Year: 2015

Non-Profit Camp for Traumatic Brain Injury Survivors

Head injures are among the most serious types of personal injuries suffered. Those who are fortunate to survive a traumatic brain injury may be left dealing with physical and mental disabilities, which may affect them for the rest of their lives. These victims will require years of treatment and rehabilitation. According to a recent article from the Washington Times Reporter, a non-profit group is working to raise funds to send head injury victims to a camp where they can have a more enjoyable time during the rehabilitation process. At noted in the article, head injuries are caused by a variety of different types of accident and injuries. At around 40 percent, the vast majority of head injury, including traumatic brain injury, is a result of a fall …

Medical Negligence

Reducing the cost of medical negligence claims – Lexology (registration)

Reducing the cost of medical negligence claimsLexology (registration)You have to admire those who represent the medical professions and the hospitals. They are constantly striving to reduce the level of compensation for patients and moaning about the outrageous cost of legal action, but are reluctant to settle cases …

Young man with "severe mental disabilities" tried to hijack woman’s car – Sunday World

Sunday WorldYoung man with "severe mental disabilities" tried to hijack woman's carSunday WorldHe described him as someone with “severe mental disabilities” including ADHD and compulsive behaviour. The witness agreed with Ms Lawlor that Byrne has been abiding by very strict bail conditions since his arrest and has been spending most of his time …Man with significant mental disabilities tried to hijack woman's carNewstalk 106-108 fmall 3 news articles »

Burlington, Mass. Daycare Provider Charged in Murder of Child

In yet another recent example of a tragic injury occurring to child by a daycare provider, Wicked Local Burlington reports the operator of an unlicensed daycare facility near Woburn was recently charged in connection with the death of a child in her care, which occurred last year. Authorities say approximately one year ago, a mother left her six-month-old daughter with a neighbor who regularly provided daycare services for families in the area at her home. Later that afternoon, defendant called mother and informed her that her daughter had stopped breathing. When mother arrived, she saw defendant performing CPR on the child, who was still lying still and non-responsive. Mother quickly called 911. Defendant told first responders baby was unresponsive after she vomited following being fed.

headlines

Florida High Court Overturns Summary Judgment for Defendant School Board, Deciding it Owed Common Law Duty to Student Athlete

On April 2, 2015, the Florida Supreme Court quashed the Second District Court of Appeal’s decision in Limones v. School District of Lee County, 111 So. 3d 901 (Fla. 2d DCA 2013), and held that the school district owed a common law duty to supervise a…By: Sedgwick LLP

headlines

Onward to Trial: Federal Court Rejects Vermont’s Motion to Dismiss GMA Lawsuit

Despite a stiff litigation challenge from the food industry, Vermont’s GMO-labeling campaign marches on. This week saw major developments in the suit brought by the Grocery Manufacturers’ Association and other food industry groups challenging the…By: Mintz Levin – Consumer Product Matters

Insurance

Rise in Court Fees to Scupper Access to Justice?

As they say, the Jury is out. The Government has announced that the huge hike in Court Fees, some by as much as 600{9c067c25ed205f086ce6001901eb13dfadc688a7aefab9f64e0c55b8c5a55872}, is due to take affect on Monday 9th March. Cue massive rush to issue everything beforehand of course but then what? Justice minister Shailesh Vara was kind enough to declare in the House of Commons that it was ‘reasonable’ to suggest that the fee increase will not have any major negative effect and that there was ‘little risk’ that they would cut demand for or indeed damage legal services. Well that’s alright then. Phew! Oh hang on a second. Didn’t they do something similar with Employment Tribunal application fees recently? I wonder if those fees had any impact on claims. …

Insurance

Lack of Protective Equipment Results in 1st and 3rd Degree Burns

A Republic Steel plant electrician received burns after an arc flash.

headlines

Compensation secured for photojournalist permanently injured after tripping on London pavement, 9th April 2015

The NUJ and Thompsons Solicitors have helped a photojournalist, who seriously injured his ankle and finger after tripping on a poorly-maintained utility cover, secure compensation.

Medical Negligence

New "wilful neglect" offence needed for healthcare sector, say lawyers

A new criminal offence of “wilful neglect” is needed for individuals and organisations in the healthcare sector, to send out a clear message that appalling care warrants public censure and sanction…

Brady v. Urbas: Informed Consent in Medical Malpractice Cases

Brady v. Urbas, a case from the Pennsylvania Supreme Court, involved plaintiff who suffered from long-term foot problems. Her foot issues were due to toe deformities. Plaintiff had been going to the same podiatrist for years, and he was successfully able to perform surgical procedures to treat the problems with her left foot. At this point, he continued to treat the deformed toes on her right foot. Plaintiff’s primary problem on her right foot was a medical condition known by doctors and patients as hammertoe. Hammertoe in her second toe caused her middle toe to rise, so it was sitting above the natural plane of the sole of her foot. This made it extremely painful when wearing shoes.

Disability Benefits and Boston’s Homeless

It is hard to walk to down the street in downtown Boston without seeing those who live on the city streets. While it is never easy to be without a home, it was especially difficult during this harsh winter that has just ended. The Boston Globe published a recent article in the Metro section that looked at the homeless population in our city and their struggle to obtain Social Security disability benefits. During the month of February, over 300 city officials and volunteers spend an evening walking the cold dark streets to conduct the city’s annual count of homeless residents. This winter has not only been particularly brutal in terms of cold temperatures and snowfall, but a large homeless shelter closed as well. This was, of course the …