Our Favorite Classic Holiday Movies
One of the surest ways to relax while you still enjoy your Christmas holiday is to watch some holiday movies. These watches will make your holiday even more unique and can be watched with the family. If you read on, you will, without a doubt, find something for you and your family to enjoy. These should add taste to your holiday. Time is flying, and no time should be wasted in deciding what to watch, so here is a list of the types of movies you can choose from that will help you relax and make your Christmas holiday quite memorable.
Home Alone
This is one of the most memorable movies in the world to watch over the holidays, as it has everything you could ask for in a holiday movie. It is a highly entertaining comedy with many funny moments and lines that will keep your family laughing through it. The main character of this movie is Kevin. He finds himself home alone when his family decides to go for the Christmas holiday to France. Unfortunately, things soon go wrong when two burglars break into his house, and he has to defend it on his own.
A Christmas Carol
This is a classic movie that many people have seen over the years. It is one of the most-watched movies on the Christmas holiday. It is a great story that can be viewed as a lesson in good and bad things in life. The story of this movie is about people visiting the city of London who have no idea what they need to do to change their lives for the better. A surprise visit from three ghosts will help them understand their mistakes and how they can be fixed for good.
It’s A Wonderful Life
This is a classic Christmas movie. It is about a man who has been depressed and miserable his whole life, as many people have denied him in his town. He was a good man, though, kind and generous to others. Then, one day his guardian angels or spirits appear and tell him that he is special and must be a better human being than ever before. This spreads throughout the whole town, causing people to realize what they have missed out on because of their apathy.
The Nightmare Before Christmas
This is a great watch over the holidays. It is a fabulous movie that has many things going on in it. It is about Jack Skellington, who lives in Halloween land and wants to be more than just a pumpkin head. Throughout the movie, he tries to prove that he is better than being brought out during Halloween, as there are other holidays, like Christmas. He creates his fantasy world and tries to make everyone else see it with him; however, he fails at this task.
Miracle on 34th Street
This is a classic Christmas movie about a young girl who believes in Santa Claus and gives him the ultimate gift of trust. Susan Walker, age 6, learns that if you genuinely believe, dreams do come true. She questions Santa Claus, the most unforgettable miracle of childhood. She doesn’t anticipate getting the most important items on her Christmas wish list because her mother, Dorey, revealed the “truth” about him a long time back. However, the most priceless gift of all is handed to her after she meets a special department store Santa who is persuaded that he is the real deal. This movie has its ups and downs, but it is a great watch over the holidays if you want to keep everyone laughing throughout the whole film.
Meet Me in St. Louis
This is one of the best holiday movies you need to watch. This is one of the most memorable songs in the world and has all you may be looking for in a Christmas movie. The Smith family’s lives are depicted in the film as they go through the summer, fall, and winter of 1904 in St. Louis. Esther (Garland), seventeen, has a crush on John Truett (Tom Drake), the boy who recently moved in next door. While 19-year-old Lon (Harry H. Daniels, Jr.) has recently been dumped, 18-year-old Rose (Lucille Bremer) is waiting for her lover to pop the question while away at college, while 10-year-old Agnes (Joan Carroll) and 5-year-old Tootie (Margaret O’Brien) are only out to cause mischief.
The Polar Express
This, too, is one of the holiday movies with plenty of things to watch. It has excellent songs and actors that you can enjoy with your family. There are many adventures that this young boy goes through, as he goes on a magical train ride to help him find his beloved princess’ frozen heart. He meets many different characters along the way, and their stories are told as he learns about them throughout the movie. He sets out on a self-discovery journey on this ride, which demonstrates to him that the magic of life never ceases for those who accept it as accurate. This movie is based on a children’s book and, therefore, ideal for children.
Jingle All The Way
In “Jingle all the way,” the main character in this movie is Howard Langston, who cannot find the right gift for his son. He has been searching all over the place but cannot find anything that will satisfy him. As he runs around trying to find a toy then realizes that he has been missing out on the most important thing of all; his family. This movie is full of humor and will have you laughing to the end.
