Insurer out to eliminate middleman; critics claim accident victims in better hands with lawyers than with Allstate
Article Abstract:
Allstate Insurance Co. has started a program aiming for the settlement of automobile injury claims before attorneys are retained. The program urges representatives to contact victims before they see attorneys. Not surprisingly, lawyers accuse Allstate of just wanting to save money and of not caring whether victims are properly compensated. Experts also say settlements could fail in those states in which agreements made within 72 hours of an accident are voidable and that Allstate could contact victims who did not know they had claims. Allstate seems to be the only major insurer with such a service.
Publication Name: ABA Journal
Subject: Law
ISSN: 0747-0088
Year: 1996
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California scheming: more than 175 lawyers are under investigation for taking kickbacks from clients' medical providers
Article Abstract:
Federal prosecutors in CA have launched an investigation of medical insurance-fraud scams and are so far investigating 175 lawyers, with four indictments handed down so far, worth a total of $100 million. The Medlaw Project, run in cooperation with several state and federal agencies, looks at a scheme wherein cappers are paid to bring in personal injury plaintiffs, who are shunted to care providers. These providers kick back 50% of their share of any settlement to the lawyer. Mail and tax fraud are involved.
Publication Name: ABA Journal
Subject: Law
ISSN: 0747-0088
Year: 1996
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Baseball strike teaches legal lessons: lawyers should reassess strategies, avoid animosities in negotiations
Article Abstract:
The professional baseball collective bargaining in 1994-1995 can serve as a lesson for collective bargaining lawyers by highlighting potential problems. The labor negotiations were complicated by the personal animosity between Donald Fehr and Bud Selig and so an agreement might have been reached earlier if representatives could have separately discussed all the options and then presented them to each side with the lawyers acting as counselors as well as advocates. Other lessons are discussed.
Publication Name: ABA Journal
Subject: Law
ISSN: 0747-0088
Year: 1995
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