Can I Get Social Security Disability for Fibromyalgia?

Can I Get Social Security Disability for Fibromyalgia? Social Security has Impairment Listings for Heart Ailments, Back Ailments, etc. Fibromyalgia is not found among the Impairment Listings. Thus, an applicant cannot obtain a favorable disability "Impairment Listing" ruling because Fibromyalgia is not found among the Listings. The inquiry must proceed further. Social Security has a five step disabilty process. First, if you are working, then the inquiry stops. Second, if you do not have a "severe impairment," the inquiry stops. Third, if you are not working and you have a "severe impairment" the next inquiry is does your "severe impairment" meet or equal a Listed Impairment. You cannot win a fibromyalgia case at this step because there is no listing for fibromyalgia although it can be a "severe impairment" and get you past step two. Thus, with a fibromyalgia case, you will have to go to step four. At step four the judge must decide if you can do your past relevant work (PRW). This is any work you did in the past 15 years prior to your onset of disability. If the judge finds you cannot do PRW, then you go to step five which is can you do any other work in the national economy. All my fibromyalgia cases have gone to step five. Social Security has begun to recognize fibromyalgia as a legitimate impairment: On May 11, 1998 the Deputy Commissioner for Disability indicated as follows: Fibromyalgia is a disorder defined by the American College of Rheumatology (ACR) and we recognize it as medically determinable if there are signs that are clinically established by the medical record. The signs are primarily the tender points. The ACR defines the disorder in patients as “widespread pain in all four quadrants of the body for a minimum duration of 3 months and at least 11 of the 18 specified tender points which cluster around the neck and shoulder, chest, hip, knee, and elbow regions.” Other typical symptoms, some of which can be signs if clinically documented over time, are irritable bowel syndrome, chronic headaches, temporomandibular joint dysfunction, sleep disorder, severe fatigue, and cognitive dysfunction. Thus, with the above in mind, you try to win a fibromyalgia case with a report from a doctor who specializes in arthritis or rheumatology and who can state the claimant s case meets the above guidelines & the impairment is so severe it affects the claimant s functions to such a degree the claimant cannot work. Of course, the doctor needs to itemize how the fibromyalgia adversely affects standing, walking, lifting, sitting, reaching, etc. The doctor s treatment records need to support his disability report. Recently, I have good success in this area. However, there still is a lot of prejudice out there against fibromyalgia. For more advice, you can contact us at www.virginiadisabilitylawyer.com or email us at jervalaw@aol.com or reach us at www.geraldlutkenhaus.com This may be considered AN ADVERTISEMENT or Advertising Material under the Rules of Professional Conduct governing lawyers in Virginia. This note is designed for general information only. The information presented at this site should not be construed. Gerald G. Lutkenhaus, representing Social Security Disability claimants for 30 years in the Central Richmond Area in Virginia. Given Martindale Hubbell s highest rating in 2003, http://www.virginiadisabilitylawyer.com

Who Are Entitled to Social Security Disability Benefits?

