PLAINTIFF LAWYER DOES IT AGAIN

[smazza]

Laws/Cases

Suit over Drowned Minor Settled

A lawsuit has been settled over the death of an 17-year-old girl in Plainville, Mass., who drowned in 2008 after wandering away from an outdoor underage drinking party. The lawsuit targeted the two people who allegedly supplied the alcohol for the party. The terms of the settlement were undisclosed.  Wire Report, Boston Herald  04/06/2011

Read Article: Boston Herald     

Gender Discrimination Suit Filed Against Eaton Corp.

Two former female Eaton Corp employees have filed a $150 million discrimination lawsuit against their former boss. The lawsuit claims the women were passed over for promotions in the electrical sector's general sales department despite being the strongest candidates. The suit accuses the company and department of being a "boys club," and is seeking class-action status on behalf of hundreds of current and former female employees.  Jonathan Stempel, Reuters  04/05/2011

Read Article: Reuters     

Infant's Death Leads to Malpractice Lawsuit

A Chicago couple has filed a medical malpractice lawsuit against Lutheran General Hospital in Park Ridge, Ill., over the death of their infant son. The lawsuit claims the infant, who was kept in the hospital after being born 16 weeks premature, was mistakenly given an IV containing "60 times the prescribed dose of sodium chloride." When no corrective measures were taken, the infant went into cardiac arrest and died. The lawsuit is seeking unspecified damages.  Dawn Rhodes, Chicago Tribune  04/05/2011

Read Article: Chicago Tribune     

Products

29,000 Infant Pacifiers Recalled

The Consumer Product Safety Commission has announced a recall of 29,000 infant pacifiers due to failure to meet federal safety standards. The agency reported that the Pampers Natural Stages Infant Ortho and Bulb Pacifiers posed a choking hazard to young children. There have been no injuries reported in association with the products.  Staff Report, PR Newswire  04/05/2011

Read Article: PR Newswire     

Bagged Spinach Recalled over Salmonella

Fresh Express has announced a recall of 2,939 cases of 9 oz. Bag Spinach due to the potential for salmonella contamination with the products. The bags were distributed in Pennsylvania, New York, Maryland, Connecticut, Rhode Island, Massachusetts, Ohio and Maine, and have use-by dates of April 6 or 7.  Staff Report, The Sacramento Bee  04/05/2011

Read Article: The Sacramento Bee     

Soldering Irons Recalled for Burn Risk

The Consumer Product Safety Commission has announced a recall of 69,000 soldering irons due to a faulty power cord that can break during use. Imported by Cooper Tools LLC, the cord can "break at the flex point where the cord attaches to the handle, posing a burn hazard to consumers." The company has received three reports of minor burns.  Staff Report , PR Newswire  04/06/2011

Read Article: PR Newswire     

[hightechbull]

Suit: Man's Genitalia Cut Off by Foam Cutter

A man who had part of his genitalia cut off by a peeler machine last year has filed a lawsuit against his employer, Future Foam Carpet Cushion. According to the suit, the man was removing a foam core from a machine used to cut carpeting foam when the machine turned on and the blade sliced into him. The suit claims Future Foam was negligent in protecting the man and is seeking punitive damages of more than $15,000.  Walter Pacheco, Orlando Sentinel  02/16/2011

Read Article: Orlando Sentinel     

I remember reading about this one in the Orlando paper.  Freaked me out.  Guy is just performing his job when whack, the machinery almost cuts him in half and ends up severing off his man parts.  $15,000 is not enough money if you ask me.

Military Officials Ignoring **** Complaints, Suit Says

A group of women who served in the military have filed a lawsuit against the federal government, claiming their reports of sexual assault while overseas have been ignored. In the lawsuit, women detail counts of alleged **** in war zones in Iraq and Afghanistan. The suit charges that higher-up military personnel ignored the incidents and have tried to minimize the problem of sexual assault in the military.  Staff Report, United Press International  02/15/2011

Read Article: United Press International

This has been happening in the military for a long time, and they had done little to nothing to correct these problems.  Many women in the military are either sexually harassed, often by senior officers, or just outright sexually assaulted.  Shameful.

