Jury Awards $14M to Victim of Pennsbury Bus Crash
A Bucks County jury awarded $14 million Monday to Ashley Zauflik, the former Pennsbury High School student who was run over by a bus in 2007, resulting in the loss of her left leg. The jury voted unanimously to award the Fairless Hills woman $2.9M for past and future medical costs and $11.1M for pain, suffering and disfigurement. But there's no guarantee the 21-year-old woman will collect $14 million, because of a $500,000 state cap limiting the general liability for school districts and municipalities. The verdict will probably be appealed by the school district in the next few days. Bill Reed, Philadelphia Inquirer 12/06/2011
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Deaths Linked to Cantaloupe Could Reach 16 or More
Health officials say as many as 16 people have died from possible listeria illnesses traced to Colorado cantaloupes, the deadliest food outbreak in more than a decade. The CDC said Tuesday that they have confirmed two deaths in Texas and one death each in in Kansas, Missouri and Nebraska. Last week the CDC reported two deaths in Colorado, four deaths in New Mexico, one in Oklahoma and one in Maryland. Associated Press, The Washington Post 09/28/2011
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US Regulators Investigating Reports of Failing Ford & Mercury Minivan Jacks
Federal regulators are investigating service jacks sold with Ford Freestar and Mercury Monterey minivans because of reports that they can fail and cause the vehicle to fall. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration says on its website that in one case, a person working under a van was killed when it fell off the jack. The problem involves jacks on about 205,664 minivans made during the 2004 and 2005 model years. NHTSA says it's investigating the issue to determine if a safety defect exists. Associated Press, The Wasington Post 09/20/2011
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Couple to File Suite over Contaminated Cantaloupes
A Colorado Springs couple has said they will file a lawsuit against Jensen Farms Inc. because the husband became ill on Aug. 30 after eating a cantaloupe produced by the company. Jensen Farms issued a recall of its Rocky Ford cantaloupes due to a potential Listeria contamination. One of the plaintiffs was taken to the hospital by ambulance and tested positive for listeria monocytogenes. Howard Pankratz, Denver Post 09/15/2011
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Wrongful Death Suit Filed Against Vegas Police
A Las Vegas family has filed a $9 million lawsuit against the Metropolitan Police Department after the fatal shooting of a 23-year-old man in July. In the lawsuit, the mother claims she had called police officers for help with her son, who had ulcerative colitis and was emotionally unstable after a breakup with his girlfriend. The lawsuit alleges officers shot the man 14 times without warning because he was carrying and waving a kitchen knife. The suit is seeking unspecified damages. Francis McCabe, Las Vegas Review Journal 09/08/2011
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Woman Mauled By Dog, Awarded $2.2 Million
A Washington jury has awarded $2.2 million to a local woman who was mauled by a neighbor's pit bull several years ago. The dog entered the woman's house and began attacking her two Jack Russell terriers, and she sustained injuries fighting the animal off.The jury assigned 42 percent of the blame to Pierce County because "animal control officials took no action even after getting more than a dozen complaints" about the dog. Staff Report, United Press International 08/14/2011
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Iowa Settles Suit Involving Girl with Leg Injuries
The state of Iowa has agreed to pay $875,000 to settle a lawsuit involving a girl who had a leg amputated and will need a brace to walk for the rest of her life after complications from a surgery at University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics. The State Appeals Board approved the payment to settle the case involving Katelyn Pearson, now 16. Court documents say she was 11 years old in 2007 when she underwent extensive surgery to treat a painful intestinal condition. The lawsuit alleged that the girl's legs were elevated for more than 11 hours in operative stirrups during the surgery and she complained of leg discomfort and numbness. They say she became afflicted with a condition known as compartment syndrome, which caused significant damage to the tissue in her lower legs. RYAN J. FOLEY, Associated Press, Chicago Tribune 08/09/2011
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Chicago Settles Fatal Police Wreck Lawsuit
The city of Chicago has agreed to pay $6.5 million to settle a lawsuit filed over the death of an 8-year-old boy who was hit by an unmarked police car in 2004. The officer driving the vehicle said he was pursuing a suspect, but witnesses of the accident said they never saw another car and the officer never got permission for pursuit from a supervisor. An 11-year-old girl who was also in the accident will receive $590,000 of the settlement Hal Dardick, Chicago Tribune 07/27/2011
