What are Human Rights?

Human rights are a set of basic rights which many people believe belong to all humans by birthright. The concept is ancient, although the term “human rights” only entered usage in the 1940s. Because many people, especially in the West, feel very strongly about human rights, a number of measures have been undertaken to protect them. An international organization, the United Nations, has a large division related to the protection of human rights.

The idea that people are entitled to a few basic rights by nature of their humanity is ancient. Many historical documents have codified some of these basic rights. Unfortunately, there is also a long history of neglecting human rights for certain groups. Many slave-owning societies, for example, felt passionately enough about human rights to include them in their legislation, and slaves were excepted because they were believed to be less than human.

In the 1940s, the Second World War called a great deal of attention to the concept. Many nations were deeply concerned by the actions of the Axis Powers, which greatly abridged human rights for a number of people, most prominently followers of the Jewish faith. At the close of the war, the United Nations was founded, and human rights became one of the major issues that the organization focused on. By 1948, the United Nations had issued a Universal Declaration of Human Rights, asking all member nations to sign it and defend the rights described therein.

As a general rule, most proponents of human rights believe that humans are entitled to their lives and liberty. In addition, humans should be able to think and communicate as they please, as these issues are very tied in with a sense of liberty. Finally, all humans should be entitled to equality before the law. Many people also believe in a number of additional legal protections, including prohibitions on slavery and torture. In addition, humans and governments have a duty to protect human rights.

When a basic tenant of human rights is abused, it is termed a human rights violation. Unfortunately, many countries commit human rights violations, ranging from execution of criminals for trivial crimes to the extraordinary rendition of suspected terrorists. Many people report on human rights violations in the hopes of putting a stop to them, sometimes at risk of their lives. These people hope that human rights may become universal someday without the need for monitors and whistleblowers.

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What is UN (United Nations)?

The United Nations (UN) was formed on 24 October 1945. Fifty-one countries came together with the sole purpose of promoting peace throughout the world through mutual cooperation. Today, almost every nation in the world is a member of the United Nations, for a total of 191 members.

The United Nations charter details the guidelines that every member must abide by. It is a treaty that sets out the rules and obligations of member nations. The UN charter delineates four main purposes: to maintain international peace and security, to develop friendly co-operation between countries, to solve international problems and respect all human rights, and to serve as a focal point for all peaceful national activities.

Although the United Nations cannot make laws and is not a governing power, it provides guidelines in order to prevent conflict between nations. It also develops rules in order to help achieve peaceful conclusions to problems affecting the world. The United Nations view is that, no matter how small or poor a nation is, it still has a voice and a say in the development of the world.

The campaigns of the United Nations are concerned with all aspects of world peace and international harmony. They help fight against drug trafficking and terrorist attacks. They have led campaigns to assist refugees and to provide vital food production and humanitarian aid to third world countries. Campaigns for the fight against AIDS and world-wide disarmament are two of their highest priorities.

The United Nations holds regular meetings to discuss the world's most urgent problems. Each member of the UN has a vote on each topic. At the meetings, they decide and vote on subjects such as the world's international peace.

Members of the UN also debate major security problems throughout the world. Other topics may include deciding on new members to be admitted to the United Nations. Although voting is the main form of decision, the UN prefers all agreements to be made by consensus.

There are six main divisions of the United Nations: the General Assembly, the Security Council, the Economic and Social Council, the Trustee Council, and the Secretariat. The International Court of Justice, also known as the World Court, is the main legal branch of the UN. It makes decisions and judgments on conflicts between countries.

The United Nations is a global organization with the assets and funds to make huge changes throughout the world. In 2005, 3 billion US dollars (USD) was committed to help the fight against AIDS, tuberculosis, and malaria. Another 4.5 billion USD was administered to help developing countries with their environmental problems.

What is Commonwealth?

Numerous definitions can be applied to the term commonwealth. In its loosest form, commonwealth means for the common or public good, and is often a state formed for the common good of the people. The term commonwealth can also apply to a group of nations that have a loose alliance for the good of all members of each nation.

Several US states have commonwealth designation. These are Virginia, Massachusetts, Kentucky, and Pennsylvania. The commonwealth designation was important as these states originally defined their governance in direct opposition to the governance of the British Empire. The designation now lacks meaning and has merely been retained as a salute to the past history of rebellion that freed the US from British rule.

Some US territories are also organized as commonwealths. These territories, like Puerto Rico, are not entitled to the same rights and benefits as recognized states. For example Puerto Rico’s designation as a commonwealth implies an ongoing relationship with the US, but does not imply statehood.

