South Carolina Lawyer Blog

Drunk driving has claimed another life in South Carolina.

The driver of a car that killed a state Department of Transportation worker on I-20 in Lexington County has been charged with DUI and leaving the scene of an accident.

There were 357 motor vehicle fatalities in South Carolina linked to alcohol impairment in 2010, the most recent year for which statistics are available. More than 19,000 arrests for driving under the influence were made.

Following is from The State newspaper:

Thomas Lee Stafford, 39, is accused of driving drunk when his 2003 Nissan SUV fatally wounded Nicholas Johnson, who was walking along the road’s emergency lane near mile marker 62, according to Highway Patrol spokesman Brent Kelly.

Stafford continued to drive for another half-mile or so after hitting Johnson, Kelly said, before eventually pulling off the road. Stafford is charged with driving under the influence involving death, a felony, and leaving the scene of an accident.

Stafford’s vehicle swerved to the right and hit Johnson from behind, killing the man, but Highway Patrol investigators aren’t sure as to why.

The victim, who was only 21, was pronounced dead at the scene.

Victims and their families whose lives are disrupted by the recklessness of a drunk motorist may have a right to file a wrongful death lawsuit in South Carolina.

Sources:

• The State http://www.thestate.com/2012/12/03/2542921/worker-killed-in-i-20-collision.html

• Century Council http://www.centurycouncil.org/state-facts

Last week Contra Costa County was ordered to pay over $13 million to settle two separate lawsuits. In one case they will pay $1.5 million to the family of a man shot by sheriffs in a wrongful death claim. The second suit requires they pay $11.7 million to the family of man who died in a crash on a county road.

The county will pay $1.5 million in the case of a man who was shot in 2009 in the emergency room at Contra Costa Regional Medical Center. The man had checked himself in for treatment of alcohol withdrawal symptoms. He became agitated and he attempted to cut the restraints off himself with a knife. His children, who filed the lawsuit, claimed the deputies used excessive force.

In the other case, jurors found the county failed to keep the road safe during road resurfacing work after a man died when he was struck by a vehicle that ran off the road after he stopped to help another driver. The wrongful death lawsuit alleged that "the county failed to cover higher speed limit signs and sweep off gravel during the resurfacing work."

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.

Contra Costa pays $1.5m over hospital shooting
Jury orders Contra Costa to pay $11.7M in crash

Sono Bello Body Contour Center, a cosmetic clinic in Bellevue, Washington, has agreed to pay $1.8 million to the family of a bride-to-be who went to the clinic for liposuction in May 2009 and died hours later. The 28-year-old went to the clinic for the procedure then checked into a nearby hotel to recover. The hotel maids found the woman's body the next morning. The King County Medical Examiner ruled that she died from "acute lidocaine intoxication."

Lidocaine is a nerve blocker that is pumped into the body to suppress pain during liposuction. When a representative from the Society of Plastic Surgeons was asked by KING 5 News to interpret the levels of lidocaine found, she said they were “really, really high, stratospheric high.”

In the settlement neither Sono Bello nor the doctor, admitted any wrongdoing. The family's lawyer said that Sono Bello offered a higher, undisclosed amount if they would keep the settlement confidential. The family refused to do so and accepted a lower amount.

Since this death, the state of Washington now requires all clinics to be accredited by one of four national agencies. Prior to this case, cosmetic clinics were not licensed or inspected. In addition, the health department has charged the doctor who performed the procedure with unprofessional conduct and delivering medical care below state standards. His hearing is scheduled for November.

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.

Woman Dies After Liposuction Procedure
Settlement Reached in Wrongful Death

The family of a teenager who was killed in a June 2009 auto accident has sued the town of Cary, North Carolina for wrongful death, alleging the town failed to maintain a safe roadway. The town has not had a similar suit brought against them in over 15 years.

The 16-year-old was a front-seat passenger when the car in which she was riding swerved at the intersection of Cary Glen Boulevard to avoid striking another vehicle. The driver, the girl’s stepmother, then lost control of the vehicle which flipped several times. There was not a stoplight in the intersection at the time, but after the death and public outcry, a traffic light was installed.

