South Carolina Lawyer Blog

Securities Arbitration Cases for Retirees

2008-03-31T21:53:22Z

Continuing our conversation of Securities Arbitration cases for defrauded retirees, the common plaintiff in these cases all share similar characteristics:

• The individual has taken early retirement in the past three to five years
• The person purchased a variable annuity with retirement funds which was then placed in an individual retirement account (IRA) or;
• The retirement fund consisted of a cost-basis employer stock plan which was then converted to a rollover IRA or;
• The individual was advised to invest retirement funds into leveraged funds.

Due to the fact that numerous securities companies engage in the sale of these products, there is no common defendant to file claims against. Individuals will be dealing with different securities firms depending on their location, employer, and other factors. A commonality does exist, however, in that the cases must be brought before the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority, or FINRA, for resolution. FINRA was created as the dispute resolution forum after the merger of NASD and NYSE in 2007.

]]> As we have explained in previous blog articles, arbitration is not an easy road to navigate. Arbitration cases have their own procedures, norms, and culture and it is of the utmost importance to find an attorney who is familiar with the process and has a good track record both in court and in arbitration.

We have found that retiring airline pilots, railroad workers and manufacturing employees who have taken early retirement are the most likely candidates to be defrauded. If your situation matches the circumstances described above, we urge you to contact one of the experienced attorneys at the Louthian Law Firm as soon as possible. We offer free case consultations and our attorneys can offer you more information about the securities litigation services that our firm provides.

Avondale Seeks $420 Million from Norfolk Southern Railroad

2008-03-31T21:46:40Z

When a Norfolk Southern train wreck caused a toxic chlorine spill in the mill town of Graniteville, the Avondale textile company’s flagship canvas plant had to be closed for eight days for safety reasons. The company closed its doors for good in May 2006 after experts determined it would have cost more than the business was worth to clean the buildings and replace the machinery.

Now the textile company wants the railroad to pay $420 million in damages.

Attorneys for Norfolk Southern said Avondale had already seen the writing on the wall in the failing American textile industry when the crash occurred. The attorneys acknowledge that the railroad is to blame for the crash, but a payout of $110 million is more in line with the value of Avondale Mills.

]]> The circumstances of the South Carolina train crash may play a major role in who wins the civil suit. The crash occurred when a Norfolk Southern train veered off the main track onto a spur, rear-ending a parked train whose crew had failed to switch the tracks back to the mail rail. Avondale attorney Terry Richardson said Norfolk Southern should be held accountable because the railroad knew members of the crew operating the Graniteville tracks the night before the crash had been working long hours in violation of company rules.

If you or someone you care about was injured in a SC railroad accident, you should speak with the Louthian Law Firm immediately. We have represented injured South Carolinians since 1959; we are committed to providing a personal touch outside of court and aggressive, case-winning representation inside. And because we know our injured clients often have limited resources, we always offer free consultations with no further obligation on your part. To speak confidentially with the Louthian Law Firm about your case today, call us at 1-866-410-5656.

Securities Arbitration: New Hope for Defrauded Retirees

2008-03-17T13:00:00Z

Two recent awards in retirement securities arbitrations are bringing hope to retirees who have disputes with brokerage firms that gambled away their retirement funds. The first, in the case of Cain v. Securities America, concerns a retiree whose hard-earned savings were liquidated in favor of more aggressive investments. After an extensive arbitration process, the petitioner was awarded nearly $4 million in compensatory damages, another $3 million in punitive damages designed to punish the securities companies, and nearly $2.5 million to offset legal fees and costs.

The second case, May v. Intersecurities, Inc., involved IRA rollover accounts that were placed into high-variable annuities that proved risky, unsuitable to the retiree’s objectives, and ultimately worthless, producing no investment income whatsoever and losing the funds that had been promised to sustain the petitioner throughout retirement. May was eventually awarded nearly $1.7 million in compensatory damages and half a million dollars in punitive damages.

