- Mike Damaso | February 29, 2008 5:19 AM |
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Nursing Home & Elder AbuseThe Channel 9 Eyewitness News website is reporting allegations that an employee of Pathways to Care in Casselberry has been using illegal drugs and abusing patients. The assisted living facility worker is being accused of smoking crack cocaine on the property, stealing prescription medications, and verbally abusing residents.Channel 9 attempted to get a statement from the head nurse at the...
- Mike Damaso | February 28, 2008 7:28 AM |
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Automobile AccidentsLate Sunday in Brevard County, 2 teenagers were airlifted from the scene of a collision in serious condition and flown to the hospital. Unfortunately, it appears it is the result of not wearing seat-belts. Another man was seriously injured. According to an article in the Orlando Sentinel, an 18 year-old woman was speeding when she lost control on a curve and crashed head-on with another car,...
- Mike Damaso | February 27, 2008 5:18 AM |
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MiscellaneousThe Orlando Sentinel reported on Sunday that State Farm will cease writing new policies for homes in Florida. State Farm is Florida's largest private insurer. The article reports that the reason for the decision by State Farm is a result of recent Florida legislation passed last year to reduce property insurance rates AND to protect the insurers reserves to pay claims brought by existing...
- Mike Damaso | February 26, 2008 7:03 AM |
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Automobile AccidentsThe Orlando Sentinel reported that a man was killed Friday afternoon when his 2006 Ford Expedition drifted into an oncoming lane, struck a mailbox, and ran into a fence. The crash occurred in Brevard County. The driver, Richard A. Granim, 63, of Apopka, was pronounced dead at Palm Bay Hospital. The article reports that Mr. Garmin was not wearing his seat-belt, but does not say anything else...
- Mike Damaso | February 24, 2008 11:39 AM |
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MiscellaneousLast week, ABC News reported that a new study published in the New England Journal of Medicine is shaking up the world of spinal health and medicine. The study says that surgery is a better and more effective treatment for spinal stenosis - more so than conservative therapy and pain medications. Spinal stenosis is a common back condition causing pain and limitations in function as a result of...
- Ed Normand | February 23, 2008 6:18 PM |
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Automobile AccidentsRecent studies have confirmed what most of us know already: that driving while using a cell phone is highly dangerous. In fact, after just 3 minutes of driving and talking on a cell phone there is a higher risk of an auto accident than when the driver is legally impaired with a .08 percent blood alcohol level. The theory is that one has to concentrate to such a degree when talking on the...
- Bruce Gibson | February 22, 2008 5:24 AM |
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MiscellaneousThe Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) released its report for the year 2006, and at least 555 people were killed in all-terrain vehicle accidents. More than 100 of these were children and officials expect that number to increase as they continue to obtain information from hospitals across the nation.In addition, the report estimated another 146,000 people were treated in emergency rooms...
- Ed Normand | February 21, 2008 10:50 PM |
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MiscellaneousA California Court has renewed a $33.5 million civil judgment awarded against O.J. Simpson for a civil finding that he was guilty of the murders of Nicole Brown Simpson and Ron Goldman. Simpson tried to claim that a California Court could not reinstate the award because he now lives in Florida. The argument was rejected by the California Appeals Court. If not reinstated the verdict (now grown...
- Sandy Grinnell | February 21, 2008 11:57 AM |
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Automobile AccidentsA young 20 year-old woman lost her life in an early this morning crash. The woman apparently had been drinking before she got behind the wheel and drove extremely fast up Semoran Blvd. She lost control of her Mitsubishi Eclipse, went through the median and struck a Hummer H2 driven by a 19 year-old boy. The impact of the Hummer on the side of her Eclipse made it flip over and end up on its...
- Bruce Gibson | February 21, 2008 7:59 AM |
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MiscellaneousA "high-low" agreement is an agreement entered in to prior to a trial by the parties in a case. It is an agreement that assures the injured party in a lawsuit that they will receive a recovery, regardless of the jury's verdict, but these agreements actually give a level of protection to both sides in the litigation. The agreement can be made at any time during the course of the litigation,...
