Van Mayhall, consistently one of the most interesting bloggers on big-picture insurance issues (and, no, I'm not trying to damn with faint praise), has done it again. Over at Insurance Regulatory Law he has written this post asserting that in contradiction to public perception the insurance industry has suffered few losses in recent years.
CARS AS CHARACTERS
Cars as Characters
Like most guys, I like cars and trucks. They sometimes represent how we feel about ourselves or what we think is important.
Certain cars seem to reflect a time in our lives. For instance, when I think of the “General Lee” (1969 Dodge Charger R/T) from “Dukes of Hazzard,” I recall scenes form my childhood, usually some after-school snacking.
The highly modified 1969 Dodge Charger had the doors welded shut so you had to climb in and out through the windows. The bright orange Charger featured “01″ on both sides and had a huge Confederate flag on the top. I think I even played Dixie when you blew the horn. What was really amazing was its uncanny ability to squeal its tires on dirt roads! There several of these cars and one sold at auction for $450,000.
Many other vehicles really became their own characters. You can probably add some. I bet you remember these as well.
I now only loved the television version of the Ferrari 308 GTS used in “Magnum, P.I.,” I love my Matchbox and Hot Wheels versions. Affable Tom Selleck made this one famous. He also made all of us want to be head of security for an estate in Hawaii.
A similar series that really made the car the main character featured the 1982 Pontiac Trans Am used in “Knight Rider.” David Hasselhoff was second-fiddle to “KITT,” the black talking car with the cool red scanner in the hood. It even drove itself.
This was not the first cool black Trans Am. Remember “Smokey and the Bandit?” Eastbound and down? The black 1977 Trans Am with the obnoxious golden firebird covering the ample hood? In that movie we learned that, for some reason, Coors used to be illegal east of the Mississippi. Second only to Star Wars that year, this movie was an epic hit.
How is that two of this list are basically the same car? Black Trans Ams. And now, you cannot even buy one, or even a Pontiac at all. Pontiac closed up shop a couple years back.
Speaking of cool black cars, was there even one cooler at the time than the Batmobile? I had no idea what kind of car it was, but turns out it was a 1955 Ford Lincoln Futura concept car. You might recall the silliness of the predicaments Batman and Robin found themselves in, or the childish “Bam!” graphics when Batman really slugged the bad guy, but you cannot forget the Batmobile.
If we are talking silly, another intelligent car must be included. Not because it is cool. It is imposible for a VW to be cool to me, but the “Love Bug,” alias “Herbie,” was a cute little 1964 Volkswagen Beetle.
From silly to scary, I must also mention the creepier cars. “Christine,” the red 1958 Plymouth Fury that terrorized us all. The movie “Ghostbusters” (was that really made back in 1984?) featured the Ectomobile (Ecto-1)which really was a1959 Cadillac Miller-Meteor Ambulance. Who ya gonna call?
But there are two character cars that stand out to me as the coolest ever. I base this on the highly scientific view that I would still want to driver either of these even now. The first is “Bullitt’s” dark green 1968 Mustang GT 390 CID Fastback piloted by Steve McQueen’s fastback through San Francisco in the most famous car chase in movie history. By the way, it was being pursued by a pretty cool black 1968 Dodge Charger 440 Magnum. I was surprised to find that the chase was shot at normal film speed, though it looks downright frenetic.
A very different kind of cool, British cool, is shown by the tastefully powerful 1963 Aston Martin DB5 driven by none other than, “Bond…James Bond,” in “Goldfinger.” It currently sits in The Spy Museum in Washington, D.C. But if it ever sells, it will be a large number. One DB5 used in Goldfinger and Thunderball was auctioned for over $4,000,000. I guess someone else thought it was cool, too.
But the coolest to me, is nowhere near the most expensive. Nor is it the fastest. Shoot, it’s just a V6. But it was the hit Michael J. Fox movie, “Back to the Future” which introduced most of the world to the 1982 DeLorean DMC-12. The stainless steel car had gull wing doors. Oh, and a flux capacitor that sent it back in time. Though made in real life (without the flux capacitor) they were slow and unreliable. When John DeLorean was indicted on drug charges, they became extinct. Oddly, he beat the charges, but the company went bankrupt. I understand a new company has started to make them again, up to more modern standards. They need to at least be faster than a SUV to look that cool.
So there is my list. If you want to drop off a DeLorean for me, please have it turbo-charged first. What would you add to this list?
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What is a Deposition??
Depositions
As part of lawsuit, parties and witnesses are often asked to give depositions. A deposition consists of attorneys asking questions to a person, called a deponent, under oath.
The deponent is asked to “swear or affirm” that she is telling the truth. In the old days, they used to end that with, “so help you God.” That, like most mentions of the Almighty in courts, has fallen out of fashion. The reason for the word “affirm,” as opposed to “swear,” are Biblical verses like James 5:12 and Matthew 5:34 which say, “do not swear.”
At any rate, the attorney asking questions has great latitude to during this process, known as “discovery,” to seek a broad range of information. In injury cases, this includes prior health history, educational background, family history, work record and injuries claimed from the accident. Also, there are lines of questions regarding loss of wages and any permanent restrictions related to the accident.
It is important to be accurate during a deposition. Even so, there are almost certainly some things that the deponent will forget or misremember. However, if the person being deposed has been truthful in all other respects, a flaw or two in memory are usually are not fatal to the credibility of the deponent. In fact, it is usually perceived as normal for there to be an occasional memory lapse. If someone is overly rehearsed is sometimes even a sign of dishonesty.
When lawyers ask “never” they mean “never.” Those without legal training (those that are still normal) will often use “never” to mean “usually not” or “rarely.” This causes a lot of problems. It is important to be clear in depositions, and in talking to any investigative authorities. Inconsistencies are the undoing of many a deponent.
I also recommend against giving recorded statements after an injury, for similar reasons.
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New York company ordered to stop selling unauthorized insurance in Washington
Update (June 1, 2012): The order has been rescinded. UCAA participated in an investigation of this program and provided information showing that the company had committed no violations.
Our office today ordered the United Consumer Awareness Association to stop selling unauthorized health insurance in Washington state.
The company, a not-for-profit entity incorporated in Missouri, appears to have its home office in Syosset, New York.
The company, which is not licensed to solicit and sell limited-benefit medical insurance in Washington, nonetheless sold policies to 44 Washingtonians.
The order takes effect immediately. The company has the right to demand a hearing.
Our office today ordered the United Consumer Awareness Association to stop selling unauthorized health insurance in Washington state.
The company, a not-for-profit entity incorporated in Missouri, appears to have its home office in Syosset, New York.
The company, which is not licensed to solicit and sell limited-benefit medical insurance in Washington, nonetheless sold policies to 44 Washingtonians.
The order takes effect immediately. The company has the right to demand a hearing.
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