See March 18, 2010, OLR blog post for updated links.
The Servicemembers Civil Relief Act (SCRA) affects every litigant, lawyer, and judge. Ignore it at your peril.
Two SCRA laws that apply to Oregonians, one federal and one Oregon:
Having problems with the lawyer someone recommended to you or who you thought was recommended by an “online service” or a “best ever lawyers in the whole wide world” list?
It is not enough just to get a recommendation for a lawyer who can help you with your legal problem. You need to do a some preliminary research and have a conversation about fees and service with that lawyer.
If you do absolutely nothing else before you hire a lawyer, please:
From the July 13, 2009, ATC, NPR story, Librarians Go Wild for Gold Book Cart:
‘….Five teams of librarians — dressed in costumes ranging from Vikings to Elvis Presley — competed for the coveted gold book cart. They marched in drill-team formation, equipped with metal book carts.
Gretchen Roltgen, a 62-year-old librarian with neon blue hair, says it’s a long way from Baraboo, Wis., to “the big dance.”
The Public Service Loan Forgiveness program (and here) started July 1, 2009. There is more information, and links, at this Law School Academic News blog post. (Note: the program is not just for law students.)
This is a very new program and I recommend you run a search for the most up-to-date information. The following Google searches will bring up dot gov or dot edu sites, which are the best place to begin for very new educational benefit program information. You can also check with your financial aid office, if you are still a student.
Search string: Public Service Loan Forgiveness program site:.gov
Or,
Search string: Public Service Loan Forgiveness program site:.edu
I’ve been working on a blog post linking to summaries of this Oregon Legislative Session’s consumer law accomplishments e.g. see the Oregon Live information, but got sidetracked by this story. Mandatory arbitration requirements have been a hot topic for a while amongst consumer law attorneys:
From an Oregon attorney’s blog post about a lawsuit against the National Arbitration Forum. Excerpt:
“This major development in the fight against arbitration abuse has potential to cause some serious carnage. The State of Minnesota filed a lawsuit against National Arbitration Forum, a leading arbitration provider, claiming that NAF is a front for debt collectors and their law firms and not an independent arbitration service. Here’s a copy of the complaint–it’s long–for anyone who is interested….” (read full post)
This program is part of the UO Portland Summer Spotlight series.
“Interested in how copyright law affects creative work? Itching to write your own version of copyright law? Curious to know how musicians and artists might talk to an entertainment attorney, and vice versa?
Join the UO Portland Library and Learning Commons at 6:30 pm on Thursday, July 16 for “Free Culture: Creating Copyright and Copyrighting Creation,” a lively discussion of copyright and the arts. UO alum and entertainment lawyer Peter Shaver will talk with Portland-based electropop trio YACHT, and will engage the audience in a real-time redraft of copyright law.
Media Release (July 15, 2009) summarizing the case.
Oregon Court of Appeals case: Shineovich V. Kemp (A138013), filed July 15, 2009.
Excerpt: “In this action for declaratory relief, petitioner challenges the constitutionality of two statutes under which a married man is, by operation of law, deemed to be the legal parent of children born to his wife. Petitioner and respondent were in a same-sex relationship for 10 years, during which time respondent twice became pregnant by artificial insemination. After the parties separated, petitioner brought this action, seeking a declaration that she is a legal parent of the two children born to respondent. She asserted that ORS 109.070(1) (2003) and ORS 109.243(1) create a privilege–legal parenthood by operation of law–on the basis of gender and sexual orientation, in violation of Article I, section 20, of the Oregon Constitution. After the parties submitted their pleadings, the trial court dismissed petitioner’s claims for failure to state a claim for relief, and petitioner appeals. We conclude that ORS 109.070 (2003) does not violate Article I, section 20, but that ORS 109.243 does. Accordingly, we reverse and remand.” (read full case)
The tips at this post, 20 Tips to Manage your Online Social Life, which I linked to from iLibrarian, piqued my curiosity. They may pique yours too – or not.
For me, it’s not so much my “social life” that needs managing. I can do that perfectly well or at least to my own satisfaction. It’s the work-related networks that start to feel overwhelming.
Mind Mapping isn’t new, but it has taken me a while to absorb its usefulness and adapt it. Password control is a necessity, but the right method eludes me still. These tips may not be exactly right for you, but they will keep your Organization-Maven Juices flowing in the right direction. Twenty tips are a bit much; I like new ideas in small bites, e.g. 3-4 tips at a time, max. But I can manage 🙂
1) For an excellent lineup of free legal research databases, see Robert Ambrogi’s Legal.Online column: 10 Places to Get Free Cases: A Very Good Price, from the Oregon State Bar Bulletin, July 2009 issue. In 2 pages he gives links and pertinent information about each database’s coverage and caveats.
2) Another view of “free”: Can Free Information Make Us A Vendor-Free Library?, posted July 13, 2009, Paul Lomio, has some interesting ideas, excellent links, and thoughtful Comments.
3) See also my Oregon Legal Research blog sidebar, which links to guides to Free and Low-Cost Legal Research Resources.
Tis the season, apparently, to climb onto an open-air motorized vehicle:
There are state laws:
1) ODOT, DMV, Pocket Bike Guide (PDF)
2) ODOT, DMV Vehicle Index
3) ODOT, DMV Vehicle Violations
4) ODOT, DMV Vehicle Factsheet for Mini-motorbikes and Scooters
5) Oregon Revised Statutes (ORS)
And there are local laws: Contact your city or county law enforcement agency (e.g. police or sheriff) to ask if they have any brochures, training, and websites that have information for riders of these vehicles.
Oregon Legal Research Blog