South Carolina Lawyer Blog

The family of a 2-year-old who fell from a luxury box last year and died has filed suit against the owners of the Staples Center, Anschutz Entertainment Group, and the operator of the arena, L.A. Arena, Co.

The toddler fell at least 30 feet following a Lakers game last year. The lawsuit alleges the barrier in front of the boxes was only 2 feet high and that the owners did not adequately warn patrons of the dangerous conditions. It further alleges that the dangerous conditions were allowed to continue so the arena would make more money if fans had an unobstructed view of the games.

As the family was reviewing pictures they had taken, they found that the toddler somehow made his way over the barrier, fell at least 30 feet, and landed on a row of empty seats. He died the next day at the hospital.

A “wrongful death” is a death caused by the carelessness (negligence) or misconduct of another person or organization. The Louthian Law Firm has vast experience in pursuing wrongful death lawsuits. Call us today at 1-800-454-1200 for a free evaluation of your unique case.

Wrongful Death

A lawsuit has been filed by an East Texas woman against Austin A. McWhorter, Lon McWhorter and Mac’s Carnival and Attractions after a trailer carrying carnival equipment detached from its Ford truck and hit her vehicle on May 14, 2009.

The woman was a passenger in a 2008 Dodge Ram when the incident happened. The lawsuit alleges the defendants were negligent in failing to use safety chains, failing to control the vehicle and for entrusting the truck to an unlicensed, incompetent or reckless driver, among other things.

Damages for medical expenses, physical pain and suffering, mental anguish, disfigurement, loss of earning capacity, interest and court costs are being sought by the plaintiff.

Personal injury deals with injuries caused by the negligence of others. If you or a loved one has been injured due to the negligence of another, the attorneys at Louthian Law Firm can help. Call us for a free consultation at 1-866-454-1200.

Personal Injury

The city of Sheboygan, WI is being sued by Ronald Behr following an incident on May 2, 2009, when his wheelchair tipped on a ramp between the street and sidewalk. Behr claims he suffered severe and permanent injuries from his fall.

According to the complaint, a piece of patched asphalt broke loose, causing his wheelchair to dig into the pavement, pitch forward and throw him onto the ground. He claims the city was aware of the danger of the carelessly patched asphalt which was done in a “careless and negligent manner.” The lawsuit seeks compensatory damages and reimbursement of attorney fees.

The city denies receiving notice of the defect in the ramp.

Personal injury deals with injuries caused by the negligence of others. If you or a loved one has been injured due to the negligence of another, the attorneys at Louthian Law Firm can help. Call us for a free consultation at 1-866-410-5656.

Personal Injury

The government issued a warning last week about the dangers associated with firepots that use a gel-based fuel to produce a tiki-like torch fire. An article released by the Associated Press and published in the June 14 Washington Post reported that two recent NY incidents prompted the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC)’s warning.

The NY injuries resulted when adults on two separate occasions poured the gel fuel into the pots, and they suffered serious burns. Scott Wolfson, a chief spokesman for the safety commission stated “CPSC staff wants all consumers to stay safe this summer by never pouring the fuel into an already lit firepot or tiki torch.”

The primary seller, Napa Home and Garden, Inc., has sold thousands of bottles of gels for firepots that are used on back porches and patios. South Carolina patrons should be wary of the dangers of lighting and burning these and other brand gels in their firepots. This time of year, SC residents are spending more time on their patios, and these gel-fueled pots are used to add ambiance. Our attorneys warn that the dangers far outweigh the benefits.

Serious burns and other injuries can result while lighting the firepot according to other incident reports. A Georgia woman was burned after the firepot exploded upon lighting and sent a ball of flame, which she said resembled napalm, across the family’s back porch. She suffered 2nd and 3rd degree burns on her legs.

The CPSC has received eight reports of explosions or burns involving firepots with fuel gels since April 2010.

The Atlanta-based maker has issued a “precautionary hold” on the sales of the firepots and gel fuel. Furthermore, the primary seller of the pots – Bed, Bath and Beyond – has stopped selling the products altogether.

The South Carolina accident attorneys at Louthian Law Firm are here for you if you or a loved one has suffered burns or serious injury caused by Napa or other brands fire pot gels. Contact us at today at 866-454-1200, or locally at 803-454-1200, or online for a free evaluation of your case.

An 18-year-old college student died of cardiac arrest in September after she took YAZ to treat her acne. The student’s mother has filed a wrongful death lawsuit against Bayer, the maker of YAZ, also known as Yasmin or Ocella.

The lawsuit alleges YAZ is a “dangerous prescription drug sold without adequate warnings about the risks of serious and fatal injuries.”

Following two studies, the British Medical Journal last month published findings that drugs containing the hormone drospirenone were 2-3 times more likely to increase the risk of serious blood clots than earlier-generations of oral contraceptives. YAZ contains drospirenone.

