NC Lawmakers Order Coal Ash Pond Cleanup | | North Carolina's state Senate on Wednesday unanimously approved a bill calling for the closure of Duke Energy's 33 coal ash ponds in the state within 15 years, legislation spurred by a massive spill at a retired power plant earlier this year. Marti Maguire, Reuters, Yahoo News 06/26/2014 | Read Article: Yahoo News |
Family of S.F. Girl Killed by Uber Driver Backs Insurance Law | | A San Francisco couple who said their family was destroyed when an Uber driver struck and killed their daughter urged lawmakers Wednesday to increase auto insurance requirements for ride-sharing companies. The family has sued Uber alleging wrongful death, negligence and infliction of emotional distress and seeks unspecific damages. Uber says the company is not liable for the death because the driver, Syed Muzzafar of Union City, was not carrying a passenger or actively using the app when he failed to yield to the family in a Polk Street crosswalk. Melody Gutierrez, San Francisco Chronicle 06/26/2014 | Read Article: San Francisco Chronicle |
States Confront Worries About Fracking, Quakes | | Earthquakes used to be almost unheard of on the vast stretches of prairie that unfold across Texas, Kansas and Oklahoma. Now after years of being harangued by anxious residents, governments in all three states are finally confronting the issue, reviewing scientific data, holding public discussions and considering new regulations. States with historically few earthquakes are trying to reconcile the scientific data with the interests of their citizens and the oil and gas industry. Associated Press, Time Magazine 06/26/2014 | Read Article: Time Magazine |
Lawsuit Filed After Airline Mixes Up Destination for Couple's Trip | | A man who was sent to the Caribbean island of Grenada instead of the Spanish city of Granada has filed a lawsuit against British Airways. The man and his partner had intended to take a trip to Spain, but instead was sent by the airline 4,000 miles from their original destination. British Airways "initially apologized and promised their speedy return to Gatwick Airport in London, but instead they were subjected to a three-day ordeal that resulted in them never reaching Spain." The airline has refused to refund the couple $4,500 for their first-class tickets and is also challenging the couple's damages claim for $34,000. According to the article, a "U.S. judge rejected the airline's attempt to have part of his lawsuit struck down, and the claim will now head for a full hearing." Jessica Chasmar, Washington Times 06/24/2014 | Read Article: Washington Times |
Suit Blames DSS for Exposure of 6-Year-Old to HIV | | A lawsuit filed last month alleges that the South Carolina Department of Social Services was negligent when it "failed to protect a 6-year-old girl from a teenage foster child with known behavioral problems who was HIV-positive and admitted to sexually assaulting the girl." The girl's mother filed the lawsuit after the young girl was left alone with, and sexually abused by, the 14-year-old foster child in June 2013. The lawsuit alleges that due to the boy's behavioral problems and HIV-positive status, the Department of Social Services should have realized the danger he posed to young children. An investigation by the department revealed that the foster family had not followed the proper treatment plan for the teen boy. They will no longer be allowed to host foster children. Meg Kinnard, Charleston Post Courier 06/25/2014 | Read Article: Charleston Post Courier |
N.F.L. Makes Open-Ended Commitment to Retirees in Concussion Suit | | The N.F.L. has made an open-ended commitment to pay cash awards to retired players who have dementia and other conditions linked to repeated head hits, according to documents filed in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania on Wednesday. The guarantee is part of a revised settlement in a contentious lawsuit filed by about 5,000 retirees who accused the league of hiding the dangers of concussions from them. Ken Belson, The New York Times 06/26/2014 | Read Article: The New York Times |
General Motors Halts Sale of Cruze Sedan Over Takata Air Bags | | General Motors ordered dealers to stop selling the 2013 and 2014 versions of its most popular car, the Chevrolet Cruze sedan, because of a problem with air bags made by the Japanese supplier Takata, whose products are already the subject of a large recall of other vehicles. G.M. said about 33,000 Cruzes may have a faulty driver’s side air bag inflator — the potential result of the wrong part being used. AARON M. KESSLER and CHRISTOPHER JENSEN, The New York Times 06/26/2014 | Read Article: The New York Times |
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