Legal Advice Blog: Legal Advice, Case Insights, & Local Law Information

Consider the following set of facts. Jerry is solicited by a mortgage broker. The broker convinces Jerry that he should refinance his home and hires an unscrupulous appraiser, who gives an inflated value for Jerry's home. Using this inflated appraisal, the broker dupes Jerry into taking a higher loan--so high, in fact, that the loan is more than the home's actual value. With this higher loan, of course, come higher loan payments. The broker knows that Jerry can't really afford the loan, but no matter. The broker simply pockets his fees and moves onto the next victim. Does Jerry have a claim against the broker? Absolutely. But what if the broker goes out of business, or declares bankruptcy, or simply disappears? What then? Our legislature has provided protection for just such an eventuality. Mortgage brokers are required to post a bond for the protection of all West Virginia consumers, including Jerry. Next question: What happens if Jerry gets a judgment against the broker? Does the insurance company that issued the bond have to pay up? You would think the obvious answer would be yes. But insurance companies are not so fast to part with their money. In Hartford Fire Ins. Co. vs. Curtis, 2000 WL 2460723 (W.Va. 4/17/13), Hartford argued that the homeowner, Jerry Rhodes, would have to try his case all over again. Scott Blass of Bordas & Bordas, together with Dan Hedges, represented Jerry and secured a major win for consumers. The West Virginia Supreme Court held that the bond was a judgment bond. Therefore, getting a judgment against the broker was enough to obligate Hartford to pay. But that's not the end of the story. Jerry also sued Hartford for bad faith, alleging that Hartford acted inappropriately by denying Jerry's claim and compelling him to sue to recover money that was clearly due and owing. Incredibly, Hartford has taken the position that Jerry was not a "first party claimant" who had a right to sue for bad faith. But that's simply not true. The bond was written for the purpose of protecting all of the "Jerrys" who might be victimized by predatory lending practices. It was Jerry who had to sue in the first place. It was also Jerry who had to endure years of delay at Hartford's hands until it was finally ordered to pay. Obviously, then, it was Jerry who had the right to sue Hartford for its illegal tactics in delaying payment of the claim. These bad faith issues are presently before the Fourth Circuit Court of Appeals. As always, Bordas & Bordas is committed to protecting consumers and insuring that their legal rights are vindicated. We are confident that the Fourth Circuit will follow the law and reach a result that enables consumers, like Jerry, to fully enforce their rights and keep insurers, like Hartford, from violating them. This means giving Jerry, along with other West Virginians, the right to sue for bad faith when insurance companies engage in delay tactics and otherwise refuse to honor their contractual obligations. The results in a legal case depend on a variety of factors, many of which are unique to each case. Prior results by this firm or any other do not guarantee future results. Case results presented here are illustrations of the type of work done by Bordas & Bordas and not a guarantee that any prospective case will yield any particular amount.

