That’s what executives at retail giant Sports Authority are hoping they can achieve. Like many businesses focused on brick-and-mortar stores, the chain has struggled in recent years as consumers have shifted toward online shopping. The company has filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection, giving it a period of time to reorganize, during which it will be protected from creditors.
Some people mistakenly think that when a business declares bankruptcy, that means it goes out of business forever. And indeed, about 140 of the chain’s 463 stores will close, including at least two in the greater Tampa Bay area. However, CEO Michael Foss said the move will allow much-needed investments including upgrades to stores and website enhancements, resulting in an improved experience for customers.
In January, Sports Authority missed a $20 million interest payment to creditors.
Many companies have filed bankruptcy and later achieved stability, or even impressive growth. Examples include General Motors, Marvel Entertainment, Six Flags, American Airlines and Kodak.
O. Reginald (“Reggie”) Osenton is the Owner and President of Osenton Law Office If you need a Commercial Bankruptcy attorney in Brandon, Tampa business bankruptcy lawyer, call 813.654.5777 or visit http://www.brandonlawoffice.com.
The post Bankruptcy can be a good thing first appeared on SEONewsWire.net.]]>Dr. Edward Neil Feldman, a 76-year-old orthopedist, and his wife Kim Feldman, were both convicted on five related counts in a case that involved $5.7 million worth of medication and three deaths from drug overdoses. They both face time in prison, but only the doctor was charged in the deaths of the patients.
Feldman argued that patients gave him false information to fool him into prescribing drugs, but federal prosecutors said that Feldman willfully ignored warning signs. The Feldmans were ordered taken into custody with sentencing scheduled for May 23.
The doctor had been linked to more patient deaths than the three that were the subject of the case. According to news reports, Feldman’s name was on pill bottles found at multiple overdose scenes. Out of the jury’s hearing, the federal prosecutor told the judge that the government had 16 deaths to choose from in making its case.
Prescribing dangerous or inappropriate medication can constitute pharmaceutical negligence, whether it is in the context of an unethical pill mill or a doctor or pharmacy error. In addition to the criminal charges faced by pill mill operators, civil lawsuits may be filed by patients or their loved ones who are injured by such negligence.
If you need to speak with a wrongful death attorney or lawyer, Call Joyce & Reyes at 1.888.771.1529 or visit more of http://www.joyceandreyespa.com/.
The post Tampa Bay area pill mill doctor and wife convicted on drug charges first appeared on SEONewsWire.net.]]>Nicole Oulson, widow of Chad Oulson, seeks a jury trial and more than $15,000 in damages.
The lawsuit, filed in Circuit Court in Dade City, Florida, claims that Nicole Oulson, who was also shot, suffered mental anguish, permanent bodily injury, disability and disfigurement.
Charges of second-degree murder for Chad Oulson’s death and aggravated battery for the shooting of Nicole Oulson were filed against retired Tampa police captain Curtis Reeves.
Nicole Oulson’s lawsuit claims that Reeves was confrontational with the Oulsons before the shooting, and complained to theater staff that Chad Oulson was using his cell phone during the movie previews. According to the lawsuit, theater staff should have responded to prevent the potentially dangerous situation from escalating.
The lawsuit names as defendants Cobb Theatres, Oakley Grove Development and Thomas Peck, who worked at the theater.
Nicole Oulson’s lawsuit also claims that the theater was negligent in training Peck, and did not have procedures in place to enforce its policy against firearms. The lawsuit alleges that the developer had a duty not to allow a dangerous situation to exist on its property.
In his criminal case, Reeves has attempted to have the charges dismissed by invoking Florida’s Stand Your Ground law.
If you need to speak with a wrongful death attorney or lawyer, Call Joyce & Reyes at 1.888.771.1529 or visit more of http://www.joyceandreyespa.com/.
