Online Academic Writing Center Available to the Public

Capella University Makes Comprehensive Online Academic Writing Center Available to the Public

The online university's Online Writing Center features multi-media modules aimed at graduate level students studying in a variety of disciplines
College & University Pressroom

MINNEAPOLIS-- May 29, 2008 --A comprehensive online academic writing center developed by Capella University (www.capella.edu) primarily for graduate level students is now available to the public at www.capellawritingcenter.org. Capella, which is an accredited,* online university that focuses on master's and PhD degrees, created the Online Writing Center to provide its 23,000-plus students with instruction, resources, and strategies to help them navigate the writing process and develop clear and effective academic writing.

"We decided to make this writing resource available to the general public because, first, it's the nature of writing centers to share resources, and second, we have some unique resources to share that are a result of the collaboration among faculty, staff, and our incredible web and instructional designers," said Leslie Olsen, coordinator of Capella's Writing Center. "There is so much information on this site that people seeking help with their writing won't find on other writing resource Web sites. What we have developed truly makes the writing process much more manageable, efficient, and enjoyable."

Some of that unique information includes a writing handbook organized around the writing process and embedded with multi-media modules, animated handouts, and easily downloadable documents on topics such as the philosophy behind APA writing guidelines, writing a literature review, and pre-writing techniques that can be used to help facilitate the writing process.

"The multi-media modules and animated handouts are very unique among writing resource Web sites, and are a very effective way to help these concepts come to life and really sink in," said Olsen, adding that all of the modules are ADA compliant.

Some other topics covered on Capella's Online Writing Center include:

    * Annotated Bibliography Guide
    * Grammar
    * Business and Technical Writing
    * APA Style and Formatting
    * Undergraduate Writing Resources
    * How to Get Your Work Published
    * Academic Integrity

The site also offers a wide variety of one-page handouts in PDF format for downloading on topics such as developing a thesis statement, writing in the third person, and plagiarism. The Writing Center even features a "Writer's Relief" section for those who need a break from thinking about writing.

Although Capella's Online Writing Center has been developed primarily for graduate-level students, it does feature a section for undergraduate students. It includes an interactive module on the four stages of writing, which takes the student all the way through the writing process, from prewriting, through drafting and peer review, and on to revising, editing and proofreading.

About Capella University

Founded in 1993, Capella University (www.capella.edu) is an accredited*, fully online university that offers graduate degree programs in business, information technology, education, human services, psychology, public health, and public safety, and bachelor's degree programs in business, information technology, and public safety. Within those areas, Capella currently offers 104 graduate and undergraduate specializations and 15 certificate programs. The online university currently serves more than 23,400 students from all 50 states and 45 other countries. It is committed to providing high-caliber academic excellence and pursuing balanced business growth. Capella University is a wholly owned subsidiary of Capella Education Company, headquartered in Minneapolis. For more information, please visit http://www.capella.edu or call 1-888-CAPELLA (227-3552).

* Capella University is accredited by The Higher Learning Commission and is a member of the North Central Association of Colleges and Schools (NCA), www.ncahlc.org.

Capella University, 225 South Sixth Street, Ninth Floor, Minneapolis, MN 55402, 1-888-CAPELLA (227-3552), www.capella.edu.

Learn more about earning an online degree at Capella University:

online education (http://www.capella.edu/online_education.aspx)

distance learning (http://www.capella.edu/distance_learning.aspx)

online university (http://www.capella.edu/online_university.aspx)

Contacts

Capella University
Media Contact:
Irene Silber, 612-977-4132
irene.silber@capella.edu

$250 Million Damages in Boston Scientific Patent Case Awarded To Medtronic

Medtronic Awarded $250 Million Damages in Patent Case against Boston Scientific

Federal jury in Marshall, Texas, finds that Boston Scientific Corporation infringed three patents owned by Medtronic

MINNEAPOLIS-- May 27, 2008 --Medtronic, Inc. (NYSE: MDT) today announced that a federal jury found that Boston Scientific Corporation has infringed three patents owned by Medtronic, and awarded Medtronic $250 million in damages.

Medtronic sued Boston Scientific in 2006 asserting that Boston's Taxus Express2, Express2, Liberte, Maverick, Maverick2, and Quantum Maverick products infringed the Fitzmaurice and Anderson catheter patents owned by Medtronic. The trial began on Friday, May 16, 2008.

The Fitzmaurice patents cover angioplasty catheters with narrowed distal ends, which improve the deliverability of angioplasty catheters. The Anderson patent covers semicompliant angioplasty balloons. The Anderson balloons provide sufficient strength to withstand repeated inflations allowing custom vessel sizing.

About Medtronic

Medtronic, Inc. (www.medtronic.com), headquartered in Minneapolis, is the global leader in medical technology - alleviating pain, restoring health, and extending life for millions of people around the world.

Any forward-looking statements are subject to risks and uncertainties such as those described in Medtronic's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended April 27, 2007. Actual results may differ materially from anticipated results.

Contacts

Medtronic, Inc.
Public Relations
Marybeth Thorsgaard, 763-505-2644
or
Investor Relations
Jeff Warren, 763-505-2696

Mobile Insurance Claims Center Set Up for Fast Claims Handling

Farmers Insurance Claims Team Sets Up Mobile Claims Center for Fast Claims Handling

MINNEAPOLIS-- May 27, 2008 --Farmers Insurance Group of Companies advises its Farmers Insurance customers suffering damage from the tornado in Hugo to immediately contact their agent or call the 24 hour claims hotline, 800-HelpPoint (1-800-435-7764).

Foremost Insurance customers who have damage should file their claim by calling: 1-800-527-3907.

As of Tuesday afternoon, Farmers and Foremost combined have received more than 2400 claims.

To further assist customers, Farmers' Mobile Catastrophe Claims Center Bus is in Hugo, MN at Oneka Elementary School located at: 4888 Heritage Parkway.

The Farmers Mobile Catastrophe Claims Center Bus is a rolling customer support center equipped with top-of-the-line technology for immediate claims handling and outfitted with comforts of home such as a grill for on-the-spot meals. Farmers customers can stop by the Mobile Catastrophe Claims Bus anytime. Reporters are welcome to tour the bus as well.

"The Farmers claims bus allows us to serve the most number of people," said Locke Pierce, State Executive Director of Farmers Insurance in Minnesota. "We are equipped to be a community relief center with this bus. We can serve meals by the hundred and allow people telephone and computer access to reach relatives. These are luxuries no one takes for granted during a crisis."

Farmers Group, Inc. is a wholly owned subsidiary of Zurich Financial Services, an insurance-based financial services provider with a global network of subsidiaries and offices in North America and Europe as well as in Asia Pacific, Latin America and other markets. Farmers® is the nation's third-largest Personal Lines Property & Casualty insurance group. Property and casualty products are underwritten and issued by the Farmers Exchanges and their subsidiaries, which Farmers Group, Inc. manages but does not own. Headquartered in Los Angeles and doing business in 41 states, the Farmers insurers provide Homeowners, Auto, Business, Life insurance and financial services to more than 10 million households. For more information about Farmers, visit our Web site at www.farmers.com.

