This is the second in a series of articles discussing the three main methods of handling a lawsuit.  Last month, I discussed litigation.   This month, I’ll explain how arbitration works.  Next month, I’ll tackle mediation.

Being involved in a car accident is no fun. It causes not only damage to you and your car, but can also mess up your insurance and your driving record. Because one instance can cause so much harm, it is important to have someone on your side to make sure that your rights are safeguarded.

When most people hear about a lawsuit, the image is of attorneys in a courtroom, defending their clients and arguing points of law.  While this is true in some situations, it is not the only way a lawsuit is settled.  I will be discussing the three main methods of handling a lawsuit in the coming months as part of a series explaining how the law works. I’ll begin with litigation and discuss arbitration and mediation in the next two months.

The United States Supreme Court recently ruled that attaching a GPS to a person’s car to monitor that person’s movement is a violation of the Fourth Amendment.  The Fourth Amendment prohibits unreasonable search and seizure, and protects the rights of individuals to be secure in their person and their property.

This is the first in a series of articles on the disposition of a lawsuit. I'll be discussing mediation and arbitration in upcoming months.

When most people think about being involved in a lawsuit, the image that immediately comes to mind is a courtroom where two opposing lawyers are arguing on behalf of their clients before a jury. While this makes for very dramatic imagery, it only represents a small fraction of how actual lawsuits are disposed.

Everyone is familiar with the Miranda warning – you do not have to speak to police officers questioning you. Included in your Miranda warning is your right to an attorney in a criminal case. Your right to counsel is protected by both the Fifth and Sixth Amendments to the Constitution.

Last week I wrote a really interesting Brief addressing "personal jurisdiction."  For the non-lawyers out there, personal jurisdiction is one of the things the plaintiff, the person bringing bringing a civil lawsuit, must establish before the case can go forward.  Essentially, the civil defendant can force the plaintiff to prove that the court is allowed to bind the defendant to a judgment.  If not, the plaintiff's claims are dismissed.

Despite my recent hiatus from the blog scene, I have to comment on some great news for Ohioans. The Small Business and Entrepreneurship Council ranks Ohio as the 11th best state for small businesses and entrepeneurs. While there are, of course, critics of the Council's logic and methodology, given the current state of Ohio's economy, identifying Ohio as one of the top-15 states in which to do business can't hurt. The ranking is based on an analysis of taxes, healthcare costs, minimum wage rates, legal liability costs, internet taxes, government spending levels, and private property protection.