New Home Appraisal Guidelines Offer Added Protections

New home appraisal guidelines spelled out in a revised Home Valuation Code of Conduct will enhance the independence and accuracy of the appraisal process. While consumers may find that appraisals may take slightly longer and cost a bit more, the new guidelines add valuable protections for homebuyers, mortgage investors and the housing market.

The new HVCC guidelines became effective on May 1, 2009. Based on a joint agreement between Freddie Mac, the Federal Housing Finance Agency (FHFA), and the New York State Attorney General, the guidelines established standards for solicitation, selection, compensation, conflicts of interest and appraiser independence.

Under the new HVCC, Freddie Mac will no longer purchase mortgages from sellers that do not adopt the revised code for single-family mortgages delivered to Freddie Mac. Single-family loan applications dated on or after May 1 are also affected. Freddie Mac Seller/Servicers must represent and warrant that the appraisal reports are obtained in a manner consistent with the code. The sale of mortgages covered under FHA/VA, Section 184 Native American, and Section 502 Guaranteed Rural Housing are exempt from the code.

In a nutshell, the revised Home Valuation Code of Conduct will:

• Prohibit lenders and third parties from influencing or attempting to influence the development, result, or review of an appraisal report.

• Require lenders to furnish borrowers with a copy of the appraisal report no less than three business days prior to closing -- unless the borrower waives the requirement. While lenders may require borrowers to reimburse them for the appraisal's cost, lenders must provide a copy of the appraisal report at no additional cost.

• Require any third party specifically authorized to perform certain actions on behalf of the Seller to be in compliance with the code.

• Require lenders or third parties authorized by lenders to be responsible for selecting, retaining, and providing for payment of all compensation to appraisers. The code prohibits other third parties from performing these activities.

• Allow lenders, in connection with the loan being originated, to accept an appraisal report prepared by an appraiser for a different lender. However, the lender must obtain written assurances from the other lender that it has adopted the code and determine that the appraisal conforms to appraisal requirements and is otherwise acceptable.

New Leave Entitlements Give Military Families a Break

Effective January 16, 2009, new military family leave entitlements were expanded and significantly enhanced.  Eligible employees who are family members of covered service members will be able to take up to 26 workweeks of leave in a single 12-month period. The leave allows individuals to care for a covered service member with a serious illness or injury incurred in the line of duty on active duty.

In addition, families of members of the National Guard and Reserves will be better able to manage their affairs while the member is on active duty in support of a contingency operation. This provision makes the normal 12 workweeks of FMLA job-protected leave available to eligible employees with a covered military member serving in the National Guard or Reserves. Entitled service members may take leave for "any qualifying exigency."

Qualifying exigencies include:

• Short-notice deployment
• Military events and related activities
• Childcare and school activities
• Financial and legal arrangements
• Counseling
• Rest and recuperation
• Post-deployment activities

Brian Chase Receives "Superb" Rating from Avvo.com

Brian Chase, a partner at the California personal injury law firm of BISNAR | CHASE, has received a "superb" and "perfect 10" rating from Avvo.com, a renowned attorney rating website in the United States for consumers who wish to seek skilled and quality legal representation. The Avvo.com national lawyer rating website uses a mathematical model to evaluate attorneys. The experts at Avvo not only look at a lawyer's experience and number of years in the business, but also his or her track record, reputation with peers and professional achievements.

Chase is a reputed auto products liability attorney feared by auto makers and respected by clients who count on his expertise and skill to represent them successfully. Chase not only scored highly on Avvo.com in terms of experience but also industry recognition and professional conduct, getting a perfect 10 score not many lawyers get on the website. The information presented on the Avvo website is gathered from state bar associations, lawyer websites as well as court documents. Avvo also uses input from attorneys, consumers and legal experts in coming up with this rating.

Chase's top Avvo rating caught the eye of the OC Metro magazine, which named him one of the top lawyers and one of the top five personal injury lawyers in Orange County. Chase is also a nationally renowned trial lawyer, who has won significant settlements and jury verdicts on behalf of clients who have been seriously injured as a result of auto product defects or as a result of someone else's negligence. Chase's dedication to his clients is unbelievable. He has always made himself accessible to answer their questions and address their concerns. Clients remember him and continue to respect his commitment to them long after their cases are concluded. Many admire his sensitivity to their situation and his ability to handle appropriate situations with a touch of humor.

John Bisnar, a senior partner at the Newport Beach personal injury law firm of BISNAR | CHASE said Chase has made both him and the firm proud. His commitment and dedication to his work, the skills and expertise he brings to the table, make Chase an invaluable asset to any legal team, Bisnar said. Chase's top professional accomplishments include the recognition he earned one of the 2007 Top 100 Trial Lawyers by the American Trial Lawyers Association. He was also named 2004 Trial Lawyer of the Year by the Orange County Trial Lawyers Association in the area of defective products. He has been a much sought-after expert by national and international media outlets.

Chase's new book, "Still Unsafe at Any Speed: Auto Defects That Cause Wrongful Deaths and Catastrophic Injuries" is a must-have and must-read if you drive. Chase has used his wide and varied experience as an auto products liability lawyer to talk about the most common auto product defects and how they affect the lives of consumers.

