Newsletter Navigation
- ATLA Summer Convention Update
- James Carville
- Ford Explorer Rollovers
- New Technology
- Children's Devices May Pose Threat
- Car Seats Recalled
- Crib Recall
- High Chair Unsafe
- Battery-Powered Cars Catch Fire
- Executives Sentenced for Distribution of Faulty Heart Catheters
- Community Involvement
- How Do You File A Lawsuit
- Recent Settlements
- Office News ~ Way To Go Sherry!
ATLA Summer Convention Update
Several of our attorneys recently returned from the American Trial Lawyer's Association Summer Convention in Montreal, Quebec. Those attending were Ricky Boren, Paul Nicks and Chris Taylor. They asked that I pass some the information they learned on to you.
James Carville
Some of our attorneys attended a session led by James Carville, a former advisor to President Clinton and now a political consultant. He spoke on the current condition and future of American politics. He encouraged everyone to be politically active by supporting candidates that back consumer-friendly legislation like the Patient's Bill of Rights. This piece of legislation is designed to protect patients by ensuring that they receive the necessary medical attention regardless of their insurance or managed care organization.
Ford Explorer Rollovers
We have heard a lot lately about the Ford Explorer and its tendency to rollover. Our attorneys attended a seminar on the safety of these vehicles and learned some shocking facts. The Explorer is designed to ride like a car but with the capability to go off road like a truck. This design may sound sensible, but has proven to be very dangerous. The vehicle has added weight and a higher center of gravity required for an SUV, but was built on a Taurus Wagon chassis. This instability has lead to ten times more rollovers than Ford cars.
New Technology
The legal profession continues to be enhanced by the use of technology. Our attorneys were shown websites that will help us better serve you. The Internet offers tools to help settle cases and will eventually offer online dispute resolution. There are also online services that provide us with up-to-date information on areas related to our cases. This new technology helps us to serve you more efficiently. Check out our website www.hillboren.com for sites that might interest you.
All of the attorneys enjoyed Montreal. They said it was a beautiful city filled with history. But the most important part of the trip was the training they received. The convention had great speakers and expos that allowed our attorneys to learn from other trial lawyers and various related organizations and individuals so we can better serve you.
Children's Devices May Pose Threat
A three week old baby girl's stroller collapses sending her crashing to the pavement and fracturing the infant's skull. The incident, as horrible as it may seem, is not an isolated event. Many products in the past few years have become a threat to children and their families. These devices range from cribs, highchairs, strollers and car seat carriers to swings and even toys. Many of these devices have been recalled in response to reports of concussions, lacerations, suffocation, bumps and bruises.
Car Seats Recalled
Century is recalling about 4 million infant car seats/ carriers. The handles on this particular car seats/carrier can break when being used as a carrier. "The break can happen unexpectedly and the seat can fall to the ground," said Consumer Product Safety Commission Chairman Ann Brown. Century has received over 2,700 reports of "handle-related problems." Two hundred other reports were received of injuries related to the defect, including concussions, scull fractures, lacerations, broken bones, and bruises.
Another Century product, the Take 2 stroller has been reported to collapse unexpectedly. 650,000 Century strollers have been recalled. Injuries reported include fractured skulls, concussions and chipped teeth.
Evenflo is recalling about 3.4 million Joyride car seats/carriers for a similar reason. When their car seats/carriers are being used as a carrier the handle will randomly release flipping the seat forward. In such an incident the child can be thrown from his seat resulting in various injuries. Of the two hundred and forty reports of the defect, almost one hundred involved some type of serious injury; including scull fractures, concussions and broken bones.
Crib Recall
A crib produced by Simmons Juvenile Products was also recalled. These cribs have bracket hooks responsible for holding the mattress in place at its preferred height, but in the past four months alone, there have been over eight hundred reports of the hooks breaking. This defect causes the mattress to lose support, and then collapse from the set height. In one case when the brackets broke, a six-month-old infant hit his chin on the rail as the mattress collapsed beneath him.
High Chair Unsafe
Cosco has just recently recalled a highchair they had manufactured for a defect in the seat. There have been one hundred and sixty-eight reports of the seats in this highchair slipping from its position and falling to the ground resulting in injuries. Many of those cases reported included severe injuries to the body, face, and head. A few of the reports included concussions.
