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Remember when we learned the VA was doing a horrible job taking care of our wounded veterans? People were angry, even on normally sedate media channels like NPR. For a few days, it was on the news all the time. But then the media suddenly forgot about it and decided that what we really needed to be angry about was the way Sgt. Bowe Bergdahl was recovered from Afghanistan. What happened to the VA? Is it fixed? Or is this just another example of how the media seeks to keep Americans perpetually angry and afraid, without ever actually proposing any real solution? Well, I haven't completely forgotten last week even if cable news has, so here's a couple of ideas on the VA. 1.  Link Veterans' Care to Politicians' Care. This would work perfectly if we could get it done. Make sure that no Congressman, no President and no federal judge can get medical care anywhere but in a VA hospital and you will see those places cleaned out and fixed up before the sun comes up tomorrow. Since the 1992 Presidential election, health care has been one of the main issues in this country - Congress debates year after year about how to deliver high-quality health care to Americans. But there's no debating the lavish care Congress hands out to itself. Every one of our elected officials makes 5-6 times what a front-line soldier makes and gets about ten times the health benefits. Reversing that would be a good goal, but just equalizing Congress' care with that of our soldiers, sailors, airmen and marines would be a great start. 2.  Fund the VA the Way We Fund the War The medical care our veterans receive is a national scandal. While the press attention has heated up just in the last few weeks, the fact is that we have seen decades and decades of sub-standard, indifferent, and inadequate treatment for America's armed servicemen and women. Eric Shinseki, the current Secretary of Veterans Affairs, a war-wounded veteran himself, has resigned in the wake of revelations that our men and women in uniform are dying while waiting for the care they need, deserve and are legally entitled to, as veterans. Though few Congressmen these days have ever served in uniform, let alone been wounded as Shinseki was, they did not hesitate to lambaste his leadership of the chronically underfunded Department of Veterans Affairs. VA funding in the past several years has averaged at something less than $100,000,000,000.00. A hundred billion dollars sounds like a lot of money, until you realize we have 22,000,000 veterans, meaning they are getting less than $5,000 worth of care each. For the tens of thousands of wounded the Iraq and Afghanistan wars have produced and an aging population of veterans from other wars, that isn't even coming close. It's hard to believe, but the Congress has engaged in repeated efforts to cut the VA budget, sometimes for purely political reasons. Meanwhile, Congress easily found, (okay borrowed), somewhere between two and three trillion dollars ($2-3,000,000,000,000.00) to fund the war. So we apparently can come up with the money when we need it. The veterans need it and they should get it before we spend any more money on new wars. 3.  Get a Real Leader at the VA President Obama finds himself once again in a difficult position and in need of a bold and bipartisan move. Can he finally make one? General Shinseki has lost the confidence of the congress and has to be replaced. While it may seem that there are many choices, in fact, there is in fact only one man for this job and that is former Vice President Richard Cheney. Unlike former President George Bush, Mr. Cheney continues to show great interest in the day-to-day running of the country, commenting frequently on what needs to be done next. His vigorous and active position on the sidelines should be converted to a position of authority immediately and in the most appropriate place, the Department of Veteran's Affairs, overseeing medical care for America's wounded warriors. Few political leaders have done more to swell the ranks of our veterans than Mr. Cheney. Moreover, he enjoys a powerful reputation as a man who is a " realist," who " understands the military," and who can " get things done." No mission could possibly be more important for him than one, final, mission: to clean up our nation's system of providing quality medical care to the hundreds of thousands of Veterans who need it, as a result of their service to our country. Mr. Cheney remains close to our servicemen and women. One veteran wrote him a powerful letter, before he died, making a lot of strong points about just how closely connected Mr. Cheney is to America's veterans and their situation. In any case, there's no question that Cheney knows how to work successfully with the "other side " when he is motivated to get a job done. Mr. Cheney has repeatedly claimed that " weakness " in the White House has endangered Americans and their interests in the world for the past six years. While he may not be a 2016 candidate for the White House himself, owing to his age, he can certainly serve, as he has before, in the cabinet, bringing his lifetime of service, experience, and most of all, toughness, to the problems faced by the VA. Politics cannot possibly enter into the moral debt we owe our veterans. But putting Dick Cheney, himself, at the head of the agency tasked with caring for our war wounded veterans would be the ultimate bi-partisan choice -- one person we can all agree on who deserves the opportunity to use his talent to do one final service for his country. A man of his ability should not criticizing from the peanut gallery. Get him in the fight.

