Recent Blog Posts in January 2010

The U.S. Consumer Products Safety Commission and Innovage LLC have recalled approximately 360,000 Discovery Kids lamps.

The CPSC is reporting that a defect in the lamp’s printed circuit board can cause an electrical short, posing a risk of fire or burn injury. So far Innovage has received nine reports, seven of which claim the lamp caught on fire. One report claims a child suffered from a smoke inhalation injury, and three reports involve minor property damage.

Product Description:

The Discovery Kids Animated Marine Lamps look like a fish tank, while the Animated Safari Lamps depict multiple animals on a safari, i.e. elephants, zebras, giraffes, birds, etc. The recalled model numbers for the marine lamps are 1627121 or 1628626 and the recalled model numbers for the safari lamps are 1627124 or 1628626. The pictures on the lamps rotate and “Discovery Kids” is written on the top left corner.

The lamps were sold nationally at department stores, drug stores, and hardware stores, as well as online. They were sold for around $10 from July 2009 through January 2010.

All consumers are urged to immediately stop using the lamps and contact Innovage for more information about a refund. Innovage can be reached at (888) 232-1535 or by email at info@lamprecall.com . More information can also be found on this website www.lamprecall.com .

If you or your child has suffered an injury as a result of these lamps or another defective product, click here to find a personal injury attorney near you who can help you file a product liability claim.

A New Jersey couple has filed a medical malpractice lawsuit against Harlem Hospital after a misdiagnosis led to the destruction of their marriage.

The ordeal began when Maria Osorio came to the hospital after seeing an ad on television for a $15 mammogram screening special. While she was at the hospital, a nurse offered her a free blood test and swab test. The test results indicated Osorio had terminal HIV, hepatitis, and herpes.

After learning the devastating news, Osorio confronted her husband of 37 years, questioning his fidelity. Her husband, Gabriel Lezcano, denied cheating and asked if there could have possibly been a mistake or mix-up at the lab. The couple called the hospital and the hospital confirmed the tests were foolproof and that they never yielded an inaccurate result.

Lezcano made continuous efforts to convince his wife that he was not unfaithful, but Osorio found herself unable to trust him, and eventually began to resent him.

After weeks of turmoil, with their marriage in shambles, the couple finally received a call from the hospital that said there was a mix-up and that Osorio was perfectly healthy. The couple never received a formal apology from the hospital.

Despite the good news and sense of relief, too much damage was already done to their marriage, which until this point had been very strong.

The couple filed their medical malpractice lawsuit in the New York Supreme Court in Manhattan, where it is still awaiting a ruling.

A medical misdiagnosis is a traumatizing experience, to say the least. If your doctor misdiagnosed a medical condition that has caused you emotional distress, you should consider speaking with an experienced medical malpractice attorney about filing a lawsuit. If you can prove the doctor was negligent in diagnosing your condition, you could stand to recover compensation for your pain and suffering, mental anguish, therapy expenses, and more.

Charges have been filed against a truck driver who caused a fatal accident as he watched pornographic movies on his laptop.

The accident occurred when truck driver Thomas Wallace crashed into a woman’s car on the New York State Thruway near Buffalo. Julie Stratton, a 33-year-old mother of two, was killed in the accident. After hitting a deer, she had pulled off to the side of the road to wait for help.

Wallace has since been charged with second-degree manslaughter after police determined he was distracted by the pornographic movies at the time of the accident.

Police also say Wallace had slept less than four hours over a 27-hour period. Under federal law, truck drivers can only drive for a maximum of 11 continuous hours in a 14 hour work day, after which they must take a mandatory rest period of 10 hours before than can drive again.

At this time, it has not been said whether or not Stratton’s family will file a personal injury lawsuit.

If you have lost a loved one in a truck accident, you should consider filing a  wrongful death lawsuit against the responsible party. An experienced  New York personal injury attorney is available to speak with you regarding your legal rights and options, and can help you pursue a lawsuit if you choose to do so. Even if getting involved in a lawsuit is the last thing on your mind, it’s a good idea to consider taking advantage of your rights under state and federal personal injury laws.

A freeway accident has left an Arizona Department of Public Safety motorcycle officer seriously injured.

The accident occurred on the northbound side of Interstate 17. Officer Randall Wilson was on the shoulder of the freeway finishing up a traffic stop when a large sedan in the slow lane began to slow down. A truck pulling a trailer had to swerve into the center lane in order to avoid rear ending the sedan. Despite this effort, the truck still hit another car and its trailer slammed into the sedan, forcing the sedan onto the shoulder where it hit Wilson’s motorcycle, consequently pinning him to the barrier wall.

Wilson is suffering from a shoulder injury and a broken leg and wrist but fortunately his injuries are not life-threatening.

In the event of an accident, motorcyclists are at an extremely high risk of injury or death, in large part due to the lack of protection afforded to them by their motorcycles. With nothing more than a helmet to protect their head and riding gear to protect their skin, there is not much else keeping motorcyclists safe in the event of an accident. If you or a loved one has been injured in a motorcycle accident, an Arizona personal injury lawyer can help you file a lawsuit in an effort to secure maximum compensation for your injuries.  