[SANJAY]

The $15,000 is alleged only to show that the case meets the jurisdictional threshhold of Florida Circuit courts (as opposed to being in county court - all mounts up to 15K).  That is not the amount being sought.

[smazza]

i love reading these cases

[smazza]

Laws/Cases

Jury Awards $450,000 in Discrimination Lawsuit

An Arkansas jury awarded $450,000 in compensatory damages to a local woman who claimed she was fired from her job at the Goodyear Tire and Rubber Co. plant in Fayetteville, Ark., because of he race and gender. The jury, however, found that she was not discriminated against, but ruled that she was fired for complaining about discrimination. The jury declined to award punitive damages.  Drew Brooks, Fayetteville Observer  04/06/2011

Read Article: Fayetteville Observer     

Other Driver to Blame in Fatal Accident, Suit States

A lawsuit has been filed over a wreck in southwestern Illinois that killed a 71-year-old man. The man's estate is claiming in a lawsuit that the other driver involved in the wreck is to blame, as she was allegedly under the influence of "marijuana and other substances," and was texting on her phone while driving. The lawsuit is seeking unspecified damages.  Wire Report , Chicago Tribune  04/07/2011

Read Article: Chicago Tribune     

Suit: Dental Chain Committed Fraud, Hurt Children

A group of northern New York families have filed a lawsuit against a national dental chain over "unnecessary procedures" performed on children to meet revenue production quotas. The suit claims dentists with the Small Smiles/Access Dentistry dental chain physically restrained young children to perform multiple unnecessary and painful procedures, including root canals, teeth extractions and filings. The suit alleges fraud, malpractice, negligence, battery and breach of fiduciary duty. Small Smiles has been accused of similar practices before, settling for $24 million with the Justice Department in 2010 for fraud.  Cathleen F. Crowley, Alabany Times Union  04/06/2011

Read Article: Alabany Times Union     

Products

Hot Chocolate Pots from Williams-Sonoma Recalled

The Consumer Product Safety Commission has announced a recall of 28,000 hot chocolate pots distributed by Williams-Sonoma Inc. The agency reported that the handle of the hot chocolate pot can break off during use, posing burn and laceration hazards. The company has received eight reports of injuries related to handles breaking on the pots.  Staff Report, PR Newswire  04/06/2011

Read Article: PR Newswire     

Ford Told to Expand F-150 Recall

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration has informed Ford Motors it needs to expand its recall of F-150 trucks that have air bags that may randomly deploy. Ford originally recalled 144,000 trucks, but agency officials asked for more, without specifying an actual number.  Staff and Wire Report, Detroit Free Press  04/07/2011

Read Article: Detroit Free Press     

Batteries from Baby Monitors Recalled

The Consumer Product Safety Commission has announced a recall of rechargeable batteries sold with certain Summer Infant Slim and Secure Video Monitors. The agency said the batteries can "overheat and rupture" causing burns. The monitors were sold at Babies R Us from September 2009 through May 2010.  Staff Report, The Salt Lake Tribune  04/06/2011

Read Article: The Salt Lake Tribune   

[Bruce Blingstein]

takes two hands to hold the whopper

hilarious, thank you I will use that one. 