]]> The high awards in these cases are very encouraging for retirees who have been defrauded, and the punishment definitely fits the crime since the stress and fear that comes along with such an egregious breach of trust and loss of hard-earned money is almost impossible to express. While arbitration is no easy road (it can be complex, lengthy, and costly), it is sometimes the only avenue available to defrauded retirees who agreed to resolution by arbitration in their initial paperwork with their brokerage firm. Arbitration has its own procedures, norms, and culture and it is of the utmost importance to find an attorney who is familiar with the process and has a good track record both in court and in arbitration.

Can hefty financial awards ever make up for the stress and fear caused by retirement fund mismanagement? The answer is unclear, but the fact is that the large punitive damages awarded in both cases should serve as a warning to brokers who gamble irresponsibly with real people’s retirement funds. Have you been the victim of retirement fund mismanagement or fraud? Contact Louthian Law Firm today for a free case consultation and more information about our securities litigation services.

New Ammo in the Fight for Subprime Loan Securities Victims

2008-03-15T05:29:08Z

A recent article in the Wall Street Journal points out a strategy that has given victims of the subprime loan crisis new hope: using the 1921 Martin Act as a legal tool to crack down on misleading mortgage-backed securities offerings. Why is the Act so powerful? Simple: it takes away the burden for a plaintiff to prove intent to defraud, making filing a lawsuit against an unethical securities company that much easier for plaintiffs.

This is great news for the people defrauded by securities companies that failed to warn them of mortgages that didn’t meet bare-minimum standards for lending, causing people to lose money on investments that weren’t backed by solid dollars. This crisis has been sending shock waves throughout the United States’ volatile economy and has devalued the hard-earned savings of who knows how many Americans. Now victims have a way to fight back. By using this act, New York prosecutors have a great tool in their regulatory arsenal, and individual attorneys may use this same tool in court.

]]> Regardless of whether the Martin Act can be used in court, the subprime mortgage securities crisis can prove confusing and complicated to litigate. Victims often don’t realize they have a limited time in which to file their lawsuit, and their judgment is clouded by disappointment, anger, and fear about their financial security. Luckily, these victims do have options. The right securities attorney can help assess and investigate their case, file the lawsuit, and stand up for their rights in court. With the Martin Act at their side, their job could be even more effective.

Have you lost money in securities based on bad mortgages? Don’t panic. Call the Louthian Law Firm today for more information and a free case consultation. We’ve got years of experience and the resources it takes to help you today.

Tabor City Crash Racks Up Mighty List of Charges

2008-03-10T21:07:37Z

Driving while impaired. Felony hit-and-run. Open container in vehicle. Driving with a revoked license. Felony speeding to elude arrest. Running a stop sign. Any one of these violations could result in a brush with law enforcement. But when Richard Green of Tabor City got behind the wheel on Monday, March 3, he racked up all six charges in a car chase that led to a South Carolina Car Accident involving four other vehicles.

Though nobody was seriously injured in the crash, Green, who had a passenger in his vehicle at the time of the incident, managed to total his car and set it on fire. He evaded law enforcement and caused a five-vehicle crash while driving more than 100 miles per hour to elude the police. After escaping the scene of the crash, Green was apprehended and charged with a laundry list of accusations.

]]> This is a classic case of a Columbia SC auto crash turned criminal. Not only does the case now involve four other parties – a nightmare of negotiating with insurance companies – but law enforcement was involved as well. Though the police will doubtlessly do an investigation of the scene themselves, it is up to the drivers whose cars were damaged and who sustained injuries to arrange for their own investigations of the crash to protect their rights. Green will need an experienced attorney indeed to navigate both the criminal and civil systems, both in the lawsuits that are likely to follow and in his own quest to stay out of jail.

Many individuals who are injured or sustain property damage during a car crash do not realize that they need a powerful ally – an experienced car crash attorney with a great track record, a reputation for customer service and the resources it takes to investigate a car crash and fight for their client’s rights in court. The right lawyer can handle all negotiations with other parties and insurance companies. They can evaluate your claim, conduct complex investigations, and fight for you in court. The Louthian Law Firm has been providing these services for nearly 50 years. Involved in a multi-car crash or a South Carolina car accident with a criminal component? Don’t wait. Call us today for a free phone consultation.