Read more BISNAR | CHASE personal injury press releases.

Personal Injury Lawyer Like "Guardian Angel"

What was supposed to be a special and happy time in one family's lives turned into a tragedy when their son was involved in a California car accident.

Christopher Chan's family was eagerly looking forward to his graduation. A week before the special day, Christopher told his mother, Maria, the happy news that he would graduate with honors and get to wear a special sash that distinguished him from his classmates.

"I was pretty excited about it," Maria said, in a personal injury video testimonial. "I started preparing for the graduation day and then the phone rings. The school principal told me that Christopher was hit by a van."

The van accident turned the Chan's world turned upside down. "It was the saddest day of our lives," Christopher's dad, Jupiter, said.

"What I like most about BISNAR | CHASE is that they really took over and took charge of it. I didn't have to miss a lot of work. I didn't have to keep coming back and forth. They just knew what to do," Jason said.

Christopher's California personal injury accident would require around-the-clock care just to function normally.

"We have to change his diapers. He cannot move. We have to change it every hour, give him medicine on time. It's really, really hard for us," Maria said.

Maria would work during the day and Jupiter, at night, so they could make sure that Christopher was being watched 24 hours a day. They also worried about who would take care of 17-year-old Christopher when they got older.

Thankfully, the family got some help when they consulted the California car accident lawyers of BISNAR | CHASE.

"I was so relieved when I saw Mr. Bisnar," Jupiter said. "I call him like my older brother. He's like family. He really takes care of us. They've been outstanding."

Maria said the law firm constantly kept the family informed on the progress of their case and gradually, the family learned to enjoy life again.

"He's our guardian angel. He's always beside us," Jupiter said of John Bisnar.

Christopher's case was settled a week before trial for cash up front and a stream of payments over Christopher's life that is expected to exceed $15M. But even with the case settled, Jupiter said the law firm's concern did not stop.

"He told me to stop working. They told me to take care of my son. From beginning to end, even the future, they will take care of us," Jupiter said.

The Chan family is not alone. Unfortunately, many people are injured or killed in car accidents in California every year. Most of these people, like Christopher, are in the prime of their lives and have so much to look forward to when their dreams are cut down by a reckless driver.

The victims aren't the only ones who are affected. The whole family must deal with the consequences. They all ask themselves, "How can we get our lives back?"

A California personal injury lawyer can help. They will make sure that you are properly compensated for your physical, emotional, mental and financial hardship and that those responsible for the car accident are brought to justice.

Watch all of our client video testimonials.

In the California Injury Blog

Here are a few recent car accident stories that have been in the news, as covered on http://www.CaliforniaInjuryBlog.com ...

• December 3 - Toddler Killed in California Hit-and-Run Car Accident
• December 5 - Los Angeles Hit-and-Run Car Accident Kills Motorcyclist
• December 6 - Los Angeles Hit-and-Run Car Accident Injures Bicyclist

Visit the California Injury Blog today to get regular updates on local injuries and accidents in California.

Lawyer Joke: The Lawyer's Dog

An unleashed lawyer's dog runs into a butcher shop and steals a steak. Using the dog's tags, the butcher finds the lawyer's office and presents him with a question: "If an unleashed dog steals a steak from my store, can I demand payment from the dog's owner?" The lawyer answers without hesitation, "Absolutely."

"Then you owe me $10.50 for the steak your dog took from my store," exclaims the butcher.

Without hesitation, the lawyer promptly wrote the butcher a check for $10.50. Satisfied, the butcher left. Two days later, the butcher got a bill from the lawyer: $100 due for legal consultation.

Read more lawyer jokes and contribute your own at our lawyer joke page.

The Seven Fatal Mistakes

John Bisnar, founding partner of BISNAR | CHASE, is well known for his experience and expertise litigating personal injury claims. John's book, The Seven Fatal Mistakes That Can Wreck Your California Personal Injury Claim, provides the guidance victims need to successfully settle a personal injury claim.

According to John, he wrote the book because "I don't like to see the average guy being taken advantage of by insurance companies, government agencies and other powerful entities."

Get a free copy of The Seven Fatal Mistakes That Can Wreck Your California Personal Injury Claim.

Still Unsafe At Any Speed

Did an SUV roll over? An airbag fail to deploy? A tire come apart? A fuel tank explode? A seat collapse? A roof sustain severe deformation and crush? A seat belt unlatch or otherwise pop open?

This book enables readers to evaluate an auto products liability case by offering valuable information of the specifics of common vehicle defects. To illustrate the traffic implications of defective autos in people's lives, real-life accounts have been included, reminding us that we are dealing with much more than statistical and technical information here.

Get your own copy of Still Unsafe At Any Speed: Auto Defects That Cause Wrongful Deaths and Catastrophic Injuries.

Glovebox Organizer Offered at No Cost

BISNAR | CHASE has designed an Insurance & Registration Organizer to keep your car documents organized and to assist you if you are involved in a car accident.

The Organizer has a slot to put your automobile Certificate of Insurance, a place to put your automobile registration, an Accident Information Form with instructions on what to do after a traffic accident and what information to collect at the scene of a car accident, a pen, a flashlight with batteries, a tire pressure gauge, and a note pad.

Get your Free Glove Box Organizer right now!