Spring Snow Across Long Island

Law Offices of Louis D. Stober, Jr., L.L.C.

350 Old Country Road, Suite 205, Garden City, NY 11530

877-791-8076 / StoberLaw.com 

Image Source: Flickr/Chris Booth

It might be spring, but the snow is still falling across Long Island today.  The wet snow, rain mix has slowed the morning commute.  Most major highways and secondary roads in Nassau and Suffolk counties are moving at slow speeds.

According to Newsday, we can expect snow, sleet and rain this morning until the weather warms later this afternoon.  Up to an inch of accumulation is possible, mostly on grassy surfaces.  Nassau County reported no weather-specific traffic accidents.  However, Suffolk reported about 30 fender-benders. 

Stober Law reminds Long Islanders to drive safely this morning.  In the unfortunate event you do experience an auto accident, contact our office.  We can help make sure that you receive the settlement that you are entitled to.

The Law Offices of Louis D. Stober are experienced in personal injury cases, including motor vehicle accidents.  Our experience, combined with our successful track record makes us Long Island’s premier law firm.  Contact our office for a consultation by calling 877-791-8076. You can also like us on Facebook and follow us on Twitter for the latest news stories and legal tips.

Entenmann's Closes Bay Shore Bakery

Law Offices of Louis D. Stober, Jr., L.L.C.

350 Old Country Road, Suite 205, Garden City, NY 11530

877-791-8076 / StoberLaw.com 

The Bay Shore Entenmann’s bakery announced yesterday that it will be closing.  The decision will shift production to other bakeries in Chicago and Pennsylvania.  This closing will cut 178 of the 265 workers at the company.

The Entenmann’s company was founded in 1898 by William Entenmann, a German immigrant.  He opened a small store in Bay Shore in 1905 and then the company relocated the factory there in 1961.  The company has produced pastries there for more than 50 years. 

The Bay Shore facility is closing because it “cannot operate efficiently on a cost competitive basis,” according to the vice president of operations.  Irwin Kellner, chief economist for MarketWatch.com says that many companies are finding that it is beneficial to relocate to where the cost of labor is cheaper.

Photo Source: Flickr

Read more about the Entenmann’s closing in Newsday.

The Law Offices of Louis D. Stober are experienced in many aspects of employment law.  Our experience, combined with our successful track record makes us Long Island’s premier law firm.  Contact our office for a consultation by calling 877-791-8076.  You can also like us on Facebook and follow us on Twitter for the latest news stories and legal tips.

Police Department Car Repairs at a 6 Year High in Suffolk County

Law Offices of Louis D. Stober, Jr., L.L.C.

350 Old Country Road, Suite 205, Garden City, NY 11530

877-791-8076 / StoberLaw.com 

Suffolk County Police Department car repairs are at a 6 year high.  20 percent of the car fleet is out of service for mechanical adjustments.  This has forced officers to double up in larger patrol areas, an issue that is concerning many Suffolk legislators.

The county Department of Public Works, which performs vehicle maintenance for the police department, was down to 11 of their original 39 mechanics before this new hire.  This workforce cut down was due to a budget shortfall of more than $500 million.  Three mechanics were added in October to help ease the severity of the problem.

In addition to the broken down cars, new police cars are awaiting body and technical work before they can hit the roads.  Of the 40 new police cars that were purchased, only 22 have been placed into service.  These cars will not be fully equipped with radios, printers and computers until the end of August.

Legis. Kate Browning, chairwoman of the Public Safety Committee is worried that doubling up in police cars is a public safety problem.  However, Suffolk Police Chief Mark White has said that the police car repair backlog has had “minimal effect” on policing.

Read more about the Suffolk County police fleet backlog in Newsday. 

The Law Offices of Louis D. Stober Jr. are experienced in many aspects of employment law and traffic violations.  Our experience, combined with our successful track record makes us Long Island’s premier law firm.  Contact our office for a consultation by calling 877-791-8076.  You can also like us on Facebook and follow us on Twitter for the latest news stories and legal tips.

LI Flood Insurance Rates Expected to Rise Despite New Law

Law Offices of Louis D. Stober, Jr., L.L.C.

350 Old Country Road, Suite 205, Garden City, NY 11530

877-791-8076 / StoberLaw.com 

Image Source: Wikipedia

President Barack Obama signed a law Friday that is expected to delay steep increases in flood insurance rates.  However, this has only delayed, not solved the insurance problem affecting nearly 60,000 policyholders in New York. 

Many Long Islanders with subsidized government flood insurance will still be affected by steady rate increases.  This worries many who live in Long Beach, Freeport, Babylon Town, Hempstead Town, and other places that rely on affordable insurance policies to keep their businesses afloat. 

