Will parents sue for Wrongful Death in Langhorne, PA?

pennsylvania new jersey attorneys wrongful death Bryan Nevins woods services — Bryan Nevins, 20, was left inside a van to die in the middle of a record setting heatwave.

On July 24, 2010, Bryan Nevins (20), a severely autistic young man, died of hyperthermia after being left in the back of a van during a record setting heatwave. He was a resident at Woods Services in Langhorne, PA, and was found hours after returning from a group trip to Sesame Place.
District Attorney David Heckler has not yet decided whether or not to prosecute Nevins’ caretaker for negligence, or if this was simply an accident. Nevins’ parents live in New York, but have said that despite his age, he has the mental capacity of a two year old.

The question on prosecutors’ minds is whether this is a case of negligence at a care center or simply a tragic accident. If it is determined that negligence is at fault, a person or persons could be charged with involuntary manslaughter. And the facility could be sued for wrongful death in PA.

It seems that, upon returning from the water park, each resident should have been accounted for as they exited the van. How could Bryan have simply been forgotten about? It was someone’s responsibility to make sure that he returned safely from Sesame Place to the facility, and back to his room or common meeting area.
To leave him in the back of a van in the middle of heatwave is irresponsible and grossly negligent: this is a clear cut case of wrongful death.

Wrongful Death Claims and the Mininno Law Office

At the Mininno Law Office, wrongful death attorneys work ’round the clock to assist you in getting the compensation you deserve. A New Jersey wrongful death attorney will help gather all of the facts in order to present the best possible case.
If you are grieving the loss of a loved one because of what you believe is a wrongful death claim, contact the Mininno Law Office or call us at (856) 833-0600 in New Jersey, or (215) 567-2380 in Philadelphia.

Missouri Man Killed in Fatal Trucking Accident

Forty-four year old Michael Hart of St. Joseph, Missouri, was tragically killed on July 14th, 2010 in a fatal trucking accident involving his van and a tractor trailer.

attorneys new jersey trucking accident fatal michael hart missouri An article in the Chillicothe-Constitution Tribune (a Missouri newspaper) says that Hart was traveling east on U.S. Highway 36 (just northeast of Kansas City, MO) in his 1989 Chevy van, while Dale O. Hazzard (38) was driving his 1995 Volvo tractor trailer southbound on Spring Hill Road. The police report states that Hazzard pulled out in front of Hart’s van, which hit the rear side of the semi. The vehicles became entangled. The article did not provide information on the injuries Hazzard sustained, or if he sustained any at all. The article also fails to elaborate on why Hazzard pulled out onto the highway without stopping for oncoming traffic. The entrance to 36 from Spring Hill Road is a T intersection, so slowing down would be necessary to safely make the turn.

The article did not go as far as to assign blame to either of the drivers, but if Hazzard did in fact pull his tractor trailer in front of Hart’s van without stopping or even slowing down, it is likely he will be at fault.

Trucking accidents are frightening and very dangerous accidents that occur far too often. As drivers, we must be cautious and wary of the dangers of large trucks. The possibility of an accident is always looming overhead, and truck drivers and passenger car drivers alike need to be alert at all times.
This accident could have been easily avoided, had the truck driver simply stopped and looked. Negligent and careless driving often leads to tragic and fatal trucking accidents. Drivers on the long haul are tired, and the road has the power to hypnotize you once you’ve been going for too long.

Trucking Accidents and the Mininno Law Office

At the Mininno Law Office, we take trucking accidents very seriously.
If you or a loved one have been injured in a trucking accident, you may be entitled to compensation. Contact the Mininno Law Office for a free case evaluation, or call us at (856) 833-0600 in New Jersey, or (215) 567-2380 in Philadelphia.

The Phillie Phanatic is Being Sued for Personal Injury?!

new jersey personal injury attorneys phillie phanatic — One of the most beloved mascots in major league baseball, the Phillie Phanatic, finds himself in the middle of a personal injury lawsuit.

Seventy-five year old Grace Cass filed a personal injury lawsuit against the Phillie Phanatic, one of baseball’s oldest and most iconic mascots, for an incident that took place at a minor league baseball game in Reading, PA. Cass claims that the Phanatic stepped on her legs, awakening “dormant arthritis,” and causing the need for 2 knee replacements.

