Travel Law News

I just returned from Salt Lake City and it got me to thinking about some things: It’s getting easier all the time to travel with your pet. There are more pet-friendly hotels than ever. There are websites set up to make finding them easier. These sites help you locate pet-friendly lodging along your chosen travel route. The pet travel service websites even offer pet friendly destinations and events, such as parks, beaches, stores, and more. They list pet-friendly airlines. One site, called Petswelcome, says; “From Pet-friendly Airlines to our Watchdog Club, where visitors offer up their favorite Fun and Cool Places to take animals, petswelcome covers everything you need to know to take your dog, cat, ferret, bird, bunny, horse, hamster or reptile on the road for a fun, safe and rewarding trip anywhere in the world.”

The Petswelcome website also offers some great traveling tips. It advises to keep a list of emergency pet clinics in the area you’re heading to. They even have a database of emergency vets.

They advise that Rabies vaccinations are essential for all travel abroad, and for returning to the United States. They note that many airlines require these vaccinations.

They also warn that it’s dangerous to have pets unsecured while riding in a car. A sudden stop or accident can send them flying to an injury. The pet can also run away when the car door opens.

Special harnesses are available for dogs that work like seatbelts, and cat-carriers are great to keep kitty safe. Carriers also work well for small dogs. Be sure to secure the carrier with a seatbelt.

If you have one of the many dogs or cats that do not travel well, your vet can prescribe sedatives to keep them comfortable. The vet can also prescribe travel-sickness pills.

The website also reminds you to always check with your vet before giving your pet any medications. Also, consult with the vet about dosages, too.

One piece of advice that is very compelling is in response to the horrifying incidents involving animals being left in hot cars, resulting in them suffering heatstroke. The site recommends leaving at least two windows (for cross draft) open slightly to allow fresh air inside the car.

If you are in Salt lake City then I do suggest salt lake city dog daycare at Coddled Critters for general pet boarding, cat grooming and the aforementioned dog daycare.

A really interesting gadget to consider is one of those fans that are solar-powered. They fit snugly in the window, and the hotter it is, the better they work.

Petswelcome emphasizes; “However, we strongly recommend that you DON’T leave animals in the car in hot climates or during the warmer months, as even a short time in a hot vehicle can be injurious to your pet.”

A large portion of the wedding dress is the accessories which compliment it and it is not that odd at all for brides to wear diamonds on their wedding day. One of the major jewelry lines of online designer jewelry has a new line out which is just for the bride and bridal party. All in all, this particular line of jewelry is really great for gifts to the bridal party, which is of course traditional to give the bridal party gifts and elegantly designed pieces for the bride as well.
The jewelry line includes 18k Gold ring, jacob & co watch, diamond rings, rayalty watch, richard & co watch and diamond ankle bracelets in 18 k gold. All in all, the variousprices on the bridal party and brides jewelry range from $50 to $1,000.
The designer jewelry has been made to be elegant and match with any type of wedding gown from the most modern to the vintage design. The company also features men’s jewelry that can be used for the groom and his party with rouphly the same quality.

There is an endless amount of families, individuals, and business people who spend millions of dollars on cruise ship vacations every single year. Lets face it, it is one of the most fun and exciting ways for a person to spend some relaxing time soaking up the suns rays. Most of the cruise ships today even have several different fun and exciting activities planned out that the entire family is able to take advantage of. What more could you ask for, after all you are away from the hustle and bustle of your normal busy schedule. Another benefit is the fact that while your family is on these ships you do not have to worry about the constant danger and assaults that are taking place back on land…right? Wrong!

Having a ton of fun in the sun should not mean rape while you are out at sea, but unfortunately this is exactly what it does end up meaning for some passengers that are simply trying to take a break from reality and enjoy the peacefulness of a family vacation. It is actually impossible to keep assaults such as rapes from happening no matter where you may be at the time, and this certainly includes taking a ride on a ship headed to various areas of the ocean.

When this is the type of traumatic assault that one of your family members or even yourself have faced you need to know that there are compassionate and knowledgeable cruise ship rape attorneys that are available to help. They have a vast amount of experience in being able to handle all types of rape assaults at sea that are most common in happening on cruises and they have the know how to give you the assurance that you need in knowing that justice will prevail.

This can be a very hard and devastating time for your entire family and it can be very important to let professional cruise shit rape attorneys help you handle all of the frustrating and often hard to understand legalities. They will make every effort into reviewing every aspect of the assault and then studying your case in its entirety so they can direct you to the best action that should be taken.

