I Strenuously Object!: Recent Episodes
Flaherty Fardo
I Strenuously Object!, a riveting legal podcast brought to you by the Pittsburgh law firm Flaherty Fardo Rogel & Amick, is now in session.
Be prepared for a mix of legal information, legal news, insight and analysis and obscure pop culture references, all served with a healthy dose of irreverence.
In this "mail bag" episode of I Strenuously Object, your host attorney Bill Rogel discusses topics suggested by our listeners, including the legal claims that gymnasts might have in the case of appeals and changes to the bronze medal in women's floor exercise at the Olympics.
He also talks about a class action suit against Boar's Head regarding contaminated lunch meat. Bill shares his thoughts on the worst case he was ever asked to pursue and (in his opinion) the worst TV and movie lawyers of all time.
If you have a personal legal question you'd like to ask us about, please contact Flaherty, Fardo, Rogel and Amick here...
https://www.pghfirm.com/contact
"Celebrate the independence of your nation by blowing up a small part of it." - Apu Nahasapeemapetilon
In this episode of the "I Strenuously Object" podcast host Bill Rogel is joined by Dr. John Steinberg, an expert in pyrotechnics who helped write some of the regulations regarding fireworks, to discuss the dangers of fireworks, best practices for safety and how the law applies to misuse and defective products.
They explore the different types of fireworks, especially consumer fireworks versus display fireworks, and delve into the three broad categories of accidents involving fireworks: product defects, operator error, and confounding variables, and give examples of each.
This ILLUMINATING conversation (see what I did there?) highlights the legal angles and potential liability in fireworks-related injuries, including the concept of strict liability for defective products.
Based on his many years of experience as a pyrotechnics expert and an expert witness in many fireworks injury cases, John outlines the 3 ways you can be safe when handling and lighting fireworks.
Additionally, he provides guidance on disposing of fireworks and what to do in case of a misfire. If you are considering putting on a fireworks display this July 4th,
John has the the explosive advice you'll need for you and your audience to enjoy yourselves and see July 5th with all digits intact.
If you think you may have a personal injury lawsuit contact us to discuss the details.https://www.pghfirm.com/contact
Med spas are a gray area between hospitals and spas, offering aesthetic procedures like Botox, Microneedling, Dermabrasion and tattoo removal.
However, not all med spas comply with the necessary regulations and have qualified medical professionals overseeing the procedures.
On this episode of "I Strenuously Object" Bill Rogel and Noah Fardo provide three tips to stay safe when considering a med spa and add loads of experience from their years of litigating plastic surgery injury lawsuits, including a story of one plastic surgeon who taught other med spas how to do a controversial and unusual breast augmentation technique that he learned "in a dream".
Bill and Noah explain how to do thorough research, how to avoid being swayed by promises of quick fixes or low cost and how to stay safe when considering a med spa.
If you think you might have a plastic surgery malpractice injury or other personal injury lawsuit please contact Flaherty Fardo Rogel & Amick to arrange a consultation at https://www.pghfirm.com/contact
It's happening and it's coming for YOUR property! Pittsburgh Public Schools have sued Allegheny County to trigger a countywide property reassessment.
In this episode of the podcast, Flaherty Fardo Rogel and Amick partners Nicole Amick and Bill Rogel discuss what this will mean for property owners in Pittsburgh and Allegheny county as a whole.
Topics addressed:
How did we get here?
What will be the effect of the office building rent crisis on tax rates?
What happens during a reassessment?
How soon could a reassessment happen?
How will my property taxes change?
What does this mean for people on a fixed income?
What is the Anti-Windfall Statute and how can that protect me?
Is it time to panic?
In a previous episode of the podcast attorney Bill Rogel mentioned the term "Fact Witness".
One of our attentive listeners noticed and sent in this question, "Aren't ALL witnesses FACT witnesses?"
In this solo episode partner Bill clarifies this somewhat baffling legal terminology of the courtroom, using examples from the hit movie My Cousin Vinny.
What is the difference between fact and opinion in the eyes of the court?
When is opinion allowable?
And why was Mona Lisa Vito such a great witness to help Vinnie Gambini's case?
In this episode of I Strenuously Object, partners Bill Rogel and Nicole Amick discuss a recent case involving an Allegheny County School District's motion to prevent property owners from continuing 2023 appeals if their case was previously litigated.
The case stemmed from an ordinance of Allegheny County counsel which allowed all property owners to re-appeal their property assessments since the ratio was lowered. The taxing entities argued that property owners should not get two bites at the proverbial apple to lower their taxes.
