The parents of 22-year-old Alexander Ruiz, who was killed in a February 14th collision in the Santa Rosa area, filed a suit against Dylan Morse, the son of a prominent district attorney in the area. Passenger Ryne Spitzer was also named in the lawsuit.
Shortly after the crash, the pair were found to be intoxicated and to have forged driver’s licenses and marijuana in their possession. The grocery store chain Safeway, which sold the minors beer shortly before the collision, is also named in the suit. In addition to the civil lawsuit, Morse is facing criminal charges in the case.
If your family has been impacted by the tragedy of drunk driving, we can help. Contact the attorneys at The Heller Law Firm for a free consultation, or call us direct at 866-461-5791. You will hear from us either the same day or within 24 hours.
Tuesday, May 19, 2009
Victim of Operating Room Fire Awarded $1.3 Million in Ohio Case
When 20-year-old Lauren Wargo arrived at the plastic surgery center operated by Dr. Bryan Michelow for a simple mole removal procedure, she hoped to emerge from the procedure with an unsullied complexion and improved self-confidence. However, a fire broke out during the procedure, causing Wargo to sustain second-degree burns over her face and neck.
Wargo, under sedation, had been receiving oxygen through a face mask during the procedure. When Dr. Michelow began to use a cauterizing device known as a “bovie” to remove the mole, the electrical charge ignited the oxygen in the air, causing flames to erupt.
The jury found that Dr. Michelow failed to notify the anesthesia assistant that he was going to activate the bovie and to turn off the oxygen, as is standard practice. As a result, the jury in the case attributed 100% of the blame for the incident to the doctor. Furthermore, it was also found that Dr. Michelow later tried to conceal his mistake and lied to Wargo and her family about the events leading up to the fire, prompting them to add an additional $425,000 in punitive damages.
Have you or a loved one fallen victim to medical malpractice? We can help you determine the best course of action in your case. Contact the attorneys at The Heller Law Firm for a free consultation, or call us direct at 866-461-5791. You will hear from us either the same day or within 24 hours.
Wargo, under sedation, had been receiving oxygen through a face mask during the procedure. When Dr. Michelow began to use a cauterizing device known as a “bovie” to remove the mole, the electrical charge ignited the oxygen in the air, causing flames to erupt.
The jury found that Dr. Michelow failed to notify the anesthesia assistant that he was going to activate the bovie and to turn off the oxygen, as is standard practice. As a result, the jury in the case attributed 100% of the blame for the incident to the doctor. Furthermore, it was also found that Dr. Michelow later tried to conceal his mistake and lied to Wargo and her family about the events leading up to the fire, prompting them to add an additional $425,000 in punitive damages.
Have you or a loved one fallen victim to medical malpractice? We can help you determine the best course of action in your case. Contact the attorneys at The Heller Law Firm for a free consultation, or call us direct at 866-461-5791. You will hear from us either the same day or within 24 hours.
Whole Foods Big Rig Case Settled
On October 16, 2005, a touring bus carrying the members of the Chippewa Falls High School marching band collided with a semi truck that had overturned on a Wisconsin highway. Five people on the bus were killed in the collision, including several of the band directors. Recently, a wrongful death case brought by the surviving family members of one of the band directors was settled by the upscale grocery store chain, Whole Foods, which owned the semi truck.
It was found that the truck driver, Michael Kozlowski, regularly committed a number of egregious safety violations, including driving on only a few hours of sleep and beginning his shift soon after spending hours consuming alcohol in local drinking establishments.
Although Kozlowski was cleared of criminal charges in the case, Whole Foods recently reached a settlement with several families of those killed in the crash. The terms of these settlements remain undisclosed.
Has someone else’s unsafe practices caused harm to you or a loved one? We can help you understand your legal options. Contact the attorneys at The Heller Law Firm for a free consultation, or call us direct at 866-461-5791. You will hear from us either the same day or within 24 hours.
It was found that the truck driver, Michael Kozlowski, regularly committed a number of egregious safety violations, including driving on only a few hours of sleep and beginning his shift soon after spending hours consuming alcohol in local drinking establishments.
