tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-60228690142012594512024-02-06T19:38:49.265-08:00Seattle Plaintiff LawyerAndrew N. AckleyAndrew N. Ackleyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16192058778638841817noreply@blogger.comBlogger77125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6022869014201259451.post-5788313677204540052014-09-11T14:35:00.001-07:002014-09-11T14:35:05.902-07:00Ackley Law Group Represents Man Wrongly Identified By News as "Alleged Groping Cabbie"See <a href="http://www.imediaethics.org/News/4748/Seattle_tv_news_ids_wrong_cab_driver_for_sex_assault_.php" target="_blank">full story</a> by Sydney Smith at iMediaEthics.org. Andrew N. Ackleyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16192058778638841817noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6022869014201259451.post-91156448916189938622014-08-13T13:06:00.002-07:002014-08-13T13:06:25.164-07:00Andrew Ackley Named Rising Star by Super Lawyers for Second Year in a Row<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Andrew Ackley has been named a Super Lawyers Rising Stars for the second year in a row. He has been profiled in Super Lawyers magazine and Seattle Met magazine this summer. No more than 2.5% of lawyers in the state are named to the list.</span>Andrew N. Ackleyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16192058778638841817noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6022869014201259451.post-35640938823071991692014-04-18T07:47:00.000-07:002014-04-18T07:48:25.500-07:00Lawsuit Filed By Ackley Law Group Against Nightclub Prompts Immediate Action by City Attorney, Possible Policy Change by City<script src="http://www.king5.com/templates/belo_embedWrapper.js?storyid=255725401&pos=top&swfw=470"></script><object name="player" id="_fp_0.916671390645206" width="470" height="264" data="http://swfs.bimvid.com/player-3.2.15.swf" type="application/x-shockwave-flash"> <param value="true" name="allowfullscreen"/> <param value="always" name="allowscriptaccess"/> <param value="transparent" name="wmode"/> <param value="high" name="quality"/> <param name="movie" value="http://swfs.bimvid.com/player-3.2.15.swf" /> <param value="config=http://www.king5.com/?j=embed_255725401&ref=http://www.king5.com/news/investigators/Seattle-still-struggling-with-nuisance-night-clubs-255725401.html" name="flashvars"/></object><script src="http://www.king5.com/templates/belo_embedWrapper.js?storyid=255725401&pos=bottom&ref=http://www.king5.com/news/investigators/Seattle-still-struggling-with-nuisance-night-clubs-255725401.html"></script>
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Prompted by a lawsuit filed by Ackley Law Group against a Seattle nightclub for negligence resulting in the stabbing of two individuals, King 5's Linda Byron <a href="http://www.king5.com/news/investigators/Seattle-still-struggling-with-nuisance-night-clubs-255725401.html" target="_blank">investigated "chronic nuisance" nightclubs</a> in the City and elicited swift action from the Seattle City Attorney, and a possible policy change in standards for and enforcement of Seattle's nightclub license laws. </div>Andrew N. Ackleyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16192058778638841817noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6022869014201259451.post-87923620070877019442013-05-26T18:06:00.002-07:002013-05-26T18:06:33.256-07:00Washington Enacts Social Media Password Protection Law, Does It Right<div style="text-align: justify;">
Washington <a href="http://seattletimes.com/html/localnews/2021029519_apwafacebookemployeepasswords2ndldwritethru.html" target="_blank">has become</a> the fifth state this year to enact legislation protecting social media passwords of job applicants and employees. The law prohibits employers and potential employers from demanding online social media passwords from employees, and bars employers from demanding that employees Friend management personnel so that their profile is viewable.</div>
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The new legislation does allow employers to request "content" (not passwords) during internal investigations (e.g. leaked trade secrets). This marks the first official position on the issue taken by any branch of Washington government. </div>
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Washington's courts of appeals have yet to weigh in directly on the discoverability online social media in civil litigation (employment-related or otherwise). Trial courts will likely continue to evaluate requests for social media on a case-by-case basis under the principles of the discovery rules. That being said, it is unlikely courts will order litigants to give passwords or Friend adverse parties' attorneys. While the recent legislation has no direct legal impact on discoverability in civil litigation, it does announce (or substantiate, depending on your perspective) the public policy and privacy interests in protecting social media, or at least the scope and type of disclosures (requested targeted to specific content, rather than access to everything).</div>
