Archive for May, 2007

New Virginia Laws Speed Up Car Accident Lawsuits

New laws passed recently by the Virginia legislature and scheduled to go into effect on July 1 will affect many aspects of civil litigation in the state, including motor vehicle accident litigation.

New Jersey Mother Sues State Trooper After Deadly Crash

The mother of two girls killed in September 2006 when a New Jersey state trooper sped through an intersection and struck their minivan has filed suit against the trooper and the New Jersey State Police.

Couple Seeks Child to Adopt Using Billboards

A LaPorte, Minnesota couple is posting handmade signs throughout Minnesota and Iowa in an attempt to find a child to adopt.

Washington Supreme Court Asked to OK State-Supported Divorce Representation

The Washington State Supreme Court heard arguments from attorneys for an Olympia woman that the state has a duty to provide government-subsidized legal counsel to represent her in her divorce case.

Daughter's Pedestrian Accident Spurs Colorado Mom to Sue

A Grand Junction, Colorado woman whose six-year-old daughter was hit by a car near the child's school in January has stated that she intends to file a lawsuit against the city, county, and school district.

Workers Alleging Injuries from TASER Jolt File Lawsuit

Two Texas mental health workers are suing the city of Fort Worth and TASER International, claiming they suffered injuries when a police officer used a TASER device to subdue a patient.

Sunken Treasure Jackpot Claimed by Spain

Spanish officials say that an enormous treasure recently found by a Florida-based company in a sunken colonial-era ship may be the property of Spain.

Woman Imprisoned for Helping Teen Lover Seeks Custody Change for Child

A woman imprisoned for the statutory rape of a 15-year-old boy and later helping him flee the state has had her request to remove their 15-month-old son from the care of his foster parents denied.

Burns Cause Two-Year-Old's Death

A two-year-old girl in Houston, Texas died May 28 after suffering extensive burns to her lower body. The girl’s mother said that a campfire caused the burns, but later said they resulted from scalding bathwater.

Couple Seeks Supreme Court Hearing for Child Custody Dispute

A Memphis, Tennessee couple has asked the U.S. Supreme Court to overturn a Tennessee Supreme Court order that they relinquish custody of the eight-year-old Chinese girl they raised from infancy.

Texas Mother Kills Three Children in Murder-Suicide

A Texas woman hung her four children and herself in a closet of their mobile home on May 29 in an apparent murder-suicide. Only an eight-month-old infant survived.

Nuns Settle Personal Injury Suit

Two nuns who received extensive injuries after a staircase collapsed beneath them have settled out of court for an undisclosed amount.

July Trial Date Set for Guidant Lawsuit

A lawsuit involving faulty heart defibrillators produced by Guidant Corp. has received a tentative July 30 trial date.

Woman Targets Town in $2 Million Toxic Mold Suit

A New York woman filed suit against the town of Webster last week, claiming the town neglected to fix drainage problems that flooded her home and led to the growth of toxic mold.

Pregnant Woman Thrown from Ambulance Files Lawsuit

A pregnant Florida teenager who was thrown from an ambulance while being transported to a local hospital has filed a lawsuit blaming her injuries on negligent driving and a defective restraint system.

Widower Files $2.5 Million Pesticide Lawsuit

An Oregon man filed a $2.5 million lawsuit against a pest control company last week, claiming that his wife died after being exposed to pesticide chemicals in their home two years ago.

Contact Lens Solution May Cause Serious Eye Infection, FDA Warns

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration issued a warning May 26 to healthcare professionals and patients about the potential danger posed by a popular contact lens cleaning solution.

Carbon Monoxide Suit Settled for $575,000

A Washington man will receive a $575,000 settlement after carbon monoxide poisoning allegedly left him disabled, according to court documents released last week.

Kentucky Airport Named Third-Party Defendant in Comair Lawsuit

Comair has named Lexington's Blue Grass International Airport as a third-party defendant in a lawsuit in Fayette Circuit Court.

