Blog

Surgery Complications and When to Call an Attorney

We all hope surgeries go according to plan. But what happens when they don’t? Medical errors are among the leading cause of death in the United States (Johns Hopkins), and many of them are preventable. If you or a loved one has been the victim of negligence during a hospital stay, you may have felt […]

Wells, Whipple And The Election Of Remedies

The following is a discussion of recent Oklahoma Supreme Court cases addressing workers’ compensation exclusivity and intentional torts, election of remedies and the constitutionality of the Oklahoma Legislature’s limitation of workers’ compensation death benefits to spouses, children and legal guardians of employees killed in work-related incidents. Current Status Of The Parret Exception To Workers’ Compensation Exclusivity It […]

How A Texas ‘Fender Bender’ Truck Accident Turned Into A $32 Million Nuclear Jury Verdict

On a quiet September afternoon in 2013, a minor fender bender between a tractor-trailer and a pickup truck barely disrupted life in the tiny East Texas town of Ore City. Joshua Patterson was driving his pickup to a church luncheon when the vehicle was sideswiped by an FTS International Services tractor-trailer driven by Bill Acker. […]

Choosing the Right Attorney

When you need an attorney, where do you turn?  Often times, people search the internet or we hear, quite frequently, another law firm referred them or they were sharing a story with someone who sent them our way.  Listed below are three tips on how to best choose an attorney, and we’ll also talk about […]

Improper Treatment

News outlets often shine light on inmates receiving improper treatment while in jail or prison.  Men and women have cried and screamed for help,  some begging for water and being told to get it on their own, others in need of medical attention, but denied.  Why don’t officers and or nurses seem to care?  Do […]

Taxes… do I have to?!

It’s that time of year again! I, personally, get really excited about tax season, though there is some anxiety because I want to make sure I fill in all the areas, since I do them myself, correctly. For business owners, it’s probably not the most exciting time of year, but most business owners have a […]

Celebrity Lawsuits

I’m going to showcase four lawsuits involving celebrities this week. Some you may have heard, others are kind of “crazy.” So bear with me, if you will, this may be more entertaining than you think. That being said, first on the list, Rosa Parks v. Outkast. Rosa Parks’ Attorney sued Outkast | laFaceRecords stating, “You […]

Q&A

Walking into a business can be intimidating at times, especially if you’ve never been there before. Thankfully, when you walk into Smolen Law you will be greeted by a smiling, friendly face, and her name is Megan Dalton. This week our interview is focused on her. How long have you worked at Smolen Law and […]

2020 Brings New Laws

New year, new laws for several states. Today we’re going to cover three different states and their new laws. New Year’s Day brought about twenty-four new laws for the state of Texas. Homeowner’s Tax Exemption: Disabled veterans, surviving spouses of disabled veterans, Texans over the age of sixty-five and those with disabilities are eligible for […]

Lessons Learned in 2019

Even with the excitement of the holidays, I’ve made time to reflect on the lessons I learned from this year, and I want to share a few of them with you… I am more capable than I think I am. Regardless of your age, you have insecurities in some capacity. Be it personal or professional, […]

Thank you

Smolen Law opened it’s doors January 2019 with a mission to provide exceptional legal services locally, regionally, and nationally with integrity, professionalism and respect. We want your experience to be different with us. We want to ensure that you feel your needs are taken care of in a fair, effective and efficient way. You deserve […]

Strength in the Midst of the Storm

The holidays are near, next week to be precise; it’s hard to believe 2020 is swiftly around the corner. Folks are rushing to purchase last minute gifts, lights are sparkling every where you turn, or if you’re in my house, ornaments are disappearing one by one because your dog seems to think they’re chew toys. […]

Bad Faith

Every one is encouraged to have insurance. House, vehicles, boats… anything and everything that, specifically, comes with an expensive price tag. So what happens when the roof of your house is damaged due to bad weather, your vehicle is smashed in a car accident, or your summer lake vacation is ruined by a boating collision? […]

Q&A

Attorney Jack Warren joined Smolen Law in September 2018, and is as dedicated to helping his clients, as he is tenacious.  If you’ve ever met Jack, you know he does and will do everything in his power to move cases toward timely, successful resolution. This week, readers of all ages, Q&A with Jack Warren… How […]

…but it’s less than $20

My significant other hasn’t been feeling well. Despite the fact that it’s 25 degrees outside, I warmed up my vehicle and drove to the nearest Walgreen’s. I say hi to my favorite Walgreen’s associate, and to no surprise, spend too much time deciding whether to buy a 2 liter of 7up or diet Sprite. I […]

Do you have a FTCA?

