Here is the information on this important homeowner’s event:

When: Saturday, May 19, 2012, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Where: Roy Waldron Elementary School, 125 Floyd Mayfield Dr., La Vergne, TN
What to Bring: Homeowners are urged to bring their most recent mail from their mortgage company, as well as income and asset documentation.

The chairman for the LaVergne Foreclosure Prevention Task Force hopes that by holding this event, TN homeowners will be made aware of the options that are available rather than just opting for foreclosure. For example, a foreclosure prevention counselor for the Life of Victory Church explains that there is a “Hardest Hit” fund is available for qualified homeowners to help save their home.

Tennesseans interested in attending this event can call Brenda Bryant at (615) 213-1468 or Lori Barnard in Rep. Mike Sparks’ office at (615) 741-6829 for more information.

The place a person calls home is one of the most important and valuable things a person possesses, and the threat of losing it can be frightening and devastating. If you are going through the foreclosure process or fear a foreclosure may be in your future, contact a foreclosure attorney in Tennessee at Massey & Associates, P.C. for assistance. Our legal team has the knowledge and resources to help you avoid foreclosure or try to contest it. Schedule a free consultation by calling (423) 697-4529.

With this in mind, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) is encouraging anyone who may include a 15-passenger van in their travels, such as church groups or colleges, to take specific steps and safety measures to prevent a dangerous accident. The NHTSA offers these tips for safe 15-passenger van travel:

• Owners of these vans should have the vehicle regularly and thoroughly inspected. Steering and suspension components should be inspected according to the manufacturer’s suggested schedule and tires should be properly sized.
• These vehicles should never be overloaded, as it may increase the chances of a 15-passnger van rollover accident and make the vehicle unstable in handling maneuvers.
• Owners should check that any person who will be driving the van is licensed and has experience operating a 15-passenger van.
• Before the trip, drivers should check the van’s tires for proper inflation and to ensure there are no signs of wear and tear.
• If you are a passenger in a 15-passenger van, buckle up during the trip!

For owners and users of 15-passenger vans, following these simple tips can help ensure you and your passengers arrive safely to your destination. In the unfortunate event the negligence of another party does cause an accident, contact a Tennessee 15-passenger van accident attorney with Massey & Associates, P.C. to discuss your legal rights and options. Our legal team can help you obtain compensation for your injuries and losses. Schedule a free consultation by calling (423) 697-4529.

The state is so concerned with the alarming increase that the Tennessee Department of Transportation (TDOT) has began posting the fatality count on the electronic message boards on the interstate. In its efforts to improve roadway safety, law enforcement has also stepped up seat belt enforcement. The commander of the Tennessee Highway Patrol’s Nashville District directed all troopers to do nothing but seat belt enforcement on April 6, and a total of 1,101 drivers were pulled over.

In order to prevent TN auto accidents, TDOT has identified 44 possible trouble spots in the state with higher than normal crash rates and found that two specific groups are losing their lives in larger numbers in 2012: motorcyclists and drivers not wearing seatbelts. Combined, the groups account for at least 41 more deaths than at this time last year. The director for the Governor’s Highway Safety Office states they are trying to reach males ages 18 – 34, as he feels they may be the most likely to either not wear a seat belt or drink and drive.

The startling increase in traffic-related deaths serves as an excellent reminder for TN motorists to drive safely to ensure their safety and the safety of others. However, a driver’s negligence may still be the cause of a dangerous motor vehicle crash. If you have lost a loved one in an accident, contact an auto accident wrongful death attorney in Chattanooga with Massey & Associates, P.C. Losing a loved one is extremely devastating, so allow us to assist you during this difficult time and obtain compensation that will help with the unexpected costs that may arise. Call (423) 697-4529 for a complimentary consultation.

Pradaxa is a blood thinning medication intended to help reduce the risk of stroke for patients who suffer from non-valvular atrial fibrillation. Now, as a number of bleeding incidents in patients have come to light, the safety of Pradaxa has been called into question. The use of the blood thinner carries its own risk, as even a minor scrape or injury can result in extreme hemorrhaging which may be uncontrollable. This was known by the FDA at the time of approval, but after the drug went on the market, there has been a higher rate of bleeding incidents than was expected by the organization. An investigation is currently being conducted as to why this might be the case.

