Boston Injury Lawyer Blog

November 25, 2012

Boston Products Liability?: Keep Kids Away from Single-Load Liquid Laundry Pods

The CPSC recently put out an alert warning that a new type of laundry detergent-the single-load liquid laundry packet-is proving toxic for kids. While laundry detergent was never supposed to be ingested, what makes this product especially child unfriendly is that they look and even feel like they might be small pieces of candy or a teething toy.

It doesn’t help that they tend to come in bright, attractive colors and their texture has been likened by some to that of a gummy bear (soft and gooey). Liquid laundry pods are also small enough to put in the mouth and easy to puncture so that it is no wonder that the detergent, which contains toxic ingredients, can easily make contact with the eyes and skin. Also, the majority of liquid laundry packets don’t come in childproof containers.

Already, the CPSC knows of at least 500 incidents involving kids and adults getting sick from this type of detergent. Serious side effects may include throwing up, sleepiness, problems breathing, eye irritation, diarrhea, temporary vision loss, and/or ocular burns. The American Center of Poison Control Centers is reporting about 10 calls a day over injuries involving this laundry product during one 20 day period.

November 23, 2012

At Least 18 Injured in Springfield, Massachusetts Natural Gas Blast at Strip Club

by Altman & Altman

At least 18 people were hurt during a natural gas blast in Springfield, Massachusetts’s entertainment district at around 6 pm tonight. The explosion at the Scores Gentlemen’s Club, leveled the local strip club, and also damaged a five-story building and a nearby day care. A tattoo parlor a block and a half away also experienced property damage from the incident.

The blast happened after gas workers had wrapped up their investigation of the smell of gas in the area. They had evacuated the street and were just about to let people return when the explosion occurred.

Spokespeople at Mercy Medical Center and Baystate Medical Center say that none of the injuries appear to be life-threatening. Among those hurt were 10 firefighters and cops and three gas workers. One dancer from the strip club reportedly told The Republican that the smell of gas had been present for a while. She says the gas company even checked it out earlier this week.

November 19, 2012

North Andover Wrongful Death Lawsuit Involving Worcester Man Subdued by Police in Traffic Stop is Settled for $1.6M

by Altman & Altman

Three years after Kenneth Howe, 45, died after being subdued by several officers during a North Andover traffic stop, the Worcester man’s family has settled their Massachusetts wrongful death lawsuit against three law enforcement agencies for $1.6M. The agencies are the North Andover police, state police, and the Essex County sheriff.

Howe was detained during a traffic stop at a state police checkpoint in November 25, 2009. According to the family’s North Andover wrongful death lawyer, Howe was “swarmed” by numerous troopers and police officers after he allegedly got involved in a tussle with a trooper at the scene. The law enforcement officers struck him with a baton and shackled him and didn’t call for medical help even though Howe said that he couldn’t breathe. It wasn’t until he was on the ground at the Andover state police barracks and unresponsive that medical assistance was sought. Howe was pronounced dead upon arriving at the hospital.

While prosecutors had cleared the officers of wrongdoing, Howe’s wife and three children believe that he was the victim of excessive use of police force. They named 33 troopers and officers in their complaint. According to Eagle-Tribune, photos taken by one of its photographers show Howe face down on the ground with some of the cops on top of him.

November 17, 2012

Family of Teen Who Fell from US Airways Jet in a Boston Suburb Files Wrongful Death Lawsuit Against US Airways

by Altman & Altman

Two years after Delvonte Tisdale fell out of a flying Boeing 737 and landed in a Boston suburb, his family is suing US Airways, Charlotte-Douglas International Airport, and the city of Charlotte, NC for his wrongful death. The tragic accident involving the 16-year-old in November 2010 made national headlines after Tisdale stowed onto the plane.

The teen had run away from home and was able to get onto the airport tarmac and then later into the wheel well of the jet, which was destined for Boston, undetected. Following Tisdale’s death, a security review determined that the airport’s police force was not adequate enough to provide proper monitoring of the property. Since then, certain security recommendations have been implemented there.