Sunny Delight Named as Defendant in Benzene Lawsuit

Sunny Delight is one of four beverage companies being sued for allegedly producing benzene-containing products. The Blue Ash-based company's Berry, Intense Lemon Lime, and Baja Orange flavors reportedly tested positive for the cancer-causing substance.

Family Seeks $25,000 in Wrongful Death Suit for Chemical Exposure

Three children of a deceased St. Louis woman filed suit last week against a gas manufacturer, claiming that toxic fumes released during the plant’s explosion caused their mother’s death.

Celebrex Kills Cancer?

A new study conducted at the University of Iowa shows that Celebrex aids in killing cancer cells.

Burn Victim Wins Suit against Motorcycle Accessories Distributor

A burn victim was awarded $42 million earlier this month in a Nevada lawsuit against leading motorcycle accessories distributor LeMans Corp. The suit claims the motorcycle apparel worn by the victim should have been flame resistant.

Texas Woman Sues City after Fall

A fall from a sidewalk that resulted in two broken legs has prompted a Waxahachie woman to sue the city for negligence.

Class-Action Lawsuit Could Collapse Ford Motor Co., Lawyer Says

A class-action lawsuit filed on behalf of California consumers threatens the future of the Ford Motor Co., according to one of the company's defense attorneys.

Class-Action Lawsuit Filed against Pet Supply Retailer

Petco and its pet food distributor, Pet Food Experts Inc., are named as defendants in a new class-action lawsuit filed by pet owners whose pets were allegedly injured or killed after consuming a popular dental chew.

Former U.S. Foodservice Officer Sentenced to Seven Years

Mark Kaiser, the former chief marketing officer of one of the largest food product distribution companies in the U.S., was sentenced to seven years in prison for his involvement in defrauding investors of over $800 million.

Pennsylvania Jury Awards $2.7 Million to Family of Brain Damaged Baby

A Cumberland County, Pennsylvania, jury awarded $2.7 million in a medical malpractice lawsuit on April 26 to the family of a child born with severe brain damage and spastic cerebral palsy.

FEMA Trailers Contain Toxic Formaldehyde, Lawsuit Claims

A lawsuit was filed last week on behalf of numerous Gulf Coast residents who allegedly suffered injury and illness due to toxic levels of formaldehyde found in FEMA trailers after Hurricane Katrina left thousands homeless.

Attorney General to Sue Shell, U.S. Army for $100 Million

The Colorado attorney general declared he would seek $100 million in damages from Shell Oil Co. and the U.S. Army for groundwater contamination at the Rocky Mountain Arsenal, according to a report filed last week.

DuPont to Pay $9 Million in Chemical Exposure Lawsuits

Chemical manufacturer DuPont Co. agreed earlier this month to pay $9 million to settle a pair of lawsuits claiming that prenatal exposure to Benlate fungicide caused birth defects, according to court records in Dover, Delaware.

Silicosis Suit Seeks $50,000

An Illinois man recently filed a $50,000 lawsuit in Madison County, alleging that 43 silica companies failed to warn him of the risks associated with silica exposure at his former workplace.

Woman Files Lawsuit against Enema Manufacturer after Kidney Failure

A kidney failure allegedly caused by an enema solution has prompted a Texas woman to seek $10 million in damages from the product's Lynchburg-based manufacturer.

14 Corporate Giants Named in Benzene Lawsuit

Fourteen defendant corporations are being sued in Madison County, Illinois, Circuit Court for allegedly causing the death of a steel worker. According to the suit, the deceased’s disease, multiple myeloma, was caused by benzene exposure.

Jury Awards Nearly $21 Million in Fatal Truck Accident

A Dallas County Court jury has awarded $20.8 million to the wife and the estate of a man who died of complications five months after his car was hit by a semi truck.

Members of Motorcycle Club File Suit Over Alleged Wrongful Search

Three members of a Milwaukee group known as the Outlaws Motorcycle Club have sued the City of Milwaukee over an alleged wrongful search of their clubhouse.

