The Injury Lawyer Blog

Three employees at a paper mill in Tomahawk, Wisconsin were killed Tuesday night when a storage tank exploded. A fourth person was injured. The tank was used to store recycled fiber and exploded when the men were doing maintenance on top of it. The injured party was standing on a platform below the tank. According to the mill's spokesperson, Ron Zimmerman, there were ten people working in the area of the explosion and that there was no fire. Some of the workers were trapped and emergency crews used a crane to rescue them.

The accident is still under investigation and work continued at the main part of the mill.

The paper mill is run by Packaging Corp. of America, which makes corrugated packaging products and containerboard. The company operates four paper mills and 67 product plants in 26 states.

If you or a loved one has been injured in a work related accident, please contact an experienced injury lawyer in your area.

Congress has agreed to permanently ban three types of chemicals for children's toys, as well as outlaw three others from pending products. The chemicals, called phthalates, are added to plastic to make them softer and more durable. They are also added to items, such as lotions, perfumes and shampoos. 1999 study conducted by the FDA showed them in every one of the 1000 products tested, proving their ubiquity.

The ban, which will take place in six months, is a major victory for health experts and parents who have been asking the government to remove these harmful chemicals found in toys. It also seems to show that the pendulum is swinging toward consumers and away from the chemical industry and their ability to fight off regulation.

Potential Storm Clouds

While the measure had broad support in Congress, it slowed in the House due to the chemical lobby pouring millions into its defeat. The chemical industry, perhaps unsurprising, was lead by Exxon Mobil. Exxon is the manufacturer of diisononyl phthalate (DINP), one of the most frequently found phthalates in children's toys. This is a further concern for the chemical industry because U.S. companies manufacture $1.4 billion of phthalates annually, and only five percent of those go into children's toys, according to the American Chemistry Council.

On top of the chemical industry fighting to keep phthalates, President Bush has said he'll veto the measure. The President claims there is no evidence that the health concerns are real.

In an Orwellian turn of events, Exxon Mobil contends that by removing phthalates, more children will be exposed to greater risks. They contend that more hazardous chemical will have to be added to replace phthalates.

Phthalates are thought to act as a hormone and cause reproductive problems, especially in boys. In a study conducted in 2005 by the Center for Reproductive Epidemiology, male infants born to mothers with high levels of the chemical in their bodies showed changes related to low sperm count and undescended testicles. Other studies connect phthalates to liver and kidney cancer.

Phthalates have been part of the chemical makeup of thousands of products for nearly half a century. The EU banned six phthalates in 1999, and many other countries have followed suit. California, Washington, and Vermont are the only three states to already have legislation banning these chemicals from children's products. Wal-Mart, Toys R Us, and Babies R Us have also already told their suppliers that they will stop carrying products that contain phthalates beginning January 1, 2009. This gives them one more holiday season in which to sell harmful toys to unsuspecting parents.

If you or a loved one has been injured by a defective product, please contact an experienced injury lawyer in your area.

Australia's national airline, Qantas, boasts of never having had a fatal accident in their history of flying commercial jets. However, two incidents in the last week had the potential for a major airline disaster.

In the first one, on a flight from Hong Kong to Melbourne, a ruptured oxygen container tore a nine foot section of the Boeing 747 from the jet's body on Friday, July 25th. A piece of the container tore into the cabin, missing passengers, but causing the crew to fear a mid-air disaster. The flight was forced to land in Manila, Philippines. Spokespeople for Qantas state that the airline went through "very, very strict" security and maintenance checks and that the exploding container was something completely out of anyone's control. While this incident is still under investigation, Peter Gibson, spokesman for the Civil Aviation Safety Authority, stated that if an oxygen container did explode in mid-air, it would be the first time ever on a passenger jet something like this has happened.

The second incident involved a Boeing 737 that was forced to make an emergency landing in Melbourne 37 minutes after taking off on Monday, July 28^th. Passengers and those on the ground give different stories as to what happened. According to passengers on the flight, a door opened in mid-flight. However, a control room operator says that the doors covering the wheels did not close after take-off. They also deny that this classifies as an emergency landing.

This second incident comes on the day the new chief executive of the airline, Alan Joyce, started his job, and only days after Qantas laid off 1,500 people.