While Bayer claims this side effect is rare, the YAZ website does warn against the increased risks of blood clots, stoke, and heart attack. In 2008, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration sent Bayer Healthcare Pharmaceuticals, Inc. a warning letter citing the company for running two misleading television ads which overstated its benefits and minimized serious side effects.

If you believe you or a member of your family has been harmed by an unsafe prescription drug, contact the Louthian Law Firm today at 1-866-410-5656 or contact us online for a free evaluation of your case

Dangerous Prescription Drugs

The family of a 19-year-old Kent State student killed when her car was struck by a cargo van on March 21 has filed a wrongful death lawsuit in Delaware against the driver of the van and his employer.

According to the Ohio Highway Patrol, the driver of a Dara Toy Company 2006 Chevrolet Express cargo van became distracted while reaching for his cell phone charger and lost control of his vehicle. The van crossed the highway median, all three southbound lanes and the rest area exit ramp before hitting the 2001 Pontiac Grand Am driven by Carli Woodruff as she was leaving the rest area.

Woodruff, a native of Loveland and an intervention specialist major, died at Grant Medical Center in Columbus.

A “wrongful death” is a death caused by the carelessness (negligence) or misconduct of another person or organization. The Louthian Law Firm has vast experience in pursuing wrongful death lawsuits. Call us today at 1-800-410-5656 for a free evaluation of your unique case.

Wrongful Death

In what is believed to be the largest award in a single plaintiff’s asbestos case, a jury has awarded $322 million to a 48-year-old man who is suffering from asbestosis and has to be on oxygen 24 hours a day.

The jury awarded $300 million in punitive damages and $22 million in actual damages, and found the defendants were liable for defectively designing their product and failing to provide an adequate warning to workers.

The lawsuit, filed against Chevron Phillips Chemical Company and Union Carbide Corp., states the man worked in the oil field from the age of 16 in 1979 to the mid-1980s and mixed an asbestos drilling additive. It was during this time, the lawsuit claims, he inhaled the harmful substance.

The drilling mud was manufactured by Union Carbide and sold by Chevron Phillips. The two companies are accused of continuing to market the almost 100% asbestos product after they knew it caused cancer and lung disease.

Asbestosis, and other respiratory diseases have been linked to the inhalation of airborne asbestos fibers. This usually occurs by breathing air contaminated with microscopic asbestos fibers, often in workplaces where asbestos was manufactured or used as building material. If you or a loved one is suffering from asbestos exposure, contact the experienced attorneys today at the Louthian Law Firm at 1-866-454-1200 or online for a free evaluation of your case.

Toxic Product Injury

A 67-year-old man has been awarded $212 million by a Virginia jury in a lawsuit against Allergan Inc. claiming he suffered brain damage following injections of Botox to treat hand tremors and writer’s cramp. The award included $12 million in compensatory damages.

Botox is widely known as a wrinkle-smoothing drug made by Allergan. In 2007, Douglas Ray was injected with Botox and alleges the injection caused severe medical problems that have left him totally disabled and with over $600,000 in medical bills. He requires around-the-clock care.

Allergen is considering an appeal.

If you believe you or a member of your family has been harmed by an unsafe prescription drug, contact the Louthian Law Firm today at 1-866-454-1200 or contact us online for a free evaluation of your case.

Personal Injury

A former crane operator has been awarded $1.45 million for injuries he suffered in Nov. 2006 after the collapse of a construction crane. Warren Yeakey, 39-year-old father of four, had asked for $12 million. Yeakey is considered 100% disabled by the Department of Labor & Industries.

The defendants in the lawsuit were Seattle-based general contractor Lease Crutcher Lewis and the Seattle engineering firm Magnusson Klemencic Associates. Yeakey was operating a 210-foot crane when it came crashing down on two buildings, killing a man in one of the buildings. An investigation into the accident found the collapse was caused by the flawed engineering design of the crane’s base.

As a result of the collapse, State lawmakers passed tougher standards for crane safety.

Personal injury deals with injuries caused by the negligence of others. If you or a loved one has been injured due to the negligence of another, the attorneys at Louthian Law Firm can help. Call us for a free consultation at 1-866-410-5656.

Personal Injury

The family of Daniel Brown has filed a wrongful death lawsuit against Metro Nashville for the drowning death of their son in May of 2010.

Daniel and two friends were swept out of a yard by flood waters and into Mill Creek on an inner tube. The two friends made it to safety and reported Daniel was still out in the water, but Metro Nashville did not take any action to save him. His father found his son’s body several days later.

The medical examiner reported the death occurred on May 12 at 1:15 p.m. If the autopsy is correct, Daniel survived for several days and could have been saved if Metro had done more to help. The lawsuit claims Metro had 10 days to find Daniel and they weren’t even looking although they had been notified he was still out in the water. The family wants the city held accountable for Daniel’s death.

A “wrongful death” is a death caused by the carelessness (negligence) or misconduct of another person or organization. The Louthian Law Firm has vast experience in pursuing wrongful death lawsuits. Call us today at 1-866-454-1200 for a free evaluation of your unique case.

Wrongful Death