The recent death of Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg has caused the process of how our Country selects Supreme Court Justices to become a focal point of public discourse. The significance of this process and the importance of an independent judiciary justifies the thought and attention of all U.S. citizens....
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Dogs are not just "man's best friend" but go by a range of names and perform a variety of useful functions, from service dogs or guide dogs to emotional support animals. Obtaining one of these animals can be a life-changing experience for a person who truly needs their specialized support, care, and services, and understanding the rules and regulations that apply to each classification of these animals is important....
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Michigan's auto no-fault system was majorly overhauled in the name of "driving down auto insurance rates" in 2019. As a law firm representing people catastrophically injured in motor vehicle collisions day-in and day-out, we felt this reform was not what was good for Michigan....
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Leading up to the very important election season, Tom Sinas took a break from the typical personal injury and auto accident related content he usually discusses on Fox 17 "Know the Law" to focus on Constitutional rights - primarily a person's right to vote. With many things in flux today, it's a great time to remember certain unalienable rights we are privileged to continue exercising, whether in-person or by mail. Below is a brief history of voting rights in America, followed by Michigan voting resources. History of the Right to Vote in the United States If you look at the United States...
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As kids return to school and try out for fall sports, it's a good time to discuss the area of sports injury law. School sports injuries fall under the broad umbrella of negligence law, but with a twist. Grand Rapids personal injury lawyer, Tom Sinas, discussed what happens if your child is hurt playing a school or organized recreational sport recently on Fox 17 “Know the Law.” While we hope that sports are always a fun, enjoyable past-time, it’s important that parents understand what happens if something does go wrong. School Sports Injuries and Negligence Law Many injuries fall under the legal...
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Special COVID-19 business liability protections have been the topic of debate recently. Many people are wondering if businesses can be held responsible if they contract the virus at an establishment. At its core, this topic touches on the basic principle of negligence law. Grand Rapids personal injury lawyer, Tom Sinas, recently sat down with Fox 17 to discuss how negligence law works currently, and the proposed changes that would provide COVID-19 business liability protections. What is Negligence Law? In order to understand these proposed COVID-19 business liability protections, one must understand the fundamentals of negligence law. In a negligence case, certain criteria...
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Late in the day on Wednesday, August 19, 2020, word began to spread regarding a preliminary agreement in the settlement of the Flint water crisis with the state of Michigan. While the reports came from unidentified sources close to the case, media attention the following day, as well as messaging from Attorney General Dana Nessel, confirm a Michigan-backed $600 million Flint water crisis settlement has been reached. More details to come in the days and weeks ahead. As one of the many plaintiff's personal injury lawyers handling Flint water-related cases, Michigan personal injury attorney, Jim Graves expressed satisfaction with the...
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The Michigan Court of Appeals recently issued a decision regarding texting and driving. While most everyone knows that reading text messages while driving is against Michigan law, one case recently called into question whether or not the sender of a text message can also be held responsible for an automobile collision caused by distracted driving. Grand Rapids car crash lawyer, Tom Sinas, recently discussed this unique case and the issue of text message sender liability on Fox 17 "Know the Law." State and Local Distracted Driving Laws Recap First, Tom outlines current state law, which, he admits, are likely out of tune...
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We recently shared our auto insurance recommendations due to the consumer options available as of July 1, 2020. In that article, we recommended purchasing significant amounts of underinsured motorist coverage (UIM). This week on Fox 17 "Know the Law," Grand Rapids car crash lawyer, Tom Sinas, further explained the importance of underinsured motorist coverage and Michigan's new auto law, including a significant shift in the system leading to our recommendation of purchasing significant amounts of UIM. Should I Purchase Underinsured Motorist Coverage? First, it's important to know that underinsured motorist coverage is not mandatory but an optional add-on to your auto insurance...
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Recently, Grand Rapids car accident attorney, Tom Sinas, sat down with WKTV Journal In Focus to discuss the Legal Assistance Center in Grand Rapids. The Center is not only a unique free legal resource in West Michigan but is one of only a few organizations to offer these types of services in the entire state. As a leader in free legal assistance pertaining to civil litigation, we think it's important for Michigan residents to understand how volunteers at the Center can help navigate their claims process. What Does the Legal Assistance Center Do? The first thing people should understand is what types...
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