October 15, 2019 Arbitration Award for the Policy Limit In a written decision, an American Arbitration Association arbitrator awarded a Levene, Gouldin & Thompson client the full policy limit available for injuries suffered in a motor vehicle accident.  Allstate had offered no money to settle the claim, taking the position that our client’s physical problems were not caused by the accident.  John L. Perticone, Esq. presented witnesses and documentary evidence convincing the [...]

At the doctor's office and want to know if a procedure is covered by Medicare? There is an app for that. Medicare has launched a free app that gives beneficiaries a quick way to see whether the program covers a specific medical item or service. The "What's Covered" app allows you to search or browse to learn what's covered and not covered under Medicare Parts A and B, how and when to get covered benefits, basic cost information and other eligibility details. You can also see a list of covered [...]

Making sure your end-of-life wishes are followed no matter where you happen to be is important. If you move to a different state or split your time between one or more states, you should make sure your advance directive is valid in all the states you frequent. An advance directive gives instructions on the kind of medical care you would like to receive should you become unable to express your wishes yourself, and it often designates someone to make medical decisions for you. Each state has its [...]

Social Security survivor's benefits provide a safety net to widows and widowers. But to get the most out of the benefit, you need to know the right time to claim. While you can claim survivor's benefits as early as age 60, if you claim benefits before your full retirement age, your benefits will be permanently reduced. If you claim benefits at your full retirement age, you will receive 100 percent of your spouse's benefit or, if your spouse died before collecting benefits, 100 percent of what [...]

The impaired may not be the only party you can recover from.             Dram shop acts, named after a historical unit of measurement for liquors, are now present in the vast majority of states. New York’s dram shop law gives those who are harmed by the actions of an intoxicated person a right to recover damages against “any person who shall, by unlawful selling to or unlawfully assisting in procuring liquor for such intoxicated [...]