Freehold Law Blog

When does a bad job cross the line to a hostile environment?

On behalf of Kelly Watson of The Law Office of Mallon & Tranger on Wednesday, September 18, 2019.

You are not alone if you have days when the last thing you want to do is go to work. Maybe your boss has been on a tirade lately, or the new person they hired to work with you is an intolerable complainer. Perhaps you are years overdue for a raise, and you can't afford to take a vacation on your salary.

While any of these and more can create a difficult work environment, think carefully before describing your New Jersey workplace as hostile. The term "hostile work environment" has legal factors that may not exist in your job. On the other hand, it is important to recognize the elements that can create a work environment that is hostile.

What percentage of drivers are arrested on DUI or DWI charges?

On behalf of Kelly Watson of The Law Office of Mallon & Tranger posted in dwi on Thursday, September 5, 2019.

You know people who routinely drive home after having too much to drink. You also know about DUI/DWI accident statistics. It's clear that people often get behind the wheel when they are impaired by drugs or alcohol. In some cases, they don't even know that they're impaired, or they honestly believe that they are safe to drive.

What you wonder is just how many people do this. How common is it? What are the odds that you could eventually find yourself facing charges?

Common excuses for running stop signs

On behalf of Kelly Watson of The Law Office of Mallon & Tranger posted in motor vehicle accidents on Wednesday, August 21, 2019.

Running a stop sign is one of the fastest and easiest ways to cause a car accident, and yet you still see it happen far too often. Remember that most car accidents happen because of driver errors. These types of critical mistakes put people in the hospital.

Why do they happen? A few excuses people tend to give, per the American Safety Council, include the following:

Drivers get dared to do it by friends or see it as a sort of challenge. This is especially common with teen drivers.
People get distracted, perhaps by their phones, and they simply do not see the sign until they go through it.
People swear that they did not see any other cars at the intersection, so they decided that they did not really need to stop.
Drivers are in a hurry, so they accidentally or intentionally run the sign to speed up their commute.
Drivers decide that slowing down is close enough to stopping, so they do that without ever actually stopping the car, even though they know full well that the sign is there.

Study finds that police behavior influences other officers

On behalf of Kelly Watson of The Law Office of Mallon & Tranger posted in police brutality on Thursday, August 8, 2019.

Wondering how likely a police officer is to use excessive force? One way to find out is just to look at the other officers that he or she works with.

According to a new study, which focused on officers in Chicago but could apply all over the United States, the behavior of one officer drastically influences the behavior of others. According to researchers, officers who work with other officers who have a history of misconduct accusations are then "more likely to emulate that behavior."

Have you suffered injuries at the hands of police?

On behalf of Kelly Watson of The Law Office of Mallon & Tranger on Wednesday, July 24, 2019.

You may understand that New Jersey police and law enforcement across the country must at times use force to do their jobs. It may be important to quickly subdue those who are a danger to themselves or others, and it is sometimes necessary to overpower someone who is trying to get away from a lawful detainment. These actions may result in injuries, but they may be justifiable, depending on the circumstances.

The problem is that sometimes police exceed the amount of force they need to accomplish these tasks. If you have recently experienced such police brutality, you may wonder what your rights are and what your next steps should be.

The danger of falls from various heights

On behalf of Kelly Watson of The Law Office of Mallon & Tranger posted in workers' compensation on Tuesday, July 23, 2019.

In your job, you frequently have to work at heights. You work in construction. Some days, it's just a six-foot ladder in the shop. Other days, you're 50 feet up, working on a roof. It all depends on the job.

While you do use fall protection equipment, you still find yourself wondering what would happen if you fell. How badly would you get hurt?

What is an alibi?

On behalf of Kelly Watson of The Law Office of Mallon & Tranger posted in criminal defense on Wednesday, July 10, 2019.

If you find yourself facing allegations of criminal activity, one of the simplest ways to show that you are not guilty of the crime is to demonstrate that you had an alibi.

Essentially, an alibi is simply evidence that you were somewhere else when the crime took place. While anyone can insist that they were somewhere else, an alibi that holds up is generally one that can be backed up by evidence or the testimony of someone else.

Why does your memory change?

On behalf of Kelly Watson of The Law Office of Mallon & Tranger posted in criminal defense on Wednesday, June 26, 2019.

Have you ever thought back on a memory only to realize that what you were remembering was a picture you have of the event? Have you ever told a story, feeling very sure of yourself, only to have someone else who was also there tell a very different story?

We trust our memories, and we feel like they're accurate. These types of experiences, however, show that they're not always accurate. They can change. They can be altered. Outside information -- like a photograph -- can make you sure that you remember something that you actually do not remember at all.

Can you get a sub-.08% DWI?

On behalf of Kelly Watson of The Law Office of Mallon & Tranger posted in dwi on Wednesday, June 12, 2019.

People often refer to the blood alcohol concentration (BAC) limit for drivers as if it means that driving with a lower BAC is safe and acceptable. The limit, of course, is .08% for most drivers. If someone has a .06% or a .07% BAC, then they think that they can't get arrested for drunk driving.

That's why people often talk about being able to wait it out after drinking. They have a glass of water and give it a half hour, hoping their BAC dips back below .08% before they have to leave.

Are you watching out for serious warehouse safety hazards?

On behalf of Kelly Watson of The Law Office of Mallon & Tranger on Wednesday, June 5, 2019.

In many areas in New Jersey and across the country, it is common for people to earn their livings by working in warehouses. Some people may not think this the most glamorous type of job, but it is one that helps you and many others earn an income and provide for yourself and your family.

Of course, working in a warehouse can come with serious safety risks. While you undoubtedly always hope to make it home safely at the end of your shift, you could face more chances of suffering injuries on the job than you may be aware of. As a result, in efforts to increase your chances of staying safe while working, you may want to recognize common warehouse safety hazards.

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