A wrongful death can best be defined as a death caused by the negligence, recklessness, malpractice or inaction of another.  In a wrongful death case, the executor or administrator of the estate may bring a claim against the responsible parties for damages which may include: medical, hospital and funeral expenses; compensation for the pain and suffering of the decedent; loss of companionship by the decedent’s next of kin; and loss of financial support.

            Tragically, during this time of grief, the possibility of disagreements between family members can arise if the decedent did not have a will.  In that case, the law must decide who should make the decisions for the estate.  Many families have been torn apart by the bickering surrounding the division of any funds received on behalf of the estate.

            If a loved one has been the victim in this type of case,  you need to speak to an attorney to ascertain your rights.  Every wrongful death case is governed by a “Statute of Limitations” which caps the time in which a lawsuit can be filed.  Statutes of Limitations vary from state to state.  A claim can be barred forever if not filed within the appropriate Statute of Limitations. There are exceptions to this however and you should speak to an attorney who specializes in wrongful death claims.  

            Our firm has been representing the estates of wrongful death victims for over 25 years.   If a member of your family has been the victim of a wrongful death, I invite you to visit my website at www.dreamlegalteam.com.  You can fill out an online consultation form or engage in an online chat. 

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               On June 18, 2008, a Senate committee was due to hear from the family of William Kurth who died in a nursing home in Wisconsin.  Mr. Kurth had fractured his hip and leg and succumbed to infections that occurred because feces and urine were not cleaned from his bedsores for days at a time.  When the Kurths attempted to sue the nursing home for neglect, the case was dismissed due to the fact that Mrs. Kurth had agreed that all complaints would go through an arbitrator as part of her husband’s admission to the nursing home.

            One of the saddest and most difficult decisions we have to make in this life is how to care for our parents or spouses when they can’t take care of themselves.  Often, there is no alternative but to place them in a nursing home.  Most nursing homes are diligent and have the best interests of our elderly at heart.  However, some of these facilities care only about the almighty dollar.  Some do not sufficiently screen the personnel they hire. Should you really have to worry about whether you can sue the nursing home for neglect before signing on the dotted line?  Everything may look fine when you visit but what really goes on after you leave?  Is your elderly relative really receiving the care and treatment they need and deserve?  Do they have bedsores, cuts or bruises?  Are they losing weight?  Do personal items seem to disappear?

            If  you have answered yes to any of these questions, you may need to speak with an attorney experienced in nursing home neglect and abuse cases. 

            Over the past few years, some real horror stories about nursing homes have been featured on the evening news such as patients falling on their way to the bathroom after having their requests for help ignored, patients being dropped or not being kept clean and, even worse, physical abuse by staff members. 

            Fortunately, there is a place to turn for help.  If you have a relative that you feel is being neglected or abused, I invite you to visit my website at www.dreamlegalteam.com.

Please feel free to fill out an on-line consultation form or engage in a free webchat.  You know that your parents deserve the best care possible.  Make sure they are getting it!

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            On June 17, 2008, ABC News reported on a story wherein veterans from the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan who are suffering from Post Traumatic Stress Disorder are being recruited for government testing on the prescription drug Chantix.  In some cases, those who were recruited were paid $30 per month. 

            The United States Food and Drug Administration issued an Early Communication to the public and health care providers on November 20, 2007 that they were evaluating “…adverse event reports on Chantix related to changes in behavior, agitation, depressed mood, suicidal ideation, and actual suicidal behavior…”  Tragically, the Veterans’ Administration did not issue a letter to the veterans involved until February 29, 2008.    

            This comes mere months after news that some of  our veterans are receiving care in facilities which are dirty and animal infested.  Surely, they deserve much better than they are getting. 

            If you or someone you love has been a victim of the neglect from the Veterans Administration, you don’t need to go through this alone.  I would like to invite you to visit my website at www.dreamlegalteam.com.  Feel free to fill out an online consultation form or engage in a live chat.  Once again, the website is www.dreamlegalteam.com.  Don’t wait.