The lawsuit claims the town “negligently failed to install a traffic signal” where the girl died. They are seeking financial damages in excess of $10,000.

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 in Accident

A widow and her two sons were awarded $6.7 million by a jury in Fresno County, California in the death of her husband who was struck by a tractor-trailer while filling the bus he had been driving with fuel. The wrongful death award also included over $500,000 for a nephew who witnessed the accident and has suffered from depression and post-traumatic stress disorder.

The deceased had volunteered to drive the Sierra Pines Church of Oakhurst bus. When he pulled over on the side of highway State Route 99 in Merced County to put fuel into the bus in April 2009, two approaching semis “became entangled as one attempted to pass the other.” One of the trailers hit the man and the bus.

Lawyers presented testimony, which led to a verdict well beyond the $3 million offered as settlement, regarding the wife who was one of 25 students on a bus in 1976 that was commandeered by three armed men. The men buried the children and the bus driver underground in a moving van. All of the victims survived after digging their way out when their kidnappers fell asleep. The testimony was key because the woman’s husband had helped her overcome her fear of buses by getting his bus-driver's license so she would feel comfortable enough to get on a bus with him.

The trucking companies, Logos Group Inc. and Triple E Produce, were both named in the lawsuit.

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.

Nebraska Medical Center (NMC) in Omaha has been named in a wrongful death lawsuit filed by the parents of a child who died at the Center in March of last year after receiving 10 times the amount of heparin she was prescribed. The 23-month-old child was in the hospital for an infection following a liver, pancreas and small bowel transplant she received there in December 2009.

The parents filed the lawsuit, also naming a dialysis center that provides nurses for NMC, claiming their child's condition had been improving when a nurse mistakenly gave the girl the wrong dosage of heparin. Heparin was administered intravenously over a five-hour period.

According to the lawsuit, the overdose caused severe bleeding in the toddler's brain, excruciating pain during the next 48 hours and, ultimately her death. The hospital acknowledged that an overdose of heparin contributed to the toddler's death, but said it may not have been the sole cause.

Overdoses of heparin, which are believed to have caused dozens of deaths over the last several years, led the Joint Commission to issue a safety alert in 2008 urging hospitals to adopt strict measures to prevent such errors.

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 866-454-1200 for a free evaluation of your unique case.

Wrongful Death

The family of a motorcyclist who was killed in an April 2009 auto accident sued the city of San Diego for wrongful death for failing to install a traffic signal at the intersection in which the man died. The City Council unanimously approved the settlement earlier this month, although they do not acknowledge any wrongdoing under the deal.

The accident occurred when the motorcycle was traveling northbound on Pacific Highway when a Toyota Corolla heading in the opposite direction turned left on Cedar Street in front of the cyclist. The cyclist was tried to veer out of the way, but struck the rear passenger side of the vehicle dying of traumatic head injuries.

The lawsuit claimed the accident was foreseeable and preventable. The suit claimed, “This turn lane’s position combined with the position of the then existing traffic signals gave drivers the confusing illusion they had the right-of-way on a green signal to turn left onto Cedar Street."

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.

San Diego Wrongful Death Case

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

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

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

The Gering, Nebraska family of a man who was killed when his car collided with a semi in December 2009 has filed a wrongful death lawsuit for an unspecified amount against the truck driver in federal court, reports the Fremont Tribune.

The lawsuit alleges the driver of the semi, Jwanna Gilzeane of Georgia, was driving recklessly and carelessly when Kenneth Vanderveen’s car collided with the truck on Interstate 80 near Grand Island. The suit also names several trucking companies linked to Mr. Gilzeane.

If you have been injured in or a loved one has been killed in an automobile accident, it’s important to make sure you understand your legal rights. Contact the experienced car accident attorneys at the Louthian Law Firm for a free evaluation of your case at 1-866-454-1200 or fill out our confidential online consultation form.

Wrongful Death

On Thanksgiving Day in 2008, a 5-year-old boy crawled into a transformer box and was electrocuted. WSBT reports the city of Mishawaka has reached a settlement with the boy’s family for an undisclosed amount. According to state law, there is a $700,000 cap on lawsuits with municipalities.

