Posted on May 15, 2023 in Immigration

Over the past several years, the United States has had to deal with a large number of people attempting to enter the country. In many cases, migrants have left their homes in countries that have experienced political unrest, violence, or other dangerous conditions and sought safety in the U.S. However, many immigrants have faced barriers preventing them from legally entering the United States, and immigration officials have taken action to quickly expel many people who entered the country without authorization. Fortunately, this may soon change as the administration of President Joe Biden begins to implement new rules and procedures governing asylum, parole, deportations, and more.

Asylum Procedures Following the End of Title 42

Over the past several years, immigration officials have used a rule known as Title 42 to expel many immigrants from the United States without following the typical deportation procedures. This rule was put in place by the administration of President Donald Trump during the COVID-19 pandemic, and it was intended to protect public health. However, it has continued to be used even after the dangers of COVID-19 have become less of a concern. After several legal challenges, Title 42 will be lifted on May 11, 2023.

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 Posted on April 18, 2023 in Immigration

Resettling in another country can be difficult for anyone, and immigrants to the United States may face a number of challenges and legal complications. In some cases, immigrants may be detained by immigration officials during deportation proceedings. Being held in detention can cause significant difficulties for immigrants and their family members. Fortunately, immigrants may be able to be released from detention during their deportation case by paying an immigration bond. When an immigration bond is requested, a bond hearing will be held. It is important for immigrants to understand what to expect during these hearings and what issues may arise.

Understanding Immigration Bonds

Immigration bonds function similarly to bail bonds in criminal cases. The bond is a sum of money paid by the individual or a third party, and it will allow an immigrant to be temporarily released from detention while they await a final decision in their case. This amount is meant to ensure that the person will appear at all future hearings and meet any other requirements put in place by an immigration judge. The bond will be returned at the conclusion of the case, as long as the immigrant has complied with all conditions set by the immigration judge.

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 Posted on March 31, 2023 in Personal Injury

Motorcycle accidents can have a devastating effect on someone's life due to the severity of their injuries. The medical expenses, loss of income, and emotional trauma caused by an accident can quickly add up, leaving the victim with substantial financial burdens. If the accident was caused by someone else's negligence or intentional actions, the victim might be eligible to pursue a personal injury claim and seek compensation for their damages.

In North Carolina, a victim can recover several types of damages in a motorcycle accident injury claim. 

These damages fall into two broad categories: compensatory and punitive damages.

Compensatory Damages

Compensatory damages are intended to repay the victim for the losses caused by the motorcycle accident. These damages can be categorized into various subsections, such as:

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 Posted on March 14, 2023 in Immigration

For many immigrants, the United States represents a place of opportunity and the ability to be together with their loved ones. The visa system in the U.S. provides a number of ways that people from other countries can receive authorization to enter the country and live here permanently. One such visa is the fiancé visa, or K-1 nonimmigrant visa, which may be available for a foreign citizen who wishes to marry a U.S. citizen. If you are thinking about applying for a fiancé visa, it is important to understand all the eligibility requirements that will apply to both the immigrant fiancé and the U.S. citizen sponsor.

Eligible Relationship Status

The first requirement for eligibility for a fiancé visa is that the couple must be legally able to get married after the foreign citizen enters the United States. This means that both partners must meet all legal requirements for marriage in the state where the marriage will take place. That is, they must meet the applicable age requirements, and they must not be currently married. If they had been married in the past, they will need to show that the marriage has been legally terminated, which may be done by providing a copy of a divorce decree or the death certificate for a deceased spouse.

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 Posted on February 24, 2023 in Personal Injury

Although most dogs are beloved family pets that never harm anyone, dog bites remain a serious problem in North Carolina. Dog attacks can happen in the blink of an eye, making it difficult to react and know what to do once the attack is over. If you or someone you love has been seriously hurt by a dog, it is important to understand that you may be able to take legal action against the dog’s owner to recover damages for your suffering and medical expenses. Furthermore, taking quick action is often necessary to protect others from the dangerous dog in the future. Read more to learn about dog bites and dangerous dog laws in North Carolina. 

