Hicks & Motto Attorney Christian Kribbs Helps Uber Driver Successfully Challenge Town Ordinance

Palm Beach Gardens, Florida, law firm Hicks& Motto attorney, Christian Kribbs, successfully challenged a Town of Palm Beach ordinance used to fine an Uber driver. The Uber driver, Vincent Allora, was ticketed in the Town of Palm Beach; however, his citation was overruled and he will not have to pay a fine thanks to the efforts of Mr. Kribbs. The popular ride service phone app is currently considered illegal in multiple cities and Palm Beach County.

“It was beyond embarrassing, not to mention there was a young female who was waiting for a ride,” said Vincent Allora, the Uber driver who was ticketed. Allora said he was surrounded by three police cars and then slapped with a ticket by police for operating ride-for-hire services without a permit.

But after he challenged it, the town found he was not breaking any law. The driver is now back to work in Palm Beach. His lawyer feels a precedent has been set for all Uber drivers. “At this point, until they change the ordinance, it’s open season for Uber,” said Christian Kribbs, the lawyer for the driver.

“My guess is that they’re going to change the ordinance as quickly as possible. Until they do that though, it’s my opinion they did make a legal ruling,” he said.

Contact Hicks & Motto, 3399 PGA Blvd., Palm Beach Gardens, FL 33410.  (561) 683-2300 for more information.

Attorney James Hicks Obtains $1.3 Million Settlement for Driver Injured on Mall Perimeter

An insurance company agreed to pay $1.3 million to a woman who claimed a parking lot collision caused multiple injuries. The client was driving on a perimeter road near a lot at the Palm Beach Gardens mall when the defendant’s vehicle struck the front driver’s side of her vehicle. She claimed the defendant wasn’t alert for approaching vehicles. He claimed he did not see her vehicle until impact. The client was diagnosed with herniated discs at L3-4, L5-S1, C4-5, C5-6, and C6-7, a torn supraspinatus muscle in the rotator cuff of her non-dominant left shoulder, and aggravation of existing carpal tunnel syndrome. She underwent surgeries for all her injuries.

Case No.: 2013 CA 16741

Contact Hicks & Motto, 3399 PGA Blvd., Palm Beach Gardens, FL 33410.  (561) 683-2300

Attorney Michael Motto Named to Million Dollar Advocates Forum

Hicks & Motto congratulates partner Michael Motto on being named to the Million Dollar Advocates Forum. The Million Dollar Advocates Forum is recognized as one of the most prestigious groups of trial lawyers in the United States. Membership is limited to attorneys who won million and multi-million dollar verdicts, awards, and settlements. Fewer than 1% of U.S. lawyers are members. Hicks & Motto has been representing the injured victims of car and motorcycle accidents, slip and falls, medical malpractice, and wrongful death since 1987. Hicks & Motto has built our practice on the principles of a strong work ethic, tireless dedication to our clients, personal attention to our clients’ needs, and documented results. We continue to receive referrals from our clients and other lawyers in the community, and throughout the state of Florida and the nation.

It is Against Florida Law to Solicit the Victim of a Car or Motorcycle Crash

IT IS AGAINST THE LAW IN FLORIDA TO SOLICIT the victim of a car or motorcycle crash. Have you been called by someone you did not call to solicit you shortly after a car accident? When a person is involved in a car or motorcycle crash, either as a driver, passenger, or pedestrian, it is quite often an upsetting and emotional time. A person injured in a car or motorcycle crash is often taken to a hospital or has seen a physician shortly after the crash. Someone who has been injured in a car or motorcycle crash suffers from significant pain that was not there before the crash, as well as the financial and emotional stress and pressure from expensive medical bills, loss of income, falling behind on bills, and often complicated insurance issues.

Many times a person injured in a car or motorcycle crash is left in a delicate emotional and financial state as a result of the pain and financial pressures that were caused by someone else.

Unfortunately, there are people in the world who prey on the weakness and vulnerability of those during their time of need. In the world of personal injury law, and especially in situations that involve a car or motorcycle crash, there are people who are willing to violate the law and solicit accident victims.

IT IS AGAINST THE LAW IN FLORIDA TO SOLICIT the victim of a car or motorcycle crash within 60 days of that car or motorcycle crash.

IT IS AGAINST THE LAW IN FLORIDA TO SOLICIT someone who has been injured in a car or motorcycle crash in the emergency room or a hospital.

IT IS AGAINST THE LAW IN FLORIDA TO SOLICIT someone who has been injured in a car or motorcycle crash by calling them on the phone.

IT IS AGAINST THE LAW IN FLORIDA when someone who has been injured in a car or motorcycle crash receives a phone call advising them that the caller has been in touch with the insurance company and they have obtained $2,500, $10,000, or some other amount of money for them.

