0 2 Blog Mintz & Geftic Law Firm is here with some BREAKING NEWS–there’s a big election going down this week! Kidding, of course. In fact, even a New Jersey resident currently living under a rock has reportedly been complaining about this election getting too much coverage. We urge everyone to get their ballots in ASAP and ensure that their voices are heard. It is not hyperbole to say that this is one of the most important elections we have ever faced as a nation. The choice for president is clearly the most discussed element of the 2020 election (and with good reason). However, in some cases there are ballot initiatives to decide on, and that’s when things have gotten a little weird historically. What is a ballot initiative? The ballot initiative is a means by which a petition signed by a certain minimum number of registered voters can bring about a public vote on a proposed statute or constitutional amendment . Twenty-four states allow ballot initiatives. When on the ballot, they are commonly known as an initiative, ballot measure, or proposition. Election Day – The Top 5 Weirdest Ballot Initiatives Ever 1. SHOULD WE GIVE ONE RANDOM VOTER A MILLION DOLLARS? In 2006, Arizona voters were asked to vote on Proposition 200, also called the Arizona Voter Reward Act. Here’s how it appeared on the ballot: “Proposition 200 would establish a $1,000,000 prize to be awarded to a randomly selected person who voted in the primary or general election. Anyone who voted in the primary or general election would be automatically entered in the drawing for the prize money, and if a person voted in both the primary and the general election, that person’s name would be entered twice in the drawing.” An opposing argument from the Arizona Farm Bureau prior to the election stated, “Voting is a right and a privilege – not a chance at the lottery. The prospects of a million dollar prize for voting may entice more voters to the polls, but our democracy deserves more.” It appears that the voters of the Grand Canyon state agreed with this argument, as 2/3 of them rejected the proposition. 2. SHOULD WE CREATE A COMMISSION TO TRACK VISITORS FROM OUTER SPACE? In 2010, Denver voters were asked if a commission should be formed to track aliens, UFO’s, flying saucers, etc. It called on voters to “adopt an initiated ordinance to require the creation of an extraterrestrial affairs commission to help ensure the health, safety and cultural awareness of Denver residents and visitors in relation to potential encounters or interactions with extraterrestrial intelligent beings or their vehicles.” The bill sponsors received the minimum requirement of 3,974 signatures and got this proposition on the ballot. It was rejected by over 80% of the voters and those at Area 51 breathed a sigh of relief. 3. SHOULD WE BUILD A NEW HOUSE FOR THE PREGNANT ELEPHANT? In 1997 , Cincinnati voters were asked whether they should build a new house for elephants at the Cincinnati Zoo. According to the AP at the time, the cost for the new elephant house and a parking lot (for people I assume) was $52 million. That’s a lot of peanuts. Cincinnati zoo officials threatened to ship off its four Asian elephants, one of them pregnant, if voters rejected the initiative. Well, the voters did reject it and ultimately two of the elephants were sent packing. Hey Cincinnati voters, an elephant never forgets. 4. SHOULD A POLICE OFFICER GET TO WALK HIS BEAT WITH A VENTRILOQUIST’S DUMMY? A dummy on the ballot? Many would argue this wasn’t the only time. From the NY Times in 1993: “Voters in San Francisco will decide next Tuesday whether to allow a veteran police officer to walk his beat with a ventriloquist’s dummy….Brendan O’Smarty, he of the laughing Irish eyes, whom Officer Geary picked out of a ventriloquist’s catalogue after he was selected to work in a community policing program that encouraged officers to use ‘creative and ingenious methods’ to break down barriers between citizens and police. The hand-carved dummy cost $1,750 because Officer Geary wouldn’t hear of the $700 molded particle board version.” Voters in this case approved the proposition. A victory for dummies everywhere! 5. SHOULD A DOG BE OUR MAYOR? In 2014, a 7-year-old Great Pyrenees dog named Duke was elected mayor of Cormorant, a small town in Minnesota. Thought of by many as the underdog, Duke ran a solid campaign and pulled off the victory. From WDAY-TV in 2014: “Poor Richard Sherbrook that owns the Cormorant Store, he didn’t even have half as many votes as Duke did,” said local resident Tricia Maloney. This wasn’t a one-time fluke either, as Duke was re-elected two more times before retiring earlier this year. He worked hard in his role too…leading parades and appearing on three billboards, while still making time to catch the occasional frisbee or tennis ball. HAPPY ELECTION DAY EVERYONE! MINTZ & GEFTIC – New Jersey Injury Lawyers All personal injury lawsuits require NO FEE unless we are successful in securing you a recovery to compensate you for your injuries and pain and suffering. We give personal attention to all of our clients. If you or a loved one has been injured while working or involved in any type of accident, call the best New Jersey lawyers today at 908-352-2323. Were you seriously injured in a car or truck accident? Call us