Charges have been filed against a man and his wife after authorities discovered that the couple left a 94-year-old woman on a chair for nearly a month without care.

The charges were filed against the woman's grandson, Giovan Johnson and his wife Latasha Johnson. According to Fernandina Beach authorities, the Johnsons left the elderly woman, Betty Johnson, on a beach-type chair all day and night for about a month.

When rescue workers found Betty she was severely dehydrated and unresponsive. She was immediately rushed to Baptist Medical Center-Nassau where she was quickly listed in critical condition. Upon examining the woman's body, doctors found multiple pressure sores on the areas of her body that were pressed against the chair for long periods of time. Betty eventually passed away.

Betty moved in with her grandson and his wife in December from a North Carolina nursing home.

Both Giovan and Latasha Johnson remain in police custody on $100,000 bail. Detectives are interviewing caretakers at the nursing home where Betty lived before she moved in with her grandson. They have also obtained a warrant to search the Johnson's house.

Abuse and neglect continues to plague thousands of elderly people every year. If you suspect your loved one is being abused or neglected by a caretaker or nursing home employee, a  Florida elder abuse attorney can help you report the mistreatment to the appropriate authorities and assist you in filing a lawsuit against the person or facility responsible for your loved one's condition.  

Two brothers are suing a Pennsylvania hospital and its chief of transplantation after both men suffered complications following a live liver transplant operation.

Peter Cullen, 45, and Timothy Cullen, 43, each filed a medical malpractice lawsuit against University of Pittsburgh Medical Center (UPMC) and Dr. Amadeo Marcos, the former chief of transplantation at the hospital.

Timothy Cullen served as a liver donor to his brother Peter, who was suffering from liver disease. Both men suffered from health complications after the surgery. In their lawsuits, the Cullens claim that both Dr. Marcos and UPMC failed to disclose information regarding the concerns and risks associated with the transplant surgery.

A recent study found that of the 121 live-donor liver transplant recipients Dr. Marcos treated between March 2003 and November 2006, 66 percent experienced some type of serious complication.

If you or a loved one is suffering from serious health complications after a transplant surgery or some other surgical procedure, you may be eligible to recover damages under medical malpractice laws. A skilled Pennsylvania medical malpractice attorney can review your medical record, consult with credible experts, and help you pursue your claim for the largest possible settlement!

Emergency response workers throughout Nebraska gathered at a legislative hearing at the state’s capital to testify about their experiences when responding to traumatizing accidents.

The emergency workers are seeking a new level of coverage through the worker’s compensation system. A new bill calls for first-response emergency workers who experience “mental injuries” as a result of their job to recover workers’ compensation benefits. Many workers explained how difficult it was to mentally and emotionally recover from seeing the aftermath of fatal accidents. For example, o ne worker testified that his co-worker suffered mental distress after responding to an accident in which his wife had died.

A similar bill was up for adoption two years ago, but Gov. Dave Heineman vetoed it.

In most states, workers’ compensation benefits are awarded only to those workers who have suffered a physical injury while on the job. If you are interested in learning more about your legal rights in regards to workers’ compensation benefits, it’s best to consult an experienced attorney. Click here to find a workers’ compensation lawyer near you!

A Chicago couple has filed a wrongful death lawsuit against the man that plowed into their Hondo Civic, consequently killing their 1-year-old son and two friends. They are seeking at least $50,000 in damages.

The man responsible for causing the accident was believed to be fleeing the scene from another crash he was involved in not too far away. Witnesses say the driver was going close 80 or 90 mph when he collided with the Honda.

As a result of the impact, the baby was knocked out of the car seat it was fastened to and into a rear window. One of the passengers was ejected from the vehicle, and both passengers succumbed to their fatal injuries.

The Cook County State’s Attorney’s Office is reviewing the case, but so far has not filed any charges against the driver, although the driver did receive a citation.

The accident occurred when the couple, along with their son and two friends, was returning home after eating at a McDonald’s restaurant. Investigators do not believe alcohol was a factor in the accident.

A serious or fatal accident caused by excessive speeding is an example of negligence coming into play. If you or someone you love was injured or killed in a car accident caused by excessive speeding or reckless driving, you should exercise your legal rights by filing an injury lawsuit against the negligent party. A skilled Illinois personal injury lawyer can help you pursue your claim and advocate your rights to a full and just recovery!

Several bus passengers sustained injuries when a Metro bus collided with a Metro light rail train in downtown Houston.

After running a red light on St. Joseph Parkway, the bus collided with a train going north on Main Street, causing the train to derail.

The bus driver and all eight passengers aboard the bus were taken to local hospitals. It wasn’t mentioned whether anyone on the train was injured or taken to the hospital.

While it’s known the bus driver ran a red light, investigators plan to use a camera on board the train to further investigate the accident.

When an accident is caused by the negligent actions of another, such as running a red light, the victims of the accident have the right to pursue a personal injury lawsuit against the responsible party. In this case, the driver of the bus could be held liable since he caused the accident by running through the red light. To learn more about your legal rights and options, click here to  find a personal injury attorney who can provide you with advice, guidance, and representation following a bus accident or train accident.