Federal Tort Claims Act, also known as FTCA, is when someone is injured on government property or by an individual, such as a medical professional working for a government establishment.  But it doesn’t stop there… What Does Tort Mean? A civil wrong or wrongful act, whether intentional or accidental, from which injury occurs to another. […]

Q&A

Ally Harrell, many have seen her name or spoken to her on the phone, but what is her role at Smolen Law? Besides being one of the hardest working individuals I have ever been around- Ally ensures deadlines are met, e-mails are answered (she gets a lot of e-mails), our lawyers are assisted, and client …

Their Lights Make Me Nervous

Police Officers are hardworking individuals like the rest of us. They chose a career and receive a paycheck same as you and I. Of course, none of this negates the fact that those flashing lights are intimidating. There are heartwarming videos of Law Enforcement Officers taking time out of their day to play basketball with …

Q&A

As we all know it takes a team of individuals to run a law office. We have attorneys and paralegals in our firm, but we also employ people who are the point of contact when potential clients want to speak with someone about their case, and others who request medical records. Lindsay is who we’re …

Malfunctioning Products

You’re the maintenance person for your department. The job entails monitoring equipment, making sure the area is clean for the other employees, and overall safety for the surrounding area. Music is playing in your headphones to drown out background noise, but you’re well aware of what is happening around you. A particularly large machine is …

Are you covered?

Illness and injury are inevitable. From allergies to broken bones, and life-saving procedures, no one is immune from seeing a doctor. They’re already offering flu shots for the upcoming seasons and I’ve heard about several children, under the age of ten, diagnosed with pneumonia (it’s only October!). Then, of course, you have the unexpected shoulder […]

Online Harassment

A story about a college student being harassed online made it’s way to news outlets after the young woman, the target of the attacks, refused to remain silent. Twitter, the very popular social media platform is where the threats and name calling began. Taylor Dumpson, became an unsuspecting target of boldly expressed hate after “her historic win […]

Q&A with Laura Hamilton

I’ve been given the opportunity to ask the attorney’s at our firm professional, and personal questions. I think it’s an excellent way for former, current, and potential clients to find out a little more about the hard-working attorney’s that have, or could be working on their case some day. This week, one of our Partners, Laura […]

Still we rise

Those around to experience September 11, 2001 will never forget the impact this day had on the United States. I remember I was in band class when my teacher turned on her TV.  We watched in disbelief. The shock of such an attack sent a wave of chaos, anger, sadness, brokenness, and grief across the […]

Divorce

I don’t know any couple that’s gotten married planning to divorce.  I’ve heard stories about people marrying the love of their life, and all-of-a-sudden find out their significant other has another lover, or behind closed doors the person who was once affectionately titled “best friend” has become terribly cruel, and abusive.  There are other couples […]

Let’s Talk Opioids

Opioids are an epidemic, and the number of those addicted is rising. Unfortunately, the misuse of opioids is far too common, causing an estimated 130 deaths, in America, each day. Thankfully, as times goes on, more awareness, and attention is being brought to this worldwide heartbreak. On Monday, August 26, 2019 an Oklahoma judge ordered “Johnson & Johnson […]

Right or Wrong

I read a news article yesterday about US Customs Border Protection choosing not to vaccinate migrants.  In the article, Evelyn Stauffer, a spokeswoman for the Office of Refugee Resettlement stated, “After leaving CBP custody, children without parents are sent into the care of the US Department of Health and Human Services, where flu vaccines are distributed.”  Since […]

Goals & Dreams

What are your goals?  Dreams?  What gets your blood pumping?  What excites you? Is your life mundane or are you constantly on the move, and living as if today is your last? No successful person got anywhere sitting in the corner, twiddling their thumbs. No successful person stopped learning, stopped dreaming, or gave up when […]

Para-what?!