These people who call or solicit those who have been injured in a car or motorcycle crash are called “runners.” These runners are hired by unethical and shady law firms and doctors, and are paid for each case and often receive anywhere from $500 to $1,000 each. Sometimes an injured person goes to a doctor’s office and without them ever calling a lawyer, there is one waiting for them at the doctor’s office to sign them up.

Since 1987, Hicks & Motto are personal injury lawyers representing those injured in car or motorcycle crashes. Our firm strongly discourages this unethical and illegal activity. A number of our clients have been approached in this way and reported it to us. Hicks & Motto has built our practice on the principles of a strong work ethic, tireless dedication to our clients, personal attention to our clients needs, and documented results. We continue to receive referrals from our clients and other lawyers in the community, and throughout the state of Florida and the nation. If you have been in a car or motorcycle crash and
received a telephone solicitation, you should know IT IS AGAINST THE LAW IN FLORIDA TO SOLICIT THE VICTIM OF A CAR OR MOTORCYCLE CRASH.

Hicks & Motto
3399 PGA BLVD.
Suite 300
Palm Beach Gardens, FL 33410
(561) 683-2300
www.HMELAWFIRM.com

Sigma Spectrum Infusion Pumps with Master Drug Library by Baxter Healthcare: Recall

Includes Model No. 35700BAX and 35700ABB

Baxter has received over 3,500 reports of System Error 322 Link Switch Error (low) incidents in which the device has malfunctioned, including nine severe adverse events and no deaths. The System Error 322 occurs when the pump improperly detects that the door is open when it is physically closed. A System Error 322 may lead to an interruption or delay in therapy.

If the System 322 occurs, the Sigma Spectrum Infusion Pump stops the infusion, an alarm sounds, and a light flashes (a visual 322 alarm). This requires a clinician to reset the alarm, reprogram the pump, and confirm the infusion is running properly.

The use of affected product may cause serious adverse health consequences, including death.

If you or a loved one has been injured as a result of a Sigma Spectrum Infusion Pumps malfunction or any other drug or medical device, including Stryker Rejuvinate and ABG II Hip Implants, Zimmer, Nex Gen Knee Implants, Post-Operative Disposable Pain Pumps, or GranuFlo and NaturalLyte Dialysis Products, the law office of Hicks & Motto can help. Since 1987 Hicks & Motto have been representing the injured victims of negligence and defective products.

The Florida Supreme Court Issues Key PIP Ruling

On July 3, 2013, the Florida Supreme Court issued an opinion in GEICO v. Virtual Imaging Services, Inc., that under the 2008 amendments to the Florida PIP statute, a PIP insurer cannot take advantage of the Medicare fee schedules to limit reimbursements to providers without notifying its insured by electing those fee schedules in its policy. Because the policy, in that case, did not reference the permissive method of calculation based on the Medicare fee schedules, GEICO could not limit its reimbursement based on those fee schedules. Hicks & Motto has extensive experience in PIP litigation and can assist your medical practice or facility in seeking proper compensation for treatment rendered to an injured person under PIP.

PIP Rates Rise Despite Reform

PIP, or Personal Injury Protection, is a mandatory portion in all Florida automobile insurance policies, providing up to $10,000 in no-fault medical and lost wage benefits to a person who has been injured in an auto accident. In 2012, the Florida Legislature, along with Governor Rick Scott, made it a top priority to help automobile insurance companies reduce the benefits they were obligated to pay to an injured person after an auto accident. The automobile insurance carriers, along with Governor Scott, promised reduced rates and significant premium cost savings to Florida drivers as a result of the PIP reforms and a dramatic reduction in benefits.

Monday was the deadline for automobile insurers to file their 2013 rates with the state, and unfortunately for the citizens of Florida, half of the early filings approved by regulators show an increase in PIP rates up to 26.3 percent. Hicks & Motto has a dedicated team of PIP attorneys and support staff standing up to these automobile insurance carriers by seeking justice for consumers, and ensuring PIP automobile insurance carriers pay the appropriate benefits.

Hicks & Motto has a Warning for Facebook and Social Media Users

Hicks & Motto has a warning for Facebook and social media users. Facebook is being used by insurance companies in an effort to find evidence against people who have been injured. Hicks & Motto, a personal injury and workers’ compensation law firm in Palm Beach Gardens and Port St. Lucie, Florida, is warning its clients who are injured in an accident that the things they post on Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, or elsewhere on the web or social media, could be used against them.

If a person has been injured in a car accident, work accident, slip and fall, or other injury claim, chances are good that in addition to surveillance, the insurance carrier is looking for new ways to find evidence against the injured. Insurance companies and their lawyers have been increasingly searching social media sites for photos, videos, or blogs about what a person who has been injured in an accident is doing. Hicks & Motto has a warning for Facebook and social media users — be extremely mindful of what you post, as this may one day be taken out of context or used against you.

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