Should South Carolina Speed Limits Be Raised?

2008-03-07T20:57:29Z

An interesting debate on South Carolina speed limits is heating up the pages of the Charleston Post and Courier. A recent editorial on speeding prompted community response from readers who debate speed limits, enforcement of limits, and lack of driver education. Certainly uneducated and careless drivers place everyone at risk and can be a major cause of South Carolina Auto Accidents. But will raising South Carolina speed limits really do away with any of these problems?

What does a South Carolina auto accident attorney care about speed limits? A lot. Speed can affect the outcome of an accident – in fact, the relationship between speed and reaction time has been well documented. A driver who is in violation of posted speed limits can provide much-needed ammunition to their opponents in court, who can argue that their ignorance of the speed limit constituted reckless driving and places them under an obligation to compensate victims of their actions.

]]> As one reader points out, the current system for determining whether a vehicle is traveling over the speed limit is in need of modernization. Like breathalyzers, radar guns seem to be more of an art than a science. After all, they don’t take vehicle mass into account – and as the reader points out in the article, a semi weighing several tons is going to do much more damage at the same speed as a small passenger vehicle. Shouldn’t speeders in larger, more massive, and therefore more dangerous vehicles be punished accordingly?

Though the answers to these questions won’t be clear any time soon (and the government tends to creep towards reform instead of charging into action), it’s important to consider speed when investigating an auto or car crash. Speed can be an important tool to the attorney investigating an accident...and a weapon to use against a driver accused of causing a fatal or harmful crash. Because speed can be such an important factor, it’s important to have the right resources when you deal with your car crash litigation. The attorneys at Louthian Law Firm are experienced, aggressive, and have the resources it takes to fight and win your auto accident case. Think you have a case? Call today and find out with our free, confidential case consultation.

One-Car Crash Cuts Vet’s Life Short

2008-03-04T20:34:41Z

A 21-year-old Iraq war veteran will never get the chance to reunite with his young wife, who remained in Iraq at the time of the South Carolina car crash that claimed his life. The man, George Elizondo, had served his tour of duty in Iraq as a naval medic and hospital corpsman. Distracted driving and extreme weather has been blamed for the crash, but Elizondo’s family, especially his bereft wife and mother, is looking for answers as to the circumstances surrounding his untimely death.

One-car crashes present a special challenge for car crash lawyers, especially when the victim dies at the scene. Naturally, family members want answers and to find out who, if anyone, is responsible for death, injury, or damage to property. Reconstructing this event involves an intensive investigation that draws upon expert opinions and evidence to put together a picture of what actually occurred on the scene. This information is in turn used to identify potentially responsible parties, who can then be targeted in the courts for damages related to the death, injury, or property damage in question.

]]> Although car crash investigations can be time-consuming and tedious, in the right hands they turn into vital tools for getting the compensation victims and their families deserve. The key: an auto accident lawyer with the savvy, experience, track record, and connections it takes to properly investigate a car crash.

Looking for answers and compensation for a car crash that’s affected you or a loved one? You may have recourse even if the death or injury occurred during a one-car crash. Turn to the experts – The Louthian Law Firm has been helping clients get the compensation they deserve from South Carolina Auto Accidents since 1959. Call today for a free case consultation.

Sugar Refinery Fire Extinguished, Death Toll At 8

2008-03-02T00:59:31Z

A week after the fires at the Imperial Sugar Co. plant in Port Wentworth started, firefighters finally managed to douse the last remnants of the refinery blast, but not before another victim was pronounced dead. Seven other people have been found dead in the rubble at the Imperial Sugar Co. plant, bringing the death toll to eight, while one worker remained missing.

Michael Kelly Fields, 40, died early Thursday at the Joseph M. Still Burn Center at Doctor’s hospital in Augusta, spokeswoman Beth Frits said. Sixteen other employees remain hospitalized due to workplace injuries there, 14 in critical condition, she said. Emergency workers were able to pull a seventh body out of the second-floor break room Wednesday, leaving one body remaining. Authorities believe the last body is in a 200 square foot area in the room, which they hope to soon explore.

