"ME TOO" SEATS ARE DANGEROUS FOR OUR KIDS SAYS U.S. SAFETY COMMISSION

The CPSC warns parents to immediately stop using the Phil & Ted’s “metoo” clip-on table top chairs as they can detach from the table creating serious fall and amputation hazards to children who are sitting in them. Here is a video produced by the CPSC which demonstrates how our children are in danger. Phil & Ted’s refused to agree to the CPSC’s request for a national recall. The Heller Law Firm (www.seriousinjury.org) is investigating a possible class action to get your money back. If you purchased one of these chairs and are interested in pursuing legal action or want more information, please call 800.992.9947 or email shayne@hellerlaw.net. No cost/obligation.

Lawsuit Filed in Colorado Bus Crash

Members of a Dallas-area church were traveling on a ski trip in Colorado in December 2010 when their chartered bus was involved in a collision, injuring nine of the passengers. The suit alleges that the driver of the bus, Fred Kornegay of the company Gotta Go Express Trailways, Inc., was engaging in unsafe driving practices before the crash occurred, despite the treacherous conditions of the road. The collision occurred when Kornegay attempted to make a turn at too great a speed, losing control of the vehicle. The lawsuit asks for an unspecified amount of damages.

If another’s negligence has caused you or a loved one to suffer, we can help you assess your legal options. Contact the Los Angeles bus accident attorneys at The Heller Law Firm for a free consultation, or call us directly at 866-461-5791. You will hear from us either the same day or within 24 hours.

CPSC ISSUES WARNING TO PARENTS USING TABLESIDE BOOSTER SEATS

The Consumer Products Safety Commission (CPSC) issued the following press release today regarding the Phil & Ted's metoo chairs:

NEWS from CPSC
U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission
Office of Information and Public Affairs
Washington, DC 20207

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
May 6, 2011
Release #11-218

CPSC Hotline: (800) 638-2772
CPSC Media Contact: (301) 504-7908

CPSC Alert: Consumers Urged To Stop Using phil&teds USA Clip-on Chairs Due To Serious Dangers Posed To Children

WASHINGTON, D.C. - The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) warns consumers that some "metoo" clip-on table top chairs, imported by phil&teds USA Inc., of Fort Collins, Colo. put young children at risk of serious injury due to multiple safety hazards. CPSC is urging consumers to stop using some metoo clip-on chairs immediately.

The product is an infant/toddler chair with a nylon fabric seat and a metal frame that clamps onto tables using two metal vise clamps. The upper part of each clamp rests on the table top and has either a rubber clamp pad on its underside or a rubber boot covering it. The chair is sold in three fabric colors - red, black and navy.

The clip-on chairs affected by this warning do not have plastic spacers between the table clamps and the front horizontal metal bar. The clip-on chairs that have plastic spacers between the table clamps and the front horizontal metal bar are under evaluation.

The company has refused to agree to a national recall of their hazardous product that is acceptable to CPSC. The company has offered a repair kit consisting of rubber boots to place on the upper clamp grips of the chairs. Consumers should be aware that CPSC has not approved a repair kit for this product, despite the firm's prior statement that it was conducting a recall "in cooperation with the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission."

CPSC is urging consumers to stop using the affected metoo chairs at this time in order to prevent the risk of injury to children.

The affected metoo chairs pose serious fall and amputation hazards to children placed in them. Children can suffer impact and head injuries when the chair detaches from the table and falls with them in it. CPSC staff is aware of numerous incidents involving the affected metoo chairs.

CPSC staff has determined that the clamps can detach from a variety of different table surfaces. Additionally, the chairs can detach when children move around or use their feet to push against other objects. Staff also determined that the lack of adequate space between the horizontal metal bar at the front of the chair and the clamps can cause children's fingers to be severely pinched, lacerated, crushed or amputated if caught between the bar and the clamp when the chair detaches.

In addition to hazards with the affected clip-on chairs, the product packaging and instructions provide conflicting information. The product's packaging and marketing information show the product being used in ways that may lead to the chair detaching from the table. However, the product's instructions do not adequately warn against this type of use.

Tens of thousands of the affected metoo chairs may have been distributed since May 2006 for about $50 through philandteds.com, Amazon.com, Buy Buy Baby, Target, Toys R Us, other online retailers and a variety of independent juvenile specialty stores.

To see this safety alert on CPSC's web site, including pictures of the products involved, please go to: http://www.cpsc.gov/cpscpub/prerel/prhtml11/11218.html

Do you own one of these chairs? If so, we would like to speak with you. Please call defective product attorneys at The Heller Law Firm at 800-992-9947 for more information or visit our website at www.seriousinjury.org.