Crass’ suit, seeking $50,000 in damages, names The Philadelphia Phillies, The Reading Phillies, and Tom Burgoyne, the man inside the Phillie Phanatic costume on the day of the incident. Crass’ attorney, John Speicer, says he’s being teased by his friends for taking on the case. “This is like suing Santa Claus,” they’ve said. Like suing Santa Claus indeed!

A study published by the Cardozo Law Review found that the Phillie Phanatic, who has been sued three times, has been sued more than any other mascot affiliated with major league baseball. But the study was quick to acknowledge that this most likely has to due with the mascot’s longevity. He has become a staple in Philadelphia Sports culture, and fans adore him. The study also attributed lawsuits to the fact that the icon’s costume is large and bulky, allowing for awkward hugs and interactions that could easily result in fall or injury.

Bob Jarvis, the author of the study done by the Cardozo Law Review, defends the loveable mascot, saying that “the Phanatic is a classic character” who is “part of the game of baseball.” The outcome of this court action may determine whether or not the Phanatic remains a staple of the Phillies Organization.

Whether or not Cass’ arthritis and knee replacements were really caused by the Phanatics antics is unclear. Hopefully, a swift litigation process will determine if the Phanatic is really at fault for Cass’ injuries.

Personal Injury Attorneys at the Mininno Law Office

If you or a loved one have been injured to the negligence of another, you could be entitled to compensation. The personal injury attorneys at the Mininno Law Office are here to help you receive that compensation. Contact the Mininno Law Office for a free case evaluation, or call us at 856-833-0600 in New Jersey, or 215-567-2380 in Philadelphia.

New Jersey Board Responsible for Sanctioning Negligent Doctors Falls Behind

New Jersey attorneys medical malpractice negligence surgeon public citizen The board in charge of reviewing medical malpractice & negligence in New Jersey threw out over 90% of complaints against surgeons and physicians last year. The board received 1,017 complaints per the 33,000 licensed practicioners in New Jersey. Those complaints resulted in only 45 license suspensions and 24 license revocations or volunteer surrenders. The Public Citizen, a national, non-profit organization dedicated to consumer advocacy, says that the NJ Board is not being diligent or pro-active enough in taking action against negligent and careless practicioners. Dr. Sidney M. Wolfe, the group’s health director, says:

“There are other states around the same size that consistently discipline more doctors.”

The Public Citizen compared the number of disciplinary actions taken with the number of doctors in every state and determined that New Jersey placed 40th among 50 states and Washington D.C. when it came to placing sanctions on doctors. It wasn’t much of a change from their ranking as 41st in the country last year. Dr. Paul C. Mendelowitz, president of NJ’s Medical Board, declined to comment on the low rate of doctor discipline. Complaints are not public record.

“I don’t get the sense that the board does very much in the way of oversight,” said Chatham Lawyer David Freid. The board’s lack of tenacity in disciplining negligent doctors gives doctors no reason to pay more attention to the quality of care they provide. Hopefully, New Jersey does not become a haven for negligent and careless doctors.

New Jersey Medical Malpractice and the Mininno Law Office

Medical Malpractice is very serious issue. If you or a loved one have been negatively affected by the negligence or mistakes of a doctor or surgeon in New Jersey, you’ll need to seek the assistance of a qualified New Jersey Medical Malpractice & Negligence Attorney. At the Mininno Law Office, our Medical Malpractice Attorneys will work hard to get you the compensation you deserve.
Contact the Mininno Law Office for a free case evaluation, or call us for a free consultation at (856) 833-0600 in New Jersey, or (215) 567-2380 in Philadelphia. Let us help you receive the recoveries you are owed.

New Jersey Wrongful Death Attorneys: Mininno Law Office

New Jersey Wrongful Death Attorneys Free Case Evaluation — If you are grieving the loss of a loved one and you believe their death was brought about the negligence or ill intent of another, contact a Wrongful Death Attorney.

A wrongful death claim is a legal action that is filed against a person who is being held accountable for a death. The claim asserts that the death was brought about by some sort of negligence, wrongdoing, or even criminal act. The deceased’s relatives are considered to be entitled to monetary compensation for medical bills, funeral and burial costs, loss of wages, grief, and loss of consortium (companionship).
These damages are known as compensatory damages. Punitive damages could be imposed as a punishment for negligence and/or ill intent of the responsible party or parties.

