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: 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 Medical Malpractice Law resources you might have missed: June 20 – 24

Posted on June 24, 2011 by admin

The legal system provides an avenue for victims and their families to obtain compensation as a result of medical negligence, and to prevent such incidents from happening again. Medical error can be difficult to prove and requires arduous work on behalf of the attorneys, for these cases require the injured person to prove that their treatment was not proper or reasonable. The law also requires that this proof be given in the form of expert testimony. So yes, these cases are difficult; however, they are not impossible with a strong set of facts.

Medical malpractice cases are costly in terms of both time and money; even the simplest case may cost more than $30,000 in addition to several hundred hours on behalf of the attorneys. This all necessary though, because injuries obtained through medical negligence can be scarring. Such injuries may not only effect the victim, but the victim’s family and closest friends as well. This is why if you feel that you, or someone you know, has been a victim of medical malpractice you must contact an attorney as soon as possible to protect your rights. The evidence collection that is required in proving these types of cases is extensive and can take quite a while to gather. Considering this, it is of the utmost importance and urgency that an attorney is contacted as soon as possible.

If you or someone you know has been a victim of medical malpractice or medical negligence, please do not hesitate to contact the law offices of Smith Coonrod & Mohlman for a free consultation.

Here are some important resources you may have missed:

1. San Rafael Man Sues Navato Hospital, claiming sponge left in gut. Fifty-year-old Ronald Alvos underwent a surgical procedure at Navato Community Hospital in California eight years ago. However, a recent abdominal imaging scan revealed a surgical sponge that was allegedly been in his abdomen since his procedure at Navato Hospital. Unfortunately for the hospital, this is not the only occurrence of such an incident.

http://bit.ly/lIiiJV

2. New York Judges Aim to Curb Medical Malpractice Litigation Costs. Part of the Obama administration’s health care bill includes money for grants to states to launch projects aiming to curbing the high costs associated with medical malpractice litigation. The idea is to get judges involved in the cases early to limit both cost and time; a judge will hold a settlement conference with the attorneys, without the clients present. However, some believe that this may lead to clients settling for compensation that is less than fair.

http://on.wsj.com/jC5BX7

3. Choosing the Right Doctor is One of Your Most Important Decisions. A neurosurgeon in Oregon is has been accused of routinely performing unnecessary spinal fusion procedures on his patients. Additionally, this doctor has faced eight medical malpractices lawsuits in the nine years he has been practicing. This is just one unfortunate example of how extremely important choosing the right doctor for you and your family is.

http://bit.ly/l5OhMw

Check back next week for more important legal news and resources!

This week’s essential Premise Liability Law resources that you may have missed. (June 13 – 17)

Posted on June 17, 2011 by admin

Premise liability is the set of laws dealing with “slip and fall” accidents and who is at fault for these accidents.

The Smith/Coonrod legal team may be able to help you if you have been injured on someone else’s property as a result of some degree of negligence. Premise liability is the set of laws dealing with “slip and fall” accidents and who is at fault for these accidents. Injuries that are applicable to premise liability law are those that have been acquired as a result of negligent care of property, or if the property was initially created in an unsafe condition. People who own land are required by law to protect those who lawfully enter their land or property from reasonably injuries. Business owners and homeowners also fall into this landowner category, and can be held at fault for acquired injuries. Premise liability cases can include falls, fires, inadequate security and other types of personal injury. Situations on various properties that can give rise to injury include uneven flooring, poorly marked elevation changes, slippery surfaces, cracked sidewalks, uneven elevators and broken steps. If you feel that you or anyone you know may have obtained an injury that falls under these previously discussed topics, please contact the Law Offices of Smith/Coonrod for a free consultation.

Here are some important resources you may have missed:

1. Bar Can Be Sued For Stabbing: A man in Colorado was stabbed New Year’s Eve one block away from the bar he and his aggressor had been that night. The Court ruled the establishment is at fault for knowingly serving alcohol to the visibly intoxicated aggressor, for “it is not enough that the licensee ‘should have known’ that the person was visibly intoxicated.” http://bit.ly/jzZBqF

2. Stow Family Sues Dodgers Over Brutal Beating: The family of a San Francisco Giants fan has filed a lawsuit against the Los Angeles Dodgers following a brutal beating obtained by a family member during the team’s home opener. The lawsuit alleges that security cutbacks and negligent hiring, among other things, are to blame for the beating itself, as well as the duration of the beating. http://bit.ly/iTKY11

3. Staples Center Faces Massive Lawsuit After Toddler Plunges to his Death: The Staples Center in Los Angeles was recently hit with a massive lawsuit stemming from the death of a toddler following a 2010 regular season game. The family was seated in a luxury box featuring a 2 foot plexi-glass barrier at the front. The toddler climbed the barrier, and then tragically fell into the general seating area. He was rushed to the hospital where he died hours later. http://bit.ly/kBYmWO

Check back each week for the latest legal news!