Mishawaka Utilities owned the box which had been left open that day at the Carriage House apartment complex.

The family also sued the Carriage House Apartments and Gene Glick, manager, for wrongful death and negligent infliction of emotional distress. This lawsuit has not been settled.

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 couple who fled Africa to save their granddaughter’s life has filed a wrongful death lawsuit against their ex-landlord for her death and for their own injuries in a 2009 house fire, reports the Chicago Tribune.

Their apartment caught fire as the result of the man next door falling asleep with a lit cigarette. The grandparents were unable to open the second-floor windows to escape and lost consciousness along with their granddaughter and were pulled from the building by firefighters. The 10-year-old died the following day from smoke inhalation and the adults were in comas for several months with severe burns and have been left disabled.

The lawsuit alleges the former landlord did not warn them of either the neighbor’s history of starting fires and of his mental disorder or that the upstairs windows could not be opened.

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

The parents of a 17-year-old boy who was killed in 2009 when the 2000 Mitsubishi Montero in which he was riding rolled over has filed a wrongful death suit against the automaker, reports The Salem News.

The Ipswich, MA teen and a 16-year-old girl were thrown from the back seat when the young driver who was unfamiliar with the road, lost control and rolled over on a curve just north of Route 60 in Revere. Both were killed.

The lawsuit claims the “unreasonably dangerous” design of the Montero is to blame and that Mitsubishi Motors North America is liable. This lawsuit adds to the already numerous ones around the country filed against Mitsubishi which alleges the SUV is top heavy – thus making it more likely to roll – and the manufacturer should have put an electronic stability control on all of its models. Claims of seat belts coming undone under stress and that the roof and pillars were more likely to collapse on Mitsubishi that on other vehicles have also been noted.

The lawsuit also claims the company has known about the problems from independent testing agencies and has had multiple lawsuits, yet has done nothing to correct the design flaws.

The parents have asked to settle the case for $7 million, but Mitsubishi refused and demanded a crash report so they could analyze the information in order to decide whether to “compromise on what they view as a doubtful and disputed claim.”

If you have been injured or a loved one has been killed in an automobile accident, it’s important to make sure you understand your legal rights. Contact the experienced car accident attorneys at the Louthian Law Firm for a free evaluation of your case at 1-866-454-1200 or fill out our confidential online consultation form.

Wrongful Death

The family of a 21-year-old girl has filed a wrongful death lawsuit against three defendants as a result of her death in a tragic vehicular accident, reports NewsChannel5.com. The young woman and her boyfriend were turning left at an intersection when a pick-up ran into her car on the driver’s side. Both young people died at the scene.

The lawsuit alleges the 21-year-old driver of the pick-up had a blood alcohol content that was two times the legal limit at the time of the accident. The driver of the pick-up was injured and taken to the hospital, and he was later charged with two criminal counts of vehicular homicide.

In addition to the driver, the lawsuit names his brother, who owned the truck, and Sam’s All American Sports Grill in Henderson where the driver had been drinking shortly before the crash occurred. The lawsuit alleges if the Sports Grill had not served the driver enough liquor to make him intoxicated, or if they had stopped him from driving while intoxicated, the crash would have not happened.

The amount of damages sought in the lawsuit will be determined as the case moves on.

Car wrecks are the leading killer of Americans and the leading cause of traumatic brain injuries. If you have been injured or lost a loved one due to an automobile accident, the attorneys at Louthian Law Firm can help. Call us for a free consultation at 1-866-454-1200.

Wrongful Death

The family of a Missouri man who died following a scuffle with a man trying to steal the tip jar from a Crestwood Starbucks has filed a wrongful death lawsuit against the coffee giant, reports CBS.

The patron followed the 19-year-old thief out of the store when he grabbed the tip jar from the counter. After a physical altercation, the older man was knocked to the ground where he was hit by the car as the thief escaped. The Missouri man later died from head injuries he suffered in the incident.

The lawsuit alleges Starbucks invited criminal activity by leaving tip jars near customers and by “not employing security to prevent the perpetration of such crimes.” The 19-year-old is not named in the lawsuit.