Other movies you could consider to make your Christmas holiday memorable include:
• Christmas with the Kranks
• Eloise at Christmas time
• Prancer
• Mickey,s Once Upon a Christmas
• Frosty the Snowman
Now Cozy Up, Grab the Popcorn and Enjoy the Holidays
It is fun spending your holiday most memorably. However, it is the Christmas holiday that your family needs to enjoy together and make a memory that will last forever. Therefore, you must make plans that everyone can enjoy as a family. You can watch many holiday movies with your loved ones over the holidays, and it would be fantastic if you could choose from the films listed above for this holiday. Knowing what your family wants to do for you to have an enjoyable time together is essential. Only then will your Christmas holiday be genuinely memorable.
7 Tips for Finding the Best Attorney for Personal Injury
When you are injured at no fault of yourself, you might need to hire a personal injury lawyer to help you recover the costs of healing, pain and suffering compensation, lost wages, and more. However, where do you start when finding the best attorney? In today’s blog, we will go over seven tips on finding the best personal injury attorney. These tips include making sure you get along with your attorney, looking at their experience, and looking at their reviews.
What Counts as a Personal Injury?
A physical, mental, or emotional harm is a personal injury under US law. It is in contrast to damage to property. The term refers to a tort lawsuit in which the person bringing the suit, or “plaintiff,” has been injured physically or mentally. Cases for personal harm are brought up against the person or entity that caused the damage through negligence, gross negligence, reckless conduct, or intentional misconduct, and in some cases, based on strict liability.
What is a Personal Injury Lawyer?
An attorney representing clients who assert they have suffered physical or mental harm due to the carelessness of another person, business, public body, or other entity is known as a personal injury lawyer.
Tort law is the primary field of practice for personal injury attorneys. Some of the cases they handle are:
- Slip-and-fall injuries
- car accidents
- faulty goods
- work-related injuries
In most jurisdictions, a personal injury lawyer must complete the pre-trial process before having a trial by jury. It includes gathering evidence to support the plaintiff’s claim, taking depositions of witnesses, filing the necessary motions, and appearing in court for pre-trial hearings.
The vast majority of personal injury cases get settled out of court. However, a small number of personal injury petitions go to court.
7 Tips on Finding the Best Personal Injury Lawyer
If you want to know how to find a personal injury lawyer who can best handle your case, here are seven important guidelines to follow:
Get Recommendations
Obtain recommendations from relatives and friends. Asking for recommendations from individuals you know is one of the best methods to discover a top-notch personal injury attorney. You stand a strong chance if someone you can trust has a good impression of a personal injury attorney.
Check Their Case Track Record
Does the personal injury lawyer win more than they lose? Looking at how much they win for their clients and how often they win is a great way to gauge how they will do for you.
Examine Online Reviews
Reviews are a great way to see how clients feel about their lawyers. However, there’s a loser for every legal win, and these people tend to get upset and leave fake, disparaging reviews. With that, most people don’t take the time to leave fake good reviews, so you can usually trust the good ones.
Consider How Long They’ve Been a Lawyer
Experience goes a long way when it comes to lawsuits. You want someone who has experience but is also excited, passionate, and not about retiring. Look for experience in years and passion in the soul.
Check Fees and Costs
Many personal injury lawyers will not charge you anything unless they win you a settlement in or outside of court. Make sure the percentage and fees are something you feel good about should you win.
Meet with the Lawyer Before Signing Agreements
This might be obvious, but when you meet with the lawyer, make sure you like them. You will be working with them and their firm for a while, so the relationship you have matters.
Verify
Verify their experience with cases similar to yours. Not all personal injury attorneys know all types of cases. To ensure that they will be capable of handling your case successfully, make sure to inquire about their experience managing situations similar to yours. The best injury attorney is well-experienced with the particular laws of your area.
Benefits of Hiring a Personal Injury Lawyer
Hiring a personal injury attorney to defend you in your injury lawsuit has many benefits. Here are a few of the most significant advantages:
Your Rights Will Be Defended
You’ll have an accomplished lawyer on your side. Personal injury attorneys have a wealth of expertise negotiating with insurance providers and are skilled at securing the highest settlements for their clients.
Less Stress
You won’t have to stress about the formalities or the law. Instead, to free you up to concentrate on your recovery, your personal injury attorney will handle all the documentation and courtroom proceedings related to your case.
Higher Compensation Amount
You’ll likely get more money. Studies have shown that people who hire personal injury lawyers get significantly more money than those who don’t. It’s because personal injury attorneys are skilled at negotiating with insurance providers to secure the best possible settlement for their clientele.
