Announcements | 
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TTLA Annual Meeting & Advanced PI CLE December 1-2, Hotel ZaZa Houston |
| Formerly the TTLA Annual Conference, our December event is now the Annual Meeting & Advanced PI CLE! We've streamlined this event and we're now offering a one-day Advanced PI CLE, along with the Annual Membership & Board Meeting, President's Luncheon, and a spectacular Holiday Party at the home of Steve and Amber Mostyn. Topics include: Trucking, Immigration, Insurance Bad Faith, Discovery, Cross Examination And More! |
Products |
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Report: Hybrids are Safer for Occupants than Traditional Cars |
| According to a report by the Highway Loss Data Institute the average hybrid is 10 percent heavier than a traditional car of the same size, and the extra heft reduces the odds of being hurt in a crash by 25 percent. In a separate analysis, the institute found that hybrids are 20 percent more likely to hit a pedestrian than noisier, conventional models. The institute, an affiliate of the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety, is considered one of the most reliable sources of such data because it draws on detailed insurance claim filings rather than police accident reports. Ashley Halsey III, The Washington Post 11/17/2011 | Read Article: The Washington Post |
Laws/Cases |
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Inmate's Parent's Sue City Over Jail Suicide |
| The parents of a Richmond, TX man have sued the city of Richmond and two city employees they say did not do enough to prevent his suicide inside a city holding cell earlier this year. Richard Hollas Rogge, 29, of Richmond, was found hanging by a T-shirt inside the cell at the Richmond Police Department, according to a civil lawsuit filed Nov. 9. The lawsuit says the city violated Rogge's civil rights by not adequately monitoring him, and that the city had defective property - the grate in the ceiling above the commode - within reach of inmates. ROBERT STANTON, Houston Chronicle 11/17/2011 | Read Article: Houston Chronicle |
Neglect Alleged in Nursing Home Death |
| Prosecutors are considering possible criminal charges against a Canyon assisted living facility where an elderly man was beaten, leading to his death several weeks later, an Assistant Randall County DA said. Following two investigations into the case, the Texas Department of Aging and Disability Services cited Sky West in the incident. “We did substantiate an allegation of neglect. We found the facility had deficiencies in the areas of residents’ rights and client protection,” said an agency spokeswoman. Joe Gamm , Amarillo Globe-News 11/17/2011 | Read Article: Amarillo Globe-News |
LA Pays $2.5 Million to Settle Contaminated Soil Suit |
| The city of Los Angeles has agreed to pay $2.5 million to the Los Angeles Unified School District to settle claims of contaminated soil underneath a local high school. The lawsuit claimed the soil contained contaminants that had originated "at a nearby city-owned property." David Zahniser, LA Times 11/16/2011 | Read Article: LA Times |
Priest, Bishop Targeted in Child Porn Lawsuit |
| A lawsuit has been filed against a priest and bishop of the Kansas City-St. Joseph Diocese, accusing the men of creating child pornography and covering up the evidence. The lawsuit claims the priest created pornographic photos of children and that the bishop was aware of the photos but refused to alert the police or the families of the victims. Because the information was kept quiet, the suit says, families invited to priest into their homes for parties and other activities, putting their children at risk. Carey Gillam, Reuters 11/16/2011 | Read Article: Reuters |
LA Hospital Settles Sexual Harassment Lawsuit |
| Los Angeles-based Garfield Medical Center has agreed to pay $530,000 to settle a sexual harassment lawsuit filed by a group of female employees. The suit claims a male emergency room admitting representative subjected female employees to "inappropriate touching, propositions for sex, graphic discussions of sexual activities," among other things. The hospital allegedly ignored complaints about the behavior and fired one employee who lodged a formal complaint. Robert J. Lopez, LA Times 11/16/2011 | Read Article: LA Times |
Woman Files Suit Over Husband's Murder |
| A Kentucky woman has filed a wrongful death lawsuit against a man who shot and killed her husband last year. The men were business partners, and the suit says one night the defendant broke into their house and shot both her and her husband. The lawsuit is seeking damages for "pain and suffering, medical and funeral expenses, destruction of her husband's earning capacity, and other damages." Greg Kocher, Lexington Herald-Leader 11/17/2011 | Read Article: Lexington Herald-Leader |
Healthcare |
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Doctor at Austin State Hospital Accused of Child Sex Abuse |
| The state Department of Family and Protective Services has accused a longtime staff child psychiatrist for the Austin State Hospital of sexually abusing at least one child in his care, and investigators from an independent oversight agency have opened a wider inquiry into accusations from at least eight possible victims dating back a decade. The state agency alerted hospital officials three weeks ago that it had confirmed that Dr. Charles Fischer had been involved in two separate instances of sexual abuse, said Patrick Crimmins, a spokesman for the agency. The agency terms an incident "confirmed" if its investigation shows the allegation is supported by a preponderance of the evidence. Andrea Ball and Eric Dexheimer, Austin American Statesman 11/17/2011 | Read Article: Austin American Statesman |
Insurance |
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Texas Health Premiums Cost More, Buy Less |
| Texas employer-sponsored health insurance is costing more and buying less, a new report says. The state-by-state report, released Thursday, found that between 2003 and 2010 such premiums in Texas rose 52 percent for families and 46 percent for individuals. In addition, both groups' deductibles more than doubled, regardless of whether the person worked in a small or large firm. "This is a national trend, but Texas' numbers are particularly pronounced," said Cathy Schoen, the report's lead author and the senior vice president for The Commonwealth Fund, which has produced the report the last three years. "They've gone from rising slower than the national average to faster." Todd Ackerman, Houston Chronicle 11/17/2011 | Read Article: Houston Chronicle |
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