A Connecticut family has filed a lawsuit after their 6 year old son became stuck in a swimming pool drain and drown to death. According to the lawsuit, the defendants did not meet the safety requirements designed to prevent these types of accidents. At least 48 people have been killed in these types of cases since 1985.
USA Today
1/28/08
January 2008 Archives
An Illinois jury has rendered a record setting verdict to the family of a woman who died after problems during childbirth. The jury awarded $22 million to the family of the deceased woman. In ruling for the Plaintiffs, the jury found that the hospital and its staff were negligent in their failure to treat a high blood pressure condition that ended up causing a massive brain hemmorrhage. The verdict is one of the largest awards involving the death of a woman in Illinois
Chicago Tribune
1/17/08
The families of seven miners that died last year in a mine collapse in Utah have filed a notice of intent to pursue litigation. According to the notices filed, the families allege that the defendants knew about dangerous conditions in the mine but failed to act to correct the dangerous conditons.
An Appellate Court in Florida has granted a ten day stay of an order that stopped Allstate from selling any new auto insurance policies in Florida. Last week, the Florida Insurance Commission prohibited Allstate from writing any new auto insurance policies because it failed to comply with a subpoena in its property insurance business.
An Illinios resident has filed a lawsuit that accuses a Georgia based company of providing contaminated donor tissue for a knee operation. According to the lawsuit, the tissue provided caused permanent injuries to the man and will require him to take pain medication for the remainder of his life. The lawsuit also alleges permanent loss of earning capacity as a result of the negligence.
Atlanta Journal-Constitution
1/12/08"
An appeals court in Oklahoma struck down a statute designed to limit medical malpractice litigation. The court found that the statute placed a larger burden on the plaintiffs/injured parties than that which was placed on other plainitffs.
Tulsa World
1/12/2008
Thousands of Louisiana homeowners that filed claims for recovery from hurricane Katrina against their homeowners insurance should get a response from the court on their cases. The court hearing in the Louisiana Supreme Court comes from a lower court ruling that ordered benefits to be paid for flood related damages after a finding that the policy of insurance which covered the loss of one man was ambiguous. The homeowners argue that the insurance company should cover the cost of the damages because the levee breaks were a natural disaster.
New Orleans Times-Picayune
1/15/08
Three oil workers have filed a lawsuit against a company that they deem to be responsible for for their injuries suffered when a pipeline expolded last year. In the lawsuit, the plaintiffs claim that the company permitted them to work by a pipeline that the company knew needed repairs.
San Jose Mercury News
1/10/08
In Utah, the State Supreme Court allowed a lawsuit to proceed forward wherein a 7 year old boy suffered a skull fracture after being hit in the head with a hockey stick by another player. The justices ruled that the older boy, who struck the victim, was less likely to understand and accept the possibility of causing serious injury. The lawsuit seeks damages for medical bills and pain and suffering. The insurance company defending the case claims that the case was not an accident.
The Salt Lake Tribune 1/9/08
An investigation of hospitals owned by physicians has revealed that a majority of these facilities are under-equipped to address medical emergencies. According to the federal report, of the 60 hospitals that were surveyed, 7 percent failed to meet Medicare staffing requirements while 34 percent relied upon 911 services for emergency medical situations. The report raised serious questions and concerns over the safety of these facilities.
The Washington Post
1/10/2008
The Florida Medical Association is attempting to have legislation passed which will allow doctors to charge more for copies of their patients medical records. Currently, in Florida, physicians can charge $1 per page for the first 25 pages and 25 cents thereafter. Some plaintiff attorneys have stated that it is their contention that this is a way for the doctors to avoid medical malpractce claims.
Orlando Sentinal 1/6/08
A Missouri jury recently awarded 99 million dollars in punitive damages to borrowers which were charged excessive fees. The jury found that three mortgage lenders purchased second mortgages from another lender that charged fees which violated the states Second Mortgage Act.
Kansas City Star 1/4/08
