Roxanne Eberle Named to the 2013 Super Lawyers Washington Rising Star List

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Roxanne Eberle Named to the 2013 Super Lawyers Washington Rising Star List

July 2013 – Roxanne Eberle was named by Super Lawyers Magazine to the 2013 Washington Rising Star list among the top attorneys in Washington State. No more than 2.5 percent of the state’s attorneys are selected by Super Lawyers for the Rising Star list. Super Lawyers rates outstanding lawyers who have attained a high degree of peer recognition and professional achievement. The annual selection process includes a statewide survey of lawyers, an independent research evaluation of candidates, and peer reviews by practice area. They are published each year in Super Lawyers Magazine, available online at www.superlawyers.com.

Wild Sky Law Group Celebrates their 300th “Like” on Facebook by Donating to Veterans’ Charities.

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In honor of our 300th “Like” of Wild Sky Law Group’s Facebook page, Wild Sky Law Group has donated a total of $300 to that fan’s favorite cause: Veterans Charities. We chose (1) Operation Homefront, which provides help to military members and their families; (2) Homes for Our Troops, which provides disability accommodations for wounded troops; and (3) Puppies Behind Bars, which teaches inmates to raise service dogs for veterans and explosive detection dogs for law enforcement. (All the charities were top-rated by Charity Navigator.) Thanks for “liking” Wild Sky Law Group!

Attorney Roxanne Eberle Recognized for her Commitment to the “Underdog”

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Bellevue, Washington, August 14, 2012 – Roxanne Eberle, Attorney at Wild Sky Law Group, PLLC, received the Washington State Association for Justice’s 2012 “Ready to Soar” Award at their annual convention. The award acknowledges the achievements and contributions of attorneys in practice less than five years who have demonstrated excellence and professionalism in their legal practice. Ms. Eberle was nominated by her peers to recognize her contributions to the community to “protect and promote a fair justice system,” and “to ensure that any person who is harmed by the misconduct or negligence of others can obtain justice in America’s courtrooms.”

Award Presenter and WSAJ President-Elect, Steve Bulzomi stated, “This lawyer has advanced the rights of her injured clients. She inspires confidence and gives clients hope that their lives will improve.”

“Being acknowledged for the work I do to help people is the best thing that has happened in my legal practice,” says Wild Sky Law Group, PLLC founder Roxanne Eberle. “I’ve worked hard to make a difference for my clients and community. It is satisfying to know that my peers recognize my efforts.”

Ms. Eberle graduated from the University of Washington Law School in 2008. “After being a paralegal for 13 years, I realized I wanted to make more of a difference and returned to school to obtain my law degree and become a personal advocate for others. I expanded my personal injury law practice to include consumer bankruptcies because many people are struggling to recover in this economy and need a fresh start,” said Ms. Eberle.

Client Layla C. said of Roxanne Eberle, “She is very personable, knowledgeable and I felt really comfortable working with her. She has a passion for helping the “underdog” in seeking justice for those who have been wronged. I was immediately impressed by her spirit of “doing the right thing” for her clients.”

WSAJ’s “Ready to Soar” award is presented once a year at the association’s annual convention. Roxanne Eberle is the first solo practitioner to be awarded this honor since the award’s inception in 2008.

About Wild Sky Law Group, PLLC – Wild Sky Law Group, PLLC is a Plaintiffs’ Personal Injury and Bankruptcy law firm, helping injured individuals navigate insurance claims and litigation to obtain appropriate compensation for their injuries as well as overcome overwhelming debt and start fresh by filing Chapter 7 and Chapter 13 bankruptcies.

