March 8, 2023
Every device used to read this article contains a battery. Batteries are essential to our lives. They help us connect with friends and even make video calls during power outages. As devices have become more powerful, the batteries inside have become denser, with higher outputs and quicker charge times. This growth has resulted in less expensive batteries capable of powering even high-performance sports cars. But there is a human cost to these batteries’ increased power and capacity because the energy stored inside a battery can be hazardous—and sometimes fatal. News reports about the dangers of batteries are nothing new but are becoming increasingly common. While we must follow certain limitations when using batteries, such as during air travel, when mailing items, and throwing them away, there are many hidden dangers. Just in January, a multi-family home was burned down in Brockton, NY, after a lithium-ion battery caught fire as a […]
March 2, 2023
COLUMBIA, S.C. – Allison Sullivan, a partner with Bluestein Attorneys, has been named to South Carolina Lawyers Weekly’s Personal Injury Law Power List, which has been published in the magazine’s February edition. The Power List “recognizes attorneys doing important work in their respective disciplines, and in the community,” according to Jason Thomas, executive editor at SC Biz News. Designation to the Power List is the result of peer nomination, which recognizes top lawyers in South Carolina, who are then selected by the editorial board of South Carolina Lawyers Weekly. Allison has dedicated her career to leveling the playing field for those who have been injured across the state of South Carolina. Whether hurt at work or injured by the negligence of others, Allison fights for those who have sustained serious and catastrophic personal injury to receive justice and rebuild their lives. She is also a fierce advocate for veterans, and […]
January 11, 2023
Other than an Honorable Discharge According to the most recent U.S. Census statistics, approximately 16.5 million veterans live in the United States. When service members leave the armed forces, they receive a formal discharge of duties and a D.D. Form 214 that spells out the character of their service. Statistics regarding this process vary widely from year to year based on a variety of factors, including the active or peacetime climate of the Department of Defense at the time. 500,000 veterans are currently living with an “other than honorable discharge.”, according to The Department of Veteran Affairs (V.A.). Current statistics found that 16% of veterans discharged from service received a discharge characterization that did not meet the honorable threshold. Approximately 1% of discharges result in the most severe form of separation, a punitive discharge, labeled as a “Dishonorable” or “Bad Conduct” discharge. Why “Bad Paper Matters” Bad Paper is […]
November 3, 2022
U.S. News & World Report and Best Lawyers in America® have named Bluestein Attorneys as one of the top law firms in three practice areas in the Columbia area in the 2023 edition of their “Best Law Firms” listing. This marks the firm’s 13th year to receive the distinction recognizing the top firms in the community. Bluestein Attorneys was named to Tier 1 in these three practice areas: · Personal Injury Litigation – Plaintiffs · Product Liability Litigation – Plaintiffs · Workers’ Compensation Law – Claimants To be eligible for a recognition, law firms must have at least one lawyer included in The Best Lawyers in America® in the same year. In August, Bluestein Attorneys had three partners on the list for Columbia. With the practice areas in which they were named, they were: · Margaret Miles Bluestein: Workers’ Compensation Law – Claimants · Clarke Newton: Personal Injury Litigation-Plaintiffs and […]
August 23, 2022
Best Lawyers in America® recognizes four Bluestein Attorneys in 2023, with two named “Lawyer of the Year” COLUMBIA, S.C. – The Best Lawyers in America® has, in its 2023 edition, once again recognized three partners at Bluestein Attorneys, two of whom received “Lawyer of the Year” distinction in their respective practice areas. Only one lawyer is recognized as the “Lawyer of the Year” for each practice area and location. The three partners who again have been honored on the Best Lawyers list for Columbia, and the practice areas in which they are named, are: Margaret Miles Bluestein – Workers’ Compensation Law-Claimants Clarke Newton – Product Liability Litigation-Plaintiffs and “Lawyer of the Year” Personal Injury Litigation-Plaintiffs Allison Sullivan – Personal Injury Litigation-Plaintiffs and “Lawyer of the Year” Workers’ Compensation Law-Claimants Also, Timothy Mercer has been listed among “Ones to Watch,” for his work in Administrative/Regulatory Law. “Ones to Watch” recognizes attorneys who […]
August 3, 2022
Camp Lejeune Justice Act of 2022 Congress recently passed a bill that clears the way for many veterans and their families who were stationed at the Camp Lejeune military base in North Carolina to seek compensation for medical conditions likely caused by contaminated water. The Camp Lejeune Justice Act of 2022 eliminates a legal barrier prohibiting these victims from suing the government for benefits related to the illnesses related to the toxic water exposures at Camp Lejeune. The Act is under the umbrella of the Honoring our Promise to Address Comprehensive Toxics (PACT) Act of 2022. Toxins in water likely to blame for multiple health problems Exposure to contaminated water at Camp Lejeune during a 30-year period is blamed for various health conditions, including several types of cancer, fertility problems, Parkinson’s disease, and more. Victims were exposed to the contaminated water by drinking it, cooking with it, cleaning with it, […]
April 13, 2021
Answering this question seems like it should be as short as a simple definition. According to Dictionary.com, litigation is simply “1. the act or process of litigating or 2. a lawsuit.” While those definitions are accurate, they don’t actually tell you anything. Filing a lawsuit triggers a series of mechanisms that help the parties work towards resolving a dispute. While many people assume that lawsuits are always resolved before a jury or a judge in court, they are commonly settled by a out-of-court agreement between the parties involved thanks to the litigation process.
April 13, 2021
Last week, we took a look at what to do if you’re pulled over for texting and driving in South Carolina — this week, we’ll be discussing what you may be entitled to if you are involved in a car wreck where the at-fault driver was texting when the accident occurred. While there are increasing numbers of high-profile campaigns to discourage distracted driving, the truth is that more people are texting behind the wheel in 2016 than ever before. This has led to an increasing number of car wrecks in which texting was a significant factor in the cause of the collision — and the rate of injuries is increasing, too. If you’ve been the victim of a vehicular collision in which the person at fault was texting while driving, you may be entitled to compensation to help cover your medical bills, car repairs, and other problems that occur as a […]
April 6, 2021
Did You Know You Can Manage Your Social Security Benefits Online? With a free my Social Security account, you can take advantage of many convenient and secure services online, at www.ssa.gov/myaccount. Whether at home or on the go, you can use this account to complete most Social Security business online, without calling or requesting an appointment.