Sugar dust is thought to be the cause of the blast that started February 7th. Emergency crews were able to snuff out the fire at the plant’s main building Wednesday, but the blaze persisted at the refinery’s 80 foot silos until Thursday. The firefighting team extinguished the stubborn blazes using a mix of foam and water that lowered the temperature of the sugar silos from 4,000 degrees to below 70 degrees, said Port Wentworth Fire Chief, Greg Long.

]]> Serious fourth-degree and third-degree burns can have lifelong health consequences. Our skin protects us from infection, regulates our body temperatures and keeps internal organs hydrated. Victims who have lost significant skin from South Carolina burn injuries often must spend months dealing with the results of that loss, which include permanent organ and body chemistry damage, as well as extreme temperature sensitivity that might not ever go away. And, of course, burns hurt -- one burn specialist told Time magazine that not even morphine can take away the pain entirely.

If you or someone you care about is a victim of serious burns caused by someone else's carelessness, you may be entitled to financial compensation for past and future medical bills, lost wages, physical disability, reduced mental health, disfigurement and emotional pain and suffering. If you're considering a burn injury lawsuit, it's important to talk with an attorney with significant experience in South Carolina personal injury law. The Louthian Law Firm has been trying -- and winning -- severe personal injury and wrongful death lawsuits in South Carolina since 1959. We're committed to providing excellent, personalized service and the best results for our clients. To speak with a Columbia SC burn injury attorney today, call us at 1-866-410-5656.

USDA Orders Largest Meat Recall in U.S. History

2008-03-01T00:52:56Z

The USDA ordered a meat recall after an investigation revealed a disturbing story about the inhumane methods by which one of our nation’s slaughterhouses treats its animals. According to an Associated Press report, the U.S. Department of Agriculture ordered the recall of 143 million pounds of frozen beef from a California slaughterhouse which is the subject of an animal abuse investigation. Secretary of Agriculture, Ed Schafer, said that his department has evidence that the Chino based Westland/ Hallmark Meat Co. did not routinely contact its veterinarian when cattle became unable to walk after passing inspection, violating health regulations.

Federal officials suspended operations at Westland/ Hallmark after an undercover Humane Society video surfaced showing crippled and sick animals being shoved with forklifts. Authorities said the video showed workers kicking, shocking and otherwise abusing “downer” animals that apparently were too sick or injured to walk into the slaughterhouse. Some animals had water forced down their throats, San Bernardino county prosecutor Michael Ramos said. Federal regulations call for keeping downed cattle out of the food supply because they might pose a higher risk of foodborne illness and contamination from E. coli, salmonella or mad cow disease because they typically wallow in feces and their immune systems often are weak.

]]> Officials said it was the largest beef recall in the United States, surpassing a 1999 ban of 35 million pounds of ready to eat meats. No illnesses have been linked to the newly recalled meat, and officials said the health threat probably was small.

“We don’t think there is a health hazard, but we do have to take this action,” said Dr. Dick Raymond, USDA undersecretary of food safety.

Food poisoning is almost always preventable, although consumers often do not see the conditions that cause their food to become contaminated. Restaurants, grocery stores, farmers and food manufacturers all have a legal duty to make sure their products are safe to eat. When they fail in that duty, innocent people are sickened through no fault of their own.

If you or someone you care about has been seriously injured or killed by someone else's careless attitude toward food safety, you have the right to hold the careless party responsible in court. With almost 50 years of experience, the Louthian Law Firm can help you evaluate your case and file the best possible lawsuit. To preserve your right to a day in court, contact one of our experienced South Carolina foodborne illness attorneys as soon as possible, at 1-866-410-5656, for a free case evaluation.

South Carolina Rural Roads Ranked Among Nation’s Most Dangerous

2008-02-28T00:46:43Z

In an alarming statement on the lack of safety on the roads in South Carolina, a group of business leaders released a report on Tuesday, February 12th that details the loss of life and economic toll of accidents on South Carolina roads. The statistics paint a grim picture: Someone dies in a South Carolina auto accident about every eight hours. Economically speaking, the carnage inflicted by the state’s dangerous roads is $3.7 billion a year.