One of the largest commonwealths is the Commonwealth of Nations, nations formerly part of the British Empire. This commonwealth is headed by Queen Elizabeth II and implies fellowship, but not rule over former British territories like New Zealand and Canada. The Commonwealth of Nations comprises 53 nations, each with their own self-governance.

Another large commonwealth is the alliance of over 10 countries formerly belonging to the USSR. These ties can often help smaller countries gain larger political power because of the unifying force of a commonwealth. The commonwealth of this type, however, does not hold the same type of political power as for example the United Nations. But those countries belonging to the United Nations may gain strength by voting together for those issues which are likely to impact their commonwealth most.

A commonwealth does not necessarily imply the same sort of government. Commonwealths connecting nations may be composed of monarchies, democracies and socialist states. Most often the commonwealth is thought of as somewhat democratic or republic in principal, with a greater value on individual rights of people, and public influence in the political process.

What is a District Attorney?

A district attorney (DA) is an appointed or elected official who is responsible for prosecuting people accused of crimes in a particular district. You may also hear terms like “commonwealth attorney,” “crown attorney,” or “state's attorney” to refer to people in similar positions around the world. The responsibilities of a district attorney are myriad and quite complex, and he or she is usually supported by a large staff which includes other qualified attorneys, researchers, legal assistants, and so forth.

In many areas, a district attorney also decides whether or not a case will go to trial. For example, law enforcement may present a district attorney with evidence which strongly suggests that someone is guilty of murder. If the DA thinks that the evidence is strong and it will hold up in court, he or she will charge the suspect and bring him or her to trial, leading the team of prosecutors who attempt to get a conviction.

The district attorney represents the government, working with a variety of other officials. Typically he or she only works within a particular district, while an Attorney General oversees a state or nation, dispatching assistants to prosecute crimes of a more far reaching nature. In the United States, a district attorney does not prosecute federal crimes; this is reserved for US Attorneys, federal employees, who work in all US states.

District attorneys also work extensively in victim advocacy, as part of their role as prosecutors. DA's often assist victims of violent crime with getting compensation from victims funds, for example, or they may seek reparations in the process of a criminal trial. In a large district attorney's office, specific staff members may be in charge of victim services, providing resources which may be useful for victims of crimes.

The DA's office tends to be under a lot of pressure in most regions, with people holding the district attorney personally responsible if they feel that justice has not been meted out in a crime. District attorneys also face flak over plea bargains and other political moves which may seem on the surface to provide unfair deals to criminals. Especially in urban areas, where rates of crime tend to be higher, the district attorney may be a politician every bit as much as he or she is a lawyer, engaging in a complex dance with a number of agencies and the public in an attempt to keep everyone happy.

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Personal Injury Attorneys

If you've been injured in an accident or have been harmed by someone else's negligence, consulting with a personal injury attorney can be one of the most important decisions you make. A personal injury attorney can advise you of the various legal options available to you in protecting your rights and obtaining compensation for your injuries. LawInfo can help you find the Lead Counsel Rated personal injury attorney you need today.


What is Personal Injury, and how much is a Personal Injury claim worth?


Personal injury is any physical or mental injury suffered by an individual that is the result of another party’s negligence or wrongful act. There are so many things to consider when determining how much a personal injury claim is worth, and it can be tough to set a dollar amount on injuries you suffer in an accident. You may be entitled to compensation for medical bills, time lost from work, medical costs for ongoing injuries, pain and suffering, and so on. There is no formula that a jury or a judge is required to use in order to determine these damages and the compensation is based on an individual situation. However, an attorney may be able to help estimate the value of your claim based on similar cases that have been decided in the past. For more information about your specific legal claim, it is best to speak with a qualified personal injury lawyer in your area, as found on this site, to discuss your litigation options.


Why should I hire a Personal Injury attorney?



If you have suffered any type of personal injury including bodily injury, sickness or disease resulting from libel, slander, malicious prosecution, someone else's neglect, false arrest or false imprisonment, or if you have lost a loved one due to any of these factors, consulting with an experienced personal injury attorney right away can help protect your legal rights in many ways. The law is always subject to changes and new interpretations and a personal injury attorney can advise you of how the law applies to your specific situation. Personal injury attorneys also gather the important facts related to your claim that are needed to hold the responsible party legally accountable. The attorney will also be aware of critical deadlines by which you must take action in order to preserve your rights to compensation. Finally, personal injury attorneys are skilled in negotiating with opposing counsel, making arguments in trial, and generally representing your interests throughout the legal process.

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What should a lemon owner do?