After hearing arguments by Flaherty Fardo's partner Bill Rogel, Judge Hertzberg ruled in favor of the property owners and allowed the county ordinance to stand and allowed property owners to reappear their taxes even if they had already negotiated the assessment in question.
The implications of the case are significant and a huge win for property owners in Allegheny County, Pennsylvania.
To have Nicole Amick review your property tax issues please contact here to set up a free consultation...
nicole@Pghfirm.com
In this episode of I Strenuously Object, we answer listener emails, this time concerning medical malpractice cases and their challenges.
Why is it harder to find a lawyer for a medical malpractice case compared to other injury cases?
What is a certificate of merit, and why do you need one for your medical malpractice case?
Should you or should you not continue treatment with the same doctor that you are suing for malpractice?
If you have questions about your particular medical malpractice situation please contact Flaherty Fardo here...
https://www.pghfirm.com/contact
In this episode of CASE or NO CASE, our intrepid hosts discuss the case of a husband who sued his wife for fraud after their child was born and he deemed the baby to be too ugly to be his.
Bill and Noah, with the help of the always outspoken guest of the show, Ron Meyers, explore the legal implications of the husband's claim and whether it constitutes a valid case.
The conversation delves into topics such as spousal tort immunity, misrepresentation in marriage, and the possibility of seeking annulment or damages.
Can you sue your wife for producing an ugly baby? Listen and find out!
Property tax specialist Nicole Amick talks about the changes happening in Allegheny County and why right now may be the best time to appeal your property taxes.
Nicole and partner Bill Rogel discuss millage rates, the new 54.5% CLR and how Flaherty Fardo might be able to save you money!
To schedule an exploratory conversation CLICK HERE...
https://www.pghfirm.com/contact
Or email Nicole at nicole@pghfirm.com
Two election workers who former NYC mayor Rudy Giuliani had falsely claimed had participated in voting fraud were recently awarded a cumulative sum of $148 Million.
Is this a fair settlement?
How does this amount compare to personal injury settlements in which a person has lost quality of life or lost life itself?
In this episode, partners Noah Fardo and Bill Rogel discuss the Giuliani case, the problems they have with it, and the many questions that the verdict brings up in their lawyerly minds.
If you have questions about a legal situation that you are facing please contact our attorneys here...
https://www.pghfirm.com/contact
Two high school kids climb onto a parked train car and get burned from the high tension power lines.
Their families sue the train company.
Do they have a case?
In this episode of the podcast, partners Bill Rogel and Noah Fardo are joined by layman opinionator and friend of the podcast (the Godfather/Everyday) Ron Myers to discuss attractive nuisances and the liability of of those trespassed upon.
If you have a question about your particular situation, make an appointment to talk to an attorney here...
https://www.pghfirm.com/contact
Should Allegheny County reassess your property?
It's become a hot button issue in the county executive race.
After backlash against the last assessment 11 years ago, the county executive candidates are divided.
On this episode of I Strenuously Object, our intrepid trio, led into battle by the Queen of Tax Appeals, Nicole Amick, argue the pros and cons of reassessment.
Topics discussed:
- What are the candidates' proposals?
- Do we need a reassessment?
- Does a reassessment automatically mean a tax increase?
- Why are millage rates going up?
- What is the homestead exemption and how could it help those on a fixed income?
- How has the Philadelphia plan worked and should it be applied in Allegheny County?Before you vote, listen to this very informative episode of ISO.
Is Artificial Intelligence coming for your job? What can humans do that AI will never be able to do?
Join partners Bill Rogel and Noah Fardo with special guests founder Shawn Flaherty and podcast producer Mike Pulcinella for a discussion of the future for attorneys and creators in the age of AI.
Topics discussed:
The current abilities of Artificial Intelligence.
How much of a risk is there for plagiarism or outright fabrication of false information?
Will lawyers be replaced by Artificial Intelligence?
Will AI develop ethics or will it learn to "lie"?
What are the implications of AI for jury selection?
Texting while driving?? That’s nothing!
Hold my beer…Dr. Roxy the TIKTOK doc, is going to perform “distracted surgery”.
On a brand new “I Strenuously Object” podcast, attorney Bill Rogel and “Founding Father” Shawn Flaherty discuss the legal ramifications of the Ohio plastic surgeon Katharine Roxanne Grawe who had her medical license revoked because she was live-streaming her operations on TIKTOK and had made surgical errors to three patients while doing it.