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The new law also draws a clear distinction between social media content and social media access. This is the same line I have been proposing, and interpreting in review of national case law on social media discovery, in lecturing and writing about the discoverability of online social media. </div>
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So, kudos to Washington for getting on it, and also for doing it right.</div>
Andrew N. Ackleyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16192058778638841817noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6022869014201259451.post-38871748751212738992013-04-21T13:28:00.001-07:002013-04-21T13:28:05.660-07:00Andrew Ackley Chairing and Speaking At "Anatomy and Physiology 101 For Attorneys"To my peers, National Business Institute is putting on a CLE May 16 at the Convention Center entitled <a href="http://www.nbi-sems.com/Details.aspx/R-62002ER%7C?ctname=SPKEM" target="_blank">"Anatomy and Physiology 101 For Attorneys."</a> I am chairing and speaking at it. This is a really good primer for the medical aspects of legal practice that are not typically covered in legal research resources. I invite you to take advantage of the opportunity and sign up at the link above.<br />
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<br />Andrew N. Ackleyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16192058778638841817noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6022869014201259451.post-57262634146079702472013-02-03T10:28:00.000-08:002013-02-03T10:28:54.875-08:00Ackley Law Group Files Class Action For Security Life's Unlawfully Sold Dental Plans<div style="text-align: justify;">
Ackley Law Group, along with the Bierlein Law Office, has filed a class action lawsuit against Security Life Insurance Company of America. The lawsuit alleges that Security Life sold dental plans in Washington that were unlawful and were never properly approved by the Office of Insurance Commissioner, that Security Life failed to expeditiously bring the plans into compliance, and that these actions resulted in unilateral termination of the plans by Security Life. </div>
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One of the unlawful components of the plans was overly lengthy waiting periods for dental services. The lawsuit alleges that paying full price into an insurance system during the unlawfully lengthy periods to earn full coverage, combined with the unilateral cancellation and loss of benefits accrued in those waiting periods, forced consumers to pay for services they could never use.</div>
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If you have been affected by early termination of a Security Life dental plan, please contact Courtney K. Ackley at Ackley Law Group by email at <a href="mailto:courtney@ackleylawgroup.com">courtney@ackleylawgroup.com</a>.</div>
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Andrew N. Ackleyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16192058778638841817noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6022869014201259451.post-74684802071283173562013-02-01T19:51:00.003-08:002013-02-01T19:51:39.360-08:00Andrew Ackley Named Rising Star by Super LawyersAndrew Ackley has been named a <a href="http://www.superlawyers.com/" target="_blank">Super Lawyers</a> Rising Stars, 2013. He will be profiled in Super Lawyers magazine and Seattle Met magazine this summer. No more than 2.5% of lawyers in the state are named to the list.Andrew N. Ackleyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16192058778638841817noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6022869014201259451.post-44322826381085582092013-01-07T19:47:00.000-08:002013-01-07T19:47:04.070-08:00FBI Issues Formal Alert About Online Dating Extortion Scams After ALG Client Speaks OutSeveral months ago I <a href="http://seattleplaintifflawyer.blogspot.com/2012/08/ackley-law-group-assists-man-targeted.html" target="_blank">posted</a> about our client's online dating extortion ordeal. Our client was brave and determined enough to speak out publicly. Brandi Kruse at KIRO radio profiled his story, and he was one of the first victims to file this type of complaint with the IC3, the Internet Crime Complaint Center. <br />
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Since then, the IC3 has received a substantial number of similar complaints, so many that the FBI has issued a <a href="http://www.fbi.gov/news/news_blog/online-dating-extortion-and-other-scams" target="_blank">public alert</a>. The FBI's investigation and alert are explained <a href="http://www.examiner.com/article/fbi-issues-alert-about-online-dating-scams" target="_blank">here</a>, and the local update from Brandi Kruse is <a href="http://mynorthwest.com/108/2169023/FBI-Be-careful-where-you-look-for-love" target="_blank">here</a>.<br />
