tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-76042349566088698342024-02-06T23:58:09.279-08:00The QR Legal BlogQuatrini Rafferty Attorneys at Lawhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16597114505428372979noreply@blogger.comBlogger104125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7604234956608869834.post-67357976969340922232013-11-20T09:39:00.002-08:002013-11-20T09:39:57.439-08:00Community Leader: David S. DeRose, Esq.<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<span class="userContent">Great to see QR attorney David S. DeRose featured in the Fall 2013 edition of the The Pittsburgh Foundation's FORUM newsletter.<br /> <br /> <a href="http://pittsburghfoundation.org/sites/default/files/FORUM%20Fall%202013.pdf" rel="nofollow nofollow" target="_blank">http://pittsburghfoundation.org/sites/default/files/FORUM%20Fall%202013.pdf</a></span></div>
Michael V. Quatrinihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02632384276075627344noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7604234956608869834.post-37898071192051186402013-10-08T12:21:00.001-07:002013-10-08T12:21:29.789-07:00PA Injured Workers: HISTOPLASMOSIS IN THE WORKPLACE: THE BAT DROPPINGS...<a href="http://painjuredworkers.blogspot.com/2013/10/histoplasmosis-in-workplace-bat.html?spref=bl">PA Injured Workers: HISTOPLASMOSIS IN THE WORKPLACE: THE BAT DROPPINGS...</a>: by Vincent J. Quatrini, Jr. Are you exposed to bat droppings and bird manure in your workplace? If so, you may be a at risk fo...Michael V. Quatrinihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02632384276075627344noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7604234956608869834.post-29847907446312339652013-09-25T11:14:00.001-07:002013-09-25T11:14:52.454-07:00Relax the Back: Lessons from the Pittsburgh Post Gazette<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
Below are links to a three-part series on back pain and its treatment from the Pittsburgh Post Gazette:<br />
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<a href="http://www.post-gazette.com/stories/news/health/my-aching-back-only-seek-surgery-for-the-back-when-necessary-703565/">http://www.post-gazette.com/stories/news/health/my-aching-back-only-seek-surgery-for-the-back-when-necessary-703565/</a><br />
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<a href="http://www.post-gazette.com/stories/news/health/ways-to-have-a-healthier-back-703518/">http://www.post-gazette.com/stories/news/health/ways-to-have-a-healthier-back-703518/</a><br />
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<a href="http://www.post-gazette.com/stories/news/health/my-aching-back-low-back-problems-are-common-neurological-disorder-701704/">http://www.post-gazette.com/stories/news/health/my-aching-back-low-back-problems-are-common-neurological-disorder-701704/</a><br />
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<a href="http://www.post-gazette.com/stories/news/health/before-finding-a-remedy-you-need-to-know-whats-causing-the-backache-701693/">http://www.post-gazette.com/stories/news/health/before-finding-a-remedy-you-need-to-know-whats-causing-the-backache-701693/</a><br />
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Quatrini Rafferty<br />
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<i>Latrobe Greensburg Pittsburgh</i></div>
Michael V. Quatrinihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02632384276075627344noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7604234956608869834.post-28762896366481546282013-05-20T20:15:00.000-07:002013-05-20T20:15:16.010-07:00Nursing Home Concerns<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #1a1a18; font-size: small;">Americans are living longer than ever. One result is that there are now nearly 1.6 million nursing home residents in the United States. In Pennsylvania alone, there are approximately 80,000 people living in nursing homes.</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">If your loved one is admitted to a nursing home, personal care home or assisted living facility and you have concerns about their care, the following can be signs of neglect:</span></div>
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<li><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">the development of bedsores</span></li>
<li><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">broken bones </span></li>
<li><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">unexplained injuries</span></li>
<li><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">malnutrition or dehydration</span></li>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">There are many resources available to assist you with questions. Concerns can be voiced to these entities:</span></div>
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<li><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">local office of the Area Agency on Aging at <a href="http://www.carepennsylvania.org/">www.carepennsylvania.org</a>, or by calling 800-989-8137 for information and other resources.</span></li>
<li><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">local office of the Pennsylvania Long-Term Care Ombudsman at www.aging.state.pa.us, or by calling 717-783-8975 for information and other resources.</span></li>
<li><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">A complaint can also be made to the PA Department of Health at www.health.state.pa.us, or by calling 877-724-3258.</span></li>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Finally, concerned family and friends can join the National Consumer Voice for Quality Long-Term Care, a national group dedicated to improving nursing home care, <a href="http://www.theconsumervoice.org/">www.theconsumervoice.org</a>.</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">In Pennsylvania, the courts recognize nursing home neglect and permit the filing of a lawsuit. If you have a question about this type of legal action, call our office and we can refer you to someone who can help.</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><a href="http://www.qrlegal.com/">- Quatrini Rafferty</a></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><i>Greensburg Pittsburgh Latrobe</i></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><i><a href="http://www.qrlegal.com/"> www.qrlegal.com </a></i></span></div>
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Michael V. Quatrinihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02632384276075627344noreply@blogger.comQuatrini Rafferty - 550 East Pittsburgh Street, Greensburg, PA 15601, USA40.302732 -79.53259600000001215.813911999999998 -120.84119000000001 64.791552 -38.224002000000013tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7604234956608869834.post-13081739140551471612013-04-01T06:48:00.000-07:002013-04-01T06:48:00.354-07:00Unemployment Compensation Basics<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">by <a href="http://www.qrglaw.com/Attorneys/James-A-Horchak.shtml">Quatrini Rafferty attorney James A. Horchak</a></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">The unemployment compensation (UC) system is designed to provide a short-term "safety net" of benefits which provide income when you lose your job through no fault of your own. </span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Generally speaking, </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">to be eligible for UC benefits, you must be able and available to work. The determination of whether you are eligible for benefits is a three step process.</span></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">The first step is to determine whether you are financially eligible for benefits. This step generally involves two questions. The first question is whether you earned enough wages to qualify. Your earnings are reviewed using your "base year". The base year is generally the first four of the last five completed calendar quarters prior to the date you applied for benefits. The base year is different for individuals who separated from their employment due to a compensable work-related injury. The amount of benefits you are entitled to will be based on the highest of the four quarterly wages. </span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The second question is whether you have 16 or more "credit weeks." Credit weeks are defined as weeks in your base year in which you earned $50 or more. If you have less than 16 credit weeks, you are not eligible for benefits. The UC office will perform these calculations and issue a financial determination. </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The second step is to determine whether you are eligible to receive benefits based on the circumstances of your job loss. There are primarily two reasons for losing a job: either you quit or you are fired. Some people have the misconception that if they quit their job they are not entitled to benefits. This is simply untrue. </span></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Under certain circumstances, you are able to quit your job and subsequently receive benefits. For example, you are eligible for benefits if you quit due to a health problem which affects your ability to perform your job, as long as you have given your employer an opportunity to offer you suitable work. This involves a discussion between you and your employer prior to quitting. If your employer has no accommodations or other suitable work, you may quit and be eligible for benefits.