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Woman Awarded $500,000 in Malpractice Suit
A Pennsylvania jury has awarded $500,000 to a Middleton, Penn., woman after a nurse at Lower Bucks Hospital left a sponge in her abdomen during a cesarean-section delivery. The plaintiff experienced abdominal pain after her procedure, which was initially thought to be simply post-procedure discomfort. It was not until two months after the surgery, the suit claims, that the sponge was discovered when the woman was forced back into the hospital with severe stomach pain. Jo Ciavaglia and Laurie Mason Schroeder , PhillyBurbs.com 07/21/2011
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Country Club to Pay $1 Million for Role in DWI Crash
A Texas family has been awarded $1 million in a lawsuit filed against the Southern Oaks Country Club in Burleson, Texas over a fatal DWI car crash in 2008. The lawsuit claimed that the man who caused the accident had been served too much alcohol at the country club before getting into his car. Witnesses at the club said the man was visibly intoxicated when he arrived at the club, but was continually served drinks. Gordon Dickson, Ft. Worth Star Telegram 07/11/2011
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Chevy, GMC Trucks Recalled
General Motors has issued a recall of 6,800 2011 Chevrolet Colorado and GMC Canyon trucks due to "inaccurate shift-lever readings." According to the company, the transmission selector in the trucks may appear to be in park, but the vehicle could still roll away. The company said it is not clear if any accidents have been associated with the problem. Christopher Jensen, The New York Times 07/01/2011
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Toyota Recalls Hybrid SUVs
Toyota Motor Corp. has issued a recall of about 82,200 hybrid sport-utility vehicles to correct an electrical problem in the vehicles. The recall covers 2006 Highlander Hybrid and Lexus RX 400h models. The company reported that certain transistors in the vehicles can overheat and blow, causing the vehicle to lose power or stop running. Jonathan Welsh, WSJ Blogs 06/29/2011
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Medications with Wrong Labels Recalled
Qualitest Pharmaceuticals has issued a recall of Butalbital, Acetaminophen, and Caffeine tablets that were incorrectly labeled. The bottles were found to be labeled as Hydrocodone Bitartrate and Acetaminophen tablets. Taking Butalbital unintentionally could result in adverse side effects. The bottles were distributed between November 2009 and April 2010 to wholesale and retail pharmacies nationwide. Staff Report, Kansas City Info Zine 06/27/2011
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Lawyers File Lawsuits in Firepot Injury Cases
Attorneys have filed lawsuits in SC on behalf of a 2 women who allegedly received severe burns while using firepots made by a Georgia company. One lawsuit concerns a May 21 incident involving Rachael Smilowitz she said in an interview that a Napa firepot exploded into a fireball when her husband tried to light the jelly-like fuel on the porch of their home. The second lawsuit concerns Barbara Satterfield, a Florida woman who was burned over 30% of her body after a similar accident while visiting relatives. She remains in intensive care. Her husband was seriously burned while trying to extinguish the flames. GLENN SMITH, McClatchy, McClatchy News 06/23/2011
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Penske Employee Shot at Work Files Lawsuit
A Penske Truck rental employee has filed a $20 million lawsuit against various Penske entities after he was injured when a former employee "allegedly shot up" a Penske facility in Georgia last year. The bullet that hit the plaintiff lodged in his brain stem, rendering him a bed-ridden invalid. The suit claimed the company was aware of threats the shooter made before the incident, but did nothing to protect the employees or investigate the validity of the threats. Andria Simmons , Atlanta Journal-Constitution 06/20/2011
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FDA Finds Filthy Conditions at Kellogg Plant
Officials with the U.S. Food and Drug Administration found "potentially harmful bacteria and unsanitary conditions" at a Kellogg plant in Georgia, the Wall Street Journal reported. The conditions included pooling water and flies near surfaces that came into contact with food. The agency was not sure if the conditions would support the growth of the listeria bacteria, but officials did condemn the plant for its lack of cleaning and sanitation operations. Katherine Hobson, WSJ Blogs 06/15/2011
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Government Says Formaldehyde is Cancer-Causer and Styrene May Be
