Archive for December, 2009

The Humboldt County Bar Association (“HCBA”) met for its December meeting at the Sea Grill Restaurant in Eureka and elected officers for 2010.   Current President Tim Needham was replaced by current Vice President Cat Koshkin.   Humboldt County Public Defender Kevin Robinson was elected Vice President.   The Janssen Law Firm’s Patrik Griego was reelected Treasurer.  David Dibble was elected secretary.

The HCBA is a social organization that organizes continuing legal education classes and assists the underprivileged in our community with time and resources.

If you are a lawyer in the Humboldt County area and interested in joining the HCBA please contact Mr. Griego for dues information.  The HCBA generally meets the first Friday of each month for lunch.

In 2009 Legal Services of Northern California (“LSNC”) celebrated its 53rd year of advocacy on behalf of low income folks in Northern California.   The program encompasses 23 counties, and provides a full range of legal services throughout that area, including from the Regional Office in Eureka, Humboldt County.   In addition to the services provided by the staff at the Eureka Regional Office, that office works with members of the local private Bar to provide, on a case by case basis, private attorney referrals, pro bono, for people meeting the legal services income eligibility requirements.

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One main responsibility of a personal injury lawyer is negotiating and reducing medical liens on behalf of an injured client.  If you have received medical treatment due to an injury where another person or business is at fault, a medical provider, insurance company, public source, or hospital may assert a lien for amounts they have paid or are owed for your medical treatment.

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If you are an entrepreneur who wishes to start up a business in Humboldt County, one of the first questions you will face is what form of business organization should you choose for your business endeavor:

Traditionally, there have been three major forms used to structure a business enterprise:

1)  the sole proprietorship;

2)  the partnership, including the limited partnership; and

3)  the corporation.

Recently, two other business forms have come into widespread use – the limited liability company and the limited liability partnership.

In choosing among these business forms, there are a number of  factors which the entrepreneur should consider.   Three of the most important factors are:

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As of November 21, 2009, employers must post a supplement next to the 2009 Employment Poster.  The new posting includes changes to the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (“EEOC”) notice concerning the Genetic Information Nondiscrimination Act (“GINA”),  signed into law by President Bush on May 21, 2008.  The purpose of GINA is to prohibit any improper use of genetic information (for example, any genetic predisposition to developing a disease) in health insurance and employment.  Employers may not use an employee’s genetic information when making hiring, firing, job placement or promotion decisions.  Today, employers must begin complying with GINA.  Nor may group health plans or health insurers deny coverage to healthy individuals—or charge higher premiums—on the basis of genetic information.

The posting also explains changes in the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990, as well as revisions to laws pertaining to employers who hold federal contracts or subcontracts.

The 2009 Employment Post supplement is available to employers for free at the EEOC web site.