Nathan selected to Super Lawyers

Nathan was selected as one of Super Lawyers’ Rising Stars for 2011. Super Lawyers is a nationwide “rating service of outstanding lawyers from more than 70 practice  areas who have attained a high-degree of peer recognition and  professional achievement. The selection process is multi-phased and  includes independent research, peer nominations and peer evaluations.

Super Lawyers magazine features the list and profiles of selected  attorneys and is distributed to attorneys in the state or region and the  ABA-accredited law school libraries. Super Lawyers is also published as  a special section in leading city and regional magazines across the  country.”

Nathan P. Chaney

Fall/Winter driving tips

With all the rain and wind we've been getting as fall arrives and winter looms, the roads are starting to get slick. Remember to give yourself extra time to get where you're going. That way, you can drive slower and avoid sliding on piles of wet leaves, ice, or snow.

Be especially careful in rear-wheel-drive vehicles. Years ago, I used to park my old Chevy pickup during snow, and had to be very careful driving to law school to avoid sliding on wet leaves.

Halloween safety

Tom & Jerry jack-o-lantern by NathanMany of you will probably be trick-or-treating with loved ones tonight. Be sure and stay safe by following these tips from the CDC:

• Swords, knives, and similar costume accessories should be short, soft, and flexible.
• Avoid trick-or-treating alone. Walk in groups or with a trusted adult.
• Fasten reflective tape to costumes and bags to help drivers see you.
• Examine all treats for choking hazards and tampering before eating them. Limit the amount of treats you eat.
• Hold a flashlight while trick-or-treating to help you see and others see you. Always WALK and don't run from house to house.
• Always test make-up in a small area first. Remove it before bedtime to prevent possible skin and eye irritation.
• Look both ways before crossing the street. Use established crosswalks wherever possible.
• Lower your risk for serious eye injury by not wearing decorative contact lenses.
• Only walk on sidewalks whenever possible, or on the far edge of the road facing traffic to stay safe.
• Wear well-fitting masks, costumes, and shoes to avoid blocked vision, trips, and falls.
• Eat only factory-wrapped treats. Avoid eating homemade treats made by strangers.
• Enter homes only if you're with a trusted adult.
• Never walk near lit candles or luminaries. Be sure to wear flame-resistant costumes.Provide healthier treats for trick-or-treaters such as low-calorie treats and drinks. For party guests, offer a variety of fruits, vegetables, and cheeses.
• Use party games and trick-or-treat time as an opportunity for kids to get their daily dose of 60 minutes of physical activity.
• Be sure walking areas and stairs are well-lit and free of obstacles that could result in falls.
• Keep candle-lit jack-o'lanterns and luminaries away from doorsteps, walkways, landings, and curtains. Place them on sturdy tables, keep them out of the reach of pets and small children, and never leave them unattended.
• Remind drivers to watch out for trick-or-treaters and to drive safely.

Happy Halloween from the Chaney Law Firm!

Chaney Firm members giving back to the community

The Chaney Law Firm endorses volunteerism and is proud to celebrate the efforts of attorneys Hilary Chaney and Taylor Chaney. Hilary serves as the scholarship committee chair on the Single Parent Scholarship Fund of Clark County. This fund awards scholarships to qualifying single parents who are pursuing a college education while raising children. The fund awarded over $8000 in scholarships to Clark County single parents for the Fall 2011 semester. Contact Hilary for more information on applying, donating to the fund, or becoming a board member.

Hilary is also training to become a volunteer for the Arkansas Judges and Lawyers Assistance Program. ARJLAP provides confidential counseling for judges and attorneys facing difficulties associated with mental illness, drug or alcohol abuse, anxiety, burnout or the like. It is a much needed assistance program for our fellow professionals and Hilary is proud to serve as a volunteer.

Taylor is a member of the fourth class of Leadership Clark County, which "is a program designed to encourage local leadership and to create a networked group of emerging leaders who share a common commitment to the growth Clark County." Past classes have planned and executed class projects, including Rally on the Ravine, a Boys and Girls Club, and a local jobs website. Last year, Nathan was a member of Class III, which is assisting with this year's Rally on the Ravine and is planning a farmer's market.

Chaney Law Firm: Committed to clients and community.

Like a good neighbor, State Farm is there - with piles of cash to buy its own judge

State Farm recently made the news for getting caught buying justice in Illinois. The insurer paid millions to a judge’s campaign in order to get a billion-dollar verdict against it reversed.

In 1999, State Farm lost a $1,056,180,000 verdict (yes, that’s a billion dollars) for repairing insured vehicles with cheaper, aftermarket parts instead of OEM parts.

State Farm appealed to the Appellate Court of Illinois and lost in 2001. The insurer then appealed to the Supreme Court of Illinois in 2002. While this appeal was pending, the insurer campaigned for and donated money to the Republican candidate in a race for the Supreme Court of Illinois, the very court that would decide State Farm’s appeal. The candidate backed by State Farm ultimately won the election, which was the most expensive state supreme court race in U.S. history. The judge, with State Farm’s help, raised $9.3 million for the race.

When the policyholders who won the verdict objected to this judge deciding the appeal, State Farm told the court it had only donated $350,000 to the judge’s campaign. The judge refused to sit the case out and allow it to be decided by impartial judges. Instead, the judge cast the deciding vote to overturn the verdict against State Farm, which occurred in 2005.

Years later, a former FBI agent discovered that State Farm lied when it said it only donated $350,000 to the judge’s campaign. State Farm actually donated between $2.4 and $4 million to the campaign. So, State Farm provided between 26% and 43% of the campaign’s total budget, yet lied to the Supreme Court of Illinois by saying it made a routine donation amounting to just 4% of the total campaign budget.

Recently, attorney and former Republican senator from Tennessee Fred Thompson (among others) filed a class action lawsuit to reinstate the $1 billion verdict against State Farm.

At the very least, the Supreme Court of Illinois should acknowledge its mistake and reconsider the tainted judgment. It will be interesting to see what becomes of State Farm and the Illinois Supreme Court judge. One would think that punitive damages in the class action, as well as criminal prosecution and hefty fines for perjury and bribing a judge, might deter State Farm from lying the a state’s highest court in the future. As for the judge, a criminal sentence for obstruction of justice would seem to be in order.