Arizona Personal Injury

Medical Malpractice: Amputated Legs

jacksonwhite — Fri, 12 Apr 2013 21:47:44 +0000

In 2008, Ellen Wadsworth woke up Thanksgiving morning with torturous pain in both of her feet. After arriving at a Georgia hospital, the doctor’s assistant claimed she had a skin infection called cellulitis and denied the diabetic woman entry to the hospital. Even after the woman and her son pleaded with medical staff for admittance to the hospital, they refused and told her to go home and ice one of her legs.

Around midnight, the 61-year-old was found by her son, unconscious. He raced his mother back to the ER. It was then that doctors noticed blocked arteries in both of her legs. However, too much time had passed and they were unable to save her limbs.

Since hospital staff did not perform a test earlier that day, both of Wadsworth’s legs had to be amputated. The lawsuit against the hospital claimed a simple test could have prevented the catastrophe. As a result of their careless mistake, the hospital was ordered to pay Wadsworth $5 million.

If you’ve been a victim of medical malpractice in Arizona, contact an experienced Arizona personal injury attorney to schedule a FREE consultation. You can reach Phoenix medical malpractice lawyer Jared Everton at (480) 648-8928.

Woman Acquires Millions after Getting Electrocuted in her Shower

jacksonwhite — Wed, 03 Apr 2013 20:20:39 +0000

Simona Wilson was electrocuted by several surges of stray current while taking a shower in the comfort of her own home. The electric charges made their way through the shower head, which was installed not too long before.

In 2007, Wilson’s Redondo Beach home was owned by the electric company, Southern California Edison, and located next to a substation. The home was used to house the employees of the electric company. When Wilson moved in to the home, she was not informed of the stray electrical currents.

Close neighbors had encounters with the electric surges as well. They heard crackling sounds coming from the power lines and even got shocked from opening their mailboxes. It was assumed that the electrical currents were traveling from the substations through the underground gas pipes.

The electric company insisted that their substation had nothing to do with the stray voltage and claimed they tested the area. However, a home inspector discovered 26 places where electrical currents were being given off around the house.

Southern California Edison was ordered to pay the mother of three young boys—who has nerve damage and must visit the hospital often—$1 million in compensatory damages and $3 million in punitive damages.

If you are a victim and have suffered an injury due electrocution, call an experienced Arizona attorney. To schedule a FREE consultation with Phoenix personal injury lawyer Jared Everton, call (480) 648-8928.

I’ve lost a loved one. Should I file a wrongful death suit?

jacksonwhite — Thu, 14 Mar 2013 21:59:56 +0000

If you are reading this and you have lost a loved one, please accept our deepest condolences. There is absolutely no amount of money that can restore the life that was lost nor heal the pain that a survivor feels. Wrongful death claims are an attempt to hold the guilty accountable and compensate the survivors for financial and emotional losses.

A wrongful death claim can be filed when a person’s death was caused by the wrongful act or negligence of another. Arizona law allows a surviving spouse, child, parent/guardian, or personal representative of the deceased person to bring a claim for wrongful death. The claim can name an individual and/or organization as a defendant and the claim can ask for compensation for the survivors’ financial losses and punitive damages in an effort to deter the defendant from harming another person in the future.

If you are thinking about filing a wrongful death suit, why should you contact an attorney?

1.) Statute of Limitations – Arizona law places a restriction on the amount of time a survivor has to file a wrongful death claim. After that time period elapses, the right to file a claim disappears. Although it may be difficult to even consider your legal rights after a loved one’s death, Arizona law forces a survivor to exercise any rights as soon as possible. An Arizona personal injury attorney can help to manage the time restrictions and ensure that you don’t miss any of the deadlines.

2.) Legal Requirements – The elements of a wrongful death claim include a death, caused by another’s wrongful or negligent acts, and a survivor or personal representative suffering damages because of the wrongful death. There are various levels of discovery and evidence required at each stage. Also, if the claim is being filed against an organization, such as a government agency, the process has different requirements and time-frames. Because the process is so complex, an Arizona personal injury attorney should assist in guiding you.

