Marina Kats Receives 2015 Super Lawyers Award

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Kats, Jamison & Associates is a full-service law firm providing expert legal advice in the areas of personal injury, including automobile, trucking, pedestrian and slip-and-fall accidents, as well as representing clients in criminal defense, real estate, corporate law, family law and immigration law matters.

 

The firm is unique because of their multi-language and multi-disciplined abilities. When you walk into our office, in addition to English, you hear people speaking in Russian, Ukrainian, Polish, French, Armenian, Hebrew and Spanish.

 

Marina Kats is named to the Super Lawyers list, an honor she has received many times. In addition to practicing law, Marina was named one of the Best 50 Women in Business in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. She has been inducted in to the Women’s Entrepreneurship Hall of Fame and was name Consumer Advocate of the Year for five consecutive years. She is on the Board of Einstein Healthcare Network and is a Trustee of the Foreign Policy Research Institute.

 

Over the years, the firm has had many successes obtaining multimillion-dollar verdicts and settlements, from $1 million to $30 million. There is no case too big or too small for the Kats firm. The clients will receive the firm’s undivided attention whether they have a $5,000 or $500 million case.

 

“Traditional Values and a modern approach to serving clients with the commitment and professionalism they deserve.”

 

This was another triumphant year for the Kats firm. “We keep doing what we do best,” says Marina, who was again selected as one of the Legal Leaders Philadelphia’s top Rated Lawyers. In one of her especially difficult cases, she recently achieved a $1.15 million settlement, which was featured and published as one of the Top Pennsylvania Verdicts and Settlements.

 

The firm continues to expand with Richard Seidel, a 26-year veteran trail lawyer, recently joining. He has many multimillion-dollar verdicts, including an $8.5 million verdict in the field of medical malpractice. He is the former chair of the Philadelphia Bar Association’s Judicial Selection Commission and former chair of the Philadelphia Bar Association’s Board of Governors.

 

Marina earned the L.L.M. in Trial Advocacy, a degree achieved by less than 1 percent of all lawyers in Pennsylvania. She often lectures on law and also judges national law school competitions.

 

With all of the accolades, what Marina values most is the opinion of her clients. “My focus always was, and will forever be, my clients,” she says.

 

Marina Kats and her firm are available 24/7 to meet the needs of every client.

Slip and Fall on Ice: Where Accidents Occur and How to Respond

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Almost no one expects a winter accident, but businesses understand and even plan for the danger. Most companies in the Northern United States set aside special funds with the sole purpose of handling the damages from winter accidents. One international company lays aside $1 billion every year for its US division to handle personal injury cases resulting from snow and ice; Kats Jamison and Associates has helped our clients recover substantial damages. Our recent settlement was $750,000 for a woman that slipped and fell on ice and there are many others like it. These incidents happen all the time, and the damages can be severe.

Harsh and unexpected weather conditions can make it difficult to keep properties safe during winter months. The owner has a responsibility to clear snow and ice, and yet these can arise as suddenly as a hailstorm, or an unexpected cold front. Even the most organized business cannot anticipate and clear slippery conditions in order to keep the property 100% safe, at all times.

Pennsylvania law also places some responsibility for caution on the part of visitors, workers, and pedestrian traffic. We urge everyone to take appropriate precautionary measures.

Areas where Most Slip and Fall on Ice Incidents Occur Ice and snow can quickly build-up in areas around businesses before personnel can appropriately respond with snow ploughs, salt, and shovels. As a slip and fall lawyer in Philadelphia, we see injuries most frequently in the following areas: 1. Parking lots 2. Garages 3. Outside the business (unclassified areas) 4. Stairs, ramps, and docks 5. Sidewalks 6. Entryways, such as lobbies and vestibules Despite knowing where slippery conditions are likeliest, the pedestrians in Philadelphia and adjacent counties like Bucks, Montgomery, Chester, and Delaware County can still fall, simply because the conditions are difficult to see, avoid, or account for. If an incident does occur, then we recommend you take the appropriate actions to ensure a successful case. This protects you from the substantial financial repercussions that a severe personal injury can have on your life.