While we seem to heave a collective sigh when we hear about jets making emergency landings, especially when parts are blowing off in midair, the thought may come back to wondering if that next flight we or our loved ones are on is going to be as lucky. The chances are miniscule that there will be a plane crash, but this certainly hasn't let up on the fear many people have of flying. And, while both Qantas incidents may have been beyond human control, two of the leading causes of plane crashes are pilot and maintenance problems.

If you have lost a loved one in an aviation disaster, please contact an experienced injury lawyer in your area.

The US government's highest penalty for coal mine safety violations was imposed on mine operator, Genwal Resources, for a collapse that killed six miners in Utah last August. Three rescuers were killed ten days later in a second collapse.

Federal investigators found that activity in areas that should not have been mined, as well as weakened pillars caused the Crandall Canyon collapse, and not an earthquake as the mine's owner, Bob Murray, has contended. "It was not – and I repeat, it was not – a natural occurring earthquake," said Richard E. Stickler, the government's top mine safety official. By taking coal from the barrier pillars and the floor of the mine, the roof of the mine was significantly weakened. The result was a "catastrophic failure" of several of the supports.

One of the techniques going on at Crandall Canyon, called retreat mining, has been brought to light, as well as criticized in light of the collapse. In retreat mining, pillars of coal that support the roof of the chambers are removed one by one by the miners, which allows the chambers to collapse behind them. Mine owner Murray claimed at first that his company did not practice retreat mining, but admitted later that it did. However, he alleges this was not being done at Crandall Canyon at the time of the collapse.

Genwal Resources was fined $1.34 million for violations leading to the miners' deaths, and another $300,000 for additional violations. Mining consultant, Agapito Associates, of Grand Junction, Colorado, was also fined $220,000 "for faulty analysis of the mine's design."

The six miners' bodies have never been recovered.

An early morning accident between an oil tanker and a barge on Wednesday has closed a nearly 50 mile stretch of the Mississippi River just south of the Port of New Orleans. According to port spokesman, Chirs Bonura, the closure is likely to continue for several days while teams are rushed in to clean up the heavy tar that is drifting south. As a result of the closure, no ships are able to get in or out of the port, which will probably lose nearly $100,000 a day. Not only are cargo ships affected, but the 2,050 passenger cruise ship Carnival Fantasy may not be able to reach its destination on Saturday.

Other ports are affected by the Port of New Orleans closure. The St. Bernard Port, Harbor and Terminal District has also been shut by the spill. This port receives roughly 260 calls a year from ships carrying cargo such as iron ore, plywood, steel, fertilizer, sand, and metals. The spill has also affected ships trying to reach the Port of South Louisiana from the south, as well as those traveling from the port to the mouth of the river. Ships carrying bulk cargo, such as ore, steel, grain, petroleum, and petrochemicals call on the Port of South Louisiana nearly 4,000 times a year.

While we are already aware of what damage oil spills can do to the environment, and most are likely to know the story of the Exxon Valdez, oil spills like this one that closed down the busiest river in the nation affect more than simply trees and animals. Although this spill will likely be cleaned up in several days, with the economic downturn we are going through, not to mention the price of fuel, can we really take this sort of thing for granted? And exposure to the toxins in the spill can cause irreparable harm to those who come in contact with them.

If you have been affected by an environmental disaster like this, please contact an attorney who has experience in toxic tort claims to see if you can seek compensation.

According to the National Safety Council, the number of people killed in traffic accidents has fallen nine percent through May compared with the first months of 2007. This also includes an 18 percent drop in March and a 14 percent drop in April. According to the Associated Press, there are some states that have shown declines of 20 percent or more, and 31 states have seen declines of ten percent or more. Only eight states have shown an increase.

Reasons

Some experts believe the reason behind the decline is the rise in gas prices. This is because fewer people may be on the road, and that people are driving slower. The federal government noted in April that miles traveled fell 1.8 percent compared with drivers last year. Other factors that may be a reason for the decline are police enforcement of speeders and those driving under the influence, safer vehicles, an unusually long, cold winter that kept many people home, and better teen-licensing programs. The Governors Highway Safety Association says that seatbelt use is also at an all-time high, and may top 90 percent in several states when statistics are released later this year.

While fatality rates have been steady for the last 15 years, the way that road fatalities are gauged show a different picture. The rate for fatalities per 100 million miles traveled has been declining even though Americans, until recently, were driving more. The figure fell to 1.42 deaths in 2006, the lowest level yet.