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

Nebraska’s York News-Times reports representatives of a 23-year-old York man’s estate have filed a wrongful death lawsuit claiming his work-related death by electrocution on August 21, 2009 was preventable.

Read More...

The personal representative of a Muncie woman who died in 2009 has filed a wrongful death lawsuit against Delaware County Emergency Medical Service, reports thestarpress.com.

Read More...

The parents of a 22-year-old woman have filed a wrongful death lawsuit in Dodge County Circuit Court (Wisconsin), reports the Beaver Dam Daily Citizen.

Read More...

National Grid is being sued by the family of a 54-year-old Salem, New Hampshire woman who died after her power was shut off in June, reports the Eagle-Tribune.

Read More...

Claiming Ole Miss was negligent in the death of their 20-year-old football player son last year, the family has sent a letter to the University of Mississippi as a 90-day notice they are planning to file a wrongful death lawsuit, reports wmctv.com.

Read More...

The husband of a woman who died as the result of their house exploding and burning in Eastlake on January 28, 2009, has filed a wrongful death lawsuit against East Ohio Gas Company (EOG), according to wkyc.com.

Read More...

The Beaver County Times reports a Philadelphia widow is suing attorney David Manilla for the hunting death of her husband.

Read More...

In November 2009, a student was killed crossing the dangerous Luten Avenue outside Tottenville High School in Staten Island, New York, reports silive.com. Following the death of the straight-A student, the city installed traffic lights, concrete medians, and other safety devices along the street.

Read More...

The Daily Press reports a mother of a spectator killed when an off-road truck crashed into the crowd at a desert race on August 14 near Lucerne Valley, California is suing the driver and the race’s organizer on behalf of her son’s estate and his 3-year-old daughter. Seven others were killed in the incident.

Read More...

SCnow.com reports a Lamar, South Carolina mother has filed a lawsuit against several parties, including her landlord and an electric company, over her 11-year-old’s death in a fire two years ago when the family lived in a manufactured home.

Read More...

Stltoday.com reports a haunted house called The Darkness in Soulard, Illinois, is the target of a wrongful death lawsuit filed by a 15-year-old girl’s father of Anchorage, Alaska. Her mother filed a personal injury suit in St. Louis in April.

Read More...

St. Louis website, Stltoday.com, reports an off-duty police officer and the bar which served her alcohol will pay $2.255 million to the families of the four young people who died in a car crash on March 21, 2009.

Read More...

A federal judge has awarded $15 million to one victim’s family of a 2005 crash on the Indiana Toll Road which left four people dead.

Read More...

Pennsylvania’s The Times Tribune reports the widow of a 29-year-old man killed in a one-car accident in February has filed a wrongful death lawsuit alleging businesses over-served her husband alcohol.

Read More...

The keyless ignition system in a Lexus is being blamed for the carbon monoxide poisoning death of a 79-year-old Queens’ attorney reports the NY Daily News.

Read More...

WPBF – TV in Palm Beach Gardens, Florida, reports a Boynton Beach man has filed a lawsuit against Comcast for his wife’s death last Thanksgiving.

Read More...

According to the Southeast Texas Record, parents, whose son died after a missed skull fracture diagnosis, have filed a wrongful death lawsuit against Christus Hospital St. Mary and Dr. Michael Crossley, the attending physician.

Read More...

The family and estate of a young man who was killed when he was thrown from a John Deere bulldozer during heavy equipment operator school at Associated Training Services of Texas has filed a wrongful death lawsuit, reports the Southeast Texas Record.

Read More...

A confidential last minute settlement has been reached in the lawsuit brought by the family of a city Parks Department employee who was killed in 2003 by a runaway lawnmower, reports the Telegram & Gazette of Worcester, Mass.

Read More...

The husband and adult children of an Oregon woman are suing Food Express, Inc. of Arcadia, California for wrongful death after she died in an accident with one of the company's tractor trailers.

Read More...

A $7 million verdict was awarded in the civil case in which two dogs killed a 10-year-old boy in June 2009, reports KLTV.com in Texas.

Read More...

The Orange County Register reports Hyundai has made a confidential settlement with a family whose son was killed while riding his motorcycle in 2005. The incident was caused by a Hyundai executive who was driving drunk.