Fun in the sun should not mean that you have to endure a rape at sea. When this is the type of situation that kicked you in the face, these experienced attorneys can also help direct you to the most qualified and experienced counselors that are so often needed when this type of traumatic event occurs.

If you were raped at sea, contactEhline Law | Injury Lawyer PC

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If you have ever gone on vacation to any of the major Hawaiian islands, chances are you have been to one of these retail stores.

Hilo Hattie filed Chapter 11 owing at least one of their creditors $1.3 million dollars, according to Bob Taylor the president and CEO of Maui Divers jewelry, which has an interest in the souvenirs and aloha attire company. The Hilo Hattie’s seven stores have Maui Divers concessions inside their stores that accounts for approximately 20 percent of the company’s jewelry sales. Taylor has stated that Hilo Hattie is an important part of their market; they do not want to lose from the seven stores.

According to Maui Divers plans they would rehire most of the Hilo Hattie employees and keep most of the current vendors. They plan to put approximately $2 million dollars into operating the stores and in merchandise.There is a June 22^nd court date to decide if Hilo Hattie will be liquidated or if an independent management trustee can assume control of the company.Mauai divers is not the type of firm to seel an 18k Gold ring, semi mount ring 14K gold ring or gold earrings but they are a good choice for a Richard & co watch, jacob & co watch or rayalty watch.

According to the Hilo Hattie attorney Chuck Choi, the offer by Maui Divers will not satisfy all of the outstanding creditors including $800,000 that is owed in rent to the Harry and Jeanette Weinberg Foundation and a $700,000 mortgage that is owed to Central Pacific Bank.

There are few people in the world who wouldn’t choose to visit Hawaii at virtually any time of the year had they the opportunity to do it. Perhaps you’ve jumped at the opportunity and decided that you and your family are going to take that dream vacation to the beautiful islands of the Pacific. Maui is an especially popular island to visit because of its diverse culture and dazzling sights. Hundreds of thousands of people make their way to Maui each year, and while there, many people choose to stay in vacation rental properties. Vacation properties can range from rental condos, townhouses, resorts, and homes for rents. The particular properties in Maui are various enough in style, design, and layout that they can accommodate the taste and space requisites of just about any vacationer and his or her family.

The city of Kaananpali is small enough to be personally inviting to newcomers, but large enough to make seasoned visitors wish to return again and again. Kaananpali plays host to miles of hiking and horseback riding trails, as well as beautiful sandy beaches that ring with relaxation and serenity. Lahaina is the nearby capital of Hawaii and offers many of to most beautiful Hawaiii & Maui vacation rentals. The rental condos, resorts, and homes for rent there are often more economic, private, and hospitable than the large, impersonal hotel chains, making vacation rentals in and around Kaananpali a favorable choice for many visitors.

The city of Kihei is larger than Kaananpali, but that doesn’t diminish its charm or vast cultural essence in any way. Scuba diving is a particularly fun pastime that one can experience while vacationing in Kihei. In fact, the Maui Dive School is located within minutes of the beach, so you can experience the ocean in ways you’ve never thought possible, even if you’ve never scuba dived before. The Makena Horse Stables are also a must-see while in Kihei. Guides will help you choose the perfect horse to ride, and then take you on a breathtaking ride in the hills above the ocean. There are many rental condos, homes for rent, and resorts where you can stay in Kihei. Most of these vacation rentals are beachfront properties, harboring ocean views from virtually every room in the place.

Some of the most visited resorts in Hawaii reside along the coastline of Wailea, Maui. This beautiful city Many of the rentals come with private or shared pools and hot tubs, so if you’re not in the mood to feel the sand between your toes, you can still enjoy a relaxing soak or swim on a warm night. For those who do want to feel the sand underneath their feet, however, the beaches in Wailea are comprised of sparkling white sand aside crystal clear, blue water. Many of the vacation rentals, including condos and homes, can be found on or near these white, sandy beaches, so you’ll likely be just a few minutes away from this oceanside paradise at any given moment.

