- Mike Ferrara | May 31, 2007 11:50 AM |
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Automobile AccidentsAn assistant principal at Fort Dodge (IA) Senior High School, involved in a one car auto accident Friday, has died.Kyle Andersen, 30, died Saturday of injuries he sustained in the crash. He was a popular assistant principal at the school. A memorial was held at the school's graduation the following day. Anderson had graduated from the same school in 1994 and many of his co-workers...
- Mike Ferrara | May 31, 2007 12:05 AM |
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Medical MalpracticeThere were many years when the tobacco industry paid doctors to say the cigarette smoking didn't cause cancer. If anyone made that argument today they would be ridiculed. The same shift of public opinion is beginning to happen on the need for tort reform. Doctors have advocated the need for medical malpractice reforms in the state legislatures. The truth is slowly coming out that there...
- Mike Ferrara | May 30, 2007 1:38 AM |
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Workplace InjuriesRalph A. Kraeger, 45, becomes the latest workplace accident victim. He died 13 days after he was critically hurt in a work accident. This incident in Nebraska serves to remind us all that there are far too many workers killed and injured in workplace accidents. Employers and general contractors can do more to stop these tragedies from occurring.
- Mike Ferrara | May 30, 2007 12:42 AM |
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Automobile AccidentsWhen you stop at a stop sign, always remember that the driver on the through street has every right to assume you will remain stopped. Irma Heredia, 42, of Porterville, California did stop her 2000 Ford Escort at the stop sign but then pulled out in the path of an oncoming car. The police said the oncoming driver of a 2002 Isuzu Trooper was going about 60 miles per hour and couldn't stop in...
- Mike Ferrara | May 29, 2007 5:45 PM |
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Medical MalpracticeA study done by the United States Department of Justice confirms that the much-hyped "medical malpractice crisis" simply doesn't exist. Most cases brought against doctors are dismissed and the ones that go to trial are generally won by the doctors. This study by the Bureau of Justice Statistics of the Justice Department needs to be widely disseminated by the media to debunk the Chamber of...
- Mike Ferrara | May 28, 2007 10:23 PM |
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Defective & Dangerous ProductsUnited States District Judge Noel Hillman, sitting in the United States District Court for the District of New Jersey, heard arguments late last week in the Menu Foods cases. Menu is the company accused of selling defective pet food that has sickened or killed nearly 30,000 pet owners. They recalled 6 million cans of pet food. During the two day hearing, Judge Hillman expressed his...
- Mike Ferrara | May 28, 2007 4:05 PM |
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Defective & Dangerous ProductsWhen ever a Navy plane is lost, the Navy assembles a group of the best experts to find out what caused the loss. Their purpose is to try to make sure, as far as possible, that the same mistakes don't happen again. This recent tragedy of the death of New England Patriot player Marquise Hill, in the prime of his life, presents an opportunity for everyone to think about being more careful. ...
- Mike Ferrara | May 28, 2007 1:45 AM |
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Defective & Dangerous ProductsToday is Memorial Day. Many Americans are happy they get the day off from work and can spend the time with their families and loved ones. How many really know why this day is important? Let's all honor the men and women who have died in the service of our country during the past 200+ years. They gave the ultimate sacrifice so we can enjoy the lives we have. Try to go out of your way...
- Mike Ferrara | May 28, 2007 12:19 AM |
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Automobile AccidentsThe President of the leading AFL-CIO union dealing with railroad workers, Edward Wytkind, offers a series of sensible ideas to help improve railroad safety. His proposals set forth in the San Antonio Express-News are reprinted here. Mr. Wytkind is president of the Transportation Trades Department, AFL-CIO. He represents several million rail, mass transit, aviation, highway, longshore,...
- Mike Ferrara | May 27, 2007 7:07 AM |
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Defective & Dangerous ProductsAttention contact lens users. The Center for Disease Control (CDC) has issued a warning concerning the contact lens solution known as AMO Complete Moisture Plus Multi-Purpose Solution. AMO (NYSE: EYE) is the name of the manufacturer, Advanced Medical Optics. The company has pulled this contact lens solution from stores around the country. The CDC confirmed 138 cases of the eye...
- Mike Ferrara | May 26, 2007 11:53 PM |
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Medical MalpracticeA San Diego jury awarded $5.7 million to Regis Reilly, now 53. They found that Reilly's doctor failed to diagnose his skin cancer. The verdict will be reduced to $1.9 million because of the medical malpractice caps that exist in California. In most other states, the entire verdict would be paid. There have been numerous valid studies that have shown that medical malpractice caps do...
- Mike Ferrara | May 25, 2007 12:47 AM |
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MiscellaneousIn one of the most blatant attempts to reward his corporate donors, known as the Bush Rangers, President Bush nominated a strident anti-consumer candidate to head the Consumer Product Safety Commission. A grass roots effort by consumer groups convinced Michael Barody to remove himself from consideration. This spared the Bush Administration from the embarrassment this would have caused...