Known as “Dr. Roxy” to her many fans, Dr. Grawe had been previously ordered by the Ohio medical board to stop live-streaming while operating, but had continued to broadcast her surgeries despite the warnings.
The controversy raises several questions:
Did all her patients know they were going to be on TIKTOK while unconscious?
What is the “standard of care” when it comes to medical malpractice and how was it violated here?
Should ALL surgeries be recorded as a matter of course to help settle med mal lawsuits?
And…Should Dr. Roxy lose her license permanently?
If you have a question about a medical malpractice claim of your own please contact us here https://www.pghfirm.com/contact
BREAKING NEWS! The City of Pittsburgh School District has appealed the STEB ratio decision, continuing the reign of frustration in Allegheny County as property owners must endure yet another delay in 2022 property tax appeals.
FFRA Tax Appeals specialist Nicole Hauptman Amick is on top of the situation as usual and in this episode of the podcast breaks down for us what's happening, what it all means and lets us know if there is indeed a light at the end of the tunnel.
If you are a property owner in Allegheny County you need to hear what Flaherty Fardo's resident tax assessment "queen" Nicole Hauptman Amick has to say about:The STEB ration recalculationCan people who settled 2022 appeals refile in 2023?A prediction about the millage ratesWhy a reassessment would be a good thing.What will be the ratio for 2024?Will a reassessment mean higher taxes for everyone?And what we can learn from Nicole's personal tax appeal story!
The rules of trial by jury are many and complex. And most of those rules exist for good reasons.
However, there are some rules that make lawyer's lives more difficult and a few that really get under our skin.
So here they are, the 5 things we really, really want to be able to tell the jury, but are not allowed.
Bill Rogel lobs the questions and Nicole Hauptman Amick fires back with answers to:
What's the latest news on the CLR?
How bad is the backlog of hearings?
How long should property owners expect to wait for a hearing?
How many appeals are schools filing this year?
And finally, the question we've all been wanting to know..."Why male models?"
In this episode of Case or No Case, Noah and Bill deliberate on several items in the news, the overriding question being "Do these plaintiffs have a case?"
• Buffalo Wild Wings boneless chicken wings were found to not actually contain wing meat. Do we have a case?
• A man is declared dead by EMTs but then is found to be alive. Does he have a case? Does his temporarily grieving and then overjoyed family have a case?
• And finally, we compare two verdicts, one for the death of a college student in a hazing incident and another for medical malpractice regarding the knee of a football player, Philadelphia Eagle Chris Maragos. How do juries value a knee vs a life?
With the latest celebrity trial of the century coming to a close, Noah and Bill ask the eternal question, "What have we learned?"
Why are live=streamed celebrity trials such a s**t show?
Are tag-team lawyers in Utah a thing?
And who is King Morgan?
The trial has barely started and the ISO gang already has plenty to say about it!
Using their considerable experience as litigators, Noah and Bill evaluate the opening arguments, rate how they think the judge is handling the courtroom, score the results of the trial so far and explain what the "old person" defense is and why it's likely to be used in this trial.
And we've only just begun!
It's never happened before! The appeal period for 2022 has officially reopened. That means we can help you appeal both 2022 and 2023 tax assessments.
And what THAT means is that you may have an opportunity to get a refund for taxes you've already paid!
On this episode of the podcast, FFRA's tax appeal maven Nicole Hauptmann Amick explains the details of this unprecedented event, discusses a little about how the tax appeals process works and whether you should seek a reassessment.
The deadline is 3/31/23 so schedule a FREE consultation now at pghfirm.com
In this episode The Queen of Tax Appeals, Nicole Hauptman Amick, brings her expertise to the podcast to discuss the latest breaking news about the 2023 tax reassessment.
This has never happened before! The 2022 appeals window is reopening, making 2023 the best year ever to lower your property tax.
Noah and Bill ask the questions you need to ask and Nicole gives the up-to-the-minute answers you need to know.
Contact us at https://www.pghfirm.com/ to arrange your FREE consultation.
If you listened to Part 1 of our legal movie game show you know that the score is tied 1 to 1 between Bill and Noah.
With three rounds to go it could be anybody's game,
The rules are as follows:
Noah and Bill each present to the court a movie with a legal theme.
They then give their opening arguments, hoping to convince “we the jurors” that theirs is the best legal movie of all time.
Opening arguments are followed by a rebuttal, a spirited debate and tons of movie clips in this tournament bracket-style competition.
Classic movies are up against more contemporary films, comedies battle dramas, and along the way the guys break down why their movie deserves to be called the best of all time.