The strong-smelling chemical formaldehyde causes cancer, while styrene, a second industrial chemical that's used worldwide in the manufacture of fiberglass and food containers, may cause cancer, the National Institutes of Health says. The NIH said that people with higher measures of exposure to formaldehyde are at increased risk for certain types of rare cancers, including those affecting the upper part of the throat behind the nose. The government says styrene is a component of tobacco smoke, and NIH says the greatest exposure to the chemical is through cigarette smoking. Associated Press, The Washington Post 06/13/2011
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Popular Police Cars Crown Victorias Prone to Explode
The last minutes of trooper Patrick Ambroise's short life were spent in a Crown Victoria Police Interceptor - a car praised for its strength, hailed for its durability and known to explode in high-speed rear-end crashes. By one estimate, fiery Ford Crown Victoria crashes have claimed more lives than the notorious Ford Pinto, subject of a nationwide recall in 1978. "Basically, the Crown Vic is a big Pinto," said Clarence Ditlow, executive director of the Center for Auto Safety, a Washington-based advocacy group. Ambroise, who died last year, is the latest of at least 30 law enforcement officers since 1983 who fell victim to fiery Crown Victoria crashes. Five were in Florida. Another 20 escaped patrol cars that crashed and caught fire. Pat Beall, Palm Beach Post 06/05/2011
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Harris Co. to Pay Mother $3M in Taser Death
Harris County will pay $3 million to a woman whose schizophrenic son died while he was in the custody of deputies. Shirley Nagel sued the county after her son died in 2005. Precinct One deputies were serving a mental health warrant and said Joel Don Casey resisted. Deputies Tasered him 18 times and his hands and feet were bound. The medical examiner said Casey died from psychotic delirium and heart disease that was impacted during the restraint. Nagel won her suit in 2009 and the county appealed, but an appeals court upheld the ruling Tuesday. Laura Weisman , KHOU-TV 06/08/2011
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Shifting the Risks at Night
Being in a hospital at night or over a weekend can be hazardous to your health, and even has a name: "the weekend effect." A raft of studies has documented higher rates of death, complications and medical errors affecting patients treated at night or on weekends. To bridge the chasm between the day and night shifts, hospitals are hiring a new breed of subspecialist called a "nocturnist" - an experienced doctor who works overnight taking care of patients outside the emergency room. Sandra G. Boodman, The Washington Post 06/07/2011
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3 Injured Workers to be Paid $7M for 2008 Oil Line Rupture
Three contract workers burned in a 2008 oil line rupture at Citgo's East Plant have reached a $7 million settlement with the company that designed the equipment. The oil release occurred in 2008 when contract worker Jose Herrera tried to hook up a cleaning device to a crude vacuum unit. The connection point broke and Herrera and two other workers, Aaron Salinas and John Davis, were burned when gallons of hot crude oil spewed out. Last week, Refined Technologies Inc., the company that designed the injection cleaning device, agreed to pay the settlement. Under the settlement agreement, Herrera and his family will receive the bulk of the sum and the two other workers, who weren't as severely burned, will receive smaller portions. Herrera, now 50, suffered burns to his face, neck and arms and underwent more than a year of skin grafts. Mary Ann Cavazos, Corpus Christi Caller Times 05/30/2011
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County Pays $1 Million to Settle Inmate Death Suit
Oklahoma County agreed to a $1 million settlement last month in a lawsuit filed by the estate of an inmate who died in jail in 2007 after a struggle with prison guards. The man appeared to have a seizure while in his cell, but the medical examine determined he died from blunt forced trauma to the head, presumably caused by one of the guards, the suit claimed. One of the guards associated with the incident was sentenced to six months in prison for using "excessive force" on the inmate. Nolan Clay, NewsOK.com 06/06/2011
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Suit Settled over Death of Seattle Cyclist
A refrigeration and HVAC company has agreed to a $1.5 million settlement over the death of a scientist at the University of Washington in a car accident two years ago. One of the HVAC company vans made an illegal U-turn on a Seattle street, striking the victim, who was riding his bicycle, and ran over him. Jennifer Sullivan, Seattle Times 05/31/2011
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$58.6 Million Awarded in Malpractice Suit
