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Questions Answered by Jonathan R. Ratchik
1 Answer | Asked in Tax Law, Business Formation, Business Law and Car Accidents for New York on
Q: Hi Is registering as an NY llc really protects you when you drive for doordash ???

If you planned to work for doordash and food delivery gigs in ny as an llc . What's better in terms of protection ?

1- To open an llc in an other state like Wyoming , do you need to regester it as a forirgn llc in ny and every other state you work as a dasher ?

2- if you... View More

Jonathan R. Ratchik
Jonathan R. Ratchik
answered on Jun 6, 2023

Really depends from what you are seeking protection, e.g. personal injury liability, taxes, business debts, etc. Although an LLC will protect you from your business obligations, the mere existence of an LLC will not shield you from all personal liability in the event you injure someone in the... View More

1 Answer | Asked in Health Care Law for New York on
Q: Are medical portal emails part of my medical records? Can they cut you off from access to them? Can I request copies?

I was harassed by a doctor, filed an complaint internally. An investigation was done and I was blocked from using the portal. I no longer have access to my portal emails to and from doctors and staff. Are these part of my medical record? Can I request copies of them? Is there a way to regain access... View More

Jonathan R. Ratchik
Jonathan R. Ratchik
answered on Jun 2, 2023

Hard to say. Medical records maintained by a physician / hospital are oftentimes kept separate and apart from messages generated on the patient portal. And a medical records department might not even have access to them. That said, the messages contained within the patient portal would arguably... View More

1 Answer | Asked in Personal Injury for New York on
Q: Can I take my ex husband to court for Emotional Distress ?

My son died 3 years ago on May 12 th, and my ex husband tried to keep my sons death from me and treated me as if I were dead and kept all information and the cops from contacting me. He and the new wife told me that I'm the reason why my son is dead. He tried to keep me from going inside to my... View More

Jonathan R. Ratchik
Jonathan R. Ratchik
answered on May 26, 2023

I'm so sorry for your loss. Putting aside the question of whether your ex-husband's actions would support a lawsuit for negligent infliction of emotional distress or loss of sepulcher, the statute of limitations for such lawsuits in New York is only three (3) years; the statute of... View More

2 Answers | Asked in Car Accidents for New York on
Q: The vehicle was damaged while parked on a thoroughfare. Need an attorney to assist in filing a recovery of damage claim.

The accident occurred 1:30 am

Jonathan R. Ratchik
Jonathan R. Ratchik
answered on May 25, 2023

You can find many excellent attorneys using the Find a Lawyer tab on the JUSTIA homepage. Keep in mind that unless your damages are significant, you might have an uphill battle finding an attorney willing to take on the case. It might be more economical (and expeditious) to file a claim with the... View More

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2 Answers | Asked in Medical Malpractice and Personal Injury for New York on
Q: Attorneys familiar with the medical field

How can I go to my local hospital with no insurance (except emergency Medicaid) and get the treatment I need. How can I convince the doctors that I have a c.s.f. leak (cerebrospinal fluid)and for them to give me an E.B.P. (epidural blood patch)It is a life threatening emergency because after that... View More

Jonathan R. Ratchik
Jonathan R. Ratchik
answered on May 17, 2023

Sorry to hear what you're going through. Generally speaking, you cannot present to an emergency room (or for that matter any medical facility) and force them to treat your own self-diagnosis. Based upon your clinical presentation and medical history, a physician will reach his or her own... View More

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2 Answers | Asked in Medical Malpractice, Criminal Law and Identity Theft for New York on
Q: Hippa-related legality surrounding my reporting a recent crime committed by a pt while using my namesake/identity.

In short, I'm a physician in pvt practice. A pt I have treated for years recently scammed a new pt of my practice out of $500. Via txt messages, he assumed the identity of a fictitious member of my office staff and contacted the patient to schedule an appt with myself (referring to me and... View More

Jonathan R. Ratchik
Jonathan R. Ratchik
answered on May 15, 2023

The perpetrator arguably committed a crime by using your identity to defraud a patient. HIPAA prohibits the disclosure of individually identifiable medical information. One exception to the prohibition, however, is for law enforcement purposes, specifically when necessary to inform law... View More

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3 Answers | Asked in Car Accidents for New York on
Q: why is a driver who kills a pedestrian still not charged with any crime. The driver was totally distracted ran off the
Jonathan R. Ratchik
Jonathan R. Ratchik
answered on May 5, 2023

