Rem Jackson Law Offices 1002 Lititz Pike #191 | Lititz, Pennsylvania 17543 | (717) 238-3668 | www.TopPractices.com

Rem Jackson Law Offices

Road To Justice Starts HereThea

ugus

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11

a c c i d e n t s | n u r s i n g H o m e n e g l e c t | I n s u r a n c e

what’s inside

page 2

Meet Burch Purchase, an injury lawyer’s dog

Health impacts from mold

page 3

Identity theft: Taking steps to protect yourself

More improvements made with you in mind

Did you know?

page 4

School violence

You know their pepperoni

balls and you love them.

Stanganelli’s Italian Foods

is a business on Erie’s

east side that is grow-

ing in leaps and bounds

while providing our region

with delicious fresh pasta, cookie dough and, of

course, those incredible pepperoni balls!

Owned and operated by brothers Tom and Jim

Spagel, this Erie business is well-known in the

community for helping local organizations raise

money with fundraising products like cookie

dough and for providing Erie’s signature pep-

peroni and fried dough product to local grocery

stores. Few people, however, know that this

little local food company does most of its busi-

ness with regional and national food distribution

companies.

Since buying the business in 1993, the Spagel

brothers have grown their business from three

part-time workers into a major employer.

Stanganelli’s now employees 20 workers full-

time and produces over 60 different long pastas,

filled pastas, noodles, gnocchi, stuffed shells,

meatballs, and other delicacies.

We asked Tom Spagel

what aspect of his business

makes him most proud.

We thought he might talk

about the playgrounds he’s

helped to build with school

fundraising products. This

is a source of pride but not at the top of his list. We

thought he might talk about the people who, when

introduced to him, say something like, “You own

Stanganelli’s? We buy your products all the time.

Our family loves those pepperoni balls!” But that’s

not it, either. The thing that makes Tom Spagel most

proud is that working in the business has made his

family a tight-knit bunch. “My brother and I have

worked together for over 17 years and we’ve made

it a priority to maintain a family environment in

our business. Our family works closely and enjoys

spending time together. Our employees, customers

and vendors are a daily part of our business family.”

You can learn more about Stanganelli’s and their

delectable product line at www.stanganellis.com or

you can call Tom Spagel at (814) 446-0965/toll free

(877) 570-0965. We’re proud of Erie’s local Italian

food company and we encourage all our friends and

clients to call on Stanganelli’s for their next fundrais-

er or Italian food-fest. Remember, keep it local! ■

keeping it local:STANGANELLI’S ITALIAN FOODS

what’s inside

page 2

Meet Butch Purchase, an injury lawyer’s dog

Identity theft: Taking steps to protect yourself

page 3

The dreaded uninsured motorist

School violence

Did you know?

page 4

More improvements made with you in mind

SPecIal PoInTS of InTereST

Meet Butch Purchase, an injury lawyer’s dog Pg2

More improvements with you in mind Pg4

Purchase & George P.C. 2525 West 26th St., Ste 200 | Erie, PA 16506 | Ph (814) 833-7100 | www.YourErieAccidentLawyers.com

Justice Starts HereThe

Road ToThe

c a r & T r u c k a c c i d e n t s | c i v i l l i t i g a t i o n | M e d i c a l M a l p r a c t i c e | D U I c r i m i n a l D e f e n s e

aug

ust

2011

www.TopPractices.com | August 2011 | 32 | August 2011 | www.TopPractices.com

meet Butch Purchase,AN INJURY LAWYER’S DOG

Our family adopted a dog from the pound

last month. Summer was coming and my

kids made the cogent argument that sum-

mer was the right time to add a canine

family member because they’d have the

time to socialize and train the dog before

school started again. We searched for

weeks until we found the dog we thought

would be right for our active family.

Finally, we found “Butch” at the ANNA

Shelter http://www.theannashelter.com/

page/page/1707762.htm and he is now

part of the Purchase clan.

Well, now school is over and the training

has begun. It’s been fun for the whole neighborhood. Butch has turned

out to be a great dog with exactly the temperament necessary to live in

a neighborhood full of kids who wander in and out of the yard all day.

We feel very lucky that Butch has turned out to be exactly the dog we

wanted him to be.

But the injury lawyer in me can’t help but think about other dogs who

aren’t so lucky to be trained and socialized appropriately. I think about

other owners who fail to take the necessary measures to keep their

dogs confined. And I’m reminded that summer is the time of year that

we see so many dog bite tragedies in our office because this is the time

of year when both children and dogs are outside together all day.

