Craig Seldin on Hurricane Sandy and America’s disaster preparedness
Urban America could not be less hysterical in anticipating the landfall of Hurricane Sandy, although it was not alone in the damages. Power outage and flash floods in New York contrasted with a death toll of more than 200 in countries that the Atlantic hurricane affected. Only the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina in New Orleans presented a more devastating picture in both casualties and worth of damages.
It is disheartening to see a ravaged urban landscape, with its bustling life disrupted by the forces of fire and flood. Communities burned to the ground in Queens while the subway system in New York was an intractable piece of technology for days. For a country with a record of penetrating outer space, this picture presented a truly remarkable contrast of helplessness.
All the more as arguments about disaster preparedness have been floated in the following days of damage assessment. The damage is estimated at more than 20 billion dollars, calling in the nightmare of destruction that was Hurricane Katrina. In that particular disaster, people have wondered whether better disaster preparation could have been a mitigating consolation. All the floodwater under the bridge could only render useless the flashback of solutions.
What’s certain is that federal assistance will bankroll recovery for New Jersey and affected communities. But given the record of the United States’ vulnerability against disasters, federal action and budget could (and should) be split by post-disaster response and the anticipation of the next hurricane’s landfall.
Craig Seldin: Custody After Divorce
When parents divorce, one of the primary questions is “who will get custody of the kids?” In some cases, deciding custody is easy, as one parent might have been abusive or absent. In others, the children are old enough to decide who they want to live with. Some parents are able to come up with an equal plan between themselves. Divorce attorney Craig Seldin has often had to provide counsel when parents have been unable to work out a suitable custody arrangement.
Types of Custody
Custody comes in two forms: joint and sole. Under a joint custody arrangement, the parents have equal rights for decision-making regarding the health, education, and care of the child. Under a sole custody arrangement, only one parent has the majority of decision-making powers for the child. The non-custodial parent typically has to pay child support to help financially with the child’s rearing.
With joint custody, while the parents may have equal decision making responsibilities,. they make not have equal rights to time of possession of the child. For example, the child might primarily live with one parent and see the other every other weekend and during the week for short daytime visits. Although the child spends more time with one parent, both parents have a say in how he is raised, points out attorney Craig Seldin.
Who Can Get Custody
Generally, only parents are awarded custody of a child. That includes adoptive parents as well. In some cases, a grand-parent might be awarded custody over a biological parent. The biological parent must have passed away or not be able to care for the child.
Craig Seldin: Deciding Custody
It’s often better for the parents to come to an agreement on their own, without needing the opinion of the court. However, even parents who come to a friendly agreement about custody will benefit from having a court ordered custody agreement and working with a lawyer. The signed agreement serves as an official document and leaves no question about who cares for the child.
Attorney Craig Seldin has years of experience in family and divorce law. With the advice of Craig Seldin, parents can come up with a reasonable child custody agreement. Craig Seldin advises divorcing parents to consult a lawyer in their state for support and help through what is often a difficult process.
Craig Seldin: Wrongful Termination
A boss or company doesn’t need a concrete reason to fire most employees. But, if the firing takes place in a way that goes against contract or is discriminatory, the employee might be able to sue for wrongful termination. For years, Craig Seldin has been representing people in court who were wrongfully terminated by an employer.
Identifying Wrongful Termination
Unless an employee quits or moves on to a better position, losing a job is rarely ever a pleasant experience. There might be a lot of anger and hurt on the part of the person let go. After a let-go employee has had some time to cool down, he might realize that he was wrongfully fired or that something not above board occurred when he was let go.
Reasons for wrongful termination include:
- Discrimination. It is illegal to fire a person because of her gender, sex, race, religious beliefs or physical ability. In many states, a person cannot be fired because of her sexual orientation.
- Retaliation. An employee cannot be fired because he was a whistle blower or because he
filed a complaint of discrimination with EEOC. - Violation of contract
. A lot of companies have contracts and specific policies in place that can be regarded as creating contracts that regulate the termination process. If a supervisor does not follow these contracts, the employee has the right to claim wrongful dismissal, notes attorney Craig Seldin.