Construction of California School Set to Begin on Asbestos-Laden Land

Construction is set to begin next week on a $10.5 million San Andreas school campus in Calaveras County, California, where parts of the soil are rampant with naturally occurring asbestos.

Michigan Health Officials Push for Radon Testing in Homes

Monroe County health officials are urging residents to test their homes for radon after recent tests showed 3,700 homes in the state, including some from Monroe County, contained elevated levels of the radioactive gas.

Woman Alleges Defective Tire Responsible for Fatal Accident

A woman has filed a lawsuit against a popular tire manufacturer, claiming a defective tire was responsible for an accident that killed her husband and two sons.

Iowa Elementary School Considers Rescheduling Asbestos Abatement

An Iowa elementary school that was scheduled to begin asbestos abatement before the end of the school year will consider postponing it for during the summer, after parents voiced concerns over their children's safety.

Proposed Bill May Lessen Punishment for Repeat Drug Offenders

A proposed bill that favors rehabilitation over punishment for some drug crimes in Maryland is now in the hands of Governor Martin O'Malley this week.

Coca Cola Settles Lawsuit Alleging Benzene in Soft Drinks

On Monday, the Coca Cola Company settled a lawsuit alleging that two of its soft drinks contain ingredients that can combine to form benzene, a cancer-causing substance.

Hospital Agrees to Pay Patients $7.4 Million

A Louisiana hospital has agreed to pay $7.4 million to resolve its portion of a class-action lawsuit charging a cardiologist with performing unnecessary medical procedures.

Teen Awarded $228,000 for Dog Bite Injuries

On May 4, Christopher Crabtree, a 17-year-old Clinton, Iowa, resident, was awarded $228,000 in damages for permanent injuries he suffered in a vicious dog attack in June 2003.

OxyContin Makers Plead Guilty to Deceiving Doctors

On May 10 three current and former executives of Purdue Pharma L.P., the company that manufactures the prescription pain killer OxyContin, pleaded guilty to intentionally misleading doctors about the risks associated with OxyContin use.

Seaman Files Benzene Lawsuit in Jefferson County

Steve Cancel filed a benzene suit against Seacor Holdings Inc., Seacor Marine, and Seabulk Tankers on May 7 in Jefferson County District Court. His suit claims that negligent benzene exposure resulted in lymphoma.

Family Sues Mining Company after Third Mesothelioma Death

The family of a 67-year-old man has filed suit against a New York mining company, claiming he was the third family member to die from a rare form of cancer he allegedly contracted while working in a talc mine.

Parents Sue for Teen Daughter's Motorcycle Death

The parents of an 18 year old resident of Clear Lake, Iowa who died after her motorcycle was struck by a car have filed a lawsuit against the driver.

Connecticut Driver Sues After Accident with Fire Truck

A resident of Middlebury, Connecticut has filed a lawsuit seeking damages after her car was struck by a fire truck driven by a volunteer firefighter. The truck was not responding to a call when the incident occurred.

Georgia Governor Enacts Legislation to Reduce Asbestos Lawsuits

Georgia Governor Sonny Perdue recently signed a bill designed to limit the number of asbestos lawsuits filed in Georgia.

Former Chevron Employee Sues for Benzene Exposure

A former Chevron employee and his spouse filed a claim with the Jefferson County District Court against Chevron U.S.A and 28 other oil companies on April 24. The suit claims negligent benzene exposure.

Smoking Ban Approved by Illinois House

An Illinois smoking ban in all restaurants, bars, workplaces, dormitories, casinos, bowling alleys, and other public indoor places is just one signature away from taking effect next year.

State Governments Consider Toughening Laws on Elderly Drivers Due to Deadly Trend

In the wake of a series of fatal accidents involving elderly drivers, state governments across the U.S. hope to toughen standards that govern driving safety.

Tijuana Drug Cartel Brothers Plead Guilty in U.S. Federal Court

Two brothers have pleaded guilty in San Diego federal court to racketeering charges stemming from their involvement in a dangerous Mexican drug cartel.