State Farm Will Believe You Hit A Deer When You Serve Them Venison Steaks – The Consumerist

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You won’t believe it even after you’ve read this story; however, it contains excellent advice! Document, document, document your problem is the only way to avoid needless arguing with your insurance company. If insurance companies truly are as great as they claim, would they need to spend billions in advertising? Wouldn’t you just be going to them like you do to Nordstrom – based on reputation and a good product? – Roxanne

State Farm Will Believe You Hit A Deer When You Serve Them Venison Steaks
By Laura Northrup
June 14, 2012 8:10 AM

Sean hit a deer with his car a few weeks ago. We believe him, but his insurer, State Farm, doesnt. Its not like the deer, which disappeared into the woods, is going to stop by his agents office and testify. So they were going to use his collision coverage, which would result in an increase in his premiums or even cancellation for daring to use the comprehensive policy that he was paying for. But Sean is a lawyer, and he fought back.

“On June 1, 2012, I struck a deer while my 2003 Ford Focus ZX5. It happened on a rainy evening, between 7:30 and 8:00 p.m. as I traveled on a wet, winding, hilly road in the heart of Pennsylvania farm country. As always I was on the lookout for deer. Unfortunately, as I rounded a sharp curve, which also marked the crest of a low hill, I spotted a deer in my path, perhaps 10-15 feet away. I braked as much as I could without skidding and tried to steer around the poor creature. Unfortunately, though, my right front bumper impacted the deers right hind quarter. As I had been able to slow to approximately 20 mph, the bumper merely lifted the deer, tumbling its tail section onto the hood. Then the deer became airborne, flew off to my right, and then down a heavily wooded, overgrown hillside where it disappeared.

The impact was powerful. There was damage, though. The right front side of the hood was crumpled and the bumper appeared to have lost a small bit of paint. Deer hair clung to the bumper.

After doing a bit of research to assure myself State Farm I am a 10+ year customer who has never made a claim I filed a claim. There would be no rate increase because I had purchased comprehensive coverage. My collision policy would not apply.

Things went well and moved fast. I soon had the estimate, State Farm had arranged for a rental car, and the final approval would soon arrive.

Except thats not what happened. The next day, I got an early morning voice mail from State Farm. Great, I would receive the final all-clear, to get the car to the body shop. Except thats not what happened., Instead, the male voice stated there was no evidence my car struck a deer and, as a result, State Farm was going to process the claim under my policys collision coverage with its $500.00 deductible and promise of a huge rate increase or policy cancellation.

Read the rest via State Farm Will Believe You Hit A Deer When You Serve Them Venison Steaks – The Consumerist.

MintLife Blog | Personal Finance News & Advice | If I Settle a Debt, Do I Have to Pay Taxes?

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I find the Mint website an incredibly useful tool for managing personal finances and debt – and their MintLife Blog a good and accurate source of financial information.

As more and more people are settling their debts, it is important to know whether you could be left with a tax bill as a result. Read on! – Roxanne

If I Settle a Debt, Do I Have to Pay Taxes?
Jun 6, 2012 / By MoneyTalksNews

If you’ve been watching the headlines lately, you may have seen an article about Bank of America offering to slash mortgage balances by an average of $160,000 for qualifying borrowers. Wouldn’t it be nice to have your mortgage reduced by $160,000?

Well, yes and no. Having a debt forgiven isn’t all wine and roses. Check out this recent email…

Dear Stacy:

I have been a longtime follower. I came across an article titled, “If I Settle a Debt, Do I Have to Pay Taxes?” and have a quick question to ask you.

I owe $30K in medical expenses (a hospital bill) and right now it’s in the hand of a collection agency. It’s not on my credit bureau reports yet. However, I’ve made an offer to the debt collector of $7K as a payment in full, and the debt collector has accepted the offer. My question is, will the amount that’s forgiven ($23K) be considered taxable income since I am dealing with a collection agency in this case?

Your prompt response would be greatly appreciated. Thank you for your time.

– Mike

Here’s your answer, Mike!

Forgiven debt: how it works

In general, if you owe money and it’s eventually written off, as far as Uncle Sam is concerned, the destroyed debt is taxed like income. Using Mike’s example, since he’s no longer on the hook for $23,000 of his $30,000 medical bill, he’ll be getting a 1099-C at the end of the year for $23,000.

This might not seem fair. After all, it’s not like Mike got a check for $23,000. The forgiven debt is more like a gift, and gifts aren’t taxable. So why would the IRS treat this forgiven debt as income?