The insurance rates will affect homeowners as well.  At least 21,000 homeowners in Nassau and Suffolk counties will experience insurance rate increases of as much as 18 percent.  Another 800 businesses and 4,000 vacation homes will see rates rise by 25 percent.  These increases will occur each year until the program has collected enough revenue to cover the $24 billion shortfall created from insurance discounts and catastrophic storms.

Learn more about flood insurance premiums in Newsday.

The Law Offices of Louis D. Stober Jr. are experienced in employment and labor law.  Our experience, combined with our successful track record makes us Long Island’s premier law firm.  Contact our office for a consultation by calling 877-791-8076.  You can also like us on Facebook and follow us on Twitter for the latest news stories and legal tips.

Jones Beach Restoration Project

Law Offices of Louis D. Stober, Jr., L.L.C.

350 Old Country Road, Suite 205, Garden City, NY 11530

877-791-8076 / StoberLaw.com 

Happy first day of spring!

New York State recently announced that it will spend $65 million to restore Jones Beach.  This development will mark the largest Long Island state park rehabilitation effort to date.  The project will celebrate the 85^th anniversary of Jones Beach.

The project is set to restore the state park, which was badly damaged by superstorm Sandy.  The construction plans will make Jones Beach more weather-resistant.  Other changes include additional food venues and recreational facilities, including soccer, lacrosse, cricket, miniature golf, yoga, water features, a zip line, and rock climbing.

First signs of change will be seen before Memorial Day weekend this year, but the complete project will span over a five-year period.  Gov. Andrew Cuomo expects that the Jones Beach revitalization plan will help bring more than 620 jobs to Long Island communities.  If you would like to learn more about the proposed project, read the Newsday article on the Jones Beach restoration.

The Law Offices of Louis D. Stober Jr. are experienced in employment and labor law.  Our experience, combined with our successful track record makes us Long Island’s premier law firm.  Contact our office for a consultation by calling 877-791-8076.  You can also like us on Facebook and follow us on Twitter for the latest news stories and legal tips.

Tobacco Sale Age Raised from 19 to 21 in Suffolk County

Law Offices of Louis D. Stober, Jr., L.L.C.

350 Old Country Road, Suite 205, Garden City, NY 11530

877-791-8076 / StoberLaw.com 

Image Source: Wikipedia

Suffolk County passed a bill last night that raises the tobacco sales age from 19 to 21.  This new restriction was created with the hopes of saving lives and reducing the health costs associated with the use of tobacco. 

Long Island health advocates say that raising the age will decrease the number of young smokers and save the county money in long-term health care.  It is projected that the age increase will save as much as $2.9 billion in long-term health savings.

On the other hand, gas stations and convenience stores are concerned about the effect the new law will have on their businesses.  Legislative budget analysts have estimated that the law could cost Suffolk County as much as $412,000 in sales tax.  The tobacco sales law also includes fines for businesses that are caught selling tobacco to young customers.  Businesses will be charged up to $1,000 for the first offense and $1,500 for the second offense.

The new tobacco law will go into effect January 1^st.  Learn more about the law in Newsday or contact our office.  Our experience, combined with our successful track record makes the Law Offices of Louis D. Stober Jr. Long Island’s premier law firm.  Call 877-791-8076 for a consultation.  You can also like us on Facebook and follow us on Twitter for the latest news stories and legal tips.

What New York State Drivers Need to Know About the DMV Point System

Law Offices of Louis D. Stober, Jr., L.L.C.

350 Old Country Road, Suite 205, Garden City, NY 11530

877-791-8076 / StoberLaw.com 

The New York State DMV has a Driver Violation Point System that works to identify high risk drivers.  Common traffic violations, including speeding, reckless driving, and cell phone use, can result in points on your license. If you receive 11 points in an 18-month period, your driver’s license may be suspended.

These are a few things every driver should know about driver’s license points:

Image Source: Wikipedia

• Auto Insurance - Insurance companies have a different point system than the DMV.  Although the violation may result in an increase in your rates, they have little to do with the points issued by the DMV.
• Fines - Not all violations result in points.  Parking tickets and broken headlights do not add points, but you still have to pay a fine.
• Texting Violation - Texting and driving tickets add serious points to your license.  In New York State, you get 5 points for a texting violation.  This includes all portable devices, including a gps, cell phone, or mp3 player.
• Defensive Driving - You can take a DMV-approved Point and Insurance Reduction Program course to reduce your driver violation points by a maximum of 4 points and save 10 percent on your auto insurance.
• Seat belts – If you have a child under 16 in the car without a seat belt on, this violation adds 3 points to your license.
• Out-of-State Convictions – With the exception of Ontario and Quebec, traffic violation convictions that occur out of state do not affect your New York State driver record.