Consequences
Employees who are terminated usually cannot receive unemployment benefits unless they can demonstrate that the termination was wrongful. Wrongful termination usually means that a person was fired through no fault of his own.. Employees who are denied unemployment after being let go may wish to consult an attorney to discuss their options.
Craig Seldin: What to Do
An employment lawyer can help people who were unjustly terminated from their jobs. In most cases, wrongful termination suits involve filing a complaint with the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission. Your case might need to go through the state court or a federal court, depending on the situation. Not all wrongful termination suits make it to court, though. An employer might prefer to settle with you out of court to save on costs.
Houston attorney Craig Seldin has helped many employees who were wrongfully dismissed from a job. When a client reaches out to Craig Seldin, he has the assurance of decades of experience and a proven track record of success. If you have a legal problem concerning a past employer, contact attorney Craig Seldin today.
Craig Seldin
Houston attorney Craig Seldin always knew he wanted to become a lawyer. He was thrilled when he got his acceptance letter from the University of Texas Law School in Austin. Craig has always enjoyed helping people. He has had that desire for a long time. Practicing law was the right fit for Craig.
One thing Craig Learned fast was that graduation from law school is no longer a gilt-edged invitation to the good life. Law school is extremely expensive. A year after graduation comes, many law students are still unemployed and looking for jobs. Even law students with employment offers are being told by their firms the offer has been pushed back months or years.
Here are some questions Craig Seldin thinks you should ask yourself before you apply to law school
1. Evaluate why you want to go to law school. Some people want to become a lawyer, others want to work in corporations. Some would like to become ombudsmen or mediators. What ever the reason you want to go. Make sure that you have a specific goal in mind.
2. What law school are you likely to get into based on your grades and your LSAT scores? Law school rankings really are important. Graduates from the top tier of law schools are the first to get tapped for positions with lucrative firms. They’re also the students who get selected for the most prestigious judicial clerkships. Craig Seldin’s alma mater, UT Law, is one of the top 20 schools in the nation.
Is it really worth it to you to go to a school knowing that your education there won’t help you land a job? Think about the answer to this question very carefully.
3. If you’re considering a particular school, what percentage of its graduates have passed the bar exam? If you want to be a practicing attorney, you need to pass the bar exam. Even if you don’t want to practice law per se, it’s probably to your advantage to pass the bar. Different schools have different passing rates.
Attorney Craig Seldin Says Law School Is Expensive
Law school can be extremely expensive, depending upon where you end up going. Most public schools charge in the neighborhood of $30,000 a year for in-state students. For out-of-state students, that amount may be closer to $50,000 a year. Private universities may charge even more.
Law school is a three-year endeavor. At minimum, you will graduate with a student loan debt close to $100,000. What if you don’t get a job right away? How will you pay this debt?
Take a look at the annual salaries of students who graduated from the school you’re interested in attending. How much are they making? Could you afford to pay back your student loans on those amounts? Craig Seldin says the law is an exciting career, but you need to weigh all factors carefully. There are pluses and minuses to going to law school, notes attorney Craig Seldin. Make sure the pluses outweigh the minuses before you enroll, advises lawyer Craig Seldin.
Craig Seldin
Houston-based attorney Craig Seldin has been practicing law for over 30 years. There are many situations where people need lawyers. Obviously, you need a lawyer when a lawsuit is brought against you, or you’re arrested and charged with a crime. Other legal situations, however, may not involve the courts and legal system per se. You may be tempted to think, “This is something I can handle by myself.”
Craig Seldin urges you to remember the old adage: “The person who is his own lawyer has a fool for a client.”
If a legal transaction’s outcome could involve a substantial financial loss or the loss of freedom, you need a lawyer. An attorney works as your advocate, securing your financial interests and legal rights. An attorney can give you sound advice that will help you better navigate the complex thicket of the law.
Many lawyers offer free consultations during which you can share the outlines of your case. The lawyer will tell you frankly then whether he or she will be able to help. The meter will start running only after you decide the attorney’s involvement is worth it.
