This week’s legal resources you might have missed: Jan. 16 – 20

Posted on January 20, 2012 by smith-coonrod

At Smith Coonrod Mohlman, LLC. we enjoy keeping up with the latest legal news and sharing it with you. We firmly believe that is important to keep up with industry happenings because it is just one more way that we can help you. An unfortunate vaccination error results in the loss of four limbs for a Miami teenager, “idiot”insult in an email sent to 400 people sparks a lawsuit, and while the wrongful death lawsuits from the 2010 West Virginia mine explosion have finally been settled, it’s far from over for Alpha.These were some of the topics gracing legal headlines this week. As always, we thank you for reading. Have a good one!

1. Miami teenager loses limbs due to vaccination error. The teen, who lost all four limbs as a result of the expired vaccine, has recently been awarded $12.6 million in the lawsuit. However, an appeal is likely.

2. Take a deep breath before you fire off that heated work email. A housing inspector has filed a civil against a real estate agent and her company after the real estate agent called him a “total” idiot in an email sent to more than 400 people.

3. It’s far from over for Alpha Natural Resources. The 2010 West Virginia mine explosion claimed the lives of 29 men. Nearly two years later, the wrongful death lawsuits filed by the families have been settled. But after acquiring Massey Energy for $7.1 billion, it also acquired a civil lawsuit filed by Massey Shareholders.

Thank you for reading. Have a great Friday!

This week’s legal resources you might have missed: Jan. 9 – 13

Posted on January 13, 2012 by smith-coonrod

At Smith Coonrod Mohlman, LLC. we enjoy keeping up with the latest legal news and sharing it with you. We firmly believe that is important to keep up with industry happenings because it is just one more way that we can help you. A bungee jumping disaster of crocodile-infested waters, a 5-year-old girl who might be healthy today with an earlier diagnosis, current Kansas legislature issues and the anti-clotting drug Pradaxa. These were some of the topics gracing legal headlines this week. As always, we thank you for reading. Have a good one!

1. Snapped bungee sends a 22-year-old girl plunging into crocodile-infested waters. The Australian tourist was bungee-jumping in Zimbabwe when disaster struck. She amazingly managed to swim to safety with a broken collarbone and her legs tied together. MSNBC has secured video footage of the jump.

2. Minnesota Court Appeals examines the possibility of a late diagnosis. Five-year-old Jocelyn has been battling a rare and aggressive form of cancer muscular cancer for most of her life. The issue being looked at by the court is whether or not she would be healthy today if she had been diagnosed earlier. What’s different in Minnesota? The legality of medical malpractice suits are linked to the patient’s chances of survival.

3. The Kansas Legislature is now in session. The Kansas City star has compiled a list of some of the key issues up for discussion. The session began on Monday.

4. Issues have been reported with anti-clotting drug Pradaxa. The blood clot prevention drug has been associated with a slightly higher risk of heart attack, said a recent study in a major medical journal. The relative increase in risk ranges from 27 to 33 percent.

This week’s legal resources you might have missed: Jan. 2 – 6

Posted on January 6, 2012 by smith-coonrod

At Smith Coonrod Mohlman, LLC. we enjoy keeping up with the latest legal news and sharing it with you. We firmly believe that is important to keep up with industry happenings because it is just one more way that we can help you. Drunken-driving related deaths soared in Kansas over the past year, there’s a whole list of laws set to take effect in 2012, and lastly the speeding ticket turned date request turned….lawsuit? These were some of the legal headlines this week and we’ve got the details in our Friday blog. Here you go, happy reading!

1. Alcohol-related deaths declined nationwide in 2011, but not the case for Kansas. Kansas recorded the second biggest increase in drunken-driving related deaths over the past year. This statistic is shocking, and more importantly, avoidable. Is the system in Kansas dealing with DUIs flawed? The Kansas City Star has the full story.

2. California’s new laws for 2012 touch on everything from DUIs to taxes. Elections, employment, health care, the Dream Act and more. These are the laws on California’s legislative plate for the coming year. If these were taking effect in your neighborhood, how would you feel about some of them?

3. A cop issues a woman a speeding ticket, then hunts her down looking for a date. Cute or creepy? The woman found it the latter, apparently, as she filed a lawsuit. The cop in question used the police records to track her after issuing the ticket. Is there more to this story? It will be interesting to follow this.

Thanks for reading, have an excellent weekend.