Get a repair order for every repair visit, even if the shop doesn't diagnose the problem or attempt a repair. A repair order should show the problem you report, and the dates your car is in the shop.
Keep purchase contracts, warranties, and repair orders to prove you have a lemon. Don't keep repair orders in your car where they may get lost.
We suggest you use WisDot's Motor Vehicle Lemon Law Notice Form to ask the manufacturer for a refund or replacement vehicle. Send the form to the manufacturer at the address in your owners manual. Your refund should include the full purchase price, sales tax, any finance charge, and collateral costs (for example, repairs, towing, alternative transportation), minus the mileage deduction allowed by law. If you get a replacement vehicle, the manufacturer should refund your collateral costs and charge nothing for mileage.
If you return to the manufacturer a vehicle that has missing equipment or unrepaired damage beyond normal wear and tear, a manufacturer may want to negotiate a damage deduction. You should not be responsible for paying for normal wear and tear, such as minor dents, scratches, pitted glass, soiled carpets, minor stains or tears. Feel free to have the damage appraised at a location you choose, or to have it repaired rather than paying a deduction.
If you don't get a refund or replacement by writing the manufacturer, consider using your manufacturer's arbitration program. If your manufacturer has a program certified by WisDOT, you must use it before you can sue under the Lemon Law. If your manufacturer's program is not certified, you do not have to use it. However, if you do use it, you might get a decision you like. You can reject any decision you don't like. See the list of arbitration programs listed below.
Talk to an attorney if the manufacturer doesn't help you. A court may need to decide if your vehicle is a lemon and what settlement you deserve. If you sue the manufacturer and win, you could get double the vehicle purchase price, plus other costs and attorney fees. To find an attorney who handles Lemon Law cases, contact the State Bar of Wisconsin Attorney Referral Service.

Finding Good Lemon Law Lawyers

With so many law practices today, it can be difficult to know how to choose the right lemon law lawyers. Making the wrong choice could cost you time and money and could even mean losing your case. By knowing ahead of time what you should look for in good lemon lawyers, you can make an informed choice about which law firm is best for you.

When choosing lemon law lawyers, it's important to take your time and shop around. Speak with several different law firms and compare their benefits and disadvantages before you make your decision. There are three important categories to think about when hiring lemon law lawyers: experience, services, and people skills.

Lemon laws can be complicated, so you're going to want to hire a specialist. Make sure that any lawyer you're considering has a strong record with lemon law cases in your specific state. Location is important because lemon law criteria vary widely by state, so experience in another part of the country might not be helpful in your case. Lemon law lawyers should be able to quote you their rate of success both in arbitration and in the courtroom. Don't be afraid to ask for references from other clients as well.

Good lemon law lawyers should also be up front about the services they offer and the fees they charge. You're going to want a lawyer who is proactive about investigating your case, tracking down documentation, and representing your interests.

Many people discount people skills when it comes to finding good lemon law layers, but your intuition will tell you a lot about the kind of person you're working with - so listen to it! You want to deal with lemon law lawyers who can explain what they're doing on your case in simple terms that you can understand. You want a lawyer who will return your calls promptly and address any questions you might have. If you don't get a good feeling from the lemon law lawyers that you are speaking with, move on to another firm. Remember that picking the right lawyer could be your key to a fair settlement, so make your selection wisely!

How Can Lemon Law Attorneys Help You?

If you suspect that your new or used car might be a lemon, lemon law attorneys can help guide you through the process of making a formal complaint to the vehicle manufacturer. Lemon law attorneys who are familiar with your state's laws understand the steps that you need to take to make a complaint to your vehicle's manufacturer, and can help you achieve a successful outcome. Although a dealer or manufacturer should be quick to honor the lemon laws set up to protect consumers, lemon law attorneys can help you determine when they are trying to evade their legal responsibilities and be sure that you are taken seriously.

Experienced lemon law attorneys will know what steps are necessary to take in your claim and when. You won't have to worry about missing deadlines or losing your claim because of a technicality. Also, lemon law attorneys have more clout than individuals. They will be able to do things like requisition maintenance histories to ensure that your documentation of your claim is beyond question. Furthermore, a claim handled by lemon law attorneys is more likely to be settled quickly, since the vehicle manufacturer can be sure that the lawyer knows what he is doing and won't be put off by delaying tactics.

Lemon law is a complicated field that is best handled by professionals. Using experienced lemon law attorneys can help save you the headaches of researching your state's lemon laws on your own, and can prevent you from making costly and wasteful mistakes. They can fairly determine if your vehicle's problems fall under state lemon laws and help you get the best possible settlement. Best of all, many lemon law lawyers will take your case without costing you a cent. Many law firms will not charge you if you lose your case, and if you win, their fees will be paid by the vehicle manufacturer. A free consultation can help you get started today.

