Law And More

Global Auto-Industry Lobbyists/Law Firms - The Business Potential

From June 15th through September 15th of this year, the Toledo Museum of Art featured the special exhibit "Life is a Highway: Art & American Car Culture."

That might be the last hurrah for the technological  innovation which transformed everything from transportation to social values (e.g. get in the car and escape whatever).

Increasingly, because of factors ranging from climate change to the expense involved, the car is less and less a symbol of what has been considered "progress" in civilization.

That shift in perception could impact all brands, even the designer ones.

What's obvious is that worldwide, lobbyists for the auto industry and law firms managing its litigation could run into raw headwinds. Of course, those challenges could command premium pricing. It will be interesting to monitor which law firms beef up practices dealing with auto sector.

Yes, the car is being vilified.

A recent radical move which is attracting attention, positive and negative, is the mission of socialist Paris mayor Anne Hidalgo to liberate the city from the oppression of the car. Last summer, as The New York Times reports, the temperature in Paris reached 107 degrees. Some viewed that as a preview of the future in a world getting hotter.

Hidalgo is busy implementing her vision for protecting Paris from further eco damage from cars.

Already dozen of miles of pavement have been dug up to make way for bike paths. In her view of things, the bike culture is good. The car is bad. If she gets her agenda through, cars could be banned from center city. 

Meanwhile, in the larger realm of global finance, there is a growing niche in focusing on investing in climate change. No surprise, Beyond Meat is a closely watched stock. It provides plant-based meat substitutes.

Simultaneously, as BusinessInsider documents based on IMF numbers, the global auto industry is slowing faster than expected. That is triggering major economic threats. The issue is: Can it bounce back. Or, will its demise only be delayed?

In addition, there is the political issue: Can weaning ordinary people from cars reduce overall poverty? In America, CBS reports that 70% see themselves as struggling financially. For a car that travels 15,000 miles annually, Nerd Wallet puts the average cost at almost $8,500 a year.

What lobbyists and law firms pull off in the court of public opinion could blow up the current negative narrative about The Car. That could constitute one of most astounding communications campaigns of these crazy times. 

Smart global ghostwriting, with social networking know-know. Emergencies welcome. Complimentary consultation (pressure-free) janegenova374@gmail.com.

California Pushes Back on Auto Makers Siding with Trump Administration on Emissions

California continues to be aggressively green.

As Axios reports, the state government announced that it won't purchase government vehicles from auto makers which have sided with the Trump Administration on emissions.

The state had issued emission standards and, by proxy, mileage requirements which are higher than those imposed by federal law. The Trump Administration has sued and three auto makers have supported that litigation. They are GM, Fiat Chrysler, and Toyota.

Those could be hurt in the pocketbook as well as in their branding. CA can make this stance high profile in the media.

In addition, CA announced that for its government vehicles, with a few exceptions, it will only purchase those which are electric or hybrid.

Since CA has enormous influence this kind of pressure put on the auto industry could spread to other states.

Smart global ghostwriting, with social networking know-know. Emergencies welcome. Complimentary consultation (pressure-free) janegenova374@gmail.com.

Aging Law Partners - Trike Your Way Out of Clinical Depression (and sell green feature to media)

It was bravado. But, part of me believed it at the time I purchased the trike (adult tricycle) at Wersell Bike Shop, Toledo, Ohio. 

I had to believe that three-wheel contraption could really get me, an over-50, everyplace I wanted to go.

So, with great confidence I informed the salesperson Brett Gibson I was going to use the trike to peddle my way to the Toledo Museum of Art. That was about six weeks ago.

Here's my story. When I still had a car I had become a member of the Museum and got an emotional/spiritual lift weekly when I roamed the exhibits, nursed one affordable coffee in the cafe, and gazed out at the garden. Afternoons of heaven.

The car I had donated to Kars4Kids.

See, I couldn't shake the trauma of an accident in Michigan at the end of August 2019. The sound of the crash and the look in my dog's eyes when the accident happened, they dominated my consciousness.

