyright Attorney Explains How Business Owners Can Protect Their Company Name or Brand

Kathryn Dalli

RIVERHEAD, NEW YORK — Kathryn Dalli, Partner, Twomey, Latham, Shea, Kelley, Dubin & Quartararo, LLP, is available to speak on how business owners can protect their name or brand by obtaining a federal trademark registration.

Ms. Dalli says that registering a trademark for the name of a business or its brand with the U.S. Patent & Trademark Office (USPTO) provides protection in all 50 states. However, there are certain instances where you will be unable to obtain a federal trademark for your business. “If your trademark conflicts with a prior registered trademark or one that has been applied for in your channel of trade — that is, your area of business — the mark cannot be federally registered,” she says. “Also, if your name is descriptive of the services you offer, you will be unable to obtain a trademark for each service on the USPTO’s principal register.”

Two other instances that may preclude a business owner from federally registering the company name or brand are if the business involves the sale of marijuana and cannabis products (which are illegal under federal law), and the company does not do business outside its locality.

“In these instances, in which you cannot get a federal trademark, it might be better to obtain a state registration of your mark, which affords some protection,” Ms. Dalli says.

Ms. Dalli urges those who apply for a registered trademark to be patient, but also to be proactive. “The review and application process can take a year or more, and there is no guarantee that your application will be approved,” she says. “It is also your responsibility to monitor the status of your application. If you are thinking of obtaining a federally registered trademark for your name or brand, the best advice is to seek the assistance of a trademark or intellectual property attorney.”

Ms. Dalli concentrates her practice in intellectual property matters, including trademark and copyright infringement and unfair competition, as well as complex commercial litigation, real estate and foreclosures. She is a member of the American Intellectual Property Law Association and a former Co-Chair of the Suffolk County Bar Association’s Intellectual Law Committee.

For more information, call (631) 727-2180 or visit www.suffolklaw.com.

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About Twomey Latham

Twomey, Latham, Shea, Kelley, Dubin & Quartararo, LLP is a full-service law firm with a 65-person staff with over 25 attorneys, paralegals and legal assistants in five offices across Long Island. The firm’s practice areas include Business and Corporate Law, Labor and Employment, Insurance, Banking, Commercial Litigation, Taxation, Trademark and Copyright, Environmental Law, Real Estate Development and Transactions, Construction, Land Use and Zoning, Municipal Law, Personal Injury, Arts and Entertainment, Wills Trusts and Estates, Estate Litigation, Elder Law, Family and Matrimonial Law, and Not-For-Profit Law.

Tennessee Personal Injury Attorney Urges Caution Behind the Wheel during Distracted Driving Awareness Month

Keith Williams

The month of April is designated as Distracted Driving Awareness Month and Keith Williams, Founder, Keith Williams Law Group, is urging those who have been injured or whose loved one has been injured or killed as the result of another’s distracted driving to obtain legal assistance as soon as possible.

Distracted Driving Awareness Month is held every April to help educate drivers on the dangers of being distracted behind the wheel. According to the National Safety Council (NSC), eight people are killed and hundreds are injured each day as a result of drivers taking their eyes off a road — even for a few seconds.

A report from AmTrust Financial found that 6% of all drivers involved in a traffic fatality were not paying attention to the road and one in every four crashes was caused by a distracted driver. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, distracted drivers fall into three groups: visual (focusing on a cell phone, mobile device or touchscreen on the dashboard instead of on the road); manual (driving without keeping their hands on the steering wheel); and cognitive (their eyes may be on the road, but their mind may be thinking of something else besides driving).

“Too many accidents and fatalities on the road have been caused by drivers who were checking their cell phones, not controlling the steering wheel or mentally preoccupied by something else,” Mr. Williams says. “If you were seriously injured or your loved one was hurt or killed by a distracted driver, seek the guidance of a personal injury attorney immediately.”

Mr. Williams has dedicated his practice of 28 years to helping people and their families in accident, injury and wrongful death cases. He has tried hundreds of cases and obtained millions of dollars in verdicts and settlements for his clients. Some of the more substantial verdicts include a $14.6 million verdict for an injured motorcycle rider and a $6.2 million verdict for a car accident victim that is believed to be the largest verdict ever in Sumner County, Tennessee.

Personal Injury Lawyer Foresees Rise in Vehicular Fatalities as People Fail to Change Their Driving Habits, Even after the Pandemic

Ira S. Slavit, Partner, Levine & Slavit PLLC, says the growing number of fatalities on the road can be attributed to how people are not adhering to traffic laws, even after the pandemic lockdown, which also saw a growing number of deaths behind the wheel, although there were fewer vehicles on the road.

