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Texas Trial Lawyers Association


This service sponsored by Trialsmith

  May 9, 2014

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Upcoming Online CLE

14
May

Everything You Need to Know to Second Chair at Trial

15
May

Electronic Medical Records: More to Discover in Discovery

22
May

Med School for Lawyers: Spinal Injuries

29
May

How to Use Social Media in Your Case

3
Jun

How to be Successful At Obtaining and Maximizing Non-Economic Damages

4
Jun

Medicare Set Asides in General Liability and Medical Malpractice Cases

5
Jun

Da Vinci Robot Litigation

Announcements


 

 

COLLABORATE! TTLA’S 2014 ANNUAL CONFERENCE!

COLLABORATE! Join TTLA President Mike Guajardo at TTLA’s 2014 Annual Conference in Austin, June 11-13. ALL MEMBERS are invited and encouraged to attend a very important meeting of our Board of Directors Meeting on June 12th. In addition, the CLE Committee has once again planned three dynamic programs. We’ll start things off with The Jury Bias Model™ - From Car Wrecks to the Complex Case presented by Greg Cusimano and David Wenner on June 11th, followed by a ½-day CLE on June 12th with some of TTLA’s brightest stars sharing their best tips. The conference will wrap up with our Annual Med Mal program with all the latest updates and insights, before closing with an evening of Magic and Music. Click here to see all we have planned for you! Two days. Three great seminars. TTLA’s 2014 Annual Conference. Click on the headline for more information and to register.  

 

Editorials/Columns/Letters


 

 

Dave Lieber: Friend’s Death from MRSA Changed How I Saw the World

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Simple surgery had led to a fatal infection. My friend Chris was infected with MRSA bacteria in the hospital. Antibiotics couldn’t save him. In my grief, I began to learn about MRSA, and how it’s handled in Texas. I didn’t like what I saw. Texas does not require MRSA cases to be reported. So the extent of infections statewide isn’t known. The year Chris died, the Texas Legislature created a pilot program that measured MRSA cases in three of the state’s 254 counties. When the program ended, its recommendations noted that it would be cost-prohibitive to report statistics statewide.
Dave Lieber, columnist, The Dallas Morning News 05/09/2014   Facebook iconTwitter iconLinkedIn Icon

Read Article: The Dallas Morning News    

 

Issues


 

 

Claims on VA Wait Times Spark Local, National Investigations

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In the wake of allegations that Department of Veterans Affairs officials in Austin, San Antonio and Waco directed scheduling clerks to manipulate wait time data by inputting false appointment dates, the VA’s office of inspector general has launched a probe of scheduling practices in Texas, officials said Thursday.
Jeremy Schwartz, Austin American Statesman 05/09/2014   Facebook iconTwitter iconLinkedIn Icon

Read Article: Austin American Statesman        

 

Laws/Cases


 

 

Six Women File Sexual Abuse Lawsuit Against Church

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Six women have filed a lawsuit against the Rock Church of San Diego, Calif. alleging that they were sexually abused at a drug and alcohol recovery program associated with the megachurch. The lawsuit, filed on Thursday, contends that the leader of the seminar, who has been accused of repeatedly fondling residents and making lewd sexual advances, sexually abused the six plaintiffs. The lawsuit seeks damages for sexual battery, sexual harassment and other claims.
Wire Report, San Francisco Chronicle 05/08/2014   Facebook iconTwitter iconLinkedIn Icon

Read Article: San Francisco Chronicle    

 

Calif. Family Files Suit After Girl Dies in Locked Car

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The family of a young California girl who died while locked in a car has filed a lawsuit against BMW and the Madera Unified School District. The 14-year-old girl died of a heatstroke after being trapped inside the family car, a 1997 BMW 328i, due to the vehicle's "double-locking mechanism," which prevents the doors from being opened from the inside if the car is locked. The lawsuit also claims the the girl was unable to use the car's horn to attract help because the ignition key was required to activate it. The lawsuit alleges negligence on behalf of the school and BMW and accuses the automaker of product liability and breach of warranties.
Pablo Lopez, The Fresno Bee 05/08/2014   Facebook iconTwitter iconLinkedIn Icon

Read Article: The Fresno Bee    

 

Family Sues Fort Worth Veterinarian Over Dog’s Treatment

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The family who filed a complaint with the state accusing veterinarian Lou Tierce of keeping their dog alive after they thought it was euthanized is suing him for more than $1 million. The suit, filed Thursday in Tarrant County civil court, alleges that Tierce deceived Jamie and Marian Harris by recommending that their 4-year-old Leonberger, Sid, be euthanized after he could no longer walk because he was suffering from a congenital spinal defect. Several months later, the Harrises discovered that Sid was still alive and was apparently being used for “blood extractions” when a former employee contact them.
Elizabeth Campbell, Star Telegram 05/09/2014   Facebook iconTwitter iconLinkedIn Icon

Read Article: Star Telegram    

 

Products


 

 

GM Recalls Challenge Company, Frustrate Customers

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GM says it will take six months to make and distribute all the parts for the largest recall: 2.6 million small cars with faulty ignition switches that the company links to 13 deaths. The switches, mainly in older Chevrolet Cobalts and Saturn Ions, can slip out of the "run" position into "accessory," shutting off engines and disabling power-assisted steering and air bags. GM has told dealers to offer concerned owners a loaner car while they wait for parts. Those cars also need to have a second part replaced. There's no estimate yet on when the other recalls will be finished.
TOM KRISHER, AP, Star Telegram 05/09/2014   Facebook iconTwitter iconLinkedIn Icon

Read Article: Star Telegram    

 

Class Action


 

 

Settlement Reached in Kashi Lawsuit Over Labeling

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A class-action lawsuit against the Kellogg Company over phrasing used on its Kashi line has been settled this week. As part of the settlement, the company has agreed to discontinue the use of the terms "all natural" and "nothing artificial" to describe its Kashi products. The lawsuit was filed in California in 2011 and alleged that the company did not use "all natural" ingredients but used ingredients including pyridoxine hydrochloride, calcium pantothenate and soy oil processed using hexane, a component of gasoline. The company has also agreed to pay $5 million as part of the settlement.
Stephanie Strom, The New York Times 05/08/2014   Facebook iconTwitter iconLinkedIn Icon

Read Article: The New York Times    

 

Wrongful Death


 

 

Family Sues University Over Close Range Shooting of Their Son

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A wrongful death lawsuit has been filed against the University of Incarnate Word in San Antonio, Texas over the death of one of its students last December. The student was shot five times at close range by a university Corporal after a traffic stop near the campus. According to the Corporal, he was forced to shoot the young man at close range after a six-minute long physical confrontation during the traffic stop. The lawsuit seeks damages for "physical pain and suffering" and "Conscious mental anguish" before the man's death as well as funeral and burial expenses.
Bailey McGowan & Dillon Collier, KHOU-TV 05/08/2014   Facebook iconTwitter iconLinkedIn Icon

Read Article: KHOU-TV    


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