[smazza]

Laws/Cases

Jury Awards $450,000 in Discrimination Lawsuit

****Correction: Suit occurred in North Carolina, not Arkansas as stated in 4/7 Eclips**** A North Carolina jury awarded $450,000 in compensatory damages to a local woman who claimed she was fired from her job at the Goodyear Tire and Rubber Co. plant in Fayetteville, N.C., because of her race and gender. The jury, however, found that she was not discriminated against, but ruled that she was fired for complaining about discrimination. The jury declined to award punitive damages.  Drew Brooks, Fayetteville Observer  04/06/2011

Read Article: Fayetteville Observer     

U.S. Government Settles Suit over Illegal Immigrant's Death

The federal government will pay $1.95 million to settle a lawsuit over the death of an illegal immigrant from penile cancer who was untreated for more than a year while being held in state and federal custody. According to the lawsuit, in 2005, a California doctor noticed a growth on his penis while he was in state custody, but a biopsy was never done. When he was transferred to federal custody in 2007, he was only given pain pills and fresh boxer shorts, the suit contends. The family was also awarded $1.73 million in a separate but similar suit filed against the state of California.  Bob Egelko, San Francisco Chronicle  04/08/2011

Read Article: San Francisco Chronicle     

Brain Injury from High School Football Prompts Suit

A former high school football player in Pittsburgh has filed a lawsuit against the Highlands School District over permanent brain damage sustained from football collisions. The plaintiff claims he was "improperly sent back into games after violent, damaging collisions" during the 2007 football season. Since that time, the plaintiff said he has experienced hot flashes, depression, insomnia, nausea, dry heaves and vomiting.  Vivian Nereim, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette  04/08/2011

Read Article: Pittsburgh Post-Gazette     

Labor Broker Abused Workers, Suit Says

The U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission has filed a lawsuit against a Texas labor broker, Henry's Turkey Service, over alleged abusive treatment of 31 male mentally retarded workers. The suit claims the men were subjected to "derogatory and humiliating name-calling based on their disability" and were beaten by their caretakers. The lawsuit seeks unspecified back pay as well as compensation for the men’s expenses related to relocation, job searches and medical treatment.  Clark Kauffman, DesMoines Register  04/06/2011

Read Article: DesMoines Register     

Products

Procter & Gamble Recall Hair Coloring Products

The Procter & Gamble Company announced a recall of ten shades of Clairol Natural Instincts due to errors in the kit that may create a color mismatch. The ColorFresh! Revitalizer sachet is mismatched with the base colorant, the company said. The primary hair colorant is not affected.  Staff Report, PR Newswire  04/07/2011

Read Article: PR Newswire     

Tents Recalled Due to Fire Risk

The Consumer Product Safety Commission has announced a recall of 19,000 tents produced by Active Leisure due to a fire hazard. Sold exclusively at Costco Wholesale Corp., the agency said the tents do not meet the flammability label claim on the unit. There have been no injuries reported associated with the product.  Wire Report, Forbes  04/08/2011

Read Article: Forbes     

4,000 Children's Sleepwear Garments Recalled

The Consumer Product Safety Commission has announced a recall of 4,000 children's sleepwear garments imported by Fashionviews Inc. The agency reported that the garments failed to meet industry flammability standards and pose a burn risk to children. There have been no injuries reported associated to the products.  Staff Report, PR Newswire  04/07/2011

Read Article: PR Newswire   

[smazza]

Class Action

Class-Action Suit Filed Against Huffington Post

A group of bloggers has filed a class-action lawsuit against the Huffington Post, which was recently purchased by AOL for $315 million. The lawsuit claims the Post "jealously guards" the amount of page views that a blogger receives and the amount of revenue generated by blog posts. The bloggers should be compensated for their work, the suit claims, because without it, the company would have sold for an estimated $105 million less.  Eriq Gardner, Reuters  04/12/2011

Read Article: Reuters     

Laws/Cases

$1 Million Settlement Reached in Elevator Death

Ohio State University has agreed to a $1 million settlement in lawsuit filed over a fatal elevator crash that killed a freshman student in 2006. The student was stepping off the elevator when it suddenly dropped, crushing him between the ceiling of the elevator and the third floor lobby. After an investigation, it was concluded that the elevator's main brake had failed. The suit accused the university of failing to properly inspect and maintain the elevator.  Kathy Lynn Gray, Columbus Dispatch  04/13/2011