Pitfalls to Avoid When Filing a Lawsuit
If you’ve never worked with a personal injury attorney, you can be anxious and make a few blunders. It’s essential to know how to find a personal injury lawyer. The most frequent errors made by clients looking for personal injury attorneys are listed below:
Don’t Hire the First Lawyer You See
Before choosing a personal injury lawyer, it’s crucial to approach several of them. You can assess their backgrounds, aptitudes, and dispositions to choose who best fits your needs.
Hiring the Lawyer with the Cheapest Fees
Hiring based on price alone is probably not a great idea. Most personal injury firms will wave all fees until, and if, there’s a settlement. Some personal injury lawyers charge higher fees than others, but this doesn’t necessarily mean they’re better. Be sure to compare the quality of their services, not just their charges. If you want to know how to find a personal injury lawyer worth their price, their resume is a starting point.
Not Asking Questions
Not asking enough questions. During your appointment, ask a personal injury attorney many questions about their background, expertise, and approach to your claim. Make sure you understand everything and the process at hand.
Contact Bear Republic Law Firm Today
If you suffer an injury in an accident caused by someone else, you can win a compensatory claim. It’s crucial to hire an injury attorney to defend you. Hiring the best injury attorney is even more necessary to win the claim. Use these tips to find a personal injury lawyer when needed.
Happy Veterans Day, 2022
Happy Veterans Day, 2022
November 11th is Veterans Day, 2022, and we want to give profound thanks to our Veterans. At Bear Law, we understand how important your service to our freedoms and country has been.
What is Veterans Day?
Veterans Day is always observed on November 11th yearly since it was created by Congress in 1938 as a day to honor and thank all American veterans for their service during the war. The United States Department of Veterans Affairs also uses the occasion to raise awareness about veterans’ issues and provide services to veterans and their families.
When Did Veterans Day Originate?
The veterans holiday originated when President Woodrow Wilson proclaimed the first commemoration in 1919. Since 1926, November 11 has been an official holiday dedicated to the recognition of military service members. Veterans Day is also meant to honor the sacrifices and achievements of those who have served in the military or other armed services.
What Defines a Veteran?
The United States Department of Veterans Affairs defines “veterans” as people who were at one time members of any branch of America’s armed forces that participated in combat during wartime and included those who were awarded medals for their service. The day is known by other names, including:
- Armistice Day
- Veterans’ Day
- And Remembrance Day
Veterans Day is a final tribute to all men and women who have served in America’s armed forces from the Revolutionary War to the present day. Veterans are reminded of the sense of duty that preceded their service and are honored for their service after the conflict. Veterans Day, as a national holiday, is meant to keep all of America’s service members, regardless of their service period or whether they were deployed.
Veterans Day 2022 will be held on November 11, 2022, with commemorations by many of the 50 United States states and government officials. Many authorities, lawyers, and volunteers will use the holiday to raise awareness about veterans’ issues, including:
- the ongoing Camp Lejeune Water Contamination Lawsuit
- Veteran Suicide Awareness (if you are struggling, please contact the Veteran Crises Hotline for immediate help. You’re not alone)
- and many other issues.
How Does Bear Republic Law Help Veterans?
At Bear Republic Law, we understand that young and old veterans have certain employment rights, perks, and accommodations. Especially concerning Veterans that have disabilities. We also know that employers cannot discriminate against you because of your service and disability level. We work hard to protect Veteran’s employment rights and hold anyone who violates those rights accountable.
Local Veterans Day Events
Our local community is holding many Veterans Day events, the most popular being the Veterans Day Ceremony hosted by the city. There are also many other Veterans Day events throughout the city that you can attend.
From the Bottom Of Our Hearts at Bear Republic Law- Thank You, Veterans
November 11, Veterans Day 2022, has historical meaning in the United States. It will reflect upon past conflicts and honor those who participated in them. November 11, 2022, is also a day to remember those who have served in the armed forces in any conflict since the Revolutionary War. Veterans Day will be observed in most states of the United States.
Bear Law hopes that on Veterans Day 2022, Americans will take a moment to think about America’s Veterans. Whether serving older veterans by doing their yard work, simply saying thank you, or volunteering, we want to encourage everyone to get involved. Our Veterans fought for our freedoms and the foundation of this country; let’s support them when it matters most.