Dog Safety ResourcesPurchase & George offers dog safety resources on our website, includ-

ing information on how to avoid a dog attack, what to do if you’ve

been bitten, dog safety tips for kids, and information for owners on

how to prevent your dog from biting. To read these free safety materi-

als, go to http://www.yourerieaccidentlawyers.com/blog/pennsylvania-

dog-bite-lawyer-erie-dog-attack-lawyer-resources.cfm

The Bottom LineIf you or your child has been the victim of a Pennsylvania dog attack

the personal injury lawyers at Purchase & George can help. Explore

www.purchasegeorge.com for more information or call (814) 833-

7100 or toll free (888) 870-3499 for a free consultation with an experi-

enced Erie dog bite lawyer. ■

identity theft:TAKING STEPS TO PROTECTYOURSELFIt is estimated that as many as 9 million Americans are vic-

tims of identity theft each year.

Fortunately, though, there are steps you can take to reduce the

risk of someone stealing your personal information and mak-

ing you a victim of fraud.

Protect Your Social Security Number, Wallet and Purse

Keep your Social Security card somewhere safe – not in your

wallet – and only use it when absolutely necessary.

You shouldn’t carry any unnecessary personal information

with you.

Protect Your Mail (and Your Trash)Some identify thieves pick through your trash or recyclables

to find important personal information. Because of this, it’s

always a good idea to shred any papers that include your

credit card numbers or bank information. Always get your

mail promptly after it has been delivered. If you are send-

ing mail that contains personal information, deposit it at

your local post office or mail collection box, instead of your

unprotected mailbox.

Use Care on the WebOn the Internet, it’s easy to visit a site that leaves your per-

sonal information unprotected. Always use up-to-date protec-

tion software and take caution when browsing the Web. Also,

it’s typically a good idea to verify sources when giving out

personal information, whether on the phone or online.

Whenever you need to select a password for a new website

account, credit card, bank account or phone account, choose

an intricate password containing a blend of letters, numbers

and special characters. Make it a difficult code to crack.

Avoid using the same password for all of your sensitive

accounts. Although this can be inconvenient, it is not nearly

as painful as trying to fix the problems caused by identity

theft.

If despite your best efforts, your identity is stolen, you should

immediately file a police report, check your credit reports,

notify your creditors, including all of your credit card compa-

nies, and dispute any unauthorized transactions. ■

www.TopPractices.com | August 2011 | 32 | August 2011 | www.TopPractices.com

There are lots of uninsured drivers on the roads these days. The slow eco-nomic recovery and high unemploy-ment cause even more motorists than usual to drive without car insurance.

If you are involved in a serious acci-dent with someone who is uninsured, you may encounter significant prob-lems and financial hardship in addition to the normal stress of dealing with the accident itself and any injuries or fatalities that may have occurred.

The good news is that uninsured motorist coverage, which is relatively inexpensive, provides much needed protection and allows you and your family to avoid these problems.

Unfortunately, most drivers simply don’t carry enough of this key coverage. A good level of coverage is $500,000, but we carry $1,000,000 of uninsured motorist coverage - and suggest that our family and friends do, too.

Besides the fact that you never know which drivers carry insurance and which ones don’t, having the appropriate level of this

insurance is critical because medical bills can skyrocket if hospitalizations are neces-sary. Just one day in the intensive care unit can top $100,000.

Another reason to have additional unin-sured motorist coverage is because many employer-provided health insurance plans place a lien on your settlement which requires you to reimburse the plan after you win your case. In these scenarios, your recovery can be significantly reduced.

In A Roadmap to Justice: The Ultimate

Guide to Car Accident Cases in

Pennsylvania, we devote a chapter to buying insurance. To learn more, get your free copy of this book by visiting www.PurchaseGeorge.com or call us at 833-7100. ■

According to the U.S. Fire Administration (USFA), there are two basic types of smoke detectors – ionization and photoelectric.

Ionization smoke detectors are better at sensing flaming, fast moving fires, while photoelectric ones are quicker at sensing smoldering, smoky fires. Some detectors – called dual sensor smoke alarms – combine both technologies into one unit.

The USFA recommends that homeowners install both ionization and pho-toelectric smoke detectors or the combination smoke alarms because there is no way of knowing which type of fire could start in your home (and either type could be deadly).

There are also smoke detectors made for people with hearing disabilities. These alarms may incorporate strobe lights and/or vibrations to help people who are unable to hear a traditional smoke detector. ■

Did You

Know?

the dreaded uninsured motorist

SCHOOL VIOLENCEThough the causes of violence in schools have long been debated, there’s no argument that it can have serious ramifications.

School violence is actually a subset of a much broader social concern known as youth violence, which is defined as the intentional use of physical force or power by a young person against another person, group or community, which is likely to cause physical or psychological harm.