Fatal Mississippi Car Wreck Results in $375,000 Settlement for Family

In 2007, brothers Ricky and Lamonte Brown were traveling on I-220 near Jackson, Mississippi when their vehicle was struck by a car driven by Roderick Evans, who was being pursued by Mississippi State Trooper Julius Hutson at the time of the incident. Ricky Brown died as a result of the injuries he suffered in the collision; Lamonte Brown survived but was seriously injured and required extensive medical treatment. Recently, the Mississippi Tort Claims Board gave its seal of approval to a $375,000 settlement in response to the wrongful death suit that was filed by the Brown family.

Have you or a family member been harmed by another’s reckless behavior? We can help. Contact the Los Angeles car accident attorneys at The Heller Law Firm for a free consultation, or call us directly at 866-461-5791. You will hear from us either the same day or within 24 hours.

TV Host Dr. Phil Sued Over Dog Attack

Although he’s known for dispensing tough love and homespun advice on his popular television talk show, it appears that he’s better at dealing with humans than with his own animals, at least according to a lawsuit filed by beauty expert Janet Harris. The suit alleges that during a 2009 visit Harris paid to Dr. Phil’s home in Beverly Hills, she was suddenly attacked by Maggie, the family’s Jindo, a Korean dog breed. The attack led to numerous injuries on her arm and hand. The suit further alleges that Dr. Phil delayed seeking medical attention for Harris, as he was afraid that press coverage of the incident would harm his reputation.

If you or a family member has suffered an injury in a home or business, you need the advice of a skilled personal injury attorney. Contact the Los Angeles dog bite attorneys at The Heller Law Firm for a free consultation, or call us directly at 866-461-5791. You will hear from us either the same day or within 24 hours.

Family Sues Nursing Home Over Resident’s Fatal Fall

In October 2010, 89-year-old Carrie Delay, a resident of the Motion Picture & Television Fund's nursing home in Woodland Hills, California, suffered a serious fall on a staircase in the facility. Delay, who was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease, was in a wheelchair at the time of the incident, which resulted in a spinal fracture and several other significant injuries. She died a week later, prompting her family to file a lawsuit against the facility alleging that it was negligent in its care for Alzheimer’s-stricken patients. Delay’s death was the latest in a string of troubling incidents at the facility in which residents with the deteriorating neurological condition have been seriously injured.

Have you or a loved one suffered harm as the result of someone else’s negligence? If so, you can benefit from the advice of an experienced team of personal injury attorneys. Contact the premises liability attorneys at The Heller Law Firm for a free consultation, or call us directly at 866-461-5791. You will hear from us either the same day or within 24 hours.

Victims’ Families File Suit in University Shooting Case

In January 2010, troubled biology researcher and professor Amy Bishop opened fire on several of her colleagues at a departmental staff meeting at the University of Alabama-Huntsville. Bishop was subsequently indicted on criminal charges in the case, but several of the families of the victims who were killed in the rampage have recently filed wrongful death suits. The suits claim that the university, certain administrative officials, and even Bishop’s husband failed to intervene when Bishop’s pattern of behavior indicated that a violent outburst could be imminent. Financial details of the suits have not yet been released.

If you or a family member have been impacted by the failure of an organization or institution to take proper precautions, you may have a valid legal claim. Contact the California personal injury 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.

Virginia Birth Injury Case Yields $2.3 Million Settlement for Family

The delivery complication known as shoulder dystocia is said to occur when an infant’s shoulder becomes lodged behind the mother’s pubic bone, making a normal delivery impossible. In many cases, this problem can be addressed, resulting in a normal and healthy delivery. However, in one Virginia family’s case, it led to permanent disability. During a 2006 delivery that was being overseen by a midwife, the male infant being delivered experienced shoulder dystocia. In order to resolve the issue, the midwife in attendance applied excessive pressure to the head and arms of the baby, causing a severe injury that resulted in a disability that doctors say will be a lifelong health condition for the boy. A jury agreed with the assertion that this treatment decision was in error, and awarded the family $2.3 million.

Has your family been impacted by the tragedy of a birth injury? Let us help you assess your legal options. Contact the California birth injury 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.

Washington Man Files Suit Over Flu Deaths of Wife, Infant Daughter

As the swine flu epidemic gripped the United States in the spring and early summer of 2009, many medical personnel made questionable diagnostic and treatment decisions when encountering patients bearing signs of the then largely unknown condition. Among the casualties of this confusing period were Washington state resident Kathryn Flyte and her unborn daughter.

