Maley and Maley Receives "Best Law Firms" Tier One Rankings

BURLINGTON, VT - Maley and Maley, PLLC has received two “Best Law Firms” rankings from U.S. News & World Report and Best Lawyers® for 2018. Specifically, the Burlington firm received metropolitan Tier 1 rankings for Burlington, VT, in the areas of medical malpractice law and personal injury litigation.

Attorneys John Maley and Chris Maley are Burlington natives who represent individuals and families who have been injured throughout Vermont. The father-and-son team founded Maley and Maley, PLLC in 2013. Prior to forming their new firm, the Maleys worked together in Burlington for 12 years at the former personal injury and medical malpractice law firm Sylvester & Maley, Inc. Both are listed annually in The Best Lawyers in America in both areas of medical malpractice and personal injury law.

The Best Law Firms rankings are based on a methodology that includes a combination of client feedback, information provided on the submission, a survey of leading lawyers, and Best Lawyers® peer review. There is no fee associated with receiving a ranking.

Individuals who have been injured due to another's negligence are invited to contact the firm to request a free case evaluation at www.maleyandmaley.com or by calling (802) 489-5258.

Christopher Maley Selected Medical Malpractice "Lawyer of the Year" for 2015

Christopher Maley has been selected by Best Lawyers® as the 2015 Lawyer of the Year for Medical Malpractice - Plaintiffs - Burlington, Vermont. Chris is a founding member of Maley and Maley PLLC, and has been listed annually in the publication The Best Lawyers in America® since 2007 in the categories of Medical Malpractice Law and Personal Injury Litigation.

According to Best Lawyers®, only a single lawyer in each practice area and designated metropolitan area is honored as the “Lawyer of the Year.” They are selected based on particularly impressive voting averages received during the peer-review assessments. The Lawyer of the Year designation reflects the high level of respect a lawyer has earned among other leading lawyers in the same communities and the same practice areas for their abilities, their professionalism, and their integrity.

Chris' partner, John Maley, was selected in 2014 as Lawyer of the Year for Medical Malpractice Law.

Since it was first published in 1983, Best Lawyers has become universally regarded as the definitive guide to legal excellence.

Vermont's Cell Phone Ban Explained

Vermont's Statewide Handheld Ban Takes Effect October 1 

As of Monday, October 1, 2014, use of any handheld portable electronic device while driving in Vermont is illegal. The law (23 V.S.A. § 1095b) carries fines of up to $200 with points assessed if the violation occurs in a work zone. Use of a mobile device is permitted if an approved "hands-free" technology, such as Bluetooth, is properly installed — however, junior operators are strictly forbidden to use cell phones of any kind while driving. The ban covers all portable electronic devices, including, music players, laptop computers, and cellular telephones.

What does "hands-free" mean?

Hands-free means the portable electronic device is not in the hands of the driver. Devices can be used by employing an internal feature such as Bluetooth or a wired headset with a single-button control, or a speakerphone. The device itself can be used for single button hands-free operation, as long as the device is in a cradle or otherwise securely mounted in the vehicle. The ban is lifted when the driver needs to communicate with law enforcement or emergency service personnel in an emergency. For more information on which hands-free device is right for you, download this guide from the Vermont Agency of Transportation.

Vermont neighbors, The Province of Quebec and New York State have each had a handheld ban in effect for several years. New Hampshire’s ban will take effect in July of 2015

Fines 

Violators shall be subject to a fine of not less than $100.00 and not more than $200.00 for a first violation, and of not less than $250.00 and not more than $500.00 for a second or subsequent violation within any two-year period. If the violation occurs within a properly designated work zone in which construction, maintenance, or utility personnel are present, two points will be assessed against the violators’ license for a first conviction and five points assessed on subsequent convictions.

More Info

For more information and answers to frequently asked questions, see this page from the Vermont Highway Safety Alliance: Vermont Cell Phone Ban FAQs, and the DMV Enforcement Bulletin.

Also, listen to this great discussion on VPR: Hands Off: The Logistics Of The Hand-Held Cell Phone Ban.