Contacts

Farmers Insurance Group
David Bishop, 850-228-8997
david.bishop@farmersinsurance.com

Strategic Business Advantage Provided By Paperless Accounts Payable Automation

Paperless Accounts Payable Automation Shown to Provide Strategic Business Advantage

New study by the Aberdeen Group, underwritten in part by Metafile Information Systems, shares the barriers to, and benefits of, paperless financial automation.

Rochester, MN  -  April 23, 2008 -- http://www.metaviewer.com - Metafile, a Minnesota-based content management firm dedicated to providing streamlined financial innovations, has helped ensure financial departments in companies worldwide experience the strategic value of accounts payable automaton by underwriting the latest AP whitepaper by analysts at the Aberdeen Group.

The "E-Payables: Imaging and Workflow" report, the first in a three-part series of Aberdeen benchmarks on AP automation, focuses on the initial stages of the accounts payable process, invoice receipt and workflow management.

The study disseminates reasons why some enterprises have yet to completely eliminate paper from their financial processes while benchmarking data illustrating the bottom-line benefits of the move towards paperless workflow automation.

Leveraging the insights of more than 200 executives, the Aberdeen group discovered that integrating accounts payable automation solutions with existing IT systems poses the greatest challenge to paper removal. As a result, forty-four percent (44%) of enterprises do not move to implement any einvoicing solutions.

"The reasons against implementing an einvoicing solution are not surprising. In fact, IT systems integration is perhaps the most common concern among our newest customers," states Jim Mandt, Metafile's Vice President of Technical Support. "In response to this concern, many financial automation solutions, including Metafile's MetaViewer, are designed to have as minimal impact on a firm's IT environment as possible by offering either a full-service in-house solution or an online, hosted solution with full technical support and backup of all files in a secure data center."

Enterprises that automate invoice receipt and workflow management by implementing solutions such as MetaViewer demonstrate significantly lower invoice-processing costs and cycle times while improving visibility and control over spending and reducing regulatory compliance risks.

Best-in-Class enterprises are excelling in many performance metrics and demonstrate the following AP performance benefits by utilizing automated solutions:
•    Invoice-processing costs are 83% lower than all other enterprises
•    Invoice-processing cycle times are 80% faster than their peers

At the end of the day, however, the benefits of going paperless are more than just financial; rather they speak to a company's competitive advantage as a whole.

"There is more to paperless accounts payable automation than just cost savings; imaging and workflow management solutions promote compliance with business controls allowing AP staff to focus on more strategic tasks," said Amit Gupta, research analyst, Aberdeen. "Enterprises that have adopted various flavors of e-payables solutions have transformed the AP function to a source of competitive advantage, supporting business planning and decision making."

A complimentary copy of the report "E-Payables: Imaging and Workflow" underwritten by ReadSoft, Verian Technologies and Metafile Information Systems, is available by visiting Aberdeen's website.

About Metafile
Metafile Information Systems, Inc. provides workflow automation solutions via its customizable content management solution MetaViewer. A privately held software development and integration firm, Metafile has helped the financial departments in companies such as Winn Dixie, Gate Petroleum, Wellborn Cabinet and Allied Beverage streamline accounts payable and accounts receivable processes for over 25 years. More information on Metafile and MetaViewer may be found online at www.metaviewer.com.

About Aberdeen Group, a Harte-Hanks Company
Aberdeen is a leading provider of fact-based research and market intelligence that delivers demonstrable results. Having benchmarked more than 30,000 companies in the past two years, Aberdeen is uniquely positioned to educate users to action: driving market awareness, creating demand, enabling sales, and delivering meaningful return-on-investment analysis. As the trusted advisor to the global technology markets, corporations turn to AberdeenTM for insights that drive decisions.

As a Harte-Hanks Company, Aberdeen plays a key role of putting content in context for the global direct and targeted marketing company. Aberdeen's analytical and independent view of the "customer optimization" process of Harte-Hanks (Information - Opportunity - Insight - Engagement - Interaction) extends the client value and accentuates the strategic role Harte-Hanks brings to the market. For additional information, visit Aberdeen http://www.aberdeen.com or call (617) 723-7890; or to learn more about Harte-Hanks, call (800) 456-9748 or go to http://www.harte-hanks.com.

Media Contact
Kevin Sawyer
Misukanis & Odden
ksawyer(at)misukanisodden.com

Press Contact: Kevin Sawyer
Company Name: Metafile
Phone: 952-400-7432
Website: www.metaviewer.com

Should Mesothelioma Victims Call A Mesothelioma Victims Center?

Mesothelioma Victims Should Call Americas Watchdog's Mesothelioma Victims Center

If you are a victim of Mesothelioma or a family member friend of a victim Americas Watchdog is there for you. Americas Watchdog has created the Mesothelioma Victims Center as a free service to victims or family members of victims, of a rare form of cancer called Mesothelioma. Americas Watchdog has initiated this very complete free service because there was literally nothing close to this type of service in the United States and because this type of service is sorely needed by Mesothelioma victims and their families. The Mesothelioma Victims Center was created to assist victims & their families in every way possible

April 21, 2008 -- Americas Watchdog has created the most wonderful service for victims or family members of victims of Mesothelioma. Until a family member was diagnosed with Mesothelioma, Americas Watchdog had never heard of this disease or knew much about it. Mesothelioma is a rare and lethal form of cancer. Mesothelioma is caused by exposure to asbestos. The group never realized that there was no safety net for victims, to get help from the government. They did not know how difficult it might be to get veterans benefits or social security benefits. Americas Watchdog also discovered that it is critical for victims of this lethal disease to get proper legal representation. They have designed the Mesothelioma Victims Center to be the national advocacy center for the victims and family members of Mesothelioma.Their service is free. The web site is located at http://MesotheliomaVictimsCenter.com.

Their services include:
* Assisting the victims obtain Social Security permanent disability payments
* If the victim is a veteran and was exposed to asbestos during military duty, we will work with the victim and his/her family in obtaining veterans disability and health care benefits.
* We will assist the family in getting the best possible health care options
* We will assist the victim in getting legal representation.
* We will assist the victim and their family in getting counseling on a wide variety of topics that arise from this disease.
A victim of Mesothelioma or their family can call the group any time at 866-714-6466.

Who Can Get Mesothelioma? Individuals exposed to asbestos. As Follows
* Individuals who served in the US Navy. Especially Navy personnel who served in or around naval ship engine rooms.
* Members of the US Army, Air Force, Marines, or Coast Guard.
* Naval ship yard workers
* Ship yard workers
* Automotive repair specialists
* Construction workers
* Plumbers
* Demolition contractors
 
 Because no other group is providing this full range of services and because victims and their families need assistance in these areas, Americas Watchdog is doing this at no charge because its the right thing to do. Americas Watchdog's Mesothelioma Victims Center web site is located at Http://MesotheliomaVictimsCenter.Com . Any one wishing more information can call the Mesothelioma Victims Center anytime at 866-714-6466.

Americas Watchdog and its Mesothelioma Victims Center are all about taking care of precious souls in need and corporate responsibility.

