Law Offices of Evan Aidman

Here is a blog by my colleague, Dale Larrimore that I hope you will find useful for conducting your own legal research. *** There are alternatives available to WestLaw and Lexis. Many of us are already aware of them but not all of us are aware of all of the options. Here is some general information on some of the alternatives. ...Continue reading

Upcoming Webinar. http://www.nbi-sems.com/Details.aspx/R-64925ER%7C

Here's a really cool tool you can use when you need to send an email that needs to be really secure, like your godaddy password. https://privnote.com/

In order to hold people accountable for their actions, they must know that you have their name.

Don't text and drive. Don't even text to someone who is driving. http://www.cnn.com//new-jersey-texting-crash-s/index.html

Collecting Damages from an Uninsured Defendant The operation was successful, but the patient died. This is how a litigant feels after obtaining a judgment against an uninsured defendant from whom it is impossible to collect. When settling a personal injury claim with an insured defendant or a self-insured entity, such as a government entity or a wealthy company, the plaintiff usually receives the settlement check within two or three weeks. When settling with the vast majori...Continue reading

Proving Tinnitus Injuries in Personal Injury Litigation July 24, 2013 // Proving Tinnitus in Personal Injury Litigation...Continue reading

A Biblical Basis for Personal Injuries Litigation King Solomon said in Ecclesiastes, There is nothing new beneath the Sun. This ancient adage applies to personal injury litigation. Jewish law, as expressed in the Talmud, (Rabbinic Commentary on the Jewish Oral Law) compels one who injures a colleague to pay compensation in five ways. One must pay for the colleague’s pain and suffering, medical bills, loss of past earnings, loss of future earning capacity and embarrassment.... Making restitution in this manner is considered one of the Torah’s 613 commandments. One of the best known and most completely misunderstood verses in all of Scripture is ayin tachas ayin; shen tachas shen. This is generally translated as an eye for an eye; a tooth for a tooth. (Exodus 21:24; Leviticus 24:20) Many cite this verse in scornful attacks on the vengeful G-d of the Old Testament. Who can forget Tevye’s line in Fiddler on the Roof in which he decries that we shall all end up blind and toothless under this barbarous system? Two wrongs ironically seem to make a right. The audience’s laughter betrays a simple ignorance of the true meaning of this verse. The Talmud proves both logically and through Scriptural analysis that the verse cannot be interpreted literally. Rashi (the outstanding Biblical commentator of the Middle Ages) explains that "an eye for an eye" is not to be taken literally. We don't maim our fellow by taking his eye out or cutting off a limb. Rather, the Jewish sages who have interpreted this verse through history hold that an eye for an eye refers to monetary compensation. We fine the offender the value of an eye. Never has a Jewish court blinded or otherwise inflicted physical injury out of vengeance. This Biblically mandated system is not so unlike our own civil justice system of compensation for personal injuries. If it is a slogan for anything, "an eye for an eye" is a slogan for an entire civil legal system; not criminal and not capital. Within the context of the Talmud, we learn that this verse of Torah is not indicative of a vengeful G-d. Rather, it represents G-d’s system of compensation where victim’s rights are protected and the perpetrator comes to understand the gravity of the offense.

Amtrak Derailment Disaster Spawns Litigation The litigation over the Amtrak derailment tragedy has begun. Amtrak is required by statute to maintain coverage of no less than $200 million for rail disasters. Click here to review this statute. While this may sound like a lot, with 8 tragic deaths and as many as 200 serious injury claims, it will surely not be adequate to compensate the many victims, especially if punitive damages come into play. ... Often the largest component in major injury claims are lost earnings and diminished earning capacity. When you hear about multi-million dollar jury verdicts in injury cases, it is usually because the plaintiff was a large wage earner. These Amtrak riders were mostly wage earners. I represent two individuals with claims arising out of this tragedy. My focus will not only be on their physical and emotional trauma, but also on their earnings losses. Amtrak is likely to interplead the $200 million into court and walk away from any further litigation. That will leave the claimants to divide up the money. Perhaps Kenneth Feinberg will be called in to mediate the division of this money. Mr. Feinberg was the Special Master of the government’s September 11th Victim Compensation Fund, administered the victim assistance fund established after the 2013 Boston Marathon bombings, mediated the Penn State sex abuse scandal, and much more. Contrast the damage caps mandated by statute for the City of Philadelphia and the Southeastern Pennsylvania Transportation Authority. The City cannot be required to pay more than $250,000, regardless of the extent of damages caused by its negligence. SEPTA’s liability is limited to $500,000. The same cap applies to all other Pennsylvania state agencies. For a fascinating discussion of train safety technology and much more, click here.

IRONY, THY NAME IS SEPTA.

Matthew Maher has been released from prison. This is the pro soccer player who killed a man while driving drunk. I represented the family of the man who died. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Matthew_Maher

You Be The Judge!

To locate the owner of a property in Philadelphia, click here. http://www.phila.gov//propertyinformati/Pages/default.aspx