As my colleagues have correctly advised, whether to charge someone with a crime for vehicular manslaughter is ultimately left to the sound discretion of the District Attorney's office. Generally speaking, unless there are aggravating circumstances that contributed to the incident, such as... View More

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2 Answers | Asked in Car Accidents and Personal Injury for New York on
Q: I was hit in my vehicle on the way to where I worked in 1992.A 18 wheeler trucker went threw a red light and was injure

With the surgery and winning judgement against trucker I was to have full medical for my jaw injury. For life.Yes it was 31 years ago and I have been in need for more surgery but I dint have my lawyers name then or how to collect fir my surgery . If U dint remember lawyers name ir trucking company... View More

Jonathan R. Ratchik
Jonathan R. Ratchik
answered on May 4, 2023

If you actually prevailed in your lawsuit and obtained a judgment against the defendant trucking company, a copy of the judgment should be on file with the clerk's office of the county in which your lawsuit was brought. Given how old the case is, it is likely in archives and would need to be... View More

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4 Answers | Asked in Medical Malpractice and Personal Injury for New York on
Q: I had breast lifting 2020 and today I had mammogram and they found doctor left clip inside my breast. What I should do?

The surgery was in Miami

Jonathan R. Ratchik
Jonathan R. Ratchik
answered on Apr 27, 2023

Leaving a medical instrument within a patient's body can certainly constitute malpractice IF the instrument was supposed to have been removed following the operation. Surgical clips, however, are routinely used to control bleeding and are purposefully left in place for that reason (and because... View More

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2 Answers | Asked in Car Accidents for New York on
Q: how long does it take to get a settlement check from a municipality after you sign a release normally
Jonathan R. Ratchik
Jonathan R. Ratchik
answered on Apr 12, 2023

Under New York's Civil Practice Law & Rules (CPLR § 5003-a(b)), municipalities have ninety (90) days from the date of tender in which to pay a settlement. The date of tender is the date it receives the settlement papers, i.e. general release, stipulation of discontinuance, final lien letter.

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2 Answers | Asked in Medical Malpractice and Personal Injury for New York on
Q: How are psychiatric malpractice cases handled?

When a psychiatrist uses the wrong judgement in prescribing medication

Jonathan R. Ratchik
Jonathan R. Ratchik
answered on Apr 12, 2023

Psychiatric cases are handled like any other malpractice lawsuit. The plaintiff must demonstrate a departure from the accepted standard of psychiatric care; and that the departure from care was a substantial factor in causing an injury. An error in judgment is a valid defense to any malpractice... View More

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4 Answers | Asked in Immigration Law, Personal Injury and Workers' Compensation for New York on
Q: Hello, I'm a journalist working on the undocumented workers, victims of work accidents. Can you help me with lawyers?

Would like to find an attorney that could talk in camera about the situation of undocumented workers injured in the working place.

Jonathan R. Ratchik
Jonathan R. Ratchik
answered on Apr 24, 2023

You can find many excellent and knowledgeable attorneys using the Find a Lawyer tab on the JUSTIA homepage. Look for lawyers who handle workers' compensation and construction accident (labor law) cases. I'm sure you can find many who would willing to chat with you, especially in camera.

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2 Answers | Asked in Personal Injury for New York on
Q: A lawyer secretary called his the client and said they had a doctor's appointment the next day and to see their medical

No transportation they want her to use her Medicaid and to see her regular doctor and I never heard that before a lawyer gets the insurance doctor and gets the transportation she fell in restaurant

Jonathan R. Ratchik
Jonathan R. Ratchik
answered on Apr 6, 2023

Your question is unclear. Oftentimes, personal injury attorneys will arrange to have their clients evaluated by a physician for an "independent" evaluation, separate and apart from an evaluation for purposes of treatment. Likewise, in a personal injury lawsuit, the defendant is entitled... View More

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1 Answer | Asked in Criminal Law and Personal Injury for New York on
Q: How to do I go after someone for not telling me they have an STD?

I’ve read it’s illegal for someone to have herpes and not disclose that before getting intimate. I only ever found out because he is carrying around a bottle of the pills and I confronted him. How do I pursue charges for this?

Jonathan R. Ratchik
Jonathan R. Ratchik
answered on Mar 30, 2023

If you wish to press criminal charges against the individual (having intercourse while you are knowingly infected is a misdemeanor), you would have to report the matter to the police and see if they are willing to pursue. With regard to pursuing a civil lawsuit against the individual, if the... View More

1 Answer | Asked in Personal Injury, Gov & Administrative Law and Municipal Law for New York on
Q: How difficult is suing the City for property damages sustained by the FDNY after they couldn’t close a fire hydrant?