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             On June 6, 2008, a jury in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California ordered Taser International, Inc. to pay damages in the sum of $6.2 million to the family of Robert C. Heston who died on February 19, 2005 after being hit three times with Taser devices by members of the Salinas, California Police Department after Heston, who was reportedly high on methamphetamines, became violent.

            The amount the jury awarded included $1,021,000 in compensatory damages and $5.2 million in punitive damages.  The jury found Taser 15% responsible for the death and the deceased to be 85% responsible.  The jury found no responsibility on the officers involved. 

            This was the first loss for Taser in just over 70 cases.  Taser, who is based in Scottsdale, Arizona, plans to appeal.  There are currently 36 other cases pending against the company.

            If you or a member of your family have been injured as a result of this product,   I invite you to visit my website at www.dreamlegalteam.com.  You can fill out an online consultation form or engage in an online chat.   

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             On February 20, 2008, the Supreme Court of the United States issued a ruling in favor of Medtronic, Inc. which would substantially limit the legal options available to patients who have been injured by defective medical devices.  The Court ruled that, if federal legislators (such as the F.D.A.) approve a device, suit cannot be filed under State Laws. 

In this case, the catheter of the Medtronic defibrillator which had been implanted in the plaintiff, Charles Riegel, ruptured in his coronary artery.  Suit was brought alleging that the device was designed, labeled and manufactured  in a manner that violated the common law of New York. 

Now, more than ever, if you have a Medtronic defibrillator, you need to speak to an attorney who specializes in Medtronic cases.  Medtronic has issued recalls for units with defective leads.  Is yours one of the units that has been recalled?    If you are lucky, you need to go through a second surgery to implant a defibrillator which isn’t faulty.  If you’re not lucky, you could die.

            Unfortunately, we are seeing more and more claims for defective leads in defibrillators.  If you, or someone you know, have  a defibrillator, you need to find out if yours is one of the models which have been recalled.    You need someone who can discuss your options with you and who will fight for your rights.   You owe it to yourself to visit my website at www.dreamlegalteam.com before it is too late.   You can fill out an online consultation form or engage in an online chat. 

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             On May 29, 2008, the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission announced a voluntary recall of the Makit & Bakit Jewelry Sets and Suncatcher Sets.  The clasps on some of the jewelry contain high lead levels.  The items were imported by QuinCrafts of Dexter, Michigan from China. 

            The day before Little Tikes Chit ‘n Chat Toy Cell Phones were recalled because the hinge cover can detach and poses a choking hazard to young children.  These items were manufactured by Kids Station Toys International, Ltd. of Miami and were manufactured in China.

            This is certainly a stressful time to be a parent.  Toys are being recalled left and right because they can be dangerous.  Cribs, car seats and clothing have been recalled for various reasons.  Now, even some plastic baby bottles are being reported as potentially dangerous.  How do you know what’s safe for your child?

            While, it is helpful to keep an eye out for recalls, the sad fact is that most recalls begin because someone was injured by using a defective product. 

            Do you know what to do if you, or a family member, are injured because of an unsafe product?  Should you call the manufacturer?  What if they ask you to send the product back?  At times like these, you need the advice of someone who deals with defective products and the manufacturers every day.  You need an attorney who specializes in these claims to protect your rights and get you the compensation you deserve. 

            Our firm has been representing the victims of accidents for over 25 years and  I have had the privilege of working with some of the best attorneys in this country  If you or a member of your family have been the victim of an unsafe product, I invite you to visit my website at www.dreamlegalteam.com.  You can fill out an online consultation form or engage in an online chat.  Again, the website is www.dreamlegalteam.com.  Don’t wait. 

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             On May 30, 2008, a crane collapsed at a construction site in New York City killing a construction worker and the crane operator.  A third worker was also injured as was a person on the ground.  This was the second crane accident in three months in New York City.