Read more about driver’s license points here or on the DMV website.  The Law Offices of Louis D. Stober Jr. are experienced in handling traffic violation cases.  Our experience, combined with our successful track record makes us Long Island’s premier law firm.  Contact our office for a consultation by calling 877-791-8076.  You can also like us on Facebook and follow us on Twitter for the latest news stories and legal tips.

New York State Police Crackdown on Drunk Driving for St. Patrick's Day Weekend

Law Offices of Louis D. Stober, Jr., L.L.C.

350 Old Country Road, Suite 205, Garden City, NY 11530

877-791-8076 / StoberLaw.com 

New York State police are looking to crack down on drunk driving this weekend.  If you are celebrating St. Patrick’s Day at a party or event, remember to plan a way home in advance.  Designate a driver or find alternate transportation.

More than 269 people were killed by drunk drivers on St. Patrick’s Day between 2007 and 2011.  Last year, troopers made 204 arrests and issued 9,763 tickets.  They plan on making a similar effort this weekend.

The New York State police and NHTSA recommend these steps to ensure a safe holiday:

• Plan a way to safely get home.
• Designate a sober driver before you start drinking.
• Leave your car keys at home.
• Call a taxi or a sober friend or family member.
• Use public transportation.
• Designate a sober friend to walk you home.
• Make sure your friends and family get home safe too.  Don’t let them drive drunk.
• Call the police if you spot a drunk driver.  You could save a life.

At The Law Offices of Louis D. Stober Jr., we fight to ensure that DWI charges are dropped or that the consequences are minimized.  However, prosecutors in New York are very strict when it comes to DWI charges.  Avoid losing your driver’s license by driving safely this weekend.  Contact our office for a consultation by calling 877-791-8076.  You can also like us on Facebook and follow us on Twitter for the latest news stories and legal tips.

LI Pulse Magazine Names Louis Stober a “Legal Eagle”

Law Offices of Louis D. Stober, Jr., L.L.C.

350 Old Country Road, Suite 205, Garden City, NY 11530

877-791-8076 / StoberLaw.com 

Louis Stober was recently named a “Legal Eagle” by LI Pulse Magazine for 2014.  The magazine lists the best attorneys in Nassau & Suffolk Counties each year.  The Law Offices of Louis D. Stober, Jr., L.L.C. is honored to once again receive this title in 2014. 

Take a look at what LI Pulse Magazine had to say about our experienced attorney:

Our experience, combined with our successful track record makes The Law Offices of Louis D. Stober Jr Long Island’s premier law firm.  Contact our office for a consultation by calling 877-791-8076.  You can also like us on Facebook and follow us on Twitter for the latest news stories and legal tips.

New Labeling Makes Vehicle Recall Notices Easier to Identify

Law Offices of Louis D. Stober, Jr., L.L.C.

350 Old Country Road, Suite 205, Garden City, NY 11530

877-791-8076 / StoberLaw.com 

A new federal requirement for vehicle recall notices aims to make it easier for consumers to identify these important mailings.  The Department of Transportation’s National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) has made it mandatory for manufacturers to display a safety recall label on envelopes of notification letters.

The new label is designed to make it easy for consumers to quickly recognize all recall notices for their vehicles, child restraints, tires, or other motor vehicle equipment.  The intention is to help consumers act quickly and address essential safety issues early on. 

They have also developed a new app called Android SaferCar app.  There is an iOs version for the iPhone, iPad and iPod Touch.  This app provides users with free access to key safety information, including recalls and safety performance.  The agency says that this app aims to make it easier for consumers to submit complaints regarding vehicle safety issues. 

The Law Offices of Louis D. Stober Jr. are experienced in handling personal injury cases, including cases associated with product liability.  Our experience, combined with our successful track record makes us Long Island’s premier law firm.  Contact our office for a consultation by calling 877-791-8076.  You can also like us on Facebook and follow us on Twitter for the latest news stories and legal tips.

LIRR Pension Error May Cost Widow Nearly $27,000

Law Offices of Louis D. Stober, Jr., L.L.C.

350 Old Country Road, Suite 205, Garden City, NY 11530

877-791-8076 / StoberLaw.com 

A clerical LIRR pension error has left the widow of a retired train engineer owing $26,707.  The MTA is now demanding their money back.  Shirley Findel was informed that she could correct the overpayment through a deduction of $240 from her benefits each month.  However, the 80 year old woman says that any reduction to her benefits would impose a financial hardship. 

