California Supremes Toss Suit over Bumper Car Injury, Cite Inherent Risk

The California Supreme Court has dismissed a suit by a doctor who broke her wrist while riding in a bumper car at Great America, citing the inherent risk of such injuries. The court ruled on Monday against San Jose doctor Smriti Nalwa, who broke her wrist in a head-on collision,…

Jan 2, 2013 5:15 PM CST

Baltimore Judge to Consider Plan to Revive Backburner Asbestos Cases

A law firm whose name partner bought the Baltimore Orioles with money earned from asbestos suits has a new plan to push more cases through the court system. The plan by the Law Offices of Peter G. Angelos would revive the cases of 13,000 people who claim they became ill…

Dec 17, 2012 4:28 PM CST

Florida School Seeks Dismissal of Hazing-Related Wrongful Death Suit

A Florida university has asked a judge to dismiss a wrongful death suit against it over the 2011 hazing death of a drum major in the school’s marching band. Richard Mitchell, a lawyer for Florida A & M University, said Wednesday that the victim, Robert Champion, willingly submitted to the…

Dec 3, 2012 5:41 PM CST

That’s Hot: Plaintiffs Allege Burn Hazards, Say They Have the Scorched Hides to Prove It

Dec 1, 2012 7:00 AM CST

Dec. 3, 1984: Bhopal Chemical Leak Kills Thousands in India

Dec 1, 2012 6:50 AM CST

Wrongful Death Suit Filed in Car Crash Cites Nebraska Fetal Protection Law

A wrongful death suit filed on behalf of a Maryland family killed in a Nebraska car crash also seeks damages for the death of a fetus. The case may be the first civil suit based on Nebraska’s 2003 law expanding legal protections to fetuses at any stage of development, the…

Nov 5, 2012 2:31 PM CST

Clearing Up Hazing: Opponents Are Pushing for Stricter Laws

Oct 1, 2012 8:00 AM CDT

Driverless Cars Get Green Light in California

Clearing the way for testing and regulations, California became the third state to legalize driverless cars, prompting Gov. Jerry Brown to quip that the state is one step closer to making science fiction a reality. Lobbying for the so-called autonomous vehicles has intensified as manufacturers tout the eventual safety improvements…

Sep 26, 2012 1:36 PM CDT

A Bite Worse Than Its Bark: Maryland Puts Pit-Bull Owners on Liability Notice

Sep 1, 2012 8:49 AM CDT

Bicyclists Wearing Helmet Cameras Provide Valuable Evidence to Police

Some bicyclists are wearing cameras on their helmets or strapping the devices to their heads to capture mementos of their rides—and to record the evidence in case of an accident. The New York Times calls the cameras “the cycling equivalent of the black box on an airplane.” The videos are…

Jul 25, 2012 10:30 AM CDT

Judge Issues Stop-Work Order After Bodies of Lawyer, Wife Discovered in Derailed Train Wreckage

A Cook County judge has ordered a halt to cleanup of a derailed train after crews discovered the derailment and subsequent bridge collapse Wednesday claimed the lives of at least two victims. The bodies of a Chicago-area lawyer and his wife were found Thursday beneath the wreckage of the 138-car…

Jul 6, 2012 5:00 PM CDT

Workers Who Drive While Using Cellphones Are Big Risks for Employers

As cellphone-related car crash rates continue to rise, so does employer liability for workers who chat and drive on the job. The National Safety Council estimates that about 1.2 million car crashes each year involve drivers talking or texting on cellphones, a statistic that also means a greater number of…

May 21, 2012 10:37 PM CDT

Cities Prune Budgets to Monitor Aging Trees as Injury Claims Add Up

Sitting or walking under an aging tree can be dangerous, lawsuits reveal. The case of Alexis Handwerker illustrates the hazards, the New York Times reports. She was seated on a bench beneath an elm in Manhattan’s Stuyvesant Square Park in 2007 when a tree limb 30 feet above broke off…

May 15, 2012 10:30 AM CDT

Lawyer Gets New Trial on Claim He Had No Authority for $350K Deal; Jury Would Have Awarded $9M

A California trial lawyer is getting a second chance after he agreed to settle his brain-injured client’s case for $350,000 shortly before jurors revealed they planned to award $9.4 million. Lawyer C. Michael Alder argued he quickly agreed to the settlement without conferring with his client. On Wednesday, Judge Michael…

Apr 26, 2012 12:12 PM CDT

Attractive Nuisance? When Fun Factor Overshadows Risk, Lawsuits Are Sure to Follow

Apr 1, 2012 5:30 AM CDT