</span></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">On the other hand, if you were fired from your job, you still may be entitled to benefits. I have represented people who have been fired for many different reasons, such as violating an employment rule or policy, unsatisfactory work performance, or committing too many mistakes at work. Just because you were fired from your job doesn't mean that you are not entitled to benefits. In this type of situation, an employer has to prove that you committed "willful misconduct." This can only be determined on a case-by-case basis depending upon your circumstances. You may have particular reasons to justify your conduct. For example, if you are fired from your job as a delivery person for having too many vehicle accidents, you may still be entitled to benefits. You might be able to prove that the accidents were truly accidents, and not intentional nor deliberate.</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">The third step involves maintaining your eligibility for benefits after you begin to receive them. If you are both financially eligible and eligible based on the circumstances surrounding your loss of employment, you will begin to receive benefits one week after you apply for benefits. Upon receiving benefits, you must continue to be able and available to work. You are not entitled to benefits if you are not physically able to work at any job due to medical reasons. You must also be available to work and, for example, not be on vacation or in jail. In addition, you must report your current employment status to the UC office every other week.</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">If the UC office determines that you are not eligible for benefits, you have a limited time to appeal that decision. On appeal, a referee will hold a hearing to review the circumstances of your claim based upon testimony from both you and your employer. Each party has the right to be represented by an attorney. After the hearing, the referee will issue a new determination regarding your eligibility for benefits.</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">If you are contemplating quitting your employment, call me at 724-552-2745 before you quit to discuss your circumstances and how to preserve your right to benefits. If you have already been denied benefits, I can help you appeal your claim and represent you at your hearing.</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #38761d; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;"><i><a href="http://www.qrglaw.com/Attorneys/James-A-Horchak.shtml">Attorney James A. Horchak</a> represents people who have been denied unemployment compensation benefits. If you find yourself out of work, you may be eligible for unemployment compensation benefits. In order to receive benefits, you must apply either online at https://www.paclaims.state.pa.us/UCEN/Welcome.asp or call the Unemployment Compensation Service Center at 1-888-313-7284.</i></span></div>
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Michael V. Quatrinihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02632384276075627344noreply@blogger.comQuatrini Rafferty - Greensburg - 550 East Pittsburgh Street, Greensburg, PA 15601, USA40.302732 -79.53259600000001215.813909499999998 -120.84119000000001 64.7915545 -38.224002000000013tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7604234956608869834.post-43713478792182317542013-04-01T06:07:00.002-07:002013-04-01T06:07:36.911-07:002013 Notice of Rate Adjustment for Record Reproduction<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Quatrini Rafferty Attorneys at Lawhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16597114505428372979noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7604234956608869834.post-31619883830177475942013-03-21T06:04:00.000-07:002013-03-21T06:32:26.581-07:00Making Sense of Your Auto PolicyBy <a href="http://www.qrlegal.com/Bio/JoyceNovotnyPrettiman.asp">Joyce Novotny-Prettiman, Esq</a>.<br />
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We have heard clients comment that they never really read their auto insurance information prior to their motor vehicle collision. Unfortunately, after you are in an accident, it is too late to make sure you have the coverage you need. Take just a little bit of time to do some "preventive maintenance." Here is our advice about the coverage you should have in place to protect you and your family.<br />
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TORT OPTION: FULL TORT<br />
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This is the most important choice when selecting your coverage. Always choose the full tort option which provides the most complete protection. If you do not choose full tort, you give up important legal rights. This holds true even if an accident is not your fault.<br />
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The person who makes the tort selection binds the entire household and everyone covered under the policy. Selecting full tort is "easy." There are no forms to sign to select it. You actually have to sign a form to opt out of your rights under full tort.<br />
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MEDICAL COVERAGE: $10,000.00 MINIMUM<br />
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Though you must purchase at least $5,000 of medical coverage, we recommend at least double that amount for medical coverage, or "first party coverage" as it is called in Pennsylvania. If you do not have health insurance, you may want to purchase even more coverage which will pay medical bills if you or a family member are hurt in a collision.<br />
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WAGE LOSS COVERAGE: CHOOSE IT!<br />
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If you are hurt in an accident and not able to work, wage loss coverage will keep money coming in to pay your bills while you are off work. If you do not have this coverage, you must wait to get your wage loss covered by the person at fault for the collision. This process can take a long time because the wage loss payment is part of a one-time, lump-sum payment. Though Pennsylvania does not require that you carry this coverage, most people who become involved in an accident are thankful they purchased it.<br />
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UNINSURED AND UNDERINSURED (UM/UIM) COVERAGE: $100,000.00 MINIMUM<br />
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Just like wage loss coverage, this coverage is not required under Pennsylvania law - BUT you do not want to go without it. This important coverage protects you and your family if you are hurt by a person who has little or no insurance. To make this coverage even more valuable, you want to "stack" uninsured and underinsured motorist coverage. If you have several cars in your household, you can collect this type of coverage from another car in your household. This coverage may also provide protection even if you would be involved in an accident that does not involve your auto.<br />
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<strong>Full Tort + Wage Loss Coverage + stacked UM/UIM coverage = the best protection for you and your family.</strong><br />
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-------------------------------------------------Quatrini Rafferty Attorneys at Lawhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16597114505428372979noreply@blogger.comQuatrini Rafferty - Greensburg: 550 East Pittsburgh Street, Greensburg, PA 15601, USA40.302732 -79.53259600000001214.780697499999999 -120.84119000000001 65.8247665 -38.224002000000013tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7604234956608869834.post-69114046935100023822013-03-19T06:37:00.000-07:002013-03-19T06:37:00.923-07:00My Military Service Records: How Can I Get a Copy?<br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Many
veterans, as they left the service, never received a copy of their military service records, including treatment records. These documents are very important as they
can reveal medical treatment for in-service conditions or disabilities.
