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With over 350 million MySpace and Facebook users, it is important to understand that there are criminals in these virtual cities. So, we all must protect ourselves. Here are some fast facts.

  • When you invite others such as friends of friends or everyone to participate in your wall, messages, invitations, photos and any other open information may allow access to private information for criminals. Limit your social networking profiles to friends,
  • Hackers can gain unauthorized access to a site’s underlying coding which may breach the security in the platform. In doing so, your security may be compromised.
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Asbestos has been used for decades by many individuals in select industries, including: construction workers, cement workers, plumbers, pipe fitters, insulators, furnace workers, roofers, power plant workers, oil refinery workers, miners, processing plant workers, manufacturing plant workers, railroad workers, shipyard and submarine veterans of war.  Workers were not aware that asbestos exposure put them and their families at risk for contracting mesothelioma, a deadly cancer, until the risk turned into a reality for thousands.

Mesothelioma is suspected to develop in 3,000 people annually after it is undetectable for up to 50 years after contact with asbestos and cancer. Initial symptoms may include: weight loss, fever, night sweats, cough, breathing difficulty, chest pain, and ultimately swelling of the abdomen, bowel obstruction, blood clotting abnormalities, anemia, and a lowered red blood cell count. Mesothelioma can affect the abdominal, lung and/or heart linings. Many die within a year following diagnosis.

Recently, twenty six defendants settled a mesothelioma case for an undisclosed amount. However, a settlement offer by Union Carbide was rejected by the plaintiff. Instead, the plaintiff and associated family members went to trial against Union Carbide.

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SENATE BILL No. 85 has passed as of July 1st, 2010 which now prohibits a person from disclaiming property interests if the person is delinquent in child support payments. As of July 1, 2010, a disclaimer of an interest in property is barred if the person is delinquent in child support payments. Lawmakers believe this addition to child support laws will increase collections and possibly federal IV-D funding which is based on total child support dollars collected by the state.

Indiana Enforcement Action for Child Support Delinquency

This new addition is only one of the many ways that Indiana enforces child support laws. According to Indiana law, enforcement action must take place when a person pays less than the awarded amount or fails to pay child support, including:

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In Indiana, laws already restrict the sale of methamphetamine and related over-the-counter drugs such as select cold medicines which contain meth. Today, Indiana lawmakers are taking meth restrictions to the next level with the introduction of a proposal that would not allow pharmacies to sell pseudoephedrine without a prescription from a physician. Indiana lawmakers believe this proposal will curb meth use by limiting the ability for meth makers and users to obtain this harmful ingredient.

And rightfully so! Over 10 million Americans have tried meth and 1.4 million are regular users. Habitual methamphetamine use is linked to elevated risks for mood disturbances, violent behavior, infectious diseases such as HIV/AIDS and Hepatitis, crime, unemployment, as well as child abuse and neglect. So, any laws that would limit the availability of meth are highly desirable to lawmakers in Indiana and the public. The proposed Indiana law can have a positive economic impact on the state. Currently, the economic cost of methamphetamine use nationwide is $23.4 billion, according to the RAND Corp.

This summer, Indiana legislators will examine current regulations to determine if the proposal will fit in with regulatory criteria. Indiana is one of the more progressive states interested in curbing the economic burden associated with meth use. Also, The National Institutes of Health’s National Institute on Drug Abuse has recently granted a request for a $1.86 million fund to be used by the UCLA School of Dentistry for the study of oral health consequences associated with methamphetamine use. This is because a condition known as meth mouth is often evident in meth users who have used meth for only a short period of time.  In this way, dentists may provide a vehicle for the early detection of meth use to prevent more costly side effects associated with long term use reaching the general public.

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Sixty two dietary supplement products have been removed from the nationwide and international market following an investigation uncovering that the supplements contain steroid or steroid-like substances that were not approved by the FDA. The recalling firm is Bodybuilding.Com, Meridian, ID. The recall began in November 2009 and is still ongoing, including:

  • D-DROL capsules, D-Drol Complex 52.5 mg,
  • Bergamottin 25 mg
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If you’ve been using Qualaquin (quinine sulfate) to prevent leg cramps, treat leg cramps or for restless leg syndrome, you need to know that two people using Qualaquin and 36 others have experienced serious life threatening side effects between April and October 2008. This link was discovered after the FDA reviewed its Adverse Event Reporting System for the April through October time period. It is not clear how many others since October 2008 have experienced life threatening side effects or death from Qualaquin use. It is also important to know that Qualaquin is not FDA-approved to prevent or treat night time leg cramps.