Vermont Cell Phone Ban Aims to Save Lives

Chris Maley was featured in the Burlington Free Press article on Sunday, September 21, 2014, "In 10 Days Calling While Driving Is Banned." The article, by Nancy Remsen, provides an overview of the new Vermont law that makes it illegal to use hand-held electronic devices while driving.

Chris, who has represented victims of automobile accidents caused by distracted drivers, has helped to raise awareness of distracted driving, and testified before both the Vermont House and Senate in support of the bill that is now law that goes into effect on October 1, 2013.

Attorney Chris Maley shows the bracelet he wears to remind
him to keep both hands on the wheel while driving. 
Photo: NANCY REMSEN/FREE PRESS

 The article quotes Chris saying,

"Distracted driving is a choice. Texting while driving is a choice to put your needs over the safety of others. That is a selfish choice."

Chris, who has spoken at several high school forums on distracted driving, admits that it has been hard to suggest that teenagers put down their cell phones when they see their parents using them while driving. The new law applies to all drivers and will help to clarify the message and simplify enforcement. The article states, "Continued public education remains the key to change a culture that allows people to believe it is acceptable to text or talk on the phone or engage in other distracting activities while behind the wheel."

Phones down, heads up, Vermont!

Medical Mistakes in Hospitals: 3rd Leading Cause of Death in America

Vermont's Bernie Sanders Calls Out Health Industry on Preventable Medical Errors

U.S. Senator Bernie Sanders (I-VT) testified before a U.S. Senate Panel on the alarming number of deaths caused by medical mistakes in this country. Preventable medical errors in hospitals is the third leading cause of death in the United States according to recent research. Only heart disease and cancer kill more Americans.

“Medical harm is a major cause of suffering, disability, and death — as well as a huge financial cost to our nation,” Sanders said at the outset of the hearing by the Senate Subcommittee on Primary Health and Aging. “This is a problem that has not received anywhere near the attention that it deserves and today I hope that we can focus a spotlight on this matter of such grave consequence,” added Sanders, the panel’s chairman.

The Journal of Patient Safety recently published a study which concluded that as many as 440,000 people die each year from preventable medical errors in hospitals. Tens of thousands also die from preventable mistakes outside hospitals, such as deaths from missed diagnoses or because of injuries from medications.

Watch highlights of the hearing below.



View the full subcommitte hearing here.

An Exciting Day!

That's our Chris Maley looking on as Governor Shumlin signs ban on hand-held devices for drivers. Chris worked hard to help educate Vermonters and pass the bill.

. @GovPeterShumlin signs law banning cell phone use while driving this fall. Expands on texting ban in #VT pic.twitter.com/4kL6EIZfIS
— Jack Thurston (@JackNECN) June 12, 2014

See full coverage here of Governor Shumlin signing the bill as reported by WCAX - Channel 3.

WCAX.com

Vermont Trial Lawyers Support Hands-Free Cell Phone Bill

The Vermont House of Representatives passed a bill (H. 62) on February 13 that would prohibit the use of hand-held cell phones while driving.

Vermont's trial lawyer group, the Vermont Association of Justice, supports the bill which now goes before the Senate. Chris Maley, president of the VTAJ was among those who testified to ban cellphone use while driving. Maley, who has presented to area school groups on the dangers of distracted driving, shared how teenagers model the bad habits of adults who answer emails and text while driving.

As reported by the Valley News:

"Under the House bill, drivers would no longer be able to raise a cell phone to their ear and carry on a conversation, or scroll through their personal music players to change a song. 

The proposed legislation would prohibit drivers from operating hand-held electronic devices while the vehicle is in motion. 

Instead, drivers would have to mount the device, onto the dashboard for example, and would only be allowed to press one button to engage or disengage a call, or to activate a hands-free feature (such as Apple’s Siri function) on the phone, which would allow a driver to operate the phone by talking to the device. 

Drivers would be able to wear a headset or use a wireless Bluetooth feature in the vehicle to carry on a conversation or to change to a different tune, but the days of physically holding the device would be no more if the House bill becomes law."

For more information, see Valley News article: Hands-Free or Hang Up: Vermont Lawmakers Weigh Vehicle Cell Phone Restrictions