What You Need to Know About Retaliation in the Workplace
What is retaliation in the workplace? Most employees in the workplace face a lot of challenges, especially from their employers. Some of the challenges may include harassment, unfair treatment, and discrimination. Not that law doesn’t exist to protect such employees from the deeds of the managers. There’s a law in place, but most employers don’t see this as a form of retaliation. For example, suppose an employee makes a harassment complaint in the workplace investigation. In that case, they shouldn’t be punished. But you find some employers demoting or firing those employees. Keep reading this blog post to understand what retaliation is in the workplace, what can contribute to workplace retaliation (both employees’ and managers’ deeds), and various ways to prevent workplace retaliation.
What is Retaliation in the Workplace?
Retaliation is a term used to refer to an instance where an employee faces punishment for engaging in a legally protected activity. The various ways a manager can use to retaliate include firing, demotion, salary reduction, and harmful job actions, to highlight but a few.
It’s without a doubt that a manager’s action can be harmful, let’s say, firing an employee. But other times, it’s not. The circumstance matters (according to the U.S. Supreme Court).
Moreover, The Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOP) views the act of filing a claim as a protected activity. So, of course, it’s a protected activity. But when a manager’s action deters a person from making a specific complaint, that becomes an illegal retaliation.
Some of the manager’s responses considered by EEOC as workplace retaliation include:
- Limiting employees’ working hours.
- making employees’ work environment conducive.
- Not allowing or giving employees a chance for promotion.
- Not allowing employees to attend certain business events.
- Transferring employees to different workstations.
- Negative performance review.
In some scenarios, acts of employment retaliation may go unnoticed by the management while it continues to affect employees. The following are the signs of subtle workplace retaliation:
- Excessive and inappropriate micromanagement of employees.
- Denying the employees a chance to engage in group activities.
- Spreading false rumors about employees.
Workplace Retaliation Without a Formal Complaint
Workplace retaliation is unacceptable, but it continues to occur despite the presence of employers’ rules, policies, or manuals. For instance, if an employee wants to report an incident to the manager, this can lead to retaliation. The act of retaliation is often by supervisors and managers, and surprisingly enough, it can also be shown by the employers themselves.
It’s not common for employees to retaliate against each other. Moreover, the management can show acts of retaliation against employees in an attempt to intimidate them, not to file a formal complaint.
Employees’ Actions that are subject to Workplace Retaliation
- Requesting for disability accommodation.
- Refusing to comply with a given job order can result in physical or sexual harassment.
- Reporting an act of sexual harassment to the manager.
- Intervening to protect a fellow worker from harassment.
- Going to the company’s owner to report a workplace incident without involving a supervisor or a manager.
Preventing Workplace Retaliation
Prevention is better than cure, as the saying goes. However, you can take preventive measures to keep retaliation in your Workplace at bay. Ways of preventing workplace retaliation include:
1. Training Staff Members on Guidelines
Training is very crucial to the well-being of any prevention measures. After handing over reviews of guidelines to employees, be sure to top it up with training so that they understand what is required of them. This means holding a session for employees that defines workplace retaliation, such as a workshop.
Another critical aspect of training involves human resource management or staff. For example, teach and train your staff on matters of handling retaliation claims.
Be sure to back up all the pieces of training with an official document showing clearly that they were held. Then ask every staff member to sign off and date the record to prove that they have undergone the training sessions and have understood the information in the papers. Finally, the document can be kept for future reference if there’s retaliation.
2. Create Policies that Outline the Company’s Retaliation Guidelines
Employees can be well-informed of the company’s retaliation definition by clearly outlining it in a manual or policy. Also, ensure you educate and inform them. In addition, in the employees’ handbook, you can go the extra mile to add a section explaining in detail what retaliation is in the Workplace and enforce anti-harassment rules.
If this is well understood, it creates employee confidence when they want to file a claim to human resources concerning harassment.
3. Hold Disciplinary Meetings with Employees and Report them to the Human Resource
A typical manager or supervisor can only discipline an employee with a valid reason. But before disciplining the in-situation employee, the manager should first report the meeting with the human resource before involving the employee. Then, ask the supervisor to provide documentation of reasons for holding the discussion and let the human resource approve it. This plays a crucial role in ensuring that the actions taken are appropriate.
4. Keep your Employees’ Details (Information) Confidential
In any case, if an employee has a complaint about a particular supervisor or, to some extent, the company’s leaders, encourage them to consult with the human resource staff first. The team should ensure that the information provided by the employee during the meeting remains private and confidential.
