Articles Posted in Public Service Announcements

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Screen Shot 2016-01-29 at 2.47.25 PMCollege students living in on-campus dormitories or apartments need to be aware of potential fire hazards in their building and how to react in case of emergency. The National Fire Prevention Agency (NFPA) warns, “educating students on what they can do to stay safe during the school year is important and often overlooked.” As such, the NFPA has developed safety tips, particularly addressing fire hazards in dormitories and off-campus housing.

NFPA Safety Tips

  • Look for fully sprinklered housing when choosing a dorm or off-campus housing.
  • Make sure you can hear the building alarm system when you are in your dorm room.
  • If you live in a dormitory, make sure your sleeping room has a smoke alarm, or your dormitory suite has a smoke alarm in each living area as well as the sleeping room. For the best protection, all smoke alarms in the dormitory suite should be interconnected so that when one sounds, they all sound.
  • If you live in an apartment or house, make sure smoke alarms are installed in each sleeping room, outside every sleeping area, and on each level of the apartment unit or house. For the best protection, all smoke alarms in the apartment unit or house should be interconnected so that when one sounds, they all sound.
  • Test all smoke alarms at least monthly.
  • Never remove batteries or disable the alarm.
  • Learn your building’s evacuation plan and practice all drills as if they were the real thing.
  • If you live off campus, have a fire escape plan with two ways out of every room.
  • When the smoke alarm or fire alarm sounds, get out of the building quickly and stay out.
  • Stay in the kitchen when cooking.
  • Cook only when you are alert, not sleepy or drowsy from medicine or alcohol.
  • Check with your local fire department for any restrictions before using a barbeque grill, fire pit, or chimenea.
  • Check your school’s rules before using electrical appliances in your room.
  • If you smoke, smoke outside and only where it is permitted, Use sturdy, deep, non-tip ashtrays. Don’t smoke in bed or when you’ve been drinking or are drowsy.
  • Burn candles only if the school permits their use. A candle is an open flame and should be placed away from anything that can burn. Never leave a candle unattended. Blow it out when you leave the room or go to sleep.

Know Your Rights

Dormitory and apartment residents have a right to feel safe and secure while in the community. By law, property owners are required to protect all residents legally on the premises from any foreseeable harm. Should the property owner fail to provide adequate safety measures, they may be held civilly liable for any injuries or wrongful deaths which occur as a consequence.

We Fight for Victims of Property Safety Negligence…Contact us Now for a Free Consultation.

Headline Frame Fox News FireThe Murray Law Firm has recovered millions of dollars for victims of unsafe properties, and recently obtained a $29.25 million dollar verdict for one of our Clients.

We represent our Clients on a contingency agreement, which generally means that no fees or payments are owed until and unless we recover. Anyone seeking further information or legal representation is encouraged to contact us via e-mail (click here) or by telephone at 888.842.1616. Consultations are free and confidential.

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Choosing the Right Attorney

Selecting the right attorney for you or your family is highly important. You must feel confident that the attorney you hire has a complete understanding of the law applicable to your particular case, and has successful experience in handling such cases.

Important: Do not hire a lawyer who has violated the Rules of Professional Conduct!!!

You should not hire an attorney who calls you or visits you unsolicited, or anyone that contacts you directly to offer legal services. This activity is strictly prohibited by Rule 7.3 of the American Bar Association (ABA) Model Rules of Professional Conduct, which states as follows:

ABA Center for Professional ResponsibilityA LAWYER “SHALL NOT” CONTACT A PROSPECTIVE CLIENT THROUGH A “LIVE TELEPHONE” OR AN “IN-PERSON” VISIT.

– RULE 7.3, ABA MODEL RULES OF PROFESSIONAL CONDUCT.

If an attorney, or someone acting on behalf of an attorney, contacts you in this manner, that attorney is in violation of this Rule. This unethical and unprofessional activity on the part of the lawyer is good sign that you should stay away. It is imperative that you are represented by an attorney who is capable of advocating for you within the confines of the law, and an attorney who fails to abide by the Rules of Professional Conduct is probably not the best fit. In fact, any such attorney should be immediately reported to the local State Bar Association. If you have been contacted in such an unsolicited manner, contact us and we’ll assist you in filing a report.

Contingency Fees Disclaimer: “Contingent attorneys’ fees refers only to those fees charged by attorneys for their legal services. Such fees are not permitted in all types of cases. Court costs and other additional expenses of legal action usually must be paid by the client.”

 

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Screen Shot 2016-01-29 at 12.35.23 PM

(The Center for Public Health)

The Center for Public Health at John Moore University recently published a study on Liverpool’s ‘Say No to Drunks’ campaign, an intervention program to deter the sale of alcohol to intoxicated bar and nightclub patrons. The campaign, which incorporates public awareness, bar staff training, police enforcement, and the implementation of breathalysers, should be closely watched by city officials and nightlife establishment owners in the U.S. Such prevention measures may significantly reduce nightclub assaults and intoxicated driving.