Shirley Findel was only informed of the error after she notified the pension administrators of her husband’s death.  They are now asking for payment 18 and a half years later.  Shirley feels this payment is an unfair burden.  However, the MTA spokesman is defending the demand for repayment.  The MTA says that the pension plan “is obligated to correct this error and seek to recover the overpayment.”

New York University law professor Brookes Billman feels that if the overpayment is not recovered, it could burden the pension system.  This would cause problems for others who rely on the pension system after retirement.

Lee Adler, a lecturer in collective bargaining and labor law and Cornell University’s School of Industrial Labor Relations feels that although the MTA may have a legal right to recoup the money, there are serious moral concerns at hand.

The Law Offices of Louis D. Stober Jr. are experienced in handling employment law cases.  Our experience, combined with our successful track record makes us Long Island’s premier law firm.  If you have an employment law case, contact our office for a consultation by calling 877-791-8076.  Don’t forget to like us on Facebook and follow us on Twitter for the latest news stories and legal tips.

Man Files $15 Million Personal Injury Lawsuit Against Citi Bike

Law Offices of Louis D. Stober, Jr., L.L.C.

350 Old Country Road, Suite 205, Garden City, NY 11530

877-791-8076 / StoberLaw.com 

Image Source: Wikipedia

The Citi Bike share program started in New York City just last May.  Now, the City Bike operator and New York City are facing a $15 million dollar lawsuit.  Ronald Corwin, a Connecticut resident, says that he has suffered serious injuries after flipping over the bike at a docking station.  The 73-year-old man suffers from traumatic nerve palsy and is no longer able to smell or taste.

Ronald Corwin’s case is the first personal injury suit filed by a cyclist over the bike share program.  The personal injury was a result of wheel stops that blend in with the road.  These low barriers next to the bicycle docking station have proved to be problematic for other cyclists too.  The city says the wheel stops were designed to prevent vehicles from damaging the equipment.  The barriers are now coated in orange paint to make the stops more visible for cyclists.

The Law Offices of Louis D. Stober Jr. are experienced in handling personal injury cases.  Our experience, combined with our successful track record makes us Long Island’s premier law firm.  If you have a personal injury case, contact our office for a consultation by calling 877-791-8076.  Don’t forget to like us on Facebook and follow us on Twitter for the latest news stories and legal tips.

Estate Planning Lessons We Can Learn From The Paul Walker Estate

Law Offices of Louis D. Stober, Jr., L.L.C.

350 Old Country Road, Suite 205, Garden City, NY 11530

877-791-8076 / StoberLaw.com 

Paul Walker passed away in an unfortunate high-speed accident on November 30, 2013.  The Fast & Furious movie star was 40 years old when he died, survived by his parents and young daughter.  His father recently filed to open the estate, including Paul Walker’s Last Will and Testament.  

The Paul Walker Estate provides us with interesting information on how we can improve our own estate plans.  Here are 5 lessons to learn from Paul Walker’s Estate according to Forbes:

Image Source: Wikipedia

• Create a Living Trust – Paul Walker left all of his assets to a trust.  This makes the probate process much simpler.  It also likely means that his daughter will receive his millions over time, not all at once.  A good estate plan stretches out distributions for young adults.
• Fully Fund Your Trust – Fully funded trusts can completely avoid the probate court process.  Paul Walker did not fully fund his trust during his life, and therefore had to rely on his will.  Although the will passed everything along to his trust, a fully funded trust during life could have kept his family’s affairs private.  Wills and probate filings are public record.
• Name a Guardian – Law will always favor custodial parents.  However, naming a guardian is a smart move in the event the living parent is unable to maintain custody.  In Paul Walker’s case, he named his daughter’s grandmother guardianship.
• Start Planning Young – Paul Walker started planning his will when he was only 28, before he was a well-known movie star.  Don’t put off planning your estate.  Although no one wants to consider the worst, unfortunate accidents happen every day.
• Keep Wills, Trusts and Estate Plans Updated – It is important to revisit and update estate planning documents.  Paul Walker signed his will twelve years before his death.  A lot can change during that time.  In his case, his net worth grew.  Twenty-five million dollars is well over the federal estate tax threshold.  This means that there will be tax consequences when handling the estate. 

Have you started planning your estate?  How does your will and trust compare to Paul Walker’s?  The experienced attorneys at the Law Offices of Louis D. Stober, Jr., L.L.C can help you begin your estate plan or update your existing plan.  Contact our office by calling 877-791-8076 to learn more.