            When a construction accident occurs, one generally thinks of the workers on the project as being at risk.  However, innocent bystanders can be injured as can the residents of nearby buildings.  And damage to the surrounding buildings can leave residents homeless.

            Investigations into these types of accidents can take a great deal of time and there is usually a lot of finger pointing going on.  But it is important to ascertain the causes of these accidents to prevent future catastrophes.

            It is also important for the victims, or their families, to obtain the information necessary to make certain that they receive the best medical care and fair compensation for their injuries.

            At a time like this, you need to speak to an attorney who specializes in construction accidents and is familiar with the procedures involved.  Are you a worker or a bystander?  Is this a job being performed by a private company or a municipality?  Believe me, these things matter.

            So, if you, or someone you know, has been hurt in a construction accident, I invite you to visit my website at www.dreamlegalteam.com.  You can fill out an online consultation form or engage in an online chat.   Don’t wait. 

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            Many times, when an automobile accident occurs, the cause is determined to be human error.  Perhaps the driver fell asleep at the wheel or just didn’t notice that car coming into the intersection or was talking on a cellular phone and was distracted.  These accident causes are far too common.

            However, auto accidents don’t always occur because of the fault of the driver.   Often a defect in the vehicle itself can cause the accident or turn a survivable accident into a fatality. 

            Unless you never watch television or pick up a newspaper, you have probably heard stories about:

·        Airbags which fail to deploy, deploy with too much force or deploy without the occurrence of accident;

·        Seatbelt buckle failure or seatbelts unlatching;

·        Fuel system components which leak due to crash damage causing a fire or explosion;

·        Steering components which break causing a loss of control of the vehicle;

·        Tires which blow out causing loss of control of the vehicle; or

·        S.U.V.’s which tend to rollover after being involved in an accident.

Auto manufacturers recall millions of vehicles every year for problems such as

these.  Unfortunately, far too many deaths occur prior to these recalls or because the people occupying these vehicles weren’t aware of the recalls.

            If you, or a family member, were involved in an accident due to a defect in parts or design, would you know what to do?  Did you know that it is imperative to have an expert do a thorough inspection of the vehicle before the insurance companies destroy it?  If you said “no”, don’t feel bad.  Most people don’t realize that when their vehicle is totaled and sent into the “crusher”, precious evidence is being destroyed. 

            You need an advocate who specializes in auto accidents and defective vehicles, someone who will fight for you to obtain the compensation to which you are entitled. 

            Our firm has been representing the victims of automobile, truck and motorcycle accidents for over 25 years.  I invite you to visit our website if you, or someone you know has been injured by a defective vehicle..  You can fill out an online consultation form or engage in an online chat.  The website is www.dreamlegalteam.com.  Don’t wait. 

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            As I sit and write this, it is nearly 80° outside.  Summer is quickly approaching.  It is days like this when most people would like to head for the nearest lake or ocean.  If you are fortunate enough to own a boat, you are familiar with the enjoyment watercraft can bring.  But do you know the hazards?

            The U. S. Coast Guard says that there were 710 deaths related to boating accidents in 2006.  Of those, 29 were children 12 years of age or younger.  The number of  injuries are in the thousands.  The Coast Guard lists the main contributing factors to boating accidents as being: operator inattention, careless or reckless operation, excessive speed, passenger or skier behavior, no proper lookout, operator inexperience and alcohol usage. 

            If you or a loved one has been injured in a boating accident, you need the advice of an attorney specializing in Maritime Law.    Who will pay for your medical expenses or lost wages?  Are you entitled to compensation for pain and suffering?  You need answers to your questions and you need them now.

            Our firm has been representing accident victims for over 25 years.  During that time, I have had the privilege of working with some of the best Maritime Attorneys around.  If you are in need of an attorney regarding a boating accident, I invite you to visit my website at www.dreamlegalteam.com.  You can fill out an online consultation form or engage in an online chat.  Again, the website is www.dreamlegalteam.com.  Don’t wait. 

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