Archive for March, 2008

Federal Judge Tosses Stun Gun Lawsuit

A federal judge has dismissed a lawsuit filed by a man who claims his civil rights were violated when he was subdued by police with a stun gun.

$1.75 Million Awarded in New Hampshire Medical Malpractice Case

A jury in Manchester, New Hampshire, has found a Concord surgeon liable for damages in a claim brought by a man who went blind during surgery to fix a broken leg.

Railroad Workers File Suit over Illinois Train Accident

Two railroad employees who were injured when a train came off the tracks in southern Illinois have filed suit against Union Pacific Railroad.

California Transplant Surgeon Charged with Felony Dependent Adult Abuse

A Superior Court judge has ordered a California transplant surgeon to stand trial for felony dependent adult abuse in the death of a patient at a San Luis Obispo hospital.

Insurance Claim Denied Due to Racism, Lawsuit Says

An Oregon woman has filed a lawsuit claiming that an insurance company refused to pay for her gallbladder surgery because she is Hispanic.

Air Force Pilot Sues Manufacturer of Defective F-15

An Air Force pilot who was injured during a training exercise when his F-15 fighter disintegrated in mid-flight is suing Boeing, the aircraft’s manufacturer.

Drug Company Settles Whistleblower Suit for $4 Million

A Japanese drug manufacturer has settled a U.S. lawsuit charging the company with marketing a drug for uses that weren't approved by the FDA.

Tobacco Company Funded Lung Cancer Research

A study suggesting that CT scans are more effective at detecting lung cancer than conventional X-rays was partially funded by a cigarette manufacturer, The New York Times reported Wednesday.

$5 Million Asbestos Verdict Upheld

The Tennessee Court of Appeals has upheld a $5 million jury verdict awarded to a former railroad worker who claims he suffers from an asbestos-related disease.

2 People Killed, 5 Injured in Miami Construction Crane Collapse

In the country's second fatal crane accident within 10 days, a seven-ton section of construction crane being used to build a 46-story Miami high-rise condominium plunged 30 stories Tuesday, killing two and injuring five.

Prison Time Looms for Deadbeat Dad

A man from Central Florida is facing up to five years in prison for failing to pay hundreds of thousands of dollars in child support.

Federal Appellate Court Rejects New York Airline Passenger Bill of Rights

The United States Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit has struck down a New York law that allowed the state to penalize airlines for failing to provide adequate services for passengers during lengthy flight delays.

4 Dead, 1 Missing After Fishing Trawler Sinks in Bering Sea

The captain of a fishing vessel that sank early Sunday morning in the Bering Sea off the coast of Alaska is today numbered among the dead, along with three of the boat’s crew members.

NYC Buildings Department Inspector Charged With Lying in Wake of Crane Collapse

New York City Buildings Department inspector Edward J. Marquette has been arrested and charged with lying to city authorities after admitting he did not inspect a crane that later collapsed and killed seven people.

Single-Engine Prop Plane Makes Emergency Landing on Mesa, Arizona, Street

A 1973 Cessna 150L prop plane that developed engine difficulties immediately after takeoff Tuesday morning was forced to make an emergency landing on a busy Mesa, Arizona, thoroughfare.

U.S Supreme Court Hears Petition to Reduce Exxon Valdez Punitive Damages

Attorneys for Exxon Mobil Corp. argued before the U.S. Supreme Court that the $2.5 billion in punitive damages assessed against the company after the 1989 Exxon Valdez oil spill should be reduced or barred.

Lloyds of London Settles Air Philippines Crash Suits for Record $165 Million

Insurers for AAR Parts Trading Inc. and Fleet Business Credit Corp. have agreed to pay $165 million to settle lawsuits brought by family members of 103 victims of the 2000 Air Philippines Flight 541 crash.

Former Employee Sues Indiana Riverboat Casino under Maritime Law

Tina Conder, an Indiana resident who worked on the riverboat casino Glory Of Rome, is suing her former employer under maritime law for damages suffered as a result of a flea infestation aboard the vessel.

Family Settles Defective Auto Case for Undisclosed Amount

The parents of a San Diego girl recently settled out-of-court a defective automobile case alleging that defective roof supports and tires on a Ford E-350 15-passenger van led to the death of their daughter.

Utah High Court Sides with Child's Biological Father

The Utah Supreme Court ruled Tuesday that a man cannot claim parental rights over his biological child because another man has been named the child's legal father.

Government Agrees to Pay for Girl's Vaccine Injuries

The U.S. Health Resources and Services Administration has agreed to compensate a 9-year-old girl who developed autism-like symptoms after receiving a series of vaccinations.

Hawaiian Woman Attacked by Boyfriend's Dogs

A Lihue woman was attacked Sunday night by her boyfriend's four American bulldogs as she attempted to stop the dogs from fighting.

