I've been seeing a lot of car accidents lately: similar types of accidents in the same general locations (mostly rear-end collisions, with some "T" collisions). In particular, I have been noticing a lot of accidents at:
- 111 / Wheeler Road / Carleton Avenue, from the northern part of Central Islip into Hauppauge;
- 25 / Main Street / Jericho Turnpike, just east of Main Street Smithtown to just past the Mall in Lake Grove, as well as at Maple Avenue near Panchita ; and
- 347 / Smithtown By-Pass, from near Mount Pleasant or Terry Road in Smithtown, to the intersection with Jericho near the Mall.
As a human, I pass a car accident and hope no-one is hurt. As a personal injury lawyer, I pass a car accident, wonder if anyone is seriously hurt, and if so will they be calling my office. It sounds cold, but that's not the case. Car accidents can be aweful, and seriously harm and traumatize people beyond anything monetary damages can fix. They are an unfortunate fact of life, however, and when motor vehicle accidents happen, and someone is looking for an attorney, it might as well be me.
When I have a local Suffolk County client, I think there's an added benefit. It isn't quantifiable, but when I have cases where the accident location is somewhere I pass often, there's an added comfort level and understanding that wouldn't otherwise be there.
Friday, May 10, 2013
Wednesday, May 8, 2013
COMMERCIAL AND BUSINESS ATTORNEY
Clients who are seeking a commercial or business lawyer have a broad range of needs. Commercial and Business law includes both litigation and transactions, with degrees of specialization.
A transactional attorney generally deals with contract drafting. You need to be able to understand what the client wants to do, have the experience to advise them as to their rights and options for structuring the deal, understand the regulatory landscape (or be smart enough to say when you don't), anticipate and plan for potential problems, and effectively craft a contract.
A business litigation attorney may handle internal disputes, third-party claims, government or local issues, or anything else that might be before a court or other body.
There can be subspecialties within both litigation and transactions based on the industry, particularly in more regulated industries, or the type of litigation or transaction.
In my view, litigation and transactions complement each other. Litigation allows you to continually identify new issues and clarify existing ones, giving a better perspective when handling transactions. Handling transactions, on the other hand gives you a better perspective in litigation when attacking or defending a past deal.
I have represented a variety of small and midsize businesses. I do not have a single niche industry. I have significant experience with construction, housing, lending, and legal services.
I have substantial experience with shareholder/membership disputes; employment issues; collection, enforcement, or foreclosure proceedings; third-party claims; and some municipal and state issues.
Friday, February 8, 2013
About Me: Scott J. Kreppein, Attorney-at-Law
I litigate cases on behalf of individuals and businesses, from inception through trial, and in appellate and post-judgment matters. I also represent clients in administrative matters, as well as some transactional work and contract drafting.
Areas of Practice: commercial, personal injury, matrimonial, employment and general civil practice.
Fees: Free confidential initial consultations. Fee arrangements vary depending on the nature of the litigation, and are governed by each individual client's retainer agreement. In general, plaintiff's personal injury cases are one-third contingency; matrimonial, commercial, and general civil matters are hourly at a rate of $400 - $450 per hour against an up-front retainer; and employment cases depend on the facts of the case, ranging from full contingency, to full hourly, or a hybrid arrangement.
Courts / Administrative Bodies: Second Circuit Court of Appeals; United States District Courts for the Eastern and Southern Districts of New York; New York State Court of Appeals; Appellate Division First and Second Departments; Appellate Term First and Second Departments; New York State Supreme Court (Suffolk County, Nassau County, Queens County, Kings County [Brooklyn], New York County [Manhattan]), Bronx County); and Suffolk County 4th District (Smithtown) District Court. EEOC, NY State Division of Human Rights; Suffolk County Human Rights Commission; New York Department of State.
Thursday, January 3, 2013
Employment Lawyer: Employer Fails to Pay Overtime or Give Breaks
The Fair Labor Standards Act keeps coming up in my practice, and the more I deal with it the more I want to work on Plaintiff's-side cases. Not frivolous case, of course, but good cases: with credible complaints of employers failing to pay overtime, or not letting their workers take breaks. This seems to be a very lucrative area of practice.
Saturday, December 29, 2012
Snow and Ice Injuries
We've had a few short snow flurries so far this year, including on Christmas, but it looks like this weekend will be the first serious snow storm. Right now, there is a nice blanket of snow on the ground, and plenty of holiday decorations still up to highlight the wintery scene.