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Shortly after our investigation and the original story aired, baitmymate.com went offline.Andrew N. Ackleyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16192058778638841817noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6022869014201259451.post-77017370984700919672013-01-06T10:37:00.001-08:002013-01-06T10:37:27.259-08:00Facebook Continues to Fight Against Disclosure of Content Under SCA, But Not Against GovernmentAccording to a recent article in <a href="http://www.oregonlive.com/portland/index.ssf/2013/01/facebook_argues_to_protect_use.html" target="_blank">Oregon Live</a>, Facebook continues to shield itself from subpoenas for user content based on the Stored Communications Act, a 1986 federal law that created 4th Amendment-like privacy protections for electronically transmitted or stored communications. However, because of the Act permits law enforcement subpoenas in some circumstances, the effect is that government has an advantage in gaining access to potentially relevant information compared with criminal defendants and civil litigants. While the applicability of a 1986 law to Facebook posts may be worthy of debate, at least in the case of civil litigants, both sides are equally impaired in obtaining content from Facebook. It is troubling, however, that criminal defendants are at a disadvantage compared with the government prosecuting them. While prosecutors typically must turn over all of <i>their</i> evidence to the defense, including potentially exonerating evidence, there is usually nothing to require a prosecutor to subpoena Facebook content they otherwise would not need.Andrew N. Ackleyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16192058778638841817noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6022869014201259451.post-47806351979198357022013-01-05T17:24:00.000-08:002013-01-05T17:24:21.089-08:00CyberTorts: What the Kids Are DoingIn 2010 I <a href="http://seattleplaintifflawyer.blogspot.com/2010/10/viral-embarrassment-revival-of-privacy.html" target="_blank">posted</a> predicting the revival of privacy torts through online social media. Unfortunately for lots of folks who have come to us, and too many others, I was right. <br />
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On Friday Courtney and I traveled to Portland so I could speak about CyberTorts at the Western Regional Conference for USLSA, the University Student Legal Services Association.<br />
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For those of you who don't know, SLS programs around the country serve university students at low or no cost with the help of supervised interns (third year law students). It's a fantastic program for students, who are often targeted because it is assumed they lack the knowledge and resources to protect themselves. It's also a fantastic program for law students, who get the experience of managing real cases and helping real clients long before they ordinarily would in private practice.<br />
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My job was to provide some insight and resources for SLS program supervising lawyers, and their interns, to fight back against online bullying, harassment, invasion of privacy, and defamation. These problems are typical to the college-age populations they serve. The SLS supervisors from around the country were a fun bunch with a great sense of humor and fierce curiosity. Andrew N. Ackleyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16192058778638841817noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6022869014201259451.post-14993927098301720192012-10-01T18:20:00.000-07:002012-10-01T18:20:12.181-07:00Seattle to Require Health Code Inspection of All Rental PropertiesThe Seattle City Council today unanimously adopted a program requiring the registration and inspection of all residential rental properties in Seattle. Implementation of the program begins in 2014.<br />
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The new law requires landlords to complete a checklist certification that units meet City health and safety code. Units will be inspected every five years. See more in <a href="http://seattletimes.com/html/localnews/2019316566_rentals02m.html">this</a> article.Andrew N. Ackleyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16192058778638841817noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6022869014201259451.post-18647286191291018432012-09-04T11:25:00.001-07:002012-09-04T11:25:32.762-07:00Ackley Law Group Represents Two in Nationwide Tattoo Ink Infection OutbreakHealth officials have traced an outbreak of tattoo infections, causing bubbly rashes, not to problems with the needles or equipment sterilization, but to infected ink. Specifically, the infection is traced to contaminated water used in making the ink. Read the full CBS News article <a href="http://www.cbsnews.com/8301-204_162-57498697/infected-tattoo-outbreak-traced-to-ink/">here</a>.<div>
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Ackley Law Group represents two individuals in Washington State with infections caused by tattoo ink. The culprit bacteria can cause itchy and painful blisters that often require antibiotics with serious side effects, and months of treatment, to clear up.</div>