The last time traffic fatalities fell this fast was during the oil embargo of 1973-1974, when fatalities fell 17 percent, and in 1982-1983 when the drinking age was raised to 21. The speed limit during the '70s was 55 mph, and there are rumors that Congress may try to reinstate this speed limit.

Because oil prices are not likely to fall to pre-summer levels, and we're probably going to have to get used to rising gas prices (currently averaging $4.00 a gallon nationally), perhaps this is one of the silver linings we'll see as well. Although accidents will continue to occur, with lower speed limits, fewer drivers, and safer vehicles, injuries and fatalities may be fewer and farther between than they used to be.

If you or a loved one has been injured in an auto accident, please contact an experienced personal injury lawyer in your area.

With stories of semi trucks crashing and endangering drivers when their loads spill all over the roads, comes yet another tale of loss. In this case, the load was bees. Thousands and thousands of bees. A flatbed truck carrying a load of bees ran off the road and flipped near St. Charles, Minnesota around 6:45 this morning. Several boxes of bees broke open and swarmed the truck. Passersby attempted to help the driver, but they backed off due to the number of bees. The driver was finally able to crawl away, but was taken to the hospital with injuries.

Pattern of Loss

While it might be easy to laugh at this kind of accident, especially when there is no loss of life, the truth of the matter is that bees can be just as deadly to some people as certain lethal chemicals. Though only a small percentage of the population is allergic to bees, to those who are, and may see thousands of bees swarm, the feeling of terror can be just as real. Anaphylactic shock is not a pleasant way to go.

But, consider the economic loss as well. In an age when a third of America's crops are pollinated by bees, the loss of millions of them, as was the case in Sacramento back in March, can have a ripple effect on all of us. Couple this with colony collapse disorder, a mysterious disorder that kills off entire colonies, and the problem gets even larger.

At any rate, semi trucks carry thousands of loads every year that could be deemed dangerous in a certain light. What causes the truck accident is often just as important as finding out the load they were carrying. Obviously a truckload of bees is not a truckload of sulfuric acid, but things like driver fatigue, mechanical failure, or even road debris can have tragic consequences.

If you or a loved one has been injured in a truck accident, please contact an experienced injury lawyer in your area.

In February, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled 8-1 that a patient injured by a balloon catheter manufactured by Medtronic Inc. was not entitled to damages because Medtronic was shielded from liability. The Supreme Court ruled in Medtronic's favor because the device in question met the specifications of the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). Early last week, former U.S. Solicitor General Paul Clement spoke to the Philadelphia chapter of the Federalist Society that this ruling may be a precursor of "sweeping protections for pharmaceutical makers." Clement served as solicitor general from June 2005 until June of this year.

Clement stated that a case involving a pharmaceutical is up for review this fall and bears a striking resemblance to the Medtronic case last February. In the case coming up, a patient sued Wyeth, alleging the anti-nausea drug Phenergan injured her. She contends Wyeth, the drug's maker is liable, while Wyeth contends the patient violated FDA rules and administered the drug in an unsafe way. Wyeth is based in Madison, N.J. and employs 5,300 people at its pharmaceutical headquarters.

As solicitor general, Clement filed a brief in favor of liability protection for manufacturers of pharmaceuticals. He believes that because the Supreme Court relied on the finding that the FDA extensively tested medical devices in the Medtronic ruling, they will apply the same kind of protections for drug makers. This principle is known as preemption.

Perhaps in a related note, both Chief Justice John Roberts and Justice Samuel A. Alito Jr. were once active members of the Federalist Society, a conservative legal group that leans toward siding with pro-business concerns, and has been the source for many of the Bush administration's judicial nominees and the top executive branch. However, Clement notes that the assumption of the Roberts court being pro-business many not be correct because they have ruled against corporate defendants in many employment cases.

As has been noted elsewhere, the FDA may not be the best judge of what is ready for the market. They are admittedly understaffed and underfunded, and we can assume this will affect all aspects of the agency's oversight, including what medical devices and pharmaceuticals are used by consumers.

If you or a loved one has been injured by a defective pharmaceutical or medical device, please contact an experienced injury lawyer in your area to find out if you have a claim.

A Los Angeles County Superior Court jury voted 9-3 to deny the family of 11-year-old Sabrina Johnson an award, stating that Johnson & Johnson, as well as McNeil Consumer & Specialty Pharmaceuticals were not liable for Sabrina's blindness.

