- Mike Ferrara | June 26, 2007 9:09 PM |
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Defective & Dangerous ProductsThe Judicial Panel for Multi-District Litigation, commonly known as the MDL Panel, met on May 31, 2007 in Las Vegas to decide where the hundreds of pending pet food cases would be transferred. They have now ruled that all the cases should be handled by United States District Court Judge Noel Hillman, sitting in Camden, New Jersey. One of the factors for the choice of Camden is that Menu...
- Mike Ferrara | June 26, 2007 8:58 PM |
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MiscellaneousDeputy to the Secretary of the Interior J. Steven Griles, the number two person in the Interior Department, plead guilty to obstructing a congressional investigation. His attorneys and the United States Attorney agreed on a five month jail term. However, at the sentencing, he and his attorney tried to minimize his conduct and shift the blame to the Senate. The Federal Judge, who was...
- Mike Ferrara | June 26, 2007 12:24 PM |
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Defective & Dangerous ProductsIt pays to pay attention to safety. As has been the case recently, products made in China may not have the same level of safety standards as those made in the United States, Europe, Japan or Korea. The latest recall involved 450,000 Chinese made tires sold under the brands Westlake, YKS, and Telluride. We need stronger enforcement of our import laws to make certain unsafe products don't...
- Mike Ferrara | June 25, 2007 12:02 AM |
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Workplace InjuriesIt's hard to belive, but another contruction site worker fell to his death today in North Dakota. The worker was identified as Terry Helsene, 33, of Minnesota. He fell 20 feet down an elevator shaft at his work place. The Occupational Heath and Safety Administration is investigating. However, OSHA must not be doing a very good job on these cases. There must be stricter penalties for...
- Mike Ferrara | June 24, 2007 1:04 AM |
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Medical MalpracticeWhen President Bush defeated Senator Kerry in 2004, he had the support of the vast majority of our 25 million veterans. This, despite the fact that Kerry volunteered for duty in Vietnam and won medals that were approved by senior Admirals and the Secretary of the Navy. Now, three years later, the Bush Administration threatened to veto a bill to increase veteran's health care. A...
- Mike Ferrara | June 23, 2007 11:50 PM |
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Medical MalpracticePublic Citizen has has ranked the serious disciplinary actions taken by State Medical Boards. New Jersey has 32,662 physicians. In 2006, there were 84 serious actions taken by the New Jersey Board. The action rate per 1000 physicians in NJ is 2.50--which ranks #40 of the 51 boards. The report concludes that "there is considerable evidence that most boards are under-disciplining physicians." The...
- Mike Ferrara | June 22, 2007 12:47 AM |
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Defective & Dangerous ProductsThe extremely tragic accident today at Six Flags in Kentucky amputed both feet of a 16 year old girl. Cases llke this cry out for compensation and corrective action to make sure this type of accident never happens again. When amusement park owners undertake to provide rides to the general public, they must insure that their equipment is 100% safe. There is no margin for error. Shortcuts in...
- Mike Ferrara | June 18, 2007 11:11 PM |
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Workplace InjuriesDespite the strict fall protection rules of the Occupational Health and Safety Administration (OSHA), workers continue to fall at construction sites. The latest fall occurred today at the stadium of the University of Illinois in Champagne. The worker fell 20-25 feet and suffered a head injury. Project managers, general contractors, sub-contractors and project owners must do more to stop...
- Mike Ferrara | June 17, 2007 11:30 PM |
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Property Owner's Liability (Slip & Fall)The Center for Disease Control and Prevention reports that there are 4.7 million dog bites a year, 800,000 of which require medical attention. That is 2191 bites a day. Every day. Of these, half involve kids. Of the children bitten, two thirds between the ages 5 and 9 are bitten in the head and neck. There are 386,000 bites that require trips to the ER and a dozen die each year. ...
- Mike Ferrara | June 17, 2007 1:19 AM |
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Workplace InjuriesEvery CEO should strive to achieve the record accomplished by Cleveland Utilities. Today marked the 3 millionth hour without a work related injury. The last injury was 15 years ago in March, 1992. A company spokesperson Tim Henderson said employees encounter different dangers each day in the utility industry, anywhere from the slightest slip or fall to a major accident which could leave...