If you find yourself dealing with the loss of a loved one that you believe was not inevitable, and infact brought on by the wrongful act of another, you may want to contact a New Jersey Wrongful Death Attorney. An attorney is going to review all the facts surrounding your case, and help determine whether or not you are entitled to compensation.

Grieving the death of a loved one is not easy, and the wrongful death attorneys at the Mininno Law Office understand this. They will help in any way possible to make the process move along smoothly and quickly. While monetary compensation will never be able to erase the suffering and grief of losing someone you love, it will definately relieve the financial burden brought on by their loss.

Wrongful Death and the Mininno Law Office

Contact the New Jersey Wrongful Death Attorneys at the Mininno Law Office for a free case evaluation. Or call us at 856-833-0600 in New Jersey or 215-567-2380 in Philadelphia.
Let us help you receive the compensation you deserve.

New Jersey Personal Injury Attorneys: Mininno Law Office

Have you recently been injured by a defective product? Have you been injured in a car accident? Have you been injured at someone else’s home, due to someone else’s negligence? If so, than you may need the assistance of a New Jersey Personal Injury Attorney.
The New Jersey personal injury attorneys at the Mininno Law Office are dedicated to earning you your due compensation regarding injuries sustained from accidents including but not limited to the following:

work accidents – we will explain why it important to have a good relationship with boss
motorcycle accidents – you will understand what is responsibility
car/trucking accidents – we will show why its is important to use hight quality Fortis Skid Steer Tracks
trip and falls in public places – you will understand about importance of social activity
defective products/products liability – you will learn why quality matters
medical malpractice/medical negligence – you will get advises how to choose doctor and what basic question you should ask him
dog bites – you will get basic knowledge of dogs behaviour

Do I need a Personal Injury Attorney?

If you find yourself facing mounting medical bills for conditions caused by one of the aforementioned accidents, you should definately contact a New Jersey personal injury attorney. A personal injury attorney will meet with you to discuss the merits of your case, and help you decide the appropriate action to take. An experienced personal injury attorney (like those at the Mininno Law Office), will have access to experts and resources to perform an in-depth analysis of data such as medical records, MRIs, CAT Scans, pathology studies, product design, safety standards, and OSHA regulations.
It is important that you act quickly, however. Due to statutes of limitations, waiting too long could be waiving your right to file suit.

What Will a Personal Injury Attorney do for Me?

A personal injury attorney at the Mininno Law Office is going to help you decide the right course of action. He’ll go through all of the facts, records, and data surrounding your case, and make an educated decision as to whether or not your case has merit, meaning, will a judge feel that you deserve to be compensated. If you decide to move on with the case, the personal injury attorneys at the Mininno Law Office will work hard to present the best possible case. And they do it on a contingency fee basis. A contingency means that we get paid, contingent upon the winning of the case. We don’t make money unless you make money. We work for free until we win. Case evaluations and consultations are free.

Are You A NUVARING user?

If you currently use NUVARING as a contraceptive, seek medical attention immediately. If you are suffering from complications due to NUVARING, seek the help of a product liability attorney. New Jersey product liability attorneys at the Mininno Law Office are here to answer any questions you have, and to offer a free case evaluation.

Contact the Mininno Law Office or call for a free consultation at (856) 833-0600 in New Jersey, or (215) 567-2380 in Philadelphia.
Let the attorneys at the Mininno Law Office help you get the compensation you deserve.

Don't be Fooled, Pressure Ulcers are Preventable

The National Pressure Ulcer Advisory Panel is an entity that serves as the authoritative voice for improved patient outcomes in pressure ulcer prevention and treatment through public policy, education, and research. On March 3rd of this year, the panel released notice that their recent consensus conference, held at Johns Hopkins Medical Center in Baltimore, Maryland, determined that there are indeed unavoidable pressure ulcers.
The panel was comprised of 24 specialists in medicine, geriatrics, surgery, specialty nursing, physical therapy, and also included dieticians. The panelists concluded that there were two instances in which the development of a pressure ulcer could not be avoided.

1. Refusal of the patient to participate in his or her own pressure ulcer prevention.
2. Certain clinical conditions such as hemodynamic instability (abnormal blood movement) or skin failure.