Read Article: Columbus Dispatch     

Wrongfully Imprisoned Man Awarded $6.5 Million

Westchester County in New York has agreed to a $6.5 million settlement with a local man who was wrongfully imprisoned for 15 years. The man was convicted of raping, beating and strangling a high school classmate at the age of 17. DNA evidence, however, exonerated him.  Fernanda Santos, The New York Times  04/13/2011

Read Article: The New York Times     

Suit Accuses Florida Deputies of Framing Man

A Florida woman has filed a lawsuit against Broward County Sheriff's Office over the wrongful conviction of her brother, who died in 2000 while on death row. A few months after his death, DNA evidence exonerated him. The lawsuit accuses sheriff's officials of successfully conspiring to pin a **** and murder on him. The suit is seeking enough money to cover a proper funeral and headstone for the man.  Staff Report, United Press International  04/12/2011

Read Article: United Press International     

Jury Awards $4.5 Million in Medical Malpractice Suit

A Burbank, Calif., jury has awarded $4.5 million to a local woman in a medical malpractice suit she filed after the death of her husband. The lawsuit claimed a La Canada Flintridge physician failed to properly diagnose the man, who was complaining of chest pains. He died after being given a stress test, at the age of 51.  Wire Report, San Jose Mercury News  04/06/2011

Read Article: San Jose Mercury News     

Products

One Million Spray Mousse Cans Recalled

The Consumer Product Safety Commission has announced a recall of one million spray mousse foam cans due to risks that the cans may rupture. Manufactured by Redken 5th Avenue NYC, the agency said the aerosol container's liner can corrode over time, which could cause the can to rupture. There have been 41 reports of the cans rupturing, but no injuries.  Staff Report, PR Newswire  04/12/2011

Read Article: PR Newswire     

Girls Tops Recalled over High Lead Content

The Consumer Product Safety Commission has announced a recall of 90,000 girls tops distributed by My Michelle due to a high lead content. The agency reported that the jewelry and decorative trim attached to the girl's garments contain high levels of lead. There have been no injuries reported.  Staff Report, PR Newswire  04/12/2011

Read Article: PR Newswire     

[smazza]

Laws/Cases

Maimi Nun Sexually Abused Boy, Suit States

A south Florida man has filed a lawsuit against the Archdiocese of Miami and a Dominican nun, claiming she sexually abused him while he was in the first grade. The lawsuit alleges the nun used to tuck the boy's shirt in and reach down the front of his pants while doing so, groping him. The plaintiff, now 38 years old, claims he filed the lawsuit because his own son is about to enter the first grade.  Christina Veiga, Miami Herald  04/13/2011

Read Article: Miami Herald     

School Could Have Prevented Suicide, Suit Says

A Florida couple have filed a lawsuit against the Hillsborough County School Board over the 2009 suicide of their 13-year-old daughter. The girl had been picked on for months after she texted a topless photo of herself to a boy and the photo got out into the community. The lawsuit alleges the school did not do enough to prevent the girl from committing suicide after she showed obvious signs of wanting to take her life.  Staff Report, Reuters  04/13/2011

Read Article: Reuters     

Suit: Jacksonville Fire Department Discriminatory to Employees

A group of Jacksonville, Fla., firefighters have filed a lawsuit against the city and the fire union, claiming the department's promotional process is discriminatory. The suit, filed by 12 African-America firefighters, claims "union officials collected and shared promotional exam questions with white firefighters but not black firefighters, corrupting the promotional exam's supposed secrecy." The suit is seeking unspecified damages.  Paul Pinkham, Florida Times Union  04/14/2011

Read Article: Florida Times Union     

Products

57,000 Bottles of Epilepsy Medication Recalled

The Ortho-McNeil Neurologics Division has announced a recall of 57,000 bottles of TOPAMAX 100mg tablets. The company announced the recall after receiving customer complaints of a strange odor coming from the bottles. The odor is believed to be from trace amounts of TBA, which can cause temporary gastrointestinal problems for some people.  Staff Report, PR Newswire  04/14/2011

