Matthew Maddox Latest 912-2-16

Five Ways to Limit the Chance Your Legal Team Will Err in Court: Advice from a Lawyer

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The Internet, every newspaper and every media outlet is screaming and laughing about the big mix-up at the Oscars this year when “Moonlight” won best picture, not “La La Land.”

I thought “what a fantastic and truly embarrassing error on such an extraordinarily huge stage.”  Then I began to wonder “How did this happen?” followed by “Thank God it’s only the Oscars.”

Mistakes happen.   All the time. Here are five ways to limit the risk of mistakes when everything is at stake — in court:

#1)  Make sure that your lawyer is authentically invested, personally and professionally, in  your cause.  If you’re only another case and just another fee to your lawyer, important things about you, your goals and the methods to attain those goals will definitely be overlooked. #2)  Be clear about everyone’s role in your case.  Understand what your role is and what you are expected to contribute to the building of your case.  Understand what your law firm expects from you and understand what the roles may be of support personnel such as paralegals. #3)  Map out a course for yourself with the assistance of your personally and professionally invested lawyer.  Your lawyer should be able to explain procedures and the law as they apply to your case and the likely direction that you will have to travel in order to conclude your case in the best possible way. #4)  Be prepared to change course.  Things change in litigation; all the time.  Your law firm needs to grasp this essential concept and be resilient enough to re-chart your direction at any time.  Headlong commitment to a single strategy despite changing evidence or players is a recipe for disaster.

Matthew Maddox Latest 912-2-16

How Do I Get Out of Jury Service? Advice from a Lawyer

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There are a few ways to increase your odds of being excused from jury service.  People ask me about this all the time.  Because they’re terribly busy and they have very demanding jobs and a massive list of obligations and responsibilities. You’re all over-scheduled, over-booked, hard-working, lots-of-stuff-to-do kind of people. But everything changes when you’re sitting next to your lawyer and picking a jury for your trial.

Matthew Maddox Latest 912-2-16

What’s in YOUR Urine? Advice from a Lawyer

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Have you ever wondered if you took a drug test what song your urine would sing about you?  Are you appalled by the question?  Are you thinking, “I don’t do drugs”, so the song would be a short one and talking about urine songs is kind of disgusting? Maybe. Then, let me ask you this, are you taking any opiate prescriptions such as Oxycodone, Oxycontin or Vicodin?

Panelists: High Rate of Teen Drinking in Darien Comes with High Stress, Lax Attitudes

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With only two days on the assignment as school resource officer at Darien High School, Officer Bryan Wallman said at a panel discussion Tuesday night that one of his first impressions is how competitive students are with their academics, and that it may be making them more stressful. DHS Principal Ellen Dunn, who’s been working at the school for years and was also on the panel, said she’s been noticing how students seem more open and unembarrassed to talk with adults about drinking at parties and about marijuana. Don’t renovate that basement if you’ve got teenagers who might want to host a party, she advised parents. Those were some of the observations from the panel at the “Truth and Consequences” public discussion about teenage drinking and binge drinking. Other panelists talked about what parents can do between the time they call an ambulance for an unconscious person found at or after a party, how they should think about legal risks if some teen gets injured at a party at their home where drinking is taking place, or how to approach communicating with a teenager.

Matthew Maddox by Taylor Lauren Barker thumbnail 911-22-16

NEW COLUMN: Advice from a Lawyer: Parents, Know Your Teen Party Responsibilities

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By MATTHEW MADDOX

There is a new standard of conduct for parents and property owners that is growing out of the terrible consequences of unsupervised, underage parties. _______________

Editor’s note: Attorney Matthew Maddox in New Canaan publishes a weekly blog on legal matters. We think it’s got useful advice for our readers, and he’s agreed to let Darienite.com bring it to you here. 

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There was a time when parties were planned at school and from home phones. Parties happened in backyards and family rooms and basements in houses that were big if they were 2,500 square feet. There was no Facebook or Instagram.

Attorney Matthew Maddox 9-14-16

Marijuana, the Law and Social Policy: Presentation Thursday at Darien Library

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In the face of what appears to be the inevitable legalization of “recreational” marijuana in Connecticut and other states throughout the U.S., we require more information across multiple disciplines in order to anticipate and manage the social consequences and costs of the burgeoning marijuana industry. Join us in the Louise Parker Berry Community Room at 7 p.m., Thursday, Sept. 15 for a discussion on changing laws and social policy on marijuana. Attorney Matthew Maddox of New Canaan is the presenter. _____________

— an announcement from Darien Library

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This presentation will provide information about marijuana laws, including some of the risks and potential costs that we are facing as marijuana use and marketing becomes legalized and more accepted.