Kats Jamison and Associates recommends you take the following steps and precautions in the event of a slip and fall on ice. 1. Do not make any detailed statements regarding the accident. 2. Do not make a recorded statement with the insurance adjustors. 3. Take down the contact information for the property owners and managers. 4. Find witnesses and write down their contact information. 5. Take pictures of the defects/hazards and of your injury. 6. Save all clothing, especially the footwear you wore when the slip and fall occurred. 7. Seek immediate medical attention if you are injured. 8. Call our law firm to connect with a slip and fall attorney in Philadelphia and adjacent counties for a free consultation: (215) 396-9001.

We also recommend you report your case to the immediate supervisor in the area where the accident occurred. Do not go into detail regarding the nature of the accident. Simply state where the accident occurred, take the necessary contact information, and move on. How a Slip and Fall Lawyer in Philadelphia Determines Damages for Your Claim Whether the slip and fall happens in Philadelphia or an adjacent area, the determination is basically the same. Our clients frequently ask us to estimate the value of their claim as early as possible. While it is difficult to give an accurate estimate of damages early in the process, we are able to give a figure after all of the medical bills and reports have been submitted.

My office of experienced personal injury attorneys meets on a weekly basis to analyze the cases that have come into the firm; we discuss and make a joint decision on each case. My office makes itself completely available to our clients; we take calls 24 hours each day, seven days of the week; we visit clients in the home or the hospital. If you need anything – from free consultation with regards to your case, to a slip and fall lawyer in Philadelphia, please do not hesitate to call us. And please, stay safe out there. If you are in the Greater Philadelphia area, please call (215) 396-9001. Kats Jamison & Associates is a personal injury law practice serving Bucks, Montgomery, Chester, Delaware County, and other adjacent counties. <>

 

Legal Leader Names Kats Jamison & Associates as one of the Top Rated Lawyers in Philadelphia

2014 Top Rated Lawyers in Philadelphia

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We are proud to be published in Legal Leaders as Philadelphia’s Top Rated Lawyers of 2014!

See the full article here: 2014 Top Rated Lawyers in Philadelphia

Marina Kats, a Philadelphia injury lawyer with a focus on clients.

Marina Kats: Philadelphia Injury Lawyer

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The most important reason why I became a lawyer is obvious. It is to help others in their moment of need. That answer will probably be given by most attorneys practicing law. For me it’s more than just words. This is a principle that I live by. My law firm is very unique in the sense that we are equally well equipped to handle multi-million dollar cases as well as cases of less potential value. For every person whose case we handle it is the most important case. Most firms that I know of, they either handle very large cases and they will not accept a smaller case or smaller firms will refer the large cases out, as they do not have the capability of efficiently handling the same. A Philadelphia injury lawyer at our firm will take on a case no matter the size.

 

The legal outcome is very difficult to measure. Once an attorney friend of mine choked when he was asked how he was able to get a 16 million dollar verdict on the case, he said I made a mistake on a 17 million dollar case. Since each case is so different and outcomes are difficult to predict, no two results could be compared. For example a cashier at the super market, who broke a finger, as a result of a car accident, and is unable to fully regain the use of the finger, maybe $200,000-300,000 is a good outcome. For the concert pianist with the same injury it could be a terrible result. A Philadelphia injury lawyer from Philly Lawyers would work to get the deserving outcome, no matter who the client is. Therefore the most important element in an attorney-client relationship is the trust and understanding that the lawyer really cares. The client may never find out how much lawyers know, but the client will always know how much a lawyer cares.

 

For the most part the problems can be solved among the parties if everyone dealt with each other in an honest and reasonable matter, but unfortunately that doesn’t happen in our world. I look at myself as an equalizer between the insurance company and someone who is injured in an accident. If the insurance company dealt with those individuals in a completely fair form there would not be a need for me to get involved, but most of the time the person is lost in the bureaucracy of the system. That’s when we will come in and help untangle the web of complications and give straight forward advice and a solution that can be recommended to our client’s satisfaction. I’d go to that lawyer. We help. And that’s the most important thing at the end of the day.