Below is a brief overview of the CPH study and the ‘Say No to Drunks’ launch:

“A study conducted in Liverpool found that 84% of alcohol purchase attempts by pseudo-intoxicated actors in pubs, bars and nightclubs were successful (Hughes et al., 2014). Thus to address the sale of alcohol to drunks in the city’s nightlife, Liverpool City Council and Merseyside Police developed and implemented the Say No To Drunks pilot intervention. The intervention aimed to: increase awareness of legislation preventing sales of alcohol to drunks; support bar staff compliance with the law; provide a strong deterrence to selling alcohol to drunks; and promote responsible drinking amongst nightlife users.”

‘Say No to Drunks’ Intervention Measures

  • A social marketing campaign that provided posters, t-shirts and badges for staff in licensed premises clearly informing customers that it is illegal for them to serve alcohol to people who are drunk;
  • A new bar staff training session focusing on preventing sales of alcohol to drunks;
  • Increased police enforcement activity in the intervention area;
  • Wider public awareness raising through media engagement work; and,
  • The provision of breathalysers to door supervisors to support entry refusal to drunks and increase public awareness that nightlife patrons will not be permitted entry to premises if intoxicated.

Read the full CPH study here.

Bar and Nightclub Owner Responsibility

Nightclub patrons have a right to be safe and secure while on the premises of the establishment that they are visiting. By law, nightclub owners and managers have a duty to protect patrons from any foreseeable harm. Additionally, dram shop laws prohibit the sale of alcohol to obviously intoxicated patrons.

Bar and nightclub owners are encouraged to implement intervention measures, such as those outlined above, to prevent the sale of alcohol to intoxicated patrons and help to reduce alcohol-related assaults, injuries and deaths.

We’ve Recovered Millions for Victims of  Nightclub Security Negligence…Contact us Now for a Free Consultation.

Headline Frame Fox News DeskThe Murray Law Firm has an extensive and successful record representing victims of violence and security negligence. We have recovered millions of dollars for our Clients, and we recently obtained a $29.25 million dollar verdict for a victim of an unsafe property. We offer our legal assistance, if desired.

We represent our Clients on a contingency agreement, which generally means that no fees or payments are owed until and unless we recover.  Anyone seeking further information or legal representation is encouraged to contact us via e-mail (click here) or by telephone at 888.842.1616. Consultations are free and confidential.

728x90 Justice

Choosing the Right Attorney

Selecting the right attorney for you or your family is highly important. You must feel confident that the attorney you hire has a complete understanding of the law applicable to your particular case, and has successful experience in handling such cases.

Important: Do not hire a lawyer who has violated the Rules of Professional Conduct!!!

You should not hire an attorney who calls you or visits you unsolicited, or anyone that contacts you directly to offer legal services. This activity is strictly prohibited by Rule 7.3 of the American Bar Association (ABA) Model Rules of Professional Conduct, which states as follows:

ABA Center for Professional ResponsibilityA LAWYER “SHALL NOT” CONTACT A PROSPECTIVE CLIENT THROUGH A “LIVE TELEPHONE” OR AN “IN-PERSON” VISIT.

– RULE 7.3, ABA MODEL RULES OF PROFESSIONAL CONDUCT.

If an attorney, or someone acting on behalf of an attorney, contacts you in this manner, that attorney is in violation of this Rule. This unethical and unprofessional activity on the part of the lawyer is good sign that you should stay away. It is imperative that you are represented by an attorney who is capable of advocating for you within the confines of the law, and an attorney who fails to abide by the Rules of Professional Conduct is probably not the best fit. In fact, any such attorney should be immediately reported to the local State Bar Association. If you have been contacted in such an unsolicited manner, contact us and we’ll assist you in filing a report.

Contingency Fees Disclaimer: “Contingent attorneys’ fees refers only to those fees charged by attorneys for their legal services. Such fees are not permitted in all types of cases. Court costs and other additional expenses of legal action usually must be paid by the client.”

 

 

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EmergencyBoxEvery college campus safety policy is different, so parents and students should  thoroughly research a potential institution’s policies before enrollment. US News & World Report urges parents and students to ask 10 Questions:

1. What is the college doing to cultivate a safe campus?

If parents and prospective studnets make campus safety a priority, it will require universities to raise their standards and make it a priority as well, experts say.

2. How does the school communicate with students in an emergency?

Schools may use different methods, such as emails, texts, display signs on campus or sirens to alert students during an emergency. Ideally, universities should have a plan that allows them to alert students even when they’re out of cellphone or Internet range. Learn whether students need to opt in or out of notification programs and if parents are allowed to sign up for updates.

3. Are there police stationed on campus, or does the university rely on its own security team, with city or county police stations off campus?

