Miscellaneous

• Malpractice Defendants Sue Their Lawyers

  Brent Adams | April 05, 2007 4:41 PM | 0 CommentsFayetteville, NC

  In a case which reports a good example of abuse of our civil justice system by insurance companies, medical doctors who suffered a $217,000,000.00 verdict against them in a malpractice case have sued their own lawyers.Among the claims against their former lawyers was the fact their lawyers turned down settlement offers of $1,000,000.00 for one doctor and $3,000,000.00 for the other doctor. The...

• Internal Revenue Service Misplaces Over 500 Laptop Computers

  Staff Writer | April 05, 2007 4:39 PM | 0 CommentsPhoenix, AZ

  According to the United States Treasury Department Inspector General, the Internal Revenue Service has had some problems protecting sensitive taxpayer information. Apparently between 2003 and 2006, almost 500 laptop computers belonging to the Internal Revenue Service were lost or stolen which may have exposed personal information of approximately 6000 taxpayers to identity thieves. Amazingly,...

• The Different Types of Social Security Disability Benefits

  Staff Writer | April 05, 2007 4:27 PM | 0 CommentsRaleigh, NC

  Most people do not realize this but there are at least five types of Social Security disability benefits. The first and perhaps most important is Disability Insurance Benefits. This goes to individuals who have worked and paid into the system (generally five of the last 10 years) and are now disabled. The second type is Disabled Widow's and Widower's Benefits. Qualifications require the...

• Girl Infected with E. Coli

  Larry Buckfire | April 05, 2007 3:35 PM | 0 CommentsDetroit, MI

  A 12-year-old girl was infected with E. coli bacteria and diagnosed with hemolytic uremic syndrome after dining at a California restaurant. The outbreak infected seven other diners, two of which were also hospitalized. Symptoms of E. coli usually appear three to four days after exposure to the bacteria. People with E. coli may have bloody diarrhea, severe abdominal pain or cramps or fever. Most...

• A Good Plaintiff Side Personal Injury Lawyer Harder to Find in Rural Communities

  Shapiro, Lewis & Appleton | April 05, 2007 2:40 PM | 0 CommentsNorfolk, Portsmouth & Hampton, VA

  We at Hajek, Shapiro, Cooper, Lewis & Appleton get many of our clients from the surrounding rural communities. This includes the areas of northeast North Carolina (NC) from Roanoke Rapids and Rocky Mount east to Camden and Currituck counties. In Virginia (VA) , we also get clients from South Hill and Emporia and west through the counties in southeastern Virginia (VA) from Petersburg to...

• Two CT Men Die In Small Plane Crash

  James Sabatini | April 05, 2007 11:48 AM | 0 CommentsHartford, CT

  Two of the three people killed in the crash of a small plane in Maryland on Wednesday were from Connecticut.The three people killed were members of the Mahopac Golf Club in New York and were headed to North Carolina for a golf outing. The NTSB is investigating the crash.

• Ketek Lable and Usage Changes

  RLF Staff | April 05, 2007 8:38 AM | 0 CommentsDallas, TX

  FDA has removed two of the three previously approved indications for the antibiotic Ketek (telithromycin). This drug is no longer indicated for acute bacterial sinusitis and acute bacterial exacerbations of chronic bronchitis. FDA deleted the two indications because the benefits of using the drug in these cases do not outweigh its risks. The one remaining FDA-approved indication is for the...

• A Possible Shift in the Standard of Care for Delivery in Women With Preeclampsia?

  Sheila Chavis | April 04, 2007 4:36 PM | 0 CommentsFayetteville, NC

  I recently delivered a healthy baby boy this past December. I suffered from post-partum high blood pressure, but luckily managed to avoid preeclampsia, a condition during pregnancy identified by high blood pressure and protein in the urine. The condition apparently affects approximately 8 percent of pregnancies here in the U.S. A report indicates that Norwegian physicians induce deliveries...

• Household Pests and Workplace Injuries

  Robin Martinek | April 04, 2007 4:25 PM | 0 CommentsRaleigh, NC

  Lately I have seen a number of clients come to our offices with serious injuries that most likely occurred at their workplace. But because of the state of the law in North Carolina, we were forced to turn them away. I imagine hundreds of employees in North Carolina are exposed to the dangers of poisonous insects, spiders and other creatures at their workplace, and these are very real dangers...

• Seattle's Bicycle Master Plan Announced

  Ryan Nute | April 04, 2007 12:43 PM | 0 CommentsOlympia, WA

  Like a growing number of people, I ride my bike to work. Yes, every day, whether rain, sleet or snow. Sometimes it's tough to cooexist with all the cars on the road. Today Seattle Mayor Greg Nickels unveiled a "Bicycle Master Plan" intended to improve access and safety for bikers.The two-year plan includes tripling the number of bike lanes, trail improvements and new markings and signs to...