Archive for December, 2007

BWC Group Rating System Unfair?

The group rating system used by the Ohio Bureau of Workers' Compensation is the subject of a class-action suit filed by three companies.

FedEx Fined for Violation of Massachusetts Employment Law

FedEx Ground was recently fined over $190,000 by the Massachusetts attorney general for allegedly misclassifying 13 drivers, depriving them of benefits.

Injured Cruise Passengers File Suit over Cruise Liner Incident

Dozens of passengers are filing claims for physical and psychological damages stemming from a 2006 incident in which a Princess cruiseliner dangerously listed to the starboard.

Ohio Excavation Company Accidentally Gives Away Asbestos-Contaminated Dirt

An Athens excavation company was ordered to remove asbestos-contaminated dirt from several local sites after the company gave the material to various private property owners.

Higher Court Sends Case Back to Workers' Comp Court

A high-profile lawsuit was sent back to the state workers' compensation court by the Montana Supreme Court on Tuesday.

Massachusetts High Court: Doctors' Responsibility Goes Beyond His Patients

Massachusetts' highest court ruled Monday that a Brockton doctor who failed to warn a patient about his medication's potential side effects can be sued over the death of a boy involved in an accident with that patient.

Fort Worth Groups Oppose Controversial Asbestos-Removal Technique

A string of worn-down apartments in a Fort Worth neighborhood that is scheduled to be demolished is at the center of an environmental controversy.

Supreme Court Slashes Crack Sentences

The Supreme Court ruled Monday that federal judges can use their own discretion to give shorter sentences to individuals convicted of crack cocaine crimes.

EPA to Test for Uranium Contamination on Navajo Reservation

The Environmental Protection Agency will begin testing the Navajo reservation for contamination after waste from nearby uranium mines have been linked to cancer in those living there, the agency said in a closed meeting last week.

New Details in Investigation of Sick Iron Range Miners

A new Minnesota health report offers new clues into the investigation of taconite miners from the Iron Range who developed a rare asbestos-related cancer.

Popular Christmas Toy Tainted with Asbestos

Just in time for the holidays, one of the biggest selling Christmas toys this year has been found to be laced with asbestos, warned the California-based Asbestos Disease Awareness Organization Thursday.

New Jersey Governor Proposes Shrinking Drug-Free Zones

New Jersey Governor Jon Corzine and an appointed commission on Wednesday pushed for the weakening of drug-free school zone laws around the state in an effort to make current laws more effective.

Paint Plant Worker Awarded $900,000 for Injuries after Chemical Explosion

A Racine, Wisconsin, man who sued the manufacturer of an alleged anti-static chemical bag after suffering second- and third-degree burns to 19 percent of his body during an explosion involving the bag was awarded a $900,000 settlement on the second day of his civil suit.

Landscaper Sues Lawn Mower Manufacturer for Burns

A Cahokia, Wisconsin, man filed suit on Nov. 26 in St. Clair County Circuit Court against the manufacturer, the distributor, and the reseller of a Scag Turf Tiger lawn mower. The man claims that while using the lawn mower, the fuel line became detached, causing a fire that burned him severely.

Company Contends No Bid Workers' Comp Management Contract

A Pittsburgh, PA-based company specializing in workers' compensation solutions recently filed a lawsuit against the state, alleging that it erroneously awarded a contract to a competitor without a bid process.

Demoted Denney Describes Dow Dioxin Data as Deceptive

Priscilla Denney, a Dow engineer, has filed a whistleblower lawsuit in Saginaw County Circuit Court alleging that that she was demoted after raising concerns about Dow data regarding levels of dioxin in Michigan's Tittabawassee River.

Eight Indicted In 'Pump & Dump' Penny Stock Fraud Ring

Eight people in Washington, Utah, and Florida have been indicted by a federal grand jury for their roles in a securities fraud scheme said to have defrauded consumers of over $1.2 million.

New Study Links Roaccutane to Depression and Suicidal Thoughts

A British study released last month indicates that the acne drug Roaccutane may lead to an increased risk of depression and even suicidal behavior.

2 Virginia Prosecutors Awarded $1.38 Million Each in Oxycontin Settlement

The commonwealth's attorneys' offices of Bristol and Tazewell County, Virginia, each received over $1,300,000 on Friday for their roles in helping federal authorities build a successful case against the makers of Oxycontin.

Sheriff's Deputy Granted Second Chance to Recover Back Pay

A Texas sheriff's deputy who appealed a decision denying him back pay for time allegedly spent recovering from a work-related injury was recently granted another trial.

Half of U.S. Doctors Don't Report Medical Mistakes, Study Says

A recent survey indicates that nearly half of American doctors may fail to report medical errors made by their colleagues.