They often times serve as the smoking gun for winning a
service-connected benefit.</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Most
veterans can obtain free copies of their DD Form 214 (Report of
Separation) and other military and medical records by requesting them
online at the website of the U.S. National Archives.</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Go to <a href="http://www.archives.gov/" style="color: #335e3d;" target="_blank">www.archives.gov</a> and click on "Veterans' Service Records", and follow the instructions.</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">OR GO DIRECTLY TO the Military Service Records page of the National Archives at:</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><a href="http://www.archives.gov/veterans/military-service-records/" style="color: #335e3d;" target="_blank">http://www.archives.gov/veterans/military-service-records/</a></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">- <a href="http://www.qrglaw.com/Veterans-Benefits.shtml">Quatrini Rafferty Veterans Law Group</a></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;">Serving veterans in Pennsylvania, and surrounding states, from our offices in Greensburg, Pittsburgh, and atrobe</span></i></span></div>
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------Michael V. Quatrinihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02632384276075627344noreply@blogger.comQuatrini Rafferty - 550 East Pittsburgh Street, Greensburg, PA 15601, USA40.302732 -79.53259600000001215.76708 -120.84119000000001 64.838383999999991 -38.224002000000013tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7604234956608869834.post-8182603328416171722013-03-12T20:25:00.000-07:002013-03-12T20:25:00.645-07:00Estate Planning in a Technological Age<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">by <a href="http://www.qrglaw.com/Attorneys/David-S-Derose.shtml">Quatrini Rafferty attorney David S. DeRose, Esq.</a></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">When we sit down to discuss who will benefit from what we have accumulated during our lifetime, we start with creating an accurate summary of our assets and our debts. We talk about houses, vehicles, bank accounts, pension and retire- ment accounts, life insurance, investments and other things of value that belong to us. </span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">We </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">also discuss our mortgages, car payments, personal loan payments, Visa and Mastercard bills and other similar debts. But what we sometimes forget to address are things that might not have a piece of paper that evidences their existence.</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">What kind of things do I mean? For instance, many people have bank accounts, savings accounts or certificates of deposit in financial institutions that are not "brick and mortar" facilities. We typically think of visiting our local bank branch but don’t consider online banks. As with so many things we find online, these banks require account numbers, PIN numbers and access codes. In a complete estate plan, it would be imperative for the representative of the estate to know that an account exists and other identifying information </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">about the account. Without that information, access will be denied and it will then take additional time and effort to gain access.</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">There should also be some instruction left as to what to do with things like email, Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, and other similar online social networking accounts. These accounts certainly contain a great deal of personal information and need to be appropriately terminated at the time someone dies. Your spouse, child or other trusted family member who is going to represent your estate at the time of your death should have access to online information. This information would allow them to terminate a Facebook account, resolve any issues that might exist with purchasing or selling items through eBay, transfer online photos, records and files and finalize other similar activities.</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">Our firm has attorneys that understand the technological issues that face us in this digital asset age. We welcome the opportunity to help you make sure that you have properly and completely addressed all of the matters that will exist at the time of your death. We take many of th</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">ese conveniences for granted in our day-to-day existence; however, the conveniences and the benefits that technology created for us may also create difficulties and problems for those we leave behind.</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: black; line-height: 17px;"><i><strong><a href="http://www.qrglaw.com/Attorneys/David-S-Derose.shtml">David S. DeRose</a></strong> is an associate at the firm and concentrates his practice in the areas of estate planning and administration, family law, real estate and zoning. David is also the current President of the Westmoreland County Bar Association.</i></span></span></div>
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Michael V. Quatrinihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02632384276075627344noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7604234956608869834.post-41180782833079396692013-03-05T06:54:00.001-08:002013-03-05T06:56:43.318-08:00Quatrini Rafferty Debuts Latrobe Office<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwG6JJre2jrDE71EN5k_GdoMRwyNy_8ijDnhgjGID-WX9u8LVNBxmmYFR4Abi6-T24qQ1N4ysrD8qfvDx9UmzVo1jv42-miczBbVloT4MCFm_cleNEmYR8nJvOdWm-ZONchKXGQ7UG4esZ/s1600/Front+of+building.bmp" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwG6JJre2jrDE71EN5k_GdoMRwyNy_8ijDnhgjGID-WX9u8LVNBxmmYFR4Abi6-T24qQ1N4ysrD8qfvDx9UmzVo1jv42-miczBbVloT4MCFm_cleNEmYR8nJvOdWm-ZONchKXGQ7UG4esZ/s1600/Front+of+building.bmp" height="320" width="252" /></a></div>
<br />
<a href="http://www.qrglaw.com/">QuatriniRafferty</a> is pleased to announce the opening of our Latrobe office at 816 Ligonier Street in downtown Latrobe, which is at the corner of Main and Ligonier Streets. The new office is situated on the ground floor of the former Mellon Bank building, which is across the street from the Latrobe Art Center. Many of the architectural features of the space have been restored. One of the most interesting features of the restoration is the original bank vault that has been cleaned and preserved. Appointments can be made at the <a href="http://www.qrglaw.com/">Latrobe</a> office by calling either 724-837-0080 or 724-539-2841. We look forward to using this additional office to accommodate our clients in Westmoreland, Indiana, Cambria, Somerset, Blair, and other counties east of Greensburg.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhj7qeTkmzc9CMSTSn37cGE0RyUMvCZ2_jk-_Ja-VoSy7vCrrQWiRQhr4QS7LIxb6HNurheTlJOr1dWPeX-cgEJd6uZHLXl6aIr8SW9gXcMExLWgSZ5Ka8KmJvRVRI1p0nipNlgfcK3nj1i/s1600/Vault.bmp" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhj7qeTkmzc9CMSTSn37cGE0RyUMvCZ2_jk-_Ja-VoSy7vCrrQWiRQhr4QS7LIxb6HNurheTlJOr1dWPeX-cgEJd6uZHLXl6aIr8SW9gXcMExLWgSZ5Ka8KmJvRVRI1p0nipNlgfcK3nj1i/s1600/Vault.bmp" height="200" width="184" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiG-WL5tGoLPB5coOtaboYLC2K-tQHdQOjHi63aK4gNBHMlHhKZD7AMTxtH5OJ04ukb3j2kpMsv1vgT_9dG7JgkP2Z0DNlV9MDIQQ9iIqk9ADfkYW9pGUJmJI2qKJ1P4UdMgLZhIlfT9Sez/s1600/Interior.bmp" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiG-WL5tGoLPB5coOtaboYLC2K-tQHdQOjHi63aK4gNBHMlHhKZD7AMTxtH5OJ04ukb3j2kpMsv1vgT_9dG7JgkP2Z0DNlV9MDIQQ9iIqk9ADfkYW9pGUJmJI2qKJ1P4UdMgLZhIlfT9Sez/s1600/Interior.bmp" height="197" width="200" /> </a></div>
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Want to see additional photos? Check out our Newsletter: <a href="http://www.qrglaw.com/Legal-Update-Newsletters/Spring-2012.pdf">Quatrini Rafferty Latrobe Office</a> <br />
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--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------Michael V. Quatrinihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02632384276075627344noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7604234956608869834.post-5798873849500743612013-02-28T06:51:00.000-08:002013-02-28T06:51:20.258-08:00Social Security New Policy Ruling: What Does it Mean?<br />
