Christopher Coble, Esq.

Latest Articles

• 5 Times You Can Sue a Mechanic

  Car repairs can be a scary prospect. First there's the cost, the time it will take, and then the worry about the repairs being done right. Most mechanics do good and honest work, and care for our cars like they were their own. But other mechanics on the other hand...So what happens if you get one of the bad guys? When can you sue a mechanic if they don't take good care of your car?

• Why Does TSA Swab Your Hands in Airport Screening?

  Most of us are used to the TSA screening process at airports by now. Although first-time travelers may not be used to air travel restrictions and security screenings. And, every now and then, we get pulled aside for some extra special attention. Sometimes that's an extra search of your carry-on, and sometimes it's TSA agents swabbing your hands and luggage. But what's that swabbing for, and what happens if it comes back positive?

• Are You Liable for an Older Adult Parent's Car Accident?

  You should always respect the older adults in your life. But you might also want to fear them on the highway. While our older adult relatives may have a wealth of knowledge and compassion, they don't always make the quickest or best decisions behind the wheel. And as Salon points out, getting older drivers to admit they're not as safe as they once were is difficult, if not impossible. So if you cannot take an aging parent’s keys away, are you on the hook when they plow through a sidewalk full of bystanders?

• What Are Articles of Organization?

  So you've weighed the pros and cons of incorporation and you've decided to take the next step and form your small business as an LLC. As you move down your LLC to-do list, you see: "File your LLC's Articles of Organization with the Secretary of State office in your state." Wait, what are articles of organization? And how are they important to your business? Here's a quick background and a few tips on writing and filing your LLC's articles of organization.

• Top 5 Swimming Pool Injury Questions, and Answers

  For many of us, summer time is pool time. Whether that means rolling the tarp off the pool in the backyard and hosting a party or taking the kids to a public pool for the day, we're going to be spending a lot of time in and around the water. And where we spend a lot of time, injuries are bound to happen. So whose fault is it if you're injured at a pool, and are you liable for injuries at yours?

• 5 Questions You Should Ask an Older Adult Law Attorney

  Caring for a loved one as they age can be emotionally, financially, and legally difficult. Estate planning, power of attorney, nursing home care, long-term care, and guardianship decisions are never easy. You may also be facing issues with Social Security, Medicaid, health care benefits, health insurance, or older adult abuse.

• What Are the Criminal Penalties for Older Adult Abuse?

  The Department of Justice estimates that one in every ten seniors is abused yearly, but only one out of every 23 cases of abuse is reported to the authorities. This could be a combination of the decline in cognitive abilities of older adults and the lack of recognition of the signs of older adult abuse. Sometimes older adults do not see the signs of financial exploitation, abuse from nursing home staff, or even abuse from family members and caregivers. The range of abuse can stretch from physical abuse to causing mental suffering to financial abuse. Once they get wind of older adult abuse, adult protective services and law enforcement takes allegations seriously. These cases can go to court, and state and federal statutes impose serious penalties for abuse of dependent adults and older adults. There is a range of misdemeanor and felony charges, and penalties can include county jail time or state prison.

• What Rights Do Older Adult Patients Have in a Hospital?

  Checking in to the hospital can be scary for anyone. This is especially true for older people, who generally suffer more serious ailments and need longer hospital stays to recover. They are also more likely to be confused by healthcare terms or medical providers or misled regarding their medical treatment. It's important for older adult patients and their friends and family members to know and advocate for their rights as a patient. Here are a few of the rights older adult patients have in a hospital and how to ensure they are protected. Sometimes these same rules apply to nursing homes or long-term care facilities as well.

• An Employer's Guide to Minimum Wage Laws

  Labor Day is coming up. And while you may be considering whether to give your employees the day off, you may also want to consider some of the laws that resulted from the Nineteenth Century labor movement. As the boss, you want to take good care of your employees and pay them what's fair. Generally speaking, you're not going to get into trouble for paying your workers too much. But paying them too little will land you in legal hot water.

• California Raises Standards for Police Using Deadly Force

  Any time a person is hurt or killed by police, people want to know what the rules are. The more cynical among us wonder aloud whether there are any rules regarding police conduct and use of force. There are, and some of them are getting more strict. California Governor Gavin Newsom just signed a new bill that includes more stringent guidelines about when an officer can use deadly force. But will it change how police interact with the community, especially people of color?