In This Issue
What’s In A Word? N.C. Court of Appeals Invalidates Nursing Home Arbitration Clause Based on Language of the Agreement – Many nursing homes and assisted living communities commonly include arbitration agreements as part of their admission agreement and documents. Typically, these agreements require residents or their legal surrogates to arbitrate disputes with the facility rather than sue in court for damages, and these arguments can cover many types of disputes, including collection actions and medical negligence claims, among others.
“The Climb” — NC Activities Directors Win National Award for Their Work in Nicaragua – As you probably know from prior Shorts articles, last January I traveled to Nicaragua with my pal Carron Suddreth of Wilkes Senior Village and three activities directors we picked from a statewide competition. We put together the first-ever activities program for impoverished elders in Nicaragua.
US Citizenship and Immigration Services Publishes New I-9 Form – On March 8, 2013, the US Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) published a new I-9 Form. This Form is completed in part by all newly hired employees no later than the first day of employment.
Second Annual JFR Foundation Golf Tournament, June 13 and a New National Training Center – The Second Annual JFR Foundation Golf Tournament will be held on June 13, 2013, at the Rock Barn County Club in Hickory, NC. Last year, the tournament raised over $30,000 towards construction of the first national elder care training center in all of Central America. This year, our goal is $50,000, an amount that will complete the fundraising for the training center a year ahead of schedule. Many NC long term care providers and vendors attended last year’s tournament or sponsored the event. If you’d like to be part of this great fundraiser by sponsoring the event in some way, please drop me a line. It’s quite a party! Last year, we had more than 50 players and over 30 sponsors. Please let us know if you can help.
Finally, we have naming opportunities at the new national training center in Nicaragua. If you or your organization would like to have your name on a room at the training center, please send me an email at kburgess@poynerspruill.com. We are offering naming opportunities for the medical clinic, therapy room, dining area, pharmacy and other parts of this exciting structure. I’ll be happy to provide more details upon request.
From Our Marketing Department – We are pleased to announce that Ken Burgess, along with 21 other Poyner Spruill attorneys has been recognized as a 2013 North Carolina Super Lawyer; another 13 were named North Carolina Rising Stars 2013 by North Carolina Super Lawyers Magazine. Each year, the publishers of the magazine undertake a rigorous multi-phase selection process that includes a statewide survey of lawyers, independent research to identify outstanding lawyers, evaluation of candidates based on 12 indicators of peer recognition and peer achievement, a blue ribbon panel review by practice area and state, and a discipline check of each candidate. No more than five percent of the attorneys in each state are recognized by Super Lawyers. Congratulations, Ken! You’ve always been a Super Lawyer in our eyes!
Ken’s Quote of the Month – “It has been my experience that folks who have no vices have very few virtues.” ~ Abraham Lincoln