The post Wrongful death lawsuit filed by widow of Florida man killed in theater first appeared on SEONewsWire.net.]]>The crash involved a high-speed chase on the Courtney Campbell Causeway Bridge in the Tampa Bay area. Williamson was riding at the front of a group of motorcyclists, and police reports recorded that a Clearwater police officer clocked him at 120 miles per hour. The officer, Nick Giordano, reached a speed of 145 mph chasing Williamson. The family claims that Giordano’s pursuit was reckless.
Williamson’s motorcycle crashed into the back of a Florida Highway Patrol cruiser that was stationed at a construction zone. An FHP report found Williamson at fault for the accident. Williamson’s father believes that the FHP cruiser deliberately pulled in front of his son.
Both the Florida Highway Patrol and the Clearwater Police Department are named as defendants in the wrongful death lawsuit.
The Clearwater Police Department would not comment on the lawsuit, but records show that Giordano was disciplined after the crash for attempting to stop two different drivers when the speed of the motorcyclists indicated a “reckless disregard” for the safety of the public.
If you need to speak with a wrongful death attorney or lawyer, Call Joyce & Reyes at 1.888.771.1529 or visit more of http://www.joyceandreyespa.com/.
The post Family files wrongful death lawsuit over Tampa Bay motorcyclist’s death first appeared on SEONewsWire.net.]]>The Chromatic Mosaic Tile collection is unique because of the bubbling chrome used inside the tiles. The tiles are then sealed in colored, clear or smooth glass. When viewed from different angles, surfaces show changing highlights, reflections and refractions. It can help create a child’s fantasy world or add a certain zing to a recreation or bar room area in the basement. These tiles make a stunning focal point in the bathroom and kitchen, livening up the view and brightening any area where they are installed.
“Not everyone wants sparkle and glitter in their homes, but if you have kids that love princess fairy stories or belle-of-the-ball tales, the Chromatic Mosaic Tile collection might be just the right thing for their rooms. You only get to be a kid once, and these sparkly, jewel-colored tiles add a touch of whimsy to any child’s room,” said Dean Dupre, owner and operator at Champion Tile and Marble in Tampa Bay, Florida.
There are a number of ways to install these tiles, but by using large block placement, the different colors inside the glass tiles stand out quite clearly. If the renovation budget does not allow for many tiles, consider using fewer to create an elegant border in the bathroom or kitchen. Mixing and matching tiles lets creative installers work on their own custom designs. “You’d never be at a loss for color choices,” added Dupre, “and the collection features some very rich, deep colors to enhance a home.”
These tiles never rub off or fade, and they add charisma wherever they are featured in a home. Beautiful shades add depth to any room, and no two custom patterns created by the DIY installer will be the same.
The post Glass Mosaic Tiles Add Fanciful Glitter to a Home first appeared on SEONewsWire.net.]]>“Engineered flooring is a popular choice for homeowners on a budget. The surface is a sandwich of multiple wood laminations, with unfinished ply on the bottom and finished wood on the top. Its cross-grain construction looks clean and performs well in high-moisture locations,” explained Dean Dupre, the owner of Champion Tile and Marble in Tampa Bay, Florida.
Most engineered wood comes pre-finished, so the top layer is already sanded and sealed. Once installed, it can be walked on immediately. This type of flooring is budget-conscious for two reasons: it is made inexpensively, and it is very easy to install without professional help. “The almost-instant installation bonus of this nail-less flooring is very appealing, and it comes in a variety of attractive choices, including maple, hickory, bamboo and oak,” Dupre said.
Nails are not needed to install engineered flooring, but they may be used depending on the location of the installation. This floor can also be laid by floating, gluing or stapling it. The floating style is most common; long panes are laid by snapping or gluing them together. The sub-floor is not nailed during this process. Homeowners can also apply tongue-in-groove planks joined lengthwise. Laying an engineered floor is a very easy day’s project, and the composite much easier to work with than hardwoods.
