Yearly Archives: 2012
Swim Club Settles Suit Over Near-Drowning
The parents of a teenager who was left brain-damaged after nearly drowning in a Parkville swim club have settled their $40 million lawsuit against the club and its pool management company. William and Mary Becker reached a confidential settlement with Woodcroft Swim Club and D.R.D. Pool Management Inc. on Jan. 31, a month before… Read More »
Black Ice
Winter is here, which means snow and ice are around the corner. Most of us will need to muster the courage to brave the elements and get things done. So, what happens when the elements create hidden dangers at the places you need to be? One of the most common dangers we will face… Read More »
Philadelphia: A Judicial Hellhole
In this month’s edition of The Philadelphia Magazine, the magazine’s Chairman, Herb Lipson, quoting the American Tort Reform Association, which named Philadelphia as a “Judicial Hellhole,” wrote that “plaintiffs in a tort case can parachute in from anywhere in the state to seek their payday in Philadelphia. Not to mention that Philadelphia juries are… Read More »
Who Really Profited from Spilling Hot Coffee?
Watch HOT COFFEE! Most people have heard of the “Stella Awards,” which are “awarded” to people who file outrageous and frivolous lawsuits, named after Stella Liebeck, the plaintiff in the famous McDonald’s case who, in 1992, was severely burned by a cup of McDonald’s coffee ordered at a drive thru. This case, as well… Read More »
Adverse Events in Hospitals Not Being Reported
As an attorney who represents injured patients and their families in medical malpractice cases, patient safety is always a concern. One crucial way that patient safety is improved in hospitals is for the hospital to be aware of all adverse events that occur within its walls. While there is no universally agreed-upon definition of… Read More »
Emotional Damages from Misdiagnosis
The District of Columbia Court of Appeals recently acknowledged a cause of action for intentional infliction of emotional distress absent a being in the zone of physical danger. See Hedgepeth v. Whitman Walker Clinic, 22 A.3d 789. The Hedgepeth case involved a man who was incorrectly (and negligently) told that he had HIV when… Read More »
Damage to Your Marriage – Loss of Consortium
When you’re injured as a result of someone else’s negligence, you are entitled to compensation for the injuries that you suffered, including economic damages (lost wages, medical bills, etc.) and non-economic damages (pain and suffering). However, if you’re married, there is another category of damages that you may be able to recover – damage… Read More »
The Truth About PIP Coverage
Personal Injury Protection (PIP) coverage is a no-fault automobile insurance benefit which pays for medical bills, lost income, and other expenses resulting from injuries suffered in a motor vehicle accident in Maryland. With some exceptions, insurance companies selling insurance in Maryland must provide PIP coverage as set forth in § 19-505 of the Maryland… Read More »
The Battle of the Experts – Medical Malpractice Cases
The admissibility of expert testimony is often a hot topic in any personal injury or medical malpractice case. With respect to medical malpractice cases, expert testimony is often at the center of every evidentiary dispute. Indeed, that is why malpractice cases are often referred to as “The Battle of the Experts.” While the Federal… Read More »
Another Look at Aspirin
For years, we have heard that taking a daily dose of aspirin helps to prevent heart attacks, even in patients with no known heart disease. As reported by Time magazine and others, a recent study sheds some important light on the pros and cons of taking aspirin as well as highlighting which patients might… Read More »