In addition, State Farm, although it was my first accident and no one was hurt, more than doubled my insurance. After that, I yanked my homeowner's insurance and placed it with another insurance company. It also covers the trike for the replacement value.

Peddle by peddle, I worked up to making it to the Museum.

First it was the 40 minute bike ride to my support group meeting on Sylvania Avenue. Within a week I got that down to 30 minutes. Obviously, I was making progress. I also connected the dots on wearing layers. Also, I felt total cool with a backpack. 

Then last week there was the 90 minute peddling to the main shopping district and back. According to calorie calculators, that has lightened my calorie count for that afternoon by 805. On Facebook I asked my friends if I came across as thinner.

I made it my business to study city maps. Somehow I identified a shortcut from Lewis Avenue to Monroe Street. I took it, but didn't trust my directional instincts. 

For once, they were on the money. I arrived at the Museum parking lot. My member sticker was on the bike. That would allow me to park w/o the $8 fee.

Then, a wrench in the works.

"No bikes in the lot." That's what the attendant said.

My heart sank to the crusty envelope encasing planet earth.

Then, the attendant indicated there was a bike rack in front of the museum.

I backed up my trike (manually) and headed there.

There was a new exhibit on light and shadow. Because I was a member I didn't have to pony up the $12 bucks for a ticket.

Then I studied Andrew Wyeth's "The Hunter."

It reinforced for me the importance of angle in creative projects.

Wyeth approached the subject from on high in a Sycamore tree. The bark was peeling off. Since it was fall there were few leaves. That renewed my determination to go for out of the box angles in my ghostwriting, even if clients seemed to want (the issue is always: do they really want) platitudes. 

"The Hunter" stuck with me. I needed to think more about Wyeth's technique.

So, I took the long long way home. One stop was at an apartment complex closer to the action of downtown. Should I move there? 

The issue became: Maybe I needed as much peddling distance between me and what my soul craved. During the six weeks of triking the clinical depression I had struggled with since age 11 had gone into remission. 

Depression and other mood disorders among lawyers are well-documented. Along with seasonal bonuses in 2019, aging law partners might also get to get a limo ride to the bike store and choose their trike. They can peddle it home. The firm's legal marketing team can contact the media about a feature on green. 

Reflection: Harvard Medical School might do a global experiment on triking and putting a dent in the worldwide epidemic of depression. Instead of giving the world a Coca-Cola, give 'em trikes. 

Smart global ghostwriting, with social networking know-know. Emergencies welcome. Complimentary consultation (pressure-free) janegenova374@gmail.com.

Law Firm Branding Outreach: Give Those Struggling Financially Bicycles

According to NerdWallet, the average expense for operating a car which travels about 15,000 miles a year is $8,469 for each of those years.

For a working family having to have a car can shift them from okay to a financial struggle. 

Donating bicycles to all members can prevent that daily angst about having ends mean and the possibility of homelessness.

Fortunately, society, at least the progressive niches, are helping make biking anywhere possible and safe. For example, The Guardian reports New York City is setting up 250 new bike lanes.

As part of the new marketing, Law.com recommends that law firms position and package the lawyers as not only good at what they do but also as good human beings. Pro bono projects associated with bicycle outreach could get plenty of media attention. That not only helps families. It's green. And, yes, the program can include e-bikes.

Of course, there is no missing this irony: Those with those great jobs are already commuting via bike to work. It's wellness. It's green. And it's no angst about having an accident, with insurance rates doubling. 

Smart global ghostwriting, with social networking know-know. Emergencies welcome. Complimentary consultation (pressure-free) janegenova374@gmail.com.

 

Zantac - Obviously, Pharma to Get Hit Again and Hard with Lawsuits

Defense lawyers for pharma have been busy.

There has been the pile on of lawsuits directed at prescription and over the counter medications.

Many of the lawsuits allege failure to warn.

Johnson & Johnson had been hit with a $8 billion Risperdal verdict. Its defense legal team will appeal that. 

