ProfNet Experts Available on Domestic Violence, Medicare Fraud, Patent Litigation, More

NEW YORK, Sept. 17, 2014 /PRNewswire/ -- Below are experts from the ProfNet network that are available to discuss timely issues in your coverage area. If you are interested in interviewing any of the experts, please contact them via the contact information at the end of the listing. To receive these updates by email, send a note to [email protected] with the industries you cover, and we'll add you to the appropriate edition. 

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EXPERT ALERTS

• UN Report on CO2 Levels Rising
• What the New York State Primaries Mean for Governor Andrew Cuomo
• South American Children Seeking Refuge in the United States
• Economic Impact of the Sale of the Buffalo Bills
• Complaints Against Debt Collectors Spike
• BP Ruling Raises New Questions on Liability
• Texas Parallels Fed Probe of Medicare Fraud
• Domestic Violence and Pro Sports: What This Means for Rice and Peterson
• New Pleading Requirements Would Change Nature of Patent Litigation

MEDIA JOBS

• News Editor - Orlando Sentinel (FL)
• Photo Editor - Dallas Morning News (TX)
• City Reporter - Napa Valley Register (CA)

OTHER NEWS & RESOURCES

• Blog Profiles: Wedding Blogs
• The Q&A Team: The Impact of Photojournalism
• Grammar Hammer: Lolly, Lolly, Lolly, Get Your Adverbs Here

EXPERT ALERTS:

UN Report on CO2 Levels Rising
Dr. Regina Axelrod
Political Science Professor
Adelphi University, Garden City, NY
"States are still unable to make further commitments to reduce or mitigate the disastrous impact of climate change. Cooperation among big players remains elusive. Present trends in energy exploration, development and consumption; hazardous chemicals; biodiversity; and nuclear energy need to be reversed."
Dr. Axelrod is the professor and chair of the department of political science for Adelphi University and co-author of the award-winning book titled "The Global Environment: Institutions, Law, and Policy" (Fourth Edition). She has published numerous articles and books on environmental and energy policy in the United Sates, the European Union, and Central Europe, including "Environment, Energy, Public Policy: Toward a Rational Future and Conflict between Energy and Urban Environment." She has lectured at Charles University, Prague, and the University of Budapest on nuclear power and the transition to democracy. During her career, she has received grants from the National Science Foundation, National Research Council, the Soros Foundation, the Ford Foundation, the Department of Energy, and the Environmental Protection Agency. Adelphi University has an institutional commitment to the sustainability of our environment and our economy. By participating in the People's Climate March on Sept. 21, students, faculty, and administrators will actively demonstrate support for rapid action to take place to reverse global warming.
Website: http://www.adelphi.edu
Media Contact: Kali Chan, [email protected]

What the New York State Primaries Mean for Governor Andrew Cuomo
Arthur "Jerry" Kremer
Chairman
Empire Government Strategies
"The emergence of the new left in New York State politics manifested itself in the Democratic primary. However, the movement will not be viable unless it offers real programs people can understand. Just saying they don't like Governor Cuomo isn't enough."
Kremer is available to discuss the results of the New York State primaries and what they mean for Governor Andrew Cuomo. He has served in New York State Assembly for nearly 25 years, including 12 as chairman of the powerful Ways & Means Committee. He heads one of the most influential government relations firms in the Northeast, with connections to elected and party officials on both sides of the aisle across New York State.
Bio: http://empiregs.com/arthur-jerry-kremer/
Website: http://empiregs.com
Media Contact: Tony Greco, [email protected]

South American Children Seeking Refuge in the United States
Linda Hartke
President and CEO
Lutheran Immigration & Refugee Service
"People of faith in the United States opened their hearts and homes four decades ago to the tens of thousands of children who were alone and refugees as a result of the war in Vietnam. We rose to the occasion again years later when the lost boys and girls of Sudan inspired us with their courage. These young people, now adult U.S. citizens, became teachers, doctors and business owners, our neighbors and co-workers. They have made the United States stronger. We cannot accept any response by the administration or Congress that seeks to forcibly and indiscriminately return these refugee children, who have made perilous and courageous journeys, back into a maelstrom of conflict and criminal violence."
Hartke is available to discuss the politics of immigration reform, refugee resettlement, family detention, unaccompanied migrant children and the border crisis.
Website: http://www.lirs.org
Media Contact: Miji Bell, [email protected]

Economic Impact of the Sale of the Buffalo Bills
Anthony Figliola
Vice President
Empire Government Strategies
"The new owner of the Bills should understand the unique character of the city and commit to creating a sports infrastructure -- team and stadium -- that supports regional economic development and returns the Bills and Buffalo to their glory days."
Figliola, an economic development expert, is available to discuss the economic impact of the sale of the Buffalo Bills on the city and the surrounding area. He has written about and discussed the regional economic impact of stadium deals and professional sports, including in Buffalo and Atlanta. He regularly appears in the media as a commentator on economic development matters and has appeared on local television and radio shows here in New York. He has been interviewed by FoxNews.com, the Chicago Tribune and Bond Buyer, and has written for the New York Post, San Francisco Chronicle, Newsday and other outlets.
Website: http://www.empiregs.com
Media Contact: Tony Greco, [email protected]

