Pennsylvania Nursing Home Abuse Lawyer Blog

In January, Oprah Winfrey began a campaign and launched a public service announcement to end distracted driving. Today, April 30, is the first national "No Phone Zone" Day, an effort to break Americans of the deadly habit of talking or texting while driving, a habit that kills nearly 6,000 people a year, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.

"A call or text isn't worth taking a life," said Winfrey.

On Friday's show, Winfrey will interview Jacy Good of Lancaster County, who lost both her parents when a tractor trailer driver who was talking on a cell phone drove into the path of their car.

According to an article on LancasterOnline.com, Good is working with a Montgomery County legislator who is sponsoring a law that would ban the use of hand-held cell phones while driving in Pennsylvania, which has been dubbed "The Jacy Good Law."

Good is spreading the word about the dangers of using a cell phone while driving. Good commented, "Then my parents' death had some meaning so no one will have to go through what my family was forced to."

Pennsylvania Governor Edward G. Rendell is reminding residents that today is the deadline to register to vote in Pennsylvania's May 18 primary election. In the primary, voters cast ballots for candidates for a variety of offices, including governor, lieutenant governor, state senator and representative, and U.S. senator and U.S. representative.

Secretary of the Commonwealth Pedro A. Cortes said, "I would like to remind everyone who has moved since they last voted to apply for registration using their new address.
Individuals applying to register to vote for the May 19 primary must be:

• A citizen of the United States for at least one month before the primary;
• A resident of Pennsylvania and the election district in which the individual desires to register and vote for at least 30 days before the primary; and
• At least 18 years of age on or before the primary.

According to the state of Pennsylvania's website, residents may apply in person at a county voter registration office; the state department of Public Welfare or Health; PennDOT photo and driver license centers; Armed Forces recruitment centers; county clerk of orphan's courts or marriage license centers; area agencies on aging; county mental health and mental retardation offices; student disability services offices of the State System of Higher Education; offices of special education in high schools; and Americans with Disabilites Act-mandated complimentary paratransit providers.

The Department of the State's voter education website, VotesPA.com, allows voters to check their voter registration status, download a voter registration form, and obtain directions to their polling place. The site also includes tips for first-time voters and members of the armed services, and instructions on how to cast a ballot.

The law offices of Michael J. O'Connor & Associates want you to do your part and get registered to vote!

In an effort to be as responsive to our clients' needs as possible, the law office of Michael J. O'Connor & Associates has added a live chat feature to our website (www.oconnorlaw.com). Now if you have a question at any time of the day, you'll be able to reach us through a simple click of the mouse. Let the experienced attorney team at Michael J. O'Connor & Associates get you the justice you deserve.

The Boston Herald recently uncovered a disturbing trend with Massachusetts seniors entering nursing homes: a "hidden" practice of signing away their rights to sue facilities in the event of neglect or bad medical care.

Seniors are being urged to sign contracts that allow arbitrators to handle disputes; but these seniors don't realize that they are signing away their right to bring cases that might involve neglect and abuse before a judge and jury.

In the article, Marlene Owens of South Easton, MA, who challenged an arbitration agreement signed by her elderly stepfather in 2003, is quoted as saying, "It gives the nursing home carte blanche to abuse these elderly people because they won't have to answer to it."

When a loved one is admitted to a nursing facility, it can be emotional and the paperwork can be overwhelming. The arbitration agreements may be buried in admission packages and easily overlooked. "Most people don't see it," said Boston attorney Rebecca Benson. Some seniors may think they have no choice but to sign the agreement.

But U.S. Rep. Barney Frank (D-Newton) is supporting legislation that would ban these agreements in nursing homes. Although Frank agrees that arbitration can be a good way to handle disputes, he thinks it should be a choice. He is quoted as saying, "You shouldn't have to sign one in advance in these one-sided contracts."

Continue reading "Nursing Home Residents Can Unwittingly Sign Away Their Rights" »