fair play facts

(dba Fair Play Frankness)

Justice for Frank What Happened? No Witnesses? .254 Drunk Driver? Justice System?

FYI

Over the past few years, I have found other important information and thought I would share. Each category in FYI will be updated as my experience evolves.

SURVIVOR BENEFITS

After Frank’s life was taken, I contacted Social Security and they sent me a $255.00 death benefit. 6 years later, a friend told me that I should be receiving “survivor benefits” this is what I have found.

a) Social Security never offers this information to you. You must contact them yourself.

b) Any surviving spouse qualifies for these benefits yet only at age 60. There are minimum years of marriage required to qualify, which is 7 years to the best of my knowledge.

c) You can get benefits earlier if you have children yet then it is at a lower percentage.

d) At age 60, the surviving spouse receives “survivor benefits” at approximately 75% of the qualified amount. Each year the amount goes up by 2-3% and matures at deceased spouse’s retirement date.

e) There are limitations to the amount of money you can earn yearly while receiving survivor benefits, check with Social Security for more information.

f) Social Security now offers phone appointments for this benefit.

g) Couples who choose to co-habitat do not qualify.

**Check out your local SS website more information

Personal Injury

PET PERSONAL INJURY

The Pet industry is a $260 BILLION dollar industry. For most of us our Pets are our family and when they are harmed or killed by negligence, we need to know our rights.

I found the world of PPI very interesting while going through the process after my pet was killed, contradictions within our view, laws and legal process.

If an owner kills their pet by accident, intentionally or by negligence, they will be charged with animal cruelty, often put in jail and fined significantly. Yet, when a veterinarian kills a pet through negligence, the pet is viewed as property. It appears that views and laws are conflicting. Regardless, to most of us our Pets are a very important part of our lives and negligence resulting in suffering or death must be investigated.

Many States are altering their laws on PPI and every State is different. When a court views a pet as property, the PPI case is formed on the owners suffering, not the pets.

If your pet has suffered or died at the hands of a negligent Veterinarian, I suggest:

1) Immediately contact Vet office and get full names of those involved and request your complete file on the pet with complete billing file. Keep good notes on the events. If possible, get another Vets opinion in writing on expected protocol or their opinion on the negligence.

2) Each State has a licensing board (who knew), contact your States licensing board & file a complaint. In most cases you must know the full name and you must find the license # on the licensing board website.

3) Every Board is different. In SC the Licensing board is 50% Vets and 50% civilian, this board requires the complaint to be completed online, some boards may require the complaint in writing.

4) My recommendation when writing your complaint is to stick to the FACTS, getting emotional on this form may leave out important details that must be noted.

5) Your states licensing board should respond to your complaint within 2 weeks. In my State the licensing board assigned an investigator, she responded within days as I think is the standard with the licensing board. Ask questions, be detailed and emotional.

6) The investigation process takes a long time, subpoena’s, investigation and last the case goes before the board.

Things to know:

The board will generally resolve issue by: a) reprimand b) tagging license c) Settlement.

LICENSED/UNLICENSED

Veterinarian’s must carry insurance to have a license, which means their insurance should be responsible for any negligence. Unlicensed staff or Vets are a big NO NO in many States. Many States will flag unlicensed staff and they will never be permitted to work in the State again.

SETTLE OR SUE

If you decide to settle with the negligent Vet, you must consider the fact that this Vet will then be allowed to move forward and possibly hurt/kill more pets. Also, you will be asked to sign a waiver which usually will have a clause stating you cannot undertake in any more legal action against the defendants. Keep that in mind.

FYI, soon I will be venturing into “Class Actions” in this area.

Personal Injury

MISC. TERMINOLOGY

Personal Injury – physical, emotional and monetary damages.

Slander – “Say it” A crime of making false spoken statement, which gets confused with libel often.

Libel – “Write It” A crime of publishing damaging false statements that damages a person’s reputation.

Defamation – “Civil Remedy” to a false statement that injures a party.

Perjury – “Lying” willfully telling an untruth under oath or via notorization.