According to recent statistics, as many as 38% of public schools reported at least one instance of vio-lence between 2005 and 2006, and nearly one-third of students reported being bullied during a typical school year. Bullying victims can suffer from increased anxiety, depression, and other psychological problems, as well as physical injuries.

Different types of aggressive behav-ior fall under the category of school violence, including:

• Bullying• Fighting• Using weapons• Electronic aggression (mes-

sages via e-mail, text, or other electronic manner)

• Gang violence

School violence covers any act of violence which occurs on the way to or from school, during a school-sponsored event or on the way to or from a school-sponsored event.

While school violence is a complex problem that doesn’t have a “one-size-fits-all” solution, there are some very good sources of helpful infor-mation for concerned parents, care-givers, and school administrators, such as the youth violence section of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s website (www.cdc.gov). ■

www.YourErieAccidentLawyers.com | August 2011 | 32 | August 2011 | www.YourErieAccidentLawyers.com

www.TopPractices.com | August 2011 | 32 | August 2011 | www.TopPractices.com

meet Butch Purchase,AN INJURY LAWYER’S DOG

Our family adopted a dog from the pound

last month. Summer was coming and my

kids made the cogent argument that sum-

mer was the right time to add a canine

family member because they’d have the

time to socialize and train the dog before

school started again. We searched for

weeks until we found the dog we thought

would be right for our active family.

Finally, we found “Butch” at the ANNA

Shelter http://www.theannashelter.com/

page/page/1707762.htm and he is now

part of the Purchase clan.

Well, now school is over and the training

has begun. It’s been fun for the whole neighborhood. Butch has turned

out to be a great dog with exactly the temperament necessary to live in

a neighborhood full of kids who wander in and out of the yard all day.

We feel very lucky that Butch has turned out to be exactly the dog we

wanted him to be.

But the injury lawyer in me can’t help but think about other dogs who

aren’t so lucky to be trained and socialized appropriately. I think about

other owners who fail to take the necessary measures to keep their

dogs confined. And I’m reminded that summer is the time of year that

we see so many dog bite tragedies in our office because this is the time

of year when both children and dogs are outside together all day.

Dog Safety ResourcesPurchase & George offers dog safety resources on our website, includ-

ing information on how to avoid a dog attack, what to do if you’ve

been bitten, dog safety tips for kids, and information for owners on

how to prevent your dog from biting. To read these free safety materi-

als, go to http://www.yourerieaccidentlawyers.com/blog/pennsylvania-

dog-bite-lawyer-erie-dog-attack-lawyer-resources.cfm

The Bottom LineIf you or your child has been the victim of a Pennsylvania dog attack

the personal injury lawyers at Purchase & George can help. Explore

www.purchasegeorge.com for more information or call (814) 833-

7100 or toll free (888) 870-3499 for a free consultation with an experi-

enced Erie dog bite lawyer. ■

identity theft:TAKING STEPS TO PROTECTYOURSELFIt is estimated that as many as 9 million Americans are vic-

tims of identity theft each year.

Fortunately, though, there are steps you can take to reduce the

risk of someone stealing your personal information and mak-

ing you a victim of fraud.

Protect Your Social Security Number, Wallet and Purse

Keep your Social Security card somewhere safe – not in your

wallet – and only use it when absolutely necessary.

You shouldn’t carry any unnecessary personal information

with you.

Protect Your Mail (and Your Trash)Some identify thieves pick through your trash or recyclables

to find important personal information. Because of this, it’s

always a good idea to shred any papers that include your

credit card numbers or bank information. Always get your

mail promptly after it has been delivered. If you are send-

ing mail that contains personal information, deposit it at

your local post office or mail collection box, instead of your

unprotected mailbox.

Use Care on the WebOn the Internet, it’s easy to visit a site that leaves your per-

sonal information unprotected. Always use up-to-date protec-

tion software and take caution when browsing the Web. Also,

it’s typically a good idea to verify sources when giving out

personal information, whether on the phone or online.

Whenever you need to select a password for a new website

account, credit card, bank account or phone account, choose

an intricate password containing a blend of letters, numbers

and special characters. Make it a difficult code to crack.

Avoid using the same password for all of your sensitive

accounts. Although this can be inconvenient, it is not nearly

as painful as trying to fix the problems caused by identity

theft.

If despite your best efforts, your identity is stolen, you should

immediately file a police report, check your credit reports,

notify your creditors, including all of your credit card compa-

nies, and dispute any unauthorized transactions. ■

www.TopPractices.com | August 2011 | 32 | August 2011 | www.TopPractices.com

There are lots of uninsured drivers on the roads these days. The slow eco-nomic recovery and high unemploy-ment cause even more motorists than usual to drive without car insurance.