Dog Bite Injuries

Dogs may be man’s best friend, but they are also animals that can act in unpredictable ways. In a matter of just a few seconds, a dog can cause serious injuries, especially to small children. Common dog bite injuries include, but are not limited to: 

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 Posted on February 15, 2023 in Workers' Compensation

People usually spend at least eight hours a day, five days a week at work. With so much time on the clock, work injuries are bound to happen. While some of these injuries may be so minor that they do not justify taking any kind of legal action, others can be serious enough that they put someone out of work permanently. North Carolina requires most businesses to have workers’ compensation insurance, but that does not necessarily mean your employer has workers’ compensation insurance or, if it does, that the insurance will cover your injury. To learn what kind of injuries workers’ compensation is meant to cover, read on and then contact a North Carolina workers’ compensation insurance attorney for more information. 

Which Employers Need to Have Workers’ Compensation in North Carolina? 

North Carolina law requires businesses with three or more employees to have either workers’ compensation insurance or to qualify as a self-insured employer. However, certain employees are exempt from workers’ compensation coverage, including: 

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 Posted on January 27, 2023 in Criminal Defense

 Driving while intoxicated by drugs or alcohol is something that few people would admit to doing. However, studies suggest as many as one in four people have driven under the influence of alcohol or other substances. Some DWI arrests are the result of a poor decision while other times, faulty breath testing devices or other issues lead to an unjustified DWI arrest. 

If you were charged with driving while intoxicated (DWI), you may also be very nervous about the consequences you face for your actions. While this is natural, it is also important to know that the legal consequences for something like a DWI are rarely set in stone. The advocacy of a great attorney can help you fight the charges and possibly even get them dropped. 

What Can an Attorney Do in My Defense? 

Depending on the facts of the case, an attorney has several options available for fighting the charges. These include, but are not limited to: 

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 Posted on January 17, 2023 in Personal Injury

Most people know that if they have been injured in a car crash, slip-and-fall accident, or any other incident caused by someone else’s negligence, the injured person generally has the right to seek compensation for their losses from the at-fault party. In such cases, most people think primarily about their physical injuries. However, some of the most lasting, debilitating injuries are of a psychological or emotional nature.

Mental trauma – known as emotional distress in the legal world – has serious implications that may prolong a victim’s path back to normal. It may be difficult to work, maintain relationships, and process emotions normally. The toll on the victim and their family can be enormous. The good news is that, in certain circumstances, damages for emotional distress can be recovered through a personal injury claim.

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 Posted on December 28, 2022 in Criminal Defense

While North Carolina may not have a national reputation for being a hotspot of gang violence, large numbers of gangs are active in the state - well over a thousand by some counts. In 2018 and then again in 2020, members of the United Blood Nation were put into prison for crimes such as drug trafficking, illegal firearm possession, wire fraud, and committing other crimes using weapons. 

These are serious crimes with serious consequences, but not all gangs or groups are involved in criminal activity, and it may only be natural for a young person who is curious about a gang, or the parents of a young person who has shown interest in gang membership, to wonder if simply being in a gang is against the law in North Carolina. 

Is Being a Gang Member Illegal? 

In North Carolina, simply being a gang member is not against the law. However, whether someone gets in trouble for conduct committed as part of a gang is a much more important question. North Carolina has laws in place that are specially designed to punish gang activity. 

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 Posted on December 21, 2022 in Criminal Defense

If you have been charged with murder or manslaughter in North Carolina, you can bet that prosecutors will be motivated to put you behind bars. In the face of the charges against you, it may be tempting to simply give up; after all, surely no prosecutor would bring an unwinnable case of murder or manslaughter without evidence, right? Wrong. Prosecutors can be so eager to make it look like they are punishing someone responsible for murder that they might bring a weak case or even bring a case against the wrong person. When this happens to you, you need help from a North Carolina criminal defense attorney who will help you fight to stay out of prison and continue living your life. 

How Can a Lawyer Help Someone Accused of Murder? 

It may seem like the charges against you are hopeless, but with a great defense attorney, there is always a strategy for trying to beat the charges. Your attorney will carefully look at your case and, using the facts, the prosecutor’s evidence, and your own testimony, try to create the best defense possible. Among the defenses your attorney may use are: 

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