Leeds Morelli & Brown, P.C., Estate

Model Lauren Scruggs Lost Hand and Eye in Plane Propeller Accident

admin — Mon, 30 Jan 2012 16:57:11 +0000

Lauren Scruggs, a Texas model, misjudged her distance from a propeller and as a result has suffered head, brain, shoulder and arm injuries, including the loss of her left hand and her left eye. Scruggs, who once worked on the New York-based TV show “Gossip Girl,” had the badly damaged eye removed and a prosthesis implanted in the eye’s place. Scrugg’s devout Christian family and friends have said faith has helped them on their journey and the healing process.

To ensure you will have an advocate to care for you if you become incapacitated, you should have health care documents such as a Health Care Power of Attorney and Living Will, executed by an attorney, to name an agent who can act on your behalf. A Health Care Power of Attorney is a document that allows you to designate a person, referred to as an “Agent,” who will have the authority to make health care decisions on your behalf if you are unconscious, mentally incompetent, or otherwise unable to make such decisions.

The attorneys at Leeds, Morelli & Brown, P.C. recognize the importance of proper estate planning, including Last Will and Testament, Living Will and Durable Power of Attorney. The attorneys at Leeds, Morelli & Brown, P.C. have worked with a variety of families in Nassau and Suffolk counties, Manhattan, Queens, Brooklyn, Bronx, and Staten Island. For questions regarding estate planning, please contact an attorney at the Leeds Morelli & Brown P.C. law firm for a free consultation at 1-800-585-4658 or visit the firm’s website at www.lbestatelaw.com.

Scholarships for White Men Only

admin — Thu, 05 May 2011 20:53:02 +0000

Colby Bohannan founded the Former Majority Association for Equality group, a Texas nonprofit group, that is now under scrutiny. Bohannan’s nonprofit is offering scholarships to, who he argues is a now a minority group in Texas: the white male. The scholarship limits applicants to only white men with a 3.0 grade-point average. Bohannan was inspired to form this nonprofit after returning home from fighting in the Iraq war to find no college scholarships available for white males like himself. School officials have so far not taken issue with the group’s objective, saying the scholarship is no different from one offered to students from different ethnic groups.

Full article: cnn.com.

In the workplace, Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 makes it illegal to discriminate against someone on the basis of race, color, religion, national origin, or sex. The law forbids discrimination when it comes to any aspect of employment, including hiring, firing, pay, job assignments, promotions, layoff, training, fringe benefits, and any other term or condition of employment. Please visit the EEOC’s website for further information: eeoc.gov. Although the law requires equality and fairness in the workplace, many private clubs enjoy not having to abide by the EEOC.

Leeds Morelli & Brown, PC dedicates a large portion of their practice to the area of employment law. Our firm has had considerable success in matters of employment discrimination throughout Long Island and the New York City area. For more information, contact Leeds, Morelli and Brown, PC at 1-800-585-4658 for a free consultation.

NYPD policy towards public housing leads to $150K settlement

admin — Thu, 05 May 2011 20:47:38 +0000

A controversial stop-and-frisk practice by the NYPD inside public housing has led to nine recent settlements totaling to more than $150,000 to nine of 16 plaintiffs. The lawsuit claimed that the plaintiffs were illegally stopped on Housing Authority property because they were black or Hispanic. The case was filed in January 2010 by the NAACP Legal Defense and Educational Fund, the Legal Aid Society and the law firm Paul, Weiss, Rfkind, Wharton & Garrison. Civil rights groups, such as the New York Civil Liberties Union, have raised concerns that the practice leads to racial profiling since minorities are the target of most NYPD stops. Nonetheless, despite the lawsuit, the city has defended its policy towards New York City Housing Authority houses. Read more: http://www.nydailynews.com/ny_local/2011/03/05/2011-03-05_nypd_stopandfrisk_policy_in_public_housing_leads_to_150k_in_settlements.html#ixzz1FkkDyu9s See also: http://www.nytimes.com/2011/03/05/nyregion/05settle.html?_r=1&ref=discrimination
Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 makes it illegal to discriminate against someone on the basis of race, color, religion, national origin, or sex. The law forbids discrimination when it comes to any aspect of employment, including hiring, firing, pay, job assignments, promotions, layoff, training, fringe benefits, and any other term or condition of employment. This law is enforced by the Civil Rights Center.

The lawyers at Leeds Morelli & Brown, PC, located in Nassau County, New York, have been successful in litigating against claims affecting civil rights. If you have been a victim of a civil rights violation because of your age, gender, race, or sexual orientation, please contact Leeds Morelli & Brown, PC at 1-888-585-4658, One Old Country Road, Suite 347, Carle Place, NY, 11514-1851.