Even though this type of flooring comes sanded, it may be sanded up to twice more (depending on its thickness) if the floor sustains dents or scratches. When in doubt, check with an experienced flooring contractor to determine if sanding is appropriate.
http://www.champtile.com/
“The UK tile market is exploding with the latest creative tile trends –- 3D glass tile with bold, snappy colors, ripple mosaic tile, stone or glass mosaic tile and metallic glass tile. They’re quite unique and very eye-catching,” said Dean Dupre, owner of Champion Tile and Marble in Tampa Bay, Florida.
These tiles are not the run-of-the-mill various colored tiles for a home renovation project, intended to look serene and sedate, classic and timeless. They are designed for creative individuals who want to add spice to their living areas and to feature stunning colors that create special effects.
“The interesting colors you’ll find in the UK tiles will allow for truly creative tiling,” added Dupre. “Homeowners can choose their particular brand of glass tiles and match them to other elements in the home. No matter what color you love, be it pumpkin orange or zesty raspberry, you can find it. And the tiles don’t just come in one shade. Sets typically have at least three variations on a theme to allow you to mix and match.”
Special-effects tiles come in various collections, patterns, colors and materials: from glass to stone, from futuristic to 3D. For those who thrive on mixing and matching, the temptation to do something really artistic may capture the moment. Mix in metallic glass tiles with gold, flaming red and deep-water blue. The only limit to working with these tiles is one’s imagination.
“History does repeat itself. This time, it’s taken an old page out of a design book but added vibrant, splashy colors for the entrepreneurial tiling aficionados who love to express themselves with color and new materials,” said Dupre.
The post Special-Effects Trend in Tiling Arrives From Overseas first appeared on SEONewsWire.net.]]>“Some home projects, including tiling, can be easy and fun. But no matter how experienced you might be, a number of things can still go wrong. If you want a quality installation job, do it right the first time,” advised Dean Dupre, owner of Champion Tile and Marble in Tampa Bay, Florida.
Frequently, would-be installers fail to prep their surface properly. If the surface is not smooth and completely clean, the tiles may not adhere to the wall or floor properly. Grouting needs to go on slowly and smoothly. Clumps dry unevenly and create an uneven final surface.
“Do not dot the corner of your tiles. This does not, contrary to popular belief, make the tile bond stronger. Instead, it ups the chances that the tile will crack when the adhesive shrinks while drying. And speaking of adhesive – choose the right one for the job, or you’ll have problems later,” added Dupre.
Without battens, tiles cannot be positioned correctly vertically or horizontally. Crooked lines create a haphazard-looking floor. Battens prevent installers from having to tear out tiles to start a job over again. Mistakes need to be caught early before the floor is completed. The sooner an error is caught, the easier it is to repair it without dealing with hardened grouting.
“Scrape off excess grouting carefully and accurately. You don’t want the floor to have spots where the grout is protruding up past the tiling. Nothing says “amateur” like a lumpy floor,” Dupre explained. “Before you begin, assemble the correct number of tiles and add about 12 extras in case something goes wrong.”
If a bathroom wall or shower stall is being tiled, ensure the top row of tiles is sealed correctly with the proper sealant. Water gets in behind improperly sealed tiles. Seal tubs only after filling them with water. Tubs move when filled, which can crack sealant in use later.
The post Tiling Mistakes to Avoid at DIY Time first appeared on SEONewsWire.net.]]>Instead of doing a whole room, choose to update only the countertops or some other feature. Some homeowners lay marble tiles on the floor and complement them with ceramic sinks and backsplashes. Even as a small accent, marble fills whole rooms with its unique look. Well-edited choices create a quietly understated atmosphere.
Use color to your advantage. For high impact, choose marble with contrasting veins, like grey and white. Then, add more white into the room to highlight the veining. “If you can’t afford much, consider making a marble counter the focal point of the room, then build your design from its texture,” said Dupre.
Those with larger budgets may consider marble tubs the epitome of luxury. But your ceramic tub can light up in the same way with stone-to-stone accents. Limits are only set by the bounds of your creativity.