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<span style="line-height: 1.5em;">The Social Security Administration has just released Policy Ruling 13-2p. These rulings occur infrequently and are designed to clarify the law for Social Security Administration judges.</span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 1.5em;">Social Security Ruling 13-2p focuses on how Social Security Judges consider cases involving drug and alcohol use. As the law is currently written, an individual may not be found disabled if drug or alcohol addiction is (1) the main reason for their disability, or (2) the drug or alcohol addiction aggravates an underlying condition. </span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 1.5em;">As the law now stands, the Social Security Judge must decide whether the drug or alcohol addiction is "material" to an individual's disability. </span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 1.5em;">The new ruling provides that if the disability claimant's drug or alcohol problem is material, the Administrative Law Judge is required to look at the entire evidence record to decide whether the individual's impairments, whether physical or mental, directly related to, caused by, or aggravated by, the drug or alcohol addiction. Where the Social Security Judge finds that it is, an unfavorable determination is most likely. Conversely, where the Social Security Judge determines that the drug or alcohol problem, in and of itself, does not have an effect on the individual's ongoing impairments, and these ongoing impairments are severe enough on their own to warrant a finding of disabled, a favorable decision may be reached, regardless of the addiction. </span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 1.5em;">It should be further noted that the new SSR 13-2p has not been officially released. It is currently in the public comment stage. </span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 1.5em;">The entire SSR 13-2p may be found here:</span></div>
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<span style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial;"><span style="font-size: 12px; line-height: 18px;"><a href="http://ssa.gov/OP_Home/rulings/di/01/SSR2013-02-di-01.html">http://ssa.gov/OP_Home/rulings/di/01/SSR2013-02-di-01.html</a></span></span></div>
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- <a href="http://www.qrglaw.com/Social-Security-Disability/">The Social Security Disability Group at Quatrini Rafferty</a></div>
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Michael V. Quatrinihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02632384276075627344noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7604234956608869834.post-4334106079599439232013-01-08T09:56:00.002-08:002013-01-08T09:56:31.052-08:00New Statewide AWW<div class="MsoPlainText" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
The Pennsylvania Department of Labor & Industry has increased the maximum average weekly wage for workers' compensation payments to $917.00 for 2013. This is an increase of 3.3 percent from 2012.</div>
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<a href="http://www.portal.state.pa.us/portal/server.pt/community/workers'_compensation/10386" target="_blank">http://www.portal.state.pa.us/portal/server.pt/community/workers'_compensation/10386</a></div>
Quatrini Rafferty Attorneys at Lawhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16597114505428372979noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7604234956608869834.post-61561180960559765182012-10-30T12:22:00.003-07:002012-10-30T12:22:34.015-07:00What to do when you are in an accident?<br />
<br />
Here's the perfect checklist to cut out and store in the glove box of your vehicle:<br />
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<a href="http://www.qrglaw.com/Personal-Injury/At-The-Scene.pdf" target="_blank"> http://www.qrglaw.com/Personal-Injury/At-The-Scene.pdf</a><br />
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Check us out on Facebook: <a href="http://www.facebook.com/pages/Quatrini-Rafferty-Attorneys-at-Law/117391021613034?ref=ts&fref=ts" target="_blank">QuatriniRafferty</a>Quatrini Rafferty Attorneys at Lawhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16597114505428372979noreply@blogger.com550 E Pittsburgh St, Greensburg, PA 15601, USA40.302732 -79.53259640.3012185 -79.535063499999993 40.3042455 -79.5301285tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7604234956608869834.post-80018424376344554612012-10-12T06:36:00.002-07:002012-10-12T06:38:52.650-07:00Tips to Help your SS Case<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">by Kellie Taylor, Paralegal</span><br />
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<li><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> Your attorney, paralegal and secretary work together on your case as a legal team. You can be assured that all information you provide is shared with all members of the team.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">You know important information about your symptoms and your health history. Tell us so that we can better help you!</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Even if something makes you feel embarrassed or uncomfortable, it is important that you relay all information related to your case.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Please keep us up-to-date with any changes in your condition and/or treatment. It is not necessary for you to provide this information directly to the attorney or paralegal - you may provide it to the secretary. </span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Remember to always bring an up-to-date list of your medications to all of your appointments. </span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Bring to your appointments any information you have which is important to your claim such as copies of medical records, your resume or the statement you receive from the Social Security Administration setting forth your yearly earnings.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">We want to be sure we are handling your case to your satisfaction. If you don’t understand what you are being told, please let us know. It is OK to ask. </span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">It is helpful to write down your questions before you come for an appointment and to take notes so you can refer back to them when you get home.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">If you need to leave a message, please be detailed and provide your full name, telephone number and details of why you are calling. For example, tell us "Dr. Smith ordered an x-ray of my back and it was done on June 1st at Westmoreland Hospital." This detail is incredibly helpful.</span></li>
</ul>
Quatrini Rafferty Attorneys at Lawhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16597114505428372979noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7604234956608869834.post-78761011647946167232012-04-27T07:32:00.000-07:002012-05-03T13:33:05.503-07:00The Compassionate Allowance List (CAL)The Social Security Administration maintains a Compassionate Allowance List (CAL) as a way to quickly identify medical conditions that will likely qualify for disability benefits, lessening the wait time for a decision.<br />
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As of April 11, 2012, Social Security expanded the Compassionate Allowances List to include 52 new medical conditions. The 52 new Compassionate Allowance conditions are: <br />
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Aicardi-Goutieres Syndrome<br />
Alobar Holoprosencephaly<br />
Alpers Disease<br />
Alpha Mannosidosis<br />
Carcinoma of Unknown Primary Site<br />
Cerebrotendinous Xanthomatosis<br />
Child Neuroblastoma<br />
Child Non-Hodgkin Lymphoma<br />
Chondrosarcoma with multimodal therapy<br />
Cornelia de Lange Syndrome-Classic Form<br />
Ewings Sarcoma <br />
Follicular Dendritic Cell Sarcoma with metastases<br />
Fucosidosis - Type 1<br />
Galactosialidosis - Early Infantile Type<br />
Glioma Grade III and IV<br />
Hallervorden-Spatz Disease<br />
Hepatoblastoma<br />
Histiocytosis<br />
Hutchinson-Gilford Progeria Syndrome<br />
Hydranencephaly<br />
Hypocomplementemic Urticarial Vasculitis<br />
Hypophosphatasia Perinatal lethal Form<br />
I Cell disease<br />
Infantile Free Sialic Acid Storage Disease<br />
Juvenile Onset Huntington Disease<br />
Kufs Disease Type A and B<br />
Lissencephaly<br />
Lymphomatoid Granulomatosis Grade III <br />
Malignant Brain Stem Gliomas - Childhood<br />
Malignant Melanoma with metastases<br />
Mastocytosis Type IV<br />
Medulloblastoma with metastasis<br />
Merkel Cell Carcinoma with metastases<br />
Myocolonic Epilepsy and Ragged Red Fibers Syndrome<br />
Nephrogenic Systemic Fibrosis<br />
Obliterative Bronchiolitis <br />
Ohtahara Syndrome<br />
Orthochromatic Leukodystrophy with Pigmented Glia<br />
Pearson Syndrome<br />
Pelizaeus-Merzbacher Disease-Classic Form<br />
Pelizaeus-Merzbacher Disease-Connatal Form<br />
Peripheral Nerve Cancer - metastatic or recurrent<br />
Perry Syndrome<br />
Rhabdomyosarcoma<br />
Rhizomelic Chondrodysplasia Punctata <br />
Schindler Disease Type 1<br />
Smith Lemli Opitz Syndrome<br />
Spinal Nerve Root Cancer- metastatic or recurrent<br />
Stiff Person Syndrome<br />
Tabes Dorsalis<br />
Wolf-Hirschhorn Syndrome<br />
Xeroderma Pigmentosum<br />
<br />