Boehringer Ingelheim, the German maker of the drug, admits that after only one year of the medication being on the market, there have been 260 cases of fatal bleeding. As the Pradaxa investigation and litigation continues, the FDA is advising patients to speak with their physicians before stopping use of the drug. Patients should also be aware of the possible symptoms that may indicate a bleeding problem, including frequent nose bleeds, coughing up blood, pink- or brown-colored urine, and uncontrollable bleeding.

Manufacturers of drugs have the ethical and legal responsibility to thoroughly test drugs for safety before they are put on the market for consumer use. Unfortunately, dangerous and potentially life-threatening side effects are often not discovered until it is too late. If you are a Tennessee resident who has suffered harm due to a medical drug, contact a product liability lawyer in Chattanooga with Massey & Associates, PC for assistance. We are dedicated to protecting the rights of injured patients and will hold any and all parties responsible for the harm caused. For a free case evaluation, call (423) 697-4529.

The research revealed that the total amount of bankruptcies in 2008 rose seven percent after Americans received their tax refunds, as most may not have been able to afford bankruptcy filing until Uncle Sam issued their refund. Filing for bankruptcy hasn’t always been as expensive, and the rise in filing costs can be attributed to the 2005 Bankruptcy Abuse Prevention and Consumer Protection Act. This act increased the legal and administrative fees needed to file for bankruptcy by an astonishing 60 percent, and it also required individuals to pay for their own credit counseling before filing.

The authors of the study basically concluded that these increased fees prevent households that are low on cash from filing for bankruptcy. Total bankruptcies rose two percent after tax refunds in 2001, but the seven percent increase in 2008 is more than a threefold increase according to the report.

The costs associated with filing bankruptcy can be very expensive, so seeking the help of a knowledgeable Tennessee bankruptcy attorney is essential so that your case will be efficiently handled in order to keep the costs at a minimum. At Massey & Associates, PC, we have years of experience helping TN residents who are filing for bankruptcy and will work with you through your entire case, answering any and all questions along the way. Please call (423) 697-4529 to discuss your bankruptcy case with a member of our legal team.

The full names of the products are the Lenovo ThinkCentre M70z and M90z computers, which are all-in-one desktop computers. To determine whether or not you own a unit that has been recalled, consumers can locate the recalled desktop model numbers, which are M90z and M70z, along with the serial number and manufacturing date on the label on the underside of the unit. Consumers are instructed to immediately stop using the product and unplug the power supply, and contact Lenovo to confirm that the computer is included in the recall.

For more information, customers should call Lenovo at (855) 248-2194 or go online to www.lenovo.com/aiopsurecall. These ThinkCentre computers were sold between May 2010 through March 2012 online at the Lenovo website and through Lenovo authorized distributors nationwide.

A defective product can cause serious injury to an unsuspecting consumer, and regrettably, dangerous product defects are typically not discovered until after an injury accident has already occurred. If you are a TN resident who has been injured due to a defective product, contact a product liability lawyer in Chattanooga at the law firm of Massey & Associates, PC. We are committed to protecting the rights of consumers and will work to hold negligent manufacturers accountable. Please call (423) 697-4529 for a complimentary consultation.

The Tennessee Highway Patrol (THP) reports that the bus driver has not presently been charged in this tragic pedestrian accident, but that charges may be filed pending an investigation. The Criminal Investigation Division of the THP is assisting with the investigation. Greene County school officials have planned to meet with school bus drivers to discuss and reinforce the importance of their job, and grief counselors will be available at Chuckey-Doak Middle School, where the boy was a student, to help students and staff.

