QR Alert: Homeowners Can Be Liable For Slips, Falls On Snow

A helpful article for home and business owners:

"How much time do Pennsylvanians have to clear their sidewalks of snow before someone who slips and falls can hold them responsible?"

Read the entire article: http://www.thepittsburghchannel.com/weather/22083792/detail.html

QR Legislative Alert: UC and Emergency Unemployment Compensation (EUC) Extension Information

We at Quatrini Rafferty have received a lot of questions regarding the extension of the Unemployment Compensation by the federal government. The following guidance was originally posted on the Pennsylvania Department of Labor & Industry website:

On Dec. 19, 2009, the president signed into law new legislation to continue the Emergency Unemployment Compensation (EUC) and Federal Additional Compensation (FAC) programs and delay the phase out of the programs until the end of February, 2010. In addition, this legislation allows High Unemployment Period Extended Benefits (HUP EB) to continue through February, 2010. Generally, this new law will have the following impact on claimants currently filing for benefits.

Individuals who believe they qualify should simply continue filing their biweekly claims. Claimants will be contacted by the Department of Labor & Industry if any additional information is needed.

• Claimants filing for regular Unemployment Compensation (UC) benefits: If you exhaust your regular UC no later than the week ending February 20, 2010, you may be eligible for Tier 1 EUC. If you exhaust your regular UC benefits after February 20, 2010, you may qualify for regular state EB benefits, if PA remains in an EB Period at that time.
  
  
• Claimants filing for Tier 1 EUC benefits: If you exhaust your Tier 1 EUC benefits no later than the week ending February 27, 2010, you may qualify for Tier 2 EUC benefits. If you exhaust your Tier 1 EUC benefits after February 27, 2010, you may qualify for regular state EB benefits if PA remains in an EB Period at that time.
  
  
• Claimants filing for Tier 2 EUC benefits: If you exhaust the original amount of your Tier 2 EUC benefits, 13 or 8 weeks, no later than the week ending February 27, 2010, you may qualify for Tier 3 EUC benefits. If you exhaust the original amount of your Tier 2 benefits after the week ending February 27, 2010, you may qualify to receive your increased Tier 2 EUC benefits (.6 or 1 week), followed by regular state EB benefits, if PA remains in an EB Period at that time.
  
  
• Claimants filing for Tier 3 EUC benefits and increased Tier 2 EUC benefits: If you exhaust your Tier 3 EUC benefits AND your increased Tier 2 EUC benefits (.6 or 1 week) no later than the week ending February 27, 2010, you may qualify for Tier 4 EUC benefits. If you exhaust your Tier 3 and increased Tier 2 EUC after February 27, 2010, no additional EUC benefits will be available. However, you may qualify for regular EB benefits if PA remains in an EB period at that time and you did not previously receive EB.
  
  
• Claimant filing for Tier 4 EUC benefits: If you exhaust your Tier 4 EUC benefits, no additional EUC benefits are available for you. However, you may qualify for regular state EB benefits if PA remains in an EB Period at that time and you did not previously receive EB benefits.
  
  
• Claimants filing for regular EB benefits: If you exhaust your regular EB benefits no later than the week ending February 20, 2010, you may qualify to receive HUP EB benefits if PA remains in a HUP EB period at that time. However, the last week for which HUP EB may be paid is the week ending February 27, 2010. If you have not exhausted HUP EB when that program ends or you exhaust regular EB on or after February 27, 2010, you may qualify for Tier 3 EUC benefits.
  
  
• Claimants filing for HUP EB benefits: The last week for which HUP EB may be paid is the week ending February 27, 2010. If you exhaust your HUP EB benefits no later than the week ending February 27, 2010, or you have not exhausted these benefits when that program ends on February 27, 2010, you may qualify for Tier 3 EUC benefits.

The last payable week of EUC benefits is now the week ending July 31, 2010, and the last payable week of HUP EB benefits is the week ending February 27, 2010.

Important filing information: The requirement to file weekly paper claim forms applies only to regular and HUP EB. If you transition from regular EB or HUP EB to Tier 3 EUC, you will file your EUC claims through the Internet or the telephone claim system, PAT. If you transition from UC to Tier 1 EUC, or from one Tier of EUC to another, you will continue to file claims for benefits through the Internet or PAT.

Additional information regarding these programs and how the phase out of these programs will affect claimants will be added to this Web site as it becomes available.

If you have questions regarding the phase-out of EUC or the end of HUP EB, please call the Pennsylvania UC Service Center at 1-888-313-7284 from 7 a.m. to 8:30 p.m., Monday through Friday, or Sunday from 7 a.m. to 2:30 p.m.

If you would like to discuss your eligibility for Pennsylvania Unemployment Compensation, contact James A. Horchak in our office at 1-888-288-9748 or www.qrlegal.com.


- Quatrini Rafferty -

QR Alert: DUI Holiday Crackdown

The following was in today's Pittsburgh Post Gazette:

"Police nationwide will begin a crackdown on drunken driving Dec. 16, the U.S. Department of Transportation announced today.

A $7.5 million advertising campaign will try to discourage drinking and driving during the holiday season. In Pennsylvania, the Operation Safe Holiday program is in effect this month, with state police and 600 municipal forces participating in an effort to curb drunken driving, speeding and aggressive driving.

The organization Drive Safe Pa. pointed out that a DUI citation costs more than $1,000 plus court costs.

Last year, 11,773 people died nationally in crashes involving a driver whose blood alcohol level was 0.08 or higher. That represented a 9.7 percent decrease compared with 2007.

DUI deaths also declined in Pennsylvania, from 504 in 2007 to 496 last year. Those deaths made up 34 percent of crash fatalities in the state.

The nationwide crackdown continues through Jan. 3."

Read more: http://www.pittsburghpostgazette.com/pg/09341/1019082-100.stm#ixzz0Z1gZZgO7

- Quatrini Rafferty -

Quatrini Rafferty Attorneys Receive High Marks from Martindale Hubbell

Quatrini Rafferty attorneys continue to receive high honors from Martindale-Hubbell, a trusted source in peer-to-peer ratings.

Founding partners Vincent J. Quatrini, Jr., and Dennis B. Rafferty again earned a "Preeminent AV" rating. An "AV" is a significant rating accomplishment - a testament to the fact that a lawyer's peers rank him or her at the highest level of professional excellence.

Martindale-Hubbell also awarded "BV Distinguished" ratings to A. Tereasa Rerko and David S. DeRose. The "BV" certification mark is an excellent rating for a lawyer with some experience. A widely respected mark of achievement, it differentiates a lawyer from his or her competition.

According to the Martindale-Hubbell website, "Lawyer Ratings serve as an objective indicator that a lawyer has the highest ethical standards and professional ability and are used by buyers of legal services to justify their hiring decisions. Combined with the Martindale-Hubbell® Client Review Ratings, self-reported professional credentials and other fact-based performance data, the Peer Review Ratings contribute to the comprehensive view of a lawyer."

Congratulations to Vince, Dennis, Tereasa and David!

- Quatrini Rafferty -