Press Contact: THOMAS MARTIN
Company Name: Americas Watchdog
Phone: 866-714-6466
Website: Http://MesotheliomaVictimsCenter.Com

Free National Directory to Include Drunk Driving Attorneys

LawInfo Expands Free National Directory to Include Drunk Driving Attorneys

LawInfo.com now provides a way in which the public and professionals alike can locate a pre-screened, pre-qualified drunk driving lawyer in their area. In an effort to guarantee professional, unparalleled criminal law representation, Lawinfo administers a detailed screening process for DUI and DWI attorneys that verifies state bar admission, peer approval and recommendations, a proven high rate of case and trial success, and no pending disciplinary action.

October 9 -- LawInfo has now added qualified drunk driving attorneys to its free online national directory. These attorneys are a part of LawInfo's signature service, the Lead Counsel Program, which provides pre-qualified, pre-screened attorneys, including DUI lawyers, DWI attorneys and car accident lawyers, through a simple, 2-click accessible attorney directory. The Lead Counsel Program has resulted in the enhanced screening of attorneys' credentials and has become a symbol of quality assurance for consumers searching for legal representation.

A person is guilty of drunk driving when he or she drives or is in actual physical control of a motor vehicle and is under the influence of alcoholic beverages or any chemical or controlled substance to the extent that his or her mental faculties are impaired and/or his or her blood alcohol level (BAC) is above the legal limit. All offenses that involve the operation of a vehicle while intoxicated are criminal law matters, which could potentially incur a felony conviction and possible prison sentence depending on how serious the charges are; i.e. if the offender's impairment caused a traffic accident resulting in personal injuries, wrongful death, etc.

If you have been arrested and charged with driving under the influence (DUI) or driving while intoxicated (DWI), it is critical that you retain a qualified and experienced drunk driving attorney immediately to protect your legal rights and fight for your exoneration. LawInfo's Lead Counsel drunk driving lawyers are highly skilled and are fully versed in the intricacies of drunk driving laws. The following is a testimonial of a Lead Counsel DWI attorney's skill at work:

"New Hampshire DWI attorney Patrick E. Donovan is my savior and was worth every penny. He recently tried my DWI, Resisting Arrest and Criminal Threatening Case and brought it to acquittal. I found Patrick through the LawInfo site after hiring and firing 3 previous attorneys in New Hampshire." -Sharon Wilber-Lemire

For over a decade, LawInfo's mission has been to assist the public in locating qualified attorneys and legal services. Founded in 1994, LawInfo is recognized nationwide as a leader within the legal community. In addition to listing a national directory in which to locate skilled drunk driving attorneys, LawInfo.com also provides the latest legal news, breaking headlines on FDA-mandated recalls for defective drugs and dangerous products and supplies an index of experienced local and national attorneys who are handling such cases.

LawInfo.com has also designed a legal resource center that provides a quick and easy way to access free legal forms and documents, research thousands of legal FAQ's, obtain document preparation services and locate legal experts throughout the nation--such as private investigators, bail bondsmen, process servers and paralegals. LawInfo.com also provides marketing packages for attorneys and legal professionals crafted by a team of specialists that integrates web design, content development and internet marketing with targeted traffic-generation tactics. LawInfo is staffed by experienced legal industry professionals and their corporate offices are located in San Marcos, California, just thirty minutes north of San Diego.

For more information about Lead Counsel drunk driving attorneys, or LawInfo's free legal resource center, call 1-800-397-3743 or visit www.lawinfo.com.

Press Contact: Lisa Wilson
Company Name: LawInfo, Inc.
Phone: 800-397-3743
Website: www.lawinfo.com

Mesothelioma Blog Reports on Man Fired for Reporting Asbestos Cleanup

LegalView Mesothelioma Blog Reports on Whistleblower Who Was Allegedly Fired for Reporting Improper Asbestos Cleanup to Authorities

LegalView recently updated its mesothelioma blog to include reports of a whistleblower being fired after he reported improper asbestos cleanup. The worker who refused to sign off on the demolition of the school was dismissed from his job duties permanently after he reported the improper procedure cleanup to officials.

Denver, CO  -  April 18, 2008 -- LegalView, the number one resource for everything legal on the Web, recently updated its mesothelioma blog with news of the firing of an alleged whistleblower who attempted to report improper asbestos cleanup of a local high school. The city worker was part of a crew that was to demolition an old schoolhouse. The worker allegedly told city managers that the schoolhouse was filled with asbestos and would be hazardous if improper asbestos removal procedures were not followed. However, after the worker refused to sign off on the demolition and spoke out, he was fired, according to reports.

Asbestos is a hazardous chemical that is often found in insulation of many older buildings including government buildings, offices, homes, apartments, universities and schools. It is derived of vermiculite, which was heavily mined early on in the 20th century throughout the world. Asbestos was revered for its qualities of being cost efficient and its ability to insulate sufficiently without catching on fire as easily as other insulations. However, it was discovered that breathing in asbestos fibers and dust caused a deadly form of lung cancer to develop. Additionally, areas that currently contain asbestos must follow strict procedures and methods from the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) for removal, otherwise asbestos fibers will likely be released into the air and contaminate surrounding areas and individuals. Those who feel they have been previously exposed to asbestos fibers should contact a mesothelioma lawyer for immediate assistance on building a case.

Mesothelioma cancer can take years to develop and is incurable. It is often misdiagnosed, as symptoms of mesothelioma cancer are similar to many other illnesses. Individuals who have contracted mesothelioma should speak with an experienced medical attorney and receive a consultation on a potential mesothelioma lawsuit. To learn more about this recent mesothelioma blog posting as well as additional up-to-date news, reports and information on recent mesothelioma jury verdicts, visit http://mesothelioma.legalview.com/.

In addition to the extensive mesothelioma information portal, LegalView offers information on an assortment of other legal issues that may disrupt the lives of millions of Americans. Information on issues such as pharmaceutical investigations, including the latest Singulair recall, preventable conditions like Erb's Palsy, diseases, illnesses, accidents, chemical exposure, employment discrimination, etc.

LegalView even provides news on the most recent traumatic brain injury treatments, available through LegalView's Web site. Also on the brain injury site, readers can find information on what may be involved with filing a brain injury lawsuit.

On the Singulair practice area, readers will be able to access the latest news on the prescription drug, which had been under investigation by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) after reports began to surface about Singulair side effects that can allegedly include moodiness, suicidal behaviors and thoughts.

Additionally, using the Erb's Palsy information portal will provide victims and their families insight into the cause of their condition as well as opportunities for developing an Erb's Palsy lawsuit for potential monetary compensation to help pay for costly medical bills commonly associated with this condition. Erb's Palsy can be a debilitating condition and is usually preventable. It is associated with birth-canal complications that have occurred when an infant's shoulders or head became lodged, causing damage to the nerve system controlling arm movement. While Erb's Palsy often can clear on its own through time, many individuals still require physical therapy and many will need surgery to fix their condition. Those who suffer from this disease are advised to use LegalView's site to easily be referred to a qualified Erb's Palsy lawyer.