Who Are Entitled to Social Security Disability Benefits? No one can have the assurance of being safe from sustaining disability. According to the studies conducted, around 25% will most likely to be disabled for at least some time during his entire life. These experiences have resulted to their incapacity to perform their jobs and earn sufficient income for either their personal or families needs. However, the federal government, thru its Social Security Disability Benefits program, is providing financial supports to those individuals suffering from disability. This aims to ensure sufficient income to be used for their daily needs since they may not have enough earnings due to their inability to work. If their petitions have been reviewed and then approved by SSA, they will receive monthly benefits until they are able to get back to work regularly and earn their income. Meanwhile, disability in the perspective of Social Security is incurring an impairment that hinders a person to exercise such "substantial gainful activities" and earn sufficient income. This ailment must also be expected to last or has already lasted for at least a period of twelve months or yet to result in his death. The SSA will not pay benefits for those claimants who suffer from partial or short-term disabilities. Generally, disabled employees who have worked long enough and have paid their Social Security taxes are qualified to receive benefits. During their employment, they must at least earned twenty Social Security credits for ten years before he actually incurred his disability. For a complete detail regarding the SSA s requirements, the claimants may visit their website at http://www.ssa.gov Other dependents and family members of a qualified worker may also receive their benefits based on his records. They are: - His 18 year old or below unmarried biological or legally adopted children and stepchildren or grandchildren in some instances - His 18 year old or above children, if they have incurred disability before turning 22 - His 62 year old or above spouse, or at any age provided that he or she is taking care of a child below 16 years of age or disabled Aside from these information, the claimants still need to know other matters in order to understand fully everything about Social Security regulations. Thus, it is very necessary for the claimants to seek the aid of a credible and well experienced Social Security lawyer or representative to help them in filing their claims. Although hiring an advocate will not guarantee a positive result, it may still ensure better chances of acquiring their benefits. Los Angeles Social Security Law Attorney is a well-known Los Angeles law firm with professional Social Security Disability Lawyers of solid experience in advocating for clients claiming for SSD Benefits

Critical Illness - A Helping Hand You Are In Need Of

Most often, diseases don t come with pre-calling. It strikes you without signalling you in advance, and leave you unable to continue your regular work. In this case, the only way before you is to get diagnosed, and rest at your home. But financial scarcity, in this condition, create big havoc. Thus, having a critical illness insurance helps you greatly in being protected by such financial difficulties. It is a kind of medical insurance, which pays you a compensation if you become critically ill due to any serious disease. Under the critical illness insurance, you are eligible to make claim only if you have caught up by the disease specified in insurance policy. The insurance compensate your family even if you die. This insurance comes to greatest help for those who become sick, and are unable to go on his/her regular work. In this condition, having a financial source, which pays him/her money to avail medical treatment facility is of great help. The type and number of diseases covered by this medical insurance depend upon what has been specified under the policy guidelines. Usually critical illness insurance will cover almost 32 types of diseases, which include permanent or partial disability. Even this insurance gives you facility that if the child of insurance holder gets any disease, he/she will also be covered under this insurance. Choosing a right medical insurance policy and insurance company from where you need to buy it is a confusing decision to make. The process of availing a critical illness insurance becomes easier by doing some online research. It gives you free quotes and suggestions. By comparing different quotes, you can pick the cheap and best deal available. After you have decided about the insurance suited to you, important to do is read the insurance policy. The author is associated with UK’s leading healthcare and medical insurance broker, Essential Health Ltd, which provides medical benefits, to its clients in UK and around the world, for Cancer, Medical insurance , Critical illness, Travel insurance, Dental insurance, Financial protection, Life, Term Assurance, Accident Insurance, Healthcare, Health insurance and even Sickness insurance. She writes on various topics and latest news related to medical, insurance and most importantly on cancer and latest developments related to its treatment.