Now, Zantac joins that conga line. In the loop are pharma companies ranging from Sanofi to Pfizer. 

As Law.com reports, plaintiff lawyers anticipate a deluge of litigation contending that the heartburn fix allegedly has triggered the formation of the carcinogen NCMA. It's claimed that can cause a number of cancers, ranging from the kidney to colon. It's also alleged that the pharma companies were aware of that possibility and did not inform consumers. 

Since the medication has been out there since 1983, the number of possible lawsuits is amazing.

Again, plaintiff lawyers can pitch to juries allegedly there has been the priority put on profits over safety.

That has been effective in generating nuclear verdicts such as the one in Risperdal and those aren't predicted to go away. Here is Law.com's analysis of that trend.

Yes, juries are out to "punish" BigBusiness not adequately focused on the public good. This reflects the ongoing global review of capitalism.

Harvard Business School, boot camp for future capitalists, has an elective called "Reimagining Capitalism."

The Roundtable has pushed for redefining the purpose of the corporation as more than just increasing investor value. The interests of other constituencies, be they planet earth, employees, or local communities, have to be factored in. 

The 2020 Election puts traditional capitalism under a microscope.

Also, in this Zantac development, shade is being thrown on the FDA. During the Trump Administration the regulatory agency has been downsized. In some circles there is outrage the FDA did not take action on Zantac sooner.

Reflection: Expect giant settlements and jury punitive damages awards with Zantac. Meanwhile, pharma has a major branding problem.

Smart global ghostwriting, with social networking know-know. Emergencies welcome. Complimentary consultation (pressure-free) janegenova374@gmail.com.

 

Distressed U.S. Auto Industry - Are Auto Insurers Making That (much) Worse & Shouldn't That Be Issue in Election 2020?

"The world is cooling off its love affair with cars." -  Jim Edwards, BusinessInsider, February 19, 2019.

In the U.S., the car had reconfigured just about every institution, ranging from real estate to escape fantasies.

That was captured in the Toledo Museum of Art's exhibit "Life is a highway: Art & American Car Culture" (June 15 - Sept. 15, 2019). What was palpable was that the car created a whole new mindset of possibility. 

Now, much of that is being reconfigured.

In the U.S., auto sales are flat and predicted to decline. The Lordstown, Ohio GM plant went from three shifts to a total close-down.

Some see the downward trajectory as a result of a kind of perfect storm:

Environmental concerns

Escalating prices at the pump

The sticker shock associated with purchasing a new car (which tends to be an SUV)

Wellness trend encouraging walking

More and better public transportation, and

The availability of affordable taxi service through ride-sharing.

The fallout, speculates some economists at HSBC, could be a global recession.

Added to those usual suspects and increasing the combined impact of all that had been, I have a hunch, the way the auto insurance industry operates in the U.S.

To begin with, the price of auto insurance tends to be high for a new car. So, come on, why buy one? Hang on to the one you have, riding it out until it gives out at 200,000+ miles.

Another is the severe expense implications of an accident, even one that isn't particularly serious. 

I had been toying with buying a new car to replace mine which had almost 90,000 miles.

That was before I moved from Austintown, OH to Toledo, OH and, two days later had a not-serious accident in no-fault state Michigan.

According to the police it was my fault. But since it happened in a no-fault state my insurance company - State Farm - only had to pay the other party's deductible.

As for my car, it only had to pony up about $1000 since I paid a $500 deductible.

I had refrained from renting a car while mine was being repaired to keep the overall bill down.

That was the first accident I had had since I became insured with State Farm years ago. I had switched from Allstate. (Maybe that had been a financial mistake.)

Before I relocated to Toledo, my monthly State Farm insurance for auto and renters, had been about $70. After the move and the accident, it was more than $150.

I made the decision, of course, not to purchase a new car. Some OH dealer lost that piece of action. Can you imagine what the insurance premium would have been on a new car, in Toledo, post-accident?

In addition, I went further: I decided not to own a car any more. I donated mine to Kars4Kids.