today at 908-352-2323 for a free consultation. If you prefer contacting our injury lawyers via email, please click here. Do you have questions surrounding the coronavirus and the law? Were you injured at work during the Covid-19 pandemic and now out of a job? Covid-19 laws have been introduced as the coronavirus pandemic unfortunately continues. We are here to discuss your legal questions surrounding Covid-19 and the coronavirus pandemic. Our injury lawyers serve clients throughout New Jersey. This includes the cities of Newark, Elizabeth, Union, Short Hills, Millburn, Livingston and Jersey City. We cover Morris, Bergen, Essex, Hudson, Union and Middlesex counties. Our Injury lawyers have offices in Elizabeth, New Jersey, Short Hills, New Jersey and in New York City. We represent clients suffering with spinal cord injury, back injury, burn injury, broken bones and traumatic brain injury. If you are enduring physical pain and suffering, mental pain and suffering, permanent disability, disfigurement, lost wages, medical expenses or any other hardship resulting from an accident please contact us today for a free consultation. READ OUR REVIEWS HERE sources: Ballotopedia.org The Guardian Orlando Sentinel WDAY-TV The Associated Press Minnesota CBS Local 2 legal newspersonal injuryworkers-compensation Related Posts Are Your Kids Really Safe in the Back Seat? There have been a number of changes to safety recommendations over the years when it comes to children riding in cars, but one key message has remained constant. That constant message has been that the safest place for kids to sit is in the back seat. However, recent investigations and lawsuits have brought to light seat back failure, a major safety issue that is leaving parents everywhere feeling unnerved. In fact, one such lawsuit ended this week when a Texas jury ordered Volkswagen’s Audi unit to pay $124.5 million to an 11-year old boy who was left brain-damaged in a 2012 accident (per CBS News)…. 0 0 0 09 Mar 2016 Memorial Day Weekend Traffic in NJ: 2026 Safety Alert Memorial Day is a time to honor the men and women who gave their lives in service to our country. It also marks the unofficial start of summer in New Jersey — a weekend filled with family gatherings, shore trips, barbecues, and heavy highway travel. For drivers in New Jersey, that combination can be dangerous. The 2026 Memorial Day travel period is expected to bring record travel numbers across the country. AAA projects that 45 million Americans will travel at least 50 miles from home between Thursday, May 21 and Monday, May 25, 2026. Most of those travelers — about 39.1 million people —… 1 0 1 21 May 2026 Is the Blizzard of 2016 on the way? Top Winter Driving Myths As initial forecasts are pointing to the first major winter storm of 2016 hitting our region later this week, it’s a good time to separate facts from fiction when it comes to winter driving. While taking it slow and putting down the cellphone will obviously help drivers avoid motor-vehicle accidents regardless of the road conditions, there are many myths out there when it comes to icy/snowy conditions. The list below was put together by iceroadsafety.com and can be found in its entirety here. 0 0 0 18 Jan 2016 $1.1 Million settlement involving a fall from scaffolding work injury $1,136,500 settlement for an individual who fell from scaffolding while at work suffering a work-related injury. The settlement included a recovery of $1,000,000 for negligence and $136,500 for workers compensation benefits. (Essex County, New Jersey 2015). 0 0 0 11 Aug 2015 Bryan Mintz – Super Lawyers “Top 100 in New Jersey” for 2nd Straight Year Mintz & Geftic is pleased to announce that Bryan Mintz has been named to the “Top 100 Lawyers in New Jersey” list by Super Lawyers for the 2nd year in a row! Only five percent of attorneys across the state are designated as Super Lawyers, which Bryan has now achieved for the 7th straight year. An even smaller percentage of attorneys are selected to the “Top 100” list. The list will be displayed in Super Lawyers® magazine as well as New Jersey Monthly. Super Lawyers Selection Process Each candidate is evaluated on 12 indicators of peer recognition and professional achievement. Selections are made on an… 0 0 0 22 Jun 2020 Seat Back Failure Elizabeth, New Jersey’s premier personal injury lawyers providing assistance for victims of seat back failure. Seat back failure is a serious defect in many vehicles that causes numerous injuries and fatalities every single year, often times to children. Seat back failure occurs when a car is rear-ended and the defective front seat breaks at the hinge, sending the occupant backwards into the seat behind them with great force and no restraint. Rear-end collisions may be caused by distracted driving or texting while driving. Seat back failure can make these types of accidents far more dangerous. At Mintz & Geftic, our seat back failure attorneys have a proven… 0 0 0 30 Mar 2016 Top 5 Reasons Why Santa Needs A Lawyer Some of you may have caught our worker’s compensation blog post about the most dangerous jobs in the US. While jobs on that list certainly qualified as dangerous, there was one that clearly got overlooked. That oversight is Santa Claus and the many workplace hazards he faces in his profession. 