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Why Is It Said That Justice Is Green In America?
by Amina Cisse Muhammad
03/07/2001
Author of fifty books, of which 45 are bestsellers, Pete Billac has a unique writing style that tells it like it is - no holding back. In his most recent, he discusses how American families can hire a top-notch attorney for less than a dollar a day… and why they need to.
Justice Is Green, published by Swan Publishing earlier this year, presents scenario after scenario that illustrate why having an attorney on retainer in the United States, the most litigious society in the world, "just makes sense."
For example, did you know that this year, there is more than a three times greater chance of being involved in a lawsuit than of being admitted into the hospital? Billac writes:
…. If you're in any kind of business, even just alive, you stand a chance of being sued for any number of unforeseen reasons. Often, if you lose, you could lose everything!
Every day, innocent people are being sued for the most ridiculous reasons, and losing! Chances are in your favor of not losing if you have competent legal counsel to call upon (foreword).
The following are some of the situations that people have been sued for in America:
· A neighborhood kid gets hurt in their yard.
· Their child throws a ball and hits another child in the face, breaking glasses or teeth.
· A service man slips on their wet or newly waxed floor in their home or place of business.
· A neighbor steps on a rake in their yard, and gets banged in the head and needs stitches.
· A marriage goes bad, and one spouse sues the other.
· A parent/teen relationship goes bad, and the teen sues the parent.
· A teacher is sued by a student for humiliating him/her in front of the class.
We can look at the many court shows on American television to get an idea of how frequently lawsuits take place in our society. While hospital statistics indicate that roughly 33 million Americans are hospitalized each year, 100 million end up in court (Billac, p. 33). "Yet," Billac writes, "most Americans have health and hospitalization insurance, insurance on their car, on their house, on their boat, but if they get sued - win or lose - it will cost them money. The color of justice is, without a doubt, green (foreword)!"
Not only are we subject to being sued living in America, but our rights are often trampled on. Have you ever been wrongfully stopped by a law enforcement official? Not hired or fired (or otherwise discriminated against) because of your color or religion?
Had property stolen or vandalized? Had a garment ruined at the dry cleaners? Been denied repairs on an item you purchased that was still under warranty, or had trouble having repairs properly done to your car? Received defective or the wrong merchandise after making a purchase?
Been involved in a car accident, or in a dispute with a neighbor or co-worker? Been involved in probate when a relative died and left no will?
Would it have been to your benefit to have an affordable lawyer to call on? Billac says, "The average income earner is wary of seeking legal advice because the cost of even visiting an attorney is frightening." While the top 10% of Americans (income wise) can afford to pay upwards of $200 or $300 an hour for legal counsel and/or representation, and the bottom 10% are eligible for free legal services, the middle 80% of Americans are basically forced to make a financial decision before being able to consult an attorney (foreword).
Well, you can relax now because there is a service that offers affordable legal protection to those of us who cannot pay the average attorney's hourly fees. Pre-Paid Legal Services, Inc., a 29-year old company based in Ada, Oklahoma, is revolutionizing the legal industry by offering quality and affordable legal services through a network of provider law firms throughout America and in several Canadian provinces at the cost of less than a dollar a day for an entire family (member, spouse and dependent children). Based on the same concept of health insurance and/or HMO's, simply put, Pre-Paid legal plans do for attorney and legal bills what health insurance and HMO's do for hospital and doctor bills.
Pete Billac says:
You don't have to take it… There is no reason for you to ever be taken advantage of again. Or scared, or bullied, or forced into taking something you don't want because now, you can afford your own attorney!
…. Even if you don't have a business, if you have a good-paying job and some money saved, if you have stock, properties, an inheritance, drive your car, shop at the mall, order things, have children, this world has become a place where you need an attorney…
It is smart to have an attorney because you will sleep better. It saves you time to have an attorney and let them read and keep current with the law and you do whatever business you're good at. Having your own attorney gives you a feeling of safety (pp. 14-15).
Think of it this way - not only do unfortunate things occasionally happen to law-abiding (and God-fearing) people, but all of us make decisions all of the time that would have been easier if we had consulted an attorney about any potential legal implications and to safeguard our civil and legal rights. We enter into business transactions where we must sign contracts (in partnership, or when purchasing homes, cars or other major items), we interview for and begin jobs or school, we get married. Most of us do not have wills (polls indicate that about 76% of Americans do not); yet, we have definite inheritance guidelines in Islam that most likely would not be adhered to in the event of our death in this country without a will.
The list of benefits of having a pre-paid legal membership presented in Justice of Green goes on and on:
Think of these everyday happenings and what are your chances of them happening to you? All have happened to somebody! I got it from the law library.
What was one way yesterday is a different way today - and chances are it could change tomorrow. That's why I advised earlier on to let your attorney keep up with these changes and laws. Don't "wonder" what is right and wrong, don't lose sleep over it and stress yourself out, and for goodness sakes, don't let it cost you any of your hard-earned money. This Pre-Paid Legal stuff is easy to obtain and it is inexpensive (Billac, pp. 29-30).
The Pre-Paid Legal Services family plan offers six areas of coverage:
· Preventive Legal Services
· Motor Vehicle Legal Services
· Trial Defense Services
· IRS Audit Legal Services
· 24-hour emergency Legal Shield Service
· Preferred Member discount on all other services
It is said that not everyone who knows about Pre-Paid Legal Services buys a membership, but most SMART people do! And the good news is that IslamOnline is offering Pre-Paid Legal memberships. For more information, visit:
www.prepaidlegal.com/go/islamonline. You will support the operation and growth of our website through your purchase.
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