Author: Jon Montagna

Personal Injury is a broad term, which can include numerous types of accidents and incidents, and can occur at any time. The experienced personal injury attorneys at the Montagna Klein Camden Law Firm are familiar with the many faces and forms that personal injury cases can take. Regardless of how it tries to hide or disguise itself, our skilled personal injury lawyers will sniff it out.

The Negligent Stranger: If you’ve been injured due to the negligence of another person, or worse, a faceless corporation, then you’ve got a personal injury case. Your injury does not need to be physical or even visible; emotional distress can be just as damaging as bruises and broken bones. Negligence can be accidental or intentional, and can include a broad array of incidents.

The Liability: A defective product can be dangerous, and that product’s manufacturer is in big trouble when you bring your product liability case to the attorneys at Montagna Klein Camden in downtown Norfolk, VA. These liabilities blend in, looking like everyone else, while concealing potentially dangerous secrets. They hide in plain sight, and strike when you least expect it.

The Transporter: Planes, trains, automobiles and ships; there is no mode of transportation where this master of disguise can’t find you. Truck and auto accidents are just a short drive away whenever you get behind the wheel, and the risk of injury only increases as the vehicle grows larger and more elaborate. Statistically speaking, everyone will likely encounter this visage of personal injury, at some point in life. When you do, call in your free legal consultation from the personal injury professionals at Montagna Klein Camden Law Firm in downtown Norfolk, Virginia.

Departure: If the unspeakable happens, and someone you love has been the victim of a wrongful death case, know that you do have options. Although we can’t turn back time, we’ll stay by your side every step of the way. We will fight those who have stolen from you that which is most precious and invaluable, so that you can grieve in peace, and begin to heal.

A Montagna Klein Camden attorney is a rare breed, one who will both fight for and protect you during the sensitive process of filing and pursuing your lawsuit. We understand that you’ve been through a painful and life-changing experience, and we’ve got the skills and knowledge to help. Let us fight in your corner, to get you the compensation you deserve, and prevent the guilty parties from injuring anyone else.

Contact us today for your free personal injury consultation at Montagna Klein Camden in Norfolk, Virginia.

As 2015 fades into the past and we settle into 2016, it becomes easier to look back with clarity. Some things that seemed routine at the time now seem brighter and special somehow; perspectives shift; things change; and some of those things that were not so funny then might make you chuckle a little now.

In this spirit, Montagna Klein Camden in downtown Norfolk, VA invites you to join us in looking back at the most ridiculous legal battles of 2015.

Craziest Lawsuits of 2015:

1. A woman tried to pull the old “hot coffee burned me!” trick on McDonald’s, suing for $10,00. She provided photos of the 2nd degree burns her hand received when she was handed a coffee cup with an unsecured lid. As the insurance company reviewed the claims, they noticed something odd: the photograph of the woman’s hand was from a hospital’s website. They then contacted her medical provider and learned that she had not been treated for burns recently.
   -Her entire claim was fake, downloaded off the internet, proving that even in adulthood, it pays to do your homework. She was not awarded the cash, and was instead charged with 21 felonies and worker’s compensation fraud.
2. Regardless of how you feel about the actress, most people chose to side with Mila Kunis when a childhood friend resurfaced in 2015 and promptly sued her. The Ukranian singer claimed that Kunis had stolen her pet chicken 25 years previously, and demanded $5,000 for her emotional suffering.
   -Kunis fought the charges, stating that she “would never steal someone else’s chicken!” The singer eventually dropped the charges after her therapist “taught her how to forgive.”
3. Anheuser Busch purchased Beck’s beer in 2012, and moved production of the beverage from Germany to the United States. Unfortunately, the company neglected to disclose the fact that the German-made beer was no longer being made in Germany, and got sued by a trio of lifelong Beck’s drinkers (without receipts).
   -The Class Action lawsuit brewed up $3.5 million for the lawyers who filed the suit, while anyone claiming to have purchased Beck’s beer from 2012 – 2015 is able to receive a $50 refund.

We hope you’ve enjoyed these silly, wacky, ridiculous lawsuits of not-so-long-ago 2015. We at Montagna Klein Camden in Norfolk, Virginia hope you never find yourself the target of a crazy lawsuit, but if you do, contact us.

Our Norfolk attorneys are skilled and experienced in many aspects of VA law including Personal Injury, Workers Compensation, Defense Base Act and more. Call us for a free legal consultation if you need help, and let us fight to get you the compensation you deserve.

The study of law is pretty widely known to be an area of special interest. It’s not something that folks ‘dabble’ in, it’s not something that one person can be an expert at. Attorneys attend law school for years to obtain that job title, and no attorney studies every single aspect of law. If it were easy, everyone would do it, right?

