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October 2020
LIENS: WHO GETS PAID?
In our line of work, we’re often met with a lot of confusion when it comes to liens in a personal injury case. The first thing we want our clients to understand is that a lien isn’t a bill. A lien is a legal claim against property or assets, which is then used as collateral to settle any debt. In a personal injury case, a lien is used against the personal injury settlement with the at-fault insurance company. It’s also crucial to know a lien is not the same in every case. Just as there are varying types of personal injury cases, there are multiple types of liens. I’d like to briefly take you through each of them. The Employee Retirement Income Security Act (ERISA) lien is the first I’d like to discuss. When people have private health insurance that uses an ERISA plan, it means that plan can come back and get a reimbursement from your personal injury case. This is something we see all the time, and it often causes the most confusion. People generally use their health insurance when they go in for a doctor’s appointment, and their doctors never ask for the money back, only a copay or deductible. But this is not a normal doctor’s visit. Any insurance plan that has a bonafide ERISA plan has a right to reimbursement, and your health insurance provider will put a lien against your personal injury settlement. An insurance company also has the responsibility to notify us that it is an ERISA plan.
Second is Medicare . On its own, Medicare is already difficult to understand and navigate, and adding a lien can make things even more complex. Unlike ERISA, if we see a client who has Medicare, and Medicare made a bill payment relating to the accident, then we automatically know that they have to be repaid. This means that we must go through the process to get a lien. The third lien is Medicaid , which has a similar process to Medicare. If we’re aware that Medicaid paid any bills relating to the accident, we’re automatically on notice. It’s up to us to go through the process of getting a final lien through them on the settlement. Fourth, there is a statute in Virginia that says that any medical provider you go to for a visit related to an accident (when you’re going to recover) has a lien up to the statutory amount . This amount is usually set and not dependent on what you’ve been through and who you’ve gone to. A hospital visit usually means $2,000, $750 for a doctor, and $500 for an ambulance. You could have a $50,000 bill from the emergency room, and while you don’t have to pay that in full, you still owe them what they’re owed. You have to give them the $2,000 out of your settlement. Keep in mind that these amounts will vary depending on the provider you use.
Another thing that is unique to Virginia is that if you go to a state-run hospital, such as the Medical College of Virginia (MCV), then that hospital has a lien for the full amount. If you went to MCV and they charged you $24,612.08, then that is the exact amount you owe unless you can work out an agreement with them to reduce it. Oftentimes, things are negotiable. Lastly, there are private medical industries that, as part or all of their practice, provide treatment to an injured person unable to pay out of pocket for their medical bills. A contract is typically signed that states this office will provide the medical treatment needed and will receive their payment when the injured person receives their settlement. This tends to be a win-win situation all around — the person who otherwise couldn’t afford treatment receives it, and the provider doesn’t have to go through the loops of medical insurance. Our team at Pendleton Law understands that this can be an overwhelming process. If you have any questions regarding your personal injury case and the liens that may apply, call our office today.
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CATCHPHRASE! 6 Things Celebrities Tried to Trademark — and Some Who Succeeded
Celebrities love to trademark all sorts of things for one simple reason: People associate certain words with the celebrity’s brand, and the celebrity wants to protect that. It makes sense from a business perspective, but sometimes, it can get a little silly. Read on to see what the U.S. Trademark and Patent Office gave its blessing to and which trademarks it outright refused to create. Blue Ivy Carter Just days before their first daughter was born in 2012, Beyoncé and Jay-Z filed for a trademark on her name. The problem was that a wedding planning company called
Blue Ivy was already using the name. Plus, Jay-Z mentioned to the media that their intention was to prevent others from using it. The trademark was denied. Kylie This generic trademark was filed by Kylie Jenner (of the Kardashians and Jenners). Her intention was to use her trademarked name for marketing purposes. The trademark was denied, and Jenner even ended up in a brief legal battle with singer Kylie Minogue. ‘Let’s get ready to rumble!’ One of the most well-known catchphrases of all time was successfully trademarked in 1992 by its creator, boxing announcer Michael Buffer. Even better, it’s made Buffer a very wealthy man. To date, he has made nearly $500 million dollars by licensing the trademark. ‘Rock Star From Mars’ Back in 2011, actor Charlie Sheen had a very public meltdown. During the episode, he
rambled off countless phrases such as “Duh, winning,” “tiger blood,” and “rock star from Mars.” In the end, he tried to trademark a total of 22 phrases, but all were rejected by the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office. ‘You’re fired!’ Donald Trump is known for many things, including emblazoning his name on everything he owns. Long before he was president and while host of “The Apprentice,” he filed a trademark on the show’s catchphrase. It was denied because it was too close to a preexisting (and trademarked) board game called You’re Hired. ‘BAM!’ TV chef Emeril Lagasse was a pioneer in the world of cooking shows. He popularized cooking on TV and captivated audiences by exclaiming one simple phrase every time he added an ingredient to whatever he was making: “BAM!” Naturally, he trademarked his signature phrase, but he doesn’t discourage people from using it as long as they keep it in the kitchen.
3 Great Apps to Maintain Your Mental Health at Home
When you lead a busy lifestyle, mental health often takes a back seat to other pressing matters. Thankfully, there are a number of easy-to-use apps to help address this concern. Even if you’re pressed for time, these apps can help you maintain your mental health. And if you’re just looking for some simple resources to guide you through mood-boosting exercises, they’ve got you covered there too. Moodfit (GetMoodfit.com) Think of this app as a fitness tracker for your mind. The mood tracker allows you to record your moods and thoughts and follow trends and changes over time. You can look at these trends yourself or set the app to monitor specific areas of your mood. This highly customizable app is packed with tools and resources to help you with your mental health. In addition to the mood tracker, Moodfit offers a range of breathing exercises and a guide to mindfulness meditation.
where you schedule an appointment and meet in person, Talkspace allows its user to communicate with their therapist through the app’s encrypted messaging system. It also allows you to request a check-in from your therapist and provides a place for them to upload your therapy notes. Talkspace is more costly than some other apps, but depending on your specific needs, it may be worth it.
