In early 2022, five employees from the metropolitan police department in Washington, D.C. filed a lawsuit against the city, citing a toxic work environment. This is a rare case in that everyone in the department appears to be on the same page, citing a hostile workplace; these are past and present employees coming together, alleging sexual harassment and race discrimination. Complaints were made to the head of the department, who seems to have swept these issues under the rug. This case is actually one of four, all alleging the same thing. It does not look good for the police department as the head of the department actually has several citations against him already, none of which were ever acted upon previously.

A toxic workplace is far more common than you might realize, and if you are facing some sort of discrimination, then it’s time to contact a lawyer.

How A Lawyer Can Help

A lawyer can help you file litigation against a discriminatory workplace, but the exact type of attorney that you need will depend on the nature of your claim. If you are claiming discrimination based on disability, race, religion, color, national origin or age, then a civil rights lawyer may be more appropriate. They can also represent anyone alleging retaliation for complaints about illegal harassment or other violations of law in connection with employment matters. It is also helpful to have an employment lawyer if any of these issues relate to your company and not just your own experience. You should find someone who has experience with discrimination cases related to your work and whether they’re federal or state claims too.

What You Need

To make a litigation case, you need to file a law suit with the court, which can take anywhere from six months to three years. You will need to present your arguments with specific proofs and information. The litigation process is long and strenuous and you may incur significant costs due to legal expenses and other financial obligations as a result of your effort.

However, with the right attorney by your side, a long, drawn out case can be avoided. A lawyer will be by your side to guide you so that you know what paperwork and evidence is needed, what kind of case you have, and to answer any questions that come up along the way.

Prepare For Settlement Or Litigation

The first step to getting out of a toxic work environment is figuring out if you need to take legal action. If you have been the victim of harassment and/or discrimination, then it’s in your best interest to talk with an attorney and make sure that what’s happening is legal. If not, the next step is figuring out what you are willing to do about it. There are two main types of remedies: settlement and litigation. Settlement agreements can be made voluntarily by both parties when the wrongdoer agrees to cease the unlawful conduct or pay damages for past incidents. Litigation is court-mandated, meaning someone has to file a complaint and fight for compensation or other benefits. The decision process usually depends on what type of financial loss there was from the misconduct. If there was economic harm as well as emotional distress caused by the actions, it might be time to get out of that toxic work environment. This doesn’t mean you should just walk away from your job without taking any steps first! Talk with an employment lawyer before deciding on anything rash.

To get a case started with a litigation law firm in Washington, DC contact Brown Kiely, LLP for help today.

If you are thinking about purchasing life insurance, you may want to talk to a life insurance agent. Life insurance is important to have, and an insurance agent can help you select the right policy. Here are some common myths about life insurance that you shouldn’t believe.

I’m Too Young to Need Life Insurance

Unlike this popular belief, elderly people aren’t the only ones who need life insurance. In fact, it can be detrimental to wait until you are older to purchase a life insurance policy. The younger you are when you purchase life insurance, the cheaper your policy will be. Life can be very unpredictable, and the unexpected can happen even to young and healthy people. You want your family members to be taken care of in case that happens.

If I Have Sizable Savings, Life Insurance Isn’t Necessary

It’s certainly wise to save money for a rainy day. However, even if you put a lot of money into your savings account, it might still not be enough to support your family if you die suddenly. Your savings may get drained from your medical bills, funeral, and burial costs alone. If you have adequate life insurance, you can rest assured that your family members will be taken care of if the unexpected happens.

I Can’t Afford Life Insurance

One of the most common misconceptions about life insurance is that it’s very expensive. However, it is more affordable than people think. A life insurance agent can determine the cost of your premiums after assessing several factors, such as your age and overall health.

Group Life Insurance Enough

If you have group life insurance through your employer, you might not think it is necessary to purchase an individual life insurance policy. However, group life insurance usually isn’t enough to cover the mortgage, food, and other expenses for your family if you should die suddenly. Purchasing a separate life insurance policy may be a wise decision.