Wise Decision-Making - Selecting the Best SSD Attorney

If you are one of many all over the United States who is vying for disability benefits under the Social Security Disability program, then you should know that obtaining such is not a short and worry-free process. However, the burden and frustration that you may experience along the way can greatly be lessened by having a legal professional assist you. Of course, the legal professional you need to get must be a highly experienced attorney in the area of social security disability cases. Getting in touch with such would not present a very big ordeal because you only have to look up the yellow pages directory, check out your local bar association and search a fitting keyword in the online search engines and you will have more lists of SSD attorneys that you can handle. However, trusting a lawyer enough to hire him / her to handle and represent your SSD case is another matter. In selecting the best among many competent and qualified attorneys out there, here are some very important criteria to focus on: 1. Must possess logical thinking - the best lawyer can already evaluate and formulate a strategy that, more or less, would ensure a successful case. It is a measure of how experienced an SSD attorney is, when he /she is already able to evaluate carefully what it would take to make your case winnable. Your attorney will also be the one to keep your case files updated, especially all your medical records. He/she must have the ability then, to work alongside the doctors who have checked up on you and effectively translate your medical troubles according to the limitations you are experiencing in everyday life and work to ensure that the social security make a proper evaluation of your claim. 2. Highly Regarded - if you are going to check out an attorney from a law firm, you must also see to it that the firm he/she is involved in possesses a high reputation among the legal community in their area. Make sure that the lawyer you choose has the precise credentials and records of accomplishments in winning SSD claims and related cases. Further, check out if he or she is known to be both exceptional and dedicated in dealing with the SSD cases he/she has handled before. 3. Length of Experience - having an experienced SSD lawyer is a tremendous benefit not only for your case, but also for your general social security knowledge. Your lawyer will make sure you have successfully applied to all of the disability programs you are eligible of availing. An experienced attorney can also be expected to show resourcefulness and a talent to utilize every possible resource to ensure that he/she is meticulously prepared for every new development of your SSD case. These three criteria in selecting an SSD attorney can be narrowed down to knowing and identifying three things: • knowledge • identity • experience Make sure that your SSD attorney possesses the following important characteristics: - committed - conscientious - effective - efficient - responsive Once you have your pick of competent lawyer to help you out with your case, make sure to maintain constant communication wherein you can freely discuss and decide about the following: - approach or strategy in cases he/she has handled that are similar to your case - fee system - plan of action in representing your claim - Contact information Through the professional legal services of SSD Attorneys , you may be able to process a successful social security disability claim.

Power Of Attorneys

A Power of Attorney is a legal agreement in which the principal ( non-incapacitated person) gives authority to the agent or attorney-in-fact to act in place of the principal. The agent will have the power to open bank accounts in your name, bring suits in your name, and can sign legal documents for you among other things. As soon as the power of attorney agreement is signed it is executed , or legally binding. A power of attorney form is no longer legal upon death of the principal or upon revocation of the agreement. Creating A Power Of Attorney Agreement can be very inexpensive if done yourself. A power of attorney agreement must be in writing, and the principal executing the power of attorney must have the legal capacity. Most states do require the agreement be notarized or witnessed. Revocation of a Power Of Attorney must be done by the principal, he/she must not be incapacitated and he/she must put the revocation in writing. Then a copy of the written notice of the revocation should be sent to whomever it interests. The great thing about a power of attorney form is that its really simple, straightforward and an easy way to convey power to an agent. Executing a power of attorney form could cost you as little as ten dollars while giving someone guardianship requires you to pay court fees. You can also use a power of attorney agreement to protect the rights of the principal. One disadvantage a power of attorney form may be to you, is that it becomes effective immediately after it is executed. This information was brought to you by LegalFormsBank.biz, where you can download your state s Power of Attorney Form , Durable Power Of Attorney Form , or Medical Power of Attorney Form in just a few minutes.

Why Your Business Should Also Be Using Barcode Technology

Barcode technology has made it much easier for retail store, manufactures and pretty much anyone else involved in the selling/ buying process operate. It keeps consumers honest and it proves to be a valuable organizational asset for determining where certain products are and what inventory looks like within the factory. Most barcodes work on in a similar fashion as a social security number. They are reference numbers that allow a computer to keep track of where it is and where it is going. For instance, when a factory is doing inventory, they will often scan barcodes of products to make sure that they are all there. Similarly, when a consumer returns a product the barcode can be scanned with the receipt to make sure that the two are in fact the same product. To put it basically, barcodes hold all the pertinent information about individual products. How does barcode technology work? Barcodes work when a light source, a scanner, is swept over the barcode on the product. When this happens four things happen: 1. The scanner absorbs the barcodes lines and light spaces, reading between the white and the black spaces. 2. The ‘photocell detector’ within the scanner takes the light differences in the barcode and transmits them into an electrical signal that can be read by a computerized system. 3. A signal is uncovered by the spaces between the bars on the barcode itself (the lines themselves are not considered). The spaces equal the reflected light and they are determined by how wide and narrow they appear underneath the scanner. 4. The information discovered is then put into the computer in data form and it matches up to whatever data is matched with it, mainly price. What advantages does barcode technology bring with it? Barcode technology keeps businesses, warehouses and consumers honest because it has a pretty high tech system that is hard to outthink. Since each barcode is different, just like everyone has a different social security number, it is very hard to cheat the system. Consumers who try to return a product without a matching receipt are generally turned down for a cash return because without the barcode on the receipt it is impossible to tell whether the product was actually purchased by that person or even bought from that store. Barcodes keep consumers honest. Barcode scanners are also incredibly quick and incredibly accurate. Scanners work much faster then the human eye can react because in the split second it takes to scan a product (imagine going through the grocery line) all of the information regarding the product is relayed through the scanner and into the computer. It’s so accurate because most scanners only experience one mistake per 10 million scans, making mistakes very rare. Barcodes have made life in many different retail locations and warehouses easier because they are so convenient, fast and accurate. They are used by most stores because they have superior benefits then most other ways of product organization. Kelly Hunter is an a keen writer for warehouse-management-help.com about warehouse management with several years experience.