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This case has broad ramifications for New Jersey workers who suffer injuries such as heart attacks or pulmonary embolisms at work and seek workers’ compensation benefits for those injuries. 0 0 0 16 Dec 2014 $32,000 for NJ Turnpike Accident Injuries $32,000 settlement for our client who was a passenger in an accident that occurred in Newark on the NJ Turnpike. As a result of the NJ Turnpike accident, our client endured injuries and severe back pain. She had MRIs showing C3-C4, C4-C5, and C5-C6 broad based disc bulges. Our client underwent chiropractic treatment to help with her pain. The case resolved without the filing a lawsuit. (NJ Turnpike, Newark, NJ, essex county, 2022) MINTZ & GEFTIC – Top-RATED NJ ACCIDENT INJURY LAW FIRM All cases involving a rear-end accident, truck accident, car accident, slip and falls accident, or work-related accident require NO FEE unless… 0 0 0 02 Dec 2022 $88,000 For Fractured Hip From Slip and Fall Accident $88,000 settlement for our elderly client who suffered serious injuries in a slip and fall accident at an office building in New Jersey. Our client fell on uneven and cracked pavement at the entrance of a doctor’s office resulting in fractured hip. She required surgery for the fractured hip injury. MINTZ & GEFTIC FREE CONSULTATIONS AND NO FEE UNLESS WE WIN YOUR CASE All cases involving a truck accident, car accident, slip and fall accident, or work-related accident require NO FEE unless we are successful in securing you a recovery to compensate you for your injuries and pain and suffering. We represent seriously injured victims… 0 0 0 24 Jan 2022 $250,000 for Negligence on part of a Medical Transport Company Our client sustained severe injuries in this negligence case. He suffered a fractured hip resulting in surgery as a result of the neglgience on the part of a medical transport company. On the way to dialysis, the medical transport company failed to properly strap in our client and his wheelchair within the van. After stopping short, our client unfortunately was tossed from his wheelchair and sustained serious injuries. MINTZ & GEFTIC FREE CONSULTATIONS AND NO FEE UNLESS WE WIN YOUR CASE All cases involving truck accidents, car accidents, slip and falls accidents and work-related accidents require NO FEE unless we are successful in securing you… 0 0 0 05 Jan 2022 Motorcycle Accidents New York and New Jersey law firm helping victims of motorcycle accidents seek compensation. As every biker knows, motorcycle accidents are a commonplace occurrence on the roads and highways of New York and New Jersey. Drivers often simply don’t see motorcyclists, or they are not paying attention and may be distracted while driving. Frequently, collisions occur when other drivers cut off, bump, rear end or tip motorcyclists over. Despite the state’s helmet law, these accidents can be catastrophic and life-changing. In New Jersey, motorcyclists cannot avail themselves of the protection of personal injury protection (PIP) insurance. This means their insurance will not cover medical… 0 0 0 31 Jul 2015 $250,000 for slip and fall injuries at restaurant Jeffrey M. Strauss’s client suffered a knee injury that will likely require knee replacement surgery when she slipped and fell. The serious injury occurred at the Cheesecake Factory in Freehold, New Jersey. Bryan H. Mintz assisted Mr. Strauss with motion practice and ultimately at trial before The Honorable Owen C. McCarthy. The case settled after three days of trial for $250,000. (Monmouth County, 2019) MINTZ & GEFTIC FREE CONSULTATIONS AND NO FEE UNLESS WE WIN YOUR CASE All cases involving truck accidents, car accidents, slip and falls accidents and work-related accidents require NO FEE unless we are successful in securing you a recovery to compensate… 0 0 0 11 Nov 2019 The New Jersey Insurance Fair Conduct Act (IFCA) Explained ******ATTN: Drivers****** You can click here to jump down the page and get right to the bottom-line of what this new law means for you. The New Jersey Insurance Fair Conduct Act (IFCA) The state legislature has passed a bill that will reshape insurance bad faith litigation in New Jersey going forward. Governor Murphy officially signed senate bill 1559 into law recently, which is titled The New Jersey Insurance Fair Conduct Act (IFCA). The Act establishes a private cause of action for claimants who are injured in a motor vehicle accident for insurance bad faith in the handling and payment of claims for… 4 0 4 16 Feb 2022 Bryan Mintz Named to Super Lawyers List for 8th Straight Year! Mintz & Geftic is pleased to announce that Bryan Mintz has been selected to the Super Lawyers list for 2021. Bryan has earned this prestigious honor for the 8th straight year! Only five percent of attorneys across the whole state of New Jersey are named to the Super Lawyers list. This list of attorneys will be displayed in Super Lawyers® magazine as well as New Jersey Monthly. Super Lawyers list- the Selection Process Each candidate is evaluated on 12 indicators of peer recognition and professional achievement. Selections are made on an annual, state-by-state basis. The objective is to create a credible, comprehensive and diverse… 0 0 0 21 Apr 2021 Leave a comment Cancel replyYou must be logged in to post a comment.