I had the privilege of attending the St. Michael's Catholic Grade School children's mass held last Wednesday. The song that is sung at the conclusion of the mass is titled, "We are Called." It goes something like this: Come live in the light Shine with the joy of the love of the Lord We are called to be light for the Kingdom To live in the freedom of the city of God We are called to act with justice We are called to love tenderly We are called to serve one another To walk humbly with God Come open your heart Show your mercy to all those in fear We are called to be hope for the hopeless So all hatred and blindness will be no more Each time this song is sung I think of what the mission of the law firm that my wife and I started in 1985 is all about. The way that I see our mission and hope that others in our firm see the firm's mission is reflected in the song - to give hope to the hopeless, to lend an ear, to act with justice and to love tenderly. I believe that we each are called to serve one another and should walk humbly on this earth with our God. Although I don't always get it right I try to and I'm hopeful that the rest of the members of our firm and our staff do the same thing. It has been my desire since I was privileged to be accepted to law school, graduate and be licensed to assist those in need, to stand up for the bullied, to help the widowed, orphaned and homeless and to seek justice on behalf of our clients. I also recently read an article that was attached to the St. Michael's Catholic Church bulletin with a caption, "What does it mean to be just in our relationships?" The former leader of the Catholic Church, Pope John Paul, II, stated that one should not "forget that true love sets no conditions; it does not calculate or complain, but simply loves." I believe that's who we should be as human beings. Matthew 25:31-46 identifies the corporal works of mercy that have long been a part of the Christian faith tradition. These Beatitudes should remind all of us to feed the hungry, to give drink to the thirsty, to clothe the naked, to shelter the homeless, to take care of the sick, to visit the imprisoned and to bury the dead. Most of us do pretty well with respect to caring for the sick and burying the dead but we oftentimes fail with respect to the other Beatitudes. Certainly the one that I fail most often with is one that most people think would be at the top of a lawyer's list - that is, to visit the imprisoned. I seldom do that but I intend to set the goal of doing that in the future. In considering giving drink to the thirsty, I am reminded of the missions to Africa in which volunteers are drilling wells, thereby providing clean water and saving the countless hours it takes to walk to and from a watering hole. It greatly improves the lives of those fortunate people who will be the beneficiaries of the kindness of those contributing money towards the drilling and those actually doing the digging. While I don't dig the wells sent, I send money to help buy the wells used. It seems I can best meet the requirement of that particular beatitude in that way. In further speaking of the Beatitudes, the corporal works of mercy all involve loving our neighbor. The bulletin that I earlier referred to from St. Michael's listed in "Reflections of Your Faith" three ways to love your neighbor. St. Paul reminds us in Galatians 5:13 that we are to serve one another in love. In living as a Christian, the disciples' responsibilities are to love and care for one another as Jesus taught us. The bulletin advises that we should branch out and "take a risk. Go out and meet your neighbors, especially if you are new to the area. Two: Give from the heart. Outreach does not always involve financial giving. Sharing your time or professional expertise or just offering a listening ear can make a difference to someone who is lonely, sick or struggling. Three: See with the eyes of stewardship. Stewardship is a unique way of living based in the ancient teaching that everything is a gift from God. When we give to our parish, our community, or our neighbor in need, we are sharing resources that have been given to us by grace." These suggestions to branch out, give from the heart, and see from the eyes of faith are taken almost word for word from the "Renew Your Faith" section of the September 22, 2013 bulletin. I have read the bulletin, liked what it read and borrowed the information so that I might share it with those who are reading the blog. Finally, it's this time of year that many of us start thinking about Catholic Charities, Salvation Army and others that help with clothing the less fortunate. I am also reminded of the great work that Catholic Charities and the Greater Wheeling Soup Kitchen do to feed the hundreds of people that are in need of daily meals. These are two of my favorite charities because I feel that they do great good for people who are greatly in need of their assistance. I would encourage you to consider helping these very worthy charities by either contributing money or by volunteering your time. These organizations will appreciate your help and you will feel good about yourself for the help that you provide.

At Bordas & Bordas, we have shared the interest of many in the Ohio Valley about the continuing development of the natural gas industry. We acknowledge and recognize the potential benefits of this drilling to our citizens in terms of jobs and economic growth. We are hopeful that those jobs and the benefits of that growth will stay in our community as much as possible. By the same token, our community has the right to demand of the powerful interests involved that they conduct their operations safely, with an acknowledgement that nothing should be more important than the health of the workers at the job site and the long-term consequences of their activities on our environment. Our children and grandchildren will be breathing the air and drinking the water here in the Ohio Valley long after these companies have gone home. Explosions and other incidents are a serious problem. The U.S. Department of Transportation, Pipeline & Hazardous Materials Safety Administration, PHMSA, has compiled some staggering statistics regarding pipeline incidents in the United States. As PHMSA states, there have been 968 serious pipeline incidents in the United States over the last 10 years resulting in 367 fatalities, 1,462 serious injuries, and over $700 million in property damage. West Virginia is not immune from the dangers of these incidents. Many of us are familiar with the dramatic Sissonville explosion in December of last year. The deaths of two workers in April of this year at the Tyler County Eureka Hunter Pipeline, and the July explosions at a Doddridge County fracking site are also recent examples, but they are far from the only examples. At Bordas & Bordas, we have a significant amount of experience representing individuals harmed through these types of explosions in industrial and residential settings. Like many other types of cases, the early intervention of an experienced attorney is critical. Evidence has to be preserved and analyzed. Often, expert witnesses and investigators need to be obtained immediately. A variety of federal and state agencies may also be involved and gaining access to the investigative reports of these agencies is very important. We have the right expert contacts and are experienced in collecting the relevant information and obtaining answers for our clients. If the facts warrant, we will aggressively fight for justice for the victims of these explosions. The results in a legal case depend on a variety of factors, many of which are unique to each case. Prior results by this firm or any other do not guarantee future results. Case results presented here are illustrations of the type of work done by Bordas & Bordas and not a guarantee that any prospective case will yield any particular amount.