This month, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) came out with a report that showed that, during the first nine months of 2021 — a year after the lockdown was lifted — there were 31,720 deaths on U.S. roads, the highest since 2011. That is a 12% increase over the same nine months in 2020, with 28,325 fatalities. What’s more, the third quarter of 2021 saw 11,750 traffic deaths, which is higher than the same quarter in 2020 with 11,305 deaths and the second quarter of 2021, which had 11,065 deaths.

In New York State, 811 people were killed on the roads between January 2021 and September 2021, which is 6.0% higher than it was the first nine months the previous year with 765 deaths, according to the NHTSA. The organization also found that the Empire State had the second-highest number of traffic deaths in the Northeast followed by New Jersey (496) and Connecticut (253); Pennsylvania had the highest number of highway fatalities in the region with 903.

The main causes of these fatalities include not using seat belts, drunk driving and using a cell phone behind the wheel, based on the analysis of data from NHTSA. “The causes are not surprising, but what is surprising is how much more prevalent these poor driving habits became after the pandemic lockdown ended,” Mr. Slavit says.

“These numbers show a disturbing trend on the roads nationwide, including New York,” Mr. Slavit said. “During the pandemic lockdown, there weren’t as many people driving, but we saw a spike in traffic-related deaths. Now, with the lockdown being lifted, stores and businesses fully reopening and people returning to the office, that means more cars on the road and, because of careless driving habits, a greater number of fatalities. If you have been injured in a car crash, or had a loved one killed as a result of someone else’s reckless driving, contact a personal injury attorney immediately.”

For more information on Levine & Slavit, visit www.newyorkinjuries.com.

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About Levine & Slavit PLLC

Levine & Slavit PLLC is a third-generation personal injury firm serving Long Island and the greater New York City area. Its attorneys handle cases such as auto accidents, slip and fall injuries, medical malpractice, wrongful death and products lability. The firm strives to obtain just recovery for its personal injury clients, whether for long-term or short-term needs, and works hard to ensure that its clients are not burdened with costly medical bills as a result of someone else’s action or inaction. For more information, visit www.newyorkinjuries.com.

Air Force Veteran and Former Assistant Staff Judge Advocate Joins East End Law Firm as an Associate

Jacqueline Morley

RIVERHEAD, NEW YORK — Twomey, Latham, Shea, Kelley, Dubin & Quartararo, LLP has announced that Jacqueline Morley has joined the firm as an Associate. She will concentrate her practice in real estate, zoning and land use, and environmental law.

Prior to joining the firm, Ms. Morley served as an Assistant Staff Judge Advocate (ASJA) with the United States Air Force at Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst, New Jersey. During her time with the Air Force, she prosecuted criminal cases within the service and supported the Air Force in the areas of government procurement law, labor law, and environmental law. Ms. Morley continues to serve as an ASJA with the New York Air National Guard in Westhampton Beach.

Ms. Morley earned a Master of Laws in Environmental Law, Concentration in Land Use and Sustainable Development from the Elisabeth Haub School of Law at Pace University and a Juris Doctor from American University Washington College of Law. While earning her law degrees, she interned at a number of locations in Washington, D.C., including the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, the U.S. Department of Justice, and the Inspector General’s Office for Prince George’s County Police Department in Maryland.

More locally, she worked as a Judicial Intern with the Honorable Anne Y. Shields, Magistrate Judge, Eastern District of New York and gained experience via summer internships with both the Kings County District Attorney’s Office, and the Queens District Attorney’s Office.

Ms. Morley is a graduate of Princeton University, where she earned her Bachelor of Arts degree. She is currently working towards her Master of Science in Environmental Science and Policy at Johns Hopkins University.

Ms. Morley is a member of both the New York State Bar Association and the Suffolk County Bar Association and is admitted to practice in the State of New York.

Originally from West Islip, she now lives in Westhampton. In her free time, she enjoys running, birding and playing golf.

“I am excited to join this Firm and I look forward to working with my new colleagues and the firm’s clients on their real estate, land use and environmental matters,” Ms. Morley said.

“We welcome Jacqueline to the Firm,” John F. Shea, Senior Partner, Twomey, Latham, Shea, Kelley, Dubin & Quartararo, LLP, said. “Her unique experiences, both during her time with the Air Force and her internships during law school, have given her the tools she needs to be an outstanding attorney. We wish her the best of luck in her new position.”

For more information, call (631) 727-2180 or visit www.suffolklaw.com.

