Robert Audette, ABC & G Law Firm Partner, Invited to Author Specialized Chapter in "A Practical Guide Workers’ Compensation in RI" 

East Providence, RI—Robert Audette, partner in the East Providence, RI- based law firm, Audette Bazar Cordeiro and Grasso, was invited to author a chapter in the recently published book, "A Practical Guide to Workers' Compensation in RI."  With a concentration in workers compensation, and a sub-specialty in RI and Federal Longshore and Harbor Workers Compensation law and claims, Audette provided a chapter entitled “The Longshore and Harbor Workers' Compensation Act - Comparison and Interaction with the Rhode Island Workers' Compensation Act”.   A seasoned practitioner with nearly thirty years of experience with this focus, he gave detailed examples and practical advice to other attorneys in this primer.

"I was proud to be invited to be a contributing author in this particular practice area, and I was pleased to share with others the experience and insights I have gained working with injured shipyard workers in Rhode Island. The collection is widely recognized as a trusted resource, and I hope my colleagues will find it helpful."

Described by the publisher as a "step-by-step guide to the intricacies of practice in the workers' compensation arena...A valuable resource for practitioners who represent injured employees as well as those who represent employers, this manual will help answer a multitude of questions." This first edition on employment law was Published in 2011 by MCLE/New England (Massachusetts Continuing Legal Education), which produces practice manuals on other topics. 

Legal Matters Addresses First Amendment re: RI Press Association and Warwick Beacon Legal Suit; Nationally Syndicated Columnist Froma Harrop Invited Guest

East Providence, RI- Legal Matters, the public information television program sponsored by the Audette Bazar Cordeiro Grasso law firm, routinely explores issues that confront consumers and businesses in their everyday work and home life; a local, current lawsuit challenging aspects of the first amendment hit home, making it an ideal topic for the show.

Recently, news of the suit’s filing has appeared in local newspapers as well as in business press. The Rhode Island Press Association and the publisher of the Warwick Beacon filed suit challenging a state law that apparently has been interpreted to bar the media from running advertisements containing the names and photographs of public officials without their permission.

To add the wider news perspective, attorneys David Bazar and Jacqueline Grasso, with the program’s moderator, Debra Morais, invited Froma Harrop, the Providence Journal-based, nationally syndicated columnist, who also currently serves as President of the Association of Opinion Journalists, -until recently called the National Conference of Editorial Writers. 

Bazar provided insight into the constitutionality of the statute as it now stands, the importance of the challenge, the legal process by which clarification could be made, as well as the specific regulations of political advertising the suit calls into question. Harrop offered her insights as an editorial board member and as a business/political columnist.

Jacqueline Grasso, who was unavailable to participate in this program, commented that, “a discussion of this issue is important; hopefully, it prompted viewers – families and businesses- to think a bit more deeply about how First Amendment rights actually do affect them.”  

Legal Matters Program Features Adoptive Family to commemorate National Adoption Day

East Providence, RI- Legal Matters, the public information television program sponsored by the Audette Bazar Cordeiro Grasso Law firm, invited a recent adoptive family to be interviewed following the National Adoption Day celebration, held on November 19, 2011. David Bazar, a partner in the firm, participated in the adoption process and the State House Celebration, which was later featured in the Providence Journal, s account of the event.

The program outlined for viewers the adoption process for children in foster care, and recounted the story as it unfolded for the Shadday family. Craig Shadday, mom, Susan Winterbottom-Shadday, and daughter, Natasha, joined David, attorney/partner Jacqueline Grasso and the show’s moderator, Debra Morais. In its usual question and answer format, both lawyers addressed other issues related to private adoptions and parental rights.  

Referring to The “One Day Project, created by the National Adoption Day Coalition to share with the thousands of waiting children what this one day is like, Bazar noted that the RI Family Court event brought together Chief Judge Bedrosian, Chief Justice Sutell, Governor Chaffee, and a host of court judges, staff and advocated joined forces on that day to make it a very special event.
“Our current events, information-based public outreach program was an ideal opportunity to present this timely topic, and hopefully, inspiring story,” according to Bazar. Legal Matters, produced at Full Channel Cable Television, shown on RI Statewide interconnect and uploaded to You Tube, is now in its third year.

Press Release:

AUDETTE, BAZAR, CORDEIRO & GRASSO Law Firm Posts Televised Program, “LEGAL MATTERS” to YouTube.com

“Legal Matters” the 30-minute cable-televised program from the law firm Audette, Bazar, Cordeiro & Grasso (ABC&G) , in East Providence, RI, has just announced that it will be posting the show on the popular video site, You Tube.com. Developed as a key element in the firm’s public service outreach effort this year, the program addresses a variety of critical issues facing consumers and businesses, and specifically the nuances between Rhode Island and Massachusetts laws. The topics range from bankruptcy and collections to family law and personal injury; the format is a roundtable discussion and features a moderator with two of the partners. Advertised and introduced as : ”Legal information. Practical solutions. Straight talk,” the attorneys offer step by step guidelines into the often cumbersome and lengthy legal process. They provide insights to assist do-it-yourselfers, helping them to negotiate with creditors or through the maze of claims processing. “As we approach our first anniversary of the program, we are amazed by both the number of very timely subjects we’ve covered, and how many more we have lined for upcoming shows,” comments David Bazar, ABC&G partner. “Discussing who owns that gigantic diamond ring when the engagement is broken raises questions as well as a few eyebrows. We address serious topics, present the facts, and sometimes add a little humor.”