Read More...

The mother of a man from Tecumseh, Oklahoma has filed a $10 million lawsuit against a prison corporation and the state in the death of her son.

Read More...

A lawsuit has been filed in Texas against Honda Motor Co., Ltd. by the parents of a young woman who died in her 2005 Honda Civic in April of this year, reports the Southeast Texas Record.

Read More...

A 25-year-old graduate student died while waiting for treatment at Sacred Heart Medical Center at RiverBend in Springfield, Oregon, reports the Associated Press. Her parents have filed a $2 million wrongful death lawsuit against the PeaceHealth hospital group.

Read More...

According to the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review, the estate of a 79-year-old woman has filed a wrongful death lawsuit against the driver charged with driving while intoxicated in an accident resulting in her death. The accident happened east of Greensburg, a town close to Pittsburgh.

Read More...

The family of a Putnam City West High School cross-country runner, who drowned while on a training run when he fell into deep water on a flooded portion of a trail just south of the Lake Overholser Dam, has settled with Oklahoma City for $50,000. The family claimed his death could have been prevented if the city had maintained the area better.

Read More...

A jury has awarded $400,000 to an Easton, Massachusetts woman in the wrongful death of her father after he died in a 2005 incident at the Embassy House nursing home in Brockton. The man was severely injured when a nurse did not follow proper procedures when moving him from his bed using the Hoyer Lift.

Read More...

A Michigan family was awarded $235,000 in a lawsuit against a GM car dealership claiming a fire in the rear seat of their Buick LeSabre, started by a faulty battery cable, caused their husband/father to die from cardiac arrest.

Read More...

The family of a 27-year-old man killed in a natural gas processing plant explosion has been awarded $82.5 million by a Houston jury, according to Mineral Wells Index.com. The man died of injuries sustained when a hot oil heater he was attempting to light exploded.

Read More...

A jury in Alameda County, California, found Enterprise Rent-A-Car liable for $15 million in the death of two sisters involved in a crash while renting one of their cars.

Read More...

The Star-Telegram reports the family of a 27-year-old man who died of injuries suffered in an explosion at a natural gas processing plant has been awarded $82.5 million by a Harris County (Texas) jury.

Read More...

The city of Fort Worth has offered the family of a man killed by an officer's Taser $2 million to settle their lawsuit, although the city admits no wrong doing, reports the Star-Telegram.

Read More...

A jury in San Angelo (Texas) federal court has reached a $1.8 million award against Hyundai Motor Company in favor of the plaintiff - the father of a 19-year-old girl killed in 2007, reports GoSanAngelo.

The teenager was a passenger in a car driven by her sister when the car veered off the road and rolled over. Although she was wearing a seatbelt at the time of the accident, she was thrown out through the back window of the car because her seat was too far reclined. She was pronounced dead on arrival at the hospital.

In filing the lawsuit, the father of the dead girl hopes to call on the auto industry to correct the design which allows a car to be driven with the seat reclined. Experts testified a car seat reclined past 45 degrees is unsafe and the safest position for the passenger seat is in the upright position.

The issue of the reclining seat got national attention in 1988 when the NTSB asked the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration to research the problem.

If you have been injured or a loved one killed in an auto accident, it’s important to make sure you understand your legal rights. You may be able to recover money for medical bills, lost wages, funeral costs, as well as compensation for wrongful death or permanent disability. Contact the experienced car accident attorneys at the Louthian Law Firm for a free evaluation of your case at 1-866-410-5656 or fill out our confidential online case evaluation form.

Wrongful Death

The Kansas City Star reports a settlement has been reached in the wrongful death lawsuit filed by the parents of a teenager against the Independence (Missouri) Police Department.

Read More...

A police officer and the bar which served her will pay a total of $2.255 million for the wrongful death of four, and the injuries to another man, reports St. Louis Today.

The lawsuit claimed the police officer had consumed a "high quantity" of alcohol at O'Leary's Restaurant and Bar and the employees at the bar knew she was intoxicated and did not stop her from driving or call her a cab. Despite her slurred speech and unsteady walk, the bar continued to serve her alcohol, the article reports. After leaving the bar, the officer crashed her car into a Honda with five students from India, the article reports.