The problem with the drug seems to be linked to the active ingredient called quinine. The serious side effects listed in the report, include:  

  • Low blood platelet levels (thrombocytopenia)
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Recently, President Obama demanded a $20 million fund be set up to provide oil spill relief. BP met this demand and the fund will be administered by Kenneth Feinberg who oversaw the fund for the victims of the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks. While this amount is not a small drop in the bucket, the $20 million may not cover the costs associated with the oil spill clean up or the suffering of families who maintained their livelihood because of the appeal of the Gulf Waters. For this reason, the $20 million is not a capped amount.

Kevin Costner has also stepped up to the plate with 2.5 ton centrifugal technology that he purchased from the Department of Energy and improved upon over the course of fifteen years. This technology was designed as a “first response” mechanism for separating oil from water. The technology is currently being improved upon to meet Gulf oil spill needs since the oil has been in the water for quite some time which makes it hardened in a much thicker form of consistency. Kevin Costner spent $25 million on this technology and $1 million has been spent on improvements and testing. BP has submitted a letter of intent to purchase 32 machines at a cost of approximately $500,000 each. Kevin Costner plans to donate 80% of his proceeds to those suffering in the marshlands and fisheries.

There have been 110 million gallons or more of oil that has filled the Gulf and surrounding waters  since the April 20, 2010 oil rig explosion. Despite BP’s efforts to remedy the situation using an apparatus to block the oil from seeping and burning the oil on the waters, the situation is far from resolved. In the meantime, Kevin Costner’s centrifugal technology is being reviewed by regulatory authorities before it can be used in the Gulf waters.

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Baseball spectators beware!  If you are hit by a foul ball at a baseball game, whether you were attempting to catch it or simply distracted by a conversation with another fan, it is unlikely that anyone will be held liable for your injury or responsible for your medical bills and damages.  For more than 50 years, courts have consistently held that being hit with a foul ball while in the stands is an inherent risk of attending a baseball game such that the stadium owner, stadium operator, or even the batter will not be legally responsible if you are hit due to such an inherent risk.

Although the game of baseball arguably has remained pretty much the same during its existence, the fan experience is evolving at a rapid pace.  Teams throughout the country are attempting to market the experience not just as a game, but also rather as a family-friendly EVENT.  With this marketing plan comes an increase things such as mascot presence, promotional activities such as t-shirt tosses, and picnic areas for before and during a game to name a few.  Many of these “family-friendly” activities cause spectators to become distracted and take attention away from the action on the field.  Some of these family activities may take place even before the game has started or outside the stands.

In theory, a court should be more likely to find an owner/operator liable for an injury due to a foul ball or homerun when the injury happens outside the stands or while the fan is distracted by a family-friendly activity.  However, courts  are inconsistent when it comes to unique situations such as these.  Therefore, it is best as a spectator to be aware that baseballs can ALWAYS leave the playing field even when you least expect it.  Even a shattered baseball bat can leave the field of play and cause a devastating injury.

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In 2007, Horizon Blue Cross Blue Shield of New Jersey was involved in a class action lawsuit filed by a group of nine medical specialists; including podiatrists and ophthalmologists. The medical specialists claimed that Blue Cross Blue Shield class action lawsuit stemmed against Horizon Blue Cross Blue Shield because of denied insurance claims that were considered “medically necessary” treatment for patients.  The medical specialists also contended that following an appeal process, which required a significant administrative expense, the insurance company very slowly paid the doctors for the patients’ services.

This lawsuit, known as Sutter v. Horizon Blue Cross Blue Shield of New Jersey, Esx-L-385-02, resulted in Horizon agreeing to settle the case. The provisions in the settlement, included:

  • Financial compensation of approximately $1750.00 per physician over a five year period.
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 In our very mobile society, relocation of a custodial parent after a divorce or paternity is quite common.  Indiana family law lawyers have found many reasons  for custodial parent moves.

This is especially true in these very difficult economic times when a move from where a custodial parent lives may be necessary in order to obtain employment.  If the move is a substantial distance from the original location, there is no doubt that such a change in location may cause a great amount of grief and heartbreak for the non-custodial parent.  Sometimes a move is made for other economic and/or quality of life reasons such as a move to an area where there is a lot of family.  Unfortunately, sometimes, the reason for relocation after a very acrimonious and hard fought divorce or custody battle may be for the purpose of taking a child away from the non-custodial parent, and not for a legally acceptable reason.

Indiana Relocation Custodial and Non-Custodial Parent Rights

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