If I’m Single with No Children, I Don’t Need Life Insurance

Just because you are not married or you do not have dependents does not mean that you can’t benefit from purchasing life insurance. If you die, your loved ones can use your life insurance benefits to pay your medical bills, college loans, and other debts.

Schedule a consultation with a life insurance agent today to determine what coverage is right for your situation.

Bankruptcy Lawyer

Each person’s finances are going to be different and unique to that person. But when you find yourself with more debt than you can reasonably pay off, it may be time to consider filing for bankruptcy. However, there are nuances to consider so that you can make sure filing will be in the best interest of your financial future. While there are certainly benefits to filing for bankruptcy, there are drawbacks too. For example, while you may have debts discharged, not all of them may be eliminated, and you are likely to have a bankruptcy status sit on your credit report for a decade. 

All in all, if the information provided below is true for your circumstances, then you may be someone who can greatly benefit from filing for bankruptcy:

Your Budget Hasn’t Been Working

Are you constantly having to use credit cards or borrow money to meet your financial obligations? If so, then your current budget is probably too tight, and your earnings are not enough to allow you to afford life necessities and payments for debts. If you are unable to make the minimum payments for credit cards or other life expenses, then it may be time to consider what bankruptcy can offer.

You are The Victim of a Scam

If you feel the weight of debt on your shoulders every day, then you may be vulnerable to becoming the victim of a scam. Scammers know how to get information about people so they can use this to take advantage of them, particularly those who are struggling financially. If you were targeted and suffered a scam, which may have resulted in even more financial distress, then bankruptcy may be a realistic option.

Your Interest Rates are Too High

There may come a time when you need to apply for a loan, but this can be difficult if you already have plenty of debt to deal with. If your loan application is approved, then you may receive a fairly high interest rate. You may end up paying more for the money borrowed than if you had good credit and less debt. If borrowing money has become an impossible option, either due to being too expensive or you’ve been consistently denied, bankruptcy may give you the restart you need.

Your Mental Health Has Suffered

Financial hardships have a way of permeating our minds and can make us feel worn down. But it’s important to remember that there are resources for those who need some help lightening their debt load. Mental health and our finances can feel intrinsically linked, so if your debts continue to wear down your mood, then bankruptcy could prove to be the outlet you need to have a fresh start. 

Bankruptcy can be a useful resource, but as a bankruptcy lawyer would suggest, weigh the pros and cons to make sure there are more benefits than disadvantages and that you file for the correct bankruptcy chapter.

If you need a general litigation law firm in Washington, D.C., consider Brown Kiely LLP. The attorneys at our firm have years of experience fighting for regular people.

Normally, you only consider hiring a lawyer when you have a serious problem. In fact, just coming to terms that you need legal representation can be difficult. After all, when most hear the word “lawyer”, images of massive legal bills and stuffy, suit-clad professionals enter their imagination.

However, at Brown Kiely, we image legal representation differently. At our firm, a lawyer is an advocate for their client. They are the embodiment of counsel, offering candid advice and an empathetic voice throughout the process.

Litigation Law Firm Washington, D.C.

Through our general litigation practice, we have handled a plethora of different cases and represented clients with diverse needs.

The lawyers at our firm take pride in their versatility, ranking among the top lawyers in the D.C. area. We don’t confine ourselves to one specialty and have litigated a host of case types, including:

• Personal Injury
• Builder and Construction Litigation
• Estate Litigation
• Appellate Advocacy

Consummate legal representation is about recognizing the needs of the client. Each client has unique objectives and interests and the client is always the priority. With these values of mind, a litigation attorney provides vigorous representation and protects the rights of his clients at each stage of the litigation process.

What Can a Litigation Attorney Do for Me?

A Washington, D.C. litigation lawyer is more than just a professional in a suit that interprets the law. They help their clients navigate incredibly challenging circumstances, ensuring their interests are protected and their rights are acknowledged along the way.