Along with the U.S. car industry, related businesses will also suffer. They include gas stations, tire manufacturers, oil change shops, repair garages, car detailers/wash drive-throughs, and parking structures. 

A much-played commercial on TV is Allstate's accident forgiveness. Since I didn't anticipate what I experienced as a financial hosing after an accident, I never asked the State Farm agent if that feature had been available. And, no, if State Farm offers it, that wasn't brought to my attention. 

Incidentally, when I called State Farm claims that evening, I was instructed to contact the agent in Austintown, OH in the A.M.

That I did. Early, since I hadn't slept.

I experienced the person answering the phone at the agent's as being abrupt. I was told to go back to claims.

And that was that.

I never heard from the agent.

The news of the jump in the monthly premium came snail mail on a Saturday morning.

By early afternoon that Saturday I was on the phone with Kars4Kids arranging the donation.

Incidentally, though, the claims folks at State Farm were cordial and efficient.

Meanwhile, I shopped around for another insurance company for renters' insurance. I got a better deal and it covers my new expensive bicycle. It will pay the replacement cost if the bike is stolen. 

Reflection: What is good for the U.S. auto industry is an insurance industry that doesn't inflict severe financial penalties after one accident. Elected officials focused on the growth of American GDP should look into this. Hell, it should become a major talking point in Election 2020. Nissan already announced cutting 1,400 jobs in the U.S. 

Smart global ghostwriting, with social networking know-know. Emergencies welcome. Complimentary consultation (pressure-free) janegenova374@gmail.com.

E-Biking - How Green and Healthy Is Your Law Firm?

Like diversity, green is good for law firms. So is wellness.

And one emerging trend which can brand your law firm eco and healthy is e-biking. Jump in on this one by half-peddling/half electric motoring from your UES apartment to the law firm in midtown.

Think the e-bike is just another fad?

Well, check the help-wanted on Craigslist.

You will notice recruiting for jobs and projects related to promoting e-bikes, that is, the electric bicycle.

Those marketing initiatives range from special events for e-bike demos to planning the strategy for a social media campaign by a retailer.

Yesterday near a Lake Erie beach people gawked at the road as they heard the putt-putt from the e-bike motor.

Given that even one accident can double insurance rates (for those who didn't opt for the accident-forgiveness feature), some car owners in that pickle are considering this new transportation trend.

In many states the e-bike is legally classified as a bicycle. Therefore, it doesn't require traditional vehicle insurance and registration with the department of motor vehicles. Finally, those requiring a way to get from A to B can bypass both the auto insurance folks and those at DMV.

Essentially, the e-bike is a bicycle with an integrated electric motor. That can substitute for peddling. But peddling is still possible. For those who don't want to charge their battery so often, more peddling and less motor are recommended.

Obviously, all that is eco. And since it doesn't require a total peddling effort, it has a shot at catching on. Yes, eventually this could be the preferred way of commuting. Downtowns might not allow any other way. Millennials who love community layouts with neighborhoods for walking could push for that

Incidentally, there are foldable models that can be put in the car. Parking lots, much like the ones for car-sharing, could spring up close to urban areas. E-bike the rest of the way in. 

The health aspect is also obvious. Get out of that limo. Make it your business to not rely entirely on the motor. Do some heavy-duty peddling. Check how many calories are consumed via an app. 

And there is the minimalistic cost. When the downturn comes, e-biking could be a symbol of the cost-effieincy at the law firm. Factor in e-biking into bonus calculations. 

Sure, there are e-bike models which provide the sticker shock of $11,000.

But there are also myriad ones to choose from on Amazon such as the SwayCycle EB - 5 for $499.99. On retailers' websites, what are featured are e-bikes in the $1,500 to $3,000 range.

The how-much depends on what the e-bike will be used for on a regular basis. It's imperative to do your homework about your needs and how each kind of e-bike is equipped for those. Do that even before taking a spin at the bike shop. You have to be in touch with the fundamentals of e-biking.