This week’s legal resources you might have missed: Dec. 19 – 23

Posted on December 23, 2011 by smith-coonrod

At Smith Coonrod Mohlman, LLC. we enjoy keeping up with the latest legal news and sharing it with you. We firmly believe that is important to keep up with industry happenings because it is just one more way that we can help you. How does a Zuckerberg v. Zuckerberg lawsuit sound? Dental negligence leads to the tragic death of a teen, and a gay couple files a lawsuit against a bed & breakfast that denied them a room. That’s what we’ve got for this week’s blog. Once again, thanks for reading. We welcome your opinions and discussion!

1. Facebook sets its lawyers on “Mark Zuckerberg.” But here’s the catch- there’s more than one. The false Zuckerberg has been sent a cease and desist notice, and is being ordered to delete his phony Facebook account.

2. The parents of a teen who died during a routine dental procedure sue for malpractice. During a wisdom tooth surgery, a teen lost oxygen and died 10 days later. Hypoxia was the ruled cause of death, and now the anesthesiologist and surgeon face malpractice suits.

3. Two California women sue a bed & breakfast, claiming they were denied a room because they were gay. The lesbian couple is filing a discrimination lawsuit against the establishment. However, the owner claims she would also have denied a room to an unmarried heterosexual couple.

Thanks for reading. Happy Holidays!

This week’s legal resources you might have missed: Dec. 12 – 16

Posted on December 16, 2011 by smith-coonrod

At Smith Coonrod Mohlman, LLC. we enjoy keeping up with the latest legal news and sharing it with you. We firmly believe that is important to keep up with industry happenings because it is just one more way that we can help you. The bench clearing Xavier/UC basketball brawl, the Supreme Court revists AZ’s controversial immigration laws, bipartisan efforts on workers’ comp reform has constituents confused and a complete cellphone banin cars- these were some of the topics gracing legal headlines. So that’s the lineup for this week’s blog. Once again, thanks for reading. We welcome your opinions and discussion!

1. Criminal charges are a possibility concerning the Xavier/UC brawl, prosecutors say. The bench clearing fight that has aired repeatedly on ESPN this week drew multiple lengthy suspensions, but that might not be the end of it.

2. Supreme Court set to hear challenge to Arizona’s immigration law. The state’s controversial immigration law has prompted other states to mirror its policies. The law has been under fire since the beginning. This will be one of the court’s most high profile cases in years.

3. Bipartisan efforts on workers’ comp reform has many confused in Washington. Last week, Republicans approved workers’ comp legislation lauded by federal labor organizations, while Democrats pushed a bill that would sharpen the stipulations of the Federal Employees’ Compensation Act.

4. NTSB pushes to ban all types of cellphones in the car, including hands-free and bluetooth devices. Safety vs. Convenience are pitted against one another in this debate. People are all for safety, but what if there’s an emergency and you need to make or take a call? And what’s to say car stereos, food and other passengers aren’t a distraction as well?

Thanks for reading. We appreciate any and all discussion! Have a great weekend.

This week’s legal resources you may have missed: Dec. 5 – 9

Posted on December 9, 2011 by smith-coonrod

At Smith Coonrod Mohlman, LLC. we enjoy keeping up with the latest legal news and sharing it with you. We firmly believe that is important to keep up with industry happenings because it is just one more way that we can help you. The Apple iPad vs. Samsung Galaxy legal feud, state jobs are more dangerous than your average desk job, battery fires in GM’s Chevy Volt, and another sports scandal. This time it’s the Red Sox. That’s the lineup for this week’s blog. Once again, thanks for reading. We welcome your opinions and discussion!

1. In the wake of the Penn State scandal, child sex abuse lawsuits are emerging left and right. The next one we heard about involved former Syracuse basketball coach Bernie Fine. Now the Boston Red Sox are under speculation for new allegations.

2. Apple failed to convince a California court to ban Samsun Galazy products from distribution in the US. Apple went after Samsung and its tablets for too closely mirroring the iPad is both design and functionality. Although the court didn’t rule in Apple’s favor, this might not be over yet.

3. It’s official, state jobs are more dangerous than your average desk job. According to a recent Associated Press analysis, worker payouts show that state jobs are higher risk than non-state jobs. In Illinois, a cluster of 12 state-run facilities accounted for one third of injury compensation paid out between 2007 and 2010.

4. GM races to squash a public relations fiasco that could arise out of battery fires on its new Chevy Volt. The fires occurring in the vehicle’s lithium-ion batteries have buyers concerned. The company is offering loaner vehicles for now.

Thanks for reading. We appreciate any and all discussion! Have a great weekend.