Pre Employment Screening

When you are an employer hiring an employee you want to eliminate any uncertainties regarding the prospective employees background. This includes information about education, driving history, social security verification and criminal history. Pre-employment screening allows an employer the chance to decide if a person applying for a position is trustworthy and capable of handing the position he or she is applying for. In order to do a pre-employment screening the employer needs to get permission from the prospective employee to go ahead with the research necessary to do a background check. This should be in the form of a signed document that the employer keeps for future reference. Whether your business is large or small pre-employment screening can help you avoid lawsuits and hiring mistakes. These days, security concerns, corporate scandals, and workplace violence have made pre-employment screening almost mandatory. Through a process of testing, background checks and drug tests, employers can determine the background and the identity of a new employee. Today, over 96% of Human Resource professionals do background checks on new employees. It helps to minimize liability for your company and saves millions of dollars in potential lawsuits. However, when any company does a background check, they must comply with the Fir Credit Reporting Act and the American With Disabilities Act. Any prospective employee must sign a disclosure form granting permission to perform a background check. Laws vary according to states in what information can be gathered. Some states do not allow certain information about a person s criminal record as part of a background check. Also under the ADA, employers are limited in using data relating to a potential employer s medical or disability information. Pre Employment Screening provides detailed information on Pre Employment Screening, Pre Employment Screening Services, Pre Employment Background Screening, Pre Employment Drug Screening and more. Pre Employment Screening is affiliated with Private Investigator License .

SSI Fraud Protection Awareness

Among the fast increasing crimes in the United States, identity theft may be considered as one of the most burdensome scenarios that a Supplemental Security Income beneficiary may encounter. An unlawful person who was able to steal your Social Security Number can manage to use it to obtain your other secret information. Afterwards, they may utilize the same information to apply for credits in your name. You will just be aware of the fact that you have been robbed when notices and calls coming from unknown creditors demand payments for various transactions and items that you never purchased. Your Social Security Number is extremely confidential. Thus, you must exercise all your efforts to protect it from other people s knowledge. Aside from this, the SSA also protects your number as well as all your other personal information. Various measures are implemented by this agency to ensure that no other person can use your number to perform any illegal activity. Here are some ways on how these individual get along with their fraudulent acts: Lost wallets or mails that contains information regarding your Social Security identity and other financial statements Stealing secret information after your transaction with an unsecured website Searching for possible information about you in your trash cans Pretending to be someone in need of vital information about you Obtaining such information from someone whom you legitimately transacted with Always remember, to avoid these problems, protect your card and number at all times. Be aware that these stealers are always on stand by waiting for their chance to do their fraudulent acts. If needed, show your card only to those rightful persons and keep it on a safe place where nobody except your family can have access to it. Carrying your card is not recommendable for there is a chance that you may lose it. Now if someone has been using your Social Security identity, the best thing to do is to report the incident to the police authorities as soon as possible. You may also call on your credit card company so that they may be able to deny further transactions made in your account. Moreover, you may consult a competent a Social Security lawyer for proper guidance and assistance on how to incriminate those identity thieves. A credible advocate with vast experience in handling these types of cases may also let you recover your losses. In searching for the appropriate lawyer to handle your Social Security cases, it is very important that you only pick an advocate who has a wide range of knowledge and credible experience in winning claims. Therefore, you must closely look on his background before hiring his services. Several law firms and private practitioners offer these types of legal services. Yet, you may only get the most out of your case with those who specialize in this field. Appointing the right people then, would mean better chances of a successful result. SSI fraud protection is not that hard to implement. You just have to follow certain precautionary measures and always care to understand all the steps to follow in case you have encountered it. Rainier is currently among the proud members of the Mesriani Law Group that serves clients in Los Angeles, California. He was tasked to write articles and legal contents to further enhance the knowledge of the internet users regarding Personal Injury, Labor Law, Business Law and Social Security Disability. For maximum SSI fraud protection , get in touch with our competent Social Security attorneys who are highly capable of providing assistance to any of your Social Security concerns.