We at the Mininno Law Firm see these findings certainly as reasons that pressure ulcers do form, but in no way reasons that their formation is unavoidable. From the beginning of treatment, a vital key to pressure ulcer prevention is assessment. Doctors and caretakers must assess the condition and needs of a patient. Following assessment, the next vital step is planning. If it is determined that a patient suffers from hemodynamic instability, they are therefore more susceptible to pressure ulcers, and additional plans must be made to actively prevent those pressure ulcers from forming.
If a patient refuses to be moved or turned, a doctor or caretaker must then implement additional skin protection strategies. The higher the risk, the more attentive their care must be. A patient that refuses to be turned could also be placed on a special pressure distributing mattress that helps prevent bed sores and pressure ulcers.

Pressure ulcers are a dire affliction that must be promptly treated as they could quickly cause other serious complications to a patient’s health. If you or a loved one is suffering or has suffered from the formation of a bedsore or pressure ulcer, do not hesitate to call for help. The trial lawyers at Mininno Law Office are here to provide the help and representation you’ll need to be compensated.
Contact us or call us at (856) 833-0600 in New Jersey or (215) 567-2380 in Philadelphia.

Trial Lawyers have Made for Safer Vehicles

Recently, so called Tort Reform has been a major topic of discussion. Tort Reform has a very large following of pharmaceutical companies, insurance companies, HMO’s, and defective food and beverage companies. These billion dollar corporations spend their profits on lobbyist and marketing campaigns in order to convince us all that most lawsuits brought to court are “frivolous,” and that payouts are “outlandish.”
This so called Tort Reform aims to restrict lawful recoveries for victims of things like medical malpractice, nursing home abuse, or defective product injuries. It also aims to make it harder to hold accountable companies that cause harm to consumers.

But if it wasn’t for trial lawyers and their litigation of these “frivolous” cases, the vehicles that we drive would not be what they are today. Cars today are loaded with countless safety features that, before litigation, did not exist. Below are 11 features of your vehicle that were improved after a court deemed it mandatory.

1. Gas Tanks – Manufacturers, like GM and Ford, designed vehicles with defective gas tank placement. The placement caused fires and explosions, even in the most minor collisions. Due to litigation, gas tanks are now universally located within rigid frames.

2. Door Handles – Ford’s own engineers cited that their paddle style door handles accidently opened in collisions. Ford continued to cover up the problem, until finally a court held them accountable and forced them to fix the issue.

3. SUV Stability – SUV stability has always been an issue. Ford’s rollover rate, at one time, was twice that of any other SUV. After injury and death, litigation increased emphasis on the development of Electronic Stability Control.

4. Airbags – Airbags have been being designed since the 1950’s, but by 1988, only 2% of new cars were made with them. Eventually, courts made in mandatory to manufacturer all new vehicles with airbags.

5. Faulty “Park” – Ford and Chrysler both experienced issues with transmissions that slipped out of Park and caused cars to roll away. In Ford’s instance, it caused the death of a pregnant woman trying to save the life of her four year old daughter inside the rolling minivan. Ford fixed the error after being held liable twice in court. Chrysler continued to ignore the problem until litigation forced a recall of over 1 million affected vehicles.

6. Tires – Firestone and Goodyear tried to hide defective tire problems for years before courts finally held them accountable. Firestone tires were responsible for 271 deaths before they were finally recalled.

7. Side-impact Protection – a police officer was paralyzed after a low-speed side impact collision. The court found that the absence of side protection was a vehicle defect. Now all cars are equipped with side-impact protection.

8. Weak Seats – Seats were not made strong enough and were collapsing during collisions, killing rear passengers. It was litigation that forced manufacturers to begin installing stronger seats in all vehicles.

9. Seatbelts – Court cases did a lot in bringing to light the dangers of inferior seatbelts, or no seatbelts at all. For example, Chryslers Gen 3 seatbelt was installed in over 14 million cars and proven to unlatch in accidents. Litigation forced Chrysler to redesign both seats and seatbelts.

10. Power Windows – Power windows became more common, and so too did associated injury and death. Children were especially susceptible because of accidently hitting the rocker style switch that moved the window up or down. The inexpensive solution would have been to replace the rocker style with a lift up style. The solution was ignored to cut costs until litigation forced universal acceptance of the safer switch.

11. Roof Strength – The strength of car roofs was known to be in need of improvement, but only litigation actually made it happen.