That breaks down to $863 per South Carolinian to cover medical costs, lost economic and household productivity, psychological or emotional trauma, property damage and travel delays. Given these numbers, the report contends that the state is not spending enough to fix the problem.

Of particular concern are South Carolina’s rural roads. The traffic fatality rate on those roads in 2005 was the highest in the nation at 4.61 fatalities per 100 million vehicle miles of travel, the report says. The most dangerous local road on the list was a mile-long stretch of Harmon and Dreher streets in Lexington County – ranking 15th most dangerous and accounting for two deaths and eight injuries.

]]> The S.C. Alliance to Fix Our Roads, which commissioned the report, is backing three bills, currently idling in the Legislature, that would provide more funding for highway improvements.

“We can’t have economic development until we get infrastructure issues, including transportation, straightened out in the rural areas,” said Ike McLeese, president of the Greater Columbia Chamber of Commerce.

If you have been involved in a South Carolina car accident anywhere in the state it is important to remember several things which will help you if you have to become involved in an auto accident lawsuit. Always stay at the scene, make sure everyone has medical attention and ask for a police report. Write down all information, including all cars involved, license plate numbers, people's insurance and driver’s license numbers and contact information for any witnesses. You should never admit any guilt or sign anything. Your South Carolina car accident lawyer will handle all legal aspects of your case.

The Louthian Law Firm can help you recover every legally entitled amount you are owed. Our South Carolina car accident lawyers are experienced in dealing with each element of an auto accident and will give everyone who contacts us a free consultation on their rights. No matter how large or small your car accident and injuries are, we can help. Contact us today to begin your recovery.

Poultry Plant Forces Injured Workers Back On The Job

2008-02-25T00:37:22Z

In a prime example of the lengths to which an employer will go to maintain profits and maintain a seemingly spotless safety record, a Greenville poultry plant has been accused of forcing workers with on-the-job injuries back on the job only hours after having medical procedures to repair things like lost digits and broken bones, according to an Associated Press report.

House of Raeford Farms boasts that its Greenville plant has gone more than 7 million hours without a “lost-time accident,” meaning no worker has been injured badly enough to miss an entire shift. But according to the company’s own safety logs, at least 8 workers at the plant suffered amputated fingers or broken bones – all during the time the plant claimed to have millions of safe working hours dating back to 2002. Managers kept the streak alive by requiring injured workers to return to the plant – in some cases hours after medical procedures. When none of the injured workers missed a complete shift, the company was able to keep its safety record intact.

The article details the story of Cornelia Vicente, an employee who was packing chicken tenders at the House of Raeford when a conveyor belt snagged her glove, snapped her right arm and ripped off the tip of her index finger. Only hours after her surgery, a House of Raeford nurse who had come to the hospital told Ms.Vicente that the company would expect her back at the plant early the next day. The following morning, managers put Ms.Vicente to work wiping down tables and handing out supplies, she said.

]]> A plant the size of the Greenville factory, which employs roughly 650 workers, can save hundreds of thousands of dollars in workers’ compensation costs by returning injured workers to their jobs quickly, insurance experts say. By reporting fewer lost-time accidents, a company also can reduce the likelihood of workplace safety inspections.

All too often, not all employers -- or their insurance companies -- are willing to meet their legal duty to provide expensive workers’ compensation payments. Employers or insurance companies may try to deny a workers’ compensation claim by claiming that the injury is not as serious as you say; that it was not sustained on the job; or that you’re not covered at all. If this has happened to you or someone you care about, you don’t have to put up with it. The Louthian Law Firm is ready to step in and negotiate with an employer, an insurer or the South Carolina Workers’ Compensation Commission to help you get the money you need to heal. And if negotiation fails, we’re prepared to fight for your rights aggressively in court.

If you or someone you love has been injured on the job, you should contact the Louthian Law Firm as soon as possible to discuss your legal options. We have served injured South Carolinians since 1959, so we understand how workers’ compensation law works and know all the tricks employers and insurers use to wiggle out of paying. We can help you collect the money you’re entitled to, so you can concentrate on getting better and going back to work. For a free consultation on your case, call us today at 1-866-410-5656 or fill out our convenient, confidential online consultation form.