If you’ve always thought of Colorado as the perfect place to go skiing and snowboarding in the winter time, you were right on the money. But if you’ve ever thought the slopes and ski resorts close down during the summer months, think again. There may be even more fun activities to enjoy in Colorado during the summer months than a winter wonderland could possibly provide. Golfing, hiking, white water rafting, kayaking, canoeing, and camping are just a few of the outdoor activities that can be enjoyed in the mountains of Colorado during the warm season. There are also various tours, hot air balloon rides, and festivals to attend that will give you a taste of what it’s like to live in this beautiful state. The most popular places to stay are the same in winter and summertime: ski resorts villages. Resorts, however, are just one option of the plethora of places you could stay while you visit Colorado. The ski resort villages there also provide many vacation rentals ranging from one bedroom condominiums to five bedroom homes. These popular vacation retreats are available for rent all year-round.

During the cold season, Vail, Colorado becomes a perfect retreat for those wanting to spend their time skiing, snowboarding, snowshoeing, or simply enjoying the wintry outdoors. In the summertime, on the other hand, Vail attracts thousands of avid bicyclists, hikers, horseback riders, fisherman, hunters, and more. To accommodate all of these visitors, there are many rental condominiums and even homes for rent year-round. Rental properties or resorts vary in their accommodations, all of which can meet the needs of couples and families alike. Vail CO Ski Vacation rentals are available with anywhere from one to five bedrooms, dependent on your needs, and can be rented for as little as a few days to as long as a few weeks.

Breckenridge, Colorado, like its sister village of Vail, is also an incredibly popular summer and winter spot for those looking to enjoy some rest and relaxation. Breckenridge sits in the famous Rocky Mountains and is known by annual visitors as one of the best ski resort villages in the United States. Although, like Vail, Breckenridge becomes a proverbial paradise on earth to outdoor enthusiasts during the summer months, there are many indoor activities that can be enjoyed as well. There is a theatre in the village, as well as museums, spas, ice skating rinks, a concert hall, and more. Many people even choose to come here to have a summer wedding in the Rockies. Whether you’re a newlywed looking for a honeymoon suite or one member of a large family reunion, there are summer rental options available for you in Breckenridge. Rental condominiums range in price and size to fit the budget and space requirements for virtually anyone. Homes for rent are also a popular choice for those looking for an even greater sense of comfort. Resorts are also available in the village for those looking to connect with other vacationers.

March 30, 2009 (by Aaron Marcus)

According to reports a waiter identified as Jorge Teixeria who has been charged with alleged aggravated sexual abuse was arraigned in Los Angeles District Court.This is a crime that cruise ship rape lawyers have often warned of and once again, it appears will result in a possible conviction of the alleged rapist.

Teixeria age 38, is a Portuguese national and was deemed a flight risk at his bail hearing and will be held in custody until his trial. Teixeria has worked on cruise ships for 18 years and if convicted of the charges could be sentenced to life in prison.

According to court documents the charges against Teixeria stem from a March 5^th incident aboard the Coral Princess while it was off the Coast of Mexico. He was charged after an unidentified 42 year old U.S. citizen made a criminal complaint.

It has been reported that the woman stated she had met the waiter in the dinning room, were Teixeria was the headwaiter. She and the waiter had shared some wine and she claims in the affidavit that after this he forced her to perform a sex act and assaulted her.

The Princess Cruise line claims that after the crime was reported the area where the assault took place was sealed off and Teixeria was restricted to his quarters, where he was guarded by security personnel.

According to the Assistant U.S. Attorney Reema M. El-Amamy, Teixeria admitted meeting the woman and stated that he touched her leg and another part of her body when they left the table. Teixeria denies sexually attacking the woman according to El-Amamy.

March 18, 2009 (by Aaron Marcus)

In the wake of the March 5-6, 2009 alleged rape on the Princess Cruise Liner, Coral Princess, lawmakers have introduced a cruise safety bill. I have been following this event since it occurred and so far it appears that a Princess Cruise ship waiter was charged with sexual assault by the FBI, and is awaiting trial in Central District Federal Court in Los Angeles County after the alleged passenger rape.

In recent years the cruise ship industry has faced criticism in high profile cases such as missing passengers and sexual attacks, while at sea. The cruise safety bill introduced Thursday will require the 38 billion dollar industry to report crimes at sea, to improve ship safety and to employ doctors that have training in assault examinations. Cruise ship doctors would also need to be U.S. licensed.

Princess cruise ship rape lawyer, Michael Ehline, a past contributor to Tanner and Haley News, based in Los Angeles, California, says the cruise safety bill is probably too little too late. In my interview with Ehline on March 15, 2009, I asked Ehline various questions as follows:

Q: Do you represent the victim of the Coral Princess alleged sexual assault?