To view the complete list visit: <a href="http://www.qrglaw.com/Social-Security-Disability/The-Compassionate-Allowance-List-CAL.shtml">http://www.qrglaw.com/Social-Security-Disability/The-Compassionate-Allowance-List-CAL.shtml</a><br />Quatrini Rafferty Attorneys at Lawhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16597114505428372979noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7604234956608869834.post-72186587217198933932012-03-07T12:41:00.006-08:002012-03-07T12:49:17.245-08:00WHERE DO YOU DRAW THE LINE ON DISTRACTED DRIVING?<span style="font-family:arial;">Pennsylvania lawmakers have drawn the line as to what will soon be considered illegal driving practices. New provisions in the law will go into effect in March 2012 to attempt to limit the use of "interactive wireless communications devices." This term includes the use of wireless telephones, smart phones, portable or mobile computers or other similar devices, but does not include GPS or navigation systems. The changes to the Pennsylvania Vehicle Code will outlaw driving while using such devices to send, read or write a text-based communication.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:arial;">This offense is a primary offense, which means that law enforcement personnel can issue a citation for the offense even if the driver is not violating any other section of the Vehicle Code. In contrast, the seat belt law in Pennsylvania is a secondary offense – this means that an adult driver must be cited for some other violation before an officer can add the lack of use of a seat belt to the citation. The fine for a driver who commits the new summary offense of using an interactive wireless device in violation of the statute is $50.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:arial;">The new law makes no move to control the use of wireless communication devices for telephone calls which is something that was debated by the legislature. Thus the question arises: does the new legislation go far enough to discourage distracted driving?</span><br /><br /><br /><span style="font-family:arial;"><strong>Distracted driving includes activities such as:</strong></span><br /><br /><ul><br /><li><span style="font-family:arial;">texting</span></li><br /><li><span style="font-family:arial;">making phone calls</span></li><br /><li><span style="font-family:arial;">eating and drinking while driving</span></li><br /><li><span style="font-family:arial;">reading, including reading maps</span></li><br /><li><span style="font-family:arial;">using navigation systems</span></li><br /><li><span style="font-family:arial;">adjusting a radio, CD player or MP3 player</span></li><br /><li><span style="font-family:arial;">grooming</span></li></ul><span style="font-family:arial;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:arial;">While it is clear that texting while driving is certainly dangerous, there have been many reports that other activities, including the use of cell phones, reduce a driver’s attention to the roadway and greatly increase the chances of a collision. All of the other activities listed above draw a driver’s attention away from their most important task: watching the road ahead.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:arial;">Why has Pennsylvania outlawed texting but allowed cell phone usage to continue? It is interesting to note a study by Carnegie-Mellon University which suggests that driving while using a cell phone reduces the amount of brain activity associated with driving by as much as 37 percent. Additionally, the National Highway and Traffic Safety Administration is pushing to eliminate distracted driving on a federal level. If the federal government regulates this area, less stringent state laws will be invalidated. You can review further information about the dangers of distracted driving by logging onto </span><a href="http://www.distraction.gov/"><span style="font-family:arial;">www.distraction.gov</span></a><span style="font-family:arial;">.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:arial;">In the interest of safety, we at QR encourage everyone to place their cell phones and smart phones out of reach while driving. Safe driving is too important to allow for any distractions which go well beyond texting.</span>Quatrini Rafferty Attorneys at Lawhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16597114505428372979noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7604234956608869834.post-43740488299952116812012-01-19T07:28:00.000-08:002012-01-19T07:33:24.669-08:00MADE IN THE USA<span style="font-family:arial;"><span style="color:#000000;">Does it seem that nothing is made in the "good ol’ U.S. of A." anymore? All one has to do is walk down the aisle at a local Wal-Mart to realize that the majority of the things we buy everyday are made in China and other countries, but many products are still American-made. Buying American stimulates the economy and keeps jobs right here where they belong. If you are not sure where something is made, there are numerous websites that can help you answer that question, such as </span><a href="http://www.americansworking.com/"><span style="color:#000099;">www.americansworking.com</span></a><span style="color:#000000;">.</span></span><br /><span style="font-family:arial;"><br /><span style="color:#000000;">Why buy American?</span><br /><br /><ul><br /><li><span style="color:#000000;">Foreign labor standards may allow unsafe working conditions and child labor.<br /></span></li><br /><li><span style="color:#000000;">Many countries have no minimum wage restrictions.<br /></span></li><br /><li><span style="color:#000000;">The decline of American factory production makes us more dependent on foreign-made goods.<br /></span></li><br /><li><span style="color:#000000;">Foreign manufacturing standards can be low, unregulated or non-existent, resulting in unsafe products such as children’s toys containing lead paint, and baby formula with dangerous additives.<br /></span></li><br /><li><span style="color:#000000;">Choosing American preserves jobs for future generations.</span></li></ul><br /><p><span style="color:#000000;">Buy American - and help keep America working!</span></span></p>Quatrini Rafferty Attorneys at Lawhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16597114505428372979noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7604234956608869834.post-80914046122936948412012-01-16T11:08:00.000-08:002012-01-16T11:09:54.827-08:002012 Statewide AWW<span style="font-family:arial;"><span style="color:#000000;">The Pennsylvania Department of Labor and Industry recently announced that the Average Weekly Wage for workers' compensation benefits has increased to $888.00 per week for 2012. This is a 3.5 percent increase from 2011.<br /><br />For more information on the AWW increase and a chart of past AWW's, please click the link below:<br /></span><br /></span><a href="http://www.portal.state.pa.us/portal/server.pt/community/claims_information/10431/statewide_average_weekly_wage/552650"><span style="font-family:arial;color:#000099;">http://www.portal.state.pa.us/portal/server.pt/community/claims_information/10431/statewide_average_weekly_wage/552650</span></a><span style="font-family:arial;color:#000099;"> </span>Quatrini Rafferty Attorneys at Lawhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16597114505428372979noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7604234956608869834.post-10706349839862959532012-01-12T06:55:00.000-08:002012-01-12T07:01:32.793-08:002012 Notice of Rate Adjustment for Record Reproduction<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXgDaHcOEp9DTcTuPyYoWO2RGxV7o336zTpOvxTluG9xv7WPv0lWvBMApxm7vwTP0a2uwGDzAw3MpU7nejIfS-WzAsna4bGOFBXFU-9mmqUL-BH5WdtWKAqGZSwKEJ-kGh2IfvBcRzD57S/s1600/2012+Medical+Rate+Notice.jpg"><img style="WIDTH: 309px; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5696759423482317426" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXgDaHcOEp9DTcTuPyYoWO2RGxV7o336zTpOvxTluG9xv7WPv0lWvBMApxm7vwTP0a2uwGDzAw3MpU7nejIfS-WzAsna4bGOFBXFU-9mmqUL-BH5WdtWKAqGZSwKEJ-kGh2IfvBcRzD57S/s400/2012+Medical+Rate+Notice.jpg" /></a><br /><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEitrf42HEZeEXmvu6aRDGlSgMSmcJ7Wo7Ur75Ij1uRjPV1X4UViN6b3Vjly-v6Lq2j5l0AWpBu74ZBUkV4ApwZCSehXUfrVsG41EeHd0axStMPrNGOe-Ncw32eSGpYI18jys9wPXC1X_R/s1600/2012+Medical+Rate+Notice.jpg"></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div></div></div>Quatrini Rafferty Attorneys at Lawhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16597114505428372979noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7604234956608869834.post-80498262136100839842011-10-24T12:21:00.000-07:002011-10-24T12:25:09.240-07:00The Center for Safe Schools presents: Military Kids!<p><span style="font-family:arial;">First Tuesdays online training series.</span><br /></p><br /><p><span style="font-family:arial;">"Helping Military Kids Cope - Understanding the Deployment Cycle", the first in the series of live, online learning sessions for educators, will be held Tuesday, November 1, 2011 from 10:00 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. (Eastern Time).