Common TN Visa Mistakes to Avoid

Approval of the TN Visa (also referred to as TN Status) to work in the U.S. is very subjective and since 9/11 and the various terrorist attacks, the U.S. Immigration Officers scrutinize each TN Visa application more carefully. This does not mean it is impossible for you to obtain your TN Visa, rather it means you want to ensure your TN Visa application is valid, professional and most importantly you are well prepared for the border interview. There are three key areas that cause people to be denied their TN Status. Interestingly enough, people who read this article think, “Oh, this does not apply to me, I’ve addressed these areas.” Do not hastily jump to this conclusion, for your future is at stake. Problem #1: Intent to Stay Admission to the U.S. as a TN-1 temporary worker can be pretty straightforward if you ve prepared your materials properly and correctly answer the Immigration Officer’s questions. However, be very careful at the border. It is very simple for an Inspector to turn an applicant away. Especially, if there is a question about the TN applicant’s eligibility for admission. Everyday INS denies TN Visa application and sends prospective entrants back where they came from. If you have flown into a U.S. airport and are denied, it can be costly experience. As such, you need to be prepared for the border interview. One of the reasons for turning away a TN1 applicant is the failure to establish nonimmigrant intent. The TN Visa is not a dual-intent classification, and you have to be able to establish, to the satisfaction of the Immigration Officer, that you will return home at some point in the future. Family, property ownership, a job to which you will return, an offer of employment specified to begin at a future date are all examples of ways in which to prove that you ll return home. There are others, as well. If your situation does not clearly show intent for temporary stay, do not despair, you can still qualify for the TN Visa and can successfully obtain the TN Visa. Situations such as: you do not own any property in Canada, you are being offered a full-time job, your spouse has a Green Card and many more do not exempt you from obtaining the TN Visa. If the employment letter makes it sufficiently clear that the position is temporary or that you will fill it on a temporary basis, the Officer may not bring up the issue of intent at all. Remember, you want to be confident and well prepared when you apply for your TN Visa and when speaking with the Immigration Officer. Minimize your chances of rejection and by making informed decisions before heading to the border. Problem #2: Job Title Specification A second reason for denying a TN1 Applicant is the perceived ineligibility under NAFTA’s Schedule of Occupations (NAFTA Job List). The NAFTA Schedule of Occupations that are available to TN Visa applicants is relatively limited, and titles from the Schedule more often than not don t correspond neatly to real life job titles. The TN Visa Employer Letter should make it clear that you re going to be employed in one of the occupational areas that appear on the Schedule. The letter itself should be concise and brief. Avoid writing a letter that suggests long-term employment or the potential of obtaining the Green Card in the future. Lengthy offer letters with much discussion of benefits and other perks are also to be shunned. Problem #3: Presentation of Documentation Incomplete or improper documentation forces many people to be denied their TN Visa. It is also one of the most common problems because most people assume they have sufficient documentation and then are surprised when the Immigration Officer is asking for additional documentation to corroborate the applicant’s claims. The TN Visa documentation is not nearly as complicated compared to other submissions to U.S. Immigration Services. Nevertheless, it needs to contain the relevant documentation related to the occupation and requirements of the NAFTA Agreement. These include the applicant’s qualifications (degrees, transcripts, licenses, accreditation certificates) and experience. Proof of experience is required in some occupations though it is always useful to document an applicant s experience even if it s not formally required. Do not attempt to bulk up the application unnecessarily. Package the various materials neatly and securely. Always have photocopies of the documentation being presented. Finally, successfully obtaining your TN Visa can be done easily when you are well informed and fully prepared. TN Visa Expert helps Canadians successfully live and work in the U.S. Learn about the TN Visa and be prepared. Useful articles, a Do it Yourself TN Visa Application Kit and TN Visa sample letters available. TNVisaExpert.com

