Should we be wary of an entire bushel of apples when a scant few are bad?  The reported (and sometimes purported) exploits of recent medical professionals such as Conrad Murray, Sandeep Kapoor, Khristine Eroshevich, among others might make us believe a startling trend is on the rise. These individuals are accused of acts which lead to the deaths of their high-profile patients; yet, thankfully, for every Conrad Murray, there are a thousand doctors who maintain a strong moral compass many years following the recitation of the Hippocratic Oath. Why have these people gone astray? Money? Fame? A deity complex? Does their intelligence sometimes cloud their judgment, leading them to rationalize the copious, life-threatening amount of medications they prescribe to their patients? So, how can you be sure the doctor you’re seeing is seeing you on the level? Though it is just a starting point, Lady Justice recommends you digest some information contained in this article from The New York Times: http://www.nytimes.com/2008/09/30/health/30find.html Good health to all of you as we forge ahead through this new decade.

Husband and wife probate attorney team, Andrew and Danielle Mayores, recently published a new book on famous estates, cleverly titled “Trial and Heirs.”  The book reviews estate cases of celebrities like Michael Jackson, Jimi Hendrix, and Ray Charles. In addition to pure entertainment value, the book is supposed to educate readers about estate planning from cautionary tales of the rich and famous. The authors give advice on various strategies such as when to update a will and how to set up a living trust.  The book, however, fails to adequately portray all the facts regarding the estate of J. Howard Marshall II, the late husband of Anna Nicole Smith.  Marshall took all the necessary legal steps to protect his assets and further his testimonial intentions. He never intended to leave Smith a portion of his estate, and instead, provided her with over $8 million dollars in gifts during their brief marriage.  Smith claimed to a Texas probate court she was owed a sizable portion of the estate based on a verbal promise from J. Howard. While the issue was pending in Texas, Smith filed another unrelated bankruptcy claim in a California court. Smith’s attorneys engaged in a practice known as Read More …