Court Allows Injured Workers to Stack Disability Payments

The WI Supreme Court ruled that the amount of disability payments a worker receives may be increased if they require multiple surgeries for the same injury. A DamierChrysler employee who requires two knee surgeries for the same injury could earn double his permanent partial disability. The company argued that such awards could not be stacked, but the court upheld a Labor and Industry Review Commission ruling to increase the employee's disability payments. The Associated Press, Ft. Worth Star Telegram 02/02/2007
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Tort Reform Group Fails to Disclose Source of Funding

The American Tort Reform Association (ATRA) and the American Justice Partnership, both business-friendly groups that gave $785,000 into Illinois politics this year, appear to have violated the state's campaign finance laws.

The groups contributed directly to a Republican candidate and did not file a campaign finance report nor did they file as nonprofit organizations. A spokesman for an election watchdog group says some large donations, including $1.8 million from the U.S. Chamber's Institute for Legal Reform, were made directly to the Republican Party and did not have to be reported.

In 2004, a contentious race for the Illinois Supreme Court between the two leading candidates set a national record of $9 million in campaign spending. Adam Jadhav, St. Louis Post Dispatch 02/02/2007 Read Article: St. Louis Post Dispatch

Tornadoes Should Not Affect State Insurance Market

Despite having killed 20 residents, the tornadoes that recently struck Central Florida will not have serious effects on insurance rates. The state has suffered eight hurricanes since 2004 and just two hurricanes resulted in 2.7 million claims. In the past year, thousands of FL policyholders have had property insurance rates double or triple. Lynn Waddell, The New York Times 02/06/2007 Read Article: The New York Times

Banks' Internet Security Ineffective

Researchers at Harvard and MIT have tested the effectiveness of site-authentication images, an Internet security measure used by some major financial service providers. Under the system, a customer should not enter his online passwords if his chosen image is not displayed on his login page. Of the 60 individuals observed in the study, 58 entered their passwords without the image.

Brad Stone, The New York Times 02/05/2007 Read Article: The New York Times

Insurers Refuse to Renew Policies along East Coast

Insurers are refusing to renew policies in Long Island and along the New York coastal area for fear of hurricanes.

Insurers claim they are "overexposed" in certain areas and are cutting back to avoid huge payouts. State law limits the yearly number of nonrenewals to 4% of a company's policies.

Richard J. Dalton, Newsday 02/02/2007
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Katrina Victims Can Sue Army Corps over 'Mister Go'

U.S. Federal District Judge Stanwood Duval has ruled that residents of areas flooded by water that traveled through a New Orleans navigation channel during Hurricane Katrina can sue the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers.

The judge ruled that the Mississippi River-Gulf Outlet (a/k/a MR GO) is a navigation channel, not a flood control project, and is, therefore, not covered by a federal law that provides immunity from damages due to failed flood-control projects. Reuters,, Reuters 02/02/2007

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Basic Procedures Inhibit Spread of Hospital Infections

John Hopkins researchers reported that simple and inexpensive procedures such as hand-washing can have a drastic effect on the spread of dangerous infections within hospitals. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, about 90,000 Americans die every year from hospital-contracted infections. LA Times, LA Times 12/28/2006Read Article: LA Times

Sierra Club Joins Legal Battle Against Coal Plants

The Sierra Club is trying to join a lawsuit filed by Environmental Defense that would block the TX governor's plan to speed the approval process for the construction of 18 new coal-fired power plants. The lawsuit seeks to overturn an order that would speed up consideration of permits for the plants. Opponents of the plants argue that the TX governor lacks authority to set time limits on decisions by administrative law judges. The Associated Press, Ft. Worth Star Telegram 12/27/2006Read Article: Ft. Worth Star Telegram

Baton Rouge Federal Court Goes Digital

On March 1, 2007, all filings in federal court in Baton Rouge must be filed electronically. Only inmates or persons not represented by a lawyer will be allowed file paper except "special permission cases" as approved by a judge. The clerk's office offers an online tutorial and remote assistance via computer. The Advocate 12/28/2006Read Article: The Advocate

Judge Seeks Lawyers' Advice on Katrina Lawsuits

U.S. District Judge L.T. Senter Jr. of Mississippi wrote to the 180 lawyers who filed insurance lawsuits related to Hurricane Katrina claims, asking them whether the cases should be tried separately or in groups. Attorneys for insurance companies want the cases tried separately. You might know! Why would an insurance company make it easy? Plaintiff attorney Richard Scruggs is fighting to keep the cases joined in a mass action. Judge Senter handled the first Katrina-related trial that challenged insurance companies and may have a decision this week. Associated Press, The Advocate 08/15/2006 Read Article: The Advocate

