When my tiny company was sued by a massive global corporation as I was trying to protect my rights under their contract, I have to admit that I was horrified. Although I knew that I had a real case and solid claim against this vendor to my company, I was dwarfed by their juggernaut legal team and seemingly bottomless legal budget. Mr. Louis was referred to me by my local attorney (the suit was in Pennsylvania and I’m in a very small town in Iowa) and within ten minutes of our initial phone conversation, my anxiety of the enormity of this situation began to fade. He carefully listened to my story and asked me very relevant questions and by the end of the conversation was able to show me that not only did I have a solid defense against their claim, but that I also wielded a substantial counterclaim. We immediately began to build our case to defend and counter and after a few months of carefully executing his recommended process, we settled outside of court for a very reasonable amount. Had my company lost the case, we would have been bankrupted. Instead, he and his expert teammates focused on keeping the opposition on their heels. For round after round, my attorney fought an amazing fight, and I was so pleased to see this corporate giant so often on the ropes. His letters were so carefully composed and structured, my confidence increased each time I read them. I shuddered at the prospect of being on the receiving end of them, as a matter of fact! And, the way he asserted our legal dominance kept the diligent pressure on the other team – ultimately bringing forth a very reasonable settlement. Pure professionalism, legal expertise, and brilliant battleground strategy were my allies every step of the way. When I sat in the room with Michael Louis, I was the 800-pound gorilla. The other guys didn’t stand a chance, and I know that they now wish they had never brought the suit against me. I never want to be sued again. But, if I am, I would be lucky to have Mr. Louis or an attorney like him on my side.

I was referred to Peter Kratsa through a friend who had amazing things to say about him. After speaking with him the first time, I knew why my friend thought so highly of him. You could tell, even on the phone, how much he cared about his clients & the outcomes of the cases he takes on. I felt like I finally had someone on my side who I could trust. Peter and his staff are always available to speak, promptly & they explain things in the clearest of ways so you fully understand your options. I am so pleased with working with him and I would recommend him to anyone needing legal assistance.

MacElree Harvey has recently helped us with re-writing our Wills. Our old Wills were a bit of a “spaghetti mess” and hard to follow. By just answering three or four questions posed by MacElree Harvey we were able to streamline our last wishes…..VERY HELPFUL!

After contacting many of the attorneys you see on TV ads, I finally found the gem. I was involved in an accident which after I was transported by ambulance to the hospital, given an EKG and CT scan and released which took 4 hours. I didn’t carry normal health insurance at the time of the incident. I later received a hospital bill for over $16,000.00. Despite explaining my situation, a motor vehicle accident that I was the NOT at fault party, every attorney I spoke to wanted to know what injuries I had sustained and what treatment I was pursuing. When I said thankfully, neither I nor the other party was injured, they all told me they weren’t able to help and I would be responsible for that $16,000.00 bill.

I did one more search on the computer and came across Mr. Timothy F. Rayne. Not only was he pleasant to work with, he personally reached me and gave me all the legal guidance to put this behind me almost a year after the initial accident occurred. This person is a great guy. He truly cares for his clients. If you are in need of an Attorney that deals with this type of law this is your guy. As I said in the beginning, a real gem. Thank you so much, Mr. Rayne.

Good Morning Jeff,

I just wanted to thank you so much for taking the time out to educate the blind community on workplace rights and accommodations. This is typically a very confusing, intimidating, and anxiety-inducing topic to tackle within the blind community, but you provided us with so much information in such a digestible and comfortable way. I can honestly say that I learned just as much as our students, and they took a lot away from your presentation.

Perhaps what I enjoyed the most is that you gave us such a good foundation surrounding strategies to use when advocating for accommodations, as well as our responsibilities and how we can protect ourselves throughout the process. For example, you began by informing us that the process starts with knowing ourselves and our needs, and particularly, knowing what we need to perform job duties effectively before we even address accommodations with the employer. I also loved that you managed expectations by sharing that receiving accommodations is often an “incremental and fluid” process that may take some time, but that throughout that process, it is important to communicate clearly and respectfully. This really ties into how we teach our students to advocate in every aspect of their lives.

I also appreciate that you informed us on further responsibilities on the employee side while also contrasting employer responsibilities. For example, I did not know that laws can vary in how they are applied depending on the number of employees and that protections for employees may only apply if employee numbers at a business exceed fifteen in many states, or four in PA due to specific state laws. I am also glad that you explained how employers have to provide accommodations during the application process as well as on the job and that overall, they must ensure that we have the same opportunities as others to perform in the workplace as long as it does not constitute an undue hardship. You also beautifully defined undue hardship including hazards, disproportionate financial hardship depending on company size, or negative impacts on other people’s ability to do the job and gave great examples including that of the forklift operator. You also detailed how employers should ultimately be providing training and adjustments and have a legal obligation to address issues like scheduling and issues with the workplace environment if reasonable. It is good to know that cost and whether accommodations may be disruptive to the workplace are the biggest concerns of employers, because it allows us to think ahead and plan  how we can address their concerns and “open dialog and negotiations” so that solutions are mutually beneficial.

You clearly explained that it is ultimately the responsibility of both the employer and the employee to find a solution to the issue of accommodations and that the burden is not solely on the employer. It was also vitally important for our students to know that in the case that they themselves do not follow up or provide the necessary information to support the accommodation process, judges can rule that they have not fulfilled their responsibilities as an employee. Therefore, we have to advocate for ourselves and be responsible for both having the conversation and complying with the necessary steps. The best way to do so is to advocate for ourselves by having a direct conversation with an employer; record the interaction by creating a paper trail; and protect ourselves by keeping a journal throughout the process. This was so important for you to add because I have seen first-hand how this can protect someone should they have to press a lawsuit.

In short, you were a phenomenal presenter and your information will be invaluable to all of us, not just the students. I feel a much greater sense of clarity and confidence knowing more about my rights and responsibilities; employer responsibilities and concerns; trouble-shooting solutions; and strategies to protect myself, and I know our students felt the same. Thank you so much for also taking the time to answer our questions patiently and concisely. I truly felt that you left no stone unturned. This was a great way to introduce work accommodations and your presentation alleviated a lot of stress surrounding this topic. Please join us again if possible. Your service to the blind community is so appreciated. I wish you and your family the best!

Sincerely and with the utmost gratitude,

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