On Wednesday, May 28 th, I like many others, I was disheartened to hear of the death of Doctor Maya Angelou. I majored in English at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill-just a hop, skip, and a jump away from Wake Forest University where Angelou taught. I cannot speak for the English Departments at Duke, NC State, or any of the other fine schools in North Carolina, but at UNC we rallied around our local writers and boasted of their achievements as if their works were written by our own pen at hand! When I was in college, it was not unusual to see Doctor Angelou's name listed on the syllabus of every modern-day English class offered. As a matter of fact, it was pretty much a given. Her works such as A Song Flung Up to Heaven and, of course, the famous I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings are phenomenal-her poetry beyond brilliant. To me, learning about her life and the obstacles that she overcame makes her works even more exceptional. She had endured rape as a young child and became a mother in her teen years. She lacked a college education yet was inundated in honorary degrees. She not only overcame her trials and tribulations, but she embraced them and put them into words to share with the rest of the world. Doctor Angelou once said, "You may not control all the events that happen to you, but you can decide not to be reduced by them." These are words we should all try to live by.

With another Memorial Day weekend in the books, it is safe to say that the summer has officially begun! Summertime in the Ohio Valley is always jam-packed with so many events that there isn't any time to complain of boredom. As a native of the Ohio valley, I see all of these events as a tradition, as well as long-lost friends who always finds their way back to you. I am currently in college locally, and whenever I meet fellow classmates who are not from the valley, I find myself explaining my excitement for these events and oftentimes received puzzled looks in response. It is also important to remember that there are families that have moved here because of the oil and gas industry who may not know about these events. I think it is important to welcome the outsiders to our friendly valley and introduce them into these special events that occur each and every summer. My top three favorite events that I would like to introduce to the newcomers of the valley are Jamboree in the Hills, The Upper Ohio Valley Italian Heritage Festival, and the OVAC Rudy Mumley All-Star Charity Football Classic. All three of these events take place throughout the month of July and are very important to the citizens of the Ohio Valley. Jamboree in the Hills, also known as the ultimate country music experience, is a 4-day country music festival that takes place in Belmont, Ohio and features some of the hottest artists in country music. I myself have only attended four Jamborees and have to say that it is an experience that I will never forget. I have always been amazed that our little Ohio Valley could throw a party so big that people from all over the country and even Canada look forward to attending every year. It is also a huge time for businesses in the area, which also helps our valley succeed. If Jamboree is not your thing, my second favorite summertime tradition is going to the Upper Ohio Valley Italian Heritage Festival. The festival is located in downtown Wheeling, WV and kicks off the weekend of July 25 th. Along with every Italian cuisine one could imagine, there are also other festival events including live music, a firework show, and a wine and sauce competition. My most memorable event from this weekend is the OVAC Queen or Queens Pageant, which takes place on Friday the 25 th at 7:00 p.m. The pageant, held at Wesbanco Arena right in the heart of the Italian festival, features a variety of different talents from each Queen who is representing her high school. I have gone every year and the turnout has been great. Even if it isn't your thing it's a great way to cool off from the heat and the contestants love the support. The 69 th annual Rudy Mumley Ohio Valley tradition is the OVAC All-Star Charity Football Classic is my third and final favorite Ohio Valley tradition. Growing up in the Ohio Valley anybody and everybody knows how big football is, but adding the word OVAC in front of it gives it a whole new meaning. The football classic features the area schools top football players, cheerleaders, and band members. I was lucky enough to be able to take part in the 2011 OVAC All-Starr game and I have to say that the support from the valley is overwhelming, whether you are on the Ohio side or West Virginia side, everyone is cheering you on. This year's kick off is on July 27 th at 7:15 p.m. at the Wheeling Island Stadium. Although the winters here in the valley are brutal and tempt me to move south after graduating college, reflecting on the Ohio Valley's biggest events and how many memories I have made by attending them is what will more than likely make me continue to reside here. Attending these events not only allows for memories to be made, but it also helps our valley grow and puts us on the map. So get ready, because July is right around the corner.