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Both the federal Center for Disease Control and our local Department of Public Health have investigated the outbreak. </div>
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Andrew N. Ackleyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16192058778638841817noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6022869014201259451.post-30666852468463301072012-08-30T11:28:00.000-07:002012-08-30T15:11:14.133-07:00Ackley Law Group Assists Man Targeted By Online Embarrassment Extortion ScamIf it seems illegal, it probably is. This is what 29 year old Alan Chalfant of Tacoma suspected and confirmed after he was targeted for embarrassment and extortion by the site baitmymate.com. Alan was part of an ordinary dating website plentyoffish.com, where he contacted a girl he thought was pretty. The girl led him to a Facebook chat page and then abruptly ended all contact. Later, Alan found out the chat and his real name and information were posted by Baitmymate, listing him as a busted cheater. The problem? Alan was not in a relationship. <br />
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After contacting the site, the "removal department" indicated that someone had paid them to stage the conversation, lure him into a chat room, and post Alan's information. The problem? Alan initiated the conversation with the "woman." The "removal department" emphasizes the embarrassing exposure caused by their posts, dismisses any legal ramifications of their actions, and even goes so far as to offer him a payment plan on the cost to take down the embarrassing post. Baitmymate has victimized people all over the country in similar fashion, and appears to be doing so with impunity. <br />
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Baitmymate.com is registered through Moniker Privacy Services, a domain registration company that refuses, absent legal compulsion, to reveal the true identity of the web domain registrant. The IP address associated with the site has been linked to Panama, but may originate elsewhere.<br />
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Thanks to a <a href="http://mynorthwest.com/11/729074/Tacoma-man-extorted-for-sexually-explicit-chat">story</a> by Brandi Kruse at KIRO 97.3 FM, the Department of Justice is currently investigating scams such as this. <br />
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If you are a victim of an internet-based crime, file a complaint with the <a href="http://www.ic3.gov/default.aspx">IC3</a> (Internet Crime Complaint Center). Andrew N. Ackleyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16192058778638841817noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6022869014201259451.post-47196616241854339442012-08-23T18:37:00.000-07:002012-08-23T18:37:42.374-07:00Andrew Ackley on Protecting Your Rental Deposit as a TenantI recently spoke with Brandi Kruse of KIRO 97.3 FM here in Seattle about protecting your rental deposit as a tenant in Washington. Link for the article and news piece is <a href="http://mynorthwest.com/?nid=798&sid=726781">here</a>. Andrew N. Ackleyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16192058778638841817noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6022869014201259451.post-60017348764733123562012-08-21T13:31:00.000-07:002012-08-21T13:31:04.176-07:00Andrew Ackley Speaking at National Seminar on Social Media in Personal Injury DiscoveryFellow Lawyers:<br />
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<a href="http://www.nbi-sems.com/SemTeleDetails.aspx/R-60303ER%7C?ctname=SPKEM">Here</a> is the link to sign up for the seminar and CLE credit. In the materials you will get a list and summary of most of the on-point cases from around the country. Never go searching through Blawgs and offbeat news again for support!<br />
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AndrewAndrew N. Ackleyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16192058778638841817noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6022869014201259451.post-77604558189534844612012-07-13T11:51:00.003-07:002012-07-21T12:41:02.451-07:00Facebook Steps Up Anti-Bullying Features for TeenagersAfter teaming up with Yale, Columbia, and Berkeley for months of research and focus groups with kids, teachers, and clinical psychologists, Facebook has developed an interactive tool for teenagers not just to "report" bullying, but to effectively triage the complaint and provide assistance based on the severity and urgency of the problem. CNN describes the new feature in detail <a href="http://www.cnn.com/2012/07/12/tech/facebook-cyberbullying-update/index.html">here</a>.<br />
