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EX-WORKERS SUE MOTOROLA OVER KIDS' BIRTH DEFECTS

Tue, 27 Jul 2010 00:00:00 -0500

A group of former Motorola employees is claiming that their exposure to harmful chemicals while producing semiconductors has harmed their children. The 71 plaintiffs worked at a plants in Illinois and Arizona between 1965 and 2007. The suit says the children suffer from various problems such as cerebral palsy, autism, blindness, spina bifida, language delays and epilepsy.

WAL-MART FACING CLASS-ACTION SUIT ALLEGING IT PUT LIMITS ON MEDICAL CARE FOR INJURED WORKERS

Wed, 21 Jul 2010 00:00:00 -0500

Wal-Mart is being sued in Colorado through a class-action for allegedly trying to dictate the extent of medical care a worker receives for an on the job injury which, if true, would be a violation of Colorado law.

GENERAL MILLS SLAMMED WITH LAWSUIT, SAYING POPULAR SNACK IS 'UNHEALTHY'

Thu, 01 Jul 2010 00:00:00 -0500

A Brooklyn woman has filed suit alleging that the popular kid's snack, Fruit Roll-Ups, manufactured by General Mills is misleading the public as a healthy snack when in fact it is not.

AGENCY CLARIFIES WORKERS' COMPENSATION MEDICARE SETASIDE RULES

Tue, 08 Jun 2010 00:00:00 -0500

In order to settle workers' compensation cases where medicare has a potential interest, a claimant is required to obtain approval from medicare before settling and may have to place a portion of the settlement into a medicare setaside trust account to use for medical treatment related to the on the job injury. When the account is exhausted, medicare will then accept responsibility for treatment from that point forward. Uncertainty has existed as to how prescription needs are addressed.

WOMAN FIRED FOR ATTRACTIVE FIGURE, LAWSUIT CLAIMS

Thu, 03 Jun 2010 00:00:00 -0500

A New York City woman has filed a lawsuit against Citibank, her former employer, claiming that she was fired because she was too attractive.

WAL-MART RECALLING CHILDRENS' JEWELRY

Thu, 20 May 2010 00:00:00 -0500

Wal-Mart plans to recall the Miley Cyrus jewelry line after obtaining positive test results for the metal cadmium in some of the jewelry.

DO YOU HAVE UNINSURED OR UNDERINSURED MOTORIST COVERAGE?

Fri, 07 May 2010 00:00:00 -0500

Uninsured or underinsured motorist insurance is often overlooked when purchasing motor vehicle insurance but it can be a very valuable resource in the event you are injured in an accident due to the negligence of another and there is not enough insurance to cover your losses.

GOVERNMENT BANS TEXTING FOR TRUCKERS

Mon, 19 Apr 2010 00:00:00 -0500

Statistics show that large commercial trucks are disproportionately involved in fatal accidents. Commercial trucks represent about three percent of all motor-vehicle registrations, but eight percent of all fatal motor vehicle accidents and twelve percent of all traffic fatalities nationwide each year. One potential cause of these accidents is distracted driving.

OKLAHOMA LEGISLATORS SEEK MORE CHANGES TO WORKERS' COMPENSATION SYSTEM

Thu, 25 Mar 2010 00:00:00 -0500

The Legislature is considering numerous Workers' Compensation bills this session, some of which dramatically decrease benefits to workers.

BAR PATRON DRIVES DRUNK AND CRASHES INTO FAMILY’S VEHICLE

Tue, 15 Dec 2009 00:00:00 -0600

Throughout one afternoon and early evening, Jamie Lee Coker was a patron at Mom’s Biker Bar, which allegedly continued to serve him drinks even after he was visibly intoxicated. Coker left the bar with a blood alcohol level more than twice the legal limit and began driving.

At the same time, Joe Wallace was driving his wife, daughter, and mother in the opposite direction on the same street. Coker suddenly drove into the Wallaces’ lane and hit their car head-on. Wallace’s mother, who was 73, died at the scene and is survived by her two adult children. Her funeral expenses were $10,000.

Wallace’s 21-year-old daughter, Monica, suffered a punctured lung, internal injuries that led to the removal of her spleen and right kidney, a torn colon, and collarbone and rib fractures. Her medical expenses totaled about $72,900. She was a full-time student and did not claim lost income.

Wallace, 55, suffered a closed-head injury, fractures to his collarbone and ankle, a dislocated shoulder, and multiple lacerations, incurring medical expenses of about $42,900. A retail sales merchandiser earning about $25,000 annually, he incurred lost income of about $10,200.

Wallace’s wife, Lyn, 53, sustained fractures to her leg, heel, and ankle and multiple contusions and lacerations, incurring medical costs of about $37,900. A nurse earning $56,000 annually, she claimed lost income of about $16,600.

Wallace; his daughter; his wife; and his sister, individually and on behalf of her mother’s estate, sued Coker and the owner of the bar that served him alcohol before the crash. The suit against Coker alleged driving under the influence, failure to keep a proper lookout, and speeding, among other claims.

The suit against the bar’s owner alleged the bar served Coker alcohol even though it was or should have been obvious that he was intoxicated. The plaintiffs alleged the bar’s employees should have called Coker a taxi or ensured that he had a ride with a sober driver.

The bar’s owner contended that Coker’s driving while intoxicated was an intervening cause, making him solely responsible.

A jury awarded the plaintiffs $2.3 million, including about $1.58 million to Wallace’s daughter, about $239,100 to Wallace, about $202,000 to his wife, $40,000 to his sister, and $10,000 to his mother’s estate. Coker was found 97 percent responsible and the bar 3 percent at fault. The jury also assessed $250,000 in exemplary damages against Coker. [Wallace v. Coker, No. 2006-2701-CCL2 (Tex., Gregg Co. Nov. 20, 2008).]