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When many people are injured in the same way or suffer a common type of loss, those lawsuits can be consolidated into a multi-district litigation (MDL) or a class action claim. The goal of this consolidation is to move cases through the courts more quickly and efficiently, so that plaintiffs can have justice. What are…

The Arizona Department of Child Safety states that “sexual abuse occurs when sex acts are performed with children. Using children in pornography, prostitution or other types of sexual activity is also sexual abuse.” Sexual assault also includes rape or attempted rape, penetration of the child’s body, forcing sexual acts such as oral sex, indecent exposure,…

Responsibility and accountability – even for the powerful – are rooted into the core of our legal system. This country’s founders knew that a democracy needs a court system that empowers people to protect themselves by holding the powerful to account. That’s why the Constitution guarantees each person the right to a trial by jury.…

Samsung is making news for a couple reasons today.  First, according to the Washington Post, Samsung is expected to present causes of the Galaxy Note 7 fires today.  The Galaxy Note 7, as you likely know, is no longer allowed on airplanes or cruise ships because the phones have a tendency to explode or spontaneously…

A new study, published in December of 2016, reports that fewer than 2% of all physicians represent half of the malpractice settlements in the United States.  This study concurs with findings in a previous study which found that 1% of doctors are responsible for 32% of paid malpractice claims.  These studies suggest that steps need…

Before purchasing products, you should always make sure the items are safe.  But precaution doesn’t end there.  We should all monitor items to make sure nothing we own and use is recalled for safety reasons.  If you or a loved one has been injured by a product – whether or not that product has been…

A former Oregon high school student has sued his school district for damages resulting from a traumatic brain injury he received while playing basketball.  In October 2013, Robert Amarillas was chasing after a ball when he slipped on vomit that was on the court.  An unidentified student had previously vomited on the court, and a…

In a big victory for nursing home patients and the Constitution, the federal government passed a new rule that prevents nursing homes from including arbitration clauses in their consumer contracts.  The new rule applies to every nursing home that accepts federal funding.  Companies, including nursing homes, often include arbitration clauses in their standard contract as…

Most people believe doctors are good people who consider helping patients to be the top priority.  And in many cases, that is true.  However, a report by the Joint Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations found that less than half of physicians feel serious errors should be disclosed to patients.  This is concerning when considering…

We’ve posted about the dangers of e-cigarettes, but now we have video verification.  This video shows an e-cigarette exploding in the purse of a woman in New Jersey.  “Terrifying, scary. It sounded like a gunshot. It sounded like a bomb went off.” Anything with lithium batteries, including cell phones, risk exploding.  Try to avoid using…

Former University of California football player, Neville Hawkins, filed a lawsuit this week against the NCAA and Pac-12 Conference for repercussions of concussions he received while playing college football in 1970 and 1971.  According to the lawsuit, the NCAA, Conference and the University knew about the dangers of concussions, and that football hits caused such…

Being patriotic isn’t just the right thing to do.  Sometimes, it pays too.  A former executive at the agriculture company, Monsanto, is being paid $22.5 million for serving as a “whistleblower” to the government by alerting it to securities fraud.  The former executive, whose name is not being released, alerted the SEC to Monsanto’s misstatements…

If you vape, please read! This new trend, has a vicious side effect.  The e-cigarettes have exploding batteries, and explosions are not rare.  According to the Arizona Republic,  “officials at the Arizona Burn Center say such accidents occur regularly, with a dozen patients reporting burns from e-cigarette fires or explosions over the past three months.”  The injuries that occur…

As the saying goes, “failing to prepare is preparing to fail.”  Proving this to be true, a study by health economists at Harvard, M.I.T., Columbia, and the University of Chicago showed that recent improvement in heart attack survival rates is due not only to breakthroughs in technology, but also to patients selecting better hospitals.  As…

A former Stanford football player has initiated a class action lawsuit against the Northern California University, as well as the NCAA and the Pacific-12 Conference, for head injuries he and other athletes suffered while at the university.  David Burns (Stanford Class of ’76) alleges in the suit that private universities, conferences and the NCAA knew or…

Monday was a bad day to be near train tracks across the country. Three separate incidents occurred throughout the day, leaving six people dead in three cities. Crashes occurred in Salem, Oregon, Poteau, Oklahoma, and Cheraw, South Carolina, which is outside of Columbia. Amtrak operated the trains in Oregon and South Carolina, where the men…

The family of Anton Yelchin has filed a wrongful death lawsuit against Fiat Chrysler Automobiles, claiming the actor’s death resulted from a defect in the Jeep Grand Cherokee.  Yelchin, who starred in multiple Star Trek films, died on June 19 after his Grand Cherokee rolled backwards and pinned him between a brick pillar and a…

Uber, the ride sharing app which took the nation by storm, was recently reprimanded by a New York judge for its litigation tactics as part of a class action anti-trust case.  The claim alleges that the Uber CEO engaged in price-fixing with its drivers.  During the case, Uber hired a private investigator, Ergo, to conduct an…

The clear surface coating on the bracelets and necklaces contain lead in excess of the allowable limits. Lead is toxic if ingested by young children and can cause adverse health issues. Source: Things Remembered Recalls Children’s Jewelry Due to Violation of Lead Standard Richard PlattnerI have been active in leadership in the Arizona Association for…

If your kid has one of these bottles, get the lead out, snatch it from her hands, and get your money back! The lead solder exterior base of the bottles contains high levels of lead, which is toxic if ingested by young children and can cause terrible health issues. Source: GSI Outdoors Recalls Children’s Water Bottles Due…

These baby monitors may not be quite as explosive as the lithium ion batteries in e-cigarettes that are going off like bombs all around the world — but you still don’t want anything catching fire in the house with baby. The video monitor’s batteries can overheat, swell and expand and cause the battery cover to…

In the first place, why do you have a sniper cross-bow?  In the second place, get it replaced before it smashes you in the face. Tabs on the hooks attaching the rope cocking device to the crossbow string can break and cause the rope to recoil. Source: Crosman Recalls Crossbow Rope Cocking Devices Due to…

Looks like the Cannondale Bad Boy bicycle should just be called the Cannondale Bad bicycle.  The fork axle on Cannondale Bad Boy and Bad Girl commuter bicycles can crack. Source: Cycling Sports Group Recalls Commuter Bicycles Due to Fall Hazard Richard PlattnerI have been active in leadership in the Arizona Association for Justice (lawyers who…

Medical providers, which cause the third-most deaths in the United States (behind only heart disease and cancer), and the insurance companies hard work have struck yet another blow to patients.  A California jury awarded $1.75 million to the family of a 44 year-old woman who died as a result of medical malpractice at UCLA.  The…