- Michael Eyerly | September 29, 2006 6:42 PM |
Category:
MiscellaneousOrange County jury awards large personal injury verdict to severely brain-damaged boy.The day after his thirteenth birthday, Cade Feitler was riding home from school when the car in which he was riding was broadsided by Peter Infranca. Mr. Infranca, on his way to a personal doctor's appointment, ran a red light and crashed into Feitler's side of the car. The boy suffered a fractured skull and...
- Elaine Mandel | September 26, 2006 10:20 AM |
Category:
MiscellaneousIf your telephone calls are recorded or monitored, and you don't know and consent to it, at least in California, you are entitled to money damages. Numerous companies have recordings saying "Your call may be recorded or monitored," but many companies don't warn callers, and still record or monitor calls. This may be illegal, and class action cases can compensate people whose right of privacy...
- Paul Kiesel | September 25, 2006 7:07 AM |
Category:
MiscellaneousHaving uninsured motorist coverage or under-insured motorist coverage if you are involved in a car accident or car crash is a very important way to protect yourself from someone else's negligence.Today's Blog is on a subject that is near and dear to my heart. A subject that, all to often, I discuss after an auto accident with very unhappy clients. This Blog is addressing, in California at...
- Helen Zukin | September 25, 2006 4:00 AM |
Category:
Defective & Dangerous ProductsBlue ribbon panel criticizes FDA and calls for reform of agency. Drug safety monitoring needs complete overhaul. A blue ribbon panel of scientists issued a highly critical report on Friday, on the health of the FDA. The report, requested by the FDA after VIOXX, a much used painkiller, was linked to heart attacks, concluded that the FDA has a number of serious problems which need immediate...
- Michael Eyerly | September 22, 2006 6:19 PM |
Category:
MiscellaneousThe story of what happened to Alistair Cooke's body is illustrative of the huge black market demand for body parts.Recently, a news article chronicled the fate that befell the body of the late Alistair Cooke. Mr. Cooke hosted the long running television series "Masterpiece Theatre" from 1971 to 1992. In the course of his 22 year stint as host, Mr. Cooke became synonymous with the show,...
- Patrick DeBlase | September 22, 2006 5:58 PM |
Category:
MiscellaneousBlue Cross attempts to appease furor over allegations of policyholder dumping by making unspecified changes to its cancellation policies. Critics aren't buying it.On Tuesday, Blue Cross announced that it would change procedures for canceling individual health insurance policies. The health care colossus, however, failed to provide any specifics. California state regulators and class action...
- Elaine Mandel | September 19, 2006 4:05 PM |
Category:
Defective & Dangerous ProductsFresh spinach containing E. coli bacteria has caused sickness and death in 21 states. Over 100 people have gotten sick, and one has died. Now farmers, whose business has taken a hit, are upset that the FDA is warning the public not to eat fresh spinach.California farmers are protesting the Food & Drug Administration (FDA) recommendation that people stay away from fresh spinach after one person...
- Helen Zukin | September 18, 2006 6:00 AM |
Category:
Toxic SubstancesPesticides are designed to kill. The use of toxic pesticides is on the rise and so are the injuries to human health.Over the last year, pesticide exposure lawsuits have been on the rise. There are several reasons for this. First, U.S. pesticide use in the proceeding 30 years has increased by 50%. Pesticides are used almost everywhere: on farms, in homes, schools, office buildings, parks and on...
- Paul Kiesel | September 17, 2006 8:30 PM |
Category:
Defective & Dangerous ProductsCar Crash testing is critical to selecting a new car to purchase or lease. The moto "big car walks away" is often times true but an educated consumer can avoid serious personal injuries in a car crash.I have always been a fan of the moto, "Big cars walks away." As a personal injury attorney I see all to often smaller cars taking the "short" end of most car crashes. While there is certainly no...
- Michael Eyerly | September 16, 2006 1:36 AM |
Category:
Defective & Dangerous ProductsNatural Selection Foods of San Juan Bautista, California issued a voluntary recall of all its packaged products containing fresh greens. The company, which also operates under the name Earthbound Farm issued the recall just one day after the U.S. Food and Drug Administration recommended against eating any fresh bagged spinach due to an E. coli outbreak that has so far caused one death and...