The driver of the car hit by the police officer suffered a head injury, a fractured rib, liver trauma, lung contusion, and contusions to the skull. His four passengers were killed.

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.

Police Officer, Bar Settle Wrongful Death Lawsuit

The former owners of a restaurant in Gresham, Oregon will pay $1.3 million after being accused of serving too much alcohol to a convicted drunk driver who killed two young women reports KATU.com. The judge could more than double that amount.

Although the Golden Star Restaurant is now under different ownership, the parents of the young women sued the former owners accusing them of knowingly over-serving the driver and then allowing her to drive.

The bar had a history of over-serving its patrons and had received several written warnings from the Gresham police, an Oregon Liquor Control Commission fine and dozens of patron DUI arrests, according to newspaper reports.

The two young women were celebrating the 21st birthday of one of the girls when their car was hit head on by the drunk driver going the wrong way on the highway. Neither girl had alcohol in her system.

Wrongful death is a death cause by the carelessness of misconduct of another person or organization - including failure to act to avert a death. The experienced attorneys at Louthian Law are dedicated to helping families of wrongful death victims. Contact the Louthian Law Firm today at 1-866-410-5656 or online for a free evaluation.

Oregon Drunk Driving Lawsuit

The Ledger of Lakeland, Florida reports an appeals court has upheld a lower court's award of $33.3 million to a husband and three of his children in their wrongful death lawsuit against Walgreens. Their 46-year-old wife and mother died in 2007 after Walgreen's pharmacy mistakenly gave her 10 times the prescribed dosage for a blood thinner to treat breast cancer.

Read Here...

The family of a 27-year-old man whose unlawful death was caused by police in Clackamas County, Oregon, has reached a $1 million settlement with the county, reports the Gresham News. The family had separately reached a $1 million settlement with the city of Sandy and a former police officer.

Read Here...

The family of a 39-year-old scientist at the University of Washington has filed a wrongful death lawsuit against the driver of the vehicle that struck and killed him on February 4, 2009, reports the Ballard News-Tribune.

Kevin Black was struck by a Ford E250 van as he was bicycling to work. The driver attempted a U-turn on a street unable to accommodate it and drove into the bike lane, hitting Black. Black was taken to Harborview Medical Center where he later died.

Black, an avid cyclist, was a molecular researcher at the University. He leaves behind two daughters, ages 13 and 10.

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

The Frederick News Post reports a Montgomery County Circuit jury has given a couple a $1.8 million award in the death of their newborn son.

When the baby was born on July 5, 2005, the doctor chose to use vacuum extraction for the delivery because the baby's head was wedged in the birth canal. He died two days later of complications arising from bleeding between the skull and the scalp.

The lawsuit claimed that not only did the doctor violate the standards of care; he performed the procedure without advising the parents of the risks involved. Had the parents been told of the complications, they would have waited for a cesarean section.

The jury found the doctor negligent and ordered $752,000 for medical bills, funeral expenses and loss of services; $100,000 for the baby's pain and suffering, and $500,000 for each parent for their mental anguish.

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.

Newborn's Wrongful Death

A Chilton County, Alabama jury has awarded $3.5 million to the family of a man killed when the van he was driving was crushed between two logging trucks, reports the Montgomery Advertiser.

Ken Gorum Trucking and Gary Fruge, the driver of the logging truck, were held responsible for the accident and have been ordered to pay the award. The jury found Fruge was speeding, and the truck had defective brakes, when it crashed into the victim’s van.

The victim's car was pushed into the logs on the truck in front of him, causing the logs to come through his windshield - one went through his head and killed him. Although the driver claims he was going only 45 miles per hour, evidence suggests he was traveling between 65 and 75 mph.

Progressive Insurance Co, the insurance for the defendants, had refused to settle the case before trial.

If you have been in an accident or have lost a loved one in an accident, it’s important to make sure you understand your legal rights. You may be able to recover money for medical bills, lost wages, funeral costs, as well as compensation for wrongful death or permanent disability. Contact the experienced car accident attorneys at the Louthian Law Firm for a free evaluation of your case at 1-866-410-5656 or fill out our confidential online consultation form.