This week’s legal resources you might have missed: Nov. 28 – Dec. 2

Posted on December 2, 2011 by smith-coonrod

At Smith Coonrod Mohlman, LLC. we enjoy keeping up with the latest legal news and sharing it with you. We firmly believe that is important to keep up with industry happenings because it is just one more way that we can help you. Potentially harmful toys, the Maryland Dream Act, diagnostic errors leading to malpractice suits, dangerous (and common) driving habits and Arsenic apple juice- that’s the lineup for this week’s blog. Once again, thanks for reading. We welcome your opinions and discussion!

1. Consumer group analysis has identified certain toys that could be potentially harmful to children. Be weary when completing your holiday shopping- the toys identified haven’t been pulled off the shelves just yet. Potential dangers include high levels of toxins, strangulation & choking hazards, and damaged hearing.

2. This 62-year-old barber from Thailand was outraged when he learned about the Dream Act. After earning a law degree in his native Thailand, this man waited eight years to obtain a visa before legally moving to the United States and starting over the right way. He is not happy to hear that illegal immigrants may now get in-state college tuition rates. Do you think this is fair? Most legal immigrants don’t.

3. Diagnostic errors account for 40% of medical malpractice claims. Furthermore, careless lapses in communication are accounting for a growing portion of these diagnostic errors. Test results are too important to wait for the doctor to call you. These are preventable.

4. A new poll reveals dangerous driving habits that are quite common. We all know that it’s extremely unsafe to text and drive, and it’s not ideal to talk on the phone and drive. How many of you had ever had a quick meal in the car? Applied makeup? These behind-the-wheel behaviors are common and distract many drivers.

5. A few months ago Dr. Oz claimed some apple juices contain levels of Arsenic that exceed federal drinking-water standards. He was right. A recent Consumer Reports study backs the doctor’s claim. Make sure you’re safe.

Posted on November 18, 2011 by smith-coonrod

At Smith Coonrod Mohlman, LLC. we enjoy keeping up with the latest legal news and sharing it with you. We firmly believe that is important to keep up with industry happenings because it is just one more way that we can help you. A Penn State civil suit is in the works (finally), NY taxpayers foot a $135 million bill for medical blunders, Catholic Charities in Illinois drop their adoption lawsuit against the state, and if you have an iPod nano, beware of overheating (there’s a recall). That’s the lineup for this week’s blog. Once again, thanks for reading. We welcome your opinions and discussion!

1. Not surprising, Penn State hit with more civil suits. In what may be the one of the highest profile sexual abuse cases, four top administrators at Penn State face charges for an alleged coverup of the horrific actions of former assistant football coach Jerry Sandusky. The number of victims is expected to grow in the coming weeks.

2. Malpractice lawsuits against NY public hospitals result in a $135 million payout. Malpractice payouts have increased 5% from 2010. These medical mishaps were catastrophic for the victims, and NY taxpayers aren’t pleased to be footing a bill that was born out of carelessness.

3. Catholic Charities in Illinois have opted to drop their lawsuit against the state. The lawsuit concerning whether or not several Catholic Charities have the right to deny adoption and foster care placement to same-sex parents while still receiving funding from the state has come to an end for now. It’s still unclear how this dismissal will affect the pending legislation, however.

4. The Cupertino-based giant, Apple, has issued a recall on its iPod Nano. Although Apple says this is a very small number, people who purchased an iPod Nano between September 2005 and December 2006 should watch out for overheating (an internal battery issue).

Thanks for reading. We appreciate any and all discussion! Have a great weekend.

This week’s legal resources you might have missed: Nov. 7 – 11

Posted on November 11, 2011 by smith-coonrod

At Smith Coonrod Mohlman, LLC. we enjoy keeping up with the latest legal news and sharing it with you. We firmly believe that is important to keep up with industry happenings because it is just one more way that we can help you. Bank of America lawsuit settlements, Visitation Laws and Social Media Spies- that’s that we’ve got for you in this week’s blog. Once again, thanks for reading. We welcome your opinions and discussion!

1. Judge approves a $410 million settlement in Bank of America overdraft suits. The settlement, covering B of A debit card users from 2001 to 2011, is said to have an affect on more than 13 million of the bank’s customers. The lawsuits stemmed from the bank’s system for processing its debit card and check payments. The system formerly in use triggered more overdrafts than necessary or appropriate, resulting in excessive overdraft fees.

2. Parents have a constitutional right to raise their kids without interference. But what about grandparents? Most have a strong desire to be included in those youngsters’ lives. How to balance this? That’s what Visitation Laws are addressing. Necessary? Depends on the family, most likely.

3. Beware social media spies. Facebook, Twitter and other social media sites have purposes beyond connecting with friends and colleagues. Insurance companies and lawyers are using these sites in search of evidence that can be used to deny benefits to those who have been injured. Is this spying? Perhaps. Or maybe the more trendy, timely term here is “creeping.”