Have you ever wondered what a Paralegal is?  Maybe you speculated, or haven’t even cared to find out. For those unsure of what a Paralegal does (known to some as a Legal Assistant), you’re going to find out in this post. Some would say a Paralegals’ most important role is to assist their attorney with […]

A More Hopeful Future

Domestic Violence/Domestic Abuse is a horrible and heartbreaking reality for many. Not only is it an experience women and men both endure, children can also be caught in the crossfire. According to https://ncadv.org/statistics, more than 10 million women and men are victims of physical abuse by an intimate partner each year.  Let me repeat that, MORE THAN […]

You are NOT a number.

We are incredibly humbled and grateful for our clients. The ability to serve them with integrity, professionalism, and respect is our top priority. Over the years we’ve had the opportunity to meet and represent a variety of individuals, and want to share with you how a few of them feel about The Alpha Firm. “Don […]

It’s okay, we’ll get through this together.

It’s Saturday morning, the twins have soccer, you promised your mom you’ll meet for lunch with the kids, you also have a vet appointment set for the dog, and grocery shopping; can’t forget grocery shopping before dinner tonight with the neighbors.  Everything is planned out, and you’re confident it’s going to be a smooth day, […]

Lemons Anyone?

You’ve heard the saying, “when life gives you lemons, make lemonade”. The pessimist is likely to focus on life giving them lemons. The optimist will make lemonade, and hope more lemons come their way to make a bigger batch. The realist’s focus is dealing with the lemons handed them, and then follow through with making lemonade. Whether you’re a pessimist, […]

Semi-Truck Accidents

It was Christmas Eve, my sister (we’ll call her Gina) was driving to spend the holiday with us when my parents received a gut-wrenching call; Gina was involved in an accident with a semi-truck. My mother has always been great with organized chaos, and this was one of those times where it kicked in full […]

Q&A with Donald E. Smolen, II

Donald E. Smolen, II is the Principal at Smolen Law.  He’s a Tulsa native, growing up on a ranch south of town. He attended the University of Tulsa for his undergraduate degree, and the University of Tulsa School of Law. Don, as many refer to him, is an impeccable attorney known as, “The Alpha Attorney,” […]

What is Catastrophic Tort?

Catastrophic Tort is the area of the law that deals with any accident caused by the fault of another, which results in the victim sustaining a catastrophic injury. Examples include, but are not limited to: spine, spinal cord, or brain, may also include skull or spinal fractures.  These types of injuries often require life-long care […]

Overtime and Wage Claims

You work hard to provide for yourself and your family.  Most days are great, minus some long hours here and there, and being tired once you get home; overall you have no complaints.  Your boss approaches you one day and asks you to work overtime.  Maybe someone is out sick or the work load has […]

Testimonial

“After calling two other law firms in the Tulsa area, one of them gave me the number for Attorney Don Smolen. Frustrated and discouraged, I gave his office a call, explained my situation, and was told they’d get back with me. In less than 24 hours I received a call from Don’s office asking if I’d […]

Nursing Home Neglect & Abuse

Negligence– we’ve all heard this word in some way, shape, or form. Maybe you’ve experienced negligence yourself or know someone who has. Though we cover several areas of neglect in our practice, Nursing Home Neglect and Abuse is our focus today. Let’s be honest, it’s never easy choosing to place your loved one in the […]

Maybe This Will Help…

Let’s face it, something happens to you and whether you admit it or not, you’re a little bit scared. Some people take immediate action while others don’t know what to do, leaving them feeling completely lost and alone. If you’re in the lost and alone category, the following may be helpful to begin your first steps: Know […]

Robert Bates Guilty

On April 27, 2016, justice was served. A jury found Robert Bates, the 74-year-old volunteer reserve sheriff deputy, guilty of second-degree manslaughter. The jurors recommended the maximum sentence of four years in prison. Prosecutors told jurors that Bates was criminally negligent and deserved to be sent to prison for shooting and killing an unarmed and restrained, Eric Harris. […]

Sheriff Stanley Glanz Indicted; Announces Resignation

Wednesday, September 30 was a victorious day for the citizens of Tulsa.  Justice was served. On that day, a grand jury indicted Tulsa County Sheriff Stanley Glanz on charges of mismanaging his department and failing to perform his official duties when he refused to release information, and a 2009 report during the investigation into former reserve deputy […]