3.) Emotional/Financial Distress – The loss of a loved one can be emotionally and financially taxing. When another is responsible for your loved one’s death, that person should compensate you for your losses. Because many survivors are overcome with grief, trying to place a value on the life of a loved one is overwhelming. An Arizona personal injury attorney can provide the necessary guidance to properly asses the amount of damages and what you deserve.

Again, no amount of money can make up for the loss of a loved one. However, Arizona does provide a remedy that attempts to hold the person at fault accountable and assist the survivors with any financial losses. To discuss a wrongful death claim with an Phoenix wrongful death attorney, call 480-648-8928

Kids In Distress Employee Charged for Sex Crime

jacksonwhite — Wed, 27 Feb 2013 23:02:26 +0000

Brian Fields has been working at Kids In Distress—a shelter for abused and neglected children— for 10 years. The 31-year-old was arrested for sexually assaulting one of the children living there on more than one occasion.

Between December 26^th and January 6^th, Fields engaged in four sexual acts with a 15-year-old girl. Not only was the girl sexually assaulted by Fields, but just weeks earlier, she encountered the same situation with another employee named Brian Denby, who was arrested.

Fields was fired from Kids In Distress and charged with 12 counts of indecent and salacious conduct with a child. He is being held on $120,000 bail at the Broward County Jail.

If you or someone you know has been a victim of child sexual abuse, contact a JacksonWhite personal injury attorney. We can fight to get you compensation to help with the recovery process. Call (480)648-8928 to schedule a free and confidential consultation with Phoenix personal injury lawyer Jared Everton.

Mother Charged for Sexual Assault on Daughter’s Friend

jacksonwhite — Wed, 20 Feb 2013 23:30:04 +0000

Lynne Freeman, a mother of two young girls and a parent volunteer at University Schools, was found guilty of sexually assaulting two teenage boys who were friends with one of her daughters.

Two boys had been watching a movie at the home when Freeman asked one of them to take the dog outside. The other thirteen-year-old boy was left behind with the mother. She told him to come with her, and took him upstairs to a closet. Once they were both inside, she locked the door. Freeman then touched the boy inappropriately.

Another boy, age 16, also contacted police stating Freeman had sexually assaulted him as well.

Freeman was charged with one count of attempted sexual assault on a child. She was sentenced to a year in jail through a work-release program and six years of intensive supervised probation for sex offenders.

“Teacher of the Year” Fired for Sexual Abuse

jacksonwhite — Mon, 11 Feb 2013 18:18:31 +0000

Christopher Bacca, 26, was awarded with “teacher of the year” at Windy Hill Elementary in Jacksonville, Florida in 2012. However, he was fired after being accused of sexually abusing a student.

School board member Tommy Hazouri stated, “What we’ve seen as a result of it is that while he was a good teacher, he certainly had a dark side to him… What happened was a parade of horribles that shouldn’t happen to any child.”

Bacca was arrested and charged with sexual battery on a minor as well as indecent and lecherous behavior.

Teachers’ assistant accused of sexual abuse

jacksonwhite — Wed, 23 Jan 2013 17:17:48 +0000

Clarence Cepheus Taylor, a 37-year-old man working as an evening shift dorm aide, has been found guilty of wrongfully touching three adolescent female students at the Maryland School for the Deaf.

These incidents occurred multiple times between 2008 and 2010. The three girls ranged from ages ten to thirteen. One girl finally told a teacher about her sexual abuse after realizing she wasn’t the only victim.

When one girl was twelve and thirteen, Taylor would embrace her and allow his hand to inappropriately touch her.

Another girl stated that when she was ten and twelve, she was victimized by Taylor when he inappropriately touched her during the night. The same thing happened to a different girl when she was thirteen.

Taylor was suspended from his job as a teachers’ aide and arrested for three felony counts of sexual abuse of a minor.