New treatments and finishes have made marble even more popular. Now, the stone can even stand up the humidity of the kitchen or bathroom. No matter where you place it, remember that your marble must be resealed regularly to ensure durability and keep moisture out.
The post Hints of Marble Add Elegance on a Budget first appeared on SEONewsWire.net.]]>“Some wood looks great in delicate areas, but won’t do well in a busy home. Other wood stands up to just about anything. Know what you want before you shop,” advised Dean Dupre, who owns Champion Tile and Marble in Tampa Bay, Florida.
Wood flooring hardness is typically measure using the “Janka test.” A steel ball is pressed into a piece of wood forcefully, and the tester measures the amount of pressure needed to insert it. Soft wood, like pine, dents or caves under less pressure than harder woods require. “If you or the kids are prone to dropping things, a wood floor, particularly a softer wood floor, will dent on impact,” added Dupre.
Be wary of marketing generalizations. Today, most flooring options will claim to stand up to “general foot traffic,” but not all consider a busy home — with kids and pets constantly on the move — to fall under that definition. A handsome wood floor may deteriorate fast after the dog digs several gouges out of it and the kids ride their tricycles through the house for fun. For truly indestructible flooring, you should consider other materials entirely.
Wood flooring, no matter its natural hardness, also requires a finish. If that finish is breached, the wood underneath can start to deteriorate as moisture seeps in. All wood floors must be sanded and re-finished yearly.
Consider the location of the wood flooring installation and be aware of the traffic it will handle. Is the wood under consideration tough enough?
The post Does The Hardness of Wood Flooring Matter? first appeared on SEONewsWire.net.]]>“Bathroom renos can be fun and they can also be a huge pain,” points out the owner of Champion Tile and Marble in Tampa Bay, Florida, Dean Dupre. “The DIY crowd dive right in, often finding out later it was not a good idea, not reading any instructions. The experienced folks know to check twice, measure twice, and do it right the right time for an elegant and long-lasting, good-looking job.”
If the bathroom is the project for the day, be sure to use more full-size tiles; in other words, choose a size the suits the bathroom area. Smaller tiles make a larger bathroom look dated, and the installer has a lot of grouting to complete. Larger tiles offer a more modern ambience and less grouting. Edge installation goes relatively smoothly if you cut tiles to the amount of space left and use a wet saw. Creative individuals may want to try different colors and sizes of tiles.
To make the room look elegant and pulled together, try laying tiles in a symmetrical pattern. If the tiles are to be mounted on a wall, make sure the opposing wall looks the same. Different-sized tiles on either side of the room create an odd visual distortion. If the tiles are to be laid on the floor, begin in the center of the room with smaller ones and work out to the edge, and use large tiles to form a border.
“Before cutting anything, measure carefully first. Cutting is not the easiest task, even with a wet saw. So to ensure less damaged tiles, which cramps your design in mind, work slowly while cutting,” suggests Dupre. The cut tiles are generally used as edging, under overhangs, by walls and as borders. In other words, cut tiles are ideal for any area that is less visible. To enhance visibility in areas seen immediately, use full tiles to draw the eye to the point of attention.
“The best tip you will ever benefit from before attempting a tile reno in the bathroom is: Lay your tiles out on a dry surface to see what they will look like. When you have it right in your mind, go to town and get creative. It’s the most fun you will ever have with a renovation,” says Dupre.
The post If Bathroom Renos Are Pending, Pay Attention to the Process of Proper Tiling first appeared on SEONewsWire.net.]]>“Most garages have a concrete slab, and that is not the best surface to work out on. In fact, it’s really hard on your joints. Aside from that, though, if you have expensive equipment in the garage, you won’t want it resting on cold concrete that may also be cracked and damp. Time to make some changes and make the inside of the workout zone safe and yet durable,” says Dean Dupre, owner of Champion Tile and Marble, Tampa Bay, Florida.