Thanks to these cases being brought to court by trial lawyers, judges and juries were able to hold the right parties responsible for unnecessary injury and death, and also reverse the problems to prevent future loss. Trial Attorneys are essential to maintain a balance between consumers and manufacturers.

If you or a loved one feel you have been wronged by a medical malpractice, insurance company, or defective product manufacturer, you’ll need a trial attorney. The trial attorneys at Mininno Law Firm are here to help. Contact us or call (856) 833-0600 in New Jersey, or (215) 567-2380 in Philadelphia.

Are You Insured by the Worst Insurance Company in America?

A short time ago, we posted a blog about homeowners’ insurance, and things homeowners should know before filing a large claim. It got us to thinking. What else is wrong the insurance industry? Why are there so many bad faith insurers out there? Why do we have to feel so threatened by companies we pay to protect us? Why do you need a New Jersey trial lawyer to protect you against an insurance carrier?

In a report done by the American Association for Justice, the top ten worst insurance companies for consumers have been discovered. After lengthy research into court documents, reports filed by both the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Securities Exchange Commission, country wide news accounts, and testimony from former agents and adjusters, the AAJ has provided a great deal of information that will ebb our faith in some of the nations leading insurance companies.

The List

10. Liberty Mutual
9. Torchmark
8. UnitedHealth
7. Farmers
6. WellPoint
5. Conseco
4. State Farm
3. AIG
2. Unum
1. Allstate

Reporting each discretion of each bad faith insurance company would take quite some time, so we’ll talk about the one company that stood out above the rest, Allstate Insurance Company. Perhaps it was their mission that set them off on the wrong course. According to CEO Thomas Wilson, “[their] obligation is to earn a return for [their] shareholders.” Said differently, “We put profits over the people we are supposed to insure.”
Unfortunately, shareholders (mostly large financial institutions and hedge funds) and policyholders (the little guys) are not the same people, and while corporate shareholders may be earning profits , many times policyholders are being cheated. Publicly, Allstate’s slick advertising campaign claims their insured will be put you in “good hands.” Privately, agents are trained to employ “boxing gloves,” an aggressive litigation strategy that aims to deny claims at all costs.

They use a secret claims evaluation software called “Colossus” to make lowball offers to victimized customers looking to receive the help they’ve been paying for. Adjusters are trained in the “3 D’s,” to deny, delay, and defend. A common tactic is to employ a “sit and wait” strategy, which Allstate’s research knows increases likelihood that claimants will just give up. Adjusters say they were rewarded for keeping payments low, even if they had to lie to their clients to do so. Adjusters were even rewarded for such actions! For example, one former adjustor told the AAJ that he won a prize (i.e., a portable refrigerator) for wrongfully trying to deny fire claims by blaming arson.

Complaints to the National Association of Insurance Commissioners against Allstate amount to a number greater than almost all of its major competitors. After Hurricane Katrina, the Louisiana Department of Insurance received approximately 1,200 complaints against Allstate, almost double its competitor State Farm, and State Farm held a larger share of the market!

Maryland fined Allstate upwards of 18 million dollars after they raised premiums and changed coverage without alerting policy holders. In Texas, Allstate has to pay 70 million dollars to homeowners after overcharging for insurance. In Florida, Allstate is in trouble with regulators because they’ve dropped over 400,000 customers since 2004, and it appears to be because they are homeowners’-insurance-only customers. Florida law prohibits this practice.

So why work so hard to rip people off? To boost the bottom line of course!
Allstate profited $4.6 billion in 2007. It’s CEO, Thomas Wilson, made $10.7 million that year. His predecessor, Edward Libby, made $18.8 million, plus an additional $25.4 million in retirement benefits. The less they payout, the more they take in.

New Jersey Trial lawyers

New Jersey Trial lawyers are a necessity to you if you are being cheated by your insurance company. While bad faith insurance companies work ‘round the clock to limit your recoveries, New Jersey Trial lawyers work ‘round the clock to increase your recoveries.
If you are currently being low-balled by your insurance company for damages they should be covering, call the New Jersey Trial lawyers at Mininno Law Firm. They are here to help you receive the compensation you need and deserve. Contact us or call (856) 833-0600 in New Jersey, or (215) 567-2380 in Philadelphia.

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