 

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About Twomey Latham

Twomey Latham, Shea, Kelley, Dubin & Quartararo, LLP is a full-service law firm with a 65-person staff of attorneys, paralegals, and support staff in five offices across Long Island. The firm’s practice areas include Business and Corporate Law, Labor and Employment, Insurance, Banking, Commercial Litigation, Taxation, Trademark and Copyright, Environmental Law, Real Estate Development and Transactions, Construction, Land Use and Zoning, Municipal Law, Personal Injury, Arts and Entertainment, Wills Trusts and Estates, Estate Litigation, Elder Law, Family and Matrimonial Law, and Not-For-Profit Law.

Tanya Hobson-Williams Says Only Attorneys Can Provide Free Legal Advice to Those Who are Being Aggressively Pursued by Debt Collectors

JAMAICA ESTATES, NEW YORK — Many low-income individuals who are being aggressively pursued by debt collectors do not have the means to hire an attorney and, therefore, must either pay the debt or file for bankruptcy. Some will turn to nonprofit organizations that can offer free advice, but are not nuanced in the legal aspects of debt collection and settlements. Tanya Hobson-Williams at Hobson-Williams, P.C. says that, while nonprofits can be helpful, debtors who are facing serious financial consequences should obtain an attorney who is willing to work pro bono or at a lower cost.

 

A recent lawsuit was filed against New York Attorney General Letitia James by Upsolve, a nonprofit organization which implemented the American Justice Movement, a program that is training non-lawyer individuals to provide free legal advice to residents of low-income neighborhoods who are defendants in debt collection lawsuits. In the lawsuit, Upsolve claimed the state’s ban on seeking free legal assistance on debt collection matters violated the First Amendment because its rules governing the unauthorized practice of law (UPL) forbids individuals who are not attorneys from providing legal advice and advising others on how to respond to a lawsuit, “even when the advice is free, straightforward, and simple.”

 

“There are many nonprofits that do wonderful work helping low-income individuals who are in dire financial straits, whether they are in debt or facing eviction,” Ms. Hobson-Williams says. “However, the law makes it clear that their volunteers cannot give out legal advice if they aren’t attorneys. I strongly suggest that anyone who is being aggressively pursued by debt collectors should reach out to the local Bar Association and find an attorney who can offer low-cost legal services or their legal services free of charge.”

 

Ms. Hobson-Williams has served as a Guardian ad Litem for more than 15 years, providing pro bono services to disabled and senior citizens in need of legal representation in Housing Court. She has represented hundreds of individuals facing eviction.

 

For more information, call 1 (866) 825-1529 or visit www.nyguardian.com.

 

 

 

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About Hobson-Williams, P.C.

With offices located in Queens, Brooklyn and the Bronx, the law firm of Hobson-Williams P.C. is comprised of a highly knowledgeable and diligent staff. With over 20 years of experience, the skilled attorneys at Hobson-Williams, P.C. are dedicated to protecting and serving their clients’ needs and legal interests, and are committed to providing unparalleled client service. Her practice areas include elder law, business law, real estate closings, landlord-tenant disputes, Medicaid fraud defense, guardianships, reverse mortgage foreclosure defense and debt collections. Tanya Hobson-Williams has an active elder law practice assisting senior citizens in obtaining Medicaid for Home Care and Nursing Home Care. She routinely lectures at senior citizen centers, assisted living facilities, law schools and counsels families on a variety of topics of concern to families caring for the elderly. She is also contracted by the State of New York Employee Assistance Program to provide training to state employees on legal issues that affect state employees. For more information, call 1 (866) 825-1529 or visit www.nyguardian.com.

Civil Rights Attorney Met with Westchester County District Attorney’s Office and Had More Questions Than Answers

Attorney Lauren P. Raysor is calling on Miriam Rocah, District Attorney, Westchester County, to release the results of its investigation into a hit-and-run accident that sent a 72-year-old woman to the hospital. She says that it has been nearly three months since the incident occurred and Ms. Rocah’s office has yet to disclose its findings in the case.

 

On October 19, 2021 at 5:19 p.m., Geraldine Sinceno was hit by a car, driven by 25-year-old Gillian Getlan, on North Avenue and 5th Avenue in New Rochelle. Ms. Sinceno suffered multiple injuries and was admitted to the trauma unit at Jacobi Hospital. She underwent surgery and is currently recovering in a nursing facility.