 

I started in college on student loans and I had to work two jobs to go through college and law school. I have built one of the most prestigious and respected firms in the tri-state area because of my humble beginnings. I understand philosophy and the importance of hard work and making it your life mission to assist others. I truly believe that the client comes first.

 

Like I stated earlier, most clients do not care how much a lawyer knows they want to know how much a lawyer cares. Our firm possesses both knowledge and care for our clients. We will and work in a community that we represent. I personally not only have a regular law degree that all lawyers are required to have but I also have a LLM in trial advocacy which translates to the highest possible degree that is attainable by an attorney. There is less than 1,000 of those degrees in the state of PA. When opposing counsel see the credentials they immediately recognize a worthy opponent. I, in my firm, have a number of verdict and settlements ranging from a million to 30 million dollars.

 

Most attorneys employed in our firm have a minimum of twenty years of experience. For example Richard Sydel was a former member of the board of directors for the Philadelphia Trial Lawyers Association and former board member of Governors of Philadelphia Bar Association. He had over 10 settlements on million-dollar plus cases. He has been published over 15 times and has lectured for the bar association and trial lawyers –  we hire the best so that you get the best Philadelphia injury lawyer for your case.

what to do when someone dies

Law | What To Do When Someone Dies

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Philly Lawyers Can Help With The Legal Side of This Sad Event

It is unfortunate, but during our lifetime we will experience a loss of a loved one. Many of us do not know what to do in these situations, so we have written this article with law tips of what to do when someone dies. When a loved one dies,  you need to immediately get the letters of administration. If you have questions or concerns that are not answered in this article, we recommend that you contact a trust and estate attorney immediately.  You should go to an office of probate with the death certificate, their form of identification, and request the letters of administration. If you live in Philadelphia, Montgomery, Delaware, Chester or Bucks county, our trust and estate attorneys can help you with this process. Kats, Jamison & Associates (Philly Lawyers) has experienced attorneys throughout the greater Philadelphia area that would help you every step of the way.

 

Getting the letters of administration is the first step. Once the letters of administration are received the executor/executrices of the will must follow it precisely.  Before the executor distributes any proceeds to the beneficiaries of the estate he or she must inform everyone of their intent and receive the releases from all beneficiaries. Just remember that no good deed goes unpunished, even if the executor did not benefit from the distribution of the estate, but did not follow the will precisely, they might be responsible for the consequences. Once all of the assets are distributed the inventory must be filed together with the tax return within nine months of the death.

 

In a recent case that our firm handled, there were a number of siblings and when the parents passed away, there was a specific intent expressed that the house would go to one of the siblings, except it was not clearly written in the will. Most of the siblings agreed, except for one of the individuals, and the executor had to use estate money in order to defend his action. Eventually the executor was successful, but he could have made his job a lot easier, had he explained the actions to all of the beneficiaries before the distribution of the assets was finalized.

 

The executor should contact a trust and estate attorney to be their guide in what to do when someone dies. This will ensure that no mistakes are made, as litigation is usually costly and unnecessary. Our firm provides legal advice and guidance with the administration of the estate.  We could also recommend a competent accountant who could assist you with tax advice.

 

Please contact us for any questions that you may have. We will provide you with the expert advice and knowledge that you need on such matters.

215-396-9001

Do You Need Philadelphia Medical Malpractice Lawyers

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Medical malpractice, very often, is mistaken by a patient for a bad result. Not every case that ended badly was  necessarily a medical malpractice. Having said that, it does not mean that doctors do not make mistakes. Even when the doctor has done everything right the patient may still end up with a bad result. In order for the case to be a medical malpractice case the doctors action has to be a deviation of standard medical care or a mistake that no prudent physician would make. An obvious example is a case  in which the doctor is suppose to operate on the right leg to amputate it, but instead the doctor amputates the left leg. Strangely  Philadelphia Medical Malpractice Lawyers have seen these types of errors occur.