The wheel well of a plane is not pressurized and there is usually not enough oxygen there. Temperatures can become very cold, even going down to way under 0 degrees. A shattered plastic card was found on Tisdale’s body. The condition of the card likely was a result of freezing temperatures in the wheel well during the flight.

November 15, 2012

Fighting Boston Nursing Home Abuse and Neglect: CMS Now Offers Full Inspection Reports of 15,000 Facilities Online

by Altman & Altman

Over the years, our Boston nursing home negligence law firm has blogged about the serious injuries that can result when a Massachusetts nursing home patient is subject to serious abuse or neglect. While such incidents are never the victim’s fault, we’ve talked about steps that family members can take beforehand to decrease the chances of placing their loved one in the hands of negligent nursing staff and caregivers.

Such preventive measures have included visiting the nursing home beforehand to check out the facilities, level of sanitary conditions, whether current patients seem happy there, and if staff seem competent at their job and appear to take a genuine interest in their patients. We’ve also talked about how important it was to visit the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services online to find out how the government has rated particular facility and how each nursing home under consideration compares with others in terms of health inspections, staffing, and other quality measures.

Now, the CMS is providing even more in-depth information for you to peruse when deciding where to place your loved one. Rather than having to submit a Freedom of Information act request or ask a nursing home for more specifics about why it received a particularly high or low rating, you can go to Nursing Home Compare online and choose to see the entire text of the report that nursing home inspectors have filed on a particular facility. This will hopefully provide families with even more information when deciding where their loved one should receive treatment/live.

November 14, 2012

Toyota Recalls 2.8M Prius Hybrids Over Steering Problems and Chrysler Recalls 919,000 Liberty SUVs and Jeep Grand Cherokees Because of Faulty Air Bags

by Altman & Altman

Toyota Motor Corp. has announced a global recall of 2.77 million autos globally because of water pump and steering issues. The recall affects its Prius hybrid vehicles that were manufactured between 2004 and 2011 and a number of Corolla compact vehicles made between 2000 and 2006.

The automaker says the safety issues have not caused any auto collisions. However, this recall is certainly no help to Toyota’s efforts to reestablish its reputation as the maker of safe, reliable vehicles after the major recalls of millions of vehicles it issued between 2009 and 2011 over serious defects linked to sudden unintended acceleration problems. Numerous wrongful death and auto defects lawsuits have since been filed.

Also, it was just last month that Toyota recalled 7.43 million cars because defective power window switches might cause the autos to catch fire. By the time the recall was announced, safety regulators had reported at least 161 auto fires and nine related injuries.

November 13, 2012

Parking Risks and How to Avoid Them

by Altman & Altman

Parking is a part of most people’s everyday work routine into which they probably don’t put much thought. While it may seem like a mundane part of one’s daily routine, the reality is that most people use parking lots several times a day without acknowledging the inherent safety risks until it is perhaps too late. Though parking lots are a breeding ground for all sorts of accidents, it is important for employers and employees to know their dangers in order to help prevent accidents from occurring.

The two most common and preventable accidents that occur in parking lots are security accidents and slip, trip or fall hazards.

The National Crime Victimization Survey, conducted by the Bureau of Justice Statistics, reports that more than 1 in 10 property crimes occur in parking lots or garages. Other violent crimes occur in parking lots due to the nature of these spaces. Dark or unlit areas provide the perfect environment for crimes to occur, especially given that many people walk to their cars alone. Parked cars also provide hiding spots for predators who can crouch behind them and remain unseen for long periods of time.
Continue reading

November 10, 2012

At Least 10 Patients May Have Been Affected Because of Alleged Drug Tampering by Boston Paramedic

by Altman & Altman

In Suffolk Superior Court, Brain Benoit, a 40-year-old Boston paramedic, received 73 indictments for allegedly stealing scores of sedatives and painkillers, including fentanyl and morphine, and tampering with over 100 vials of medication. Prosecutors say that he replaced the drugs he stole with other substances, such as vitamin B and saline, to avoid getting caught.

Last month, health officials estimated that about 64 people may have been exposed to infections due to Benoit’s alleged tampering and that seven of them had passed away for unrelated reasons, such as other injuries or a medical emergency. Now, however, prosecutors are saying that the number of patients that likely received the diluted drugs, is closer to 10. (Some of the drugs that were allegedly tampered with had broken seals or puncture holes.)