They offer their clients unique value a few different ways, including:

Lawsuits

Filing a lawsuit is a great way to show you mean business. A lawsuit is an opportunity to vindicate your rights and hold wrongdoers accountable.

In certain circumstances, a successful suit could result in a significant financial award known as damages.

Settlement Negotiations

Not all lawsuits go to trial. In fact, most litigation is resolved without significant judicial involvement via settlement.

Parties have strong incentives to settle, and the terms of the settlement outline how the plaintiff will be compensated for their losses.

However, settlement negotiations involve more than simply presenting a number to the opposing party. There’s an art to the process, and an experienced litigation attorney can manage settlement negotiations to maximize the client’s payout.

Insurance Negotiations

When you’re injured, you expect your insurance company to be there for you. Unfortunately, insurance companies often prioritize their bottom line over customer well-being.

A litigation attorney can remind your insurance company of their contractual obligations and negotiate a settlement.

Brown Kiely LLP is a Washington, D.C. litigation law firm dedicated to helping working people access the legal system.

Our versatile practice handles all kinds of cases, always prioritizing the needs of our clients over our bottom line.

When you need legal representation, you need honest, trusted advice backed up by decades of experience. Our firm offers personalized legal services, treating every client as a unique individual with unique interests.

Call the Washington D.C., litigation law firm of Brown Kiely LLP today to set up a free initial consultation.

Sex Discrimination Lawyer

When you are being discriminated against because of your sex or gender at work, you have a right to report it. You should not be treated differently based on your sex or gender. Fortunately, you do not have to tolerate this behavior being directed to you. Anyone who is experiencing sex discrimination can speak up. As a sex discrimination lawyer like one at Barry P. Goldberg can tell you, there are laws that protect against this type of behavior. Some of the following scenarios can all be classified as sex discrimination. 

More Severe Discipline 

Making mistakes at work every now and then is common, but when a person is disciplined more harshly compared to their coworkers of a different gender, then it may be a case of sex discrimination. A person should be treated fairly and not be subjected to harsher punishments due to their sex or gender. An example of this is when a male worker gets punished for making a simple mistake, while their female counterpart who makes the same mistake does not get written up. 

Being Denied a Promotion

A common sign of sex discrimination that many people are familiar with is when a person gets denied a promotion because of their sex or gender. For example, this can happen when two male and female workers have the same job description and qualifications, but only the male worker advances to senior job titles, while the female worker is continuously overlooked. If you are denied a promotion purely on the basis of your sex, it may be a sign that there is gender discrimination in your workplace.  

Questions About Pregnancy 

If an employer asks you questions related to pregnancy or motherhood, it is not an appropriate conversation. Female workers should not be asked questions about private matters such as if or when they are planning to have kids. Sometimes employers do this because they are concerned that motherhood may negatively impact a female worker’s productivity. Employers often make judgments about a female worker’s capacity to do well in their job if they are having kids. 

Discrimination at work is not always obvious, and it can be difficult to know if what you experienced is classified as sex discrimination. If you are concerned that sex or gender discrimination is going on in your workplace, you have the right to file a complain and explore your legal options. You may be concerned about reporting the incident and having people find out about what occurred. However, a trusted lawyer can be there to support you and be your strongest advocate.

Can an Elder Law Lawyer Help with Probate?

When you reach out to an estate planning or elder law lawyer, you’re taking an important step to plan out your future – and the future of your family and friends, as well. Your estate is your legacy, and after your death, it will serve as a reminder to your loved ones of all you built for them during your lifetime.

However, your assets aren’t just magically distributed immediately after your death. As an elder law lawyer from a firm like Kaplan Law Practice, LLC can explain, there are several hoops that your beneficiaries must jump through before they see a single cent of what you’ve left behind for them.

Fortunately, when you get together with a qualified elder law lawyer, you can take steps to ensure your estate is divided up according to your best wishes. You and your lawyer will be able to create a will that provides instructions for your assets and beneficiaries, and after your death, your loved ones will be able to focus on grieving, instead of infighting and drama.