This week's packed episode of the Bordas & Bordas Legal Review hits a number of topics, including the unfolding Donald Sterling situation, the scandalous treatment of our veterans at VA hospitals and Edward Snowden's explosive NBC interview. The scope and depth of treatment the issues receive on the Bordas & Bordas Legal Review is comprehensive and a cure for the sound-bite focused drive-by media. Check it out today! You can view the Bordas & Bordas Legal Review locally on Comcast Channel 14 or also online, both streaming and in the archive. The current episode is embedded within this post. Click here to view the program on vimeo, or watch the embedded version if your browser supports it. Click this link to see the WLUTV schedule so you can view a live-stream of WLUTV and check this page for a schedule of when the program airs.

Bordas & Bordas has launched a new blog, this one covering the West Virginia Supreme Court of Appeals, at www.WVSCBlog.com. This new site - the only one of its kind in West Virginia, covers the West Virginia Supreme Court of Appeals from a professional perspective, but in a way that strives to be useful to the layperson as well. It is already chock-full of interesting articles about the cases decided so far this year. Chief Editor Jay Stoneking had this to say about the new site: Every year the West Virginia Supreme Court decides hundreds of cases that are as varied as our own life experiences-cases covering contracts, torts, criminal law, family law, abuse and neglect, civil rights and constitutional law, just to name a few. These cases can have a profound impact. Federal courts tend to grab the headlines, but the reality is that the decisions of state courts probably have the most direct, day-to-day impact on the lives of ordinary Americans. All of this begs the question: who is covering our Supreme Court? Certainly, there are news outlets that cover general legal stories. But is there anyone tracking cases as they make their way through the briefing and oral argument stages? Is there anyone previewing cases and identifying the ones that should be watched most carefully? Is there anyone systematically analyzing and providing commentary on the latest Supreme Court opinions? Unfortunately, the answer to each of these questions is no. The purpose of our website is to help fill that void. We will not give full coverage to every case on the Supreme Court's docket. That would be a daunting task. Instead, we will review the docket in advance and select those cases that are likely to be significant to those interested in general civil litigation. This has a broader sweep than you might think. It goes far beyond tort law. Cases dealing with jury selection, discovery, and motion practice are also vitally important. Insurance cases will be covered too, along with related topics such as subrogation, liens, etc. We will also cover jurisdictional cases and any cases addressing important aspects of the rules of procedure or evidence. In short, we hope to publish blogs covering any cases bearing on the practice of a general civil litigator. So who should follow our website? Good question. We are not writing exclusively for lawyers. Far from it. Our website is meant to serve as a source of timely and relevant information for anyone with a serious interest in the Supreme Court. If you have a desire to follow the Supreme Court and its cases, then we invite you to avail yourself of the resources we offer. To provide you with the best possible coverage of the Supreme Court's caseload, we will be using three kinds of blogs. First, we will provide argument previews. These are overviews of cases scheduled for oral argument, providing the reader with the factual background, the legal issue presented, the positions advanced by the parties in their briefs, and a discussion of the case's probable impact. Second, once a case has been decided we will provide an opinion analysis. This includes a thorough review of the Supreme Court's reasoning and a commentary on the case's overall importance and impact. Third, we will provide general blogs from time to time exploring broader legal topics-e.g., legal trends and a look at the Supreme Court itself, including its history, its inner workings and its involvement with the public. We hope these blogs will help to "demystify" the Supreme Court and make it more familiar to lawyers and others who are interested in its work. WWW.WVSCBlog.com should become a go-to resource for attorneys, litigants, interested citizens and even the judiciary as the Court hands down new decisions to analyze and explain each term. Check it out today!