This week's episode of the Bordas & Bordas Legal Review features Jamie Bordas and Chris Regan going through what is sure to be an exciting and controversial term at the United States Supreme Court. If you think our government isn't getting along when it comes to spending, health care, and the debt ceiling, wait until you see the things we really aren't getting along about such that they have reached the level of being set for oral argument in the United States Supreme Court. Whether it is campaign finance, affirmative action, abortion, public prayer, or presidential power, Bordas and Regan will break down the key issues and even give you a couple of predictions as to how these crucial cases may determine how the future of our country will turn out. You can view the Bordas & Bordas Legal Review locally on Comcast Channel 14 or online, both streaming and in the archives. The current episode is embedded above. Pick up this episode through the WLUTV archives, and be sure to check the WLUTV schedule for other B&BLR show times and programming.

Bordas & Bordas is giving you a chance to see one of the most anticipated match ups of the year... Ohio State Buckeyes vs Penn State on October 26 in Columbus. Like the Bordas & Bordas Facebook page, Share the post and Text the keyword WINTIX to 22828 for your chance to win. Good Luck!

Bordas & Bordas is proud to feature a guest post today by Colleen Pietz, a local breast cancer survivor, as part of our ongoing support of National Breast Cancer Awareness Month. We are also proud to support the 8 th Annual Driving Fore a Cure Golf Classic, which occurs today at Oglebay Park. The proceeds of Driving Fore A Cure stay in the Ohio Valley to help women who have been diagnosed with breast cancer. "When you can't control the wind, adjust your sails!" Wisdom on a Dove Dark Chocolate bite foil wrapper, attributed to Brenda of Scholfield, WI. Since 2009 these words have graced my workplace and home, reminding me that no matter what in life is out of my control, I can still determine my reaction. I am an ABCS. A Breast Cancer Survivor! That is how I've viewed myself from the beginning. This attitude was shored up with more words of wisdom from my mom and her great well of faith. She told me that "all is well, God is in control". So it was my job to adjust, adapt and live. To grow through the pain, allow tears to wash away fear and nourish my soul, accept help from friends and strangers alike, make lifestyle changes, grow in faith and trust. I've had a lot of help along the way maintaining my attitude. The kindness of others has been a blessing. The care, concern and support shown by my close circle of friends and family helped me through some tough times. Their continued support sustains me every day. Participating in the Relay for Life in 2010 brought me a chance encounter with a friend and that brought the Strength for Life program into my life. Supported by Driving for a Cure, survivors worked with a trainer in a healthy, safe environment. It has been a life changing and enriching experience. Thank you Kathy, Ali, Mo, Chauncey and all the wonderful survivors I've met and trained with. October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month. There are so many companies promoting awareness, donating money to research and early detection efforts. One of my favorite efforts started in 2009. It is the YouTube video of the Pink Glove Dance and there was such an enthusiastic response that it has become a competition repeated every October. There have been over 13 million views. This year they expanded the competition to include Europe. In fact, they will be voting soon for the 2013 winner. Check it out at: www.pinkglovedance.com. Whenever I watch it I smile through the tears as my attitude, once again is buoyed. Colleen Pietz, ABCS