The parents of the girl sued Johnson & Johnson for $1 billion, claiming Children's Motrin nearly killed Sabrina and left her legally blind. Their attorney says he will appeal the ruling. Their lawsuit claims that in 2003, Sabrina, then six-years-old, suffered a rare allergic reaction after being given Children's Motrin. The reaction, called Stevens-Johnsons syndrome, caused inflammation of Sabrina's mouth, mucous membranes, and eyes. This is a potentially deadly syndrome experts believe may be caused by reaction to some drugs, including antibiotics, anticonvulsants, and anti-inflammatory medications. It may also be caused by infections.

Sabrina testified during the trial that her eyes became so sensitive and painful that she spent the daylight hours inside a cardboard box for several weeks. Doctors testified that the chances of having a reaction to ibuprofen like Sabrina did are one in a million.

The jury found that Children's Motrin carried a "substantial and dangerous" risk to consumers and that Johnson & Johnson failed to properly provide warnings. However, they found that this lack of warning was not a "substantial factor in causing harm" to Sabrina. One juror stated that Joan Johnson, Sabrina's mother, failed to follow directions by giving her daughter the medicine after she woke up with puffy eyes.

The suit was asking for $14 million in actual damages, $103 million for pain and suffering, and $950 million for punitive damages.

Although the Johnson family was denied an award, there are many defective drugs out there that are not properly labeled and have caused serious injury. If you or a loved one has been harmed by a defective pharmaceutical, please contact an experienced injury lawyer in your area.

Lincoln, Nebraska, Lancaster County, and six emergency medical technicians were named in a wrongful death suit filed last week. This stems from the asthma-related death of 28-year-old Emy C. Choquette, who died last August.

According to Choquette's mother and attorney, David Domina, Choquette suffered an asthma attack the night of August 10^th. She tried both medication and a nebulizer, but when these didn't lessen her symptoms, she gave herself two injections of another medication while her sister called paramedics. They arrived six minutes later, however, the lawsuit alleges they did not promptly offer medical attention and failed to seek a "meaningful" medical history from Choquette's sister. Choquette could not offer any help as she could not speak. The lawsuit alleges that "Emy slowly asphyxiated before them" and by the time they finally did take action, "it was too late."

Emy Choquette slipped into unconsciousness and died four days later.

According to Nebraska law, the Choquette family can only be compensated one million dollars due to a limit put on damages. Domina is challenging the constitutionality of this and filed a suit under the Political Subdivision Tort Claims Act. This Act not only limits the amount victims or their families can be compensated for, but also allows state and city governments to claim immunity in many cases.

If you have lost a loved one through another party's alleged negligence, please contact an experienced injury lawyer in your area.

The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has ordered that a device to keep the fuel tanks on some passenger and cargo planes must be installed over the next nine years. This ruling comes almost 12 years to the day TWA Flight 800 exploded over the Atlantic Ocean while taking off from New York's Kennedy Airport. All 230 people aboard were killed.

According Transportation Secretary Mary Peters, this new safety requirement affects new cargo and passenger planes that have center fuel tanks, such as the Boeing 747. All existing Airbus and Boeing passenger jets will be required to retrofit the new device. This affects nearly 2,800 planes already in service. Cargo planes already in use are not affected by the ruling

The National Transportation Safety Board found that the cause of the explosion aboard Flight 800 was due to oxygen igniting in a partially empty fuel tank sitting for several hours in the sun before the plane took off. The proposed device will replace highly flammable oxygen with inert nitrogen as the fuel tanks empty.

The FAA originally proposed a rule to prevent future explosions three years ago, but was told the cost was too high by the aviation industry. The cost of installing the technology is estimated from $92,000 to $311,000 per aircraft. According to Secretary Peters, this is one-tenth of one percent of the cost of a new plane. The overall cost to the industry may cost close to one billion dollars.

While this may chafe the aviation industry, especially during a time when many airlines are barely hanging on financially, the last thing anyone wants is another disaster like Flight 800. And though many people would probably like to see the device in use quicker than the nine year timeline given, this is an important step toward lessening the already low chance of an in-flight explosion.

If you have lost a loved one in an aviation disaster, especially one that could have been avoided by installing updated technology, please contact an experienced personal injury lawyer in your area.