Ehline: I have no comment as to who I do or do not represent at this time. It is the policy of the Ehline firm not to make a public spectacle out of cruise ship rape victims. However, I will say this, we don’t typically go to the national media and do press releases, or use celebrity attorneys to generate business.

We try and keep a low profile, meet the victim at the port of call here in Los Angeles, as our offices are just minutes away.  We try and get them away from the press and help the victim get the psychological support he or she needs. We also try and work to help the California federal prosecutors gather evidence, which hopefully will lead to a conviction of the rapist.

Q: Don’t you think not going to the press and identifying the victim will make it harder to get compensation for rape victims?

Ehline: On the contrary, I think attorneys who do that are shortsighted in their thinking. It can easily make a judge or jury think the victim is not really a victim at all. The only time I think the press is useful is to help effectuate new regulations, and to discredit the stories in the press that try and demonize the rape victims. Most of what I have seen online, or on the news generated by law firms, appears to be more hype and an attempt to get cases.

Q: What is the first thing a cruise ship rape victim should do?

Ehline: Well it depends. They are typically not in the right frame of mind to think clearly. But as a general rule, they need to contact the FBI immediately, and tell someone they trust about what happened to make a record. They must preserve evidence also. They should notify ship security as well as the ship’s doctor.

The dilemma here is that the cruise lines are common carriers and responsible for what happens on the ship. In other words, they are legally liable for the rape in most cases. So telling the defendant what happened sort of leaves the victim open to problems.

For example, the defendant cruise ship can lie, make up stories, issue bogus statements to the press before the ship even arrives in port, say they closed off a crime scene when they did not, or say they followed protocol when they did not, and numerous other things to mitigate a potential lawsuit or influence the public and/or a jury. Honestly, knowing this, the first thing I would do is contact a maritime lawyer and have my lawyer notify the FBI.

Q: Is there anything particular a rape victim needs to be aware of when attempting to retain a lawyer?

Ehline: Well there are many, but the most important thing is to know where the venue is the victim needs to sue, and where the case will be prosecuted against the rapist. Princess Cruise Lines require that any lawsuits brought against them be brought in California, as part of their passage contract.

I have seen many cases where the victim will hire an out of state lawyer to represent them who is not even licensed to practice law in the State of California. The cruise lines typically won’t offer as good of a settlement to an out of state lawyer in my opinion, because they don’t know California law, and the out of state attorney will have to associate another lawyer licensed in California to do the case here if it is against Princess.

So this means the out of state lawyer will have to refer the case to a lawyer here and share his or her fee. You tell me what you think is going to happen? Maybe they take the cheap settlement rather than share a larger one? It evens out and the client suffers.

The next issue is the criminal matter. How is a lawyer 3000 miles away going to attend the criminal matters and help the victim at the sentencing hearing of the criminal? And if your lawyer tells you a criminal conviction is not important, that is a sign that he or she doesn’t have a clue. The criminal conviction vindicates the victim and should easily lead to a quick and painless out of court settlement.

Q: What about the proposed legislation:

Ehline: Well what gets me angry is that there are already laws on the books. Look, the bulk of the cruise ships are registered in foreign countries, the companies are able to avoid paying income tax and they do not have to comply with the U.S. labor laws.

The recent bill that was introduced by Rep. Doris Matsui Democrat, Sacramento and Sen. John F. Kerry Democrat from Massachusetts requires that security latches and peepholes will need to be installed on cruise ships. How would a peephole have helped the most recent victim, when it is a crew member who is accused?

I agree about the guardrails, which will also need to be raised to the height of 54 inches.

Cruise ships will have to report some crimes to the FBI and to the Coast Guard according to this new bill. Rep Matsui stated that people going on cruises should be as safe as the can be and should feel safe. But my understanding that reporting sexual assault is that is already the law! After all the men overboard, all the rapes and cover ups, I just think this is way too little, way too late. Hiring cheap laborers from foreign countries who do not respect American cultural values, or laws, although not a politically correct thing to say, I believe is the major problem with cruise ships. I do not see that being addressed anywhere in any legislation. Foreigners need to be trained and educated as to what is legal and what is illegal and there need to be better background checks.  How do you know who these people are?

Q: Thank you for the interview.

Ehline: Your welcome.