With snow and ice, however, come weather related car accidents, slip and falls, and other injuries. Every year I do a snow and ice blog post around this time. Injuries happen all year long, but claims based on winter-time car accidents or slip and falls are particular types of personal injury lawsuits that I have a great deal of experience with.
If you need a personal injury attorney, contact me. A lawyer can help you or your loved one get compensation for your snow and ice accident related injuries.
With snow and ice, however, come weather related car accidents, slip and falls, and other injuries. Every year I do a snow and ice blog post around this time. Injuries happen all year long, but claims based on winter-time car accidents or slip and falls are particular types of personal injury lawsuits that I have a great deal of experience with.
If you need a personal injury attorney, contact me. A lawyer can help you or your loved one get compensation for your snow and ice accident related injuries.
Monday, December 3, 2012
Personal injury attorney
Personal injury lawyers help people. A lawyer can't make it so you're not in pain, or erase a traumatic event, but a lawyer can get you compensation for your injuries.
Money helps. It can be a college fund for an injured child, an inheritance for a family that lost a loved one, or simply a means to improve your quality of life.
I want to help. If I take your case, I will fight for you, work with you, and do everything I can to get you the best result possible.
Personal injury law isn't especially complicated, but you want a lawyer that knows the law. I know personal injury law extremely well, and I have both the academic credentials (receiving a first year award and graduation prize in Tort Law during law school) and the practical experience (arguing countless motions and appeals) to show it.
Most cases settle, but you want a lawyer who can take your case to trial. I have tried numerous cases, obtained great results for my clients, and love being in front of a jury. If I can get you a settlement that I think is fair, I will push you to take it because that's my job; but if the other side won't pay, I will push the jury to award you the highest amount they can.
If you are looking for an attorney because you've been hurt in a car accident, construction accident, or slip/trip and fall, contact me.
Money helps. It can be a college fund for an injured child, an inheritance for a family that lost a loved one, or simply a means to improve your quality of life.
I want to help. If I take your case, I will fight for you, work with you, and do everything I can to get you the best result possible.
Personal injury law isn't especially complicated, but you want a lawyer that knows the law. I know personal injury law extremely well, and I have both the academic credentials (receiving a first year award and graduation prize in Tort Law during law school) and the practical experience (arguing countless motions and appeals) to show it.
Most cases settle, but you want a lawyer who can take your case to trial. I have tried numerous cases, obtained great results for my clients, and love being in front of a jury. If I can get you a settlement that I think is fair, I will push you to take it because that's my job; but if the other side won't pay, I will push the jury to award you the highest amount they can.
If you are looking for an attorney because you've been hurt in a car accident, construction accident, or slip/trip and fall, contact me.
Monday, October 29, 2012
Consumer Attorney -- Hurricane Sandy
Hurricane Sandy battered the Northeast on Monday, causing widespread damage throughout New England, and leaving New York with the a number of fatalities and prolonged power outages.
From what I've heard on the radio, LIPA's still saying 7-10 days, and I'm hoping they are trying to underpromise and overdeliver. Friends and family have told me lights in parts of Commack, Nesconset, Seldon, Manorville and Shirley are back on. Smithtown, St. James, and Lake Grove are still out. Hauppauge was still out as of last night. Verizon's cell service is mostly out, except for in the areas with power and an occasional spotty signal.
Suffolk County's courts are open today 10/31, if they happen to be on your trick or treat route.
Hurricane Sandy is likely to lead to a number of situations where lawyers are needed: car accidents, insurance claims, and business disputes, to name a few.
Depending on demand, I may investigate and send a foil request regarding LIPA's response to the storm, or become otherwise involved in assisting those who are impacted. Utilities aren't liable for outages absent "gross negligence," and have a tariff that covers many claims. I was involved in litigation with Con Ed over a large balckout in Queens several years ago, and I received a number of calls from Nassau and Suffolk (and was interviewed for a news story) when Irene hit. At the time, with Irene, recommended people file a tariff claim, and did not commence an action.
I'm curios how LIPA prepared for this storm in light of what they learned from Irene. At the moment, there are still a ton of trees down, so we'll have to wait and see.
Below are some pictures of how Smithtown, Long Island, looked after the storm.
11/5 UPDATE - Still no power in much of Smithtown (including my house). My law office, in Hauppauge, is up and running. I'm confident that LIPA's employees, themselves Long Islanders, are working as hard as they can. Other States, however, seem to have responded much more quickly, and people are seriously questioning LIPA's preparedness for this storm. The gas shortage has also become a major problem. From the information I've heard, it's rumored that many locations will not have power until November 14th or 28th.
11/7 UPDATE - Still no power in at least my area of Smithtown; the gas lines are absurd.