In June 2009, Flyte, then six months pregnant, sought treatment for flulike symptoms at the Summit View Clinic. After several months of unsuccessful treatment, Flyte, who had been subsequently diagnosed with the H1N1 virus, lapsed into a coma and passed away. Although her daughter, Abbey, was delivered prematurely, she died several months later. Physicians cited a lack of oxygen during gestation as a probable cause of the infant’s death. Kenneth Flyte, the surviving husband and father, has filed a wrongful death suit against medical personnel at the clinic.

Have you or a loved one suffered due to a medical mistake or malpractice? If so, we’re here to help. Contact the California 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.

Tennessee Woman’s Family Seeks Damages in Explosion Death

In November 2010, 44-year-old Tennessee resident Yolanda Bates pulled into a locally owned convenience store called Abel’s Way. Not realizing that a potentially dangerous situation existed, Bates drove over a hose that was connected to a gas tanker truck, causing a massive explosion that lead to her death.

Bates’ son has filed a suit against the store owners, the truck driver, and the company that owns the tanker truck, claiming that the placement of the underground fuel tanks close to the store’s parking lot entrance constituted an act of deadly negligence.

If you or a loved one has been injured due to a company’s carelessness or unsafe practices, we can walk you through your legal options. Contact the California wrongful death 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.

Utah Lawsuit Over Infected Spinach Settled

Most people assume that eating a spinach salad would boost one’s health, rather than imperil it, but 26-year-old Orem, Utah resident Chelsey Macey had quite the opposite experience. After eating a serving of Dole brand prewashed, bagged spinach that was contaminated with E. coli, the mother of three became violently – and almost fatally – ill. Even worse, Macey’s attorneys claim that the bout of illness left her with permanent gastrointestinal damage. The trial in the case went to the jury, but the parties came to a settlement, the terms of which were undisclosed, as the jury was in deliberations.

Have you or a loved one suffered a serious injury as a result of negligence? If so, you need the advice of a skilled team of personal injury attorneys. Contact the Los Angeles personal injury 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.

St. Louis Father Blames Area Haunted House Attraction for Teen Daughter’s Death

So-called ‘haunted houses’ are an increasingly popular attraction for teens and young adults in many parts of the United States, but a recent lawsuit claims that the quest for Halloween thrills turned deadly for one Missouri teen.

When 15-year-old Brittney Holmes made a trip to the St. Louis area establishment known as The Darkness in October 2009, her family claims that she wasn’t aware that the attraction was filled with smoke and fog that could potentially aggravate her chronic respiratory condition. She suffered a severe asthma attack after leaving the haunted house, after which she lapsed into a persistent vegetative state due to a lack of oxygen. After languishing in a coma for a year with no significant change in her condition, Brittney Holmes passed away in November 2010. The Holmes family has filed multiple lawsuits in the case.

Have you or a loved suffered injury, illness, or even death due to another’s carelessness? We can help. Contact the California premises liability 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.

NYC Deliveryman Struck by Car Receives $6 Million Jury Award

June 4, 2005 started out like every other day for Brooklyn-based delivery man Jing Xue Jiang. The 26-year-old set out on his bicycle to delivery takeout food, but never made it to his destination – he was struck in an intersection by Jamaal Freeman, who was driving a rental car at the time and ran a red light. Jiang’s injuries were extensive, including fractures to his spine, leg, and forearm, as well as a severe concussion and a subarachnoid hemorrhage. Jiang was out of work for nearly six months, and claims to suffer lasting cognitive and physical impairment as a result of the accident. Recently, a jury awarded Jiang a total of $6 million in damages from the incident, covering his medical expenses and past, current, and future suffering.

If you or a loved one has suffered an injury because of another’s negligence, you need the advice of a highly skilled and experienced legal team. Contact the California car accident 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.

Minnesota Family Files Wrongful Death Suit Against Nursing Home

It took a while for the adult children of 91-year-old Esther Rannow to discern a troubling pattern in the treatment their mother was receiving at the Benedictine Living Community, an assisted living facility in St. Peter, Minnesota. In fact, it wasn’t until Rannow had lapsed into an unconscious state after having been dropped by a caretaker – the second such incident in a month’s time – that the puzzle pieces started to fall into place for the family. Rannow was eventually moved to a nearby hospital, where it was determined that she was suffering from septic shock due to an undiagnosed urinary tract infection. She died several days later. The family has filed a wrongful death lawsuit against the facility.