Complaints Against Debt Collectors Spike
Frances A. Smith
Restructuring and Bankruptcy Attorney
Shackelford, Melton, McKinley & Norton, LLP in Dallas
"Consumer complaints of threats of false lawsuits made by debt collectors spiked dramatically between 2008 and 2012, according to media reports. The New York Times reports that in 2008, the Federal Trade Commission received 12,000 complaints from consumers who said debt collectors falsely claimed that they would file lawsuits to recover money owed to them. That number spiked to more than 30,000 in 2012. The FTC continues to crack down on debt collectors thought to be engaged in deceptive and abusive practices, even freezing the assets of one company during its litigation. Those who buy lists of individuals who are believed to owe money must follow federal debt-collection rules like everyone else, or face the consequences."
Media Contact: Dave Moore, [email protected]

BP Ruling Raises New Questions on Liability
Glenn Legge
Attorney
Legge, Farrow, Kimmitt, McGrath & Brown L.L.P. in Houston
"Although energy giant BP plans an appeal, a federal judge's recent ruling that BP was grossly negligent in the 2010 Deepwater Horizon disaster in the Gulf of Mexico still could have a significant impact on regulatory exposure, contractual risk allocation and insurance coverage for companies in the offshore energy sector. The court's most significant findings involve the analysis and definition of gross negligence and willful misconduct, which are terms commonly used to allocate risks in offshore service contracts. The BP ruling raises a significant question for insurers and regulators: Does this increase the standard of care for deepwater drilling of high-temperature/high-pressure wells to a level where risk allocation and liability analysis will be altered by the courts?"
Media Contact: Kit Frieden, [email protected]

Texas Parallels Fed Probe of Medicare Fraud
Kent Sullivan
Commercial Litigator, Former First Assistant Attorney General of Texas
Sutherland Asbill & Brennan LLP in Houston
"U.S. investigators are probing whether several medical labs may have violated an anti-kickback law by paying fees to doctors who sent blood samples to the labs for testing that was billed to Medicare. Texas has parallel laws related to Medicaid and an impressive reputation for policing health care fraud and is probably the most aggressive state in terms of resources and sophistication when it comes to pursuing Medicaid fraud. Since 2002, the state's Civil Medicaid Fraud Division has recovered more than $1 billion that has been shared by both Texas and the U.S. government since Medicaid is a state/federal program. As government health care grows, this effort is increasingly important."
Media Contact: Kit Frieden, [email protected]

Domestic Violence and Pro Sports: What This Means for Rice and Peterson
Michael Ian Bender
Family Law Attorney
The Law Office of Michael Ian Bender
"With NFL players like Ray Rice and Adrian Peterson being removed from their teams or suspended on allegations of domestic violence, they still have legal options to repair damage done to their careers. They could eventually -- and probably sooner instead of later -- be allowed back into the league. But because they serve as role models to our youth, it is important that the growing public outcries against this type of physical abuse and violence continue so that these players are not allowed back into the league. It is the duty of the League to help stop the cycle of violence by example."
Bender is a former judge of the Circuit Court of Cook County, Illinois, and now a practicing family law attorney. During his tenure as judge from 2008 to 2013, He heard thousands of cases in the domestic relations division, parentage and child support section of the Circuit Court. With more than 20 years of legal experience, he has a family law practice that focuses on divorce, parentage disputes, mediation, high-profile paternity representation, prenuptial agreements, child custody, visitation, child support, and preventing child abuse.
Website: http://www.benderlawchicago.com
Media Contact: Trish Rios, [email protected]

New Pleading Requirements Would Change Nature of Patent Litigation
Jonathan Steinsapir
Partner
Kinsella Weitzman Iser Kump & Aldisert LLP
"These new pleading requirements wouldn't just impact trolls or nonpracticing entities. It would really change the nature of patent litigation in a fundamental way. Tightening the requirements would create a lot of litigation up front, before you get to whether the patent was infringed, about whether the plaintiff adequately alleged infringement."
Steinsapir has handled all phases of complex intellectual property disputes, including dozens of copyright, patent, and trademark cases in federal courts throughout the country. Recognized for his expertise, he is frequently asked to comment on pending intellectual property matters of interest by mainstream media publications, entertainment industry publications, and legal publications, including The Los Angeles Times, Variety, The Hollywood Reporter, The Los Angeles Daily Journal, The San Francisco Daily Journal, and Law360. He is located in Santa Monica, Calif.
Website: http://www.kwikalaw.com
Media Contact: Seth J. Horowitz, [email protected]

MEDIA JOBS:

Following are links to job listings for staff and freelance writers, editors and producers. You can view these and more job listings on our Job Board: https://prnmedia.prnewswire.com/community/jobs/

• Reporters/Editors – Wicked Local (MA)
• News Editor – Orlando Sentinel (FL)
• Editor – BioPharm Insight (NY)

See more listings here.

OTHER NEWS & RESOURCES:

Following are links to other news and resources we think you might find useful. If you have an item you think other reporters would be interested in and would like us to include in a future alert, please drop us a line at [email protected]

• BLOG PROFILES: WEDDING BLOGS. As PR Newswire's media relations manager, Christine Cube comes across great blogs that cover a wide variety of topics and interests. Each week, she offers brief profiles of blogs you might not have heard of but that might offer pitching opportunities for your clients. This week, she shares reviews of a few wedding blogs: http://prn.to/1tHqeYQ
• THE Q&A TEAM: THE IMPACT OF PHOTOJOURNALISM. Photojournalism plays a large role in visually explaining a news story. Some of the most memorable news stories have been captured in a photograph. What does it take to capture that perfect photograph? What role does the law and the public play when trying to take a photograph? Photojournalist Ricky Flores shares his expertise: http://prn.to/YwQDf0
• GRAMMAR HAMMER: LOLLY, LOLLY, LOLLY, GET YOUR ADVERBS HERE. In her latest column, Grammar Hammer Cathy Spicer looks at adverbs: http://prn.to/1qNPQ2s
  

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