I attended my niece, Maria Murphy's, graduation from 8 th grade at St. Michael's Parish School on Wednesday, May 28th. There were 33 graduates. When St. Michael's graduates receive their diploma, they choose an alumni of St. Michael's, usually a family member or friend, pin them with an Alumni pin. Since her brother, Vincent Murphy, graduated last year from St. Michael's, he was the alumni performing the pinning for Maria. Seeing Vincent put the Alumni pin on his little sister was pretty special. As anyone who has the pleasure of having a brother or a sister or brothers and sisters knows, there are always the occasional arguments between siblings. Seeing them in this situation was quite unique and brought a tear to my eye. They both are growing up so fast and it seems like yesterday when they transferred to St. Michael's in first and second grade. Graduations are bittersweet, as you want the graduates to grow up and be wonderful, loving, caring adults who provide for their families and others, but you also want them to stay sweet and innocent. Maria was a born prematurely, weighing only 3 lbs, 4 ounces at birth, so to see her graduate is quite awesome. She will be 14 years old on June 2. Maria has grown into a wonderful, loving and caring young lady. I know she really cares for everyone around her. For example, she composed a beautiful prayer for an assignment at St. Michael's in 2011. In that prayer, she reminds herself to pray, serve and help those around her. This prayer will give you an idea how caring Maria was in the 5 th Grade at just 11 years old! I am confident that her future is very bright. Maria's cousin and my great niece, Karli Yocum, who is 6, also graduated this year on May 23 rd from St. Michael's Kindergarten class. So, on to First Grade Karli will venture and, in another 8 years, there will be another 8th Grade Graduation. New beginnings make the world go round. As I stated last year after Vincent's graduation, I will also pray that Maria makes the right choices and develops into the best person she can in whatever she chooses. Good luck Maria! I know that you will make us all proud. Congratulations to all of the 2014 St. Michael's Parish School graduates and Good Luck Maria Murphy on the next chapter in your life at Wheeling Central Catholic High School. I will be there if you need anything.

Jamie Bordas and Chris Regan return after a brief hiatus with a brand-new episode of the Bordas & Bordas Legal Review. This week's edition covers the legal aspects of the NBA's promise to force Donald Sterling to sell the LA Clippers as well as another lawsuit filed against the NFL by its players. This latest suit involves the irresponsible and illegal providing of painkillers to players, as well as misrepresentation of side-effects, long-term effects and player injuries by "team doctors." You can view the Bordas & Bordas Legal Review locally on Comcast Channel 14 or also online, both streaming and in the archive. The current episode is embedded within this post. Click here to view the program on vimeo, or watch the embedded version if your browser supports it. Click this link to see the WLUTV schedule so you can view a live-stream of WLUTV and check this page for a schedule of when the program airs.

Last month, thanks to the courageous leadership of several state legislators, the West Virginia legislature passed a budget that included $200,000.00 in additional funding for the creation/operation of child advocacy centers (CACs) throughout West Virginia. For those who are unfamiliar, CACs provide support, therapy and protection for victims of child abuse in our state. Here in the Wheeling/Moundsville area, we are fortunate to have our own CAC, Harmony House, which serves children in various surrounding counties as well. The purpose of the proposed funding increase was, among other things, to provide for the creation of CACs in counties in which such centers do not currently exist, thus frequently leaving abused children with no source of assistance and treatment. When the budget proposal reached his desk, Gov. Tomblin was confronted with what was as close to an impossible decision as I can imagine. The proposed budget, including the CAC funding increase, required a dip into the WV "Rainy Day Fund" in order to achieve the constitutionally-mandated balance. Gov. Tomblin was concerned - and rightly so - that the amount to be taken from the Rainy Day Fund was too great. His only option to reduce the amount taken from the Fund was to make the difficult decision to veto some of the proposed budget allocations. Thus, several agencies suffered significant cuts to their projected budgets. Sadly, the $200,000.00 earmarked for CACs was cut. As is always the case when budgets are cut, lots of folks were unhappy. Some argued that women's and children's causes were disproportionately victimized by the cuts, and leaders/supporters of those causes wanted to know why. Jim Justice, the billionaire whose Greenbrier resort is the beneficiary of a multi-million dollar tax credit to aid tourism, was quoted as saying there is "nothing negative" about the investment, citing the multiplier effect of tourism dollars. While I too believe that tourism investment is positive for our state, I would argue that there's also "nothing negative" about preventing child abuse. There's certainly "nothing negative" about providing a 6-year-old boy a shelter where he won't be beaten every night. And there's "nothing negative" about making a grade-school girl feel safe enough to tell that she has been molested for the last five years. But there's more. One of the largest and most important, yet often overlooked, public health studies of our time, the Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACE) Study conducted by