Lemon Law Basics: Understanding Wisconsin Lemon Laws

lemon laws take numerous forms across states. In fact, when you are plagued by a problematic vehicle it is always the best policy to hire the help of a lemon lawyer who specializes in the particular lemon laws of your state.I discussed in my other article Lemon Law of different states.Now we see the basics of the law.

What vehicles are covered under Wisconsin lemon law?
Wisconsin lemon law covers vehicles which were sold in Wisconsin and which are required to be registered before use (or which are already registered in another state). Mopeds and truck trailers are not covered by the lemon law, nor are used vehicles or people who have purchased their leased vehicles.

What protections do I have under Wisconsin lemon law?
Wisconsin lemon law says that if you report a serious defect which prevents your vehicle from conforming to its warranty within the warranty period or the first year of ownership, then the manufacturer must repair the nonconformity. Serious defects are covered by warranty and negatively affect the vehicle's value, safety, or usability. Manufacturers are not liable for nonconformities that were caused by abuse or neglect of the vehicle by the consumer.

If the nonconformity is not repaired after a reasonable number of attempts, Wisconsin lemon law states that the manufacturer must repurchase a new or leased vehicle, or replace a new vehicle. Replacement of leased vehicles is not covered by Wisconsin lemon law.

What steps must occur before seeking settlement under Wisconsin lemon law?
Wisconsin lemon law presumes that the manufacturer has had a reasonable number of attempts to repair the vehicle if, during the warranty period or first year of possession, there have been four unsuccessful attempts to repair the same nonconformity or if the vehicle has been out of commission for repairs for a total of 30 days.

After this presumption has been fulfilled, you must notify the manufacturer and stipulate that you would like your vehicle to be repurchased or replaced, and agree to transfer the vehicle's title.

How do I file a claim under Wisconsin lemon law?
If the manufacturer has an approved settlement process in place, Wisconsin lemon law says that you must attempt to reach resolution through this process before bringing a case to court.


What are the settlement details under Wisconsin lemon law?
If an owned vehicle is repurchased under Wisconsin lemon law, the manufacturer must pay a sum which includes the full amount paid at the time of sale, such as the vehicle's purchase price and tax, tags, and registration fees, all finance charges, and any costs associated with the nonconformity, such as alternate transportation. An offset for the consumer's use of the vehicle is subtracted from this amount, which is calculated by dividing the number of miles on the vehicle at the time of the first report of the nonconformity by 100,000 (or 20,000 for a motorcycle), and multiplying the result by the purchase price.

If a leased vehicle is repurchased under Wisconsin lemon law, the manufacturer must pay a sum to the lessor which includes the remainder of the lease, including all payments not yet made by the lessee, any early termination fees, and the value remaining on the vehicle at the end of the lease, as stated in the contract. An offset for any fees that the lessor saves by early termination of the lease may be subtracted from this amount.

The manufacturer must also pay a sum to the lessee which includes all lease payments made, any sales tax or collateral costs such as alternate transportation. An offset for usage of the vehicle, as described above, is subtracted from this sum.

If a vehicle is replaced under Wisconsin lemon law, the new vehicle must be comparable to the old. The manufacturer must also pay collateral costs associated with the nonconformity, and no usage offset may be applied. The consumer must transfer ownership of the original vehicle to the manufacturer.

Wisconsin's lemon law : What is lemon?

If the motor vehicle you buy or lease turns out to be a "lemon," the manufacturer has to replace it free or refund the price (minus a reasonable amount for mileage).
What is a "lemon"?
A new vehicle - no more than a year old and still under warranty - is a "lemon" if
It has a serious defect the dealer can't fix in four tries, or
It has one or many defects that prevent you from using it for 30 days or more (the 30 days need not be consecutive)
What is a defect?A defect covered by the Lemon Law must seriously affect the use, value or safety of your vehicle and must be covered by the warranty. An irritating rattle may not be "serious" enough to make your car a lemon. Stalling probably is.
What vehicles are covered?The law covers any new car, truck, motorcycle or motor home you buy or lease, even if you register the vehicle in another state. It also covers a demonstrator or executive vehicle.
How long are you covered?The lemon law includes no deadline for filing a lemon law suit; a court would decide if your case were too old.
Is your vehicle a lemon?Your vehicle is a lemon if all of the following statements are true:
You bought or leased a new vehicle.
The vehicle is a car, truck, motorcycle or motor home.
The vehicle developed a defect or defects during its first year and before the warranty expired.
The defect seriously harms the vehicle's use, value or safety.
One of the following happened during the vehicle's first year and before the warranty expired:
The dealer failed four times to fix the same defect; OR
The vehicle was out of service for 30 days or more due to defects

What Does an Attorney Do?