I'm in a transitional period in my life right now. I'm still adjusting to waking up at 7:15 a.m. every morning, making myself look presentable enough for a professional setting, and working a 9-5 job. I can't roll out of bed five minutes before my class or shift at the Copy Center, throw on sweatpants and a hoodie, and be on my merry way half-asleep anymore. Difficult as this transition has been, I can honestly say that I'm very happy with the way my life is panning out. On the other hand, someone very special to me is also going through a transitional period, though his is not going as smoothly as mine. He's at a job he's not crazy about in a city he couldn't dislike more. He continues to come up with big ideas that will serve as a sort of "quick fix" to get him out of the job and the city that he's never been fond of. The big ideas look good on paper, but they, too, always come up a bit short. Maybe he should just suck it up and stick it out? It's not easy seeing him like this, but it can't be this difficult forever; things are bound to get better there. After all, the job does pay well. When you see someone you care about struggling, your immediate instinct is to help him or her in any way possible. What can I do to make his situation easier, especially when I'm several hours away? After all, at twenty-two years old and barely into the professional world at all, what do I know about career decisions? I've spent many nights wide awake recently, wracking my brain and trying to come up with some way to fix all of this. It finally dawned on me months into the entire ordeal: tell him to do what makes him happy. Tell him to do what makes him happy. It's an extremely simple concept, really. Could I tell him to pack up his life, his career, and everything else he's acquired since moving away and just come home whether he's secured a definite life- and/or career-plan or not? Risky (and perhaps foolish) though it may be, that's exactly what I should have been telling him all along. Decisions like the one he's currently faced with should not be based on how much money a position will pay, what others are telling him to do, or the distorted picture that society paints of what success entails. Success isn't measured in dollar signs, but rather the happiness that you possess and in turn provide to others, and I should have communicated this notion to him a long, long time ago. The "him" I keep referring to in this blog is my fiancé. He's my best friend, and seeing him so unhappy is heartbreaking. I realize now that I never should have encouraged him to remain at the job in the city he doesn't like, assuring him that things would be better after the initial adjustment period ended. Big-city life has really made him miss the relaxed, peaceful lifestyle of the Ohio Valley that both of us grew up with, and who am I to tell him that he shouldn't come back here until he gets real experience somewhere else? It's time for him to start making decisions based on what will make him happy today, tomorrow, five and ten years down the road, rather than the amount of money he could make somewhere. I'm very grateful for my opportunity at Bordas & Bordas. I never dreamed I'd be so happy at my fresh-out-of-college position. I know my fiancé will find the same happiness very soon, and I'll be helping him look for it every step of the way. And so from here on out, this blog and all its readers as my witness, I'm not advising anyone to make, nor am I making personally, any life-decisions based on monetary value. Money comes and goes, but the happiness you acquire and give to others lasts a lifetime.

At Bordas & Bordas, we always strive to fervently give back to the community in any way possible. Below are some of the many philanthropic sponsorships in which we have recently partaken. The West Virginia Auxiliary of the Congregation of St. Joseph is located right here in Wheeling. The sisters are hosting their annual Gala/Reverse Raffle on October 10th at the Wheeling Island Hotel, Casino and Racetrack. Money raised by the Gala will help the Auxiliary meet the needs of the women living at Mount St. Joseph. Eager to ensure that the sisters are well taken care of, Bordas & Bordas supports the Auxiliary's efforts and annual event. An organization that Bordas & Bordas is happily associated with is the Special Olympics of West Virginia. SOWV provides year-round sports training and competition for mentally challenged children and adults, enabling participants to learn about teamwork in a fun and relaxed environment. The Fall Games, with more than 500 registered participants to date, will run October from 11th through the 13th in Parkersburg and will include a slew of games and activities such as volleyball, bowling, and flag football. Monetary donations supply necessary equipment and transportation for SOWV's events, and Bordas & Bordas is happy to contribute. May 7, 2011 changed everything for all those who knew Eric Carder. While the car crash took the life of the 38-year-old father, husband, son, and friend, his loved ones refused to let his memory die with him in the accident. As Carder was an avid golfer, a group of his closest friends established the Eric M. Carder Memorial Golf Tournament in his honor. The event saw its third installment on August 16th at Oglebay Park's Crispin course. Bordas & Bordas is pleased to have sponsored the event again this year. Here at Bordas & Bordas, we are very supportive of any organization that strives to help those less fortunate than us. That being said, it should come as no surprise that we frequently contribute to the Wheeling Soup Kitchen. Since its establishment in 1982, the Soup Kitchen has been preparing warm lunches on-site and hot dinners to-go for the people of Wheeling and its surrounding areas. As Jim Bordas is an active member on the Board of Directors, the firm does everything it can to support the Soup Kitchen. Bordas & Bordas is honored to be involved with such outstanding organizations and events. We will continue to reach out to community partners who are passionate about making a difference. As always, we encourage everyone to support these very worthy causes in any way possible.