A contaminated medication can cause serious health issues, as we have recently witnessed with the fungal meningitis outbreak that is linked to tainted steroid shots originating from a compound pharmaceutical company in Framingham. Already, a number of Massachusetts drug injury lawsuits have been filed against the New England Compounding Center.

November 8, 2012

Woman Files Massachusetts Wrongful Death Lawsuit Over Loss of Her Husband and Son in 2009 Northampton House Fire

by Altman & Altman

Elaine Yeskie, 77, is suing the man accused of starting a fire at her home in 2009 for the, Massachusetts wrongful deaths of her husband and son. She wants Anthony P. Baye, who is awaiting trial on 48 charges involving 28 fires over three years to pay her monetary and punitive damages.

Yeskie lost her husband, Paul W. Yeskie Sr., and her son, Paul W. Yeskie Jr. after a fire was broke out in their residence on December 29, 2009. The following month, Bay, 27, was arrested in connection with allegedly starting over a dozen fires involving cars, homes, and other structures in his neighborhood.

In her Northampton wrongful death case, Yeski, who survived the fire, says that she experienced severe emotional distress from having to watch her son and husband die. She contends that their passing was because of Bay’s actions, which she describes as “malicious, willful, wanton, or reckless.”

Massachusetts Wrongful Death
Losing someone you love because of another person’s negligent or reckless behavior is devastating-not only for the loss but also due to the knowledge that your loved one might still be alive today were it not for someone else’s fatal mistake or intentionally bad behavior. Fortunately, there is a way to seek Northampton, Massachusetts wrongful death damages from that responsible party so that you can hold them accountable by seeking to make them pay you compensation for your loss, pain and suffering, and other resulting damages.

You have three years from the date of death or when knowledge of the cause of the death was (or should have been) found out to file your Massachusetts wrongful death case. Damages may include compensation for funeral/burial/cremation costs, lost income and benefits, the victims’ medical bills, and loss of companionship, love, support, and other losses.

Elaine Yeskie sues accused Northampton arsonist Anthony Baye for deaths of Paul Yeskie Sr. and Jr., Mass Live, October 12, 2012

Elaine Yeskie Sues Anthony Baye in Northampton Fires , Gazzette.Net, October 22, 2012

More Blog Posts:
$7.5M Massachusetts Wrongful Death Settlement in 2010 Norfolk Propane Blast Lawsuit Filed by Electrician’s Family, Boston Injury Lawyer Blog, July 9, 2012

Explosions and fire ravage Winthrop home, injuring family & damaging house, Boston Injury Lawyer Blog, February 23, 2012

Elderly Somerville Woman Dies After Clothes Ignite in Massachusetts Kitchen Fire, Boston Injury Lawyer Blog, February 19, 2012 Continue reading

November 5, 2012

30 Now Dead in Fungal Meningitis Outbreak Linked to Contaminated Steroid Shots Made by Framingham, Massachusetts Compounding Pharmacy

by Altman & Altman

The CDC is reporting that the death toll in the ongoing fungal meningitis outbreak involving tainted steroid injections is now at 30, while the number of those afflicted is at 419 (those affected by related joint infections are also included in this number). The steroid shots were used for treating back pain, as well as joint problems.

According to the New York Times, doctors that have been treating patients afflicted in this outbreak are seeing certain worrying complications in some, including epidural abscess in the area of the spine where the shot was administered and arachnoiditis, involving spinal inflammation. In Massachusetts, please contact our Boston fungal meningitis law firm if you or someone you love became afflicted after receiving a methylprednisolone acetate injection.

The Boston Globe reports that right before the national outbreak erupted, the New England Compounding Center, which is based in Framingham, Massachusetts, had sent out a “Quality Assurance Report Card” to clients touting it’s labs’ cleanliness even though internal tests showed contamination that was widespread. Two of the three steroid lots involved in the outbreak were made during the period noted in the report card, which claims that the pharmacy’s “extensive” testing of products for microbial contaminants and sterility had a 100% success rate.