Social Security Matters - An Attorney s Concern

Social Security Matters - An Attorney s Concern Have you been informed on what Social Security Administration really is? Well, you should be so aware of such because it could truly bring great benefits to you and to your family as well. With this query in mind, you really need to acquire the legal assistance and expertise of Social Security attorneys. Primarily, these legal professionals would emphasize that the SSA can grant benefits in three different categories - when someone retires, if he becomes disabled and when he dies. This individual merely qualifies for a benefit by earning credits. Such may happen when he works in a job, pays the Social Security taxes and makes his contributions. Each credit is based on his earnings and compensations, job description, the nature and background of his employment. These determine his eligibility and qualification on retirement and disability. Meanwhile, there are specified special rules, which are applicable for each credit. As of this year, 2007, one may acquire one credit if he has $ 1000 of earnings - with the maximum of four credits annually. Each earned credit per a year always varies and depends on the level of average earnings. Although, it has been stated on its terms and conditions that the received credits of each member remain into his record. This implies that his personal accounts in the SSA are all in tact even if he transfers from one job to another or stops working for quite some time. With this, SSA has been implementing and conducting beneficial programs that have been able to reach out to a wide range of people for several years. One of these is social security disability insurance program, which is considered certainly practical and effective in giving financial assistance to those who need such. Consequently, one starts to experience the privilege and benefits from his social security claims immediately right after his petition has been approved by the SSA. If these authorized personnel have been commended or have been agreed such application with all those pertinent and necessary data and documents, he may undergo procedures related to its approval and eligibility. This is where he mostly needs the legal representation of a judicial expert. However, some people would still intend to file claims on their own, many would still want and even prefer to hire representatives. These professionals could really extend to them the need, assistance and support that they should acquire and truly deserve. They also render competent legal services particularly in this field. In fact, they not only increase and strengthen the chances of obtaining higher chances of much favorable outcome, but also create positive outcome on their claims. Furthermore, the Social Security attorneys, experienced on claim and benefit approval, have indeed the edge and advantage among the other general practitioners. Rainier used to work in a publishing company as a writer and eventually became an associate editor. He dealt in writing instructional materials for secondary and tertiary students. His passion in writing inspired him to read a lot and subsequently enabled him to gain more knowledge and skills. For more information about how SSA attorneys can help you with matters concerning your social security, consult with the Los Angeles Lawyers website.

Hurricane Wilma Willfully Washes out Western World Weather Records

The twenty-second named Hurricane of the Season Hurricane Wilma is a Whopper and is going to break all the records. Hurricane season 2005 has already wreaked havoc on the weary Western World weather records. The meteorologists were quite certain what the 2005 season would bring. Another huge and chaotic weather breaking reality; however few realized it would be this wicked. Hurricane Katrina and Hurricane Rita became the third and fifth most powerful Atlantic Hurricanes in US History as Category Fives. The 2004 Hurricane Season was also extremely bad with four Hurricanes hitting Florida in 30 days, five total Hurricane strikes on the State of Florida in 2004. Hurricane Season 2005 wasted no time in its push to break the records and even got an early jump on the season by two-weeks. Hurricane Season 2005 is now predicted to last two-weeks additional meaning it extended the projected Hurricane Season by an entire month. As if all this is not enough for the weary Western World, Hurricane Wilma is the last named storm before we hit the Greek Alphabet and she has ditched Fred Flintstone, Betty and Barney Rubble to do some wicked work of her own as she wreaks havoc on our civilization. Think about it. Lance Winslow - Online Think Tank forum board. If you have innovative thoughts and unique perspectives, come think with Lance; WorldThinkTank.net/ . Lance is a guest writer for Our Spokane Magazine in Spokane, Washington