Prospective students should know if campus safety is monitored by private security or police and how the security team coordinates with off-campus police when a crime occurs.

4. Who investigates an allegation of sexual assault or sexual harassment at the university?

“The goal is to know that the college would handle the investigation – period – and it’s important for them to know who the Title IX coordinator is and to whom a student could complain if a student had a concern,” says Catherine Lhamon​, assistant secretary for civil rights at the U.S. Department of Education.

Students should understand how schools handle reports made online or through campus abuse hotlines. Families should also know what procedures schools have in place to provide confidentiality for the accuser and ensure the victim and the rest ​of the student body are safe, legal experts say.

5. What training does the disciplinary board receive about how to conduct a sexual assault investigation?

Online training can be a faster and easier way to meet the legal requirements for sexual violence training, but in-person training is preferable, experts​ say….Parents and students should expect their schools to ​offer training given by former sexual assault investigators such as sexual assault prosecutors and sexual assault unit detectives, he says….

6. What prevention programs do you have to educate students about safety?

Ideally, schools should offer ​bystander intervention​ – programs that teach students how to step in when they see another student in trouble – ​to students throughout their college career​, the Victim Rights Law Center’s Bruno says.​ A comprehensive program includes tips for risk reduction and prevention strategies, and suggestions for how bystanders can intervene and remain safe.

7. How do you protect students who live off campus?

If there is a chance that a prospective student won’t live on campus all four years, families should ask schools if they offer students help finding safe, reliable off-campus housing. Some schools have entire departments dedicated to helping students find off-campus housing, and some provide legal services to help students with housing agreements, experts say.​

8. Is there an on-demand transportation service frequently used by students?

Some schools have stand-alone​​ programs, agreements with local taxi services or expect students to rely on local transportation, such as a city bus or subway system, if they’re out late or leave the campus for community activities.​​​ Students should know the service’s operating hours and how far outside campus it picks up students.​

9.  Is alcohol and drug abuse a significant issue on campus? How do you handle violations? 

Violation statistics can be found in the annual security report, but prospective students should understand campus policies for alcohol and drug use and how violations are handled. Experts say in addition to talking to university officials​, prospective students can ask current students during college tours for an idea of the campus culture regarding alcohol and drug use and abuse.

10. How will you​ protect students during a natural disaster​?

Crime and alcohol and drug abuse are obvious safety hazards, but families should also consider how schools prepare for natural disasters. Schools should explain how they coordinate with local authorities, such as the police and fire department, what evacuation plans are in place and how often their systems and safety plans are tested, security experts say.

Read Full Article Here

Know Your Rights

College students have a right to feel safe and secure while on premises. By law, colleges and universities are required to protect all students legally on the premises from any foreseeable harm.

We’ve Recovered Millions for Victims of  Security Negligence…Contact us Now for a Free Consultation.

Headline Frame Fox News DeskThe Murray Law Firm has an extensive and successful record representing victims of violence and security negligence. We have recovered millions of dollars for our Clients, and we recently obtained a $29.25 million dollar verdict for a victim of an unsafe property. We offer our legal assistance, if desired.

We represent our Clients on a contingency agreement, which generally means that no fees or payments are owed until and unless we recover.  Anyone seeking further information or legal representation is encouraged to contact us via e-mail (click here) or by telephone at 888.842.1616. Consultations are free and confidential.

728x90 Justice

Choosing the Right Attorney

Selecting the right attorney for you or your family is highly important. You must feel confident that the attorney you hire has a complete understanding of the law applicable to your particular case, and has successful experience in handling such cases.

Important: Do not hire a lawyer who has violated the Rules of Professional Conduct!!!

You should not hire an attorney who calls you or visits you unsolicited, or anyone that contacts you directly to offer legal services. This activity is strictly prohibited by Rule 7.3 of the American Bar Association (ABA) Model Rules of Professional Conduct, which states as follows:

ABA Center for Professional ResponsibilityA LAWYER “SHALL NOT” CONTACT A PROSPECTIVE CLIENT THROUGH A “LIVE TELEPHONE” OR AN “IN-PERSON” VISIT.

– RULE 7.3, ABA MODEL RULES OF PROFESSIONAL CONDUCT.

If an attorney, or someone acting on behalf of an attorney, contacts you in this manner, that attorney is in violation of this Rule. This unethical and unprofessional activity on the part of the lawyer is good sign that you should stay away. It is imperative that you are represented by an attorney who is capable of advocating for you within the confines of the law, and an attorney who fails to abide by the Rules of Professional Conduct is probably not the best fit. In fact, any such attorney should be immediately reported to the local State Bar Association. If you have been contacted in such an unsolicited manner, contact us and we’ll assist you in filing a report.

Contingency Fees Disclaimer: “Contingent attorneys’ fees refers only to those fees charged by attorneys for their legal services. Such fees are not permitted in all types of cases. Court costs and other additional expenses of legal action usually must be paid by the client.”