</span></p><br /><p><span style="font-family:arial;">Children of parents who are deployed with the military or living at home with veterans experience a range of needs that are not addressed in the traditional school setting. This presentation will help to identify the number and prevalence of military youth in Pennsylvania as well as provide strategies and resources to meet some of those needs. The presentation will address:</span></p><br /><p><span style="font-family:arial;">1) The prevalence of military families and the unique needs of their children in Pennsylvania;</span></p><br /><p><span style="font-family:arial;">2) A first hand perspective of the deployment cycle.</span></p><br /><p><span style="font-family:arial;">3) What a School Liaison Officer is and how to obtain their services when not living on a military base.</span></p><br /><p><span style="font-family:arial;">This training is offered by the Center for Safe Schools through funding provided Operation: Military Kids! There is no cost to participate. This training has been approved for 1.5 Act 48 credit hours. If you are interested in receiving Act 48 credits, a $5.00 processing fee must be forwarded to our office upon completion of the session. Following the presentation you will be prompted to download an Act 48 form to be completed and returned to this office with a check payable to: CSIU in the amount of $5.00.</span></p><br /><p><span style="font-family:arial;">To learn more about this session and to register, go to:</span></p><br /><p><span style="font-family:arial;"><a href="http://www.safeschools.info/mission-homefront/professional-development">www.SafeSchools.info/mission-homefront/professional-development</a> <http:></span></p>Quatrini Rafferty Attorneys at Lawhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16597114505428372979noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7604234956608869834.post-80349706618816098402011-09-28T12:47:00.000-07:002011-12-09T06:18:45.591-08:00Pennsylvania Property Tax Rebate/Rent Rebate<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggGOrn7BJNPKDPietKAheJXS9WkvQjGny9bKqctjln_rCVGy25Sf_qRhnhQg5V5Tew8v9IvbRtD4JNfhPQovJl01AIYvHSwXNf1QMC8gYWiuLT83lpGMXAyPnf30aPCB2vGaapVFNAAvHX/s1600/dreamstime_xs_4729628.jpg"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 176px; FLOAT: left; HEIGHT: 118px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5657499796156941010" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggGOrn7BJNPKDPietKAheJXS9WkvQjGny9bKqctjln_rCVGy25Sf_qRhnhQg5V5Tew8v9IvbRtD4JNfhPQovJl01AIYvHSwXNf1QMC8gYWiuLT83lpGMXAyPnf30aPCB2vGaapVFNAAvHX/s200/dreamstime_xs_4729628.jpg" /></a> If you are receiving SSD or SSI benefits, or are age 65 and older, or a widow or widower age 50 and older, you may be entitled to a Property Tax or Rent Rebate. The income limit for a homeowner is $35,000 per year, and for a renter, it is $15,000 per year. Only half of your Social Security benefits, and/or Railroad Retirement benefits, are considered in determining your yearly income. Eligibility may also be dependent upon other household income.<br /><br />The maximum standard rebate is $650, but supplemental rebates for qualifying homeowners can boost the rebate to $975. Some homeowners may receive larger rebates than requested based on where you live, income, and/or property taxes. The Department of Revenue will automatically calculate this for you.<br /><br />The deadline to apply for the Pennsylvania Property Tax/Rent Rebate is December 31, 2011..<br /><br />You may obtain a Property Tax/Rent Rebate Application Form (PA-1000), and related information online at www.revenue.state.pa.us or by calling 1-888-222-9190.Quatrini Rafferty Attorneys at Lawhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16597114505428372979noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7604234956608869834.post-8734604855102353292011-07-27T13:30:00.000-07:002011-07-27T13:37:09.824-07:00PBI Model Fee Agreements<span lang="EN"><span style="LINE-HEIGHT: 120%;font-family:arial;" >Quatrini Rafferty is pleased to announce that its workers' compensation fee agreement has been published by the Pennsylvania Bar Institute (PBI) as a model fee agreement for Pennsylvania attorneys.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>PBI is a non-profit organization that provides continuing education and informational resources to lawyers throughout the state.</span></span>Quatrini Rafferty Attorneys at Lawhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16597114505428372979noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7604234956608869834.post-81986483074732530652011-06-09T08:10:00.000-07:002011-06-09T08:21:42.576-07:00Beware, a Big Headache Is Coming<span style="font-family:arial;">Spotting Often-Overlooked Clues Like Nausea, Fatigue, Even Yawns May Help Patients Stave Off Attack</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:Arial;">By <strong>Melinda Beck</strong></span><br /><span style="font-family:Arial;">THE WALL STREET JOURNAL</span><br /><span style="font-family:Arial;">Tuesday, June 7, 2011</span><br /><span style="font-family:arial;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:arial;">A migraine is among the most debilitating conditions in medicine—a blinding, throbbing pain that typically lasts between four and 72 hours. There is no cure.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:arial;">Yet, a few hours or days before the dreaded headache sets in, subtle symptoms emerge: Some people feel unusually fatigued, cranky or anxious. Some have yawning jags. Others have food cravings or excessive thirst.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:arial;">If migraine sufferers can learn to identify their particular warning signs, they may be able to head off the headache pain with medication or lifestyle changes before it begins, experts say.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:arial;">"The holy grail of migraine treatment would be to have something you could take tonight to ward off an attack tomorrow," says neurologist Peter Goadsby, director of the headache program at the University of California-San Francisco. At a conference of the American Headache Society last week, he and other experts said these early symptoms may hold clues to what causes migraines in the first place.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:arial;">Scientists have long known about this so-called premonitory phase, which occurs well before the better-known aura, the flashing lights and wavy lines that about 30% of migraine sufferers see shortly before the headache begins. Yet there have been only a handful of clinical trials treating patients in the premonitory stage—in part because the symptoms are so vague. Still, once patients know what to look for, many can identify some early warning signs."If you ask the average migraine sufferer, 'Do you have any symptoms a few hours before the headache starts?' about 30% will say yes," says Werner Becker, professor of neuroscience at the University of Calgary in Alberta. But given a list of 20 common signs, from changes in mood, appetite or energy to urinating frequently or yawning excessively, about 80% of patients will say, "Oh yes, I've noticed that," he says.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:arial;">Dr. Becker says one of his patients frequently feels dizzy and loses her appetite about 6 p.m. and knows that an attack is imminent. She finds that taking the migraine drug rizatriptan—usually taken only after the headache starts—can ward it off. "If she doesn't take it, then the next morning, she wakes up with a full-blown migraine," Dr. Becker says.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:arial;">Sheena Selvey, a 28-year old special-education teacher in Northbrook, Ill., says she knows a migraine is coming when co-workers say her neck muscles have tightened up. She rubs her neck with an essential peppermint oil until she can inject herself with Imitrex, another medication usually used to stop rather than prevent headache pain. She says such steps have helped reduce attacks to two or three times a month from three or four times a week.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:arial;">Ben McKeeb, a 35-year-old nursing student in Bellingham, Wash., says his wife noticed that his forehead muscles tense up in the shape of a "V" a few hours before his headaches begin. "I can almost always catch that feeling, and if I do all the right things—stay hydrated, stay out of the sun, get plenty of sleep, don't work too hard—I probably won't get one," he says.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:arial;">Nationwide, about 36 million Americans suffer from migraines. Although some people use the word very loosely, migraines are far more severe than a typical headache, last longer and tend to involve nausea, vomiting and sensitivity to light. Women are three times as likely as men to get migraines, and they've been diagnosed in children as young as 6 months. Migraines cost the country more than $20 billion a year in lost wages, disability payments and health-care bills, according to the American Headache Society, an organization of health-care professionals who specialize in headaches.