As a recent transplant to West Virginia, I have had little personal experience with the coal mining industry that is such an essential part of this state's economy. Of course, I had general ideas as to what coal mining involved; holes and tunnels dug deep into the ground, miners working to remove the coal from dark caves, and special machinery used to dig and transport the coal. I know that the process poses a variety of significant safety risks to miners, but I always assumed that for an industry that is both essential to the economy and potentially very dangerous, every possible precaution would be taken to help ensure miners' safety and reduce the risk of accidents. As I become more familiar with West Virginia, and the issues important to our state, I have come to learn that my assumption about mining safety is not entirely accurate, and that miners and their families are forced to work hard to try to prevent tragedies, especially where the legislature and regulatory boards refuse to do so. Recently, the West Virginia Gazette reported the story of a young woman named Caitlin O'Dell who appeared at a monthly meeting of the West Virginia Board of Coal Mine Health and Safety. Following a tragic accident where her husband was crushed to death by a scooping machine in an underground coal mine, Mrs. O'Dell was determined to convey a message that the board has heard time and again: that rules requiring "proximity detection" devices in mines are a necessity to protect miners. Despite the fact that this issue has been raised repeatedly over the past several years, and despite the fact that accidents similar to the one that killed Mrs. O'Dell's husband continue to claim the lives of miners, the board has chosen to sit on the proposed safety requirements. No rules or regulations have been passed that require proximity detection systems. This meeting was no different, and the proposal to require proximity detection devices failed, with a 3-3 vote. Government and regulatory inaction in regards to the health and safety of miners has been even more troubling in light of the recent government shut-down. In response to the shut-down, the Mining Safety and Health Administration has been conducting fewer inspections, and has focused inspection resources on those mines deemed to be "high hazard" locations. On each day of this past weekend, where inspections may be even less likely to occur due to lack of employees available to conduct them, a miner has lost his life in an on-the-job accident. One of these deaths occurred in Moundsville, West Virginia. Another involved an accident in which an underground cart rolled over a worker, presumably the type of accident the proximity detection devices are designed to help prevent. While these recent deaths cannot be conclusively attributed to the government furlough, the situation highlights the need for prevention, rather than relying solely on inspections and measures taken in response to accidents. Rules requiring mines to instill and operate safety measures at all times could help ensure that miners' safety is not compromised by a lack of government employees to conduct inspections and supervisory measures. To be sure, inspections are an essential part of maintaining safety in the mines, but the message that is becoming increasingly clear is that prevention must be the next step taken, and it must be taken at once. By appearing in person to urge the board to take action on these long-stagnant proposals, Mrs. O'Dell hoped to press the issue and effect change. She represented a man who may very well still be alive if proximity detection devices were required and used in every mine. As she herself asserted, her goal was to prevent another accident for another family, and she hoped this would be the goal of the board as well. While recognizing that the damage to her family had been done, Mrs. O'Dell sought to make the most out of her loss, and speak as an advocate for improvement in the future. While it is unfortunate that her words did not prompt the immediate response of the board at that particular meeting, her efforts certainly cannot be said to have been a waste. Mrs. O'Dell's story serves as a reminder that individuals will continue to hold responsible parties accountable, even in situations where, as here, elected and appointed officials have failed to adequately protect those they serve. Attending a meeting, writing letters or making telephone calls to elected officials or regulatory bodies, signing petitions, and sharing news stories are just some of the ways that people can voice their support for proposed regulations or demand a change. Another way to hold responsible parties accountable and voice the need for better precautionary methods is through litigation. Lawsuits serve to help the injured person and their family recover from a tragedy, but also serve the broader purpose of shining light upon the failure of current health or safety mechanisms, and demanding the enactment of new and improved precautionary measures. Law firms that are especially familiar with workplace injuries and the mining industry can be powerful advocates for those who have been injured or killed as the result of inadequate safety precautions. As a West Virginia firm with a long history of success in these types of cases, Bordas & Bordas is such an advocate for preventative health and safety measures in the workplace. It is unfortunate and wrong that the legislature and the West Virginia Board of Coal Mine Health and Safety have repeatedly declined to enact regulations that could likely save miners' lives, but people like Mrs. O'Dell will make sure that the issue is not forgotten. Until the appropriate changes have been made and the best available safety precautions have been enacted to protect those who work in West Virginia coal mines, the West Virginia legislature and the West Virginia Board of Coal Mine Health and Safety can expect to hear from citizens who demand that these governmental and regulatory bodies do what is right to prevent tragedies. Now that I am also a citizen of West Virginia, and an attorney at Bordas & Bordas, I am glad to have the opportunity to voice my support of mining safety and preventative measures that could help save lives. The results in a legal case depend on a variety of factors, many of which are unique to each case. Prior results by this firm or any other do not guarantee future results. Case results presented here are illustrations of the type of work done by Bordas & Bordas and not a guarantee that any prospective case will yield any particular amount.

