Legalese Defined: Social Security Disability– Substantial Gainful Activity

To be eligible for disability benefits a person must be unable to engage in substantial gainful activity. In Social Security Disability cases substantial gainful activity means that you are working and earning more than a certain amount of money, which is set by law and changes each year. If the Social Security Administration finds that… Read More

Where Can I Bring a Lawsuit?

When bringing a lawsuit one of the first and most important questions to ask is “In what county should I file this lawsuit?” The county where you file is called “venue.” Venue is important because it impacts the judges and juries that get assigned to your case. Depending on the kind of case you are… Read More

What is Causal Relationship in Workers’ Compensation?

In order to receive workers’ compensation benefits for an injury you suffered that injury must have occurred on the job. Several things must be proven before you can receive workers’ compensation benefits: You are injured Your employer was given timely notice of the injury or accident That the injury is “causally related” to your job,… Read More

Legalese Defined: Deposition

Deposition – Legal Definition A deposition is an interview conducted by an attorney outside of court during the discovery phase of a lawsuit. At deposition, a person is sworn in—so they must tell the truth, just like in court—and answers questions in front of a stenographer who writes down everything they say. The person being… Read More

Legalese Defined: Personal Injury – Discovery

Discovery Process. Discovery is the broad term used for the stage of a lawsuit where each side collects evidence from the other. Discovery is conducted by sending written requests for information to each side for information and by conducting interviews of each party and any witnesses. This discovery process can take anywhere from six months… Read More

Legalese Defined: Defendant and Plaintiff

Plaintiff The Plaintiff is the person bringing a lawsuit. For instance, say you are rear-ended at a light and break your leg. You then bring a lawsuit against the other driver. In that case, you would be the plaintiff. The plaintiff files the first complaint with the court. Personal injury attorneys or accident lawyers can… Read More

Legalese Defined: Workers Compensation – No Compensable Lost Time (NCLT)

In workers’ compensation cases, No Compensable Lost Time (or NCLT) means that you have not lost any time beyond the statutory waiting period (the first seven days of any disability) as a result of your work related injury. This can occur either when you are: a) back to work b) out of work due to… Read More

Legalese Defined: Workers Compensation – Permanent Partial Disability (PPD)

In workers’ compensation cases, a permanent partial disability is a disability which is a) permanent in nature and b) not totally, 100% disabling such that you could get some kind of job, even if it isn’t the work you were doing before you were injured. For instance, if you injure your neck or back on… Read More

Legalese Defined: Workers Compensation – Maximum Medical Improvement (MMI)

In workers’ compensation cases, maximum medical improvement (or MMI) is the point at which, in your physician’s opinion, your injuries have improved as much as they are likely to and no further change in your condition is expected. When your physician finds that you have reached maximum medical improvement he or she will usually also… Read More

Legalese Defined: Social Security Disability– Date Last Insured

In social security disability cases, your “date last insured” is the date you were last eligible for social security disability benefits. Generally, In order to be eligible for social security disability you must have worked 5 of the last 10 years.  Put another way, that means that over the course of the last ten years,… Read More