Massachusetts Law is More Friendly to the Disabled then Federal Law

In yet another great example of how Massachusetts law is more favorable to discriminated employees than its Federal equivalent, the Federal Courts have limited the statute of limitations on filing wage discrimination claims. The Supreme Court of the United States ruled this past summer that statutory limitation provision in Title VII require that employees file wage discrimination claims with the EEOC within 180 days of the employer s initial decision that resulted in the discriminatory salary. Ledbetter v. Goodyear Tire 127 S. Ct. 2162 (2007).The prevailing law prior to this holding was that each discriminatory act would constitute a unique discriminatory act. The decision significantly limits an employee s rights under the Federal system. If an employee is hired at a lower salary then another similarly situated employee, then the disparate salary of each paycheck would not constitute a continuing violation, as it likely would pursuant to Massachusetts law. Massachusetts courts have held that the 180-day limitation will not apply when the unlawful conduct complained of is of a continuing nature. This exception recognizes that some claims of discrimination involve a series of related events that have to be viewed in their totality in order to assess adequately their discriminatory nature and impact. Although the limitations clock generally starts with the commission of a discriminatory act, a true continuing violation rewinds the clock for each discriminatory episode along the way. Cuddyer v. Stop and Shop Supermarket Co., 434 Mass. 521 (2001). Where there is a determination of a continuing violation within the statutory limitations period of Mass. Gen. Laws ch. 151B, a complaint with the Massachusetts Commission Against Discrimination (MCAD) is timely filed even though some, or a large portion, of the discriminatory conduct may have taken place more than six months prior to the complaint. ID. Both the Massachusetts Supreme Court and the Appeals Court have relied on the continuing violation doctrine to permit plaintiffs to seek damages, if the alleged events are part of an ongoing pattern of discrimination, and there is a discrete violation within the six-month limitations period to anchor the earlier claims. The forgoing article was written by Attorney Michael Goldstein of the Law Firm Goldstein and Clegg, LLC, a plaintiff s employment law firm

A Prayer for the Farmers

With so many farmers getting out of the business of farming due to mad cow disease, little money for their crops, smaller families, cities taking over the fertile farm land, big business moving in on and taking over small farms, I thought it was time to recognize the good that the farmers do for us. Vegetables don t grow in cans.....meat doesn t fall from trees. Without the farmers, we would be starving!! I hope that you will join me in remembering the farmers and when you have the opportunity, thank the farmer for hanging in there, despite the poor beef prices, the poor pork prices, etc. Rember, the price you pay in the store is NOT the price the farmer gets -- it s not even close!! A Prayer for the Farmers Lord, what have we done to our land and to those who work the fields? We have taken without giving back without thought to the consequences. Tearing up, tearing down, uprooting life, and covering everything with a hard, unforgiving substance. You gave us this earth to watch over to look after. Forgive us Lord for what we have done. Our ways bring death to the land. We have been so concerned with our desires, that we have dismissed the needs of others. In our lust for faster bigger, better(?) we have lost sight of those who helped make our country what it is today - the farmers. Help us to remember as we go about our daily chores and preparing meals, that without the farmers we would not eat. Without the trees, we would not breathe, and the soil would erode causing dust all around. Grant to the farmers strength to continue, rain and sun for their crops, faith in You and in humanity, that they may keep on providing the food we need to survive. God bless the farmers. Copyright Oct 2004 Fran Watson Expert Author franwatson.ca mormunny4u.org diet-basics.org