The sudden loss of a loved one is incredibly devastating for a family, and can also leave them with many questions, such as wondering if the unexpected death could have been prevented. If you have lost a loved one in an accident, a Tennessee wrongful death attorney with Massey & Associates, P.C. can help you and your family during this difficult time and make sure you receive compensation that can help with the unexpected costs that may arise following a loved one’s passing. To discuss your case with a member of our team, call (423) 697-4529.

Medical experts and researchers do state that the findings indicate that the lives of more than 11,000 children have been saved, but newer trends should be considered as far as what is costing younger people their lives. One alarming fact is that poisoning accidents have increased over the past decade, which researches say is driven by a 91 percent increase among teens. Prescription drug overdose is the most common form of poisoning in this age group. In addition, suffocation death rates among infants have increased by 54 percent. Though auto accident-related child deaths have significantly decreased, specifically by 41 percent, they still account for half of all child injury deaths.

A medical epidemiologist with the CDC states families and child caretakers should do two things in order to keep children safe. First, a safe environment for children should be created to reduce a child’s injury risk. This can be done by taking several precautions, including installing fences with self latching gates around swimming pools and selecting play areas with soft landing surfaces. Second, parents and caregivers should make the effort to increase their knowledge and make safer choices for their children.

Every person in a child’s life has the power to prevent a child injury or death, but another person’s negligence may unfortunately cause your child undue harm. If your child has suffered an injury in an accident that was caused by another party, contact an experienced child injury lawyer in Chattanooga. At Massey & Associates, our legal team will ensure any at-fault parties are held responsible for your child’s accident. We offer a free consultation, so please call our offices at (423) 697-4529 to schedule an appointment.

With this in mind, the following is information regarding bankruptcy dismissal procedures in the state. In TN, the United States Bankruptcy Court for the Eastern District of Tennessee oversees all bankruptcies and rules on dismissals.

1. Voluntary Dismissal: The Court does not allow individuals to dismiss their own Chapter 7 bankruptcy case, ruling in 2009 and 2010 that it is not fair to creditors. A person can try, however, to file a motion to dismiss with the court. By contrast, one can dismiss his or her own Chapter 13 bankruptcy at any time with a few minor exceptions, which is simply a matter of submitting a request to the court.
2. Dismissal by Trustee: An involuntary dismissal may occur for any of the following reasons: if a person fails to pay his or her Chapter 13 payments; if all of the required paperwork is not filed; or if the trustee or one of your creditors finds out that you misrepresented some fact in your petition. Usually, a warning is given allowing an opportunity to correct the mistake; if the effort fails, the case will most likely be dismissed by the judge. Avoiding and correcting mistakes requires an experienced attorney who cares about your financial condition.

There are various options a person has in the event of a dismissal, but in addition, there are also risks associated with this. To ensure a successful outcome in your bankruptcy case and a bright financial future, Chattanooga bankruptcy lawyer Gary Massey and the legal team of Massey & Associates have the knowledge and skills needed to help you. To schedule a free consultation regarding your case, call (423) 697-4529.

The new conditions will provide vital assistance to individuals who meet the qualifications to receive Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) benefits. The added conditions will take effect in August and include a variety of diseases, but primarily covered will be rare diseases, cancers, and neurologic disorders. Several of the new conditions affect children, who may also be eligible to receive disability benefits through the Supplemental Security Income program (SSI).

An estimated 3 million people apply for SSDI benefits each year, and those with medical conditions that fall under the Compassionate Allowances program benefit from this effort to speed up their claims through the disability review process. SSDI, which operates separately from the Social Security retirement and SSI (Supplemental Security Income) programs, is a federally mandated disability insurance program that provides monthly benefits to certain individuals. Persons who are under full retirement age (age 65 or older) that can no longer work because of a severe disability are eligible for SSDI benefits.

The guidelines and criteria for receiving SSDI benefits can be confusing, and the application process can be overwhelming for claimants. For assistance with your SSDI claim, contact a Tennessee Social Security Disability lawyer with Massey & Associates, P.C. We are knowledgeable about Social Security Disability and stay abreast of new rules and changes, and can help you successfully file your claim and receive the financial assistance you need. For a free consultation, please call (423) 697-4529.