About LegalView:
LegalView.com is a public service brought to you by Legal WebTV Network, LLC, a Limited Liability Corporation created by a group of the nation's most highly respected law firms: Anapol Schwartz; Brent Coon and Associates; Burg Simpson; Cohen, Placitella and Roth; James F. Humphreys and Associates; Lopez McHugh; and Thornton and Naumes. For more information on the accomplishments and track records of LegalView.com's superior sponsoring law firms and to get in touch with LegalView attorneys, visit LegalView at www.LegalView.com.

Press Contact: Katie Kelley
Company Name: LegalView
Phone: 720-771-3246
Website: http://mesothelioma.legalview.com

Contract Management to Help Customers Simplify Contract Creation and Tracking

Lawson Software Launches Contract Management to Help Customers Simplify Contract Creation and Tracking

Application helps organizations reduce operational costs by helping to improve management of contracts from start to finish

ST. PAUL, Minn.-- May 19, 2008 --Lawson Software (Nasdaq: LWSN) today announced the general availability of Lawson Contract Management, which is designed to help organizations, including those in healthcare and the public sector, simplify contract creation and management. The new application is designed to help customers reduce purchasing costs by streamlining the creation of vendor contracts and monitoring the supplies and services purchased against those contracts.

Lawson Contract Management, part of the Lawson S3 Supply Chain Management Suite, delivers standardized, auditable processes for contract creation and greater visibility into the supplies and services an organization has under contract. This insight can help purchasing managers reduce costs by enforcing compliance with vendor contracts. It also helps managers negotiate vendor discounts by helping them better analyze supply usage trends within their organization.

"Lawson Contract Management helps us create contracts faster with reusable templates and terms and conditions. It also provides a single, secure and auditable repository of all contract-related documents," said John Lauer, manager of enterprise systems, Oglethorpe Power, a Georgia-based power supply cooperative and a Lawson Contract Management pilot customer. "The application also allows us to track purchase volumes for specific items, which helps us negotiate better contract prices."

Located in Tucker, Ga., Oglethorpe Power generates electricity for thirty-eight Electric Membership Corporations (EMCs). It is the nation's largest power supply cooperative in terms of assets and annual kilowatt-hour sales.

Lawson Contract Management supports flexible pricing scenarios, such as complex tiered pricing and management of rebates, which is particularly useful in managing healthcare supply contracts. Public services and utility organizations, including Oglethorpe, can use Contract Management to help manage construction agreements and automate enforcement of business terms to help reduce costly overruns or incomplete projects.

In addition, Lawson Contract Management can store corporate and other non-purchasing contracts, helping to create a more comprehensive view of these enterprise documents. The application also helps companies develop customized procurement contracts for products or services to meet their evolving needs. Lawson Contract Management is also compatible with Lawson Business Intelligence, which helps organizations create virtually unlimited types of reports to meet the specific needs of departments and managers.

"Controlling costs is one of the most challenging business issues facing healthcare and public sector organizations," said Keith Lohkamp, product strategist, Lawson Software. "Lawson Contract Management works with existing Lawson applications, such as Lawson Strategic Sourcing and Lawson Procurement, to help customers minimize supply costs, which typically make up an organization's largest expense after employee compensation. It helps simplify sourcing, contract creation, enforcement of pricing on purchases, and ongoing management of contracts."

About Lawson Software

Lawson Software provides software and service solutions to 4,000 customers in manufacturing, distribution, maintenance and service sector industries across 40 countries. Lawson's solutions include Enterprise Performance Management, Supply Chain Management, Enterprise Resource Planning, Customer Relationship Management, Manufacturing Resource Planning, Enterprise Asset Management and industry-tailored applications. Lawson solutions assist customers in simplifying their businesses or organizations by helping them streamline processes, reduce costs and enhance business or operational performance. Lawson is headquartered in St. Paul, Minn., and has offices around the world. Visit Lawson online at www.lawson.com.

Forward-Looking Statements

This press release contains forward-looking statements that contain risks and uncertainties. These forward-looking statements contain statements of intent, belief or current expectations of Lawson Software and its management. Such forward-looking statements are not guarantees of future results and involve risks and uncertainties that may cause actual results to differ materially from the potential results discussed in the forward-looking statements. The company is not obligated to update forward-looking statements based on circumstances or events that occur in the future. Risks and uncertainties that may cause such differences include but are not limited to: uncertainties in Lawson's ability to realize synergies and revenue opportunities anticipated from the Intentia International acquisition; uncertainties in the software industry; uncertainties as to when and whether the conditions for the recognition of deferred revenue will be satisfied; increased competition; uncertainty regarding potential future deterioration in the market for auction rate securities which could result in additional permanent impairment charges, global military conflicts; terrorist attacks; pandemics, and any future events in response to these developments; changes in conditions in the company's targeted industries and other risk factors listed in the company's most recent Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q and the most recent Annual Report on Form 10-K filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Lawson assumes no obligation to update any forward-looking information contained in this press release.

Contacts

Lawson Software
Joe Thornton, +1-651-767-6154
joe.thornton@us.lawson.com
or
Weber Shandwick
Jenny Myers, +1-217-649-2965
jmyers@webershandwick.com

Center to Assist All Victims of Mesothelioma

Mesothelioma Victims Center to Assist All Victims of Mesothelioma

Americas Watchdog has created the Mesothelioma Victims Center as a free service to victims or family members of victims, of a rare form of cancer called Mesothelioma. Americas Watchdog has initiated this very complete free service because there was literally nothing close to this type of service in the United States and because this type of service is sorely needed by Mesothelioma victims and their families. The Mesothelioma Victims Center was created to assist victims & their families in every way possible.

April 16, 2008 -- Americas Watchdog has just opened its Mesothelioma Victims Center, as a way to assist and protect victims of a rare form of cancer called Mesothelioma. The service is free to Mesothelioma victims or their families.

Until a family member was diagnosed with Mesothelioma, Americas Watchdog had never heard of this disease or knew much about it. Mesothelioma is a rare and lethal form of cancer. Mesothelioma is caused by exposure to asbestos. The group never realized that there was no safety net for victims, to get help from the government. They did not know how difficult it might be to get veterans benefits or social security benefits. Americas Watchdog also discovered that it is critical for victims of this lethal disease to get proper legal representation. They have designed the Mesothelioma Victims Center to be the national advocacy center for the victims and family members of Mesothelioma.Their service is free.

Their services include:
* Assisting the victims obtain Social Security permanent disability payments
* If the victim is a veteran and was exposed to asbestos during military duty, we will work with the victim and his/her family in obtaining veterans disability and health care benefits.
* We will assist the family in getting the best possible health care options
* We will assist the victim in getting legal representation.
* We will assist the victim and their family in getting counseling on a wide variety of topics that arise from this disease. A victim of Mesothelioma or their family can call the group any time at 866-714-6466.

Who Can Get Mesothelioma?

* Individuals who served in the US Navy. Especially Navy personnel who served in or around naval ship engine rooms.
* Members of the US Army, Air Force, Marines, or Coast Guard.
* Naval shop yard workers
* Ship yard workers
* Automotive repair specialists
* Construction workers
* Plumbers
* Demolition contractors

Because no other group is providing this full range of services and because victims and their families need assistance in these areas, Americas Watchdog is doing this at no charge because its the right thing to do. Americas Watchdog's Mesothelioma Victims Center web site is located at Http://MesotheliomaVictimsCenter.Com . Any one wishing more information can call the Mesothelioma Victims Center anytime at 866-714-6466.