Although Kozlowski was cleared of criminal charges in the case, Whole Foods recently reached a settlement with several families of those killed in the crash. The terms of these settlements remain undisclosed.
Has someone else’s unsafe practices caused harm to you or a loved one? We can help you understand your legal options. Contact the attorneys at The Heller Law Firm for a free consultation, or call us direct at 866-461-5791. You will hear from us either the same day or within 24 hours.
California Family Files Wrongful Death Claim Against Toyota
In 1997, a single-vehicle car crash caused the death of an 18-month-old infant. The accident occurred when the baby’s mother lost control of the Toyota truck she was driving and ran off the road, hitting a tree.
The crash was later attributed to a defect in the Toyota’s steering relay rod, a problem that had been identified by the company and was the target of a later recall. However, the California family in this case claims that Toyota failed to properly notify them of the problem. The lawsuit goes on to criticize Toyota’s recall notification system, which statistics show typically results in only 30% of affected vehicles being repaired.
If a defective product or device has resulted in an injury for you or a family member, you need the expert advice of an experienced team of personal injury attorneys. Contact the attorneys at The Heller Law Firm for a free consultation, or call us direct at 866-461-5791. You will hear from us either the same day or within 24 hours.
The crash was later attributed to a defect in the Toyota’s steering relay rod, a problem that had been identified by the company and was the target of a later recall. However, the California family in this case claims that Toyota failed to properly notify them of the problem. The lawsuit goes on to criticize Toyota’s recall notification system, which statistics show typically results in only 30% of affected vehicles being repaired.
If a defective product or device has resulted in an injury for you or a family member, you need the expert advice of an experienced team of personal injury attorneys. Contact the attorneys at The Heller Law Firm for a free consultation, or call us direct at 866-461-5791. You will hear from us either the same day or within 24 hours.
$6 Million Judgment in Tennessee Brain Injury Case
A jury in Hamilton County, Tennessee has found local gastroenterologist Michael Goodman to be 51% at fault in the erroneous medical treatment that led plaintiff Kristen Freeman to be afflicted with permanent brain damage.
33-year-old Freeman consulted with Dr. Goodman to get to the bottom of the ongoing bowel and GI problems she had experienced for some time. However, the diagnostic procedures that Goodman performed set off a chain of adverse reactions that ended in Ms. Freeman experiencing significant brain damage. Today, Ms. Freeman can no longer care for herself and requires 24-hour assistance.
The endoscopy and colonoscopy that Dr. Goodman and his staff performed caused a rupture in Ms. Freeman’s small intestine. Within hours after the procedure, Ms. Freeman was vomiting and in severe pain. However, when the patient called the doctor’s office to ask about her options, she was given an anti-nausea prescription, but was not advised to seek emergency care. The next day, she suffered cardiopulmonary arrest and developed severe brain damage.
Have you or a loved one suffered as a result of improper or inadequate medical treatment? If so, we can help. Contact the attorneys at The Heller Law Firm for a free consultation, or call us direct at 866-461-5791. You will hear from us either the same day or within 24 hours.
33-year-old Freeman consulted with Dr. Goodman to get to the bottom of the ongoing bowel and GI problems she had experienced for some time. However, the diagnostic procedures that Goodman performed set off a chain of adverse reactions that ended in Ms. Freeman experiencing significant brain damage. Today, Ms. Freeman can no longer care for herself and requires 24-hour assistance.
The endoscopy and colonoscopy that Dr. Goodman and his staff performed caused a rupture in Ms. Freeman’s small intestine. Within hours after the procedure, Ms. Freeman was vomiting and in severe pain. However, when the patient called the doctor’s office to ask about her options, she was given an anti-nausea prescription, but was not advised to seek emergency care. The next day, she suffered cardiopulmonary arrest and developed severe brain damage.
Have you or a loved one suffered as a result of improper or inadequate medical treatment? If so, we can help. Contact the attorneys at The Heller Law Firm for a free consultation, or call us direct at 866-461-5791. You will hear from us either the same day or within 24 hours.
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