FDNY broke a hydrant after putting out a fire. The streets were flooded, Catch Basins and Sewers were clogged and there was no where for water to drain but into our all our basements causing extensive damage. Comptrollers Office just rejected our claims. Three property owners filed claims with the... View More

Jonathan R. Ratchik
Jonathan R. Ratchik
answered on Mar 27, 2023

Sorry to hear what happened to your property. Before you can formally sue a municipality such as the City of New York for negligence, you must first file a Notice of Claim within 90 days of the occurrence. Once you've filed a Notice of Claim (a prerequisite to any lawsuit), you have 1 year... View More

2 Answers | Asked in Estate Planning, Tax Law and Wrongful Death for New York on
Q: Can a wrongful death award arriving into sister's estate be divided in 3 (mother and 2 sisters)?

The estate I represent is winning a wrongful death award. My sister passed in an accident. Can the award be divided by the judge to benefit 3 people, (my mother, other sister and I) ? The interest of this would be that the award would not be taxable for anyone.

Thank you,

Claudia

Jonathan R. Ratchik
Jonathan R. Ratchik
answered on Mar 27, 2023

So sorry for your loss. Under New York's Estates Powers & Trust Law § 4-1.1, if your sister passed away without any children, the entirety of the recovery would go to your mother. Of course, you can certainly petition the court to divide the settlement proceeds equally among yourself,... View More

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2 Answers | Asked in Car Accidents and Personal Injury for New York on
Q: I still believe in my heart my car accident settlement doesn’t reflect the pain and suffering I went thru.

I was in car accident on 2021 at 100% NOT my fault. Other driver is already in prison. My injuries were severe. I had broken ankle broken femur bone hip and 3 broken ribs on left side of my body. It took me more than year to heal. I still have problem with lifting heavy objects and standing for... View More

Jonathan R. Ratchik
Jonathan R. Ratchik
answered on Mar 23, 2023

Sorry to hear what you went through. The "value" of any case is determined by a number of factors, including liability (who's at fault), damages (the nature and extent of your injuries) and oftentimes insurance coverage (both from the defendant's insurance and potentially your... View More

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1 Answer | Asked in Estate Planning, Personal Injury, Medical Malpractice and Probate for New York on
Q: Help Please, Is it normal for trustee to force me to sign documents such like auto loan, mortgage loan and etc?

I had a medical malpractice settlement money when i was a minor. My mother didn't tell me about my settlement money until i found out by a family member at 30-year-old. From what i understand is that my mother created a trust bank account when i was a minor and she is a trustee of that... View More

Jonathan R. Ratchik
Jonathan R. Ratchik
answered on Mar 22, 2023

If you had a medical malpractice lawsuit as a minor, the Court would have had to approve any settlement and would have issued an Infant Compromise Order. The Infant Compromise Order would have directed the settlement proceeds to be deposited in a bank account held jointly by an officer of the bank... View More

2 Answers | Asked in Personal Injury and Animal / Dog Law for New York on
Q: My mother was attacked by her neighbor's dog she wasn't bitten but sustained a fractured wrist when she fell backwards.

What legal action can I take on her behalf?

Jonathan R. Ratchik
Jonathan R. Ratchik
answered on Mar 20, 2023

Sorry to hear what happened to your mother. Whether your mom might have a viable case will depend on whether the dog's actions were foreseeable such that they could have been prevented. In New York, dog owners are strictly liable for harm caused by their dogs if they knew or should have... View More

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1 Answer | Asked in Personal Injury for New York on
Q: I’ve received online order with a alarm needle in it which caused injury. What I can do?

I ordered toddler clothes on Zara com. Which contained alarm needle. When I tried to pull the pant up on my daughter it sketched her and then sticked in to my finger. I texted zara and they refused to call, because I live outside of USA and they are asking USA number to contact. What I can do about... View More

Jonathan R. Ratchik
Jonathan R. Ratchik
answered on Mar 17, 2023

Sorry to hear what happened to your daughter. If you're worried that the needle was contaminated, take your daughter to a doctor and have her evaluated. With regard to Zara, you can try emailing their corporate headquarters and try to resolve the matter via email. Absent a more significant... View More

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