A lawsuit was recently filed in Snohomish County Superior Court alleging that a man died from a dog bite. The complaint alleges that the bite on the man’s finger caused a blood clot that got infected that led to a diagnosis of Capnocytophaga canimorsus sepsis, a bacterium commonly found in the saliva of cats and dogs. Washington State [...]
Sep
10
2010
10
2010
Aug
3
2010
3
2010
Motor Vehicle Safety Act Proposes Stiffer Penalty For Safety Violations
The proposed Motor Vehicle Safety Act of 2010, discussed by the Senate Commerce, Science, and Transportation Committee in May 2010, would give the National Highway Traffic & Safety Administration (NHSTA) more regulatory power over vehicle safety issues. In the outbreak of Toyota’s 9 million vehicle recall following its defective accelerator and steering, consumers and consumer advocates are [...]
Jul
28
2010
28
2010
Foreign Manufacturer Legal Accountability Act Will Provide Consumers Greater Protection
In response to a series of foreign manufacturer recalls, including Toyota vehicles, drywall and children’ toys, federal lawmakers are considering a bill that would allow U.S. consumers to effectively sue foreign product manufacturers in U.S. courts pursuant to the Foreign Manufacturer Legal Accountability Act of 2010. The proposed bill was approved by the House’s Subcommittee on [...]
Jun
24
2010
24
2010
Two Weeks Later: A Look at Washington’s New Cell Phone Law
Jeff DuBois of Seattle’s KiroTV News, speaks with a Washington State Trooper Keith Leary about the number of violators of the new law. Suprisingly, most drivers are in compliance. Also, police admit that it is difficult to discern whether drivers are resting their heads in their hands propped on the drivers’ door- or are talking on cell phones. Washington State Patrol [...]
Jun
10
2010
10
2010
Washington’s New Cell Phone Law Takes Effect Today
Attention Washington drivers: starting today, it is illegal to hold a cell phone up to your ear while operating a vehicle. The new cell phone law prohibits drivers from texting or calling while driving. Such violations are a primary offense at $124.00 per ticket. There are some exceptions, including emergencies and utilizing your phone in [...]
Jun
6
2010
6
2010
Washington’s New Cell Phone Law Effective Thursday, June 10
Effective June 10, 2010, Washington State law will prohibit drivers from texting or dialing or receiving calls while operating a moving motor vehicle. Such violations will no longer be a secondary offense. There are some exceptions, including emergencies and utilizing your phone in hands-free mode. A police officer may pull you over just for seeing you [...]
May
27
2010
27
2010
Edmonds Man’s Family Seeks $25 Million For Brain Injuries Suffered From Police Chase
Seattle PI Reports: The family of an Edmonds man who was brain-damaged during a police foot chase in Belltown has filed a $25 million tort claim against the King County Sheriff’s Office. Christopher Harris, 29, was knocked into a coma at the end of a May 10, 2009 pursuit in Belltown. Harris had inexplicably run [...]
May
13
2010
13
2010
Pfizer Liabilities Continue to Grow
Robbins Geller Rudman & Dowd LLP today announced that a class action has been commenced in the United States District Court for the Southern District of New York on behalf of shareholders of Pfizer Inc. Pfizer is a pharmaceutical company engaged in the discovery, development, manufacture, and marketing of prescription medicines for humans and animals [...]
Apr
20
2010
20
2010
Cell Phone Carriers Not Required to Issue Headsets With Cell Phones
In a major victory for cellular phone manufacturers and service providers, the 3rd Circuit Court of Appeals recently affirmed the lower court’s dismissal of Farina v. Nokia, a consumer class action lawsuit that accused cell phone companies of conspiring to hide evidence that radio frequency emissions from cell phones pose biological hazards. The class action alleged that [...]
Apr
6
2010
6
2010
Government May Regulate Black Boxes in Vehicles, Calculate Cause of Car Crashes
In light of recent automobile recalls, drivers are increasingly concerned with vehicle safety. Toyota’s defective accelerator that suddenly and randomly caused vehicles to accelerate, led to Toyota recalling hundreds of thousands of vehicles and issuing an apology. Toyota now faces a myriad of lawsuits. In an effort to safeguard the public from future defective automobiles, the [...]
