Recently, I was represented by a shining star of the legal profession. Her name is Caroline Donato and she works for the firm of MacElree Harvey. In her presentation of my case, she took a voluminous case and wrote a brief that was clear and concise. During her presentation before the Commonwealth Court of PA, which was supposed to be 10 minutes, the judges were attentive and asked poignant questions. She never stumbled and had total command of the facts. They allowed her a generous amount of time to present her brief and in addition gave her more than ample time to rebut the opposition. Her courtroom presence I would describe as humbly respectful of the judges and confident in her case. Her confidence level was high because of the dedication she applied to the preparation of my case. The judges were in return respectful and receptive to her pleadings. This youthful legal eagle has the important attributes that make a great litigator. MacElree Harvey should be extremely grateful that she is part of their firm.

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.

After encountering an issue with adopting our dog, we didn’t really know where we would ever find help and support. After having John recommended to us by a family friend, we knew immediately we were going to get the help we needed. John took our story very seriously, he was compassionate and right away began to identify solutions for us. Through his well spoken and confident demeanor, John explained each part of the legal process in terms we grasped easily. He educated us, upheld our values and held consistent professional communication throughout the process. His high expectations for his clients coupled with his legal expertise allowed us to have a smooth case. Thanks to John’s hard work and dedication, we are more than pleased with the outcome of our suit and highly recommend John to everyone we know. Thank you John for advocating for us – you changed our lives! 

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,

X

Lance was an incredible attorney to work with during the entire divorce process. His knowledge of law, the courts and how thing moved along was second to none! He was always two steps ahead of everyone else in the room. When numbers were flying, situations were changing or when emotions were high, Lance always had a plan. He would suggest times to refrain from talking or debating and every time he stopped me, it was for the best. I found it amazing that an attorney would know so much about accounting principles, taxes, and business decisions. He would present issues or concepts that were reasonable and the Hearing Officer or other attorneys accepted. Lastly, he would make suggestions to me on the side about keeping the children first, looking at the big picture and how to possibly avoid additional hearings or attorney fees. Lance kept my case out of the courts with his negotiations skills I was not disappointed at any moment during the divorce process that I had Lance represent me!