Lawyers can be expensive. It’s best to do your own cost benefit analysis before you consult one. Compare the cost of a lawyer with the potential losses or gains in a given situation. Do you stand to lose more that the lawyer’s fee if a legal situation doesn’t go your way? Then the lawyer’s fee is definitely worth it, advises Houston personal injury lawyer Craig Seldin.
Keep in mind, too, that only lawyers can give legal advice. A paralegal may be able to prepare legal documents but he or she cannot give an informed opinion. A lawyer is an officer of the court, and as such, trained to interpret the law. A lawyer is also sworn to represent clients’ best interests. Any communication you have with a lawyer is protected by attorney client privilege.
Craig Seldin: When Do I Need a Personal Injury Lawyer?
There are statutes of limitation on most personal injury cases. This argues for hiring a lawyer sooner rather than later, even if you think the injury is minor. If you were injured by the negligence of another person, and insurance companies are involved, consider engaging a lawyer.
A lawyer can help collect the necessary documentation you’ll need to handle the case. A lawyer can help you communicate with the third parties you need to communicate with to collect compensation. These third parties may include claims adjusters, witnesses, medical providers, medical billing offices, bill collectors and others.
It’s more than likely your claim will not be against the person who injured you but that person’s insurance company. You can be sure that insurance company is amply represented by attorneys.
Personal injury attorneys operate on a contingency basis, notes lawyer Craig Seldin so you won’t be out of pocket. Personal injury lawyers like attorney Craig Seldin know the system and have the expertise to negotiate a good settlement. Craig Seldin thinks you will save time by working with a good personal injury attorney.
Craig Seldin Helping Texans Divorce Amicably
Craig Seldin, expert attorney, understands that navigating the rough waters of a divorce can be a difficult task. There’s already way too much emotional debris floating around, and the last thing you want to do is deal with the person that caused it. Now, however, you have to buckle down and face them amicably.
The courtroom settlements and hearings you might have to go through are going to be harrowing in their own right. Things can go from bad to worse the instant you and your ex-spouse disagree about the tiniest detail. If you have children, you’ll have to make some gut-wrenching decisions. You also have to consider, however, how hard it’s going to be to deal with other, more basic issues. Having a divorce lawyer isn’t just a benefit in the courtroom.
Yes, good divorce lawyers are important because they ensure you get your fair share of property. Yes, they help you make sure that your children still get to grow up with a fair chance at the best life has to offer. Yes, they help you figure out how to make your future financial situation as manageable as possible. What many people overlook, however, is that divorce lawyers also help you get through the day-to-day tedium you now face.
Every step in your divorce procedure is a huge chore. Your emotions are still fresh, and they affect your actions so much that you say and do things you’d normally refrain from. Although this may be OK in other situations, attorney Craig Seldin knows it has no place in divorce proceedings or meetings outside court.
You need to keep a clear head if you’re going to come out on top or anywhere close. Of course, it’s impossible to totally detach yourself from your feelings. That’s why divorce attorneys are so valuable. They provide steady, even-handed council that lets you keep yourself in check so that you can get through your proceedings as quickly as possible.
Craig Seldin Promoting Divorcee Rights
Your soon-to-be ex-spouse may not even be your biggest stumbling block. Your judge may decide not to grant your divorce. Maybe your casework was improperly prepared or you failed to present yourself correctly. Either way, the odds of you getting in and out of court successfully are low. If you had a divorce lawyer’s help, however, you’d be free to move on with your life by now.
There’s too much at risk to leave your fate to chance. No matter how well you think you’ve prepared yourself, you can’t play dice with your family’s future. Hiring a divorce lawyer is the smart choice, even if all they do is review your case.
Attorney Craig Seldin is here to help. With decades of experience in divorce, property, alimony and visitation law, Craig Seldin knows how to get you ready for a healthy split. Some people think divorce is a negative thing. Craig Seldin, on the other hand, knows that even though it’s not ideal, it doesn’t have to wreck your life.