The logic lies in the way income and losses are treated for tax purposes. Basically, it’s yin and yang: one man’s deduction is the other man’s income.

When it comes to business, most transactions involving money are deductible to the one paying it and income to the one receiving it.

For example, if a bank pays interest on your savings account, they get to deduct that money as an expense on their taxes – and you count it as income on yours. And if the bank lends money you don’t pay back, the bank deducts the bad debt as an expense – and you have to include it in your income.

In short, the term “debt forgiveness” makes it seem like a gift, but it’s more like “debt deduction.” When one party is writing something off, the opposing party is typically reporting it as income.

That’s the rule and the logic behind it. But as with many rules, especially those relating to income taxes, there are many exceptions. Let’s look at a few:

Exception: insolvency

According to IRS publication 4681, if you’re “insolvent,” meaning you owe more than you own, forgiven debt isn’t counted as income. Their words…

“Do not include a canceled debt in income to the extent that you were insolvent immediately before the cancellation. You were insolvent immediately before the cancellation to the extent that the total of all of your liabilities was more than the FMV (Fair Market Value) of all of your assets immediately before the cancellation.”

To qualify for this exclusion, you file Form 982. This is generally the form people file when they enter into debt settlement agreements like Mike’s and will probably be his best chance at avoiding paying taxes on his forgiven debt.

Exception: bankruptcy

Debt cancelled through a Chapter 7 or Chapter 13 bankruptcy typically isn’t taxable.

Exception: mortgage debt

A foreclosure often includes cancelled mortgage debt – the amount of the mortgage not recouped when the home is taken back and resold.

Since that results in forgiven debt, the result for many hapless homeowners is losing their home, then months later getting a tax form in the mail informing them they owe taxes on potentially hundreds of thousands of dollars of income they never received.

Depending on state laws, the same could be true for those doing a short-sale (selling their home for less than the mortgage balance) or participating in a program like the one from Bank of America mentioned above.

Talk about salt in the wound!

Read the rest: MintLife Blog | Personal Finance News & Advice | If I Settle a Debt, Do I Have to Pay Taxes?.

One-third of U.S. teens report texting while driving: CDC | Reuters

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Considering how dangerous it is to text and drive, these statistics are alarming. Talk to your teen about this issue when they start driving – AND set a good example by never texting while driving yourself. – Roxanne

One-third of U.S. teens report texting while driving: CDC

By David Beasley
ATLANTA | Thu Jun 7, 2012 6:15pm EDT

(Reuters) – A new federal study shows dramatic improvement in the driving habits of U.S. high school students, but texting by teenagers behind the wheel is a concern, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said on Thursday.

One in three high school students reported they had texted or emailed while driving during the previous 30 days, according to the centers’ 2011 youth risk behavior survey of 15,000 high school students.

The percentage of those who had texted or emailed while driving was higher for upper classmen, with nearly 43 percent of 11th graders and 58 percent of 12th graders saying they had done so in the past month. This is the first time texting questions were included in this survey.

“Texting or emailing while driving a car can have deadly consequences,” said Howell Wechsler, director of the CDC’s Division of Adolescent and School Health.

Read the rest: One-third of U.S. teens report texting while driving: CDC | Reuters.

State Patrol reminds graduates to be careful with celebrations – Tukwila Reporter

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This warning by the State Patrol is timely – the UW has their graduation ceremonies today, as do many of the area high schools. Be safe while we CELEBRATE the enormous accomplishments of our graduates. – Roxanne

State Patrol reminds graduates to be careful with celebrations
By STEVE HUNTER
Tukwila Reporter Reporter
JUNE 7, 2012 · 11:23

The Washington State Patrol wants to remind everyone to enjoy their high school or college graduations but not too much.Every year troopers see tragic and senseless deaths of minors who took their graduation celebrations too far, according to a State Patrol media release.