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Also, <a href="http://www.facebook.com/help/tools">here</a> is Facebooks Tools for Addressing Abuse page.Andrew N. Ackleyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16192058778638841817noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6022869014201259451.post-40293624892429324602012-06-30T11:53:00.000-07:002012-06-30T11:54:06.763-07:00Security Life Selling Illegal Dental Policies in WashingtonAbout three years ago I purchased a dental insurance plan from Security Life Insurance Company. I had no idea that Security Life failed to file the policy with the Washington State Office of the Insurance Commissioner (OIC), and was therefore selling the plan illegally. The OIC apparently notified Security Life about the illegal sale more than two years ago. Nevertheless, Security Life continued to renew (and in fact increase the price of) my policy. <br />
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In the middle of May Security Life sent me a letter indicating they were canceling my policy at the end of June. There are other fish in the sea, as they say, but here's the thing: My policy has several lengthy waiting periods and time period restrictions for coverage of certain expenses--standard things we all need from time to time. That means I've been paying into their system (much more than I am receiving in return) for an extended period to obtain the benefit of my continued payments (more coverage). Because Security Life was selling an illegal policy, however, my accrued benefits are going to waste.<br />
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Definitely filing a complaint with the OIC under the Insurance Fair Conduct Act, and will hopefully find out when their investigation is complete how many others have been affected by this.Andrew N. Ackleyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16192058778638841817noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6022869014201259451.post-29224892555976451922012-04-11T08:13:00.004-07:002012-04-11T08:22:25.884-07:00Facebook Fights Back For Users' PrivacyMany stories have hit the news recently about employers or other superiors requesting, if not demanding, an employee's or potential employee's Facebook records. In some instances, they require not just entries themselves, but the login information. <a href="http://www.zdnet.com/blog/facebook/teachers-aide-fired-for-refusing-to-hand-over-facebook-password/11246">Here</a> is one example where a teacher's aide was fired for not forking over her password. She is fighting her own legal battle against the school.<div><br /></div><div>Seeing its own interests at stake, Facebook is jumping into the fray. The social networking service would hardly function if users believed any inquiring mind could have access to their personal information. What's more, divulging passwords grants the recipient access not just to that person's account, but the profiles, messages, photos, and every other piece of content on his or her friends' accounts. Those friends would have no reason to suspect that someone other than the person they accepted as a trusted friend is meandering through their private profile. Sharing passwords undercuts the purpose and expectations of privacy settings and the self-regulated privacy of a friend group.</div><div><br /></div><div>I would describe <a href="http://www.facebook.com/notes/facebook-and-privacy/protecting-your-passwords-and-your-privacy/326598317390057">Facebook's notice</a> on this issue as somewhere between incredulous and scathing, or perhaps both. Tell me what you think.</div>Andrew N. Ackleyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16192058778638841817noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6022869014201259451.post-81100000671088474252012-03-06T13:53:00.006-08:002012-03-06T14:21:26.664-08:00The Group Therapy DilemmaSince filing <i>Oraivej v. CSI</i> this winter, several groups from around the country have contacted me about their advocacy for safe and effective group therapy, including alcohol programs, anger management classes, and drug addiction programs. <div><br /></div><div>The dangers of group therapy revolve around one central issue: the idea of bringing together a group of vulnerable people. They could be emotionally vulnerable, malleable, desperate, or volatile. They could be a danger to other participants or to themselves, or they could be easy prey for others in the group.</div><div><br /></div><div>While there is a clear potential for chaos in a group therapy setting, many of the dangers of group therapy play out in indirect ways and materialize outside the classroom. Members develop a trust relationship with other vulnerable members, and exploit the relationship in private. This could be in the form of anything from rape to robbery to swindling. </div><div><br /></div><div>This is not to say that there are not benefits of learning and healing with others, taking comfort in not being alone, and learning from others' mistakes. But, given the potential risks, it's important to have a well-defined standard of care for group therapy providers to provide safe and effective classes. This is what many advocates strive for.