How to Avoid Hiring a Bad Lawyer

When most people hear the words "personal injury attorney", the first image that jumps into their head is that of the sleazy ambulance chaser or the guy whose ad appears during every commercial break. Unfortunately, the public's perception of personal injury attorneys is largely negative and sadly that perception is not entirely unearned. In this article I will explore some of the ways people can make a more informed decision when looking to hire a lawyer. 

Volume Firms: 

We have all seen the lawyer whose face is plastered on every billboard within 50 square miles of the city, we have seen their annoying ads on tv and listened to their awful radio jingles that get stuck in your head for the rest of the day. Most personal injury attorneys who saturate their local market with their ads are what I refer to as "volume firms". Volume firms are law firms that operate by bringing in as many cases as they can. Their ads often offer promises of "a fast check" or "getting you all the money that you deserve". The problem with these firms is that they exist solely make money as quickly as possible. Consequently, I would avoid hiring a volume firm at all costs. 

To learn more tips about a personal injury case and hiring an attorney, click here. 

Las Vegas Police Appeal Wrongful Death Lawsuit

According to Fox 5 Las Vegas, the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department has appealed a federal judge's decision to allow the case to move forward after denying the Department's motion for summary judgment. The appeal will have the likely affect of delaying the trial for at least a year while the case moves to the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals in San Francisco, California. The plaintiff and her attorney describe the appeal as a delaying tactic by the Department in the hopes that they will simply give up their case, but the plaintiff and her attorney said they have no plans to drop their lawsuit. The full Fox 5 article is available here. 

The wrongful death lawsuit stems from an incident in September 2009 where former Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Officer Derek Colling shot and killed 15 year old Tanner Chamberlain as Tanner grasped his mother in a headlock while holding a knife. Tanner suffered from bipolar disorder and was having a bipolar episode at the time. Tanner's mother, Evie Oquendo, repeatedly shouted at Officer Colling begging him not to shoot her son, but Colling ignored her pleas and shot Tanner in the head, killing him instantly. Officer Colling who already had one fatal shooting prior to this incident was later fired from the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department after severely beating a man for video taping officers in his yard. The video tape incident is available here:

The Department later recommended a $100,000.00 settlement to the man who former Officer Colling beat in the video. This lawsuit and several more like it come on the heels of several high profile incidents involving the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department. The Department has been embroiled in numerous controversies where it has engaged in questionable shootings and used excessive force against arrestees or suspects.

If you would like to learn more about police brutality, click here. 

Victims of police brutality and their families could be entitled to compensation for their injuries. If you or a loved one have been a victim of police brutality please do not hesitate to contact the attorneys at Connor & Connor Pllc today.  The attorneys at Connor & Connor Pllc are licensed to practice law before all Nevada state and federal courts. We serve clients from all levels of our community and we will fight to ensure that you receive compensation for your injuries. If you or a loved one has been injured, contact one of the attorneys at Connor & Connor Pllc as soon as possible for a consultation.  Any delay could negatively affect your legal rights.  You may contact the firm through email at info@connorpllc.com or by phone at (702) 750-9139 or visit www.connorpllc.com. You may also visit the firm's Facebook page at http://www.facebook.com/#!/ConnorConnorPllc.