 

Other often mistakes that occur in a medical malpractice is the failure to diagnose a curable condition in the beginning, but left untreated will cause dire consequences. For example a woman had a small tumor, but the doctor failed to see that in the mammogram and it had become an advanced staged tumor, and it is now too late for only surgical treatment.

 

If you suspect that your doctor has done something that they shouldn’t have or have not done something that they should have you should seek out immediate legal assistance. You may contact our law firm or your local attorney. Our Philadelphia, Montgomery County and Bucks County Lawyers work on a contingency fee, which means that there is no fee to you, unless we win your case.

 

Before you come in for your free consultation, our attorneys will ask you to bring all of your medical records regarding this case. We will review these records and advise you on whether or not you have a case that should be pursued. When we decide to move forward with a medical malpractice suit, we will start the process by conducting an investigation of your case. Our Philadelphia medical malpractice lawyers will consult medical experts, that are board certified in specialties, relating to your medical malpractice case. This will  determine whether the highest standard of care was provided.  If our investigation reveals that the doctor was in breach of the standard of care or negligence is confirmed, then your Philadelphia medical malpractice lawyers will institute suit.

 

The attorneys of Kats, Jamison and Associates help clients in Philadelphia, Montgomery, Bucks, Delaware and Chester counties. Our lawyers will seek full and fair compensation of our client’s medical malpractice cases.
If you have been a victim of medical malpractice, call us immediately (1-800-529-1917) for a free attorney consultation on your case. By law you only have two years, from the time that you knew or should have known that medical malpractice has occurred, to file suit.

Tips From a Philadelphia DUI Lawyer

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The tendency of everyone when they see the flashing lights of a police car in their rear view mirror is panic. Unfortunately when someone panics they start to act irrationally. You should always have a plan of action when the police stop you in whatever offense you may be concerned about. Most often it is a DUI offense and that’s when your memory and your actions become crucial. You are not required to volunteer any information and should just listen to what the police officer requests of you. Before they arrest you or request a sobriety test, they have to have a probable cause, meaning the offense has to occur before the stop. Do not act argumentatively. All you’re required to provide is your drivers license, owners cards and insurance. Do not answer any questions or make any statements. If the police have probable cause and suspect that you are driving under the influence of drugs or alcohol they may act to perform a sobriety test. A Philadelphia DUI lawyer would advise you not to panic.

If you do not pass the test the police officer will ask you to take a blood or breathalyzer test. Again do not panic. The number one rule is, under no circumstances: DO NOT sign the refusal of the test. If you sign the refusal of the test, you may have your drivers license automatically suspended for a year. There is very little that an attorney can do to help you at this point.

If you or someone you know has been charged with a DUI, get the best Philadelphia DUI lawyer to protect your rights. Call Philly Lawyers today: 215-396-9901.

the immigration lawyer philadelphia relies on for results

The Immigration Lawyer Philadelphia Trusts for U.S. Visas

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Immigration and adjustment of status can be a confusing and difficult process. My firm, Kats, Jamison & Associates, in Philadelphia helps make this process easier for our clients.

There are many ways to adjust your status if you wish to come the United States legally. If you are in this country and your legal status is overstayed, for the period of more than six months, you will not be eligible to adjust your status on any other ground other than the marriage to a citizen of the United States. And if you came to this country without being inspected on the border, you will not be able to adjust the status automatically, even if you marry a United States citizen. Other than marriage to a U.S. citizen, there are other ways to adjust your status.
The new popular form of adjustment of status is the Immigrant Investor Program (EB-5) Visa, but this only helps if you are a wealthy individual. Congress created the program in 1990 as a means of stimulating the economy through foreign investment and job creation. EB-5 investors must invest in a new commercial business. The business must be either purchased and the existing business be restructured, or the business should be reorganized in such a way that a new commercial enterprise results in or is expanded through the investment so that a 40-percent increase in the net worth or number of employees occurs.2 The EB-5 visa may be a great option for some. If you would like to apply for this visa, please call us to speak to an immigration lawyer Philadelphia investors rely on for such advice. For more information about the EB-5, Immigrant Investor Program, please see the Job Creation Requirements for eligibility.