MoodMission (MoodMission.com) If you’re struggling with mental health issues, like anxiety and depression, you may feel like this free, evidence-based app was designed just for you. MoodMission asks you a series of questions to assess how you’re feeling, then suggests a series of “missions” you can complete to help you get into a better state of mind. Missions are short, achievable tasks, like taking a walk around the block or cleaning up a room in your home. Of course, like all the apps listed here, it is not a replacement for professional mental health care, but it offers evidence- based exercises and a level of support that’s not often found in smartphone apps.
Talkspace (Talkspace.com) While this app contains a number of
mental health tools, its primary purpose is to connect you quickly with one of the company’s thousands of licensed and experienced therapists you can message on a regular basis. Unlike traditional therapy
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TAKE A BREAK
THE NIGHT MARTIANS INVADED NEW JERSEY
Orson Welles Recounts ‘The War of the Worlds’
On the evening of Oct. 30, 1938, an eloquent voice graced the airwaves in New Jersey:
“We now know in the early years of the 20th century, this world was being watched closely by intelligences greater than man’s, and yet as mortal as his own. We now know as human beings busied themselves about their various concerns, they were scrutinized and studied, perhaps almost as narrowly as a man with a microscope might scrutinize the transient creatures that swarm and multiply in a drop of water …” And so began Orson Welles’ classic radio broadcast, a retelling of H.G. Wells’ “The War of the Worlds.” Peppered in the retelling were fictional news bulletins informing the public of an alien invasion. Martians had arrived in New Jersey! Some listeners, who had missed the fact that this was a retelling of “The War of the Worlds,” assumed the news bulletins were the real thing. Frenzied, they called local police, newspapers, and radio stations hoping for more information about the invasion. What were they supposed to do? Higher-ups at the CBS radio studio where Welles delivered the live reading called and told him he needed to stop and remind listeners that this was a work of fiction. The panic, it seemed, was growing as the Martians “approached” New York. A little later that night, police showed up at the studio with the intent of shutting the whole thing down.
SPOOKY STRAWBERRY GHOSTS
Inspired by Candiquik.com
These adorable chocolate-dipped strawberry ghosts will be the stars of your Halloween party!
Ingredients
The next day, the story broke
• 16 oz white chocolate, chopped • 24 strawberries
• 1 package mini dark chocolate chips
across the country —
newspapers reported on mass hysteria and stories poured out
Directions
that the nation had erupted in panic. However, as we now know, the extent of the panic was exaggerated. In fact, the program didn’t even have very many listeners that night, and most who had tuned in were aware they were listening to a radio play rather than a news broadcast. American University media historian W. Joseph Campbell, who researched the broadcast in the 2000s, found that while there had been some panic, most listeners simply enjoyed the show. It turns out the person who was the most frightened was Welles himself who thought his career had come to an end.
1. In a microwave-safe bowl, heat the white chocolate at 50% power for 30 seconds. Remove it and stir, then repeat the process until melted. 2. Lay out a sheet of parchment paper. 3. One by one, dip the strawberries into the melted white chocolate and set them on the parchment. Allow the extra chocolate to pool to form a “tail” effect. 4. Before the chocolate coating fully cools, add three mini chocolate
chips to each berry to form two eyes and a mouth. 5. Let chocolate set, then serve your spooky snacks!
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INSIDE THIS ISSUE
1
Who Gets Paid When a Case Is Settled?
The Weird Things Celebs Tried to Trademark The Best Mental Health Apps You Can Use From Home
2
Spooky Strawberry Ghosts What Really Happened the Night Martians Invaded New Jersey?
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False Halloween Myths Perpetuated by the Media
RAZOR BLADES AND POT? HALLOWEEN MYTHS THE MEDIA LOVES TO SCARE US WITH
For many people, Halloween is the time of year when certain spooky myths and superstitions come alive. It’s when we hear stories of black cats and bad luck or ghosts in the attic. But there are some recent myths that often get perpetuated by both mainstream and social media — stories that frighten parents and create an anxious, fearful atmosphere. Razor Blades and Poison For a long time, the “razor blades in candy” has been a go-to media story. Every year around Halloween, you’re sure to see your local news running a segment that encourages parents to check their kids’ candy for tampering so their children don’t swallow razor blades or poison. There have been zero substantiated cases of any child or parent finding a razor blade hidden in the chocolate and nougat. There has, however, been one lone case
of a child being poisoned. In 1974, a father hid cyanide in his son’s candy in Texas, leading to the child’s death. It was discovered that the father was attempting to collect life insurance to ease his $100,000 debt. THC THC (tetrahydrocannabinol) is the primary psychoactive compound found in cannabis, and it’s the chemical that makes people high. In more recent years, there have been an increasing number of stories spread on social media about THC-laced candy or edibles being found in kids’ candy bags. There are also news stories of THC-laced candy being found during warranted searches. However, that’s as far as the story goes, at least when it comes to Halloween. In 2019, police in Johnstown, Pennsylvania, warned parents to be on the lookout for THC-laced candies after they found some
in a bust. While the warning was certainly valid, nothing ever came of it.
Should you check your child’s candy? Most definitely! It’s always good to check just in case, though the danger is negligible. That said, kids should never take unwrapped or homemade treats while trick-or-treating. This has less to do with hidden razors and more to do with simply not knowing what’s in those items, such as potential allergens.
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