Sexual abuse cases in schools are more common than most people think, and it is the responsibility of school districts to ensure that your child will be safe from sexual predators. If your child has been subject to any sexual abuse by a teacher or school employee, you should contact an experienced Arizona School Sexual Abuse attorney ASAP. Call 480-648-8928 to schedule a FREE consultation with school injury lawyer, Jared Everton today.

How Parents can Protect Children from Abuse at Daycare

jacksonwhite — Mon, 21 Jan 2013 22:09:53 +0000

Here are three things you can do as a parent to prevent abuse of your child while at daycare.

Do your homework when picking a daycare. Find out the licensing agency and research if there have ever been any issues. Figure out who will be around your child and ask for background checks. Get references and talk with others regarding their experiences with the daycare. Visit the facility while children are there to get a feel for how things are run. Your child’s safety is most important.
Continue doing your homework. Even if it seems like you have found the perfect daycare, continue to ask questions. New people can start working or daily routines can change. Show up when they are not expecting you. Get to know the other parents and question them if they decide to switch daycares.
Pay close attention to your child. Ask them about their day and their interactions with friends and teachers. If something has happened to your child, they might not admit to it. So pay attention to their mood and how they act. Just because your child is acting differently, doesn’t automatically mean they are being abused, it is just a good idea to be a little more alert.

While the great majority of situations are safe, it is very important to be educated and alert.

If you or someone you know has been a victim of child sexual abuse in Phoenix, contact Attorney Jared Everton. He has years of experience representing those injured by another person’s negligence. Call (480) 648-8928 to schedule a free and confidential consultation with Phoenix personal injury lawyer Jared Everton.

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/claire-mccarthy-md/child-safety_b_2266941.html

Jury Awards $2.4 Million in Wrongful Death Claim to Husband after Wife is Killed by City Bus

jacksonwhite — Fri, 07 Dec 2012 16:14:14 +0000

In January of 2008, Joyce Jacobs was standing at an intersection waiting to cross the street, when an out-of-service city bus made a left-hand turn running her over and killing her. After the bus driver saw that he ran over Jacobs, he called the city’s Regional Transit instead of calling the police. John Jacobs, Joyce’s husband, filed a wrongful death claim against the city asking for $9 million.

Sacramento Regional Transit argued that Jacobs was in the middle of the street when the bus struck her, but the jury believed that she was in the lines of a crosswalk. The jury awarded pastor John Jacobs and his son $2.4 million for the death of Joyce Jacobs. The jury said that their deciding factor in the case was the fact that the bus driver didn’t call 911.

Wrongful death cases are tragic, because a family has lost a loved one and the accident could have been avoided. If you’ve lost a loved one under similar circumstances, contact a skilled JacksonWhite personal injury attorney. You can schedule a free consultation with Phoenix wrongful death lawyer, Jared Everton by calling 480-648-8928.

Veterans Sue KBR Construction for Exposing them to Toxins

jacksonwhite — Wed, 05 Dec 2012 16:23:27 +0000

12 veterans of the Oregon Army National Guard filed a lawsuit against KBR, the largest non-unionized construction company in the U.S., for exposing them to a toxin called hexavalent chromium during the Restore Iraqi Oil mission in 1993. U.S. and British soldiers were hired to guard a water treatment plant that was covered with the toxic chemical.

Workers who breathe in the toxic chemical have an increased risk of developing lung cancer. One of the veterans is now confined to a wheelchair, and must breathe using an oxygen tank. The chemical can also cause damage to the eyes and skin if contact is made for a long enough period of time.

The plaintiff’s attorney said KBR should have known the soldiers were being exposed to this dangerous chemical. A jury agreed and awarded each of the 12 veterans $850,000 in compensatory damages and $6.25 million in punitive damages. After this victory, another 20 veterans are working with the legal team on another lawsuit against KBR involving the same incident.

Businesses are supposed to provide a safe work environment for its employees. In this case, KBR failed to do so; this is why a jury awarded damages to the 12 veterans. If you’ve suffered an injury because your work environment is unsafe, contact a Phoenix personal injury attorney. Call 480-648-8928 to schedule a free consultation with Mesa personal injury lawyer, Jared Everton.