Alabama Logging Truck Wrongful Death

According to the Philadelphia Daily News, the parents of a 2-year-old boy will sue Fairy Tales Daycare and its owners in the boy's death.

On July 1, 2009, the child died after being left in the back seat of a locked van with the windows rolled up and temperatures exceeding 80 degrees. The lawsuit alleges the boy's parents paid their neighbor and co-owner of the daycare center to take the child to the center at least three times a week.

On this day, however, the child was left in the van where he was not discovered until about 4:30pm in the afternoon. He was rushed to the hospital where he was pronounced dead of heat stroke, also known as hyperthermia.

No criminal charges have been filed in the case.

A “wrongful death” is a death caused by the carelessness (negligence) or misconduct of another person or organization – including a workplace accident. 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.

Hyperthermia Wrongful Death

An Indiana woman whose husband committed suicide in January 2008 has filed a lawsuit against Pfizer, the manufacturer of Chantix, a smoking-cessation drug her husband was taking.

The woman alleges that the company failed to warn consumers that the prescription medication might cause serious psychiatric symptoms such as suicidal thoughts.

If you or someone you care about was seriously injured by a prescription drug, you should speak with a South Carolina pharmaceutical litigation 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.

Full story - Click here.

The family of a Blufton Middle School boy who died after a fight on campus reached a $200,000 South Carolina wrongful death settlement with the school district and local government. Francisco Belman – 14, died in 2002, several months after being punched in the chest by two fellow students as part of a gang initiation. The two teens plead guilty to involuntary manslaughter and were sentenced to probation.

The loss of a loved one is a tragic occurrence that can turn the lives of the deceased families upside down. No dollar amount can be attached to a life, but when deaths occur due to the negligence of another person or entity, it is important to send a message to the negligent parties through litigation. In this case, the financial loss suffered by the school board may force stricter schoolyard rules and monitoring, preventing future injuries and loss of life.

A wrongful death claim allows the survivors of a wrongful death to ease their financial troubles as well as seek justice from wrongdoers. The family of the wronged person may ask for money that helps them ease the financial effects of their loved one's premature death, such as funeral costs, medical bills, and a lifetime of lost wages. They may also ask for damages for non-economic harm, such as their loss of companionship, protection or care, mental anguish or pain and suffering. Under some circumstances, survivors of a wrongfully killed person can sue for exemplary damages (also called punitive damages) that punish a wrongdoer for recklessness, malice or willful acts.

Continue reading "$200,000 Settlement Reached in Death of Student" »

The mother of Jason Goss, who was killed while he was an inmate at Wateree River Correctional Institution, has filed a suit against the South Carolina Corrections Department. The suit alleges that the prison failed to protect her son from assault by other inmates, according to an Associate Press Report published on October 3rd.

The suit was filed independently of the criminal charges involved in the case. Two inmates were charged with murder in Goss’ death. They each face 30 years to life in prison if convicted. Goss was found unconscious on October 6th, 2006 at Wateree River Correctional Institution. The agency said at the time that emergency personnel pronounced him dead at the scene.

Continue reading "Mother sues South Carolina Corrections Department after son dies" »

Drunk driver Humberto A. Orduna hit and killed Francisco Rivera, Jr., a 20-month old baby, in a Florida mobile home park in 2004. After his arrest for DUI, he fled the country to Mexico – but his actions have incurred a hefty price in the United States, where he was recently convicted in absentia. The family, who was emotionally traumatized by witnessing the accident and who endured both the sight of their baby son’s brain injury and death and a bill for nearly $17,000, was awarded $7.25 million by the jury in Orduna’s absence. Now they’re going after the defendant’s insurance company, who allegedly failed to pay the entire $10,000 covered by Orduna’s insurance policy.

This tragic incident demonstrates not only the harsh toll wrongful death can take on a family, but the rights surviving family members have under the law when wrongful death is involved. The family not only recovered direct medical costs related to the drunk driving accident – they filed for and received damages covering their severe emotional distress.

Continue reading "Mobile Home Park Accident Leads To Hefty Default Judgment" »