Read Article: PR Newswire     

Fitness Barbell Brackets Recalled

The Consumer Product Safety Commission has announced a recall of 5,500 Rogue Fitness Barbell Brackets, sold exclusively at the Rogue Fitness website. The weld between the bracket and the pin that holds the barbell bracket in place on a weightlifting rack can break, causing the weights to fall. The company has received one report of a user injuring their wrist when the weld broke.  Staff Report, PR Newswire  04/12/2011

Read Article: PR Newswire     

Wrist Rattles, Baby Booties Recalled

The Consumer Product Safety Commission has announced a recall of 10,000 wrist rattles and 11,000 baby booties due to a choking hazard. Imported by Midwest-CBK Inc., the products have small pom-poms attached to them that may come off, posing a choking risk to young children. There have been no injuries reported.  Staff Report, PR Newswire  04/14/2011

Read Article: PR Newswire   

[smazza]

Laws/Cases

Suit Against Taco Bell "Meat" Withdrawn

The lawsuit against Taco Bell over its meat has been withdrawn. The lawsuit, filed in January, had claimed that Taco Bell's "meat" used in its beef products was only about 36 percent beef and mostly chemicals and starches. The company claimed the lawsuit was completely false, but the firm that filed it said the withdraw came after Taco Bell made adequate changes to its marketing and product disclosure.  Elizabeth Flock, The Washington Post  04/19/2011

Read Article: The Washington Post     

Burger King Franchises Drop Suit Against Company

A lawsuit filed by a group of Burger King franchises against the fast food giant has been dropped after the company agreed to give individual franchises more control. The franchises filed the lawsuit over the mandatory $1 pricing of the restaurants' double cheeseburger, which operators said hurt profits. Burger King agreed to give its franchises more input on the price of items on its Value Menu and on how long special deals run, company officials said.  Lisa Baertlein, Reuters  04/18/2011

Read Article: Reuters     

Lawsuit Filed in Fatal Colorado Car Crash

A lawsuit has been filed over a deadly single-car crash in Douglas County, Colo., the killed two and left an eight-year-old boy without a mother. The lawsuit claims the driver of the vehicle was under the influence of drugs and alcohol and was driving at speeds up to 110 mph in a 50 mph zone. He lost control of the vehicle, went into a ditch and rolled. The suit is seeking that the claim be classified as a felonious killing, which would increase the possible awards above the normal state cap.  Carlos Illescas, Denver Post  04/19/2011

Read Article: Denver Post     

Fatal California Plane Crash Prompts Lawsuit

A lawsuit has been filed by the family of one of the victims in a fatal plane crash in Redwood Shores, Calif., last September. The suit, filed against the estates of the owner and pilot of the plane, claims they "negligently and carelessly owned, operated, maintained and controlled the subject airplane, thereby causing the airplane to crash." An official report on the cause of the crash has not yet been filed.  Bonnie Eslinger, San Jose Mercury News  04/19/2011

Read Article: San Jose Mercury News     

2nd Suit Comes Against Daycare after Deadly Fire

A second lawsuit has been filed against a Houston daycare operator over a deadly fire that killed four children and injured others. The second suit, filed by the mother of a 22-month-old who suffered severe burns, claims the operator, Jessica Tata, was unfit to operate the daycare. Tata also faces criminal charges in Houston, including murder, reckless injury to a child, child abandonment and unlawful flight to avoid prosecution.  Staff Report, KHOU-TV  04/18/2011

Read Article: KHOU-TV     

Products

Curry Spice Sold at Target Recalled

A curry spice sold at Target stores nationwide has been recalled due to high levels of lead. The affected product, Archer Farms Ground Turmeric, comes in 2.6 ounce bottles with "best by" dates from June 2011 through January 2012.  Staff Report, United Press International  04/16/2011

Read Article: United Press International