If you are involved in a serious acci-dent with someone who is uninsured, you may encounter significant prob-lems and financial hardship in addition to the normal stress of dealing with the accident itself and any injuries or fatalities that may have occurred.

The good news is that uninsured motorist coverage, which is relatively inexpensive, provides much needed protection and allows you and your family to avoid these problems.

Unfortunately, most drivers simply don’t carry enough of this key coverage. A good level of coverage is $500,000, but we carry $1,000,000 of uninsured motorist coverage - and suggest that our family and friends do, too.

Besides the fact that you never know which drivers carry insurance and which ones don’t, having the appropriate level of this

insurance is critical because medical bills can skyrocket if hospitalizations are neces-sary. Just one day in the intensive care unit can top $100,000.

Another reason to have additional unin-sured motorist coverage is because many employer-provided health insurance plans place a lien on your settlement which requires you to reimburse the plan after you win your case. In these scenarios, your recovery can be significantly reduced.

In A Roadmap to Justice: The Ultimate

Guide to Car Accident Cases in

Pennsylvania, we devote a chapter to buying insurance. To learn more, get your free copy of this book by visiting www.PurchaseGeorge.com or call us at 833-7100. ■

According to the U.S. Fire Administration (USFA), there are two basic types of smoke detectors – ionization and photoelectric.

Ionization smoke detectors are better at sensing flaming, fast moving fires, while photoelectric ones are quicker at sensing smoldering, smoky fires. Some detectors – called dual sensor smoke alarms – combine both technologies into one unit.

The USFA recommends that homeowners install both ionization and pho-toelectric smoke detectors or the combination smoke alarms because there is no way of knowing which type of fire could start in your home (and either type could be deadly).

There are also smoke detectors made for people with hearing disabilities. These alarms may incorporate strobe lights and/or vibrations to help people who are unable to hear a traditional smoke detector. ■

Did You

Know?

the dreaded uninsured motorist

SCHOOL VIOLENCEThough the causes of violence in schools have long been debated, there’s no argument that it can have serious ramifications.

School violence is actually a subset of a much broader social concern known as youth violence, which is defined as the intentional use of physical force or power by a young person against another person, group or community, which is likely to cause physical or psychological harm.

According to recent statistics, as many as 38% of public schools reported at least one instance of vio-lence between 2005 and 2006, and nearly one-third of students reported being bullied during a typical school year. Bullying victims can suffer from increased anxiety, depression, and other psychological problems, as well as physical injuries.

Different types of aggressive behav-ior fall under the category of school violence, including:

• Bullying• Fighting• Using weapons• Electronic aggression (mes-

sages via e-mail, text, or other electronic manner)

• Gang violence

School violence covers any act of violence which occurs on the way to or from school, during a school-sponsored event or on the way to or from a school-sponsored event.

While school violence is a complex problem that doesn’t have a “one-size-fits-all” solution, there are some very good sources of helpful infor-mation for concerned parents, care-givers, and school administrators, such as the youth violence section of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s website (www.cdc.gov). ■

www.YourErieAccidentLawyers.com | August 2011 | 32 | August 2011 | www.YourErieAccidentLawyers.com

Rem Jackson Law Offices 1002 Lititz Pike #191

Lititz, Pennsylvania 17543

(717) 238-3668

www.TopPractices.com

This publication is intended to educate the general public about personal injury, medical malpractice, and other issues. It is for information purposes only and is not intended to be legal advice. Prior to acting on any information contained here, you should seek and retain competent counsel. The information in this newsletter may be freely copied and distributed as long as the newsletter is copied in its entirety.

SEE PAGE TWO

V i s i t u s a t www . To p P r a c t i c e s . c o m

meet Butch Purchase

Purchase & George, P.C. continues to make it easier

for you to meet with us. When you visit our office

at 2525 West 26th Street in Erie, you will see a

completely resurfaced front parking lot. We also

installed a new safety rail leading to our entrance

which has a new sign to welcome visitors. Since our

renovations last year, we have eliminated all steps

from the parking spaces into our lobby and first

floor meeting rooms. The free parking at our office

is designed with your safety and convenience in

mind. When you are in the neighborhood, feel free

to visit us.

more improvements

MADE WITH YOU IN MIND

Purchase & George, P.C. 2525 West 26th Street, Suite 200

Erie, Pennsylvania 16506

Phone: (814) 833-7100

Fax: (814) 835-0401

www.YourErieAccidentLawyers.com

V i s i t u s a t www . Yo u r E r i e A c c i d e n t L a w y e r s . c o m

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PAIDErie, Pa

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