Selected Published Work

Features and News Features * Straight News * Legal Copywriting * Press Releases * Credits

Features and News Features

"It's a Privilege," February 2008, GC California (Premium subscribers only)
A short piece about a court decision that expanded attorney-client privilege slightly for in-house counsel in California.

"A Freelancer's Legal Primer," December 2007, The Writer magazine (Subscription only; available on request.)
A Freelance Success column with tips for writers on following copyright law and avoiding bad contracts.

"Sweets in Manga," October 2007, Shojo Beat magazine
A short article on the depiction of Japanese sweets, both traditional and modern, in manga.

"Fourth Circuit Invalidates FMLA Waivers," September 2007, Inside Counsel magazine
The Fourth U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals ruled in July of 2007 that employees may not waive their rights under the Family and Medical Leave Act of 1993, unless it's approved by a court or the U.S. Department of Labor, even if they do it voluntarily, and after their employment is over. This article takes a look at what that means for employers and their in-house attorneys.

"Illinois Expands Damages in Wrongful Death Suits," August 2007, Inside Counsel magazine
This piece explores how in-house attorneys in Illinois could limit their liability under their state's May 2007 law permitting "pain and suffering" damages.

"An Age-Old Problem," June 2007, California Lawyer magazine
A short front-of-book piece on the ongoing efforts of the nonprofit Bet Tzedek Legal Services to meet the continuing needs of Holocaust survivors.

"Group Hopes Gaucher Becomes Household Name," November 2006, The Jewish Journal of Greater Los Angeles
A news piece about one man's attempt to raise awareness in the Jewish community about a rare but devastating disease that strikes Jews of East European descent disproportionately.

"Super-Size That Lawyer," February 2006, Ward's Dealer Business
A business and legal news feature for an automotive industry magazine.

"Protect Your Network from the Enemy Within," (PDF format) November 2005, Law Firm, Inc.
A service article advising information technology staffers at large law firms on how to avoid having their networks compromised from within.

"Cellular Divide," (PDF format) October 2005, Los Angeles Alternative Press
A feature for an alternative weekly about the potential of California's stem cell research initiative, and how it affects one family in Los Angeles.

"Just Married! (after 28 years)," (PDF format) April 2004, Los Angeles Alternative Press
An alternative weekly feature about the 2003 explosion of same-sex marriage in California.

"Music Teacher Rick Steinberg's singer/songwriter career is a family affair," February 2002, Round Rock Leader
A feature story on a local teacher's career in music -- and his musical family.

Straight News

"Sassounian Gets Life With Parole in Sentencing Deal", October 2002, Metropolitan News-Enterprise
A piece about the sentencing of Harry Sassounian, an Armenian American who killed a Turkish official in 1983.

"Bratton Takes Public Oath as LAPD Chief in Ceremonies at Police Academy," October 2002, Metropolitan News-Enterprise
An article about the swearing-in of the man who may be America's highest-profile police chief.

Legal Copywriting

I've had the good fortune to write significant content for many plaintiffs' law firms' specialized Web sites. Examples include:

Florida-CarAccidents.com, an information center on auto accidents and insurance issues by Jacksonville, FL firm Farah & Farah. (This is one of several legal topics I researched and wrote about for this firm; other topics include maritime and admiralty law, motorcycle and truck accidents, products liability and workers' compensation law.)

DogBiteClaim.com, a site about Missouri dog bite law by the law firm of Page | Cagle.

A five-page series on shoulder dystocia (an obstetric emergency that can lead to serious birth injuries if not handled properly) for the Pennsylvania firm of Anapol Schwartz.

"Gestational Diabetes Can Harm Mother and Child," 2007, Birth-Injury.Legalview.com

"Traumatic Brain Injury and Memory Loss," 2006, Brain-Injury.Legalview.com

"Silicosis Litigation on the Rise," 2006, LegalView.com

Press Releases

"LegalView.com Tracks Developing Story of Returning Troops with Traumatic Brain Injuries," July 2007, LegalView.com
This press release seeks to keep attention on the client's comprehensive collection of traumatic brain injury information by pointing out the importance of the issue of traumatic brain injuries in our troops.

"LegalView.com Launches Avandia Information Portal with Information on the Latest FDA Warnings," June 2007, LegalView.com
A press release announcing the client's timely launch of a portal full of legal information on a drug suspected of causing heart attacks.

Credits

This section contains some of my work that's not possible or appropriate to link here. If you're interested in seeing this work, please contact me so I can send it privately.

Blogging for several law firms on personal injury and criminal defense topics including auto accidents, products liability, driving under the influence and birth injuries.

Business planning and newsletter writing for Web search and Web design company MonkeyLook.com.

Localization (putting a rough translation into natural-sounding American English) work on three manga (Japanese and Korean comic books) published by TOKYOPOP, Inc. They include Korean action/adventure title Saver, Japanese romantic comedy Tramps Like Us, Japanese teenaged drama Nosatsu Junkie, and TOKYOPOP original series Devil's Bride (to be released in 2008). I have also done rewriting/localization for three Seven Seas Entertainment series: The Last Uniform, First Love Sisters and Strawberry Panic!.

Many, many articles for a former employer, the Los Angeles Daily Journal, for whom I wrote straight news, news features and profiles. I can provide a wealth of such articles on request, but for copyright reasons, cannot post them online.

Proofreading for Sacred Spaces, a book published in 2003 on architecture of religious structures in Los Angeles.

Co-writing Interns: How to put motivated people to work for you, a workforce development resource for Pittsburgh-area employers published by the Pittsburgh Technology Council and the Pittsburgh Regional Alliance. It was first published in 1999.

Software documentation in 2000 at TimeSys Corporation, a maker of embedded Linux, and iambic Software, a company producing software for handheld computers such as the BlackBerry.