Monday, December 28, 2009

Actor James Woods Reaches Settlement with Hospital in Brother’s Wrongful Death Case

James Woods, the actor known for his portrayals of unsavory characters in movies like Nixon and Casino, and more recently, the television legal drama Shark, has reached a settlement with a Rhode Island hospital over the death of Woods’ brother, Michael.

In 2006, Michael Woods was admitted to the Kent Hospital emergency department with complaints of vomiting and a sore throat. However, soon afterwards, Woods suffered a heart attack and died.

The wrongful death suit brought against the hospital and attending physicians by Woods’ family members claimed that medical personnel did not do enough to help the ailing patient. However, the parties were eventually able to reach a settlement, including a provision that requires the hospital to open a research institute named after Woods’ brother and dedicated to researching – and helping to reduce – human errors in health care.

If a medical error has impacted your family, we can walk you through your legal options. Contact the medical malpractice 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.

New York City Faces Lawsuit over Kite-Wire Injury

Long popular in South Asia, the sport of “kite fighting” has gained a growing following in the United States as immigrants from the region have taken up the traditional pastime in their adopted country. The sport was also featured in the bestselling novel The Kite Runner.

However, brewing concerns about the safety of kite fighting have been highlighted after a 12-year-old boy was injured by a glass-coated wire that broke free from a kite being used in a public match held in a New York City park. Jared Kopeloff of Flushing, NY was skateboarding when he collided with a floating kite wire that had drifted to the area from a nearby park. The extremely sharp wire slashed the boy’s throat, causing injuries that required nearly 500 stitches to repair. Kopeloff also lost two of his lymph nodes as a result of the incident. The boy’s family has filed a lawsuit against the city, claiming that allowing the sport to be carried out in public poses a grave danger to the safety of NYC residents.

Have you or a loved one suffered due to insufficient oversight on the part of a government authority?
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.

Monday, December 21, 2009

Lawsuit Blames Toyota Defect for Deaths

A lawsuit has been filed against automaker Toyota, claiming that defects in the acceleration systems of the company’s Toyota and Lexus automobiles have been responsible for a number of injuries and deaths.

Plaintiffs Chris Chan Park and Seong Bae Choi claim that thousands of the automaker’s Lexus and Toyota vehicles have defects that may result in unintended rapid acceleration under certain driving conditions. It is thought that the problem was a contributing factor in an August crash in San Diego that resulted in the deaths of a family of four, including an off-duty California Highway Patrol officer.

Toyota has asked car owners to remove the floor mat from the driver’s side of their vehicles, but has continued to deny that an underlying system defect may be to blame.

The current suit will determine whether class-action status will be granted in the case.

If you or a loved one has been injured by a defective product, 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.

Monday, December 14, 2009

Oklahoma Helicopter Crash Prompts Wrongful Death Suit

When 20-year-old Darci Scraper accompanied newly licensed helicopter pilot Mark Mahaney on an early-morning aerial tour of the Oklahoma countryside, she was excited about the prospect of getting a bird’s-eye view of her hometown. Sadly, the trip ended in tragedy when the helicopter crashed for unknown reasons, killing both passenger and pilot. The wreckage of the aircraft was found on the banks of a rural creek two days later.

The wrongful death claim brought by Scraper’s parents argued that Mahaney’s family had acted negligently by entrusting the newly minted pilot with access to the aircraft. In support of this claim of negligent entrustment, the Scrapers’ lawyers pointed out that Mark Mahaney had a criminal record that included past charges of public intoxication and driving while intoxicated.

Has someone else’s recklessness caused harm to you or a family member? 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.

Monday, December 7, 2009

Lawsuit Filed Over Fatal Wyoming Rafting Trip Ends in Settlement

A June 2006 river rafting adventure ended in tragedy for three visitors to the Grand Teton National Park. Married couple John and Elizabeth Rizas, and another visitor, Linda Clark, were thrown from the raft they were riding in and drowned. The expedition was led and arranged by the Grand Teton Lodging Company, a privately owned venture that offers lodging and tours in the park.

In the wrongful death claim brought against the company by surviving relatives of those who died, it was alleged that the company routinely downplayed the inherent dangers of the white water rafting tours it led. After several weeks of jury deliberation in the case, it was announced that the parties had arrived at a mutually amenable settlement, although no specific dollar amount was announced.

Have you or a loved one suffered as the result of a company’s negligence or malfeasance? If so, you need the advice of a team of experienced personal injury attorneys.
Contact the attorneys at The Heller Law Firm for a free consultation, or call us direct at 866-461-5791. We will be sure to talk to you the same day you call, or within 24 hours.