All Topics

• Woody Trefon Killed by Four-Wheeler. Here's What His Family Needs To Know:

  Ward Merdes | December 01, 2007 8:02 PM | 0 CommentsFairbanks, AK

  The Anchorage Daily News reports that 20 year old Woody Trefon was killed in Nondalton, Alaska on Tuesday - run over by a four-wheeler driven by his cousin, 19 year old Sean Trefon. Woody's family needs to...First, see how the accident occurred. If there is any indication that Sean was doing anything wrong - driving while intoxicated - driving without paying close attention - driving at the...

• The Family Trust - Who's Sticking It To Whom?

  Ward Merdes | December 01, 2007 1:01 AM | 0 CommentsFairbanks, AK

  From an attorney's perspective, the key is tracking what the surviving spouse did with the money. If he/she simply treated the money as his/her own - and spent it however he/she saw fit, huge problems await down the road. You see, the minute the first spouse died, the trust was set in stone. Rules became important. Sadly, these rules are rarely followed - and the kids lose out. Here is what...

• Christopher Jenkins Killed by Gifford. Claims To File

  Ward Merdes | November 21, 2007 1:16 AM | 0 CommentsFairbanks, AK

  The AP reports that Matthew Brent Gifford was charged with second degree murder in the automobile related death of Christopher Jenkins in April. Gifford apparently had alcohol, cocaine, marijuana and other illicit drugs in his system when Jenkins was killed. Jenkins' family needs to hire a good personal injury attorney NOW, and ...1. File liability claims against Gifford's insurer. Be sure to...

• What Horace Field's Family Needs To Do, Now.

  Ward Merdes | November 19, 2007 9:21 AM | 0 CommentsFairbanks, AK

  KTUU of Anchorage reports that Horace Field, 45 of Noorvik may have been drinking when he was struck, dragged and killed by a semi-truck last week. While this sounds bad for any related claims, Mr. Field's family needs to immediately...1. Find an Accident Reconstruction (AR) expert. That expert will view the scene, the statement, the police report and surveillance footage from the nearby FBI...

• Are Alaskan Drivers Getting More Stupid, or Just Better Connected?

  Ward Merdes | November 11, 2007 8:16 PM | 0 CommentsFairbanks, AK

  A friend phoned me today, complaining that in his 30 years in Fairbanks, Alaska - he has never seen such poor driving as he's encountered this winter. "Ward, are folks just getting stupid, or what?" "Just yesterday, another person was killed on the Steese. How many will it take before folks stop talking on their cell phones?" I also had a phone call from a woman who was literally run over by a...

• Myong Thayer's Death An Accident... What To Do Now?

  Ward Merdes | November 11, 2007 10:06 AM | 0 CommentsFairbanks, AK

  Accidents provide foundation to almost all civil actions.Channel 2 of Anchorage reports that investigation of Myong Thayer's death in Ketchikan Alaska reveals that it was an "accident." Thayer apparently stepped out in front of a bus owned by Alaska Amphibious Tours. Also, there was no presence of alcohol or drugs in the bus driver's system. Does this mean that the Thayer family has no claim? ...

• Correction: Two Injured - Not Killed On Kenai Spur

  Ward Merdes | October 29, 2007 5:26 PM | 0 CommentsFairbanks, AK

  A quick correction - the Peninsula Clarion reported that Baier, 20, and Norman Copeland, 30 were injured, not killed on the Kenai Spur Highway. My apologies for the mistake.

• Condry and Palmer Injured by Fox's Negligence. Here Are Their Claims...

  Ward Merdes | October 27, 2007 10:00 AM | 0 CommentsFairbanks, AK

  Palmer and Condry Need An Attorney - Now...The News-Miner reports that Jason L. Fox fell asleep at the wheel while driving a government vehicle on the Richardson, drove through a concrete barrier, and smashed into a vehicle driven by Thomas C. Palmer. Here is what Condry (Fox's passenger) and Palmer need to do about it:Come on, folks. This one is easy. When a person falls asleep at the wheel and...

• Soldier Dies in BC Auto Accident. This Alaska Law Applies...

  Ward Merdes | October 26, 2007 11:24 PM | 0 CommentsFairbanks, AK

  Guy Family Need To Hire an Attorney ASAP...The Fairbanks Daily News-Miner reports that Private Johnny Guy, 22 or Hampton, Tennessee died in a motor vehicle crash in British Columbia. Apparently, Mr. Guy's private vehicle collided with a tractor-trailer near Bariere. Mr. Guy was assigned to Ft. Wainwright, right next to my home town - Fairbanks. Additional details are missing, but Mr. Guy's...

• Snowmachiner Killed By Well Casing. The Law...

  Ward Merdes | October 22, 2007 4:14 PM | 0 CommentsFairbanks, AK

  Stolach family needs to hire an accident reconstructionist.The Alaska State Troopers report that Dewey J. Staloch, 61,died Sunday after his snowmachine collided with a well casing. Mr. Staloch was declared dead at Mat-Su Regional Medical Center, where he was taken after the accident on Calder Road in the Matanuska-Susitna Borough east of Wasilla.Troopers responded at 5:50 p.m. to a snowmachine...