Most people have heard of the sex abuse cases against the Catholic Church and the Boy Scouts of America. Those cases involve negligent failure by the organization to detect aberrant behavior by priests or scoutmasters. On a negligence theory, the plaintiff has to show facts that would place a reasonable employer on notice that it has a situation that...
Continue ReadingIn days of old, people found lawyers through family or friends, by word of mouth. In the internet age, when people are hurt by someone else, they head for the internet. This can be a very bad way to find a lawyer. Sure, there are some fine lawyers, including us, with websites findable on the net. But how do...
Continue ReadingWe see it all the time. A person is injured in a crash, makes a claim for damages with the other driver’s insurance carrier, and the carrier offers some piddling amount that doesn’t even cover medical bills. They are playing it like a good major league pitcher: they throw you curveballs in the dirt to see if you’ll swing....
Continue ReadingIn our profession as personal injury trial lawyers, we see cases every day in which a negligent driver has caused injury and does not have enough liability insurance. Many times these drivers are responsible members of their community, with good jobs, homes, and families. Precisely the type of people who cannot afford to have a sudden large financial liability...
Continue ReadingYou may have heard radio spots or seen billboards by a group calling itself “Citizens Against Lawsuit Abuse” or CALA, in which the group talks about how lawsuits are driving business out of California. CALA is a “front group” for ultra-right conservative business groups. CALA has no problem misstating the facts about the number of lawsuits in California, because...
Continue ReadingJust before Thanksgiving, Congressional Democrats voted to end the 60 vote majority required to end a filibuster of a Presidential nomination. They had to do this because Senate Republicans were refusing to allow a vote on three very well-qualified nominees for the very influential DC Circuit of the Federal Court of Appeals. Republicans claimed the President was attempting to...
Continue ReadingWhy You Should Support Prop. 46, the Troy and Alana Pack Patient Safety Act of 2014 Prop. 46, which arose out of the death of the Packs’ children caused by a drugged driver who had been doctor shopping for prescriptions. The Act addresses three serious medical problems: 1) impaired physicians, 2) over-prescribing due to the lack of computerized tracking...
Continue ReadingEvery month, I talk to someone who was injured by a driver who either carried no insurance or not enough insurance. Often, my clients have not adequately protected themselves by carrying at least $100,000 (or more) in Uninsured Motorist (UM) Coverage. If you get hit and injured by someone with no insurance, you can recover up to $100,000 (or...
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