The Carlson Law Firm

What is an Article 15? It is nonjudicial punishment under the UCMJ. A commander can impose it for certain offenses without a court-martial. What punishments can it bring? Depending on rank and the commander’s authority, an Article 15 can bring reduction in rank, forfeiture of pay, extra duties, restrictions or a reprimand. Is it a criminal conviction? No, but it can still affect pay, promotion chances and your military record. Can you refuse it? In many situations, service members can decline nonjudicial punishment and demand trial by court-martial. That choice carries serious risks, so talk to a military criminal defense attorney before deciding or missing any response deadline. Read more about how an Article 15 in the military can affect your career.

 Your phone can help your claim, or hurt it. Here’s how to handle it: Do Save photos and videos of the scene, and back them up. Screenshot messages with witnesses or the other driver. Keep location and call logs from the time of the crash. Write notes about what happened while it’s fresh. Don’t Don’t delete anything, even if it feels embarrassing. Deleted content can raise questions later. Don’t post about the crash or your injuries on social media, since insurers may look. Don’t use your phone while driving to the doctor or the shop. Your own phone use can come up in a dispute over fault, so be honest about it with your attorney. For more on how these cases work, read this guide to distracted driving accident claims in Texas .

Can you prove a driver was texting? Often yes, but only if the evidence is saved in time. Most drivers don’t admit it, so claims usually rely on records: Phone records: carriers keep call and text logs for a limited time, and getting them generally takes a legal request. Vehicle data: many cars record speed, braking and impact data that can show a lack of braking before a crash. Video: dash cams, nearby business cameras and traffic cameras often overwrite footage within days. Witnesses: passengers and other drivers often saw the driver looking down. Crash report: officers may note a driver’s statements or signs of phone use. What should you do right away? Photograph the scene, get witness names, note whether the other driver was holding a phone, and ask in writing that the other driver and any employer preserve phone records and vehicle data. If it was a company vehicle, the employer may share responsibility. A distracted driving lawyer can send the preservation reques...

  What is the Depo-Provera lawsuit about? Lawsuits against Pfizer and related companies allege that long-term use of the Depo-Provera birth control injection (medroxyprogesterone acetate) is linked to meningioma, a type of brain tumor, and that users weren’t adequately warned. Federal cases were consolidated in a multidistrict litigation in the Northern District of Florida. Check current court status, since it changes. What records do people usually gather? Dates and length of Depo-Provera injections, from clinic or pharmacy records Imaging and the meningioma diagnosis Any surgery or treatment records A list of symptoms and when they began Is this medical advice? No. If you’ve used Depo-Provera and have symptoms such as persistent headaches or vision changes, talk to your doctor. Details on the Depo-Provera birth control mass tort are available on the firm’s page.

If you are in immediate danger, call 911. For free, confidential support at any hour, call the National Domestic Violence Hotline at 800-799-7233 or text START to 88788 . Spanish-language help is available. You don’t have to be certain it is abuse before you reach out. Reaching out for help is hard, and knowing where to start makes it a little easier. This guide gathers the main domestic violence resources in one place, so you can take it at your own pace. What are domestic violence resources? Domestic violence resources are services that support people experiencing abuse from a current or former partner. They include hotlines, emergency shelters, counseling, legal advocacy, safety planning and help finding housing or financial support. Many are free and confidential, and many offer services in Spanish. Where to start: the national hotline The National Domestic Violence Hotline is open 24/7. An advocate can talk through what is happening, help you make a safety plan, and connect...

Many people hesitate to call because they don’t know what to expect. Here is what calling usually involves: You don’t need to be in crisis. Advocates take calls from people who are unsure whether what they’re experiencing counts as abuse, from those who want information, and from friends and family worried about someone. You choose what to share. You can stay anonymous, and nobody can make decisions for you. They help you plan. An advocate can discuss safety planning, local shelters, protective orders and other options based on what you tell them. Other ways to reach them. If calling isn’t safe, you can text START to 88788 or use the online chat. Spanish-language support is available. If you think your phone or computer is being monitored, use a device your partner can’t access, such as a library computer or a trusted friend’s phone. The hotline is 800-799-7233, and in an emergency you should call 911. Our domestic violence hotline and resource guide lists the national lin...

 In Texas, getting hurt on someone’s property isn’t enough by itself. You generally have to show the owner knew, or reasonably should have known, about the hazard and failed to fix it or warn people. That makes timing evidence important: how long had the spill been there? Look for footprints, cart tracks, dirt in the liquid or a half-melted ice puddle, and note whether “wet floor” signs were present or missing. Act quickly: Ask the business in writing to preserve its surveillance video, since many systems overwrite within days or weeks. Photograph the spot with an object for scale. Keep the shoes you wore. Get witness contact details. Report the fall and ask for a copy of the incident report. Texas also applies a 51% rule. If you’re found more than 50% at fault, you can’t recover, so be careful how you describe what happened. The general deadline is two years. A personal injury lawyer for slip and fall cases can explain how these rules apply to your situation.

Divorce involves a long to-do list, and health coverage is easy to push down it. For military families, it should be near the top. Here are the questions to work through: When will coverage end? Most former spouses lose TRICARE when the divorce is final. Does the 20/20/20 rule apply? Twenty years of marriage, 20 years of service and 20 years of overlap may allow continued coverage. What about 20/20/15? This can mean about one year of transitional coverage. Is DEERS up to date? The sponsor must update it after the divorce. What is the backup plan? Options include CHCBP, employer coverage and the Health Insurance Marketplace. What about the kids? Biological and adopted children generally stay eligible. Stepchildren who weren’t adopted may not. Coverage isn’t the only thing that can change. Commissary and exchange privileges, ID cards and housing allowances can too. A good overview of these points is in this post on what military spouses should know about TRICARE after div...