- Mike Ferrara | June 16, 2007 5:22 PM |
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Medical MalpracticePresidential candidate John Edwards, a former North Carolina trial lawyer and former United States Senator, has set forth his position on the topic of medical malpractice reform. In a positon paper released to today he called for an end to frivolous lawsuits. Edwards will require lawyers to have an expert testify that actual malpractice has occurred before bringing a suit. There will be...
- Mike Ferrara | June 14, 2007 10:06 PM |
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Defective & Dangerous ProductsAn important committee of the New Jersey Assembly voted to revise New Jersey's antiquated Wrongful Death Act that has been in effect since the mid-1800's. The old Act does not allow family members the right to recover for the grief and emotional harm they sustain in connection with the deaths of their family members who were killed as the result of the negligence of others. The new revisions...
- Mike Ferrara | June 11, 2007 5:40 PM |
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Defective & Dangerous ProductsThe United States Court of Federal Claims in Washington, D.C. began taking testimony today to determine if there is a causal link between autism and childhood vaccines. There are about 5,000 cases pending where it is claimed that the preservative thimersoal in the vaccines weakens the immune system. The first case was brought by Michelle Cedillo, 12, of Yuma, AZ.
- Mike Ferrara | June 10, 2007 12:01 AM |
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Automobile AccidentsToyota announced the world's first Quick Active Seat (QAS). When installed in a Lexus LS equipped with the Rear Pre-Crash Safety System, the frequency of whiplash auto crash injuries will be drastically reduced. There is radar in the rear bumper. If the system determines a crash is likely, the system first flashes the car's brake lights to warn the driver of the approaching vehicle and...
- Mike Ferrara | June 09, 2007 12:26 AM |
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Property Owner's Liability (Slip & Fall)A Florida jury awarded a 38 year old Florida woman $3.7 million dollars for horrendous injuries suffered after being bitten by two Rottwellers. The jury found the City of Delray Beach 60% at fault and the dog owner 40% at fault. The evidence showed that city officials were on notice, from prior incidents, that the dogs were dangerous and did nothing about it. The City Attorney in a two...
- Mike Ferrara | June 06, 2007 8:07 PM |
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MiscellaneousThree boos for the Galesburg, IL School District and three cheers for Peoria, IL attorney Jeff Green. At the recent graduation ceremony from Galesburg High, five students were denied their diplomas because friends and relatives in the audience cheered for them, in violation of the school's "no-cheering at graduation" rule. The principal, Tom Chiles, showed a marvelous lack of...
- Mike Ferrara | June 06, 2007 12:34 AM |
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Defective & Dangerous ProductsUnited States District Judge Eldon Fallon, sitting in United States District Court for the Eastern District of Louisana, awarded $1.6 million dollars to a former FBI agent who suffered a heart attack after using Vioxx. The jury verdict of $51 million was tossed by the judge last year, however Judge Fallon reversed himself. He awarded $600,000 compensatory damages and $1 million in punitive...
- Mike Ferrara | June 04, 2007 12:00 AM |
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Defective & Dangerous ProductsA jury in Atlantic City, New Jersey has found Swiss drug giant Roche responsible for problems caused by the acne drug, Accutane. They awarded $2.5 million to Andrew McCarrell, 36, of Alabama who doctors said suffered severe inflamatory bowel disease as a result of taking the Accutane. The jury deliberated three days before reaching their verdict. This was the first Accutane case to go to...
- Mike Ferrara | June 03, 2007 12:27 AM |
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Medical MalpracticeMedical Mutual Liability Insurance Society of Maryland, which insures about 6,500 doctors in Maryland, lowered its premiums by 8 percent this year and plans another reduction next year. Many insurance companies, fearful of lawsuits claiming price gouging by their doctor clients, are now reducing premiums. They recognize that their campaign to convince legislators that tort reform is...