Attorneys-at-law are persons who are licensed to practice law within a given geographical jurisdiction. The types of legal services provided by an attorney may vary, with many attorneys choosing to focus his or her practice on a particular portion of law. Still, there are some basic functions that help to define lawyers no matter which type of law practice they choose to embrace. Here are a few of the actions that all attorneys utilize in their practice of law.

One of the primary responsibilities of an attorney is to act as the advocate for the client. This involves providing legal counsel that will help serve the best interests of any person or entity that engages legal services. At the same time, the aim of the attorney is to present the case of the client to the legal system in such a way that the best possible resolution available under the law is reached. This dual purpose is best served by an attorney who obtains full disclosure from the client, and couples that with a strong working knowledge of the law. When these two elements are combined, the chances for equity and justice to emerge are greatly enhanced.

The attorney is often expected to excel in a given area of the law. For example, an attorney may choose to focus on criminal law, while another attorney chooses to build a practice around family law. This degree of specialization helps to make it easy for clients to find the laywers who have a solid knowledge that will prove helpful with a given set of circumstances. While countries such as the United States tend to classify all practitioners of law under the title of attorney, some countries have developed a tradition of creating titles that help to identify the area of expertise. The use of the terms of barrister and solicitor in the United Kingdom is one example of designation based on function.

In many situations, the work of an attorney has to do with helping to arrange the affairs of private citizens. Persons go to an attorney to create a will, and often rely on the attorney to make sure the will is probated at the proper time. An attorney is also often required to make temporary arrangements, such as creating powers of attorney, establishing a bankruptcy for a client, or creating a trust fund for a loved one.

An attorney may be called upon to draft business contracts, rental contracts, or employee contracts for businesses. In the event of the sale or merger of a company, the attorney will be on hand to draft documents required to acknowledge the sale and complete the transfer of assets in an orderly fashion. The attorney will ensure that all things are done in a manner that fully complies with the laws that govern the transactions, so there is no question about the legality of the actions.

In short, the work of the attorney can be summed up as making sure that any and all transactions, whether personal or business related, are conducted in a manner that is in full agreement with the laws of the land, and can be considered proper and binding. All the while, the attorney works to ensure that the best interests of the client, and the letter and intent of the law, are observed and

What is the Difference Between Lawyer and Attorney?

In the United States, there is no difference between an attorney and a lawyer. The US has a united legal profession, meaning that there is no distinction between lawyers who try cases in court and those that do not. In most other countries, there is a clear difference between these two roles.

In Canada, England and Australia, the role of lawyer and attorney are quite different. These jurisdictions operate under common law. Within these countries, there are additional legal roles that do not exist in the US.

Attorney is a term not commonly used in Canada, England or Australia to describe people working in the legal profession. All three countries use the terms barrister or solicitor instead of attorney. They have slightly different roles in each of these countries.

In Canada, a lawyer is someone who is a civil law notary in Quebec or has been called to the bar. A common law lawyer in Canada is also known as a barrister or solicitor. Under Canadian law, there are no restrictions on the type of law that can be done by a lawyer.

In Australia, a lawyer is someone who is educated as a lawyer and is employed in this role. The term does not include people who are trained but not working as a lawyer. Lawyers can work in both private practice and in corporate law.

In England, the term lawyer applies to a range of positions that require legal training. These include barristers, legal executives, licensed conveyances, judges, court clerks, legal executives and people who draft laws. The level of legal education required for these positions is the key item required to use the title of "lawyer."

The term attorney is used interchangeably with lawyer in media in the US adding to the general confusion among the public. Although the public image of a lawyer is focused on trial work, most legal work involves research, filing motions and drafting documents. Trial work forms a very small part of the work done by lawyers and attorneys in the US.

Corporate, or transactional, attorneys or lawyers specialize in non-trial work. They spend their time drafting documents, working in litigation, writing opinions and providing dispute resolution guidance. They are also responsible for providing taxation guidelines and advice on business proposals.

Most states require lawyers to have completed a degree in professional law from an accredited university, in addition to passing the bar or licensing exam. In the state of Washington, you can become a lawyer by successfully completing the Rule Six Law Clerk program and working the required hours. The candidate is then eligible to take the bar exam and, upon successful completion, is a lawyer.