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:arial;">As many as half of all sufferers don't seek treatment, in part because they think there is little doctors can do for them. In fact, treatments are proliferating, including over-the-counter pain relievers for mild cases and a class of drugs called triptans typically used to stop migraine pain. For chronic migraines, doctors also prescribe beta blockers, antiseizure medications and antidepressants, but they have significant side effects and help only about 50% of patients about 50% of the time. More drugs are in clinical trials, and non-drug treatments such as acupuncture, massage, biofeedback and transcranial-magnetic stimulation are also showing some promise at alleviating migraine pain.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:arial;">Doctors used to tell patients to wait until their headache pain was severe to moderate before taking medication. But that's changing. "Now we know the closer we can get to the beginning of the attack, the better the outcome will be," says David Dodick, president of the American Headache Society and neurologist at the Mayo Clinic in Phoenix.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:arial;">Experts also think that they can learn a lot about the origin of migraines by studying how the body changes in the premonitory phase.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:arial;">For example, "Many people tell us that they vomit yesterday's food," says Joel Saper, director of the Michigan Head-Pain and Neurological Institute in Ann Arbor. That's a sign, he notes, that their digestion slowed long before they knew a migraine was coming.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:arial;">Some experts are also re-examining the role of common migraine triggers such as alcohol, chocolate, red wine, aged cheese and caffeine. It could be that physiological changes in the premonitory phase trigger a sensitivity to such foods, rather than the other way around.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:arial;">"For years, patients would say they got a migraine because they ate chocolate or pizza or a hot dog," says Dr. Saper. "But when you ask why they ate those things, they say, 'I had this insatiable craving....' We need to understand where that craving came from."</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:arial;">Functional-imaging studies of the brain have revealed another tantalizing clue: During the aura phase, a wave of electrical activity sweeps over the outer, furrowed layer of the brain known as the cortex, at a pace of 2 to 3 millimeters per minute. This wave—known as "cortical spreading depression"—activates nerve cells as it goes, and the symptoms sufferers report typically correspond to the area of the brain the wave is passing over. For example, the patient sees flashing lights and wavy lines when the wave is over the visual cortex, and tingling in the hands and feet when the wave is in the motor cortex. Once the wave passes by, the nerve cells become quiet and spent.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:arial;">Dr. Goadsby and colleagues at UCSF are conducting more imaging studies to determine what brain activity occurs during the premonitory phase.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:arial;">Experts say migraine sufferers can help themselves and their physicians by keeping a careful log of when their headaches occur, what they ate, drank and did several days in advance, as well as any early symptoms they experienced. They may notice patterns and find their own warning signs.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:arial;">And even though there is no scientific evidence that taking medication at that early stage will stave off migraine headaches, some experts say it makes sense for patients to avoid their known triggers if a migraine seems imminent.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:arial;">"If stress seems to be a trigger, cut back on your schedule, try a relaxation technique, don't plan a 12-hour day," says Dr. Becker. "You could potentially stop an attack."</span>Quatrini Rafferty Attorneys at Lawhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16597114505428372979noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7604234956608869834.post-24728027022783017262011-02-28T08:45:00.000-08:002011-02-28T10:39:37.334-08:00QR Partner, Vince J. Quatrini, Jr., Featured in Pittsburgh Post-Gazette<p style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:13;color:black;"><span style="font-family:arial;font-size:130%;"><strong>Rise in disability claims leads to more business, competition</strong></span></span></p><p style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:13;color:black;"><span style="font-family:arial;font-size:130%;"><strong><?xml:namespace prefix = o ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:office" /><o:p></o:p></strong></span></span></p><p style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:13;color:black;"><span style="font-family:arial;font-size:100%;"></span></span></p><p style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:13;color:black;"><span style="font-family:arial;font-size:100%;">Monday, February 28, 2011</span></span></p><p style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:arial;">By Zack Needles, The Legal Intelligencer</span></p><p style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt" class="MsoNormal"></p><div style="BORDER-BOTTOM: medium none; TEXT-ALIGN: left; BORDER-LEFT: medium none; BORDER-TOP: medium none; BORDER-RIGHT: medium none; BACKGROUND-: hiddencolor:transparent;" ><p _counted="undefined"><span style="font-family:arial;">Social Security disability attorneys across the state said they're busier than ever as the recession-spurred uptick in layoffs has caused a spike in disability claims.</span></p><p _counted="undefined"><span style="font-family:arial;">But while the influx of claims has in many ways been good for business, several lawyers the Intelligencer spoke to said it has also been a cause for concern.</span></p><p _counted="undefined"><span style="font-family:arial;">For one, some attorneys said they're worried about the potential fallout that could occur if and when the economy right-sizes. But attorneys in the field say the boom itself has also attracted another problem in the form of unwelcome competition from national companies -- not law firms -- that handle claims with paralegals and other nonlawyers, often from out-of-state, without telling their clients.</span></p><div class="story_text_subhead"><span style="font-family:arial;font-size:130%;"><strong>Unfortunately fortunate</strong></span></div><p _counted="undefined"><span style="font-family:arial;">Attorneys said the recent uptick in Social Security disability claims, while profitable for them, partially reflects the country's gloomy job market.</span></p><p _counted="undefined"><span style="font-family:arial;">According to statistics on the U.S. Social Security Administration's website, the number of Social Security disability applications filed monthly pre-recession -- prior to September 2008 -- rarely reached 200,000, while the number of post-recession applications routinely topped that figure and often approached 300,000 per month.</span></p><p _counted="undefined"><span style="font-family:arial;">In fact, according to the SSA's statistics, the number of monthly applications rose above 200,000 only 14 times between January 1985 and September 2008, while the number dipped below 200,000 only five times between September 2008 and January 2011.</span></p><p _counted="undefined"><span style="font-family:arial;">The struggling economy has naturally led to more layoffs, and aging workers with health problems who were just managing to get by at their jobs were, unfortunately, often the first to be let go. What this means is that an increasing number of applications are being filed by people who can qualify for Social Security disability benefits, but likely would not have, felt the need to apply for them had it not been for the recession.</span></p><p _counted="undefined"><span style="font-family:arial;">N. Leah Fink, a Social Security disability lawyer with Pittsburgh plaintiffs firm Kunkel & Fink, said there were "a lot of walking wounded" in the national labor force who found themselves unemployed after the economy went south.</span></p><p _counted="undefined"><span style="font-family:arial;">"I think that a lot of the workers that were laid off or terminated were part of the group of folks that actually could work with some accommodations," she said.</span></p><p _counted="undefined"><span style="font-family:arial;">Vincent J. Quatrini Jr., managing partner of the Greensburg-based workers' compensation and disability firm Quatrini Rafferty, offered the hypothetical example of a 50-year-old steel worker who has remained employed despite struggling with diabetes but is suddenly laid off and unable to find work elsewhere.</span></p><p _counted="undefined"><span style="font-family:arial;">"Those are the kinds of people that are now applying for Social Security disability who would have still been in the labor market for several years," he said.</span></p><div class="story_text_subhead"><span style="font-family:arial;font-size:130%;"><strong>Will the bubble burst?