The town of Cameron, Missouri, whose population was 8,312 during the last census, has seen a rash of brain tumor diagnoses. More than a dozen people have been diagnosed this year alone. However, there is concern that this number will only go up. This is because no one is sure what is causing the tumors, though there is suspicion.

When the news was first reported in May, many thought that there must be something in the drinking water. They believed it was probably contaminated from the runoff of a nearby hog farm. Then the CDC and state officials began to look at manufacturing in the area, both past and present. Pesticides and chemicals were also looked at. Since May, the Missouri Department of Natural Resources has been collecting air, water, and soil samples. They have most recently focused on the soil and groundwater where the Rockwool Insulation Plant used to be. Samples of air and drinking water have come back clean.

Rockwool Insulation, a maker of commercial and residential insulation, was ordered to pay over $400,000 for an OSHA penalty in 1998 and to improve safety and health at plants in Texas and North Carolina. However, the violations were due to employee exposure to carbon monoxide gas and not for potential environmental hazards. An anonymous source in Cameron told officials that hazardous materials were buried at the plant site in the 1990's.

The tumors that are hitting Cameron are benign, but even those can lead to complications that cause death. There are reports of headaches, seizures, and one person has died from a blood clot which lead to a stroke. The blood clot was caused by three surgeries in three weeks to remove a tumor behind the ear, and near the brain stem, of a 44-year-old fourth grade teacher.

It is estimated that 200,000 people are diagnosed with brain tumors every year. Of those, nearly 40,000 are primary brain tumors, or tumors that start in the brain rather than have metastasized there. While doctors claim that there is a possibility that Cameron may be the unlucky location of a "cluster," most residents believe it isn't simply coincidence. They have been encouraged to get MRIs and are anxiously waiting what the Department of Natural Resources will find in the samples taken from the Rockwool Insulation plant. Those samples will be made public in a few weeks.

If you or your loved one believes your illness may be the result of some kind of environmental poisoning, please contact an experienced personal injury lawyer in your area to see if you have a claim.

Casilda Shipping of Malta, Genesis Seatrading, Inc. of Greece, and the chief engineer of a cargo ship have been charged with the illegal dumping of oil and other waste into the ocean. Pantelis Thomas is charged with falsifying log books, as well as other charges related to illegal dumping.

According to the indictment filed by the Justice Department and US Coast Guard, when the Rio Gold arrived at the Port of Oakland in May, crew members complained that Thomas ordered them to dump oil and waste from the engine room into the ocean. The legal process of disposing waste involves waiting until the ship is able to unload onshore or burning it aboard the ship. The crew also alleges they were ordered to construct "magic pipes," which bypassed standard procedure and then dump the waste into the ocean. One crew member took a picture of one of the pipes while the ship was headed toward Oakland and turned it over to the Coast Guard.

Thomas is a Greek citizen, and has been barred from leaving the US until this is resolved. At least eight other foreign crew members who were witnesses must also stay in the country.

The Ocean Dumping Ban Act of 1988 made it unlawful for anyone to "dump, or transport for the purpose of dumping, sewage sludge or industrial waste into ocean waters after December 31, 1991." However, there are a number of other laws, both state and federal, in place to prevent this.

There are several risks to the public as a result of ocean dumping:

• Exposure to hazardous or toxic materials that wash up on the beaches
  
• Human consumption of marine organisms contaminated by toxins dumped in the ocean
  
• Occupational injuries as a result of accidents or exposure
  

Radioactive contamination of fish and shellfish poses a worldwide problem due to dumping nuclear waste into the ocean, and this country is no stranger to medical waste periodically washing up on the shore where beachgoers are exposed.

Furthermore, heavy commercial and recreational fishing goes on in many of the areas where ocean dumping occurs. There have been a number of flu-like illnesses as a result of swimming and surfing in areas that are polluted by ocean dumping in California.

If you or a loved one has been sickened or injured due to being exposed to something dumped into the ocean, please contact an injury lawyer with experience in environmental law or toxic tort to see if you have a claim.

Seventeen babies in a Corpus Christi, Texas hospital's neonatal intensive care unit were given overdoses of the blood thinner heparin over the weekend. Christus Spohn Hospital South discovered the mishap on Sunday, two days after most of the newborns were believed to have been given the drug. President and CEO of the hospital, Bruce Holstein, blames the medical error on the mixing process at the hospital's pharmacy.