- Mike Ferrara | May 23, 2007 11:08 AM |
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Workplace InjuriesThe Journal of the American Medical Association reports that in 2005 there were 5,702 work related deaths in the United States. The good news is that is an 8% reduction in the number of deaths since 1992. The bad news is that each of these deaths was avoidable. Owners and contractors need to step up their efforts to insure worker safety. ITT, a major corporation, has set a goal of zero...
- Mike Ferrara | May 23, 2007 10:25 AM |
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Property Owner's Liability (Slip & Fall)Arf Arf. America's dog owners need to do a better job keeping their dogs under control. One group that is not happy is the National Association Letter Carriers who report that 3154 of their letter carriers got biten last year. In all, there were 4.7M dog bite victims in 2006. Since this is National Dog Bite Prevention Week, all dog owners need to re-evaluate what they need to do...
- Mike Ferrara | May 23, 2007 12:31 AM |
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Automobile AccidentsAnyone who has driven on Eastern highways the past several years has noticed modern white buses with very few markings whizzing along. A closer look reveals some Chinese letters and an English language notice of ownership. These buses provide quick and inexpensive transport to the Chinese-American centers of Philadelphia, Washington and New York. The fares are very low and they typically...
- Mike Ferrara | May 22, 2007 12:37 AM |
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Defective & Dangerous ProductsAfter the Vioxx fiasco that has caused countless heart attacks and strokes, the FDA to their credit, is stepping up their oversight role. In the past, drug companies got whatever they wanted at the FDA. But no more. The latest FDA salvo against Glaxo Smith Kline came in the form a warning about possible heart attacks from their diabetes drug Avandia. The FDA issued a press release that...
- Mike Ferrara | May 22, 2007 12:18 AM |
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Automobile AccidentsMany of you may remember the problem with Ford Crown Victoria Police Cruisers. They still have gas tanks behind the rear axles, despite Ford's knowledge that placing the tank there puts the driver at serious risk. Many deaths occur when someone pulls over to the side of the road and is struck in the rear. The latest case is from Lee County, Florida, where the passenger was killed when the...
- Mike Ferrara | May 16, 2007 10:39 AM |
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Automobile AccidentsAs we have discussed several times before in this space, teen driving is a national problem. Allstate Insurance Company is running full page ads trying to raise the national consciousness level of this horrendous problem, one that is largely being ignored by the national media. Another 17-year-old was pronounced brain dead yesterday in South Carolina after suffering a traumatic brain injury...
- Mike Ferrara | May 15, 2007 11:40 AM |
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Automobile AccidentsWith so many choices of cars to buy, why not make safety your first priority? The 2008 Ford Taurus and the 2007 Acura MDX luxury SUV were just given the highest possible safety ratings by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety. The other winners [I have exluded the SUV's since they use too much gasoline] were the Audi A6 in the large car class, the Audi A4, Saab 9-3 and Suburu Legacy in...
- Mike Ferrara | May 11, 2007 9:55 AM |
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Automobile AccidentsAnother teen driver dead. Three more teens injured. The Spring slaughter of teenage drivers continues unabated. The lastest tragedy happened yesterday in Dearborn, Michigan when a 17 year old was killed and three teen passangers, aged 15, 15 and 17, were seriously injured when their 2006 Jeep SUV rolled over and struck a tree. Police report speeding played a factor. As as been...
- Mike Ferrara | May 11, 2007 12:23 AM |
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Defective & Dangerous ProductsThe Consumer Product Safety Commission and the Evenflo Corporation have recalled the Evenflo Embrace infant car seats. Should you have one, there is a toll fre number that Evenflo has set up to answer your questions. It is 800.490.7497. There have been 160 injuries to date, ranging from cuts and scrapes to brain trauma. The recalled model numbers begin with the following prefixes: ...
- Mike Ferrara | May 09, 2007 11:45 PM |
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Defective & Dangerous ProductsIn a bold move to help the manufacturing lobby and repay them for their contributions to the Republican Party, President Bush inexplicably nominated the Executive Vice President of the National Association of Manufacturers (NAM) to Chair the Consumer Products Safety Commission (CPSC). This outrage will be the subject of massive opposition when the consumers of the country, already unhappy...
- Mike Ferrara | May 09, 2007 10:30 PM |
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Workplace InjuriesThe number of workers dying on the job this year will reach almost 6,000. More than two million will be seriously injured. Another 50,000 or more will die from cancer, lung and heart ailments and other occupational diseases caused by exposure to toxic substances.The financial toll will also be high: more than $3 billion in health care expenses and other costs to employers and workers, such as...
- Mike Ferrara | May 08, 2007 11:32 PM |
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Medical MalpracticeBy the narrowist of margins, the Arizona House of Representatives defeated attempts make it more difficult for victims ot medical malpractice to bring lawsuits. The bill had already passed the Senate. A similar bill last year was vetoed by Governor Napolitano. The doctors and their allies claimed the bill was needed because they contend frivolous lawsuits scare doctors away from...