Americas Watchdog and its Mesothelioma Victims Center are all about taking care of precious souls in need and corporate responsibility.

Press Contact: THOMAS MARTIN
Company Name: Americas Watchdog
Phone: 866-714-6466
Website: http://MesotheliomaVictimsCenter.Com

Personal Injury Law Firm Makes General Motors Settles Auto Defect Case

General Motors Settles Auto Defect Case -- California Personal Injury Law Firm Bisnar Chase Wins Settlement

General Motors Corporation agreed to an out-of-court settlement of an automobile defect claim brought by a California teenager who was a passenger in a GMC Yukon accident. The California personal injury law firm of Bisnar Chase represented Michael Samardzich of Diamond Bar in the settlement reached in Los Angeles County for a "Confidential" amount, CASE No. BC 363661, Superior Court of California, County of Los Angeles, Central District.

Los Angeles, CA  -  March 7, 2008 -- General Motors Corporation agreed to an out-of-court settlement of an automobile defect claim brought by a California teenager who was a passenger in a GMC Yukon accident. The California personal injury law firm of Bisnar Chase represented Michael Samardzich of Diamond Bar in the settlement reached in Los Angeles County for a "Confidential" amount, CASE No. BC 363661, Superior Court of California, County of Los Angeles, Central District.

On July 7, 2006, Samardzich was a passenger in a GMC Yukon driven by Vincent Ibarra. Traveling westbound on Golden Springs Drive in Los Angeles County, Ibarra made a left turn at the intersection of Diamond Bar Boulevard. At the same time, Steven Jinseon Kang was operating a vehicle proceeding eastbound on Golden Springs Drive and hit the GMC truck on the right passenger's side.

The impact shattered the side passenger window of the GMC Yukon. Glass shards pierced and ruptured Samardzich's left eye, permanently blinding him. Samardzich was properly restrained at the time of the accident, the police report showed.

"Had General Motors used laminated glass instead of the less-expensive tempered glass, the side passenger window of the GMC truck would not have shattered and would not have caused permanent and serious personal injury to Samardzich," says John Bisnar, founder and partner of Bisnar Chase.

"This settlement was an appropriate resolution to Mr. Samardzich's claim against General Motors," says John Bisnar, founder and partner of Bisnar Chase. "Both sides took into consideration the costs and risks associated with taking the case to trial and settled for an amount greater than General Motors wanted to pay and less than my client demanded. It is Mr. Samardzich's hope that his lawsuit helps encourage General Motors to build safer vehicles and thereby prevents others from suffering a similar injury."

About Bisnar Chase:
Bisnar Chase is a California personal injury law firm that represents people who have been very seriously injured because of an accident, a defective product or negligence. Most of their accident and defective product cases are auto-related. They include cases against negligent drivers who have caused serious traffic accidents and against auto companies like Ford and General Motors that have manufactured defective vehicles. For more information, visit: www.auto-defect-attorneys.com, www.bisnar-chase.com and www.californiainjuryblog.com

Press Contact: John Bisnar
Company Name: Bisnar Chase
Phone: 949-752-2999
Website: www.auto-defect-attorneys.com

Rules Of Internet Marketing For Attorneys

Internet Expert To Share The Ten Golden Rules Of Internet Marketing For Attorneys At Legal Marketing Association Luncheon, April 10, 2008

Jay Berkowitz, dissects latest search engine optimization techniques for law firms (http://tengoldenrules.com/tgr-legal-marketing-association.htm) and Internet marketing for attorneys.

Boca Raton, FL  -  April 9, 2008 -- Jay Berkowitz, an industry leader in Internet marketing, announced he will be presenting his "Ten Golden Rules of Internet Marketing For Attorneys." This one day event will be held at Antique Car Museum in Ft. Lauderdale, FL on April 10, 2008 for the members and non-members of the Legal Marketing Association. Internet marketing for personal injury lawyers has become very competitive; the experts at Ten Golden Rules have been in the lawyer space for several years driving traffic to websites and converting those people into leads.

Overview:
Jay Berkowitz will explore the critical strategies and tactics for success at Internet marketing for attorneys:
* How to improve your website so it shows up in Google searches
* How to generate positive return-on-investment with online advertising
* How to build ongoing relationships with the potential clients who visit a website
* How to capitalize on the Ten Leading Trends in online marketing today
* How to plan media and develop creative and landing pages that sell
* Pay-Per-Click campaign development and advanced optimization strategies
* Web Optimized PR - turn your press releases into website traffic generators
* MySpace, Wikipedia, Twitter, Second Life - How Web 2.0 impacts business
* Hands-on analysis and improvements for your website

"The Legal Marketing Association brings the most relevant marketing tips to our members and the legal community. For many attorneys, Internet marketing is something we all hear about but unsure of what the first steps should be," said Margaret Grisdela, Co-Chair of the South Florida Legal Marketing Association City Group. "We are thrilled to have SEO expert, Jay Berkowitz demonstrate the latest search engine optimization law firms can implement for better results on the web."

About Ten Golden Rules:
Ten Golden Rules are Internet marketing experts based in Boca Raton, Florida. One of the firms focus is on Internet marketing for personal injury lawyers, helping law firms develop the best search engine optimization strategies and achieve better website ROI, using the most effective search engine marketing tactics and creating ideas for marketing on the Internet. For more information please visit www.TenGoldenRules.com. The 10 Golden Rules Internet Marketing Podcast is available at Podcast.TenGoldenRules.com and on iTunes.

Press Contact: Jay Berkowitz
Company Name: Ten Golden Rules
Phone: 561-620-9121
Website: www.tengoldenrules.com

More Drivers Need DUI Lawyers

New Year's Eve Arrests Leave More Drivers in Need of Aggressive DUI Lawyers

Aggressive DUI Lawyer, a network of southern California DUI lawyers, is offering services to the many drivers who were arrested for drunk driving over the holidays.

San Francisco, CA  -  January 5 -- Aggressive DUI Lawyer, a network of southern California DUI lawyers, is offering services to the many drivers who were arrested for drunk driving over the holidays.

The new year is here, and as the celebrations come to an end, the California Highway Patrol is revealing just how many drunk driving arrests took place over the holidays. Bay Area law enforcement agencies have been some of the first to release their drunken driving arrest statistics. They recently stated that 2,736 people were arrested for driving under the influence of drugs or alcohol in the Bay Area between December 14 and 30.

Undoubtedly, many people in Southern California have found themselves in similar situations, as the statistics from New Year's Eve will reveal. Aggressive DUI Lawyer, a network of San Diego, Orange County and Los Angeles DUI lawyers, is offering their services to those arrested on DUI charges in Southern California. With an experienced DUI lawyer, Orange County, San Diego and Los Angeles residents will likely receive a more favorable outcome to their case.