</div><div><br /></div><div>Below are some links to others in the Blogosphere speaking on this issue:</div><div><br /></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial; "><a href="http://nadaytona.org/2011/12/28/alateen-safety-guidelines-g-34/">http://nadaytona.org/2011/12/28/alateen-safety-guidelines-g-34/</a></span></div><div><br /></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial; "><a href="http://www.leavingaa.com/">www.leavingaa.com</a></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial; "><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial; "><a href="http://www.orange-papers.com/">www.orange-papers.com</a></span></div><div><br /></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial; "><a href="http://www.stinkin-thinkin.com/">www.stinkin-thinkin.com</a></span></div><div><br /></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial; "><a href="http://www.stop13stepinaa.wordpress.com/">www.stop13stepinaa.wordpress.com</a></span></div>Andrew N. Ackleyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16192058778638841817noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6022869014201259451.post-91542364981167583682012-02-11T20:20:00.000-08:002012-02-11T21:03:10.049-08:00"Waze" to Get In An Accident<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAm75pZZ4HMh-Gd_8ePQg86Pfr4XPp7ifIm1IWbk6nARw5UECx0zw8dDeD5zLQMrv0SO-fvOpmT6YxD72GxG94JAe-qhyphenhyphenX9vomHX_e_Ck3i0cP4eX5oKGMd1uEjVMfiaxE6qzJAm3tkkZ0/s1600/original.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 180px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAm75pZZ4HMh-Gd_8ePQg86Pfr4XPp7ifIm1IWbk6nARw5UECx0zw8dDeD5zLQMrv0SO-fvOpmT6YxD72GxG94JAe-qhyphenhyphenX9vomHX_e_Ck3i0cP4eX5oKGMd1uEjVMfiaxE6qzJAm3tkkZ0/s320/original.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5708108134588906946" /></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><br />If there is an award for the most horrifically counterproductive software products, "</span><a href="http://www.waze.com/"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;">Waze</span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;">" has to win for 2012. Waze is a smartphone application that offers GPS mapping and turn-by-turn directions to your destination. The routes are automatically updated based on traffic conditions, including data from other Waze users in your area--if another Waze user gets stuck in a traffic jam, the application updates your route accordingly. Waze also encourages users to manually contribute information to other Waze users, including taking a photograph of whatever road ailment you think other drivers ought to know about. These include the traffic jams and accidents, police officers, construction, and a general "hazards" category. The program also features a "Chit chat" function, presumably for a new era of road rage and commiseration. <br /><br />We all hate traffic. We all want to get to there sooner, faster, easier, while braking as little as possible. But, we have to ask, do we really want drivers around us:</span><div><ol><li><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial; ">constantly peeking down at their smartphones for real-time or close to real-time updates, just to save fifteen seconds? </span></li><li><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial; ">looking down at their phones and suddenly making last minute turns and lane changes because some other guy with his iPhone reported an unidentified hazard? </span></li><li><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial; ">reaching for their phones and attempting to take a picture of road hazards? </span></li><li><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial; ">relying on anonymous Waze users posting a picture of a clown in the road and claiming it was taken on I-5? </span></li></ol><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;">I hope the answer is a resounding No. </span></div></div>Andrew N. Ackleyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16192058778638841817noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6022869014201259451.post-74048034938494881982012-02-10T11:07:00.001-08:002012-02-10T11:12:21.445-08:00Toyota Can't Get it RightAccording to The Associated Press, <a href="http://www.npr.org/2012/02/10/146694946/u-s-investigates-door-fires-in-toyota-camrys-rav4s?ft=1&f=1001&sc=tw&utm_source=twitterfeed&utm_medium=twitter">via NPR</a>, federal investigators are looking into fires in 2007 Toyota Camry and Rav4 vehicles. Where is the fire? Naturally, the driver's side door. The probe could affect 830,000 vehicles nationally. <br /><br />For other driving safety information, check out the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) <a href="http://www.nhtsa.gov/">website</a>.Andrew N. Ackleyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16192058778638841817noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6022869014201259451.post-3626684924739499852012-02-06T18:21:00.000-08:002012-02-06T18:45:39.690-08:00Cruise Line Forum ClauseI'm sure you've <a href="http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/travel/2017356051_shipmoney28.html">heard</a> of the cruise ship that sunk off the coast of Italy after the captain ran the ship aground, and then bailed before passengers and had a chance to get on life rafts. The Carnival Corp. owned Costa Cruises (owner of the Costa Concordia cruise liner) offered each uninjured passenger a full refund and $14,400 in cash.