- Mike Ferrara | May 07, 2007 12:34 AM |
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Automobile AccidentsActing New Jersey Governor Richard Codey signed a new bill into law that cracks down on negligent school bus drivers. The need for such a law arose after several incidents in South Jersey where drivers left three year old students on their buses when they finished their runs. The new law imposes a six-month school bus license suspension for a driver who leaves a student on a bus. A second...
- Mike Ferrara | May 06, 2007 10:28 PM |
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Automobile AccidentsAs two more teens died on their way to school in Ohio last Friday, the same day that three teens died in Harrisburg, PA, Michael A. Ferrara, Jr., a Past President of the Association of Trial Lawyers of America - New Jersey, has called on the legislators of all 50 states to make it harder for teens to get their licenses. These last tragedies in Loudonville, Ohio and Harrisburg,...
- Mike Ferrara | May 06, 2007 12:10 AM |
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Workplace InjuriesA day laborer was killed when a trench collapsed at a construction site in New York. The worker, Juan Amendano, 30, was a married father of two. The eight foot trench collapsed at the site of work on an elementary school. The construction company owner, Mohammad Saigad, was cited for failure to provide protection on the sides of excavation and working without a permit. Ultimately, OSHA...
- Mike Ferrara | May 05, 2007 11:53 PM |
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Defective & Dangerous ProductsEver wonder how safe a roller coaster is before you get on it? At Expoland in Japan, a teen was klled and others injured on a roller coaster. Investigators said an axle broke. It had not been inpsected prior to the new season beginning at the amusement park. Hopefully, this incident will spur amusement parks such as Six Flags to do the kind of thorough inspections and planned...
- Mike Ferrara | May 05, 2007 1:40 PM |
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MiscellaneousHave you seen the full page ads sponsored by the Chamber of Commerce? They spend $50,000,000 a year attacking our Civil Justice System. The media needs to ask them to prove their baseless claims. One ad depicted a lawyer with dollar bills stuffed in his mouth with the caption: "Don't Feed the Trial Lawyers". While you may initially smile, this is no different than Soviet-Era propagada. ...
- Mike Ferrara | May 05, 2007 1:22 PM |
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MiscellaneousAn Iowa jury has returned a verdict for $228,000 in a case where a 13 year old boy suffered permanent muscle and nerve damage in his arm. He was bitten by a German Shepard. Despite attempts by big business and the Chamber of Commerce to talk about tort reform and jackpot justice, jurors are in a unique positon to make sure that justice is done. This is a time of personal responsibility. ...
- Mike Ferrara | May 04, 2007 6:36 PM |
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Automobile AccidentsDrinking played a major role in the auto accident case took the life of 29 year old St. Louis Cardinal pitcher, Josh Hancock. He was driving a 2007 Ford Explorer when he struck the rear of a flat-bed tow truck that was helping someone from a prior auto accident. The early reports are the tow truck had flashing lights and no drinking was involved. It now has been discovered that Josh's...
- Mike Ferrara | May 03, 2007 11:03 PM |
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Automobile AccidentsA 38 year old man has been arrested for causing the death of a 12 year old boy from Camden County, New Jersey. The boy was riding his electric scootor on the shoulder of the road, when he was struck by a car driven by Michael T. Repko. After he hit the child, Repko fled the scene to try to hide the damage to his car. He is being held in the Camden County Jail and bail is set at $250,000. ...
- Mike Ferrara | May 03, 2007 10:50 PM |
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Automobile AccidentsA 60 year old highway worker was injured as he stood in the highway with his flag directing traffic to stop The first vehicle, a delivery truck, obeyed him and stopped. The second vehicle, driven by a 79 year old, did not stop and struck the delivery truck that, in turn, struck the highway worker. The Pennsylvania Department of Transportation said that proper signage marking the work...
- Mike Ferrara | May 03, 2007 10:01 PM |
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MiscellaneousThe Honorable Roy L. Pearson is a disgrace to the judiciary, the legal profession and himself. His superiors must fire him for he has shown he cannot be trusted to sit in judgment of others. This real live sitting judge in the District of Columbia Office of Administrative Hearing has filed a $65 Million Dollar lawsuit against his dry cleaner over a problem with his pants. The case would be...
- Mike Ferrara | May 03, 2007 10:01 AM |
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Workplace InjuriesA 48 year old North Carolina man fell 33 feet from a roof onto a concrete floor. He was seriously injured while working on the construction of a warehouse in Rock Hill for a HVAC company, WT Nichols. The warehouse was owned by Atotech. This incident was the second this year in North Carolina where a worker fell at a construction site. OSHA is only required to investigate if there is a...
- Mike Ferrara | May 01, 2007 10:12 PM |
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Property Owner's Liability (Slip & Fall)As warm weather approaches there will be more incidents of folks that are victims of dog bites. You must get immediate medical attention and demand proof from the dog's owner that the dog had the proper rabies shots. Make certain you correctly identify the dog's owner. Under most circumstances, the home owner's insurance company will pay all the medical bills, together with additional...