Ten movies will be presented but only ONE can be the best of ALL time.
Play along with us, and maybe learn a thing or two about courtroom procedure, cross examination techniques, and what to never say to a judge.
What is the best legal movie of ALL time?
I Strenuously Object Podcast takes a break from our recent string of heavy topics to have a little fun with a game show!
Noah and Bill each present to the court a movie with a legal theme.
They then give their opening arguments, hoping to convince “we the jurors” that theirs is the best legal movie of all time.
Opening arguments are followed by a rebuttal, a spirited debate and tons of movie clips in this tournament bracket-style competition.
Classic movies are up against more contemporary films, comedies battle dramas, and along the way the guys break down why their movie deserves to be called the best of all time.
Ten movies will be presented but only ONE can be the best of ALL time.
Play along with us, and maybe learn a thing or two about courtroom procedure, cross examination techniques, and what to never say to a judge.
In this episode of I Strenuously Object the guys tackle the difficult topic of the recent Sandy Hook defamation case in which Info Wars’ infamous red-faced loudmouth Alex Jones was ordered to pay nearly a billion dollars.
This discussion leads our intrepid attorneys down a legal, moral and philosophical rabbit hole as they wrestle with subjects such as, the limits of freedom of speech, the difference between liability and damages, the difference between compensatory and punitive damages and the monetary value we can place on suffering.
Bill and Noah are joined by our “jurist in residence” the Ex-Godfather, “Everyday” Ron Meyers, who adds his passionate, non-lawyerly opinions to the proceedings, all in an effort to answer: “Did the Alex Jones Jury Get it Right?”.
Good News for Property owners who pay attention and want to lower their property taxes.
Property Tax Appeal Expert Nicole Amick is a featured guest on ISO to help explain the September 1, 2022 breaking news in Allegheny County, Pennsylvania that should help thousands lower their property taxes.
The ISO crew breaks down:
What the changing law means for property owners in Pittsburgh?
When can an owner appeal?
What do they need to know to lower their property taxes?
and What does it mean to those who are in the appeal process or have already been appealed?
The bottom line is that the breaking news is good news for many property owners in Allegheny County, but they need to pay attention.
When you need a personal injury lawyer it means something bad has happened to you or someone you love. The last thing you want to do at a time like this is to have to sift through a ton of lawyers to find just the right one for your case.
And yet that is exactly what you have to do.
On this episode of I Strenuously Object, with special guest Shawn Flaherty, the ISO crew will help you learn how to choose a lawyer that’s right for you, by helping to answer a few key questions such as:
Should I expect a PI lawyer to offer free consultations?
Should I call the lawyer I see advertised at a bus stop or on TV?
Should I expect my lawyer to be my friend?
Choosing the right personal injury lawyer can mean the difference of thousands or even millions of dollars. The ISO podcast is here to help!
Noah and Bill invite founding partner Shawn Flaherty to this episode of I Strenuously Object to help create the greatest podcast about depositions in the history of podcasting!
If you are facing a deposition you may be nervous and wondering what you are up against. This podcast will help.
Shawn, Noah and Bill explain exactly what a deposition IS and what will be expected of you including, what you should wear, how to avoid hearsay objections, what NOT to do when asked a question and why a deposition is like a first date.
Part 2 of our Tax Appeals series, this episode is NOT for Dummies, but does explain in the simplest terms the entire tax appeal process in Allegheny County, PA.
A self-proclaimed “greatest podcast ever recorded on tax appeals”, this simple to understand (yet entertaining) tutorial walks property owners through the entire Allegheny assessment appeal process and offers the strategies for fighting these tax appeal cases.
Rock Star Tax Appeal Attorney Nicole Amick guides listeners through the first level BPAAR hearing and the second level BOV hearing and teaches the best way to defend school district property tax appeals, including what NOT to say or do.
Our team of experts break down the best secrets for winning your tax appeal, including why property owners should almost never attend the first level hearing on their own, and keep your damn mouth shut.
We also explain why you do not have to answer questions from the County, and never, ever let anyone in your house.
Stay tuned toward the end of the podcast for "Breaking News" about Allegheny County property assessments that could change the rules of the game for everyone.
Nothing dumb about this episode, except maybe us for giving away all of our secrets for free.
Want to lower your Allegheny County property taxes? Make them an offer they can’t refuse!
Special guest Ron Myers a/k/a The Godfather of Tax Appeals, began started handling tax appeals in 1997 as a non-lawyer and brings a completely different approach to understanding and winning tax appeal cases.