So far, twelve babies are in stable condition, three have gone home with their parents, one was readmitted in critical condition, and one has died. Dr. Richard Davis, chief medical officer for the health system, states that the infant who died was ill and the hospital is unsure if the high dose of heparin played a role in the death.

Heparin is an anticoagulant given to patients to prevent clotting during surgery or during dialysis. Heparin has been in the news several times in the last few months as a result of tainted lots from China, as well as the high-profile heparin overdose given to actor Dennis Quaid's newborn twins November.

If your newborn has been given an overdose of medication while still in the hospital, please contact an experienced injury lawyer in your area.

The Food and Drug Administration issued a black box warning, the most "urgent" warning they can give, on a class of antibacterials called flouroquinolone drugs. This includes Cipro and other antibiotics. The FDA cites evidence that using these drugs can lead to tendon ruptures, which can leave patients in need of extensive surgery.

Cipro is made by Bayer, while Ortho-McNeil markets the drug under the name Levaquin. Cipro is an effective drug against the effects of the anthrax bacteria, and is stockpiled by local governments in case of a biological terrorist attack. It became well-known in the media during the fall of 2001 during the anthrax scare. It is also used to treat urinary tract infections. Levaquin is used to treat respiratory infections.

Two Years Late

Public Citizen, a consumer group, petitioned the FDA two years ago to ask for this kind of warning. FDA action came only after Public Citizen sued. However, Sidney Wolfe, head of Public Citizen's health section believes that action came too late and that many of the tendon rupture injuries could have been avoided had the FDA acted sooner. The FDA counters that there is already a warning in the prescription literature about tendon rupture, but acted due to doctors and patients not getting the message. Wolfe believes that, in addition to issuing a warning, the FDA should require the makers of the drugs to send letters to the doctors about the risks. The FDA thinks this should be voluntary and that the manufacturers can send them on their own.

Wolfe claims that 407 tendon ruptures had been reported by the end of 2007, and that there were an additional 341 reports of tendonitis after using the drugs. The FDA says they have received "several hundred" reports of ruptures but have not cited a specific number.

Tendon ruptures are more common with sports injuries occurring to men in their mid-30s. Scientists are unsure why the tendon ruptures occur while taking the antibacterials, and believe the link is "highly unusual." Those patients who have the highest risk of tendon ruptures include people over 60-years-old, those with heart and lung, and kidney transplants, as well as those taking steroids. Some of the ruptures also came without warning. There was simply a snap or pop after the patient started using the drugs. The FDA believes that flouroquinolone may be toxic to some individuals.

While the FDA believes that the injuries are probably preventable if patients stop taking them and switch to another medication at the first sign of pain or swelling, there are many who have already suffered injuries. There may even be some who are unaware that their injury is drug-related.

If you or a loved one has been injured by pharmaceuticals, such as Cipro or Levaquin, please contact an experienced injury lawyer in your area. If you are taking Cipro or Levaquin, contact your physician immediately to discuss changing medication.

Timothy Wright, a well-known gospel singer and New York pastor, was critically injured in an auto accident in central Pennsylvania. The accident killed his wife and injured his 14-year-old grandson. Both Wright and his grandson were taken Geisinger Medical Center in Danville, Pennsylvania.

Wright, his wife and grandson were returning home from Detroit when they were hit by a driver going the wrong way on I-80. The driver in the car going the wrong way was also killed. A passenger in a third car involved was injured, but was in fair condition following the crash.

In addition to being a gospel performer who has released over a dozen albums, Wright is pastor at Grace Tabernacle Christian Center in New York City. His latest album, Jesus Jesus Jesus came out last year. Will Bogle, a New York music agent called the news "completely deflating."

Auto accidents kill and injure thousands of people each year. The 4^th of July weekend is especially dangerous due to the amount of people on the road. If you or a loved one has been injured in an auto accident, please contact an experienced injury lawyer in your area.

A French judge has ordered Continental Airlines and five others to stand trial for manslaughter for the crash of an Air France Concorde that killed 113 people in 2000. The Concorde crashed shortly after takeoff from Charles de Galle airport in Paris where it slammed into a hotel. The crash killed all 109 on the jet and four on the ground. It was destined for New York City.