5. Document and Keep Files of each Meeting or Warning
Each disciplinary and warning meeting should be documented to prove that warnings were issued before any actions were taken. Supervisors should also gather files or emails to confirm that the employees showed inappropriate behavior. Keeping these files and those that justify your company leaders’ actions can be an effective method of maintaining workplace retaliation at bay.
Take Home
Employees should consult with an employment lawyer if they feel they have been subjected to retaliation. For those who have been fired and lost vast sums of wages, working hand in hand with a lawyer can be the only way out. The lawyer will be able to determine the weight of the case and not forget about compensation.
What Are Some Wrongful Termination Examples?
Wrongful termination, also referred to as wrongful dismissal, refers to a case where an employer fires an employee for unlawful or illegal reasons. Even though California is an at-will employment state, the California Fair Employment and Housing Act (FEHA) has set regulations that protect employees against wrongful termination in California. So, what are some wrongful termination examples? What scenarios are classified as criminal termination cases? Read on to understand the different classifications of scenarios that can be termed wrongful termination.
1. Unlawful Discrimination
Under California’s employment law, an employer is prohibited from firing an employer based on discriminatory intent. All individuals who share the “protected class” characteristics are protected against discrimination from their employers. In California, the “protected class” includes the following:
• age (40 years and above)
• race, color, nationality, and origin
• religion
• disability
• HIV/AIDS Positive status
• marital status
• sex, gender identity & expression (sexual harassment is also against the law)
• medical condition
• veteran status
Due to the employment laws in California, employers may not single out employees with the mentioned characteristics for termination. In addition, an employer should not create a work environment that disadvantages or excludes a protected class member. In some cases, the employer may create unfavorable conditions for the protected class members, leaving them with no choice but to quit or resign.
Besides the California Fair Employment and Housing Act (FEHA), other employment laws within the state prohibit discrimination against the protected class. For example, these laws prohibit the discrimination of victims of crime, employees’ immigration status, language, political inclination, and previous criminal convictions.
Suppose you have been asking yourself, “what is wrongful termination” and feel like you were fired based on discriminatory intent. In that case, you may pursue a lawsuit for wrongful termination.
2. Retaliation for Taking Protected Time Off
When an employee has been fired for taking legal time off work, they may sue the employer for wrongful termination. Legally, the Protected Time Off includes the following types of leave:
• Maternity leave: federal laws allow new mothers and fathers to take time off work and bond with the new child. During the pregnancy, the mother has a right to pregnancy disability leave before giving birth.
• Child-bonding leaves: Employees working in a company with more than 20 may take 12 weeks of child-bonding leave. This leave must be taken within the first year of a child’s birth, foster care placement, or adoption.
• Lactation breaks: refer to a period within the workday for lactating mothers to express their breast milk. However, the breaks are on condition that they do not disrupt normal operations within the establishment.
• Sick leave: the law prohibits employers from firing employees for utilizing their sick leave accrued. During this time, the employer should permit the employee to seek diagnosis, care, and treatment for an existing medical condition.
• Time off to vote: if an employee does not have enough time outside of working hours to participate in the voting activity, then the employer should permit them time off for voting.
• Family and medical leave: An employer is also prohibited from firing an employee for inquiring about family or medical leave.
Suppose you believe you were wrongfully terminated for legally taking some protected term off. In that case, there may be a potential basis for retaliation claims.
3. Unlawful Retaliation
As an employee, you have the right to complain or report an employer who violates the law or public policies in some way. The law prohibits the employer from firing or punishing you if you choose to do so. Hence, getting fired due to the following reason(s) may be termed as wrongful termination:
• Reporting unlawful activities within the establishment
• Complaining about unpaid wages, overtime pays, and unlawful working conditions
• Complaining about work, health, and safety issues
• Filing claims with the Department of Industrial Relations for unpaid wages
• Filing and reporting discrimination and harassment complaints
• Negotiating income
• Filing an employee compensation claim
4. Wrongful Termination For Breach Of Contract
Employees not under the at-will category are bound to an agreement that specifies the conditions that may lead to contract termination.
Now that you have a better understanding of the question, “what is wrongful termination in California,” you should evaluate your case and determine the following line of action. Suppose you believe you are a victim of wrongful termination. In that case, you should consider using your employers and getting employment attorneys with CA to guide you through the journey. Contact Bear Law today if you believe you have been wrongfully terminated.