- Patrick DeBlase | September 14, 2006 4:49 PM |
Category:
Defective & Dangerous ProductsToday, the National Highway Safety Administration (NHTSA) announced that beginning with the 2009 model year, all vehicles must be equipped with "electronic stability control" (ESC). This feature drastically reduces the potential for vehicle rollovers. Auto makers typically do not chomp at the bit to introduce safety features in the vehicles they sell to consumers. Rather, it is governmental...
- Elaine Mandel | September 12, 2006 11:59 AM |
Category:
Defective & Dangerous ProductsIn response to the 30,000 lawsuits filed against Merck by people injured after taking Vioxx, drug maker Merck spent $21 million dollars to hire a law firm to do an "investigation" that found Merck did nothing wrong in connection with its testing, distributing and marketing of Vioxx. In 2004 drug maker Merck took its hugely popular anti-inflammatory medicine Vioxx off the market after clinical...
- Helen Zukin | September 11, 2006 6:00 AM |
Category:
Toxic SubstancesOur indoor air may not be as safe as we think. Many debilitating and life threatening diseases can be caused by exposure to indoor air pollution. The air we breathe in our homes, offices and schools can make us sick. Over the last few decades, our exposure to indoor air pollution has increased as a result of the construction of air tight buildings, the use of toxic substances in building...
- Paul Kiesel | September 10, 2006 11:47 AM |
Category:
MiscellaneousCalifornia state health officials are investigating physicians who have potentially purchased the medical contraceptive device known as an IUD through unlicenced vendors. The threat to consumers in the distribution of medical devices obtained without regulatory safeguards is a very real issue in today's global community. The Los Angeles Times reported on September 10, 2006, that 850 women in...
- Michael Eyerly | September 08, 2006 3:15 PM |
Category:
Defective & Dangerous ProductsU.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission recalls children's toy that poses risk of injury. A voluntary recall issued for the Learn-Around Playground Activity Center. Yesterday, the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission announced a voluntary recall for the Learn-Around Playground Activity Center. The Learn-Around Playground is a multi-colored, plastic musical activity center geared to...
- Patrick DeBlase | September 08, 2006 10:34 AM |
Category:
Defective & Dangerous ProductsProtective vest manufacturer Second Chance Armor is found liable for defective vests using Zylon synthetic fibers which it knew would degrade over time.Yesterday, a San Diego jury found the manufacturer and fiber supplier of protective vests liable for the death of a police officer who had been fatally shot in the chest by an ex-con. Second Chance Armor, Inc. manufactures these protective vests...
- Helen Zukin | September 07, 2006 11:04 AM |
Category:
MiscellaneousCalifornians have a right to privacy. Two party consent is required before phone calls or other communications can be recorded or monitored. Failure to obtain consent will result in civile damages of either $5,000 per occurrence or three times actual damages which ever is greater.Over the years we have handled several cases involving private individuals and companies engaged in recording...
- Paul Kiesel | September 05, 2006 4:58 PM |
Category:
MiscellaneousIn a study of 124 women taking progestin, the National Academy of Science found evidence of hearing loss in women compared to those women who either took no hormone replacement therapy or were taking estrogen only. The study conducted by a team of researchers from the University of Rochester Medical Center concluded women should be tested for hearing problems to rule out any possible affects...
- Elaine Mandel | September 05, 2006 4:30 PM |
Category:
MiscellaneousNews of a child drowning in a backyard swimming pool highlights the need for safety. As summer winds down, many people are having those last backyard picnics and pool parties. Tragedy struck in Orange County this weekend when a five year old drowned in a backyard pool. Children can drown within a few minutes, so it's always important to keep a close watch on kids in pools.Many cities have...
- Cheryl Buchanan | September 03, 2006 2:00 PM |
Category:
MiscellaneousAs we gather for the final holiday of summer, and talk with friends and family, I am reminded that sex, religion, and money are still the taboos of polite social conversation. In the Roman Catholic community, however, we are no longer afforded the luxury of what subjects we want to ignore. In fact, it is the silence itself that has enabled the abuse to continue. As a result, media...
- Michael Eyerly | September 01, 2006 10:56 AM |
Category:
MiscellaneousBill banning use of cell phones by California drivers is sent to Governor Schwarzenegger. Drivers distracted by their cell phones cause thousands of accidents and injuries each year.Having received final legislative approval, Senate Bill 1613 was sent to Governor Schwarzenegger yesterday. SB 1613, if passed into law, would ban drivers from taking on cell phones unless they use a hands-free...