Everyone wants to lower their property taxes, but exactly what you need to do is not as obvious as you would think.
In this episode, Noah and Bill (with guidance from the Godfather) offer clever hints and secret tips for property owners that have been used for years to lower property taxes, even in some cases, when they should not have been lowered.
Finally in this episode is a discussion that may sound boring, but might be one the greatest tricks to lower property taxes ever, a/k/a the common level ratio (CLR).
Few property owners may understand it, but once they do, they will have the key weapon to actually seeing property tax relief.
Don’t pay more than your fair share of property taxes. Listen to some of these secrets from the pros, and save money…and live happy!
The Allegheny County property assessment system is in complete chaos. Many experts believe it is one of the most unfair property tax systems in the country.
Allegheny County, PA has not had a reassessment since 2012, and recent homebuyers are being appealed at record numbers. More than 10,000 appeals this year.
People need to understand how to defend against the chaos, and keep their property taxes low. The current system is unfair because it discriminates against both recent homebuyers and the poorest neighborhoods.
In this episode, Widely Recognized as one of the premiere tax appeal attorneys in Allegheny County (and Buffalo Bills season ticket holder) Attorney Nicole Amick is our featured guest and joins us to help explain the property tax appeal process and why a much-loathed reassessment may actually be the best, fairest (still bad) option in Allegheny County.
If you want to help defend yourself against unfair tax appeals, while also understanding the flaws in the current assessment system, and ways in which they can be fixed, this is a must-hear episode.
The system is ‘Out of Order’ Counselor, and our panel experts explain what needs to be done to fix it.
“Say Hello to my little friend!” Medical malpractice is the third leading cause of death in America with an estimated 400,000 people killed each year by the negligence of doctors and other healthcare providers.
In this episode, Medical Malpractice Trial Attorneys Noah Fardo and Bill Rogel discuss the staggering statistics of deaths caused by medical errors and also discuss the taboo issue of substance abuse in the medical profession, a high-pressure field with ready access to drugs.
Our special guest, Ron Myers, an experienced patient advocate, joins and shares his personal experiences where doctors almost killed his loved ones. But for his advocacy, they may not be here today.
His advice, while unpopular and controversial as it may sound, saves lives. Learn how to protect yourself and your loved ones from serious medical errors.
We discuss the life saving advice of asking the right questions, reviewing and understanding your own medical records, and having a patient advocate present to help.
If your doctor is on drugs, it’s time to say “goodnight to the bad guy.”
Do you need to collect money? This is without a doubt, the most informative podcast ever created on how to collect debt in Pennsylvania.
Titled F* You, Pay Me, after the Goodfellas Movie (recorded before the passing of Ray Liotta, RIP - we love you Ray!), this simple to understand tutorial teaches creditors in Pennsylvania how to collect debt from even the most difficult debtors.
Experienced trial Collection Attorneys Noah and Bill teach listeners not only the best way to obtain a judgment in Pennsylvania, but they also walk through the fastest way to get paid on money you are owed.
You will learn how to obtain the judgment, issue a writ of execution, seize bank accounts, sell personal assets and levy on real property.
You will also learn how to find assets that debtors are hiding by understanding the discovery in aid of execution process, and how you might even be able to arrest the debtor, if they ignore the Judge.
Finally, as an episode bonus and generally one of the best kept secrets in debt collection, you better revive that judgment, because it could decide whether you get paid or not.
Listen and learn how to collect the money you are owed and tell debtors who are avoiding you, “F* You, Pay Me!”.
Does Chris Rock have a personal injury lawsuit against Will Smith? You better damn well believe he does!
In this episode, we play a fun and interesting legal game called "Case Or No Case?", in which high profile Pennsylvania trial attorneys Noah Fardo and Bill Rogel argue the merits of the Will Smith/Chris Rock "Slap Heard 'Round The World"; the Fern Hollow Bridge collapse in Pittsburgh, PA; and recent news about fans getting hurt at baseball games (can they sue?).
How strong are these personal injury cases and what defenses would be raised? Who would win and why?
More importantly, how much are these injury cases worth? The answer our “jury” gives to the question of compensation will shock you by awarding more money to celebrities than average people. Does it make sense to you?
Join us, you will learn more than a thing or two about the basics of personal injury law, why not to make fun of someone's wife while on television, who is responsible when a bridge collapses, and why you should always bring a glove to a baseball game.
When a personal injury case goes to a jury, you never know what you will hear!