 

Defendant Getlan was only issued a summons, but not arrested, for failing to show a driver’s license and insurance and leaving the scene of an accident. She was only given a desk appearance ticket. On December 9, 2021, she was arraigned at New Rochelle City Court. She pled not guilty to an upgraded charge of leaving the scene of an accident and causing injury — a felony — and was released on her own recognizance. She is scheduled to return to court on Friday, January 14 at 9:30 a.m.

 

Ms. Raysor and members of the community recently met with Daniel Flecha, Assistant District Attorney, Westchester County DA’s Office, to discuss the progress being made in the investigation. “We had more questions than answers,” said Ms. Raysor.

 

They were joined telephonically by Rev. Dr. James A. Forbes, Jr. and Rev. Dr. Debra Northern, Pastors, Parish Care – The Riverside Church of New York City — two concerned members of the community. “If attorney Raysor were not raising certain issues, it would have been lost in the proceedings for justice to be served,” Rev. Dr. Forbes said.

 

Attorney Raysor says that Ms. Sinceno is still suffering from her injuries and felt that Defendant Getlan treated her like “trash.”

 

“More importantly, we believe that, if Defendant Getlan were drunk or under the influence of drugs, the charges would have been more serious,” Ms. Raysor said. “However, no drug or alcohol test was taken. We want full transparency. The public has the right to know.”

 

For more information, call (914) 733-8080 or visit www.laurenpraysor.com.

 

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About Lauren P. Raysor

Lauren P. Raysor is an attorney concentrating in personal injury, civil rights, bankruptcy, matrimonial and family law. She has litigated numerous cases over the years, taking more than 35 cases to verdict and has argued before the Appellate Division in the case of Makeda Barnes Joseph v. Universal Music Group. She served as Corporation Counsel for the City of Mount Vernon, where she was in charge of the city’s Law Department. Ms. Raysor is currently outside counsel for the New York State Dormitory Authority, and served as the Assistant Attorney General in charge of the Upper Manhattan Region, outside counsel to the Upper Manhattan Empowerment Zone and counsel at a Wall Street law firm.

Employment Law Attorney Says State’s New Construction Wage Theft Law Will Ensure Workers Will Be Properly Paid

NEW YORK, NEW YORK — On January 4, 2022, a new law went into effect that prevents construction firms and their subcontractors from defrauding their employees. Steven Mitchell Sack, “The Employee’s Lawyer,” says this new law will increase the rights of construction laborers.

The new law — sponsored by New York State Senator Jessica Ramos, who also chairs the state Senate’s Labor Committee — allows workers to seek unpaid wages from the subcontractor as well as the construction firm that hired out the company for the project. Both the company and the subcontractor will be held responsible for repayment sought by the workers. The purpose of the law is to have general contractors keep a close watch on the firms they hire and make it easier for workers to recover any lost or stolen wages.

“This law should bolster the employee’s rights and protect their paychecks from unscrupulous construction firms,” Mr. Sack says. “Many subcontractors take advantage of these workers and not pay them what was initially agreed upon. Those who work in construction have very dangerous jobs and should be rightly compensated for a day’s work.”

For more information, call (917) 371-8000 or visit www.theemployeeslawyer.com.

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About Steven Mitchell Sack

Steven Mitchell Sack, “The Employee’s Lawyer®,” has been enforcing workplace rights of employees, executives, and sales representatives for more than 40 years. He is a practicing attorney concentrating in employment law, as well as an author of 19 books, a lecturer and syndicated radio talk show host. Together with attorney Scott A. Lucas, they obtained a $6.2 million jury verdict in 2015 on behalf of three pregnant employees, as well as a favorable Court of Appeals decision for a group of waiters who were denied their fair share of tips that were held back by a caterer. For more information, visit www.theemployeeslawyer.com.

Matrimonial and Family Law Attorney Urges Divorcing Parents to Keep Their Children in Mind during This Difficult Time

Reminds Them That January is International Child-Centered Divorce Month

Attorney Lauren P. Raysor is asking parents who are getting, or planning to get, a divorce to prioritize their children’s emotional and psychological health, as they are also affected by this difficult life event and that the month of January is International Child-Centered Divorce Month.

 

International Child-Centered Divorce Month is an annual designation set during the month of January which alerts parents of the effects that divorce has on their children and how they can eliminate the emotional and psychological toll of divorce, while and after it happens.

 

Studies from the U.S. National Library of Medicine of the National Institutes of Health have shown that children of divorce are more likely to develop mental and physical illnesses, drop out of school, become incarcerated and commit suicide. Further, less than half of children will still live with their biological parents by the time they turn 17, according to the American Community Survey.