- Ed Normand | February 21, 2008 1:03 AM |
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MiscellaneousLocal Billionaire David Siegel has been found liable in a sexual harassment lawsuit and the victim has been awarded over five million dollars in damages. Allegations in the lawsuit included that the Plaintiff, Georgette Myers, was forced to work in a hostile environment and that she suffered a battery when Siegel allegedly pressed her up against a wall and touched her. In a scene straight...
- Ed Normand | February 20, 2008 10:18 PM |
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MiscellaneousIn a trend that is steadily getting worse, employers and insurance companies are attacking settlements and taking all of the funds that injured parties get in a settlement or verdict. Many times the victims are then left on welfare or medicaid with, yes us, the taxpayers footing the bill for future care. Sadly, many Courts are upholding these greedy practices. Take the case of Deborah Shank...
- Sandy Grinnell | February 20, 2008 10:26 AM |
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Automobile AccidentsFour students were killed and at least 11 others were injured when a school bus was hit broadside by a van near Cottonwood MN. The collision caused the bus to collide with a pickup truck and then flip over on it side. The first driver to come upon the scene called 911 and ran to the bus where the bus driver was calling for help to get the children out of the escape hatch in the top of the bus. ...
- Sandy Grinnell | February 18, 2008 4:18 PM |
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Automobile AccidentsIn response to the number of children killed each year in "non-traffic" auto accidents, the Senate has approved a bill which was sent to President Bush last Thursday. Last year there were 230 children killed from being backed over, choked by electric windows, or run over by cars that rolled out of park. The safety features include an interlock brake system that prevents cars from being moved...
- Sandy Grinnell | February 16, 2008 6:07 AM |
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Defective & Dangerous ProductsThe Consumer Products Safety Commission has issued a recall of llittle girls "Life of Faith Charm Bracelets" that have excessive amounts of lead in them. The bracelets, manufactured in China of course, have the following religious symbols;Bible, angel, cross, heart, and praying hands, as well as white painted beads. The bracelets were sold in a set that included a child's bracelet as well as...
- Ed Normand | February 15, 2008 6:01 PM |
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Medical MalpracticeProposed legislation in Missouri increase the liability caps in medical malpractice cases for cases of abortion malpractice. . Under the present medical malpractice caps in Missouri, pain and suffering damage awards are capped at $350,000. The new law would make the caps invalid in claims of abortion related medical malpractice. Obviously this will be a hot topic and highly debated between...
- Ed Normand | February 14, 2008 5:48 PM |
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Medical MalpracticeActor John Ritter, best known from his days in the sitcom "Three's Company", died in 2003 at age 54 from a tear in the aorta, at a hospital in Burbank, California. Subsequent investigation by his family led them to conclude that the aorta tear was not treated correctly and, in fact, was misdiagnosed as a heart attack. The Ritter Estate, on behalf of his surviving relatives is now suing his...
- Sandy Grinnell | February 14, 2008 5:10 PM |
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Automobile AccidentsA five-month old baby, who was not in a child seat, was reportedly left behind by her father who was later arrested on hit and run accident. Orlando PD were chasing down what they thought was a stolen vehicle when the driver sped off. Shortly after OPD found the vehicle that had been in an automobile accident at South Street and OBT. When the police approached the vehicle they were surprised...
- Sandy Grinnell | February 13, 2008 8:11 AM |
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Automobile AccidentsA little boy, only 4 years-old, tragically lost his life last Friday night in a car driven by his 23 year-old mother. The young boy was riding in the front seat of a Ford Contour, unfortunately not wearing his seatbelt, when his mother lost control of the vehicle. The car left her lane of traffic, travelled across into the opposite lane, and struck another vehicle. The driver and two other...
- Diego Madrigal | February 12, 2008 9:21 AM |
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MiscellaneousA female tourist was hurt at Disney's Animal Kingdom when the vehicle she was riding in caught fire. On Sunday, February 10 between 3 and 4 pm the fire started near the front of the truck. Officials say an engine hose failure caused the fire and the woman had to be transported to the hospital when she hurt her knee jumping out of the truck. Thankfully, the fire was put out early on and the...
