Blog
Comparative Fault in WV
Hmmmm……..20 promised articles………8-10. How about 3 tonight. I wrote to the WV State Bar Social Media Committee some thoughts, answered some calls, received one, and walked the dogs, and here I am. (Editor: as I edit this post, the new “Red” WV Legislature is rewriting a great deal of the employment, environmental, insurance, and personal… View Article
The Basics of Personal Injury Claims in WV
First; let’s deal with the myth of the greedy client and greedy lawyer. My wife and I were on our way home from visiting our children in North Carolina. We stopped at the light on WV 19 North of Beckley. A few seconds later we hear a keening squeal. A large object flits by… View Article
Procrastination, Information, and Ignorance
Before writing my articles on Personal Injury Misconceptions, a few thoughts. My new Apple iPad is fabulous; no I haven’t gone over to the Mac crowd, but some things are so right, you can’t not have one. Case in point was my test drive of a 2002 Subaru WRX. Bought it that week and am… View Article
Communicating with Those You Hate, or Who Hate You
Communication Tips (For Divorcing and Conflicted Parties) Many of my custody cases, at least initially, involve significant conflicts between the parties. This conflict can show up as a difficulty communicating, a lack of trust, hostility because of past abuse, or even selfishness or immaturity. We have a number of techniques to try to overcome these… View Article
Upcoming Posts
Apologies for lengthy upcoming posts. I wrote two documents; a. Tips For Lawyers Dealing With Unrepresented Parties. b. Burt’s Tips on How Parents Can Communicate. They are long and detailed, but they are my thoughts, reduced to writing long before I knew what a blog is. Please feel free to forward to your lawyer, your sister, or your… View Article
Alimony or Spousal Support – Will I pay or get it?
As with most things, there are many misconceptions about alimony or spousal support. Most common is the thought is that if you catch your spouse in bed with your best friend, at least the alimony issue will be resolved in your favor. Not so! The rule that a finding of adultery bars an award of… View Article
Shortsighted Lawyers
This week was a frustrating reminder to me that shortsighted lawyers cause a lot of harm, to others, and their own clients. These lawyers are not, as my Yellow Pages Ad above promises, “Competent, Compassionate, (or) Committed” Here are some examples: 1. The “For The Record Letter”. A couple of weeks ago, I called a colleague who… View Article
Why Won’t My Lawyer Call Me Back?
Burt Hunter: dutifully calling back one of his clients! This is a good question. 30% of the lawyers I deal with WILL NOT call me back. My theory is 20% just can’t manage their time, or they don’t have sufficient staff to return the call for them. But 10% have cynically decided they do not… View Article
Mediation Conundrums, Domestic Violence, and Sociopaths
Seminars “charge my batteries”. Tonight I am writing this post from the Charleston WV Marriott, one of my favorite places. Sometimes Nancy joins me, which is heavenly, as we try out a Charleston restaurant and shop, or socialize with other lawyers. Other times I stay in, catch up on work and correspondence, and even watch… View Article