There is nothing more heartbreaking for troopers then to knock on the door of a family to tell them their child has been killed right after graduating. The State Patrol urges all parents to have “THE” talk with your children before it is too late.Over the last several years there were more than 1,003 fatal collisions involving drivers between the ages of 16-25. More than 90 percent of young driver involved deaths were vehicle drivers and passengers, with 61 percent of the deaths being the driver of the vehicle.

Read the rest at: State Patrol reminds graduates to be careful with celebrations – Tukwila Reporter.

FREE showing of the award-winning movie, “Hot Coffee” followed by Q&A with Attorney Roxanne Eberle

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Following a FREE showing of the award winning movie, “Hot Coffee” hosted by the Saltwater Unitarian Church and the Washington State Association for Justice in Des Moines, WA on Saturday, March, 24, 2012 at 6:30 p.m., attorney Roxanne Eberle will facilitate a Q&A period to discuss the film and the issues it raises.

The Washington Post says, “Hot Coffee” is “Stunning…sends audiences out of the theater thinking in a brand new way.”

[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bBKRjxeQnT4&w=853&h=480]

 

“Is justice being served?”

Seinfeld mocked it. Letterman ranked it in his top ten list. And more than fifteen years later, its infamy continues. Everyone knows the McDonald’s coffee case. It has been routinely cited as an example of how citizens have taken advantage of America’s legal system, but is that a fair rendition of the facts?Hot Coffee reveals what really happened to Stella Liebeck, the Albuquerque woman who spilled coffee on herself and sued McDonald’s, while exploring how and why the case garnered so much media attention, who funded the effort and to what end.

After seeing this film, you will decide who really profited from spilling hot coffee.

The Saltwater Unitarian Church is located at 25701 14th Place South Des Moines, WA 98198. Please RSVP to susan@washingtonjustice.org.

For more information about “Hot Coffee” visit http://www.hotcoffeethemovie.com.

Getting Started — A Word to the Wise Renter – Insurance – NYTimes.com

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The New York Times posted a good article explaining the need for Renter’s Insurance and some specifics about the types of coverage you need.

The bottom line is that your landlord’s policy is not going to cover you in the event of a loss, except in very rare exceptions.

Feel free to call me with questions, of course – 425-646-2773.

– Roxanne

January 27, 2012

A Word to the Wise Renter: Insurance

By SUSAN STELLIN

NEW YORKERS who have gone without renter’s insurance may want to reconsider that decision after a year of wild weather that brought down trees and damaged rooftops throughout the city.

The earthquake last August would not have been covered by most renter policies, but damage from routine weather events — wind, rain, heavy snow, lightning — typically is. So are losses related to fire, smoke, vandalism or theft.

Renter’s insurance also includes liability protection, so if someone was injured at your home and sued you, your legal expenses and any court award would be covered, generally up to a $100,000 limit. Coverage often provides living expenses should you have to move out of your apartment — say, because of a fire.

Renter’s insurance is less expensive than many people realize: a basic policy costs about $300 a year for around $50,000 worth of property protection. Many renters who go without are under the mistaken impression that their landlord’s policy covers their possessions.

“As a renter, if your personal property is damaged, you’d have to have a renter’s policy to get coverage,” said John Capuano, an associate insurance examiner with the New York State Department of Financial Services. “The landlord’s policy is not going to cover your damages.”

Read the rest: Getting Started — A Word to the Wise Renter – Insurance – NYTimes.com.

Roxanne Eberle Appointed to the Lawyers’ Fund for Client Protection Board

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Attorney Roxanne Eberle has been appointed by the Washington State Bar Association Board of Governors to serve on the Lawyers’ Fund for Client Protection Board for a term of three years.

The Lawyers’ Fund for Client Protection Board was established by the Washington State Bar Association and the Washington Supreme Court. The fund’s purpose is help compensate clients who suffer a direct financial loss caused by the dishonest conduct of a lawyer in connection with the practice of law.

Roxanne Eberle says, “I am honored to be appointed to the Lawyers’ Fund for Client Protection Board. My law practice focuses on personal injury law because I enjoy helping people. I have a strong commitment to protecting my clients from being taken advantage of by those more powerful. Serving on this board is right in line with that.”