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 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.”

This week’s legal resources you might have missed: Sept. 26 – 30

Posted on September 30, 2011 by admin

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. This week’s stories touch on legal news on both local and national levels. Deadly cantaloupe, wrongful birth lawsuits, the Dead Red law in Kansas, and BP execs (we’re not finished with them yet) were some of the topics gracing legal headlines this week. We welcome your opinions and discussion!

1. Cantaloupe death toll continues to rise. On Monday the death toll from a contaminated crop of cantaloup was at eight people. As of Thursday, the CDC has reported at least 16 deaths from the listeria traced to Colorado fruits and expects it will continue to rise. Until this is resolved, do not eat cantaloupe if you do not know where it came from.

2. Wrongful birth malpractice lawsuit results in a $4.5 million settlement. A Florida recently awarded $4.5 million to the parents of a baby born with no arms and only one leg. The couple alleged that it was medical negligence that prevented from them learning of the debilitation early enough to terminate the pregnancy.

3. The color red generally means stop, unless you’re on a bike in Kansas. The Dead Red law in Kansas allows bicycles and motorcycles to continue through a red light if the light does not turn green in a “reasonable” amount of time. This wording is vague- what is reasonable? Will cyclists and bikers obey a “reasonable” amount of time?

4. Lawsuits filed against top English BP executives have been dismissed in favor of an English forum. Waves of litigation spilled in (no pun intended here) after the Deepwater Horizon incident in April 2010. However, these suits primarily involving English execs at an English corporation will not go forward in US courts. An English forum will be more appropriate for litigation.

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

Posted on September 16, 2011 by admin

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. This week’s stories touch on legal news on both local and national levels. Human trafficking laws that fall flat in Kansas, courtroom dogs, pharmaceutical law: read on, share your thoughts and opinions. We welcome the discussion!

This week’s legal news stories:

1. Kansas falls short in combatting human trafficking. Kansas laws aimed at combatting human trafficking fall short comparable to the laws in Missouri, says a national anti-trafficking organization. What’s the deal?

2. More bullying cases have parents turning to courts. The number of bullying-related lawsuits is on the rise nationwide. The number of lawsuits are increasing for a number of reasons, one being awareness. People are aware about the seriousness of these situations in a way they didn’t used to be, and feel the need to report it.

3. US courtroom dog spark legal debate. Dogs have played a comforting role in the courtroom for more than 20 years, mostly for children. However, their presence is being protested of late. A New York lawyer recently appealed his client’s conviction on the grounds that the courtroom dog affected the opposing testimony.

4. A legal doctrine that worries pharma defense lawyers. A new legal doctrine allows prosecutors to go after executives, holding them accountable for violations of the Food, Drug and Cosmetic Act. Here’s the catch- the executives can still be prosecuted even if they weren’t aware of violations.

That’s what we have for you this week, be sure to check back next Friday!

This week’s Family Law resources you might have missed: Aug. 22 – 26

Posted on August 26, 2011 by admin

Attorneys at the Smith Coonrod Mohlman, LLC. handle a variety of family law cases involving divorce, annulment, separate maintenance, child support modifications and adoptions. We understand the importance of the personal touch in handling these issues. For this reason, our attorneys will sympathize with your needs and offer guidance through these difficult processes. If you have any issues related to family law and need legal assistance, contact our firm today for a free consultation.

Here are some important resources you may have missed:

1. Back-to-School Season Brings Unique Challenges for Children of Divorced or Separated Parents. Parents dealing with separation and divorce can help their children ease into the new school year more smoothly by expecting the unexpected. The back-to-school season is often challenging for children whose parents are dealing with these types of issues.

2. Expanding the Availability of Free Legal Assistance in Family Law Matters. Cases regarding Family Law represent the greatest area of unmet legal need. Providers of these service are unable to serve over 390,000 people each year in need of this type of assistance, according to the Legal Services Corporation. This number represents 41 percent of denied cases.

3. Be Careful for What You Bargain for Without the Advice of Counsel. More and more people are opting to represent themselves in legal proceedings regarding divorce. After the fact, however, these people are realizing they may have shorted themselves in their decision to self-represent. Once the ink on the paperwork is dry, it is very hard to renegotiate.