- Diego Madrigal | February 11, 2008 4:00 PM |
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Defective & Dangerous ProductsChattem, Inc. along with the FDA have voluntarily recalled some of the popular Icy Hot Therapy product line. The products are - Icy Hot Heat Therapy Air Activated Heat - Back- Icy Hot Heat Therapy Air Activated Heat - Arm, Neck and Leg- Icy Hot Heat Therapy Air Activated Heal - Arm, Neck and Leg, single-consumer use "samples" distributed on a limited promotional basis in cartons of 3 oz....
- Sandy Grinnell | February 11, 2008 9:32 AM |
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Defective & Dangerous ProductsEvenflo, the maker of the Discovery child safety seat, is voluntarily recalling over 1,000,000 car seats. The car seat is a carrier that locks into a base which then is strapped to the rear seat of the vehicle. The manufacturer reports that studies show side impact crashes may cause the carrier to separate from the base allowing the child to fly about the inside of the car. The current recall...
- Sandy Grinnell | February 09, 2008 7:14 AM |
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FDA & Prescription DrugsThe FDA reported today it is performing a "safety review" of Botox and Botox Cosmetic. The review is a result of adverse reactions reported when both A and B types of botulinum toxins were used for injections approved by the FDA and one that has not been approved by the FDA. The FDA has approved Botox to treat spasms in the neck or eyelids and to reduce excess sweating; Botox Cosmetic to...
- Sandy Grinnell | February 08, 2008 8:52 AM |
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Automobile AccidentsFlorida Highway Patrol had I-4 eastbound closed this morning from around 4:00 am near Saxon Boulevard. A Volusia County sheriff's car was hit by a Buick going about 70 miles an hour which caused the patrol car to burst into flames. The sheriiff was transporting 2 prisoners at the time, and one of them was sent to the hospital. After hitting the patrol car, the Buick crashed into a...
- Sandy Grinnell | February 07, 2008 5:30 PM |
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Automobile AccidentsOrlando Police Department shut down all 4 lanes of I-4 for about 2 hours this morning due to a pedestrian fatality. The man tried to cross the highway and was hit and killed. He was only struck by the one car and that driver stopped immediately. OPD said there appeared to be no disabled vehicle that the victim could have been walking from.It is not only illegal to walk or cross any interstate...
- Ed Normand | February 06, 2008 8:26 AM |
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Automobile AccidentsIn non final report on the deadly I-4 crash in January the Florida Highway Patrol has blamed the crash on nine drivers cited for driving carelessly by driving too closely and without due regard for the foggy conditions on the highway. Although the FHP investigation is not complete and will not be finished for several months, at this point FHP blames fog and not smoke from a nearby controlled...
- Ed Normand | February 06, 2008 8:13 AM |
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Automobile AccidentsIn a report issued by the Florida Office of Agricultural Law Enforcement, the State Division of Forestry has been exonerated as a contributing cause of the fiery January car and truck accident on I-4. The report concludes that unpredictable changes in the weather caused the fire to burn out of the control area. In a related finding FHP has issued its preliminary report indicating that driver...
- Mike Damaso | February 06, 2008 5:08 AM |
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FDA & Prescription DrugsThere was an interesting article in the Wall Street Journal this weekend regarding the problem of patients injured by new drugs during clinical trials having little to no recourse. The article blames the problem on several factors including: 1. Confusing and vague consent forms; 2. Lack of clarity as to which research entity is responsible for subsequent care; 3. Uncertainty as to how much...
- Diego Madrigal | February 04, 2008 10:40 AM |
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Automobile AccidentsA fatal wreck closed four westbound lanes of I-4 Sunday night. The accident happened a mile east of the St. John's River Bridge near the Volusia and Seminole County border. At around 8pm a speeding vehicle clipped another and lost control, causing the speeding vehicle to spin across the other westbound lanes. The spinning caused the driver to be thrown from his car and he was instantly killed...
- Mike Damaso | February 01, 2008 10:26 AM |
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Wrongful DeathAround 10:45 p.m. Thursday night in Deland a hit and run crash killed one teenage girl and critically injured a 43 year old man. At the intersection of Winnemissett and Brooks Avenues, the accident victims were in a vehicle struck by a speeding car that ran a stop sign. The 43year-old man was driving. After slamming into the passenger side of the vehicle, the 2001 Dodge that caused the wreck...