More people are arrested during the month of December for drunk driving than any other month of the year, and many people in Southern California are currently awaiting trial. San Diego, Orange County and Los Angeles DUI lawyers can assist with these cases, using their expert knowledge to get results. As Bay Area law enforcement agencies have already shown, drunken driving arrests are an unpleasant but undeniable part of the holidays. With an experienced DUI lawyer, though, it's possible to start 2008 on the right foot and put those drunken driving charges in the past.

To find a Los Angeles, Orange County or San Diego DUI lawyer, or to get more information, visit www.aggressiveduilawyer.info.

About Aggressive DUI Lawyer:

Aggressive DUI Lawyer is a network of specially trained Los Angeles, Orange County and San Diego DUI lawyers. Anyone who is arrested for drunken driving charges in these three counties can turn to them for information and assistance in the fight to clear the charges and get their licenses back.

Their basic company principles will ensure the best possible defense:

- Aggressive Defense: As their name says, clients get an extremely aggressive defense provided by a highly experienced lawyer who will leave no stone unturned and no evidence unquestioned.
- Client's Comfort: They get their clients out of jail in no time and take immediate actions to reinstate their driving privileges
- Investigations: They'll double check all the evidence and re-analyze all the samples provided.
- Provide the Best Services: Aggressive DUI Lawyer focuses only on misdemeanor, drunk driving and traffic matters in California.

Press Contact: Mike Cheslar
Company Name: Aggressive DUI Lawyer
Phone: 760 431 8594
Website: http://www.aggressiveduilawyer.info/

Working Capital Finance Services for Growing Companies

Far West Capital Announces Working Capital Finance Services for Growing Companies

Texas-based factoring company provides working capital financing services for customers across the United States, through accounts receivable factoring, asset-based lending and similar services.

Cedar Park, TX  -  October 12, 2007 -- Small businesses in need of working capital financing have a new option. Far West Capital provides invoice factoring, asset based lending, and similar services designed to provide growing companies with much-needed working capital. Based in Texas, the company serves customers nationwide.

Far West Capital is a specialty finance company that provides highly customized working capital services to small and medium-sized companies. These services can benefit any business with accounts receivable (invoices) that needs capital for sustained operation and continued growth. Companies can use the working capital they obtain through this service for a variety of business needs -- material acquisition, operating capital, turnaround financing, recapitalization and more.

Working Capital Finance, Explained

Working capital refers to liquid assets a company has with which to operate. By extension, working capital financing refers to various financial services that provide businesses with the capital they need to maintain their operations.

"Essentially, we provide companies with the cash flow they need to keep their businesses going," said Cole Harmonson, the company's president, "so our primary service is referred to as working capital financing."

Far West Capital provides financing through several channels:
* Factoring of Accounts Receivable - Customers sell their outstanding invoices or receivables in exchange for cash / working capital for their business. Also commonly referred to as invoice factoring services.
* Asset Based Lending - Customers present a borrowing base, which consists of their existing and ongoing accounts receivable and inventory. The customer then receives funding upon presentation of that base.
* Purchase Order Financing - Far West Capital assumes the customer's purchase orders in exchange for cash / working capital for their business.

A Factoring Company With a Difference

Leading Far West Capital is Cole Harmonson, who has more than 11 years' experience in the world of working capital financing and factoring. Harmonson explained what it is that makes Far West Capital different from other factoring companies within the working capital finance industry:

"We customize the relationship based on the needs of our clients. A lot of factoring companies preach that, but we practice it as well. Each client is different, so we start the process with this in mind, and then we create a financing solution around their individual needs. It's challenging for us, but it helps us differentiate our company by providing a more flexible service to clients."

Like Harmonson, the other members of Far West Capital are equally experienced in the world of working capital finance. In fact, the entire Far West team formerly worked together managing the Working Capital Finance Group of State Bank. Combined, the team has more than 25 years' experience with accounts receivable financing, invoice factoring, and other aspects of working capital.

An Educational Approach to Finance

Far West Capital also takes an educational approach to their business. Their website is packed with information that explains their services, and they've even started a working capital blog (a first of its kind) to further educate potential customers on the ins and outs of working capital financing. Visit the blog at http://www.farwestcap.com/blog/

"A lot of companies need our services without even realizing it," Harmonson explained. "They want to convert their accounts receivable into working cash flow, but they don't know how to go about it. Some have never even heard of factoring. That's one of the reasons we focus so heavily on customer education ... to connect our services with the needs of our potential customers."

About the Company
Far West Capital provides working capital to growing companies through accounts receivable and inventory financing tools. Based in Cedar Park, Texas, the company serves growing businesses across the United States. To learn more about the company and their financial services, please call or visit them online:

www.FarWestCap.com
info(at)farwestcap.com
512-528-1490

Safe Harbor Statement:
This release includes forward-looking statements about the company's products and services. All such forward-looking statements are subject to uncertainties that could cause actual products and services to differ from those in forward-looking statements.

Press Contact: Melissa Cornett
Company Name: Far West Capital
Phone: (512) 528-1629
Website: http://www.farwestcap.com

South African Ban on Mesothelioma-Causing Asbestos

LegalView Updates Mesothelioma Blog Readers with News of South African Ban on Mesothelioma-Causing Asbestos

LegalView, on its mesothelioma blog, recently reported an asbestos ban on the use, manufacture and processing of the cancer-causing contaminant. Asbestos was mined for decades in South Africa and since the 1960s mesothelioma cancer and related illnesses have been associated with inhalation of the deadly fibers.

Denver, CO  -  April 11, 2008 -- LegalView.com recently reported on its mesothelioma blog the ban of asbestos in South Africa. The Environmental Affairs and Tourism Minister there announced the ban with regards to the use, manufacture and processing of asbestos, which causes a deadly form of lung cancer known as mesothelioma. The South African ban marks the latest addition to a worldwide effort to ban the mineral. Currently, approximately 50 countries around the globe have prohibited the production of the contaminant. For years, asbestos was mined in the area and, according to news reports, accounted for 3 percent of the value of all of the area's minerals. To learn more about how to locate mesothelioma attorneys in your area, which may be able to provide consultation on the effects of asbestos exposure.

Asbestos, which is derived from vermiculite - the mineral mined throughout the world and the source of asbestos, was widely used in a variety of construction projects such as the main source of installation in millions of homes, apartments, schools, universities, and business and government buildings worldwide. Individuals who have been exposed to asbestos should not only speak with a medical professional immediately, but should consider finding a mesothelioma lawyer as well.

Often it isn't until years after initial exposure to asbestos that individuals begin to notice symptoms of the inhaled asbestos fibers; the end result is usually an incurable lung cancer. Victims of this cancer in need of a mesothelioma attorney should utilize LegalView's referral service to connect them with any of the many mesothelioma lawyers available through the mesothelioma information portal. Here, an individual can be referred to an experienced mesothelioma attorney who will have important information on the legal implications of exposure to asbestos.

In addition to mesothelioma, LegalView also provides information portals on topics such as traumatic brain injury (TBI), Singulair side effects and the Baxter Heparin recall. TBIs adversely affect millions of Americans each year and thousands of these cases go unreported even though the effects may be severe. TBI side effects range from memory loss to poor motor and social skills to paralysis. Individuals who have been injured in a traumatic brain injury should use the LegalView TBI information portal to locate an attorney as well as to learn about the latest TBI treatments.