When you create a will, your family and friends receive important instructions. However, they won’t be out of the woods yet. Your estate will have to go through probate, and this means its own sets of legal complications. Read on to understand more about probate, and see how an elder law lawyer can keep the process straightforward.

What Does Probate Entail?

Probate is the process that covers how your assets are distributed amongst your beneficiaries. It takes a number of steps before your family and friends receive whatever you’ve left for them, and (of course) there are taxes and fees that have to be paid before any assets are released into their possession.

When you write a will, you and your elder law lawyer can name an executor, a trusted individual who is responsible for following the instructions you’ve left behind. If you don’t name an executor (or you don’t even write a will), the state will choose a representative from amongst your close family. Instead of leaving it to chance, choosing your own executor provides valuable peace of mind, especially when you consider what they’ll have to take care of.

Your executor will have to oversee the probate process, which includes a number of steps. Firstly, your will needs to be authenticated by the state to ensure it’s completely legitimate. Then, the beneficiaries need to be informed of your death and informed that they are listed as beneficiaries. Your assets will need to be found and valued by outside professionals, and taxes and any outstanding debts you may have had before your death will have to be paid off. After all these steps, your assets (or what’s left of them) will be distributed amongst your beneficiaries.

Probate is complicated and oftentimes frustrating. It’s a point of contention for many family members, and there are plenty of opportunities for legal challenges along the way. Fortunately, an elder law lawyer can help make life a little easier for your family and friends.

Contact an Elder Law Lawyer Today

When you create a will, you’re providing important and valuable instructions for your family and friends to follow after your death. However, there are still plenty of chances for infighting.

With the help of an elder law lawyer, you can make sure your will is written in a way that will satisfy your loved ones. And the right elder law lawyer may even be able to help your family avoid probate completely by creating a living trust. Reach out to an elder law lawyer today to plan your family’s future.

Nursing Home Lawyer in Baltimore, MD

As a nursing home lawyer in Baltimore, MD from Brown Kiely, LLP knows, when placing a senior loved one into a nursing home, we often hope they are treated well but may not be entirely sure. We know that nursing home abuse happens, but rarely do we actually imagine coming face-to-face with the situation ourselves. If you arent sure whether your senior relative could be suffering from abuse, here are red flags that you must not ignore: 

Are there bad reviews or awsuits against the facility?

Do your research and look into reviews for the facility and whether they have past or current lawsuits. Further, examine to see if the nature of these lawsuits have anything to do with resident mistreatment. If so, you may want to choose another facility entirely to remove your relative from the nursing home as soon as possible.

Is the environment loud and chaotic?

Nursing homes should be places where residents can relax and not feel stressed out. If you visit the facility and it’s loud and chaotic, this may point to a lack of staffing issue. Phones that go unanswered, equipment that appears old, and other excessively noisy factors may not be a suitable environment for an aging loved one.

Does the facility look dirty and unkempt?

A nursing home with debri on the floor, clothing piles laying around, a bad smell in the air, or appearing otherwise unkempt may be a cause for alarm. If staff cannot keep the facility clean, then how are they supposed to attend to patients with the attention they deserve? 

Do the residents appear lost or agitated?

As your MD nursing home lawyer in Baltimore may mention, anxiety, depression, disorientation, and confusion are all symptoms of potential nursing home abuse and neglect. If you observe these behaviors to be common among residents, it may point to a problem within the facility operations and level of care being offered. 

Does your loved one have symptoms?

If your senior relative is exhibiting symptoms such as personality changes, unexplained injuries, bedsores, emotional outbursts, or other signs that something just isn’t right, we advise following this gut feeling and getting help from law enforcement and a reputable law firm right away.

As a nursing home lawyer in Baltimore, MD from Brown Kiely, LLP would agree with, anyone who suspects their loved one is being mistreated must take action immediately to reduce the chances of them becoming a victim to abuse.