US, Chinese Governments Investigate Deadly Blood Thinner

The U.S. and Chinese governments have joined forces to determine why some patients who were given the drug heparin suffered severe adverse reactions, including nausea, breathing difficulties, and death.

Insurance Company Hit with Multimillion-Dollar Verdict

A Los Angeles County judge has ordered one of California's largest health insurers to pay $9 million to a woman whose health policy was cancelled while she was undergoing treatment for cancer.

Former Pastor Ordered to Pay $1.4 Million in Securities Fraud Case

A former pastor from Colorado Springs has been ordered to pay $1.4 million and serve 15 years' probation for his role in a scam that defrauded investors of more than $12 million.

Pet Owners Fight Legislation Banning Breeds

A proposed ban in Minnesota on five canine breeds is being met with opposition by many pet owners who believe that dog owners are responsible for the behavior of their dogs.

Mother Files Lawsuit Alleging Paxil Responsible for Daughter's Birth Defect

The mother of a child born with a hole in her heart has filed suit against the drug manufacturer GlaxoSmithKline, alleging that the antidepressant Paxil was responsible for her daughter’s birth defect.

Stunned Motorist Settles Lawsuit against State

A 28-year-old Utah resident who became famous after a video of him being subdued with a Taser by a state trooper circulated on the Internet has settled his lawsuit against the state for $40,000.

$7.1 Million Awarded to Couple in Asbestos Case

A San Francisco jury has awarded more than $7 million in a lawsuit involving a woman who developed a rare form of lung cancer after being exposed to asbestos in products she used while operating a home-remodeling business.

Paralyzed Mother Allowed to Keep $82.6 Million in Ford Case

In a ruling Monday, a California mother of two was allowed to keep an $82.6 million jury award given to her for injuries she suffered in a rollover accident in her Ford Explorer SUV.

Court OKs Wrongful Death Suit over Teen Shooting

The Missouri Supreme Court on Tuesday ruled that a wrongful death lawsuit filed by the grandmother of a teenager who was fatally shot in the head as part of an alleged suicide pact can proceed.

Children of Construction Accident Victim Awarded More Than $50,000

The two children of a Missouri construction worker who died while working on a rail line will each be given $26,694 when they turn 18, according to a wrongful death lawsuit settled last month.

New Sentencing Guidelines Ease Punishment for Crack Offenders

New federal sentencing guidelines for crack offenses went into effect last week, potentially reducing the sentences of 19,500 inmates nationwide.

Automakers, Safety Advocates Collide Over SUV Roof Safety

The insurance industry is calling on federal auto-safety regulators to change SUV roof-crush standards after a new study Wednesday showed the change could save the lives of hundreds of rollover crash victims each year.

Traffic-Light Cameras Cause More Harm than Good, Study Says

A new study from the University of South Florida claims that cameras at red lights actually increase the number of accidents and crashes rather than improving motor safety.

Truck Safety in Nebraska Pays Off

The federal government is rewarding Nebraska for its steady decline in accidents involving large commercial trucks over the past five years.

Family Sues Ford for Negligence in Fatal Crash

A Staten Island family is suing Ford Motor Company for a crash that killed a Boy Scout leader and his 9-year-old grandson, an accident the family's lawyer said could have been prevented with a few safety-boosting devices.

Georgia Bill Crashes into Hit-and-Run Homicide Loophole

New Georgia legislation that would increase penalties for those involved in hit-and-run accidents is now on the Senate floor.

Texas Man Files Suit against 30 Companies for Asbestos-Related Illness

A Texas man who suffers from an asbestos-related illness has filed a lawsuit blaming his condition on more than two dozen companies that made products containing asbestos.

Nation's Worst Nursing Homes Listed in Government Report

The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services recently released a report detailing which of the nation's nursing homes have been rated the worst in terms of patient care and safety.

New York Woman Receives $180,000 in Slip-and-Fall Case

A 52-year-old woman from Albany, New York, who was injured when she slipped and fell at a Connecticut casino has been awarded more than $180,000.

Oklahoma Man Sentenced to 30 Years for Fatal DUI Accident

An Oklahoma City man who admitted to killing a pedestrian while driving drunk last April was sentenced to 30 years in prison on Wednesday.

Senate Passes Strict New Consumer Safety Bill

In a 79 to 13 vote, the U.S. Senate yesterday passed a bill that would raise fines for manufacturers of defective goods as well as attempt to improve and increase product testing.

New Studies Link Heart Surgery Drug to Patient Deaths

Two new studies have shown that heart surgery patients who were given the anti-bleeding drug Trasylol were more likely to die than patients given other medications or none at all.

Woman Slips, Falls, then Sues County

A woman who claims she slipped and fell on a wet floor at the Salem County Courthouse in New Jersey has filed a lawsuit against the county.

Family of Mesothelioma Victim Wins $30 Million Verdict

The family of a New Jersey man who died from a rare form of lung cancer was awarded $30.3 million on Tuesday by a jury in Bergen County, New Jersey.