Wal-Mart, Toys ‘R’ Us Impose Stricter Safety Measures

2008-02-22T00:26:44Z

In response to the laundry list of unsafe toys and recalled children’s products in the past calendar year, the nation’s top two toy sellers in the U.S., Wal-Mart and Toys ‘R’ Us, have announced that they will be imposing stricter measures on their suppliers – including tougher lead content standards. According to an Associated Press report, the new measures are meant to exceed federal standards expected from Congress in the wake of last year’s recalls of millions of toys because they contained excessive amounts of lead or other hazardous material.

Among the announced changes, Wal-Mart and Toys ‘R’ Us are:

• Setting a much tighter standard for the amount of lead allowed on surface paint for toys shipped to their chains on or after March 1.
• Phasing out chemicals found in PVC or vinyl that have raised safety concerns for young children

A top priority is to dramatically reduce the lead content in unsafe toys since lead can be very toxic to children. The current federal standard is 600 parts per million in surface coatings, but new legislation is being considered that would lower that to 90 parts per million. Both Wal-Mart and Toys R Us are requiring their suppliers to conform to the 90 parts per million standard for products shipped on or after March.

]]> “We made a commitment to the world that we would push forward toy safety as a top priority,” said Gerald L. Storch, chairman and CEO of Toys ‘R’ Us, which announced the measures Friday, February 15th. “This is not the last improvement that we will put in place.”

Like all manufacturers, toy manufacturers have an obligation to make sure that their products are safe to use and warn consumers of potential hazards. When they fail to do so, the dangerous toys they manufacture and sell can kill or seriously harm a little one. In these cases, negligent manufacturers can and should be held legally responsible. If your family has sustained a serious injury from a defective toy, you should speak with a South Carolina dangerous toy lawyer at the Louthian Law Firm as soon as possible. We have helped injured South Carolinians seek justice through the courts since 1959, and recovered millions for our clients. For a free case evaluation, call us at 1-866-410-5656 or fill out our confidential online consultation form.

FDA Suspends Marketing of Trasylol

2008-02-18T18:02:02Z

Trasylol, a defective drug manufactured by Bayer AG, may have claimed as many as “1,000 lives per month” in the time before it was recalled, according to a doctor who presented a study to the FDA in September 2006. It wasn’t until November 2007, however, when the Canadian Data Safety Monitoring Board had stopped a Trasylol trial after a data analysis indicated that the 30-day mortality risk in the study’s patients was nearing “statistical significance”, that Bayer suspended sales of the drug in the US at the FDA’s request.

Trasylol is a drug used to prevent bleeding during heart bypass surgery, and before it was removed from the market, about a third of all bypass patients had received Trasylol. The initial reports from the Canadian study suggested an increased risk of death for Trasylol users compared with two other antifibrinolytic drugs. There had also been reports linking Trasylol with kidney problems, amputations, heart attacks and strokes.

Dr. Dennis Mangano, who presented his study to the FDA which found that Trasylol increased the risk of kidney failure requiring dialysis, as well as death, believes Trasylol should have been taken off the market when he published his study in 2006. Bayer executives, in fact, attended Mangano’s presentation in order to defend Trasylol. What they did not tell the FDA was that their own Trasylol study, known as the 13 drug report, confirmed Mangano’s findings. That study, which analyzed a database of hospital patients who were given the drug, suggested the drug’s use could also increase the likelihood of serious kidney damage, congestive heart failure and strokes. Even after learning about the 13 drug report, however, the FDA allowed Trasylol to remain on the market, adding only a warning label to its packaging explaining that the drug placed patients at high risk of kidney failure. Between the study’s publication and November 2007 when Bayer removed Trasylol, close to half a million patients received the drug.

]]> “There were approximately 431,000 patients who received the drug,” Mangano explained. “As I calculated, 22,000 lives could have been saved. It’s about 1,000 lives per month.”