 

There are a number of visas for immediate relatives and family sponsorships. They are: spouse of United Citizen, Spouse of a U.S. Citizen awaiting approval of an I-130 immigrant petition, Fiancé(e) to marry U.S. Citizen & live in U.S., Intercountry Adoption of Orphan Children by U.S. Citizens, Certain Family Members of U.S. Citizens, Certain Family Members of Lawful Permanent Residents.

 

There are also a number of nonimmigrant visas. If you are an individual with extraordinary ability or achievement, you may apply for the O-1 nonimmigrant visa. This visa is specifically for “individuals who possesses an extraordinary ability in the sciences, arts, education, business, or athletics, or who has a demonstrated record of extraordinary achievement in the motion picture or television industry and has been recognized nationally or internationally for those achievements.”1

 

Another nonimmigrant visa is the The H-1B Visa or Employment-Based Immigration Visa. This visa is for nonimmigrants in a “specialty occupation,” such as accounting, architecture, biotechnology, business specialties, chemistry, education, engineering, law, mathematics, medicine and health, physical sciences, social sciences, and theology with at least the equivalent of a bachelor’s degree, although there have been exceptions. The H-1B Visa also requires that you be sponsored by an employer.

 

There are a number of visas that you may qualify for, whether you would like to stay the in country permanently or only for a specific amount of time. For more information about visas and which one is best for you, please call us at (215) 396-9001 to speak with an immigration lawyer Philadelphia trusts for results. Our law firm is able to accommodate you in almost any language, if it is difficult for you to communicate in the English.

 

Sources:

1. U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services

2. EB-5 Immigrant Investor

3. Directory of Visa Categories

slip and fall lawsuit

Act Immediately On Your Slip and Fall Lawsuit

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Slip and fall cases require special and immediate attention from a slip and fall attorney. At our law firm, Philly Lawyers, we encourage our clients to act quickly if they have sustained a personal injury and would like to file a slip and fall lawsuit in Philadelphia or the surrounding counties (Bucks County, Montgomery County and Delaware County). There are number of reasons for acting quickly and doing so may help you win your case. If you are in the Greater Philadelphia area and have been injured in a slip and fall accident, call us (215) 396 – 9001. The consultation is FREE and there is NO COST to you UNLESS WE WIN your slip and fall lawsuit. If you are not able to come to our office in Bucks County, we will come to you.

You need to act quickly, because there is always a possibility that the defect that caused you to fall is fixed and you won’t be able to preserve the evidence. The slip and fall attorney will immediately send a letter to the landlord of the location where the slip and fall occurred to make sure, if there are any video cameras in that location, that the film will not be destroyed. This is the first step and it is an especially important one, because one of the excuses that the insurance companies use, in an effort to minimize the amount of the settlement, is to say that it is your fault. The insurance company may claim negligence on your behalf, stating that you were running, not watching where you were going or that there was no defect. In my 26-year experience of practicing law and defending my clients in slip and fall lawsuits in Philadelphia, I can tell you that the best evidence in such personal injury cases is photographs or videos.

Another important element to help prove your claim is the witness statement. Our law firm has an investigator on staff  that will immediately go out and interview the witnesses. Usually people are more inclined to give a statement when it is requested within a short period of time from the occurrence. People also tend to be able to recall the slip and fall incident in greater detail when asked about it shortly after. The quicker our investigator can secure the witness’s identity, the sooner your slip and fall attorney can have a better picture of the case.