In addition to the purchase price, though, there are other expenses. They include:

•  Charging the battery
•  Replacing the battery
•  Tuneups, about every six months
•  Patching tires
•  Heavy-duty lock
•  Helmet
• Special attire for cold weather
• Other accessories
• Property insurance (probably an add-on to renters' or homeowners').

You bet, there is risk of accidents. However, if the numbers of e-bikes on the roadways scale there will develop a consciousness among car drivers that e-bikes are a reality for road-sharing.  

Takeaway: The brand is everything. E-biking sends exactly the right branding message.

Smart global ghostwriting, with social networking know-know. Emergencies welcome. Complimentary consultation (pressure-free) janegenova374@gmail.com.

 

It's Official: Joe Kennedy III Is Running for U.S. Senate, But Not Much Differentiation from Incumbent Ed Markey

The question hovering over The Big Announcement today is: What does Joe Kennedy III intend to do for the people of Massachusetts and America that the incumbent U.S. Senator Ed Markey can't?

The two are little differentiated.

For example, both are bullish about the Green New Deal. Already, AOC has endorsed Markey, probably because of that. Here is more from Daily Mail on Kennedy's platform. 

Because of the lack of value-add, Kennedy can wind up heading into a backlash from those who never cottoned to the Kennedy clan. After all, fewer and fewer recall that bright sunny day in Dallas, Texas in November 1963. Also, the focus among many has shifted to preventing a Trump Dynasty. That begins with derailing a second term for the patriarch Donald.

Meanwhile, once high-profile labor lawyer Shannon Liss-Riordan will probably experience an abrupt falloff in donations and manpower support. Essentially the race is over for her. Also, her signature issue - employee classification for gig workers - has been usurped by the passage in California of AB-5. And what happens legally in CA tends to spread throughout the rest of the nation.

Prediction: This may not turn out to be an interesting race to observe and analyze. 

Not getting results from your marketing communications? Complimentary consultation – janegenova374@gmail.com.

 

 

So Much for Championing States Rights - Trump Administration Meddles in California Emissions Policies

Protecting states rights had been a fundamental conservative cause.

After all, many conservatives are businesspeople and in business the concept of states rights provides the opportunity to try to shop around for the ideal venue for litigation. Some of those lawsuits can be the bet the ranch kind and top law firms are hired.

When I had been a full-time ghostwriter/speechwriter for an old-line petroleum company, we invested months researching and creating content on that issue. Shareholders and other key constituencies loved how we positioned and packaged that messaging.

That was then.

Currently the supposedly conservative Trump Administration is not observing the sacredness of states rights. 

It has had the EPA revoke California's Clean Air Act waiver. That had allowed that state to set its own standards for allowable auto emissions. Here are more details from the media.

States more conservative than CA do not even have emissions tests for registering an auto. Also, conservative Arizona only mandates those tests every two years in Tucson and Phoenix.

In response to the Administration's move, CA pushed back with a lawsuit. It contends the Administration didn't follow proper procedures. Since the litigation could take more than a year, it also requested that the waiver remain in-place until the lawsuit is decided.

Right now, businesses in the auto loop such as oil companies and car manufacturers cheer this intervention. However, in the long run they may find that weakening states rights hurts their power in the state level executive, legislative, and judicial branches of government. 

Not getting results from your marketing communications? Complimentary consultation – janegenova374@gmail.com.

Shannon Who? Joe, You're Becoming a Public Nuisance - The Great Unpredictability

In Massachusetts, U.S. Senate incumbent Ed Markey could be in for the fight of his life.

Or, maybe not.

Markey, in his 70s, is already opposed by labor-lawyer hero Shannon Liss-Riordan. Her signature is representing contract drivers against Uber to obtain the legal classification as "employee."

But, that grand mission became accomplished when California AB-5 was signed into law by the Governor Gavin Newsom. Usually what happens in CA spreads throughout the nation. So much for Liss-Riordan's branding as lawyer friend of the gig worker. The CA legislature and executive branch took care of that, thank you.

Obviously, that particular political force is somewhat neutralized.