French investigators determined that a strip of titanium which fell off a Continental DC-10 that took off just before the Continental shredded one of the Concorde's tires. The debris from the blown tire then punctured the Concorde's fuel tanks. Video footage taken at the time shows flames shooting out of the Concorde's left wing before crashing. The French inquiry also shows that the Concorde's fuel tanks were not protected sufficiently from shock. The inquiry alleges that the makers of the Concorde knew about the problem as far back as 1979.

The five accused include two Continental Airlines employees: John Taylor, a mechanic who fitted the "non-standard strip" onto the DC-10, and Stanley Ford, Continental's chief of maintenance. Prosecutors say that the metal strip was build and installed "without respecting the instructions then in effect." Ford allegedly validated this replacement.

The three others accused are two former Concorde officials Henri Perrier and Jacques Herubel, who allegedly knew about the jet's fuel tank defect, and Claude Frantzen, director of technical services at the civil aviation authority DGAC.

Airline disasters are horrific and can be unbearable to those family members left behind. While this tragedy occurred on the other side of the Atlantic, the alleged cause could happen at any airport in this country. Though major airline disasters are thankfully few and far between in this country, the causes are often attributed to mechanical failure or something unrelated to what is going on in the jet at the time of distress. If you have lost a loved one in an aviation disaster, please contact an experienced injury lawyer in your area to see if you can file a claim.

The outbreak of Salmonella Saintpaul which has sickened 869 people, and put 107 in the hospital, may have as much to do with the types of food eaten with suspected tomatoes as the tomatoes themselves. The reason is due to the longevity of this outbreak, which began in April. The latest case tied to this particular outbreak was reported on June 20. Over half of the cases have been in Arizona, New Mexico, and Texas. What may be as disconcerting as the fact the outbreak may involve more foods than tomatoes is that Salmonella Saintpaul is an uncommon, and even rare, form of the bacteria.

Dr. David Acheson, associate commissioner for foods at the FDA, says that ten of the 100 laboratories that comprise the country's Food Emergency Response Network have expanded their testing of other foods. However, he won't say what those foods are. Another disconcerting fact, though Acheson says it would be "irresponsible" to say what the foods they are looking at are. Because tomatoes are used in several kinds of recipes and with different foods, it can be left to consumers' collective imagination as to what could possibly be tainted.

The FDA continues to stress that cherry, grape, and on-the-vine tomatoes are not part of the investigation, and that raw tomatoes from many countries and states are not associated with the outbreak. However, the investigation seems to be going slow enough that Michael Leavitt, Secretary of Health and Human Services, acknowledged there was frustration. Furthermore, the United Fresh Produce Association has asked for federal safety regulations in an attempt to allay the fears of consumers.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), there are nearly 1.4 million cases of salmonella poisoning annually in the US. There are approximately 600 deaths each year as a result of these infections, accounting for 31% of all food-related deaths. Symptoms include:

• Diarrhea
  
• Fever
  
• Abdominal cramps
  
• Nausea
  
• Vomiting
  

These symptoms can last anywhere from 24 hours to seven days or more. Due to diarrhea and vomiting, dehydration is a serious concern.

If you or a loved one has become sickened due to a food borne bacteria, please contact an experienced injury lawyer in your area to see if you have a claim.

Officials in San Francisco have denied the city is responsible for the death of a teenager when he was mauled by an escaped tiger at the city's zoo on Christmas Day, 2007. City Attorney Dennis Herrera said in a letter that the claim filed by Carlos Sousa Jr.'s parents has been referred to the San Francisco Zoological Society and their insurance company. This same type of referral was made by Herrera when Kulbi and Paul Dhaliwal, who were with Sousa when he was killed. Both brothers were also mauled. Matt Dorsey, Herrera's spokesperson, states that Monday's letter is a procedural step which is usually the case when civil litigation is brought against government agencies or entities.

According to California state law, because of the city's denial, the Sousa family now has six months to file a lawsuit. Michael Cardoza, the Sousa family lawyer, said they plan to sue the zoo operators and the city. "The city owns the animals and owns the property. They don't get to abrogate their responsibility by pointing to the zoo. They can fight about who is responsible."

It was reported recently that Tatiana, the Siberian tiger who mauled the three friends, had lost 50 pounds since arriving from the Denver Zoo two years ago. Cardoza alleges Tatiana, as well as other animals at the zoo, were underfed so that they will be ravenous during public feeding times to put on a good show.

If you have lost a loved one and feel that you have a wrongful death claim, please contact an experienced injury lawyer in your area.