Announcements | 
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TTLA Annual Conference has moved to June 1-3 in Austin |
| We’ll be hosting all the events you’ve come to expect from our December conference. Between the 2-day CLE, parties, meetings, legislative update & special events, you’ll leave the live music capital of the world feeling energized, connected, and bad to the bone! Check out the CLE program agendas for Wednesday and Thursday, which include a live video presentation with David Ball plus family friendly events to make this a true vacation opportunity. Click on the headline to register! |
Products |
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Chevy Cruze Recall Issued |
| Chevrolet has announced a recall of 154,112 Cruze models due to a problem with the steering shaft. The company said the shaft could have been improperly installed, which could cause the car to suddenly lose steering power. Many of the recalled vehicles also have problems with the automatic-transmission shift links, General Motors officials said. Karl Henkel, Boston Herald 05/06/2011 | Read Article: Boston Herald |
Laws/Cases |
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Contaminants in West Texas Prompt Lawsuit |
| Two lawsuits have been filed against four companies in West Texas that have allegedly contaminated a "Midland-area neighborhood with hexavalent chromium." The lawsuits, which represent 250 people combined, name Schlumberger Technology Corp. and Dow Chemical Co., among others, as defendants in the suit. The plaintiffs are seeking compensation for past and future medical expenses, as well as "diminished property values, emotional distress, cases of wrongful death and other losses." Wire Report, Houston Chronicle 05/07/2011 | Read Article: Houston Chronicle |
Univ. of Iowa Doctor Files Suit Against Department |
| A University of Iowa radiologist has filed a lawsuit against the University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics, claiming racial discrimination and defamation. The lawsuit claims officials in the department created a hostile work environment for the doctor and attempted to force him out after he questioned some of their medical practices and the department's pay scale. After that, the plaintiff said he was branded an "academic terrorist" and his bosses made it almost impossible for him to find employment elsewhere. Tom Witosky, DesMoines Register 05/06/2011 | Read Article: DesMoines Register |
Kansas State Settles Buyout Lawsuit with Coach |
| Kansas State University has agreed to a $1.65 million settlement in a lawsuit over a former assistant football coach's buyout. The lawsuit claimed then-athletic director Bob Krause had overstepped his job description in negotiating a "secret" $3.2 million buyout with former assistant coach Ron Prince. The lawsuit sought to invalidate the deal, but the university decided to settle last week, avoiding further litigation. Kellis Robinett, Kansas City Star 05/06/2011 | Read Article: Kansas City Star |
Millions at Stake in Rrial Against Yamaha |
| Attorneys will spend the next month trying to convince a Palm Beach County jury that a 2005 Waverunner accident that killed one teenager and severely injured another was avoidable. Yamaha, the WaveRunner's manufacturer, set the stage for it by ignoring years of warnings about flaws in the steering system, Jane Musgrave, Palm Beach Post 05/09/2011 | Read Article: Palm Beach Post |
Issues |
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Hospital Chain Misdiagnosed Infections, Probe Says |
| A CA hospital chain under investigation for allegations of overbilling the Medicare system has inaccurately diagnosed patients with a blood infection known as septicemia, a complex and deadly condition that hospitals are paid a premium to treat, a state investigation has found. California Department of Public Health inspectors examined records at four hospitals owned by Prime Healthcare Services and found that 22 of 120 patients diagnosed with septicemia showed few symptoms of the disease. Medicare pays bonuses of several thousand dollars per case for treating elderly patients with septicemia, federal records show. Christina Jewett, San Francisco Chronicle 05/09/2011 | Read Article: San Francisco Chronicle |
Medicaid Cuts Could Drive Doctors from Valley |
| As state legislators reduce government reimbursement rates for physicians who accept Medicaid patients, Valley healthcare advocates worry the tighter purse strings could force physicians to depart the Valley after finding it nearly impossible to practice here amid lower payments from their primary customer base. Jared Janes, The Monitor 05/09/2011 | Read Article: The Monitor |
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