Patients who have been injured by defective drugs like Trasylol have the right to take their cases to a court of law; indeed a lawsuit may help prevent unsafe drugs still on the market from harming others. In a drug injury lawsuit, you could win money to cover the medical costs that using the drug incurred; compensation for the serious injury or permanent disability of a loved one; and perhaps even punitive damages, which punish a manufacturer for deceptive or illegal practices. But because the statute of limitations for these lawsuits often starts before you discover the injuries, time can be short.

If you or someone you care about was seriously injured by a pharmaceutical drug like Trasylol, you should speak with a South Carolina Trasylol attorney at the Louthian Law Firm as soon as possible. We have won justice for South Carolinians since 1959, and recovered millions of dollars to help sick and injured people heal and move on. And because we know injured people are often suffering financially as well as physically, we never charge for an initial case evaluation. For a free consultation, call us today at 1-866-410-5656 or fill out our convenient, confidential online case evaluation form.

Bridge Victims Prepare To Sue

2008-02-13T21:27:19Z

Victims of last summer’s August 1st bridge collapse in Minneapolis, which claimed the lives of 13 people while injuring 145 others, have filed preliminary paperwork to sue the state, according to an Associated Press report published on January 22nd. The dozens of victims who were injured when the Interstate 35W bridge plummeted 60 feet into the Mississippi River had a deadline of 180 days from the accident to notify the state of their intent to sue for personal injury, that deadline date was January 27th.

As of the time of the report, Attorney General Lori Swanson’s office had received notice of potential legal claims from 73 injured bridge victims and their family members. Families of six of those killed also had outlined plans to sue the state for compensation, as did 3 insurance companies and the owner of a school bus that was destroyed in the collapse.

“This is a predecessor to the lawsuits,” said Chris Messerly, a wrongful death attorney for a pro bono coalition of law firms representing more than 60 bridge victims.

]]> The investigation behind the bridge collapse is ongoing, and the final findings of the National Transportation Safety Board are expected this fall. Most claims outlined in the notices accuse the state of negligence in its maintenance of the bridge. Others point to the potential liability of a consultant that inspected the bridge, and the contractor that was resurfacing the span when it fell.

If you’ve been in any kind of accident, it’s important to make sure that you understand your legal rights. South Carolina personal injury law involving municipal or state entities is complex, and the statute of limitations for filing a claim can be short. You should consider speaking to the Louthian Law Firm as soon as you think you may need a lawyer. We have defended the rights of accident victims and other injured South Carolinians since 1959, and we’re committed to providing personalized service to you while aggressively going after wrongdoers. And because we know how financially devastating an accident can be, we never charge you a dime until your case is won. For a free evaluation of your case, call us today at 1-866-410-5656 or fill out our confidential online case evaluation form.

Lawmakers Demand Toymaker Stop Selling Toys With Lead

2008-02-11T21:21:11Z

If you have read our blog for any amount of time, you have seen countless entries about the recall of toys that contain lead paint. This recent rash of unsafe toy recalls reached a predictable end on Wednesday, January 30th when according to an AP article, lawmakers have stepped up and are asking the largest toy manufacturer in the U.S. to change the way it does business.

Dozens of federal lawmakers are demanding that Mattel stop selling toys that contain any amount of lead, claiming the toy maker is not going far enough to address safety concerns. The demand comes after Mattel’s issuance of recalls for millions of Chinese made toys last year because of concerns that lead paint levels exceeded U.S Standards. The demand, which was contained in a letter released by U.S. Representative Elijah Cummings, a Maryland Democrat, was signed by more then 50 fellow lawmakers.

]]> Unsafe childrens’ toy recalls has become an epidemic in the United States. We applaud the decision representative Cummings made in submitting the letter to Mattel. Hopefully this maneuver and the media attention it generates will force Mattel to take more extensive measures to insure the safety of its consumers. Retailers, especially toy manufacturers, have a responsibility to provide their customers with products that not only function as advertised, but are also safe.

If your family has sustained a serious injury from a defective toy, you should speak with a South Carolina defective product lawyer at the Louthian Law Firm as soon as possible. We have helped injured South Carolinians seek justice through the courts since 1959. For a free case evaluation, call us at 1-866-410-5656 or fill out our confidential online consultation form.