On the Singulair practice area, readers will learn of the latest U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) investigation into the allergy symptom drug. The investigation stems from patient reports that there may be some Singulair side effects that are causing an increased risk of suicidal thoughts among patients.

Learn the latest updates on the FDA's investigation into the Baxter Heparin recall, which was spurred by a rash of allergic reactions among patients who had previously received the drug during surgical procedures. Most recently, the FDA discovered that a Chinese manufacturing plant was responsible for a tainted batch of Baxter Heparin. The drug is a blood thinner used to decrease the risk of deadly blood clots during surgical procedures such as heart surgery.

About LegalView:

LegalView.com is a public service brought to you by Legal WebTV Network, LLC, a Limited Liability Corporation created by a group of the nation's most highly respected law firms: Anapol Schwartz; Brent Coon and Associates; Burg Simpson; Cohen, Placitella and Roth; James F. Humphreys and Associates; Lopez McHugh; and Thornton and Naumes. For more information on the accomplishments and track records of LegalView.com's superior sponsoring law firms and to get in touch with LegalView attorneys, visit LegalView at www.LegalView.com.

Press Contact: Katie Kelley
Company Name: LegalView
Phone: 720-771-3246
Website: http://mesothelioma.legalview.com

Red Flags Resource Center Helps Financial Institutions Comply with New FACT Act

Wolters Kluwer Financial Services Launches Red Flags Resource Center to Help Financial Institutions Comply with New FACT Act Requirements

Web Site Helps Institutions Learn How to Build Comprehensive Identity Theft Prevention Program to Meet the Red Flag Rules

MINNEAPOLIS-- May 07, 2008 --Less than six months from now, U.S. financial institutions will be required by federal regulators to have implemented a comprehensive identity theft prevention program under the requirements of the Fair and Accurate Credit Transaction (FACT) Act's new Red Flag Rules. To help institutions ensure they meet the regulators' mandatory Nov. 1 compliance date, Wolters Kluwer Financial Services today announced the launch of the company's new Red Flags Resource Center.

The Red Flags Resource Center is a Web site devoted to providing financial institutions with practical information that will help them address the requirements of the new Red Flag Rules. By visiting www.WoltersKluwerFS.com/RedFlagInfo, institutions can learn how to build or update their identity theft prevention program to ensure compliance with the new requirements.

The site's content includes free access to articles, a blog and other information as well as additional tools available separately that can help financial institutions develop policies, create programs, train employees and implement a compliance solution.

"Wolters Kluwer Financial Services has a reputation for helping financial institutions swiftly and efficiently comply with regulatory changes," said Todd Cooper, vice president and general manager of the company's Financial Intelligence Unit. "The new Red Flags Resource Center builds upon that reputation by helping institutions solidify compliance with the new requirements so they are prepared for regulator review come Nov. 1."

About Wolters Kluwer Financial Services

Wolters Kluwer Financial Services provides best-in-class compliance, content, and technology solutions and services that help financial organizations manage risk and improve efficiency and effectiveness across their enterprise. The organization's prominent brands include Bankers Systems, VMP® Mortgage Solutions, PCi, GulfPak, Desert Document Services®, AppOne®, GainsKeeper®, CCH® Capital Changes, NILS INsource®, AuthenticWebT and CCH® Wall Street.

Wolters Kluwer Financial Services' solutions include integrated and stand-alone compliance and workflow tools, documentation, analytics, authoritative information and professional services. Customers include banks, credit unions, mortgage lenders and securities and insurance organizations of all sizes throughout the United States. For more information on Wolters Kluwer Financial Services, visit www.WoltersKluwerFS.com.

Wolters Kluwer is a leading global information services and publishing company. The company provides products and services globally for professionals in the health, tax, accounting, corporate, financial services, legal and regulatory sectors. Wolters Kluwer has annual revenues (2007) of ?3.4 billion ($4.8 billion), maintains operations in over 33 countries across Europe, North America and Asia Pacific and employs approximately 19,500 people worldwide. Wolters Kluwer is headquartered in Amsterdam, the Netherlands. Visit www.WoltersKluwer.com for information about our market positions, customers, brands and organization.

Contacts

Wolters Kluwer Financial Services
Jennifer Marso, 612-852-7912
Director of Corporate Communications
Jennifer.marso@wolterskluwer.com
or
Charles Miller, 320-240-5457
Senior Public Relations Specialist
Charles.miller@wolterskluwer.com

Anti-counterfeit Drug Analyzer Provides Real-time Analysis

Briefcase-sized Portable Anti-counterfeit Drug Analyzer Provides Real-time Analysis Anywhere, Anytime

ASD Inc. introduces the RxSpec® 700Z -- a powerful new weapon in the Pharmaceutical Industry's war on counterfeit drugs. User-friendly system provides non-destructive, on-the-spot lab quality analysis for field agents from industry, government, and law enforcement world-wide.

Boulder, CO - May 1, 2008 --- ASD Inc. introduces the RxSpec® 700Z anti-counterfeit drug analyzer (http://www.asdi.com/products-rxspec700z.asp), a lightweight fully-portable lab-quality system contained in a rugged aluminum briefcase. For the first time in history, field agents from industry, government, and law enforcement have the ability to test drugs on the spot, anywhere, anytime, to determine whether the actual pill, rather than the packaging, is authentic or counterfeit. With a much wider spectral range than other market offerings, the system simultaneously analyzes, in mere seconds, all components of the pharmaceutical in question, rather than the active ingredient only -- and because the test is non-destructive, the sample is unaltered and preserved. The system operates on either battery or wall power, and weighs a little less than 23 pounds (10.4 kg). The RxSpec 700Z is the realization of several years of extensive research and development, eight patents, and ASD's solid track record of building drug identification technology.

Counterfeiting and theft within the pharmaceutical industry supply chain range from conservative estimates of $30 billion to more than $50 billion in annual losses to corporations, according to market studies by organizations such as IMS Health and the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA). Additionally, while the extent of pharmaceutical counterfeiting varies among different regions in the world, there is consensus among regulatory bodies that the problem is an extremely dangerous and escalating threat to the health and safety of the world's population. In 2003 the FDA established the Counterfeit Drug Task Force as a new initiative to combat this growing problem. ASD has answered this call to action with the RxSpec® 700Z anti-counterfeit drug analyzer.

"Field agents will find the easy-to-use interface of the RxSpec 700Z quick and intuitive," said Tom Brown, ASD Vice President of Sales and Channel Management. "And because the test takes only a few seconds, the agents will now be able to act more quickly when they have discovered a counterfeit."

ASD will be showing the RxSpec 700Z at the following 2008 events: The Fourth Global Forum on Pharmaceutical AntiCounterfeiting (http://www.pharma-anticounterfeiting.info/) in Washington DC, June 4-6; Combating Counterfeit Medicines Symposium (http://www.jpag.org/Programme0608.pdf) in London, UK, June 12; Bio International Convention (http://www.bio2008.org/) in San Diego, California, June 17-20; 2008 AAPS National Biotechnology Conference (http://www.aapspharmaceutica.com/meetings/biotec/bt08/index.asp) in Toronto, Canada, June 22-25.