After interviewing attorney Ehline, I did some additional research and found that Rep. Matsui has been fighting for cruise ship changes since being told by a constituent that she had been raped on a Royal Caribbean cruise and Matsui asked for congressional hearings. This was after Matsui contacted the cruise lines who stated they could not install peepholes.

One woman who testified before congress, Laurie Dishman, staed she was raped in 2004 on a Royal Caribbean cruise. She went on to testify that when she complained to cruise officials they stated she needed to control her drinking. When she went to the ships doctor instead of conducting a rape examination she was given two garbage bags and told to collect her own evidence. The U.S. Attorneys Office declined to prosecute the case after Dishman had been raped by one of the ship employees.

According to one statement by Kendall Carver the president and founder of the International Cruise Victims, the cruise industry need more oversite. Carver’s daughter disappeared off of an Alaska cruise in 2004.

Thursday the Cruise Lines International Association released a statement that their highest priority is the passenger’s safety and security. They also stated the incidents that are brought up in the bill of missing passengers and sexual assaults are rare. In their statement they say they are already required to report crimes by law and they have a voluntary agreement with the Coast Guard and the FBI.

Carver stated that the crimes keep going on and the recent rape case took the FBI two days to board the ship and if it had occurred in Los Angeles the police would have been waiting for the woman at the hospital. This was a rape reported by a passenger on the George from Portugal from Florida to Los Angeles on March 6. The ship involved was the Coral Princess and the man suspected of the rape was a cruise ship employee. We hope that this legislation argued by California Cruise Ship Rape Lawyer Ehline as being too little too late is a step in the right direction.

March 9, 2009

According to reports Federal agents boarded the Coral Princess cruise ship early today to arrest a crew member on the ship for allegedly raping a passenger.

According to FBI spokesperson Laura Eimiller after the Coral Princess docked FBI agents boarded the ship and arrested a crew member for cruise ship rape, identified as 38 year old Jorge Manuel Teixeira of Portugal.

Eimiller stated Teixeria is due in a Los Angeles court tomorrow where he will be formally charged for the alleged rape.

A spokes person for the Princess Cruises Julie Benson stated that two days ago when a passenger accused a crew member of the sexual assault the crime was reported and the area where the alleged rape took places was sealed off. The crew member who has since been identified as Jorge Manuel Teixeria was restricted to his quarters on the ship with a security person posted. The alleged victim was given medical and other assistance until the ship docked and the FBI agents boarded the cruise liner.

The Coral Princess was on a 14 day cruise with passengers from Fort Lauderdale Florida and its final destination of San Pedro, through the Panama Canal.

As many of you are already aware, Hawaii has some of the best hiking trails in the entire world. Whether it is the 12 mile long unspoiled Na Pa Li coastline trail,the scenic Kuhilau trail on Kauai or the rainforest or volcanoe trails on the big island, Mauai and Oahu, Hawaii has it all in thei regard. However, there are guidelines you should consider to help ensure the best hiking experience possible. Before you go out, though, hop in your Nissan or whatever car you rented and get yourself some decent hiking shoes or boots from a local shops and put them on prior to going for hiking. You may hire a tour guide to take you around or you can rent a Nissan or other vehicle and explore Hawaii on your own.  You can go here if you wish to obtain a vehicle and find a Hawaii Nissan dealership. In some areas of the state, a Nissan is the best rental deal going. The peak hours at the day, in Hawaii, require special caution to protect you from the sun. You can either put on a hat or carry an umbrella for that. Putting on a light colored jacket will protect you against the harmful sun rays, throughout Hawaii, as well as keeping your body temperature normal. The most important of all is to bring a large amount of drinking water. The water from streams can be infected with bacteria and can cause fatal diseases. Timing is also a very important factor in arranging your activity in Hawaii. You should start you hiking activity in the morning when the sun just rises so that you have enough time to explore the beauty beside the track and come back in time. Hawaii is very close to the equator, therefore the area gets dark in short time in the evening when the sun goes down. You need to carry a torch light to lead you at night. While on the trail, if you encounter any emergency like injury, bad weather or it gets too late at night and you get stuck on the trail,911 is the number to call and ask for help. This is the service which has been made available in America as well as Hawaii for helping people in emergency. They will ask about your position and track you to reach there as soon as possible. Your colored dressing, whistle and flashlight will help the rescue workers to reach you. If the place, the person is in trouble is inaccessible by foot, helicopters will come to free him.