the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), concluded: what happens to you when you are a child has a direct impact on your health as an adult. The ACE Study surveyed adults for the number of adverse childhood experiences they had endured (child sexual abuse, domestic violence in the home, etc.) and looked at their current health condition. What the study found is a correlating relationship: for each additional adverse experience the individual had, there was an increased likelihood for most major chronic health problems-heart disease, chronic lung disease, liver disease, cancer, and diabetes. The same data suggests a strong correlating relationship between ACEs and mental health diagnoses, substance abuse, and behavioral problems. In fact, an individual with 4 or more ACEs has a reduced life expectancy of 20 years. Studies analyzing the impact of child abuse on adult economic well-being claim maltreatment may impede earning capacities by about $5,000 per year. Another recent CDC study estimated the lifetime cost of child maltreatment at $201,012 per victim. This includes costs for childhood and adult medical care, productivity loss, child welfare, criminal justice, and special education. West Virginia Child Protective Services identified 22,830 victims of child abuse in the last 5 years. Using the CDC's estimates, this equates to a total cost of 4.5 BILLION dollars just for victims identified in the last five years, a price tag greater than this year's entire general revenue budget. And yet there is hope. In West Virginia there are evidence-based programs that prevent child abuse, such as in-home family education. And we have programs that identify abuse when it occurs and provide evidence-based treatment that helps children heal. But these are the same programs for which the Governor pulled out his red pen-Child Advocacy Centers, Domestic Violence Programs, In-Home Family Education, Family Resource Networks and the Children's Trust Fund. Think about this multiplier effect: children who grow up in homes free from abuse then become adults with less substance abuse issues, fewer major health problems, and less criminal behaviors. Our state saves on Medicaid, the corrections system, and substance abuse treatment. And we have more productive members of our workforce, providing more tax revenue to the state. That's a multiplier effect our State can believe in-true justice reinvestment-there's "nothing negative" about that. Fortunately, our lawmakers are sometimes afforded the opportunity to reconsider their budgetary decisions. In the case of the CAC funding cuts, the legislature met in special session earlier this month and overwhelmingly voted to pass a budget which restored the previously-vetoed funding. This time, when the proposed budget reached the Governor's desk, he signed it. The job of the Governor is a difficult one, particularly when it comes to budget time. No one is happy when their budget is cut, or when their cause is denied a desperately-needed funding increase. Our Governor should be commended for having the courage to reconsider his earlier veto. History has shown that Governor Tomblin does his best to act in the best interest of all of the citizens of West Virginia. Sometimes, doing so requires that he prioritize budgetary requests. Nothing should be a higher priority in West Virginia than protecting our children. In restoring CAC funding to the levels originally proposed, the Legislature and Governor Tomblin have confirmed that fact. I applaud their actions.

Our local Catholic grade schools are fortunate to have such a kind and caring individual to serve as their nurse. The children of our local Catholic grade schools are the true beneficiaries of precious gold. She's known as Nurse Miss Mary Ann and you can find her stationed at St. Vincent's School. She also travels to the area Catholic grade schools, for review and maintenance of student health records and actively engages in educational services for our children. One thing guaranteed, should you run into her, you will be greeted with a smile. I happen to have been blessed to be around her for the last 45 years because she is my aunt. On May 17, 2014, Mary Ann was headed to Charleston, West Virginia, with her brother, Michael, to meet up with other family members as they were about to take a vacation trip to Hilton Head. Then it happened! The sounds of screeching, grumbling, and shattering glass struck. WOWKTV posted an article about the accident, describing that it resulted in one person being sent to the hospital. That person they are talking about that was taken to the hospital was your Nurse Miss Mary Ann and my aunt. Thankfully, we have her with us unscathed, well, compared to at least could have been, from the wreckage. A true miracle right before our eyes. But, this is not the first miracle she has encountered. In 1996, Mary Ann suddenly lost her husband, Ed, to an unexpected heart attack, leaving her in her forties with her two daughters, Tina and Molly to carry on without him. Not long after, she learned that she had ovarian cancer. Mary Ann beat those odds. In December of 2011, she was diagnosed with a meningioma tumor that, ultimately, was successfully removed in Pittsburgh at Allegheny General Hospital. And, now, this obstacle. Not once has Mary Ann complained or asked why me? Not once has she held onto any anger because of her circumstance. She has accepted these trials with complete grace. She is a true hero and an exemplary role model. So, this is a dedication and recognition to our Nurse Miss Mary Ann and how grateful we are to be blessed with her presence and guidance in our lives and to be so fortunate as to have her influence among our children. Thanks for our Ohio Valley blessing, Nurse Miss Mary Ann.