Seniors claim Queens Botanical Garden Entrance Fee unfair for Elderly Visitors

admin — Thu, 05 May 2011 20:43:21 +0000

Senior citizens feel they are being pushed out of the Queens Botanical Garden, a haven they have helped to cultivate over the years by growing plants, flowers, tomatoes, cucumbers, kale, broccoli, beets, snow peas and corn. The organization has increased fees for use of its Senior Garden to $150 this year, when after more than 40 years, seniors were able to use the garden practically for free. Last year the organization started charging seniors a $30.00 fee to use their plots. Susan Lacerte, the executive director of the botanical garden, stated that seniors can pay $100 less if they agree to volunteer a total of 48 hours. She also said that financial aid is available to help seniors pay the fee. Read more: http://www.nydailynews.com/ny_local/queens/2011/02/22/2011-02-22_seniors_priced_out_of_garden.html#ixzz1FkIfSm00

Age discrimination is common form of discrimination. Discriminating against an innocent individual or a group based on age, race or national origin may be prosecuted under Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964. The law prohibits harassment or any other action based on these reasons. See: http://www.eeoc.gov/facts/fs-relig_ethnic.html

Leeds Morelli & Brown, PC is a nationally recognized firm in the area of discrimination law. If you or someone you know has suffered discrimination, a hate crime, or bias in the Long Island or New York City area, contact Leeds, Morelli and Brown, PC at 1-800-585-4658 begin_of_the_skype_highlighting end_of_the_skype_highlightingfor a free consultation.

Andy Rooney Fights for Elderly Rights

admin — Thu, 05 May 2011 20:38:26 +0000

Movie star, Andy Rooney recently appeared before a Senate committee in Washington, D.C. urging politicians to do what they could to make sure the elderly don’t suffer the same situation he faced with his family. Rooney, 90, told the committee he felt scared and and angry when a member of his family took control of his personal and financials assets. The proponent claims he knew he needed the help and didn’t have the coverage to speak up. Currently, he has filed a restraining order against his stepson Christopher Aber and his wife. He claims they abused him emotionally and financially. The actor has now called for Congress to pass a law making chronic elderly abuse a crime. See: http://wonderwall.msn.com/movies/rooney-fights-for-elderly-justice-in-washington-dc-1607434.story/?gt1=28135
Recognizing the importance of elder care and safety, as well as estate planning in the event of a tragic death is important to anyone with elderly family members. If a decedent dies without a last will and testament, the estate is subject to intestacy by the New York Surrogate Court. Under the Estate Planning and Trusts Law (EPTL) 4.1-1, when a person dies without a last will and testament, all distribution, debts, administration expenses and reasonable funeral expenses will be deducted but all estate taxes shall be disregarded. Distribution of the estate shall then be as follows. If a decedent is survived by a spouse and issue, then fifty thousand dollars and one-half of the residue estate will go to the spouse, and the balance remaining will pass to the children. If a spouse dies without children, then the whole estate passes to the spouse. If there is no spouse and no children, then the whole estate will pass to one or both surviving parents. See: http://www.jdbar.com/Statutes/eptl-4-1_1.html

The attorneys at Leeds, Morelli & Brown, P.C. recognize the importance of proper estate planning, helping families properly plan estates in Nassau and Suffolk counties, Manhattan, Queens, Brooklyn, Bronx, and Staten Island. For questions regarding estate planning, please contact an attorney at the Leeds Morelli & Brown P.C. law firm for a free consultation at 1-888-556-2529 or visit the firm’s website at www.lbestatelaw.com

New York City Estate Administration Lawyers

admin — Tue, 30 Mar 2010 17:14:17 +0000

Leeds Morelli & Brown is a New York City Contested Estate, Estate Planning & Estate Administration Law Firm committed to integrity and professionalism. For decades, we have represented people needing experienced estate litigation services.

Contested Wills / Probate

A will contest is a legal challenge to the validity of a will. You need to contact a lawyer if you believe that the testator (the party who made the will) did not have the mental capacity to understand the will, was delusional or was under undue influence or fraud when he or she made the will. We can represent you if you believe a will does not accurately reflect the intent of the testator or if the will was never updated and therefore does not include all of the heirs. In addition, you may need probate litigation if you believe the executor is managing the probate improperly and is dissipating assets.

Estate Administration

Estate administration requires the personal representative to gather the deceased’s assets, pay the debts and distribute the assets to the heirs. Probate can be an informal or formal process requiring the personal representative to file paperwork with the court and appoint a person to manage the estate. This representative documents the deceased’s assets, notifies his or her creditors of the death and pays debts from the estate. The remaining assets are distributed according to the will. An attorney may be necessary to assist the personal representative with the administration process.

Contested Estate

An heir may believe that a will, codicil or trust is not being implemented or managed correctly. We will review the documents to determine whether an heir’s claim is likely to succeed. In addition, we will work to protect the assets of an estate from an executor or administrator who is managing an estate improperly.

Estate Planning

Every adult needs an estate plan. You need to decide who will care for your minor children and who will receive your assets and property. Your personal representative or trustee will follow the directions you left in the will or estate plan and makes sure your assets are distributed the way you planned. A complete estate plan allows you to designate a guardian for your minor children, give money to charity, give money or property to family members and prevent disputes among family members.

Estate & Probate

You want to leave your family an organized inheritance. Be sure your will transfers your assets to your heirs, your insurance policies are structured properly and your estate plan is understandable. Your heirs will appreciate it if you accomplish these goals with a minimum of confusion, with manageable paperwork and in accordance with the complicated state and federal laws involved.

When you work with us, you’re part of the family. We know it can be difficult to talk to a lawyer during working hours, so we will even give you our personal numbers. We’ll do what it takes to make life easier for you. Contact Us Today!

Talk to us — the Long Island Contested Estate and New York Estate Planning Law Firm of Leeds Morelli & Brown, representing clients in New York City, Manhattan, Queens, Nassau County, Suffolk County and surrounding communities. Call us at 1-888-5-JOBLAW or 1-516-873-9550.