It is also very important to make sure that your doctor is aware of the origins of your injury. Very often the patient will complain about the pain and suffering but will neglect to explain to the doctor that it happened as a result of a fall. Your slip and fall attorney should contact your doctor immediately and make sure that the mechanism of the trauma is properly explained and that your doctor is able to document that the injury sustained is a result of the fall.

If you have been injured, due to negligence in proper maintenance, repair or upkeep of a business or homeowner’s property, you may have the right to file a slip and fall lawsuit for damages incurred as a result of the personal injury you sustained. These injuries may include medical expenses, lost wages, as well as your pain and suffering. If you have any medical bills as a result of your injury, your slip and fall attorney should make sure that the insurance company agrees to pay all of them. If there is a pending request for reimbursement from the insurance company, it should also be address before the case settles.

We have listed the steps that you should take immediately following a slip and fall accident:

1.     Do not make any detailed statements regarding fault.

2.     Get the contact information of the property owners and managers.

3.     Find witnesses and write down their contact information.

4.     Take clear pictures of the defects/hazards and of your injury.

5.     Make sure to save your clothing and footwear.

6.     Seek immediate medical attention if you are injured.

7.     Do not make a recorded statement with the insurance adjusters.

8.     Call your local slip and fall attorney.

If you are in the Greater Philadelphia area, you may contact Philly Lawyers at (215) 396 – 9001. Our law firm specializes in personal injury cases regarding slip and fall in Bucks County, Montgomery County, and Delaware County.

Get advice from a criminal lawyer Philadelphia citizens can rely on

Advice From A Criminal Lawyer Philadelphia Trusts

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What do you do when an investigator comes to your door?

 

We have all seen plenty of movies where a person either gives a statement or refuses to talk when confronted by the police. A lot of times the question becomes: “What should I do?” Many people call our Philadelphia criminal lawyers to inform us of what they just did and ask if what they did was the right thing.

 

One very powerful constitutional right that the individuals of this country have is the fifth amendment – not to talk to any government authority if they are not inclined to do so. Your denial to talk to the authority by law cannot be construed as an implication of any guilt. As a matter of fact, in a criminal case if the accused individual decides not to take a stand in his defense, the judge will give specific instructions to the jury, stating: “The fact that the defendant did not testify creates no presumption or inference of any kind against him. This fact alone must not have any influence upon you in arriving at your verdict.”

 

My most sincere advice is: If you’ve received a call from the authorities, whether you think there may be an actual problem or you think that you are completely innocent, do not talk to anyone. You have the right to do so. As well as you have the right to have your criminal lawyer present during any interrogations.

 

After the stating your desire to “plead the 5th,” the first thing you should do is contact a criminal lawyer. If you are in the Philadelphia area, you may call our law firm at 1800-529-1917 to speak to a criminal lawyer Philadelphia residents can trust for advice and results in criminal cases. Our firm, Kats, Jamison & Associates (Philly Lawyers), defends the people of Bucks County, Delaware County, and Montgomery County in the Greater Philadelphia area.

Our criminal lawyers will communicate with the investigators on your behalf. You should ask the investigator, whether it is on a phone call or at your door for their information and pass it along to your Philly Lawyer so that we may properly contact the authorities and instruct them that any further communications with you will be through your attorney.

 

As a criminal lawyer Philadelphia residents have relied on for many years, I can assure you that there are no benefits to be derived from talking to the authority. If they want to indite you, they will anyways, despite what you say. If they do not have enough information to indite you, there is no reason for you to cooperate and possibly give out any incriminating information. Whether the question is asked about you or any one that you may be acquainted with, the answer is the same: “I will contact my lawyer and my lawyer will be in touch with you.” Always be polite and respectful, but firm in you desire not to continue without your lawyer present.

 

If this has happened to you, get the criminal lawyer Philadelphia counts on for criminal defense!

 

We encourage you to pass this information along to your friends and family members and to always protect your rights under the constitution. Please call us with any questions that you may have regarding criminal charges or any other legal matters: 1800-529-1917