 

Ms. Raysor says most divorces occur in January, after the holidays end. “Both parents try to keep the family together when the holidays come around,” she says. “They try to keep a united front for the sake of the children, but it becomes too great so, when the holidays are over, that is when the marriage is over, too.”

 

The process of getting a divorce can be stressful for adults, Ms. Raysor says, but parents should take their children’s feelings into account as well. “It is important for the child’s health and wellbeing that the parents engage in counseling and in healthy communication with one another,” she says. “Children can be emotionally and psychologically scarred from divorces that become acrimonious.”

 

For more information, call (914) 733-8080 or visit www.laurenpraysor.com.

 

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About Lauren P. Raysor

Lauren P. Raysor is an attorney concentrating in personal injury, civil rights, bankruptcy, matrimonial and family law. She has litigated numerous cases over the years, taking more than 35 cases to verdict and has argued before the Appellate Division in the case of Makeda Barnes Joseph v. Universal Music Group. She served as Corporation Counsel for the City of Mount Vernon, where she was in charge of the city’s Law Department. Ms. Raysor is currently outside counsel for the New York State Dormitory Authority, and served as the Assistant Attorney General in charge of the Upper Manhattan Region, outside counsel to the Upper Manhattan Empowerment Zone and counsel at a Wall Street law firm.

Keith Williams Named to the List of Mid-South Super Lawyers for the Eighth Year in a Row

Also Named to Best Lawyers in America and Other Exclusive Lists

NASHVILLE, TENNESSEE — The Keith Williams Law Group has announced that its founder, Keith Williams, has been named to the list of Mid-South Super Lawyers for the eighth year in a row in the practice area of Personal Injury – General Plaintiff.

Super Lawyers is awarded only to a select number of accomplished attorneys, with no more than 5% from each state being named to the list. The selection process takes into account peer recognition, professional achievement in legal practice and other cogent factors.

In addition to his recognition as a Mid-South Super Lawyer, Mr. Williams was also named to the Top 100 Tennessee Super Lawyers and the Top 50 Nashville Super Lawyers for the third consecutive year.

Mr. Williams was also selected this year for inclusion in the 28th Edition of the Best Lawyers in America for the Products Liability — Plaintiffs category. Recognition by Best Lawyers is based entirely on peer review and its methodology is designed to capture, as accurately as possible, the consensus opinion of leading lawyers about the professional abilities of their colleagues within the same geographical area and legal practice area.

Mr. Williams has dedicated his practice of 28 years to helping people and their families in accident, injury and wrongful death cases. He has tried hundreds of cases and obtained millions of dollars in verdicts and settlements for his clients. Some of the more substantial verdicts include a $14.6 million verdict for an injured motorcycle rider and a $6.2 million verdict for a car accident victim, and he has also obtained numerous multimillion-dollar settlements for his clients.

Mr. Williams is certified as a Civil Trial Specialist by the National Board of Trial Advocacy. Only less than 300 out of 23,000-plus attorneys in the state and less than 0.5% of all licensed attorneys nationwide have earned this certification. He is also a recipient of the Top 100 Trial Lawyers Award and earned an Avvo Rating of 10 (Superb) and a peer rating of “Preeminent” by Martindale-Hubbell.

In addition to his practice, he is a speaker, lecturer and author of The Consumers’ Guide to a Tennessee Accident or Personal Injury Case. He is also an active member of the American Association for Justice and past chair of the American Association for Justice’s Aviation Litigation Section, and he is a member of the Aviation and Space Law Committee of the American Bar Association’s Tort Trial and Insurance Practice Section. Mr. Williams is also a member and past president of the Tennessee Trial Lawyers Association.

He earned an Associate’s degree in Business from Volunteer State Community College, a Bachelor’s degree in Business from Cumberland University and a Juris Doctor from the Nashville School of Law.

“I am very honored to be recognized by my peers once again for the hard work I have put in to help my clients obtain the justice they deserve,” Mr. Williams said. “I wish to thank my fellow attorneys for having the confidence in me to name me to these exclusive lists.”

For more information, call (615) 313-3999 or visit www.keithwilliamslawgroup.com.

 

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About Keith Williams Law Group

With two convenient locations, one in downtown Nashville and the other on the historic town square in Lebanon, Keith Williams Law Group can help its clients achieve the maximum possible compensation for their injuries. Its attorneys represent those who have been injured as a result of car accidents, trucking accidents, motorcycle accidents, aviation accidents, highway work zone accidents, defective products, and trucker broker negligence. For more information, call (615) 313-3999 or visit www.keithwilliamslawgroup.com.

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