</strong></span></div><p _counted="undefined"><span style="font-family:arial;">Eric A. Shore, managing attorney of Social Security disability firm the Law Offices of Eric A. Shore in Philadelphia, said he's seen a "very significant increase" in business over the past three years but admitted he's worried about what might happen to that work when the job market improves.</span></p><p _counted="undefined"><span style="font-family:arial;">"I'm afraid of how the pick up in the economy is going to affect us, that's why we opened a personal injury department," he said.</span></p><p _counted="undefined"><span style="font-family:arial;">Mr. Shore said he anticipates hiring will improve over the next year, which could possibly even cost him some of his existing clients. "The lifespan of a Social Security case is two years," he explained. "I may have clients ready for a hearing in two years who call me and say, 'Hey thanks for your help, but I don't need this anymore because I was able to get a job.'"</span></p><p _counted="undefined"><span style="font-family:arial;">Not all lawyers shared Mr. Shore's apprehension about the future.</span></p><p _counted="undefined"><span style="font-family:arial;">Gregory T. Kunkel, also of Kunkel & Fink, said he's not concerned about a dramatic dropoff in business because the aging baby boomer generation is likely to keep up the flow of applications well into the future.</span></p><p _counted="undefined"><span style="font-family:arial;">"We have more and more people in that age group," Mr. Kunkel said. "Regardless of the economy, there will still be a large number of disability applications."</span></p><div class="story_text_subhead"><span style="font-family:arial;font-size:130%;"><strong>Invasion of the nonlawyers</strong></span></div><p _counted="undefined"><span style="font-family:arial;">Ms. Fink said a more pressing concern for Social Security disability attorneys is the increased competition they face from national companies that hold themselves out as law firms but routinely send paralegals and other nonlawyers to represent applicants at hearings.</span></p><p _counted="undefined"><span style="font-family:arial;">While it's legal for nonlawyers to attend these hearings, Ms. Fink alleged these companies are often less than forthright with clients who believe they're paying for legal representation. Many times, she said, the clients are also unaware that their representative is from out-of-state.</span></p><p _counted="undefined"><span style="font-family:arial;">Mr. Quatrini agreed there is a problem with national competitors providing substandard representation to disabled clients. "They get a whole bunch of cases scheduled for one day and they fly in and then fly out of town again," he said. "They haven't met these people, they haven't figured out how they're going to be as witnesses and they haven't prepared them for this emotional day of a hearing."</span></p><span style="mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-: EN-USfont-family:'Times New Roman';font-size:13;color:black;" ><span style="mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-: EN-USfont-family:'Times New Roman';font-size:13;color:black;" ><span style="font-family:arial;font-size:100%;">Zack Needles: </span><a href="mailto:zneedles@alm.com"><span style="font-size:12;"><span style="font-family:arial;font-size:100%;">zneedles@alm.com</span></span></a><span style="font-family:arial;font-size:100%;"> or 215-557-2493. To read more articles like this, visit </span><a href="http://www.thelegalintelligencer.com/" target="_blank"><span style="font-size:12;"><span style="font-family:arial;font-size:100%;">www.thelegalintelligencer.com</span></span></a><span style="font-family:arial;font-size:100%;">.</span></span></span><span style="font-family:arial;"> </span></div>Quatrini Rafferty Attorneys at Lawhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16597114505428372979noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7604234956608869834.post-2806708251642455922011-01-28T07:26:00.000-08:002011-01-28T07:29:56.250-08:00QuatriniRafferty plans to add offices in Downtown Pittsburgh, Latrobe<p style="TEXT-ALIGN: left; LINE-HEIGHT: normal; TEXT-INDENT: 0in; MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-outline-level: 4; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto" class="MsoNormal" align="left"><b><span style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman'; FONT-SIZE: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'"><span style="font-family:arial;">Premium content from Pittsburgh Business Times - by Patty Tascarella <?xml:namespace prefix = o ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:office" /><o:p></o:p></span></span></b></p><p style="TEXT-ALIGN: left; LINE-HEIGHT: normal; TEXT-INDENT: 0in; MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto" class="MsoNormal" align="left"><span style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman'; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'"><span style="font-family:arial;">Date: Friday, January 28, 2011, 6:00am EST<o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p><span style="FONT-SIZE: 11pt"><span style="font-family:arial;">Greensburg-based law firm QuatriniRafferty is expanding for the first time in its 24-year history, opening a Downtown Pittsburgh office in the second quarter and a Latrobe site by early February.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p><span style="FONT-SIZE: 11pt"><span style="font-family:arial;">QuatriniRafferty purchased residential space for both — prices weren’t disclosed — but initially won’t be hiring. The offices will be used by existing personnel, said Managing Partner <strong>Vince Quatrini</strong>.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p><span style="font-family:arial;"><strong><span style="FONT-SIZE: 11pt">David DeRose</span></strong><span style="FONT-SIZE: 11pt">, who specializes in estate law, wills and real estate, will split time between the Greensburg and Latrobe offices. The Pittsburgh office, at 941 Penn Ave., will be home base to Michael Quatrini, Quatrini’s son, who specializes in workers compensation, Social Security disability and veterans disability, all strong growth areas for the firm.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p><span style="FONT-SIZE: 11pt"><span style="font-family:arial;">“I like the energy of the city and the close access to the administrative offices where we have our hearings,” <strong>Vince Quatrini</strong> said.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p><span style="FONT-SIZE: 11pt"><span style="font-family:arial;">Other lawyers on staff will use the two newest sites as needed. The firm expects to add secretaries, paralegals and lawyers at both sites starting in 2012, <strong>Vince Quatrini</strong> said, but couldn’t say how many. All told, QuatriniRafferty employs 33.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p><span style="FONT-SIZE: 11pt"><span style="font-family:arial;">QuatriniRafferty can capitalize on better real estate prices and the availability of new and experienced lawyers due to hiring slowdowns at the city’s largest firms in recent years. But the expansion is chiefly driven by the firm’s desire to “provide face-to-face contact with clients,” <strong>Vince Quatrini</strong> said.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p><span style="FONT-SIZE: 11pt"><span style="font-family:arial;">An outlying firm setting up shop in the city is a rarity, said <strong>Lori Carpenter</strong>, president of Downtown-based recruitment firm Carpenter Legal Search. She couldn’t recall an example in recent years.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p><span style="FONT-SIZE: 11pt"><span style="font-family:arial;">“Normally, it’s in the other direction, with a firm based in Pittsburgh looking to the outlying areas,” Carpenter said.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p><span style="font-family:arial;"><strong><span style="FONT-SIZE: 11pt">Robert Denney</span></strong><span style="FONT-SIZE: 11pt">, president of Wayne, Pa.-based consultancy <strong>Robert Denney</strong> Associates, said QuatriniRafferty’s strategy “makes sense,” but he believes the firm is bucking the national mainstream.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p><span style="FONT-SIZE: 11pt"><span style="font-family:arial;">“They’re running counter,” Denney said. “They’re the only firm I’m aware of that’s doing this. Other firms taking advantage of real estate would be redoing the lease or moving to a newer building, not buying in a city’s business district.”<o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p><span style="FONT-SIZE: 11pt"><span style="font-family:arial;">Regardless, QuatriniRafferty has ample room to grow. The space — 2,400 square feet in Pittsburgh and 3,400 square feet in Latrobe — is “huge for one lawyer” to start, Denney said. “The average space today per lawyer has been whittled down to below 600 square feet.”<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>Quatrini Rafferty Attorneys at Lawhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16597114505428372979noreply@blogger.com