The Legal News

As is the norm, product safety is a great burden for consumers. lately, the list of defective items imported from some foreign countries, namely China, has been receiving much needed press coverage. From the contaminated pet food fiasco to a smorgasboard of items meant for human consumption, the public is coming to the realization that they should consider twice before using any product that is brought in from China or any country where safety regulations are a far cry from regulations that are in place currently in America.

It is accurate that the amount of exports of food, drugs and consumer products has grown very rapidly in recent years. So much so, that it is progressivley arduous for inspectors in the States to catch contaminated  or potentially dangerous shipments. It has been divulged
that with so much money at risk, China will try  to center on product safety in an attempt to stave concerns about its faulty products. It is not, however, anticipated  to be an easy job given the level of corruption, pollution and product piracy problems are deeply embedded in that society.

What can we do to better protect ourselves? Starting  in 2008, money  to the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) and the Consumer Product Safety Commission will be escalated. The greater financial contribution will allow the agencies to hire and field more inspectors. In addition, Legislators will also empower the FDA and USDA to issue food recalls, which is not something they are currently commissioned to do, and to declare stricter reporting and labeling.

Many Americans feel they are getting a “bargain” when buying imports. However, with the seriously defective products of late, it’s sure to leave one wondering whether they are really obtaining bargains at all.

Legally if a man promises to marry an unwed woman, the marriage must take place.

In some cases when a train scares a horse the railroad may be liable?

A railroad must stay in a town that has more than 500 people.

Fortune tellers must  obtain a special permit from the state.

Dance halls may not function on Sundays except to sell light bulbs.
No work may be accomplished on Sunday.

It is illegal to sell musical instruments on Sunday.

You may not perform a U-turn within 1000 feet of an intersection.

Tattoos are illegal.

Horses are not to be kept in bathtubs.

You must obtain a permit to fire a missile.

Oral sex is outlawed in South Carolina.

In a non horse driven vehicle when you approach a 4 way intersection you must stop a hundred feet prior to the intersection, and shoot a gun to warn horse traffic.

On Sunday, it is perfectly legal to beat your wife on the court house steps.

Every adult male is required bring a rifle to church on Sunday.

It is a crime punishable by death to inadvertently kill someone while attempting suicide.

You must be eighteen years old to play a pinball machine.

The friends of Liberty State Park filed a lawsuit against the state to protect the views. The September 11th Memorial was placed in Liberty State PArk without a public hearing.

   People are often saying that we need tort reform, how often do you hear”Oh blah blah, so many medical lawsuits..” We have they ever posted facts? Lets try that.

The 3rd largest cause of death in the USA is… doctors. They account for more than a quarter of a million deaths every year. Twelve thousand people are killed anually by having unnecesary surgery. Seven thousand die due to medication errors. Twenty thousand die because of random hospital errors. Hosiptal infections claim another eighty thousand lives. Another 106,000 people die as a negative drug effect.

Another 18 percent of people experience negative effects in outpatient settings. Lets consider the numbers.

Another analysis concluded that between 4% and 18% of patients experience negative effects in outpatient settings. An extra 116,000,000 doctor office visits. 77,000,000 additional prescriptions filled. 17,000,000 emergency room admittances. Another 8,000,000 people are hospitalized because of outpatient mishaps.3,000,000 of those are long term. Almost 200,000 die from outpatient care. Allt his generates 77 billion in costs.

Ninety eight thousand people die  as a result of inaccurate medical advice annually.

Hot dog chili sauce canned in Georgia has been linked to at least  four cases of botulism in the United States. The victims, the first to be involved with a botulism infection involving commercial canning since the 70’s, are in  the states of Texas and Indiana. The  infected products are 10-ounce cans of Castleberry’s, Austex and Kroger brands of  chili  dog sauce with best if used by dates from April 30, 2009, through May 22, 2009.

The recalled  chili dog sauce is created  by the Castleberry Food Co., which is owned by Bumble Bee Seafoods LLC, and was then canned at the Castleberry factory in Augusta, Georgia.

Botulism is a paralyzing disease affecting the muscles caused by a toxin thats made by a bacterium that we call botulism.

People  with any recalled cans are encouraged to discard the cans  without opening them.

FDA officials say the toxin is so strong that just getting it on your hands can make you sick.

It may be 6 hours to 2 weeks before  you seem symptoms.

This is the second recall of food from Georgia this year. Last time it was salmonella.

This short video is an interview, and shows one mans argument against workers compensation reform.

With hundreds of accidents in any given metro area monthly, many many people are left weithout hope of ever being compensated fully for their injuries. Unless they have the one coverage they need.

Uninsured motorist coverage.

For example California law  has required liability insurance for years, most states do. However California has a real problem with uninsured drivers. Estimates are at 23% of drivers have no insurance at all. We hope that lawmakers will design a solution.

San Diego has even higher numbers, on not only uninsured, but also unlicensed. How do you  protect yourself from an insured driver? Buy as much uninsured motorist coverage as you can.

This is an example of the level of service you should expect from a personal injury attorney.

A Brooke County Circuit Court jury has  decided that Massey Energy will pay more 219 million in punitive damages to Wheeling-Pittsburgh Steel Corporation. The suit was in regards to a failure to deliver on  a contract.  The contract states that Massey Energy was to deliver 104,000 tons of coal per month to Wheeling-Pitt monthly.

The suit alleged that CWVE blamed production problems for its inability to deliver per contract. The plaintiff claims however, that the Massey company  rerouting coal from its contract to another marketplace in an effort to make more money.
The jury demanded Massey and CWVE to give Wheeling -Pitt 119 million in  compensation and 50 million each in damges punitive from both defendants.

Wheeling attorneys maintain  that when the price of coal went up worlwide that the defendants would short them coal and ship it worldwide.

Massey counsel is determined to appeal the ruling.
The jury ordered Massey and Central West Virginia Energy to pay Wheeling-Pitt $119.8 million in compensatory damages, as well as $50 million each in punitive damages from both parties. Wheeling-Pitt’s attorney stated that, “When the price of coal went up, Massey started cheating Wheeling-Pitt by shorting it and sending its coal abroad and making millions of dollars.” Massey’s executive vice president, Baxter Phillips, claimed that the company “will most certainly appeal.”

How to claim your assets as exempt when filing a personal Chapter 7 bankruptcy. Your debts disappear and you can keep all or most of your assets.