I am now a full-fledged, bona fide empty nester. But, in truth, there has been a lot of coming and going in my "nest" through the years. My daughter, Jayme, was the first to leave, heading off to WVU in 2004. She hated how big and impersonal WVU was and ended up returning to Wheeling six months later. For the next three and a half years, she lived with us again and commuted to West Liberty University, where she completed a nursing degree. Then she got married and became the first one to fully and finally leave the nest. Meanwhile my other daughter, Stacey, left for college. Unlike Jayme, Stacey found WVU to be a good fit. Stacey came home often on weekends and during the summer so it didn't seem like she had quite parted ways with the nest. Then she graduated and began working fulltime in Morgantown. But even with both of my children gone the nest wasn't quite empty. My nephew, Bryan, was accepted to the respiratory therapy program at Northern Community College so he moved from Elkins to Wheeling and began living with us. Bryan's clinicals and course work were time-consuming, but when he wasn't busy with school he was hanging out with us--working, playing and watching a lot of television together. In May of this year, however, two things have happened that will forever change my nesting situation. First, Bryan graduated and returned home to Elkins. Now he'll take his boards and go through the grueling process of applying for a job. Second, Stacey got married. To be honest, the excitement of the wedding is still in the air. But reality is already beginning to sink in--my nest is truly empty. My wife, Brenda, and I have noticed that the house seems a little bigger now than it did. And a little more quiet. Too quiet, if you ask me. No laughing or talking in the background. No footsteps. No signs of life. Just the two of us trying to cope with our big, empty house. We have great memories and both of our children live nearby so the transition hasn't been too abrupt. But it's still a transition, and day-by-day we're adjusting to the new reality in our nest. Jayme, Stacey and Bryan have all turned a new page in their life story. With God's help, so will we... Maybe you have an empty nest story of your own, or maybe you have a word of wisdom to lift the spirits of an empty nester like me. Feel free to share!

Our freedoms aren't free. The men and women of our armed forces who defend us make many sacrifices so you and I can go on about our daily lives without a second thought. Our military members are apart from family for great lengths of time. They miss births, deaths and milestones in the lives of those they love. They work in extreme conditions and, sometimes, must see, do and endure things that you and I could never fathom. There are times they face disease, debilitating injuries and mental anguish because they protected us. Yet, we've found out in recent weeks that those who have given of themselves for our freedoms, once they return home, are not always being taken care of as they should. It is being reported that more than 40 veterans have died while waiting for nearly up to two years to be seen by doctors for numerous life threatening illnesses at the Veterans Affairs Medical Center in Phoenix and more deaths are being reported at VA medical centers throughout the United States. Word is that the Phoenix VA works off of two lists - an "official" list that's shared with the powers that be in Washington and shows the VA has been providing timely appointments to patients. And then there's the real list that isn't shared, where wait times can last more than a year. In our own state, a psychiatrist formerly employed with the Huntington VA Medical Center in Charleston came forward this week stating that she was ordered to delay the treatment of veterans for months which resulted in at least two suicides. How can this be in a country that is first to aid those in need in a foreign land? We are failing to protect our own...those who have protected us! I recall spending time with my husband's grandfather, a veteran of World War II, who often talked of his time overseas. "Pap," one of the Greatest Generation, took much pride in the fact that he served his country as a member of the 45 th Infantry Division out of Oklahoma. Well into his 80s, he donned the red and gold thunderbird insignia on a license plate on the front of his car and wore a small thunderbird pin on his jacket and even had a sweatshirt or two with the logo. Pap was always pleased to say he served his country. It breaks my heart to think that, had he needed care and been reliant on the VA, he may or may not have received  it. We were lucky in that our family didn't have to deal with such horror. However, there are many family members of others who weren't so fortunate. Whatever the reason for the debacle within Veterans Affairs, it needs to be corrected without delay. The hardest war our veterans fight shouldn't be at home with their health care. While I believe it's important to always hold our veterans in high esteem, with Memorial Day approaching, it is the perfect time to honor our them and remember those no longer with us. Join Bordas & Bordas, along with the folks from the Ogden Half Marathon Classic, as we salute our military heroes past and present beginning at 7:45, Friday, May 23 at Wheeling's Heritage Port. A free concert will feature the 30-plus member Allegheny Brass Band playing patriotic songs. All veterans will be recognized during the event, and a special honor will be given to all World War II and Korean War veterans in attendance. I will be thinking of Pap and those who have gone before us. And to those who have served and are serving, THANK YOU!