Battery-Powered Cars Catch Fire
Empire Industries has recalled their battery-powered vehicles. The battery chargers in these devices are noted by numerous reports to overheat and even to catch fire. There have been cases where the defective vehicle has started house fires. In some instances, the children and family members suffered severe burn injuries.
If you have one of these products mentioned above, contact the manufacturer immediately for recall information and keep the product away from your child. If you or your child has been injured as a result of a faulty product, call us to determine whether or not you have a case against the manufacturer. At Hill Boren, we have experience in dealing with defective products.
Executives Sentenced for Distribution of Faulty Heart Catheters
In Boston, MA, three former executives of the heart catheter manufacturer, C.R. Bard, Inc., were sentenced by a federal court for the shipment of tainted heart catheters. John Civnar, age 56, and Lee Leichter, age 52, pleaded guilty to participating in the distributing of Miniprofile, Probe C and Probe B catheters, which had been illegally altered. They also admitted to participating in fraud against the Food and Drug Administration. David Prigmore, age 62, was charged with being involved in the distribution of the faulty heart catheters.
The men were fined $30,500,000 and required to make an additional $30,500,000 civil payment to the government. Each was sentenced to one-year probation and eight months in-home confinement. U.S. Attorney, Stephen P. Heymann stated: "It is without question that the sentences imposed today on the individuals represent a clear and significant message to corporate officers across the United States about the consequences of such illegal conduct."
Community Involvement
Jail House Rock
Check out our Jail Birds! Brenda Shepherd, accounting clerk, and Shelia Bland, legal assistant, went behind bars for a good cause. Together, they raised $1,000 for the Muscular Dystrophy Association.
Way to Go!
Hill Boren sponsored a basketball team this Spring for the YMCA 10-13 year-old division. The Hill Boren team coached by Larry Neely and Jerome Neely, uncle and brother respectively to Hill Boren attorney Sherry Percival, went undefeated both in the regular season and the tournament. Congratulations!!
JCM Academic Decathlon Team
Hill Boren was the corporate sponsor of the JCM Academic Decathlon Team's trip to the Nationals. After winning the state competition for the fifth consecutive year, the team went to Nationals in Anchorage, Alaska where they brought home several individual awards.
How Do You File A Lawsuit
Most people do not know what to expect when filing a lawsuit. They often do not know whom to contact for help or may feel overwhelmed by the process. At Hill Boren, we want you to feel more comfortable with the legal process by providing you with some helpful information.
The first thing you should consider is time. There are time limits called "statutes of limitations." These are the limits put on the time between the accident and when you can file the lawsuit. Because of these time limitations, you need to find legal assistance immediately following an injury.
When you call our offices the process begins with an interview by a paralegal. The paralegal helps you understand what information is needed. This will tell you if you need to bring any documents such as insurance forms and set up a time for you to meet with an attorney. The attorney will determine if you have a case and how to proceed.
Next, pending the acceptance of your case, you will need to sign an agreement authorizing the attorney to represent you. At this point the lawyer or staff will begin gathering evidence and investigating further.
Your call to our offices to talk with a paralegal and your first visit with our attorneys is free. If we accept your case you may be asked to pay for some expenses in investigating your case such as copies of medical records.
At Hill Boren our attorneys don't get paid unless we are able to recover money for you in a settlement or trial. We believe everyone should have access to legal help when they are injured. We also know that many times injured people who are unable to work could not afford an attorney any other way.
If you ever have questions our paralegals are here to help, so don't be afraid to call.
Recent Settlements
A Hill Boren client was awarded $200,000 following a car accident. A semi-truck pulled in front of the client's car causing the accident. The client suffered a broken hip, which required a lengthy hospital stay. Attorney Paul Nicks represented the client.
Over $50,000 was recently awarded to a Hill Boren client who suffered from Carpal Tunnel syndrome which was caused by repetitive motions while working at a steel mill in Hardin County.
A Hill Boren client was recently awarded $42,500 in workers compensation due to injuries sustained from a truck accident, which occurred while the client was on the job. Mr. Wells represented the client.
Office News ~ Way To Go Sherry!
We would like to congratulate Sherry Percival on the birth of her beautiful daughter Shari Denise. Shari Denise was born on February 28, 2001, and weighed 7 1/2 lbs. Sherry showed her usual dedication to her clients and was quickly back to work in March.
Sherry also recently spoke at Freed Hardeman University on Medical Malpractice and Sexual Harassment. The class Ethical, Legal and Professional Issues in Counseling is part of the Master's in Counseling program offered through the university.