Louisiana Municipalities Join Arkansas in Probe of Entergy Rates

26 municipal governments in Louisiana have joined more than other businesses, associations, consumer groups, and local government agencies in a request from by Arkansas Public Service Commission for a federal investigation into the business practices of Entergy Corp. The request asks the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission to look into whether Entergy is manipulating the cost of electricity generation and transmission. Nah, American corporations don't do that, do they? Mark Ballard, The Advocate 08/15/2006 Read Article: The Advocate

Need Insurance? Try the LA Dept. of Insur. Web site

The Louisiana Department of Insurance has a new link on its Web site to help residents find an insurance company. Of the 300 companies writing coverage in Louisiana, about 34 have joined a special database that allows residents to search names of companies who will write coverage south of I-10 in the state's major hurricane strike zone. Ted Griggs, The Advocate 08/15/2006 Read Article: The Advocate

Yeah! Insurers Extend Hurricane Claim Deadline, But There's strings Attached..

Most Louisiana insurers have agreed to comply with the state commissioner's request to extend the deadline in which homeowners can settle claims. Each of the 385 compliant companies has different conditions for their extensions. Sounds like Pres. Bush's prescription drug plan, doesn't it? Rukmini Callimachi, Houston Chronicle 08/14/2006 Read Article: Houston Chronicle

More fake-bake news! Cancer Rates Prompt Tanning Legislation

NY Times reports minors face restricted access to the indoor tanning industry as a result of increasing skin cancer rates. 19 states have been barred minors from using indoor tanning beds that the American Academy of Dermatology has labled a "health-peril equivalent" to cigarettes. Contradictory studies between health agencies and the tanning industry have caused a controversy over tanning guidelines. Paul Vitello, The New York Times 08/14/2006 Read Article: The New York Times

FDA fails us again: FDA Drug Directory Fails Inspection

LA Times reports the Department of Health and Human Services claims the FDA prescription drug directory is incomplete and inaccurate. The erroneous directory prevents the FDA from properly assessing recalls and medication errors, according to the report.

But, I thought there were no medical errors or faulty products. You know frivolous lawsuits and all that. Anyway, the FDA agreed with the findings and will work to fix its deficiencies. The Associated Press, LA Times 08/14/2006 Read Article: LA Times

What goes up, must come down: Problematic Elevators on the Rise

Several NY apartment buildings are failing to maintain proper operation of elevators. The FDNY has responded to over 11,000 elevator-related emergencies, which have doubled in frequency the past couple of years. According to a safety and health consultant on elevators, NY is among the most lenient on verifying repairs. Robin Stein and Mathhew Sweeny, The New York Times 08/15/2006 Read Article: The New York Times

Dell PC Batteries Recalled Due to Fire Hazard

New York times reports that Dell is recalling 4.1 million of its notebook computer batteries because they have a tendency to erupt in flames. The lithium-ion batteries used in these notebooks are also found in cell phones, digital cameras, and several other popular electronics. The batteries were manufactured by Sony, who sells its batteries to most of the major computer manufacturers. Damon Darlin, The New York Times 08/15/2006 Read Article: The New York Times

Cancer Treatment Linked to Heart Problems

The Journal of Clinical Oncology reported that radiation and the drug, Herceptin, are linked to certain heart problems. Radiation treatment in breast cancer patients is also exposed in the heart and coronary arteries, increasing the risk of future heart disease. Research of the drug Herceptin revealed a loss of pumping ability in the heart in addition to shortness of breath. Denise Grady, The New York Times 08/15/2006 Read Article: The New York Times

Wow...fake bake can be fatal. Concern Over Minors' Unregulated Use of Tanning Beds...

Wow...that fake bake can be fatal.

Studies have shown an increase in skin cancer among the population, but experts are most concerned about its incidence among young children. The goood-guys have been lobbying for laws restricting access to tanning salons for anyone under 18 or to have information posted in salons showing different types of skin cancer. Louis DiGioia, a tanning bed distributor, compares proposed legislation to telling people how to raise their kids.

But, is the analogy fair?

Some people don't just let their kids ride in the bed of a pick-up truck; they make ride in the bed of a pick-up truck. It's still dangerous, even if parents don't recognize the danger. Paul Vitello, The New York Times 08/14/2006 Read Article: The New York Times

Dr. Moreau comes to U.S. prisons: Medical Panel Wants Testing of High Risk Drugs on Inmates

H. G. Wells would be proud. A federal panel of medical advisers wants to change drug testing programs to allow experiments with greater risks on prisoners. Ouch...that hurts! But, critics wisely cite abuses by prisons across the country that occurred prior to the 1970's, when testing was curbed by regulations. The Holmesburg facility in AL was one prison that spurred a change in pharmaceutical testing. Ian Urbina, The New York Times 08/13/2006 Read Article: The New York Times