While the ideal flooring would be the kind in boxing gyms or other big-ticket fitness training centers, not everyone can afford it. Are there other options? “Yes, commercial flooring, rubber stall mats and interlocking rubber tiles. Each one of those choices has pros and cons. It is up to you to choose what works the best for your situation and location,” Dupre adds.
Commercial flooring is still too expensive for some. It is the kind found in large gyms, and it comes in a rainbow of colors. Right off the bat, the only way to determine a flooring budget is to ask for a quote. This may put a number of people off, as they interpret that to mean it is expensive. This kind of flooring also comes in a tiled version that may be worth considering because it can be less expensive.
Option number two is to use rubber horse-stall mats, which work out to be about $1.66 per square foot. A lot of garage floor area can be covered for a low price, for those with a limited, no-room-to-wiggle budget. Bonus: these mats are easy to cut down to fit any space and any odd corner. Additionally, they are very durable. Just be prepared to wait for the new-rubber smell to dissipate over time. Also, be aware that this type of matting is quite heavy, which means no bunch-ups when laid in a square.
“Another type of tile to consider is interlocking rubber tiles,” explains Dupre. “This option is the most economical of the three alternatives and is easy to find at sporting goods stores or online. However, the less you pay for something, chances are there may be issues with it. That old ‘You get what you pay for’ adage is quite true with these tiles. However, they do work well for some.”
Interlocking rubber tiles do not stand up to weightlifting equipment being dropped on them, but they may do well when placed under a treadmill or combination home gym rig. “It’s your choice, but at least you have a variety of options to suit your workout routines and equipment,” says Dupre.
The post Living Spaces Are Not the Only Areas That May Need New Flooring first appeared on SEONewsWire.net.]]>More than 4,500 former professional football players had entered into lawsuits against the NFL when a $765 million settlement was reached recently. Following a months-long period of court-ordered mediation, U.S. District Judge Anita Brody announced the settlement, which she must yet approve in order for it to go into effect. The plaintiffs claimed a wide variety of concussion-related symptoms, including memory loss, impaired speech and motor control, depression, and mood swings. At least two former NFL players committed suicide by self-inflicted gunshot wounds to the chest and left notes asking that their brains be donated for scientific research.
The NFL also implemented safety-oriented rule changes for the 2012 season, including prohibiting “head shots” and making them fineable, and requiring heavier protective padding. That season, 160 players were diagnosed with concussion-like symptoms, a steep decline from the previous season’s 270 such diagnoses.
Far more pressing is the issue of how to protect children who play contact sports. Over a quarter-million concussions are reported among high school athletes each year. In July, 2012, a Florida law went into effect that requires young athletes suspected of sustaining a head injury or concussion to be immediately removed from practice and competition. After completing a gradual, four-course return to play, consisting of light activity, then moderate aerobic activity, followed by drills specific to their sport, and finally full-contact practice, athletes are allowed to return to competition with a doctor’s written medical clearance.
Concussion is difficult to diagnose, but a commercial software program called ImPACT, already in use by the NFL, has recently been adopted by a number of Tampa Bay-area high schools. The program requires fully healthy athletes to complete a series of computerized cognitive tests before the season begins. Following a head injury, players must post a score as high as or higher than their baseline score before they can return to play. While the program shows promise, it is easily manipulated by players who deliberately score lower than they are able on initial tests in order to get back in the game as soon as possible in the event they are injured.
On the federal level, the Youth Sports Concussion Act was recently introduced by Senators Jay Rockefeller and Tom Udall. If passed, the bill would instruct the Consumer Product Safety Commission to review a forthcoming report from the National Academy of Sciences on sports-related concussions in young athletes. After the review, the CPSC would be authorized to issue recommendations or rule changes for manufacturers of sporting equipment.
If you need to speak with a brain injury attorney or lawyer, Call Joyce & Reyes at 1.888.771.1529 or visit more of http://www.joyceandreyespa.com/.
The post Concussions in Professional and School Athletes Attract Legal, Scientific Attention first appeared on SEONewsWire.net.]]>