Has a medical institution failed to live up to a sufficient standard of care for you or a loved one? If you have been a victim of substandard health care, we can help you evaluate your legal options. Contact theCalifornia elder abuse 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.

After Being Struck by On-Duty Oregon Police Officer, Pedestrian Receives $338,000 Settlement

In November 2009, Portland police officer Ty Garrison was making the rounds in his 2007 Crown Victoria cruiser when he glanced down at his in-car computer to determine whether there were any pending dispatch calls being directed to his attention. When Garrison’s eyes were off the road, his car struck a pedestrian who was crossing the street at the time, heading toward a neighborhood grocery store. 80-year-old Alganesh Negasi suffered multiple injuries as a result of the crash, including multiple leg fractures and a fractured pelvis. Her injuries necessitated a lengthy hospital stay and months of rehabilitation, and Negasi is no longer able to walk without assistance. The City of Portland recently paid $338,477 to settle the lawsuit that Negasi brought against the municipal government.

Has someone else’s recklessness caused you harm? If so, we can help. Contact the California motor vehicle accident 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.

Massachusetts Couple Wins Nearly $2 Million in Malpractice Suit Against Hospital

In 2004, Millsbury, Massachusetts resident Laura Ginsi ‘s husband Joseph called to tell her that he was going to St. Vincent Hospital in nearby Worcester, complaining of feeling lightheaded, dizzy, and generally unwell. That event set off a two-month-long downward spiral of worsening health and unclear diagnoses. Later, Ginsi was transferred to large hospital in Boston, where it was determined that he had suffered several strokes and was suffering from brain cancer. In a medical malpractice suit that the couple recently filed against St. Vincent Hospital, it was claimed that the delay in diagnosis and proper cancer treatment lead to a number of irreversible health conditions, including blindness and the loss of ability to walk by himself. A jury agreed -- and ordered the hospital to pay the couple a combined $1,894,160 in damages.

Have you or a loved one suffered because of improper medical care? If so, let our team of experts explain your legal options. Contact the California 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.

Big Rig Crash Blamed on Marijuana Yields $6.5 Million Settlement

The Carroll family of Huntley, Illinois was on their way to take three-year-old Gabriel to a pumpkin patch on Halloween night 2008 when the family pickup truck was rear-ended by a big rig driven by Jeffrey Repec. Tabitha Carroll, 32, was killed in the collision; her husband Randy and son Gabriel also suffered multiple broken bones and other injuries as a result of the crash. The lawsuit filed against Repec’s employer, Geils Farms, alleged that the driver was traveling at an unsafe rate of speed and was under the influence of marijuana at the time of the crash. The Carroll family received a $6.7 million settlement in the case, and driver Jeffery Repec is currently serving a prison sentence related to the collision.

Have you or a loved one suffered as a result of unsafe driving or other questionable corporate practices? If so, we can help you understand your legal options. Contact the California big rig accident 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.

Ohio Cerebral Palsy Case Results in $13.9 Million Settlement

When Ohio doctor Tara Shipman noticed fluctuations in the fetal monitor hooked up to laboring mother Debra Cobb, she dismissed them as normal rather than as indications that a problem was imminent. Instead of opting to perform an emergency cesarean section, Dr. Shipman allowed the birth to proceed normally. In a lawsuit, the family of the baby born that day, now-10-year old Haley Cobb, alleges that this error in judgment deprived the newborn of oxygen during the delivery process, resulting in Haley’s development of cerebral palsy, a debilitating medical condition that requires round-the-clock care. A jury agreed with the claims made by the Cobb family and issued a record-breaking $13.9 million award.

Has your family been touched by the tragedy of birth injury? We’re here to offer expert support and guidance. Contact the California birth injury 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 Man Injured by Falling AC Unit Files $21 Million Lawsuit

67-year-old East Village resident Anthony Franzese was taking a break while walking his dog when a 45-pound window air conditioning unit fell six stories from his own building, bounced off the awning of a neighboring restaurant, and landed on his head, causing a fractured skull, a concussion, and permanent neurological damage. Later, when Franzese was undergoing emergency surgery related to his injuries, he experienced a heart attack and lapsed into a temporary coma. In a lawsuit stemming from the incident, Franzese claims that the window AC units were improperly secured and did not use the properly rated brackets. Franzese is seeking $21 million in compensation in the case.

Have you or a family member suffered injuries as a result of shoddy workmanship, defective products, or repairs that weren’t up to code? If so, we can help you understand your legal options. Contact the Los Angeles premises liability 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.