I love summer. Absolutely love it. I have always thought of myself as a summer kind of girl believing that the sunshine, the heat, the cookouts and the days lounging in a pool followed by evenings relaxing on a deck couldn't be beat. However, it dawned on me recently as I was driving back from Columbus where I had just attended a special little boy's first birthday party that fall has become my favorite time of the year. Now don't get me wrong, I don't care for the falling temperatures as my office mates can attest. Jay Stoneking and I tease each other mercilessly on a daily basis over temperature - he likes it frigid, I like it toasty warm. What makes fall so special are the simple things in life that mean oh-so-much. When most people I know think of fall, they think of football season. Football season has become a little more special to me because I now have the privilege of watching the son of one of my best friends play for my high school alma mater. His mom shared with me his excitement upon learning he would be starting on defense as a sophomore. I was there for his first interception (of what I am sure will be many over the next few years) in the first game of the season and shared in his mom's tears of joy. So if you see me wandering around a Wheeling Central game with a player's picture button on my shirt, he's not my kid; he's just a kid who I am very proud of and who has become a part of my extended family. He has also helped salvage football season for me this year as my Mountaineers and Steelers seem to have forgotten how to play football. Maybe a down year for the Mountaineers and Steelers is a good thing because there are so many other things to experience in the fall. Well, maybe a down year in Morgantown and Pittsburgh isn't a good thing but I'm trying to find some positive in such horrible starts to the football season. Fall brings beautiful colors wherever you look -from the leaves turning brilliant shades of red, orange and yellow to porches decorated with pumpkins and mums, beauty is everywhere. There are wonderful festivals and fairs to enjoy each weekend. If you have never experienced Oglebayfest you have missed out. Held in Wheeling's Oglebay Park the first weekend of October every year, Oglebayfest is a celebration of fall food, art, crafts and history. Experience it once and you will want to make it an annual event. Now back to that one-year-old's birthday party and the real reason fall has become my favorite time of the year: family. There is a saying that I have been seeing more and more often that cousins are your first best friends. Mine are more than that. To me (an only child), they are more like my sisters and brothers. Other than my furry baby girl whom I adopted at a shelter in November 2000 when she was six weeks old (another reason to celebrate fall!), I have not been fortunate enough to have children of my own. What I do have are cousins who allow me to be a part of their lives and their precious babies' lives. While my cousins and I have mainly spring birthdays, this next generation of our family is comprised of mainly fall babies. Since August 30, we have celebrated a 5 th birthday and a 1 st birthday. In a few weeks there will be a 2 nd birthday to celebrate followed by a 3 rd birthday in December. The opportunity to spend time with these little ones and celebrate their special days is the main reason fall has become my favorite time of the year. One of the reasons I moved back to Wheeling four years ago was to be able to see the now five-year-old more easily and more regularly. At the time, I only had that little red-haired princess to spoil (and to all those reading this who may know me and my family: yes - she really belongs to us even if she doesn't have the trademark dark hair and dark complexion). She has now been joined by her little sister and her two little boy cousins and I spend my fall enjoying time with them, thinking about what I'm going to get them for Christmas and being thankful that they are a part of my life. Seeing the smiles on those children's faces and being on the receiving end of their hugs makes everything seem so much better. I too often let work and other obligations get in the way of what really matters in life: family and friends. Family is not defined solely by blood or marriage. Family is defined by the people who are there for you unconditionally and for whom you would do anything, anytime, whether it is convenient for you or not. Family is defined by the people with whom you want to celebrate both the big and the small things in life. At Bordas & Bordas, the importance of family is celebrated and promoted on a daily basis. While the fall season may signal the impending end of the year for some, to me it is a time to celebrate family and the promise of future generations - whether it is in the smiling faces and squeals of young children at birthday parties or the first pick of what is sure to be a storied high school football career. Fall is a reminder that the simple things in life are the best things and has become my favorite time of the year.

On the September 27, 2013 edition of the Bordas & Bordas Legal Review, managing partner and host Jamie Bordas and attorney Zak Zatezalo tackled the legal and medical ramifications of individuals who contract the deadly cancer mesothelioma from exposure to asbestos in the workplace, or sometimes even at home. Attorneys Bordas and Zatezalo also discussed the potential long term ramifications to individuals exposed to other hazardous chemicals in the workplace, including benzene and vinyl chloride. Don't miss this important episode. You can pick up the most recent episode of the B&BLR through the WLUTV archives and be sure to check the full WLUTV schedule for other programming and show times.

Dance Moms is coming to Wheeling and Bordas & Bordas is giving you the opportunity to win tickets to see the Sheer Talent Dance Competition where an episode of the popular reality show will be taped. We are having a mother/daughter look alike contest and all you need to do to enter is tweet your entry to @bordaslaw with the hashtag #bordascontest or email your photo to communications@bordaslaw.com. Good Luck. Winners will be selected on Thursday, October 10.