Newsletter Navigation
- A Look Back at 2005
- Consumer Alert: Beware Car Fraud
- Hill Boren Lawyers Further Education
- Shannon Toon Elected Officer of Memphis Bar Association
- Hill Boren Hires Lawyer Fluent in Spanish and English
- Lawmakers Steal the Public’s Rights
A Look Back at 2005
As the year winds down, we want to give you a brief overview of the legal news of 2005.
Consumers continued to be injured by defective drugs and faulty products and trial lawyers continued to fight to protect them.
Vioxx was pulled by Merck because studies showed the drug, sold to treat arthritis, caused an increased risk of heart attacks and strokes. In August of 2005, the first Vioxx case went to court in Texas, awarding the client $253.4 million.
Another potential drug danger announced in 2005 was impotency drugs. Recent studies found an increased risk of blindness for users of Viagra, Cialis and Levitra. In July the makers of Viagra agreed to put a new warning label on the box, telling of the possibilities of blindness.
Guidant recalled several models of pacemakers and defibrillators due to a malfunction that caused some devices to fail, resulting in death.
In September, two major auto makers recalled trucks and SUV’s because of equipment failures. Ford Motors recalled 3.8 million trucks and SUVs because of an engine fire risk. Brake fluid leaked from the cruise control deactivation switch when the driver presses the brake. The fluid dripped onto an electrical component of the cruise control, causing corrosion and the possibility of an engine fire. Toyota recalled 978,000 pickup trucks and SUVs due to a faulty steering mechanism. A rod linking the steering wheel and wheels may fracture when the steering wheel is turned while the vehicle is stopped.
Rest assured, that trial lawyers will continue to protect you from dangerous drugs, faulty products and negligent medical staff.
Consumer Alert: Beware Car Fraud
Recent flooding in the South and Midwest should raise a red flag for those looking to buy a car.
Flooding causes serious, irreparable damage to cars. Insurance companies often total the flood damaged vehicle and sell them at auction for parts. However, the auction buyers will sometimes clean up the car and resell it whole, rather than as parts. When this happens, the car often looks great, but the interior electronics and safety systems are probably damaged.
You can guard against flood damaged vehicles by getting vehicle history information before you purchase. Check sites such as CarFax.com and AutoCheck.com for the history of the car and have your vehicle checked by a reputable mechanic.
Take a look at the interior—is the upholstery the same color as the interior of the car or does it look faded? Does the carpet fit loosely? Do you see water stains or sand in the carpet under the seats? All of these may point to water and flood damage.
Hill Boren Lawyers Further Education
Greg Petrinjak and James Krenis recently attended ATLA's Trial Advocacy College in Denver, Colorado.
ATLA, the American Association for Justice, is a national organization focused on helping lawyers provide better legal representation for their clients. The Trial Advocacy College provides a unique opportunity to learn practical skills from some of the best lawyers in the country.
In addition to brainstorming about issues facing all trial lawyers nationwide, attendees studied depositions, jury selection techniques, preservation of evidence and other legal matters that affect our clients' cases.
The lawyers of Hill Boren invest in continuing education and training so that we can provide our clients with the best representation possible.
Shannon Toon Elected Officer of Memphis Bar Association
Shannon Toon has recently been elected President-Elect of the Memphis Bar Association Young Lawyers Division. Shannon will take over as President in 2007.
The Young Lawyers Division of the Memphis Bar Association assists new attorneys in establishing their practice. In addition to offering training and continuing education courses, the Young Lawyers Division sponsors social and sporting events and public service activities, including the High School Mock Trial Competition, Legal Lines, and a 5K race to benefit a local charitable organization.
Shannon has been on the Board of Director’s for the Young Lawyers Division since 2002. He joined Hill Boren in 2003. He is also a member of the Tennessee Bar Association, Tennessee Association for Justice and American Association for Justice.
Hill Boren Hires Lawyer Fluent in Spanish and English
Hill Boren recently hired a new lawyer to the firm who is fluent in both Spanish and English.Wendy Villafana will handle immigration and personal injury cases in Hill Boren’s Memphis, Tennessee office. She received an International Masters of Business Administration at the University of Memphis. As part of her graduate studies, Wendy lived in Monterry, Muevo Leon in Mexico for seven months. She studied at the Tecnologico de Monterrey and completed a marketing internship. After she received her MBA, Wendy graduated from the Cecil C. Humphreys School of Law at the University of Memphis in 2005.
Wendy will be assisted by Antigone Duarte who was born in Panama but has lived in Memphis, Tennessee for most of her life. Antigone will assist in research and development of the cases.
Hispanic clients can reach Wendy and Antigone directly by calling (901) 527-2637.
Lawmakers Steal the Public’s Rights
Lawmakers are quietly, and without warning, taking the public’s rights away. Issues like tort reform sneak into the lawmaking process and the public remains oblivious.
If your child is hurt or dies as a result of medical malpractice, tort reform says your child’s life is only worth a predetermined limit. The movement of tort reform through Congress is powered by the desire to save doctors and insurance company’s money at the expense of the general public.
Organizations like People Over Profits and Tennessee Citizen Action not only keep members informed of legal issues, but also lobby on the behalf of the public. These organizations provide an accountability issue with politicians: by keeping us informed, politicians must listen to their voters’ stance on certain issues. With these organizations, the public can begin to take back the rights lawmakers are stealing.
Contact your lawmaker to discuss his stance on tort reform. Visit www.house.gov and www.senate.gov to find out how to contact your elected officials.