A Connecticut jury has awarded a local couple $58.6 million in a medical malpractice lawsuit, a record for a single incident of medical malpractice in the state of Connecticut. The lawsuit accused Dr. Richard Viscarello and his practice, Maternal-Fetal Care PC, of waiting too long to perform a cesarean section during the wife's 2003 labor, which caused the child to be born with permanent brain damage. The boy, now eight-years-old, suffers from cerebral palsy and is unable to eat, walk or talk. Matthew Sturdevant, The Hartford Courant 05/26/2011
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More than 1 Million Pool Drain Covers Recalled
The Consumer Product Safety Commission has announced a recall of about 1 million pool drain covers to check the accuracy of the flow rates. Drain covers are required on pools to prevent swimmers from being trapped under water by the drain suction. During an investigation, the agency discovered that many of the drain covers were certified using "faulty standards." CPSC officials recommend all private pool owners immediately contact their drain maker. Gregory Korte, USA Today 05/27/2011
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FDA Issues Warning About SimplyThick
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration announced last week that parents should not feed milk or formula mixed with SimplyThick to premature babies. The agency said it has received reports that 15 infants who had been given the product developed a "life-threatening intestinal condition." The FDA releases a statement saying it is investigating reasons why SimplyThick made the children sick, and strongly recommends not giving the product to babies who are younger then 37 weeks old. Marissa Cevallos, LA Times 05/23/2011
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Deputy DUI Crash Leads to $4.75 Million Settlement
Los Angeles County has approved a $4.75 million settlement in a lawsuit filed over a car accident caused by an intoxicated sheriff's deputy. The lawsuit claims the officer was intoxicated and speeding when he crashed into the driver's side of the other vehicle, causing severe injuries to the passengers in the car. The payout may have been higher, the Los Angeles Times reported, had the driver of the other vehicle not been under the influence of narcotics at the time. The deputy was sentenced to six months in prison for drunk driving. Robert Faturechi, LA Times 05/23/2011
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Pfizer Sets Aside $722 Million, Settles One-Third of Prempro Drug Cases
Pfizer Inc which has settled a third of the pending cases over its Prempro menopause drug, said it set aside $772 million to resolve claims the medicine causes breast cancer. Pfizer said in a filing with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission yesterday that the reserve provides "the minimum expected costs to resolve all of the other outstanding" lawsuits over its hormone-replacement drugs. The company didn't say how many cases would be settled. Jef Feeley, Bloomberg 05/13/2011
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Anti-Smoking Meds Caused Murderous Rage
A lawsuit has been filed against Pfizer over a Pennsylvania murder-suicide by a man who was taking the anti-smoking medication Chantix. The lawsuit alleges the medication caused the man to experience a rage that led him to kill his wife and then himself. The victims were not warned that the medication could cause the symptoms the husband experienced, the suit says. Staff Report, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette 05/10/2011
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Mississippi Jury Awards $322M Asbestos Verdict
A Smith County, MS jury has awarded a 48-year-old man, "Tony" Brown Jr, $322M dollars for future medical expenses, pain and suffering, and punitive damages in an asbestos case against Chevron Phillips Chemical (CP Chem) and Union Carbide Corporation. Brown, who worked in the oil fields of Mississippi from 1979 to the mid 80's, was diagnosed with asbestosis and is currently on oxygen 24-hours a day. Charlotte Graham, Laurel Leader-Call, N/A 05/06/2011
Honda Expands Recall over Airbags
Honda Motors has expanded their recent recall of Honda and Acura vehicles to include 833,000 more units. The company said replacement airbags can deploy with too much pressure, causing injuries or fatalities. The recall covers various models of Hondas and Acuras from 2001 to 2003. Staff Report, Reuters 05/03/2011
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Glaxo Settles Denture Cream Lawsuits
GlaxoSmithKline Plc has paid $120 million to resolve more than 100 lawsuits in the past nine months over their denture cream, Poligrip. The lawsuits complained that the cream caused neurological disorders in users because of the high levels if zinc. The suits also claimed the company failed to warn its consumers about the risk to zinc exposure. Jef Feeley, Bloomberg 05/03/2011
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