About ASD

ASD Inc. is unsurpassed in solving some of the world's most challenging materials measurement problems. We collaborate with industrial professionals, analytical researchers, and remote sensing scientists to provide the most reliable, high-performance analytical instrumentation solutions for real-world applications. Established in 1990 and based in Boulder, Colorado, USA, ASD Inc. has customers world-wide.

For more information, please contact Amanda Griffin, ASD Marketing Communications Manager, 2555 55th Street, Suite 100, Boulder, CO, 80301 USA; 303/444-6522, 303/444-6825 (fax); mktg @ asdi.com; www.asdi.com.

Contact Information
Amanda Griffin
ASD Inc
http://www.asdi.com
303.444.6522 +129

Small Law Firms Create Million Dollar Practices with Law Firm Marketing

Law Firm Marketing Helps Small Law Firms Create Million Dollar Practices with Proven System of Nation's Largest Law Firm Marketing Company

The Rainmaker Retreat is a two day law firm marketing boot camp for small and solo law firms. At the Rainmaker Retreat, small and solo law firm members learn proven, step-by-step strategies to build successful, seven-figure practices. This event is being presented by The Rainmaker Institute, LLC, the nation's largest law firm marketing company for small law firms and is sponsored by the Los Angeles County Bar Association (LACBA). It will be held April 25-26, 2008. LACBA member discounts are available.

Los Angeles, CA  -  April 22, 2008 -- The Rainmaker Retreat is a two day law firm marketing program for small and solo law firm members to help them learn proven, step-by-step strategies to build successful, seven-figure practices. This event is being presented by The Rainmaker Institute, LLC, the nation's largest law firm marketing company for small law firms and sponsored by the Los Angeles County Bar Association (LACBA). It will be held April 25-26, 2008

A $9,338.00 value, the registration cost for this two-day law firm marketing boot camp is only $1,397. LACBA member discount are available.

Past participants have found that proven system they learn at The Rainmaker Retreat does work. "I opened my own firm 15 years ago and each year was better than the last," said Los Angeles attorney Scott Baker, practicing in small business advice and construction defense. "I think if I had taken this course 5 years ago, I wouldn't have to worry about next year."
   
Some of the strategies that make this law firm marketing seminar valuable include:
• How attorneys can create a network of referral sources in 90 days
• How to use "keep in touch" letters to generate more qualified referrals
• 5 proven strategies to get more attention, command more respect and charge higher fees
• The top 10 deadliest mistakes attorneys make with their websites and how to avoid them
• Steps for creating a personalized Marketing Action Plan (MAP)

Stephen Fairley is one of the presenters at the Rainmaker Retreat. He is CEO of the nation's largest law firm marketing company for small law firms, The Rainmaker Institute, and the international bestselling author of 10 books. Travis Greenlee is the other key presenter. He is a Master Business Coach and former financial consultant with Merrill Lynch. Greenlee has trained thousands of professionals since 1991 and specializes in helping small and solo law firms leverage the internet to attract more and better clients and increase their revenues.

Registrations are now being taken for the April 25-26th LA Rainmaker Retreat at 888-588-5891 or online at www.RainmakerRetreat.com/lacba.

For more information and to register, contact: 888-588-5891

About The Rainmaker Institute, LLC and the Rainmaker Retreat
The Rainmaker Institute, LLC is the nation's largest strategic law firm marketing company specializing in helping small law firms. Stephen Fairley, named "America's Top Marketing Coach," is CEO of the company, a best-selling author of 10 books and a nationally recognized law firm marketing expert. For more information, call 888-588-5891 or visit www.RainmakerRetreat.com

Press Contact: Stephen Fairley
Company Name: The Rainmaker Institute
Phone: 888-588-5891
Website: www.RainmakerRetreat.com/lacba

Different Solution to Real Estate Mortgage Crisis Needed

Real Estate Center Economist: Different Solution to Mortgage Crisis Needed

The five-year freeze on mortgage interest rates recently announced by the federal government may be intended to help responsible homeowners avoid foreclosure, but a noted economist with the Real Estate Center at Texas A&M University says there may be a better solution to the mortgage crisis.

College Station, Tex.  -  December 19 -- The five-year freeze on mortgage interest rates recently announced by the federal government may be intended to help responsible homeowners avoid foreclosure, but a noted economist with the Real Estate Center at Texas A&M University says there may be a better solution to the mortgage crisis.

"The federal government has to be very careful in addressing this problem," said Dr. Mark Dotzour, the Center's chief economist. "Aggressive government intervention in the mortgage market will only create additional uncertainty for bond investors. Freezing interest rates is a bad idea. When you tell an investor that the contract they hold is no longer valid, it constitutes actual taking of private property."

Dotzour added that if the government intervenes and rewrites the terms of existing mortgage contracts, bond investors will become leery of buying mortgage bonds in the future and will demand higher interest rates for the higher perceived risk.

Research Economist Dr. James Gaines, also with the Center, agrees, calling the basic premise of the plan shaky and the details sketchy.

"For the most part, the homeowners and borrowers likely to benefit from the interest rate freeze are the very same people who would have the best chance of renegotiating their loans with the lender in the first place — a borrower with a relatively sound credit rating and a history of making payments who simply needs a little help to keep from going into full default," Gaines said.

So how can the federal government speed the recovery process in the U.S. housing markets?

The first thing the government should do, Dotzour said, is cut short-term interest rates to 2 or 3 percent. At the same time, they could aggressively purchase mortgage bonds and long treasuries to drive down the ten-year yield, which Dotzour said has already dropped below 4 percent in the past six months.

After that, the government needs to address the increased risk premium in the mortgage market by establishing conservative mortgage guidelines and creating a new government "seal of approval" for mortgage loans that meet standard underwriting guidelines. Dotzour said this would help raise confidence in private bond rating agencies and the mortgage insurance industry.

"Together, these efforts would drive down mortgage interest rates dramatically and allow American homeowners to refinance," Dotzour said. "This looks like heavy-handed government intervention into the housing market, but we are likely to see heavy-handed intervention anyway, so we might as well do something that might actually work."

The Real Estate Center (http://recenter.tamu.edu) has been providing solutions through research for 35 years. Funded primarily by Texas real estate licensee fees, the Center was created by the state legislature to meet the needs of many audiences, including the real estate industry, instructors, researchers and the general public.

Note to Editors
To interview Dr. Mark Dotzour, call 979-862-6292

Additional research information:

Dr. James Gaines, 979-845-2079

Other contacts: Bryan Pope, 979-845-2088, BPope(at)mays.tamu.edu. For information on the Real Estate Center, contact Senior Editor David. S. Jones at 979-845-2039 (voice), 979-845-0460 (fax) or djones(at)recenter.tamu.edu. More than 29,000 pages of data are available at the Center's web site.

Press Contact: Dr. Mark Dotzour
Company Name: The Real Estate Center
Phone: 979-862-6292
Website: recenter.tamu.edu