June 2010 Archives

New York City officials said they weren't sure if Columbia Secondary School for Math, Science and Engineering in Harlem had obtained permission slips for a field trip that ended in tragedy, The New York Times reported. A 12-year-old student, Nicole Suriel, drowned off an unpatrolled beach after she was carried out to sea by a rip current.

The deceased girl's father, Juan Suriel, said neither he nor his wife signed a permission slip for the trip. Although the school may be possibly liable for Nicole Suriel's death, it's not clear whether or not grieving dad Juan Suriel has retained the services of a New York personal injury attorney.

As we blogged about earlier, a tentative settlement for WTC workers who responded to the terrorist attacks in New York on Sept. 11, 2001 was reached, estimated at between $625 million and $712.5 million.

A recent "fairness hearing" in a New York courtroom allowed both supporters and critics to comment on the proposal, according to the Associated Press. One of the speakers was retired New York Police Dept. Detective Joseph Greco, who told a judge the settlement would help ease financial difficulties caused by 9/11-related illnesses:

"Our families have been through so much. This can't go on anymore." 

Senior appellate judge Douglas McKeon, who hears cases in New York City, innovated a new approach to resolving medical malpractice lawsuits and the Obama administration has taken notice, an Associated Press article reported. Medical liability, blamed by some as a contributor to rising medical costs, is a contentious issue.

New York injury lawyers specializing in malpractice handle a wide spectrum of cases, ranging from gross negligence to simple human error, but critics say physicians often base their decisions more on liability concerns than the best interests of their patients.

Huffington Post reporter Daniel Grant wrote a piece about the risk of being sued for defamation by criticizing your art dealer, even if it's clear the dealer sold you a fake or otherwise ripped you off.

Granted, most people are not wealthy enough to regularly purchase fine works of art; but the same could probably be said about online criticism of businesses and professionals in general. Unless you have proof, posting potentially harmful criticism can lead to a costly lawsuit.

An amended settlement was tentatively reached on behalf of thousands of first responders to the Sept. 11, 2001 terrorist attack on the World Trade Center, CNN reported. The amended settlement raises the total compensation for sick first responders from the $625 million proposed in March to $712 million, capping attorney fees to 25 percent of the total.

WTC workers claiming severe respiratory problems contracted within seven months of WTC site exposure qualify for up to $1.05 million; those not suffering now but with a legal claim to future suffering are entitled to $3,250; and death claims proven to be caused by the post-attack operations may claim $1.5 million.

If you are ill or believe you may have been exposed and have not yet filed a claim, it may be in your best interest to contact a New York injury lawyer.

Former New York Yankees slugger Jim Leyritz settled a wrongful death lawsuit in connection with a fatal 2007 DUI accident, according to the New York Daily News. But he still faces criminal manslaughter charges for the Dec. 28, 2007 accident.

The family of victim Fredia Ann Veitch was awarded damages of $250,000, which will be paid out by the Jim Leyritz's insurance company. He also will be required to pay the family an additional $1,000 per month for 100 months, slightly more than eight years.

The Wall Street Journal reported on the decision of a Queens jury late last week that New York University Langone Medical Center physicians are not liable for a kidney transplant patient's cancer. The patient became ill with cancer after receiving a donated kidney from a donor who had uterine cancer, which was discovered after the transplant procedure.

The widow of patient Vincent Liew, Kimberly Liew, sued the NYU hospital for leaving the kidney inside her husband after it was discovered that the donor had untreated uterine cancer. She claimed that the doctor told her deceased husband that the chances of contracting cancer were very slim.

It seems that you may have a death wish if you are a senior citizen walking in a crosswalk in New York. Why is that? According to the New York Post, certain areas of New York City are known for a high rate of senior pedestrian deaths.  

A study conducted by the Tri-State Transportation Campaign from 2006-2008 shows that pedestrians between the ages of 65 and 70 years of age are more likely to get killed while crossing the street than their younger counterparts. The statistics get even grimmer. While senior pedestrians only make up 17 percent of the population in New York, they make up 42 percent of pedestrian deaths.