Litigation Law Firm in Washington, DC

The legal professionals from our litigation law firm in Washington, DC at Brown Kiely, LLP understand that litigation can be a time-consuming, stressful, and expensive thing for any business to go through. We know that most business owners want to prevent this from happening to their business at all costs. If you have been sued or plan to file a lawsuit against someone else, you should try to respond as quickly as possible, to prevent profit loss and a tarnished reputation in the community. 

One of the main reasons businesses enter litigation is because of a contract disagreement or breach. When one or more parties doesn’t hold up their end of the bargain in a contract, a dispute is likely to ensue. Business owners who want to reduce the chances of litigation over a contract issue are encouraged to examine the following Q&A:

What is an element that all contracts should have?

Establishing clear and concise terms in the written agreement will be paramount in preventing litigation. It is not rare for even the most seasoned parties to enter into an agreement that is riddled with inconsistent and confusing terms. Don’t let the factors of price and product be the only aspects you focus on when signing a contract. Every contract should be to-the-point, and not have vague or incomprehensible wording.

What if I cannot fulfill my part of an agreement?

Even the most well-intentioned party may realize that they cannot fulfill their part of the agreement. When this happens, it’s best to communicate early on about what’s happening, and offer a plan to the other parties about how you want to make it up to them. Those in the contract may be frustrated at the news, but they are less likely to respond in outrage if you present possible solutions.

Is there a way to negotiate without going to court?

If all parties in the dispute are prepared to work together and compromise, then a mediator may be useful. This person will not decide the outcome, but instead guides the negotiation in a way that is tactful and professional. Mediators are trained to help people resolve various issues and achieve solutions that are mutually beneficial. Mediation may not be an appropriate resource for every situation, but it should at least be considered. 

Brown Kiely, LLP Is Ready To Help

If you are going through a contract dispute, or feel one approaching, then it’s in the best interest of your business to get support right away. Our Washington, DC litigation law firm is experienced in business litigation, and we hope you consider reaching out to a Brown Kiely, LLP today for the assistance you need.

Law Firm in Bethesda, MD

Those who have questions about their personal injury case often turn to our law firm in Bethesda, MD at Brown Kiely, LLP for assistance. Our team is seasoned in personal injury law, and find reward in being a legal resource for those in need of support. When meeting with clients, we may be asked questions about the discovery process in particular. Here we have aimed to answer these inquiries, but don’t hesitate to contact our law firm for advice that is specific to your circumstances.

What exactly is the discovery process?

The discovery process is a normal step for both lawyers and their clients. This stage is important in gathering information about a case, and allows both parties to learn what information each side has, in addition to revealing evidence that will be used to assess the verdict. Discovery helps your lawyer prepare for the case, understand all the elements contributing to the lawsuit, and can be influential in obtaining a settlement.

What information will be gathered during interrogatories?

Our Bethesda, MD law firm team has experience handling interrogatories, where both parties will have to answer questions provided by the other. Each inquiry must be answered honestly and fully to the best of that person’s knowledge. The answers in the interrogatories will be bound under oath. Examples of details you may be asked to provide include:

• Contact information
• Insurance coverage and limits
• Personal account of how the incident happened
• Identity of expert witnesses for the case
• Identity of witnesses
• Evidence related to the case
• Medical treatment, lost wages, and other damages

Documents that may be requested from the other party and his or her legal team include medical records, doctor’s notes, employment records, damage reports, police reports, and photographs or video of the scene. Furthermore, you may receive or submit a request for admissions, which presents allegations and the party will have to admit or deny each in the series. 

What if the case doesn’t get settled?

A lawsuit that doesn’t get resolved through negotiations may have to be settled in court instead. It is imperative for the outcome of the case to have a legal team who is well-versed in personal injury law specifically. If your case doesn’t get settled, we can prepare you for a courtroom experience so that you feel more empowered and confident about the process.

Contact Brown Kiely, LLP

If you have a personal injury case that needs legal attention, we urge you to call our office now for assistance. The professionals from our law firm in Bethesda, MD at Brown Kiely, LLP are ready to take your call, and learn more about how we can be of help during this time.