<br /><br />Those who <span style="font-style:italic;">were</span> injured (or lost their lives) and need more than Costa Cruises' cash offer are running into a ship-sized roadblock. Costa Concordia is based in Miami. Ordinarily, this would mean that an injured passenger could file suit against Costa Cruises in Florida. However, the small print on each Costa Concordia ticket includes a "choice of forum" clause, requiring any lawsuits against the company to be brought in Italy. As you would imagine, the cost and practical hurdles of filing suit in Italy deter many legitimate claims. <br /><br />Though passengers probably did not consider the possibility of town-size ship running aground during their vacation when signing below the small print, the clauses will probably be upheld based on multiple prior Supreme Court decisions. See <a href="http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/travel/2017355145_trcruise28.html">this Seattle Times article </a>for more.Andrew N. Ackleyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16192058778638841817noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6022869014201259451.post-13127668932079264132011-12-05T22:43:00.001-08:002012-01-04T16:29:18.864-08:00Ackley Law Group and Bierlein Law Office File Lawsuit for Anger Management Class StabbingArticle <a href="http://www.king5.com/news/investigators/Investigators-Anger-Management-135058318.html">here</a>.<div><br /></div><div><br /></div><br /><script src="http://www.king5.com/templates/belo_embedWrapper.js?storyid=135058318&pos=top&swfw=330"></script><object id="bimvidplayer0" width="330" height="186" classid="clsid:D27CDB6E-AE6D-11cf-96B8-444553540000"> <param value="true" name="allowfullscreen"/> <param value="always" name="allowscriptaccess"/> <param value="high" name="quality"/> <param value="true" name="cachebusting"/> <param value="#000000" name="bgcolor"/> <param name="movie" value="http://swfs.bimvid.com/bimvid_player-3_2_7.swf?x-bim-callletters=KING" /> <param value="config=http://www.king5.com/?j=135058318&ref=http://www.king5.com/news/investigators/Investigators-Anger-Management-135058318.html" name="flashvars"/> <embed src="http://swfs.bimvid.com/bimvid_player-3_2_7.swf?x-bim-callletters=KING" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" width="330" height="186" allowfullscreen="true" allowscriptaccess="always" cachebusting="true" flashvars="config=http://www.king5.com/?j=135058318&ref=http://www.king5.com/news/investigators/Investigators-Anger-Management-135058318.html" bgcolor="#000000" quality="true"> </embed><br /></object><script src="http://www.king5.com/templates/belo_embedWrapper.js?storyid=135058318&pos=bottom"></script>Andrew N. Ackleyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16192058778638841817noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6022869014201259451.post-33018406036585211782011-06-28T16:04:00.000-07:002011-06-28T16:08:56.364-07:00More salmonella sprouts<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcoPbcxDnufxVTeIKwFr3QbrspkK7WZB8xvV_dhrUqVTsoAgF6FacGQTBvSNW4Yw2_3dXzXpJabFkhR8DGn2vk6-t2VuQytH2IaCDBaSLXr0RYTMxzMshlRp8xabRQ2BtqEFj_RIwAGg8S/s1600/59183.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 235px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcoPbcxDnufxVTeIKwFr3QbrspkK7WZB8xvV_dhrUqVTsoAgF6FacGQTBvSNW4Yw2_3dXzXpJabFkhR8DGn2vk6-t2VuQytH2IaCDBaSLXr0RYTMxzMshlRp8xabRQ2BtqEFj_RIwAGg8S/s320/59183.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5623411356209515874" /></a><a href="http://mynorthwest.com/?nid=11&sid=505209&utm_medium=twitter&utm_source=twitterfeed">This time</a> from the Northwest. Idaho-based Evergreen Produce sprouts have been linked to 20 cases of salmonella poisoning in five states, including Washington. Evergreen is not planning a recall.Andrew N. Ackleyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16192058778638841817noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6022869014201259451.post-44851567795679022922011-06-08T13:27:00.000-07:002011-06-08T13:37:02.841-07:00Roundup Causes Birth DefectsAnd industry regulators have known for years. At least 30 years, in fact.<div><br /></div><div>The active chemical, glyphosate, has been known to cause birth defects and malformations in lab animals since 1980, and in repeated studies since then. Nevertheless, the European Commission and other global industry regulators hid the evidence and denied any connection.</div><div><br /></div><div>See the <a href="http://www.scribd.com/doc/57277946/RoundupandBirthDefectsv5#page=5">report</a> and related <a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/06/07/roundup-birth-defects-herbicide-regulators_n_872862.html">article</a>.</div>Andrew N. Ackleyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16192058778638841817noreply@blogger.com3