On the same day in March that the Commerce, Science and Transportation Subcommittee on Surface Transportation investigated passenger bus safety, the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) shut down the Super Luxury Tours bus company in connection with a fatal bus accident in New Jersey. In...
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Virginia Jury Awards Plaintiff $212 Million in Botox Case
In one of the biggest Botox-related litigation awards yet, a U.S. District Court jury awarded a Virginia man $212 million late last month. The award represents $12 million in compensatory damages and $200 million in punitive damages for the plaintiff. The 67-year-old plaintiff filed the lawsuit against Allergan, Inc., the maker of Botox, alleging...
Read MoreDefendants Trying to Pass the Buck on Liability in Wrongful Death Case
Defendants in a $50 million wrongful death lawsuit are fighting each other over liability in a 2004 steam explosion that killed two men on 17th Street in Northwest Washington, D.C. After six years of disputes amongst the various defendants, including the federal government, the case is showing signs of moving forward. The parties...
Read MoreWorkers Throw Asbestos Tiles in Open Dumpster
Virginia Beach residents are worried that more than just spring may be in the air. Workers remodeling a grocery store in Virginia Beach alarmed residents when they threw asbestos-ridden floor tiles in an uncovered and unsealed dumpster. Residents are worried that the wind could easily disperse the asbestos fibers in an open container. Once...
Read MoreStudy Sheds Light on the Effectiveness of Medical Liability Reform
The New England Journal of Medicine released a study on the effectiveness of medical liability reform. The study examined both the perceptions and realities of traditional approaches toward safe and high-quality health care. Doctors and insurers think malpractice claims are excessive. However, estimates indicate that only two to three percent of patients injured by
Read MoreMaryland Cracking Down on Work Zone Speeders
Every year, approximately 1,400 people suffer injuries in Maryland work-zone car accidents. The latest incident occurred last month when a vehicle struck a state highway worker as he directed traffic around some utility work. The worker suffered severe injuries, including
Read MoreAmerican Association for Justice President Discusses How Litigation Advances Vehicle Safety
American Association for Justice (AAJ) President Gibson Vance says litigation has played a crucial role in consumer safety and manufacturer accountability in the auto industry. Gibson said that litigation and the civil justice system have, “served as the most consistent and powerful forces in heightening safety standards, revealing previously concealed defects and regulatory weaknesses...
Read MoreMore People May Be Involved in Federal Corruption Case
As mentioned in a prior blog entry, FBI agents arrested Prince George’s County Executive, Jack Johnson, on charges of felony witness and evidence tampering. Agents also arrested Johnson’s wife, Leslie, on the same charges. The arrests were part of an FBI sting operation. Jack Johnson is under house arrest, but he is able to...
Read MorePrince George’s County Executive Charged in Federal Corruption Investigation
The FBI arrested Jack Johnson, Prince George’s County Executive, on charges in an ongoing federal corruption investigation. Authorities also arrested Johnson’s wife, Leslie, in the investigation. Federal agents charged the pair with felony witness and evidence tampering. Johnson is currently wearing an electronic monitoring bracelet under house arrest. Former Washington, D.C. councilmember and expert in...
Read MoreParamedics Wrongfully Diagnosed Man’s Heart Attack in 2008 Death
In December 2008, Washington, D.C. paramedics made a medical misdiagnosis that cost a 39-year-old man his life. When Edward Givens told paramedics he was having difficulty breathing and experiencing chest pains, their recommendation was to take some Pepto Bismol for what they said was acid reflux. Mr. Givens later died from what was...
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