The meme of high uncertainty in today's world washes across the consciousness of the watchers of the MA U.S. Senate race.

Another supposed threat to Markey has been U.S. Congressman Joe Kennedy III. Although he filed to run, he continues to do a Hamlet. Obviously, before declaring himself a candidate, Kennedy is analyzing his chances of winning against Markey.

What Kennedy would have going for him could be two things.

One is the Kennedy branding in MA, along with its fundraising force field.

The other is his age. Come on, admit it, there is age bias in America. That stink follows Joe Biden and Bernie Sanders around. It surfaced in the last Democratic debate. 

But, not so fast about the Kennedy edges. They could be neutralized by the ability of Markey to obtain the endorsements of two high-profile influential politicos. 

As Boston Magazine reports, AOC announced she is supporting Markey. They're allies in championing the Green New Deal. With Dorian and more there had been more attention to the impacts of climate change. AOC has gained new credibility. You bet, residents of the U.S. are getting it that they have to factor climate change into everything from where to live (maybe not coastal Florida) to where to invest (maybe not fossil fuels).

Also, Elizabeth Warren is for Markey. She is navigating the early campaign better than expected. And she could be the last one standing. Since she's a woman that could make her a publicity magnet.

It could be said that what is going on in MA mirrors the Uncertainty as Standard that dominates global, national, state, and local matters. 

Consequently, those who decide to take a certain course of action can't predict how that will play out in their careers and long-term branding. Liss-Riordan can look naive for taking on Markey. Kennedy's Hamlet act can irritate voters in MA. The residue could be: Another Kennedy manipulating us.

Not getting results from your marketing communications? Complimentary consultation – janegenova374@gmail.com.

 

September 16, 2019 in Branding, careers, Current A

In Massachusetts, U.S. Senate incumbent Ed Markey could be in for the fight of his life.

Or, maybe not.

Markey, in his 70s, is already opposed by labor-lawyer hero Shannon Liss-Riordan. Her signature is representing contract drivers against Uber to obtain the legal classification as "employee."

But, that grand mission became accomplished when California AB-5 was signed into law by the Governor Gavin Newsom. Usually what happens in CA spreads throughout the nation. So much for Liss-Riordan's branding as lawyer friend of the gig worker. The CA legislature and executive branch took care of that, thank you.

Obviously, that particular political force is somewhat neutralized.

The meme of high uncertainty in today's world washes across the consciousness of the watchers of the MA U.S. Senate race.

Another supposed threat to Markey has been U.S. Congressman Joe Kennedy III. Although he filed to run, he continues to do a Hamlet. Obviously, before declaring himself a candidate, Kennedy is analyzing his chances of winning against Markey.

What Kennedy would have going for him could be two things.

One is the Kennedy branding in MA, along with its fundraising force field.

The other is his age. Come on, admit it, there is age bias in America. That stink follows Joe Biden and Bernie Sanders around. It surfaced in the last Democratic debate. 

But, not so fast about the Kennedy edges. They could be neutralized by the ability of Markey to obtain the endorsements of two high-profile influential politicos. 

As Boston Magazine reports, AOC announced she is supporting Markey. They're allies in championing the Green New Deal. With Dorian and more there had been more attention to the impacts of climate change. AOC has gained new credibility. You bet, residents of the U.S. are getting it that they have to factor climate change into everything from where to live (maybe not coastal Florida) to where to invest (maybe not fossil fuels).

Also, Elizabeth Warren is for Markey. She is navigating the early campaign better than expected. And she could be the last one standing. Since she's a woman that could make her a publicity magnet.

It could be said that what is going on in MA mirrors the Uncertainty as Standard that dominates global, national, state, and local matters. 

Consequently, those who decide to take a certain course of action can't predict how that will play out in their careers and long-term branding. Liss-Riordan can look naive for taking on Markey. Kennedy's Hamlet act can irritate voters in MA. The residue could be: Another Kennedy manipulating us.

Not getting results from your marketing communications? Complimentary consultation – janegenova374@gmail.com.