Because we know just how confusing legal terms can be, particularly for the uninitiated, we’ve compiled this list of our practice areas and explained, in simple, everyday language, what each means. We hope you find it helpful, and feel free to give us a call for a free legal consultation. Our Norfolk attorneys are ready and waiting to fight for your case.

Personal Injury: Personal Injury claims may include physical, mental and emotional injury, as well as damage to reputation (defamation).

This means that if you were slandered, injured in an automobile accident, during a dental or medical procedure, in an assault, by a defective product, contracted a disease, illness or were otherwise injured in any way, you may have a Personal Injury claim.

If you were injured due to the negligence of another person, don’t wait to call the professionals at Montagna Klein Camden. Time restrictions apply to Personal Injury claims, so call today.

Workers Comp: Workers Compensation cases occur when employees are injured due to circumstances of the job.

Workers’ Compensation is a type of insurance provided to those injured while working. Compensation may take the form of financial reimbursement or medical treatment. Injured workers may accept compensation from the employer, but only if the worker agrees to relinquish the right to sue the company. When this is done, certain forms of compensation are withdrawn.

If you were injured while working you should call the legal professionals of Montagna Klein Camden. Talk to someone with experience, and find out if you have a case. Our legal consultations are free, and time limits may apply to your claim. Don’t wait, call today.

Defense Base Act: The Defense Base Act (DBA) applies to longshoreman and harbor workers who are injured while on the clock, and provides medical treatment and financial compensation to defense contractors or employees outside of the United States.

Most contracts with a U.S. government agency outside of the U.S. will be covered by the DBA, military or not. The failure of any agency or company to provide DBA insurance can result in vulnerability to common law suits, in which the claimant (or his/her heirs) who file the claim do not have the burden of proof.

If you get hurt while working for a government agency, you may have a legitimate claim. Call today for your free legal consultation with Montagna Klein Camden.

Social Security & Disability: Social Security Disability provides support for individuals who cannot work due to a disability, whether physical or otherwise.

It may be temporary or permanent, depending upon the disability, but is generally required to last for a minimum of 12 months to qualify. The severity and longevity of the injury is a key factor in these types of cases.

If you or a loved one believe you qualify for Social Security Disability, please don’t suffer in silence. Call for a free consultation with the experienced lawyers of Montagna Klein Camden today.

Hearing Loss: To qualify for a Hearing Loss claim, a worker must have suffered a permanent loss of hearing in both ears, after being exposed to 90+ decibels over a period of 90 days.

Working in an exceptionally noisy environment can cause hearing loss, which may result in legal compensation. The loss of hearing is not required to be equal, but must have affected both ears to be eligible.

If you have suffered a severe loss of hearing in both ears due to your workplace environment, contact the legal offices of Montagna Klein Camden today for your free legal consultation.

Here at Montagna Klein Camden, you are our priority. We fight for you every step of the way, climbing the judicial and legislative ladders together. We care about the outcome of your case, and we care about you. Contact us today for a free consultation if you’ve been injured at work, in an automobile accident, or on a ship. We know the law, and we know how to make it work for you. Don’t wait to file your claim, call the professionals at Montagna Klein Camden in Norfolk, Virginia, for help and advice. You’ll be glad you did.

Last week we discussed how company holiday parties can result in worker’s compensation cases. But outside of the office, what happens when the holidays get too rough? 80,000 people end up in the hospital each year during the holidays, and of those, 6,000 go on Christmas day.

Follow our guide for a safe, injury-free holiday, but remember: if you or someone you love IS injured during the holidays, you may have a Personal Injury case. Play it safe; call the skilled personal injury lawyers at Montagna Klein Camden Law Firm in Norfolk, VA.

Holiday Survival Guide

Decking the Halls: Many people get injured while decorating their home for the holidays. Falling from ladders is a common holiday injury; either while stringing up lights on the house or adjusting the tree topper. Always have a spotter when using ladders, and never stand on chairs when decorating. Children have a habit of swallowing the light bulbs, causing further yuletide hysteria, so keep an eye on any young tots in the vicinity.

A Full House: If you’re having house guests this year, or visiting friends or family, be alert. The clutter that stems from overnight bags and messy guests can cause injuries, too. Keep walkways clear of shoes, dirty clothes and kids’ toys, and make sure to have some nightlights in hallways near restrooms. Guests who use the bathroom in the middle of the night will thank you in the morning.