Related Posts & Websites:
* FEMA Disaster Assistance (learn if you are eligable for, and apply for, Federal disaster relief assistance)
* New York State Public Service Commission (regulatory body overseeing utilities);
* LIPA Storm Center (updates and information from LIPA about the storm response)
* Hurricane Irene Power Outage Claims (A prior blog post explaining how courts assess liability against utilities if they are sued (whether in an individual lawsuit or class action, and providing information about the PSC's internal claim process);
* "Israel Warns LIPA on Storm Response," Patch.com by Jason Molinet, 10/30/12 ( Congressman says "LIPA during Irene did not perform satisfactorily. They said they got their act together. We’ll be watching.")
* “Gas Lines Persist as Fuel StartsFlowing Again,” By Timothy Bolger, Long Island Press, 11/2/12
* "What Cuomo can do to Con Ed and LIPA," By Dana Rubenstein, Capital New York, 11/7/12
* “Can customers sue power companies for outages? Yes, butit's hard to win,” Reuters News & Insight, By Alison Frakel, 11/8/2012 (I was interviewed for this article)
* "Why LIPA failed: Utility ignored warnings it wasn't readyfor major storm,” Newsday by Gus Garcia-Roberts and Will Van Sant, 11/8/2012 (argues that LIPA "failed to upgrade antiquated technology, neglected vital maintenance and regularly underbudgeted for storm response")
From what I've heard on the radio, LIPA's still saying 7-10 days, and I'm hoping they are trying to underpromise and overdeliver. Friends and family have told me lights in parts of Commack, Nesconset, Seldon, Manorville and Shirley are back on. Smithtown, St. James, and Lake Grove are still out. Hauppauge was still out as of last night. Verizon's cell service is mostly out, except for in the areas with power and an occasional spotty signal.
Suffolk County's courts are open today 10/31, if they happen to be on your trick or treat route.
Hurricane Sandy is likely to lead to a number of situations where lawyers are needed: car accidents, insurance claims, and business disputes, to name a few.
Depending on demand, I may investigate and send a foil request regarding LIPA's response to the storm, or become otherwise involved in assisting those who are impacted. Utilities aren't liable for outages absent "gross negligence," and have a tariff that covers many claims. I was involved in litigation with Con Ed over a large balckout in Queens several years ago, and I received a number of calls from Nassau and Suffolk (and was interviewed for a news story) when Irene hit. At the time, with Irene, recommended people file a tariff claim, and did not commence an action.
I'm curios how LIPA prepared for this storm in light of what they learned from Irene. At the moment, there are still a ton of trees down, so we'll have to wait and see.
Below are some pictures of how Smithtown, Long Island, looked after the storm.
11/5 UPDATE - Still no power in much of Smithtown (including my house). My law office, in Hauppauge, is up and running. I'm confident that LIPA's employees, themselves Long Islanders, are working as hard as they can. Other States, however, seem to have responded much more quickly, and people are seriously questioning LIPA's preparedness for this storm. The gas shortage has also become a major problem. From the information I've heard, it's rumored that many locations will not have power until November 14th or 28th.
11/7 UPDATE - Still no power in at least my area of Smithtown; the gas lines are absurd.
Related Posts & Websites:
* FEMA Disaster Assistance (learn if you are eligable for, and apply for, Federal disaster relief assistance)
* New York State Public Service Commission (regulatory body overseeing utilities);
* LIPA Storm Center (updates and information from LIPA about the storm response)
* Hurricane Irene Power Outage Claims (A prior blog post explaining how courts assess liability against utilities if they are sued (whether in an individual lawsuit or class action, and providing information about the PSC's internal claim process);
* "Israel Warns LIPA on Storm Response," Patch.com by Jason Molinet, 10/30/12 ( Congressman says "LIPA during Irene did not perform satisfactorily. They said they got their act together. We’ll be watching.")
* “Gas Lines Persist as Fuel StartsFlowing Again,” By Timothy Bolger, Long Island Press, 11/2/12
* "What Cuomo can do to Con Ed and LIPA," By Dana Rubenstein, Capital New York, 11/7/12
* “Can customers sue power companies for outages? Yes, butit's hard to win,” Reuters News & Insight, By Alison Frakel, 11/8/2012 (I was interviewed for this article)
* "Why LIPA failed: Utility ignored warnings it wasn't readyfor major storm,” Newsday by Gus Garcia-Roberts and Will Van Sant, 11/8/2012 (argues that LIPA "failed to upgrade antiquated technology, neglected vital maintenance and regularly underbudgeted for storm response")
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