Debt collection practices continue to come to our attention. Many of our clients have experienced harassing phone calls, demands for payments not truly owed, illegal threats of bogus consequences for failing to pay, up to and including imprisonment, or lawsuits to collect stale debts that are barred by the applicable statute of limitations. These abuses are disturbingly common - in fact, a great many debt collectors built their business on these practices. Abusive debt collection practices can take a terrible toll, emotionally and practically. Beyond the fear, stress and embarrassment, families can have their bank accounts frozen, making it impossible to pay for their most basic needs. Debt collectors frequently place incorrect information on people's credit reports, impairing their ability to secure credit, housing and even employment on some occasions. Debt collection has quickly become the number one source of complaints at the Federal Consumer Financial Protection Bureau. Likewise, Complaints have increased more than 1,400 percent at the Federal Trade Commission. Consumer complaint data indicates the most common grievances are mistaken information and what the CFPB calls "aggressive communication tactics and threats." Reports demonstrate no shortage of appalling anecdotes. In Illinois, an elderly woman was repeatedly called and harassed over a debt allegedly owed by her ex-husband, from whom she had been divorced for more than 30 years. Another woman who was caring for four profoundly disabled foster children nearly had her bank account frozen (despite the fact that it contained nothing but public-benefit funds designated for the children's care) as a result of a judgment that had been vacated years earlier. The up-tick in debt collection problems appears to be a combination of aggressive lending and widespread economic distress. Household debt nearly doubled in the half-decade before the financial crisis of 2008; the reckless lending and deceptive loans of those years contributed to a sharp rise in payment delinquency, which was accompanied by an explosion of new debt buyers and a deterioration of industry practices. Having paid pennies on the dollar for the right to go after a portfolio of purportedly delinquent debtors, many debt buyers fail to determine the validity of the data they purchased. Often, years have passed and misinformation has become engrained into the collection process. Rather than perform due diligence, collectors often adopt a shotgun approach, hoping to frighten a few people into paying opposed to pursuing their rights. The National Consumer Law Center, the National Association of Consumer Advocates, and others have called for further regulation by the CFPB. Fortunately, for West Virginians, strong state remedies already exist. Penalties of nearly $5,000 for each act (i.e. call or letter) that violates state law are provided, along with the right to recovery your attorney fees. Consider contacting us if you have been subjected to the practices described herein, including: 1) threats that non-payment will result in arrest or garnishing wages without informing the consumer that a judicial order is necessary for any garnishment; (2) the use of profane or obscene language; (3) calling repeatedly or continuously, or at unusual times, with intent to annoy, abuse, oppress or threaten any person at the called number; (4) the communication with any employer of information relating to an employee's indebtedness; (5) the disclosure of information relating to a consumer's indebtedness to any relative or family member of the consumer if such person is not residing with the consumer; (6) falsely stating that the call is "urgent" or an "emergency"; (7) collection or threatened assessment of the debt collector's fee, attorney fees or other charges; (8) any communication with a consumer whenever it appears that the consumer is represented by an attorney; (9) any false representation of the character, extent or amount of a debt, or of its status in any legal proceeding; and (10) auto-dialed collection calls made to your cell phone without your permission. This article is for informational purposes only and not for the purpose of providing legal advice. You should contact an attorney to obtain advice with respect to any particular issue or problem. Use of and access to this website or any of the email links contained within the site do not create an attorney-client relationship between Bordas & Bordas and the user or browser.