Step Up: Stairs pose a serious hazard around the holidays. A house full of clutter, pets and people, many of whom are likely partaking of some “special” eggnog, make stairs a very real danger. If you’ve had a few more drinks than usual, try to remember to take a deep breath before facing the steps. Make sure they’re clear of people and toys, and take your time. Nothing ruins a fun, festive night like a trip to the emergency room.

Stuffing Face: The holiday meal is riddled with peril, whether you’re eating or cooking. Hot, boiling water and long, sharp knives are out in abundance before dinnertime, so be cautious and move slowly in the kitchen. Always use a pot-holder to handle dishes if you’re not sure how hot they are, and keep an eye out for slippery spills. As always, when in-laws and alcohol mix, be careful with your words!

Holiday Shenanigans: In general, the holidays are more dangerous than most of us realize. Wrapping & unwrapping gifts can lead to accidents with scissors; assembling toys or furniture can often lead to bloodshed; candles left unattended or near trees pose a serious threat; as does the tree itself if not watered frequently. Even mistletoe is poisonous!

We’re not trying to scrooge up your holiday season, rather we’re hoping to prevent a messy or painful evening for you, your family and your friends. We know that even the most careful of people can’t always foresee danger. That’s why we’re here. Our experienced personal injury lawyers are ready to fight for you and your case, to get you the compensation you need to recover. Even if you’re not sure you have a case, call us for a free consultation. It’s what we’re here for.

If you’re actively searching for a job these days, you know how tough it is out there. As more and more people are able to acquire higher education, employers are more choosy than ever. Searching for a job is full time work all by itself, so when you find an opportunity, you hold on for dear life.

But what happens when you find that dream job you’ve been searching for, and your potential employer asks for your social media credentials? (Hint: You call a Montagna Klein Camden attorney for a free legal consultation!)

You’ve probably heard about it happening, and you’ve probably had a strong opinion about it. As social media grows in reach and popularity, more and more people are considering it the best way to get to know others. But when it comes to the workplace, should business and social mix?

It’s generally a good idea to abstain from posting negative or personal comments about your work and co-workers, and it’s a personal decision whether or not you want to accept that friend request from your boss. But after a widespread movement of employers asking current and potential employees for social media log-in information, states have begun taking matters into their own hands.

Most states seem to agree that your profile is personal, and over 20 laws have been passed since 2012, regulating this issue. Virginia state law now states that:

“Status: March 23, 2015; Signed by Governor. Chapter 576.
Prohibits an employer from requiring, requesting, or causing a current or prospective employee to disclose the username and password to a the current or prospective employee’s social media account; prohibits an employer from requiring an employee to add an employee, a supervisor, or an administrator to the list or contacts associated with the employee’s social media account or changing the privacy settings.”

Good to know! If you or someone you know is asked to hand over social media credentials to a current or potential employer, contact the legal professionals at Montagna Klein Camden in Norfolk, Virginia for your free legal consultation.

By now, you’ve likely accepted that social media is here to stay. You probably even spend at least a few minutes each day posting, pinning, tweeting or just scrolling through your news feed. But what happens when your account becomes entangled in some very public legal drama?

If you’ve heard the hype about Amazon’s alleged false reviews, you know that even a shopping account can land you in hot water. The online global marketplace is suing over 1,000 “John Does” for supposedly accepting money in exchange for posting fake reviews on products. These John Does are real Amazon users, breaking the terms and conditions of their Amazon accounts.

If you thought you were safe from legal consequences behind your web handle, you were wrong.

Your legal professionals at Montagna Klein Camden are here if you get caught up in a social media or eCommerce lawsuit. We’re not saying you need a lawyer to read the fine print before creating an Instagram account, but at least be aware that you are effectively signing a contract of conduct, and it’s binding.

Read the fine print. When signing up for an account like Amazon, you probably scrolled right that little tiny text box labeled Terms & Conditions, and clicked “I Accept.” When you did that, you agreed to, among other things, not post false reviews. Funny how that works, huh?

All reviews can go the same way – in the past, businesses have tried adding a clause to consumer contracts that prevent them from leaving a negative review. In some states, this has now been banned. Endorsements have their caveats, too. If you’ve been paid to endorse a product, you legally must also add a disclaimer to that effect.

If you own a business, you probably have a social account or two dedicated to promoting it. If you’re sharing contests, promotions or sweepstakes on social media, make sure it’s from a designated business account. Doing so from a personal account would violate the contract you agreed to when signing up, and could get you deleted.

Think before you tweet…and post, pin, like or share. There are consequences in the digital universe, too, and anonymity is an illusion. Call a legal professional at Montagna Klein Camden in Norfolk if you need a free legal consultation, and we’ll help you build your case today.