The week’s essential Personal Injury Law resources that you may have missed. (May. 23 – May. 27)

Posted on May 27, 2011 by admin

Attorneys at the Law Office of Smith/Coonrod can help if you have been injured through the fault of another. This is the primary area of practice for our law firm and our attorneys handle many cases that are considered “personal injury”. These kinds of cases include car accidents, slip and fall, professional malpractice, wrongful death and others. If you or a family member has been seriously injured or killed as the result of the negligence of others you may be entitled to compensation. Whenever you believe you have a claim against someone in an accident, you should seek legal advice as soon as possible in order to protect your rights. In general, you have a limited amount of time from the date of the accident to file a complaint against the other party(ies) involved. You should always seek advice at the earliest stage possible. If you do not, it may seriously jeopardize your case: your attorney needs to act quickly and preserve the evidence: memories fade, witnesses disappear, and vital records and reports are lost without quick action. Please contact the Law Offices of Smith/Coonrod for a free consultation. We generally handle these type of cases on a contingency basis so you do not pay us unless we obtain a recovery for you.

Personal injury is the primary area of practice for our law firm.

Here are some important resources you may have missed:

1. Salad Suspected in Illinois Salmonella Outbreak.

Fifteen people have now been confirmed infected with the outbreak strain of Salmonella, according to a news release Monday from the Kane County Health Department. The onset of the first illness was April 5 and onset of the last illness was April 30. Three of the case patients became so ill they were hospitalized.

http://bit.ly/l5UVDb

2. A Georgia insurance company that paid a wrongful death claim on behalf of a former Utah State University fraternity has settled the lawsuit it brought against four of the fraternity’s members.

Attorneys for RSUI contend the defendants planned and participated in a “capture event,” in which new pledges would be kidnapped by members of a sister sorority and later rescued by fellow pledges. During the event, Michael Starks drank nearly two-thirds of a bottle of vodka. He died hours later.

The week’s essential Premise Liability service resources that you may have missed. (Jan. 31 – Feb. 4)

Posted on February 4, 2011 by admin

Don't stress if you have been injured on someone else’s property and negligence is involved. We can help.

Attorneys at the Law Offices of Smith/Coonrod may be able to help if you have been injured on someone else’s property and negligence is involved.Premises liability is the law that governs “slip and fall” accidents and determines who is at fault for them. Premises liability law generally refers to injuries occurring on someone else’s property because the property owner was negligent or created an unsafe condition. Landowners are required to protect those who lawfully enter on the land or property from reasonable injuries. These landowners include business owners and homeowners and cases can include falls, fires, inadequate security, and other types of personal injury. Common situations giving rise to premises accidents include uneven floor surfaces, poorly marked changes in elevation, slippery surfaces, broken sidewalks, uneven elevators and broken steps.

Premise liability related injuries may include:

Injuries caused by alleged defects.
Injuries and/or property loss caused by: various types of equipment on construction sites, trespass/nuisance, explosions, fires.
Injuries caused by dangerous animal attacks, alleged structural defects of buildings, and by criminal assaults on premises.

If you feel that you have a case involving premises liability, please contact the Law Offices of Smith/Coonrod for a free consultation.

Here are some important resources you may have missed:

1. Premises Liability in Los Angeles Does Not Discount Snarling Dog. Great article, check it out! http://bit.ly/hkoy9t [INDUSTRY]

2. Ski lift tickets have printed warnings and waivers of liability, releasing ski resort owners from any claim of injury due to the inherent risks of the sport. http://bit.ly/fiM6Zu [INDUSTRY]

3. Trespassing on beachfront condo properties gets Police Chief saying that there needs to be a change in law. http://bit.ly/e70O1f [INDUSTRY]

Check back each week for the best of the best news!

Here is the week’s essential Legal Industry news that you might have missed. (September 6– September 10)

Posted on September 10, 2010 by admin

Smith Coonrod works hard to make sure you are up to date and informed on Legal Industry News. Your opportunity to read three industry articles on our Smith Coonrod WordPress blog for this week are right here.

This week, we focused on car accident cases, and how to prepare yourself for recovering damages. The first step? Contact Smith Coonrod. http://smithcoonrod.com

Guide for your reference from Smith/Coonrod: What to do after a car accident: http://tinyurl.com/lop544 (via insure.com)
Look Twice—Save a Life. http://tinyurl.com/26zu8ht [INDUSTRY]
Back to the Basics: Car Accident Statistics http://tinyurl.com/2u9zh7r [LEGAL][INDUSTRY]

Also, some car accident statistics to keep in mind:

Only 22% of auto injuries occur when impacts were greater than 12 mph.
Most cars can withstand a crash of 8-12 mph without any damage. More than half of all whiplash injuries happen without any damage to the vehicle.

Check back each Friday for the top legal news of the week.